Chapter 507 Public Opinion Fermentation
All their attention was on the small, fragile life in the intensive care unit.
“Ring, ring, ring—”
The shrill ringing of a cell phone broke the silence in the corridor outside the intensive care unit.
Chi Wenyan answered the phone almost immediately. It was his special assistant calling, and his tone was filled with unprecedented anxiety: "Mr. Chi, something happened. The video of you and your wife arguing in the hospital was posted online. Now the whole network is discussing it, and the comments about your wife are particularly disgusting."
Chi Wenyan's hand holding the phone suddenly tightened, his knuckles turned white, and the air pressure around him instantly dropped to freezing point.
He side-glanced at Ji Wan, who was curled up on a bench not far away. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was pale without a trace of blood. She seemed to have lost all her vitality, and was so fragile that she could be easily beaten.
His heart ached violently, anger and pity swirling together.
"Specifically." His voice was so cold that it could freeze ice.
The assistant quickly reported all the malicious comments on the Internet, especially those directed at Ji Wan, such as "mistress", "abandoned wife of a wealthy family", "hysterical", and the speculation about Su Jiujiu.
"Boss Chi, the PR department has already stepped in, but public opinion is fermenting too quickly. We need you..."
"Prepare for the press conference." Chi Wenyan interrupted firmly, "I will hold it downstairs in the group building in half an hour."
"Half an hour?" the assistant was surprised. "But you're in the hospital now, and the time is so short, reporter..."
"This is an order." Chi Wenyan did not allow for any further discussion. "Notify all media outlets that can be present. Latecomers will not be required to attend any future press conferences held by the Chi Group."
After hanging up the phone, he took a deep breath and walked towards Ji Wan.
Ji Wan seemed to have heard some of what he said on the phone. She slowly raised her head, her empty eyes without any ripples, but a hint of miserable sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"What? President Chi's perfect image is going to be damaged because of a crazy woman like me? So you're in a hurry to deal with the PR crisis?"
Her voice was hoarse, filled with self-mockery and despair. She could guess what was said online without even reading it. Chi Wenyan squatted down in front of her and tried to hold her cold hand, but she violently shook it off.
"Don't touch me!" She shrank back like a frightened little animal.
"Wanwan," Chi Wenyan felt as if his heart was being pierced by countless needles, causing him unbearable pain. "Nian Nian is still in there, you can't fall down first. I will handle the things online. Believe me, this time, I won't let you suffer any more injustices."
Ji Wan sneered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Chi Wenyan, how much is your promise worth? Are you going to deal with it? Are you going to push me out again and use me as a shield to protect Su Jiujiu?"
"No!" Chi Wenyan suddenly raised his voice, his eyes bloodshot. "Su Jiujiu, she is nothing. There is nothing wrong between her and me. We have never done anything inappropriate!"
His voice echoed in the empty corridor, carrying an unquestionable determination.
Ji Wan was stunned. This was the first time she heard Chi Wenyan so clearly and decisively deny his relationship with Su Jiujiu. But so what? What about the baby in Su Jiujiu's belly? What about the hotel that night?
"Child..." Ji Wan murmured, his voice breaking.
Chi Wenyan's eyes dimmed. He knew what she meant. Su Jiujiu had used a fabricated child to force them into this situation. He took a deep breath, his voice steady yet powerful. "There's no child. Su Jiujiu's pregnancy was a lie from beginning to end, a conspiracy against us. I will soon lay all the evidence before the world."
After he finished speaking, he didn't give Ji Wan any chance to ask any more questions, and turned around and strode away.
He must clarify everything immediately, not only for the reputation of the Chi family, but also for Ji Wan, for their crumbling marriage, and for his daughter who was still fighting with death in the ward!
Half an hour later, spotlights flashed downstairs of the Chi Group.
Chi Wenyan, dressed in a black suit and with a stern expression, walked up to the makeshift press conference platform escorted by a group of bodyguards.
He did not give the reporters any chance to ask questions. He picked up the microphone and swept the audience with a cold gaze.
"Early this morning, a video of me and my wife Ji Wan in the hospital circulated on the Internet, sparking a lot of speculation and false statements." His voice was clearly transmitted to every corner through the microphone, and also spread throughout the entire Internet through countless live cameras.
"First, my wife, Ji Wan, did lose control of her emotions, but she wasn't being unreasonable. She's enduring pain and pressure that outsiders can't imagine. Our daughter, Nian Nian, is currently in the hospital."
The moment these words were spoken, there was an uproar at the scene, and the comments on the live broadcast instantly exploded.
"What? Mr. Chi's daughter is in the hospital?"
"Oh my god, no wonder Ji Wanhui was like that, he must have been terribly worried!"
"Whoever scolded Ji Wan before, come out and apologize!!"
Chi Wenyan paused, giving everyone some time to digest the information. Then, he changed the subject and spoke in a sharp voice:
"Secondly, regarding the online mention of Ms. Su Jiujiu, I solemnly declare that there is no improper relationship between Ms. Su Jiujiu and me! The so-called 'mistress' and 'affair' are purely malicious fabrications!"
His eyes were as sharp as knives. "As for Ms. Su Jiujiu's claim that she is pregnant with my child, it is a complete lie. I, Chi Wenyan, will only have two children in this life, and they are born to me and my wife Ji Wansheng."
"The Chi Group's legal department will immediately initiate accountability procedures against all individuals and media outlets that spread rumors and maliciously slander my wife and my family. We will not tolerate any leniency!"
"I, Chi Wenyan, only have Ji Wan as my wife. She was, is, and will be in the future. No one can harm her in the slightest!"
His words were resounding, each one like a hammer, hammering down on everyone's heart. His undeniable dominance and deep affection, through the lens, shocked the entire internet.
In the hospital, Ji Wan watched the live broadcast of this sudden press conference through the TV at the nurses' station.
When I heard Chi Wenyan say, "I, Chi Wenyan, only have Ji Wan as my wife. She was, is, and will be!"
She covered her mouth tightly, suppressed sobs spilling out from between her fingers, and the huge rock pressing on her heart seemed to crack.
Is he protecting her?
At such a critical moment, he chose to make everything public, even admitting that his daughter was critically ill, in order to clear her name.
Those categorical denials about Su Jiujiu did not seem like lies.
Ji Wan's heart was in turmoil.
She didn't know what to do next. Should she believe Chi Wenyan and give him a chance?
But what happened did happen.
She couldn't pretend it didn't happen.
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