A Divine Farmer

Chapter 280 - Even If You Are in the Wrong I will Still Beat You!

“If I had wanted to resort to such despicable tactics to get Zhou Li's body, believe me, she wouldn't have been able to escape back when she was at the company. I had ample opportunities to get her drunk like this, and no one could have stopped me,” Chu Peng declared with conviction. “But as much as I am lustful, I'm not that kind of man. As I said before, there's no pleasure in it for me.”

“You don't seem much nobler than any other thug,” Zhang Xiaolong retorted sarcastically.

A thug might use every trick in the book to take advantage of a woman's body, but here was Chu Peng, claiming not to stoop so low, yet employing other tactics to deceive a woman's heart, only to discard her once he grew tired of the game. In some ways, he was even more despicable than a common thug.

“I admit it, but my feelings for Zhou Li are genuine. I want to marry her,” Chu Peng sighed, affecting a woeful demeanor. “I've never invested so much in a woman before. Maybe that's why I've found myself falling for her. Her body is pure, and I wouldn't sully that purity with such methods.”

“Oh?” Zhang Xiaolong's gaze still carried a trace of scorn, showing his disbelief.

“I realize I've been too promiscuous in the past, which is why Zhou Li wouldn't give me a chance. And then I went on to do so many things that hurt her. Actually…” Chu Peng hesitated, “I just didn't know how to love her properly. I was so scared of losing her that I imposed all these restrictions, hoping to force her back to my side.”

“Do you really expect me to believe you?” Zhang Xiaolong questioned.

“Of course, even if you don't, that's understandable. But I assure you, everything I've said before is the truth,” Chu Peng reaffirmed.

“Get out,” Zhang Xiaolong said icily.

“What… did you say?” Chu Peng acted as if he hadn't heard clearly.

Standing up, Zhang Xiaolong stated, “Leave now, or I'll have to throw you out. Don't think your tall tales can deceive everyone. The person who was drinking with Zhou Li had previously been in touch with you, and it was you who directed them to get her drunk. Now you're here playing the hero. Suddenly, the thought of letting you walk away just doesn't sit right with me.”

He swiftly raised his hand, and before the other person could react, he had already hurled him out the door.

“Click! Click!”

As he hit the ground, a barrage of camera flashes went off, frantically capturing Chu Peng's fall.

But after a flurry of photos, the photographers realized something was amiss. Wasn't it rumored that two high-ranking executives from the Makeup Company were here on a clandestine date, possibly leading to a proposal? Why then, before any proposal, did it look like a case of domestic violence?

And to top it off, it appeared to be domestic violence by a woman—how extraordinary!

Zhang Xiaolong, observing the reporters outside, grasped their line of thought.

Meanwhile, Chu Peng found himself in a sorry state. He had meticulously planned to have some people intoxicate Zhou Li, then swoop in to rescue her, thus crafting a perfect hero-saves-the-dame scenario.

Once at the hotel, he could seize the moment for some revelry. Upon Zhou Li's awakening, he would offer his apologies, claiming he too was inebriated, among other excuses…

He knew Zhou Li well enough to predict that if it came to that point, she would likely forgive him under the influence of his tender gestures and heartfelt promises. Moreover, with the swarm of reporters he had arranged to capture their exit, the likelihood of her accepting a public marriage proposal was significantly high.

Imagine the two emerging from a hotel room together; the implications were clear. Zhou Li would find it impossible to claim innocence, and any refusal on her part would cast doubt upon her character.

With each calculated step, he could firmly bind Zhou Li to him, and in doing so, effortlessly acquire the Essence Dragon Makeup formula.

What was Zhang Xiaolong in comparison? Merely a farmer who had stumbled upon good fortune!

Given the chance to manage Essence Dragon Makeup, he could outperform Soaring Dragon within a year. Yet, this promising product was on the verge of being squandered by Zhang Xiaolong—a true waste!

As he had always maintained, he never resorted to coercion with women, as it was against the law.

He would exhaust all other means to have a woman willingly lie down with him. But this time was different; he desired not only the woman but also the assets she controlled.

I had initially considered approaching Yang Jingjing directly for the formula, as it seemed like a safer bet. However, I knew next to nothing about her, and she appeared to be closely associated with Zhang Xiaolong, making it risky to approach her.

Zhou Li, on the other hand, was the Vice President of Essence Dragon Company. It was highly unlikely that she was in the dark about the formula. Even if she was, leveraging her to reach Yang Jingjing or to uncover information wouldn't be too challenging.

I meticulously crafted a strategy that would serve two purposes, but to my dismay, Zhang Xiaolong effortlessly thwarted my plans.

It's baffling how Zhang Xiaolong, with a nose that seemed to surpass a dog's, could sniff out my prior dealings with certain individuals.

As Chu Peng hit the ground, he yelled out, “Assaulting someone is against the law, no matter who you are!”

The cameras were all trained on Zhang Xiaolong as he emerged, responding with composure, “Assault? You're correct. Even if it's against the law today, I'm compelled to hit you. Resorting to such vile tactics, drugging a female executive to do unspeakable things: hitting you is letting you off easy!” With that, he swung his arm and delivered a powerful slap to Chu Peng's face, nearly rendering him unconscious.

The cameras captured the incident, but there was no sympathy for Chu Peng. Zhang Xiaolong had clearly stated that Chu Peng had first attempted to act improperly towards a female executive, justifying the retaliation.

Some female reporters were indignantly pondering why they couldn't just finish off such a sleazy individual.

“May I ask who you are? How did you know he was here committing a crime?”

These were genuine reporters, covertly guided to the scene, but they wouldn't pass up a story with such potential.

“I'm just someone who couldn't stand by and watch an injustice,” Zhang Xiaolong answered. “I had previously met with the head of Essence Dragon Makeup Company and knew they were not only beautiful but also highly competent. Seeing her being dragged here by this man, I suspected foul play. Luckily, I arrived in time to prevent a disaster.”

The reporters all had a sense of déjà vu upon hearing the first sentence. After giving it some thought, they realized they had indeed heard it before—wasn't it the same person who had come to the aid of Essence Dragon at the last cosmetics trade show?

Indeed, it was the same individual who had stepped in to help Essence Dragon previously. It was unexpected to see him involved once more.

“Zhou Li is my girlfriend. Is it a crime to go to a hotel with your girlfriend?” Chu Peng, having just picked himself up off the floor, looked around and, seeing no way out, began to defend himself.

“Exactly,” chimed in some of the onlookers who had been bribed, “You're an outsider. How can you be sure they're not a couple? Assaulting someone is against the law!”

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