Chapter Nine: Forced into a Kiss

Yin Guizhen looked at Luo Yichen with a broken heart, crying out, "It hurts so much! Is this how you treat me for her? Was all our childhood affection just a lie?"

Luo Yichen’s heart tightened; he didn’t want to clash with the woman he once loved most. He released her arm gently and said with sorrow, “Whether it was true or not no longer matters. The fact now is that we are already divorced. Don’t keep living in the past; it’s bad for both of us.”

Yin Guizhen pointed at Shang Qi, sobbing, “You cheated on me for her. How can you act as if nothing happened?”

Luo Yichen’s face hardened, his tone serious. “Stop making a scene! It’s over between us.”

Yin Guizhen was too furious to care about appearances. She shouted hoarsely, “Luo Yichen, if you didn’t love me, why did you marry me? How are you going to make up for five years of my youth?”

Faced with her accusations, Luo Yichen remained silent, glaring at her with bloodshot eyes.

Mu Lichen urged, “Guizhen, don’t be like this! Luo Yichen hasn’t had an easy time these past few years either.”

“My life has been a thousand times harder!” Yin Guizhen yelled. She again pointed at Shang Qi. “What’s so special about her? That woman bewitched you utterly!”

Xi Jingpeng, fearing she might harm Shang Qi, stepped in. “Your problems with Luo Yichen shouldn’t involve others. Flies don’t land on a perfect egg. If there were no problems between you two, no one could interfere.”

Yin Guizhen sneered at Shang Qi. “I really underestimated you. Even a diamond bachelor like Xi Jingpeng is infatuated with you. Why bother stealing my husband?”

Luo Yichen, growing angrier at her outrageous words, snapped, “Shut up! Get out!”

Yin Guizhen glared at him in fury, wiped away her tears, and stormed out. Mu Lichen followed after her. Shang Qi’s face flushed red and pale as she fought back tears. Seeing the scene, Xi Jingpeng finally understood everything. Now he knew why Shang Qi never paid much attention to him—it was all because of Luo Yichen.

Xi Jingpeng mocked, “Mr. Luo sure knows how to have it both ways. But Shang Qi is a good girl; she’s not someone to be toyed with.”

Luo Yichen shot him a dagger-like glare. Then Shang Qi shouted at Xi Jingpeng, “Don’t talk nonsense! I have nothing to do with him!”

Xi Jingpeng paused, then smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I misunderstood. Mr. Luo, we won’t meddle in your family affairs. Qi Qi, let me take you home.”

Shang Qi just wanted to leave immediately. She was about to follow Xi Jingpeng when Luo Yichen’s face suddenly went pale. Unable to hold back, he grabbed Shang Qi and kissed her. Shang Qi’s eyes widened in shock, and she pushed him away with all her strength.

Xi Jingpeng, growing desperate, threw a punch at Luo Yichen without hesitation. Luo Yichen moved quickly, pulling Shang Qi to dodge the blow. He said to her, “We’ve even slept together in the car, and you still dare to say you have nothing to do with me?”

Shang Qi, flushed with embarrassment, stammered, “You… you…”

“Do you deny the truth?”

Luo Yichen’s fierce aura left Shang Qi no choice but to concede. Though Xi Jingpeng had long suspected, seeing it with his own eyes made his anger boil over. He had been waiting for Shang Qi’s acceptance, never imagining she was already Luo Yichen’s lover.

Luo Yichen wrapped his arm around Shang Qi’s shoulder and said to Xi Jingpeng, “Damn it, Qi Qi and I just had a tiff. You don’t need to trouble yourself with taking her home.”

Xi Jingpeng refused to admit defeat. He said to Shang Qi, “You said you have nothing to do with him. If you want, I can take you away right now.”

Luo Yichen softened his voice. “Sweetheart, I was wrong. Don’t let outsiders make a joke of us.” With that, he kissed Shang Qi again.

Shang Qi was pinned down, unable to move or speak as his lips sealed hers. Xi Jingpeng, unwilling to watch any longer, turned and left in anger. Luo Yichen kissed her for a long time before finally releasing her. As soon as he let go, Shang Qi slapped him hard.

She cried, “Bastard! How can you treat me this way?”

“Because I’m your man!” Luo Yichen shouted.

It was the first time a woman had ever hit him, and his anger was immense. Had it not been Shang Qi, Luo Yichen would never have let it go. His bloodshot eyes glared fiercely at her, noticing the disgust in her gaze. They had argued many times over the years, but he had never seen such a look before.

Shang Qi had always believed Luo Yichen respected her, which is why she had felt at ease around him, even falling asleep in his presence. All of that was because she trusted him. But what had just happened made her begin to question her own judgment.

Luo Yichen’s face bore five red finger marks. While the pain stung, he saw tears welling in Shang Qi’s eyes. At that moment, he admitted to himself that he had gone too far. But seeing Xi Jingpeng trying to take her away, he couldn’t hold back his temper any longer.

He calmed himself and said, “I’m not as frivolous as you think. I just didn’t know what to do, that’s why I acted this way.”

Tears streamed down Shang Qi’s face again, her heart aching deeply. Seeing her so hurt, Luo Yichen felt a pang of guilt. He had no choice but to say, “Stop crying, okay? I’m sorry.”

Shang Qi could no longer hold in her grievances. Through her tears, she shouted, “When was I ever your lover? What did I do wrong to deserve Yin Guizhen pointing fingers at me?”

Luo Yichen held her close and said, “Qi Qi, don’t mind what others say. As long as we’re okay, that’s all that matters.”

Shang Qi pushed him away and ran out. Luo Yichen didn’t chase her; some things needed time to cool and think over.

After leaving the Luo residence, Yin Guizhen cried until her throat was hoarse. Only after Mu Lichen’s persistent coaxing did she stop. Luo Yichen’s ruthless heartlessness left Yin Guizhen in unbearable pain. Unable to accept the truth, she began to lose herself.

Mu Lichen said, “Let me take you home.”

“I don’t want to go back.”

“It’s late. Your uncle will be worried.”

Yin Guizhen didn’t want to listen to any more nagging. “You go ahead. I’ll go clear my head by myself.”

“Where do you want to go?” Mu Lichen had no choice but to accompany her.

Thinking of Christmas Eve, she said, “I want to go party.”

Mu Lichen nodded and drove to the church entrance. Just as he was about to get out, Yin Guizhen asked, “Why here?”

“I wanted to bring you to hear the New Year’s chimes.”

“I’m not interested! Do you usually party at a church?”

“Guizhen, you need to calm down.”

She stared out at the night beyond the window, her heart growing even more sorrowful. No matter what, tonight she would go wild to the very end. She looked at Mu Lichen and said firmly, “I’m going to the bar!”