Lixi did not know who Lu Meng was; all she saw was a girl who looked reasonably sweet suddenly storming over, intent on attacking Chi Le.
Lixi instinctively shielded Chi Le.
Seeing this, Lu Meng let out a cold laugh, changed her trajectory, grabbed Lixi by the hair, and yanked her back with force. Lixi was forced to tilt her head back, loosening her grip on Chi Le.
"Fine. I wasn't planning on laying a hand on you today, but since you’ve delivered yourself to my doorstep, I’ll oblige you."
As she spoke, Lu Meng freed her other hand and began slapping Lixi across the face repeatedly. Lixi’s face swelled up rapidly, and her hair was pulled into a tangled, disheveled mess; she was a picture of utter wretchedness. She struggled hard to break free from Lu Meng’s grip and cried out, "Let go of me! I don't even know who you are!"
"If you don't stop, I’m calling the police!"
Hearing this made Lu Meng even more furious. "Calling the police? You want to get Chi Mu to stand up for you, don’t you, you pathetic bitch? Today, I’ll make sure you know what happens to women who interfere in other people's marriages!"
With that, she snapped Lixi’s wrist. She had grown up alongside Chi Mu and had picked up some self-defense techniques from him over the years. Consequently, Lixi was no match for her.
Only then did Chi Le and Chi Yue snap out of their shock. Seeing Lixi’s arm hanging limp, they both let out a wail. Despite her terror, Chi Le scrambled forward and hugged Lu Meng’s leg. "Mom, please don't hit Miss Li! Miss Li is a good person..."
But when Lu Meng heard this, she grabbed Chi Le and slapped her across the face. "I am your mother, yet you take sides with this woman? All the good I’ve done for you has gone to waste!"
The blow sent Chi Le crashing to the floor. Seeing this, Lixi ignored the pain in her right arm and lunged forward, using her remaining arm to weakly pull Chi Le into her embrace. Chi Yue was so terrified by the scene that she began to sob loudly.
Nearby, the nurses at the station heard the commotion in Lixi’s room and hurried over. They were stunned for a moment by the chaotic and violent scene before rushing in, trying to pull Lu Meng away while shouting, "Oh my, Madam Chi, what are you doing? Please, stop!"
However, Lu Meng could only think of how many years she had been married to Chi Mu without him ever showing any concern for her, yet he had known Lixi for only a few days before helping her find a lawyer for her divorce and even entrusting his children to her. Lu Meng wanted to beat Lixi to death right then and there; she figured she could just pay whatever fines followed.
She shook the nurses off with immense force. Caught off guard, they stumbled backward several steps. She then raised her foot and kicked Lixi hard. Lixi had just shielded Chi Le and hadn't managed to stand up or dodge, so the kick landed squarely in her abdomen. The color drained from her face instantly. Even so, she held Chi Le tightly, terrified that the child might be hurt.
By now, Lixi realized that Lu Meng had misunderstood the situation. She wanted to explain, but the moment she opened her mouth, her split lip caused her sharp pain.
Chi Le wept hysterically in Lixi’s arms. "Mom, please stop hitting her, I beg you, please stop! It’s my fault, please don't hurt Miss Li anymore..."
The other nurses, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, sent one person to the security office for help while pleading, "Madam Chi, Miss Li is the Marshal's savior; it’s not what you think."
Lu Meng sneered. "Savior? Is that what they call it when they end up in bed together?"
She raised her foot to kick Lixi again. At that moment, the security guards arrived. They rushed forward, combined their strength to grab Lu Meng’s arms, and quickly subdued her.
Seeing the guards, Lu Meng knew Lixi was lucky today and that she could no longer get her hands on her. She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and looked down at Lixi. "You’d better get the idea of seducing the Marshal out of your head."
"If there’s a next time, it won’t be as simple as just getting a beating!"
With that, Lu Meng turned to leave. The guards wanted to stop her, but after a glare from Lu Meng, they exchanged glances and stepped aside. After all, she was the Marshal's wife; the matter would have to be handled by the Marshal himself.
Lixi leaned weakly against the bedside, her right arm hanging limp at her side, already swollen to a great size. Her face was covered in bruised handprints and abrasions; she looked utterly broken. Seeing Lu Meng leave without anyone stopping her, Lixi felt a complicated knot in her chest.
This scene was exactly like her college days—because she had no family background, no one listened to her, and she was left to be bullied. When she tried to resist, she was nearly beaten to death; it was Shen Mo who had appeared to protect her.
Since then, no one had dared to bully her again. But that was as far as it went; the perpetrators never faced any punishment. It was the same with Lu Meng today.
Lixi felt a sense of injustice. Was this the kind of person her family had died protecting? If so, what was the meaning of their sacrifice?
Chi Le and Chi Yue were still sobbing quietly, surrounding Lixi with expressions of guilt as they whispered apologies. Lixi managed a weak smile and shook her head—this wasn't their fault.
The nurses gathered around Lixi to check her injuries. One nurse, seeing Lixi’s wretched state, said anxiously, "Miss Li, wait here, I’ll go get a doctor." She turned and ran to fetch one.
The remaining nurses gently comforted Chi Le and Chi Yue, while softly reassuring Lixi, "Miss Li, please don't worry. The doctor will be here in a moment. Just hold on."
...
The nurses found the doctor in Chi Mu’s room. As soon as Chi Mu heard that Lu Meng had gone to Lixi’s room and beaten her, he disregarded the risk of his wounds reopening and followed the doctor back to Lixi’s room.
When they arrived, Lixi was already lying on the bed. The swollen, purple-red handprints on her face looked even more shocking against her pale skin. Her injured right hand was severely swollen. Chi Le and Chi Yue were by her side, their eyes red from crying. Seeing Chi Mu, they sobbed "Dad," but immediately lowered their heads in fear, too terrified to speak further.
Watching Lixi in such a miserable state, Chi Mu felt as if he had been struck in the chest; the pain was agonizing. He suppressed his emotions and asked, "Where is Lu Meng?!"
A guard nearby stepped forward nervously. "Marshal, by the time we received word and arrived, the Madam was already in conflict with Miss Li. After we subdued her, she said she was leaving, and we... we didn't dare stop her."
Chi Mu slammed his hand against the cabinet. He felt his stitches pull, but he ignored the pain. "She went back? She beat someone to this state and just walked away like that?"
"Go! Bring her back here immediately! This needs to be settled today!"
Just as the guards turned to find Lu Meng, Lixi stopped them. "Wait!"
The guards hesitated, then continued toward the door.
"Come back," Chi Mu called out. "Hold on."
Seeing this, something took root in Lixi’s heart. She looked at Chi Mu and said weakly, "I'm sorry, Marshal. I know you've helped me a lot, but this time, I don't want a private settlement."
"She is your wife. I know what I’m about to do might seem like returning kindness with vengeance."
"But I haven't done anything wrong. So, I want to call the police."