"Moreover, I can tell you that this project is indeed this year's main focus. As for whether it will be chosen from the three candidates, that will require deliberation by the board of directors."

"But you can rest assured. After all, I am the Chairman, and my words carry a certain weight. I can guarantee that I will do everything in my power to make this happen!" Zhang Ming slapped his chest, offering a vehement assurance.

Hearing his guarantee, Wei Zixuan couldn't help but beam. "In that case… thank you so much, President Zhang!"

"I mean... mere words might not be quite enough, right?" Zhang Ming said with a smile.

"Then I… I'll toast to you now as a sign of my gratitude!" Wei Zixuan's cheeks flushed slightly as she immediately picked up her wine glass.

The wine they were serving wasn't particularly strong, so after a moment's thought, she tilted her head back and downed it in one go.

"If you truly want to thank me, a single glass is a bit too casual. Come, come... have another!" Zhang Ming quickly stood up and poured her another full glass.

"I'll do it myself, President Zhang. You don't have to be so polite!"

"Allow me…"

While they were exchanging pleasantries, some wine accidentally spilled, staining Wei Zixuan's sleeve red.

"I'm so sorry…"

"It's all my fault, I was too careless!" Zhang Ming immediately apologized, though a glint of triumph flashed in his eyes.

"It's nothing, I'll just go to the restroom and take care of it," Wei Zixuan said with a slight smile. She immediately got up and headed to the restroom to clean the stain.

The moment Wei Zixuan was gone, Zhang Ming quickly stood up. He took a packet of white powder he had prepared earlier from his bag and, seeing that no one was looking, poured its contents into her wine glass.

This had been his plan all along, and it was finally coming to fruition.

You little thing… did you really think I couldn't handle you? I've wasted so much time and energy on you; it's about time I got my reward! Once I'm done with you, let's see if you can still put on that high-and-mighty act. Zhang Ming sneered softly to himself.

This was far from the first time he'd done something like this. Many women had inexplicably ended up in his bed, swayed by his money and status. He knew his methods weren't exactly honorable, but they never led to a major scandal. In the end, for one reason or another, they would always choose to become his secret lovers.

In his eyes, Wei Zixuan was no different.

Just as Zhang Ming thought his plan had succeeded, his mind already fantasizing about the night to come, a tall, upright figure appeared out of nowhere. The man sat down directly opposite him, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched him.

"Who are you? Do you have any idea where—" Zhang Ming began to yell angrily, but he froze mid-sentence.

"Chen Zheng?"

"You… why are you here?" he asked, his brows knitting together tightly. At the same time, he couldn't help but cast a guilty glance at the wine glass he had just drugged.

"Drink it," Chen Zheng said, pointing to the spiked wine glass.

"What are you trying to do?" Zhang Ming grew frightened, but he put on a brave face.

"Do you really not understand what I want you to do?" Chen Zheng crossed his legs. "You have two choices. Either you drink this willingly…"

"Or… I'll personally make you drink it."

"The choice is yours."

"You arrogant piece of trash—"

Before Zhang Ming could finish speaking, a sharp slap echoed across his face. Chen Zheng shot to his feet, grabbed Zhang Ming's head, and slammed it down onto the table. The entire sequence was as smooth as flowing water, executed without a shred of hesitation.

Then, without a word, he picked up the drugged wine glass and forcefully poured the contents into Zhang Ming's mouth.

Only after Zhang Ming had swallowed every last drop did Chen Zheng toss the glass to the floor.

The sudden commotion made the other diners turn and stare, confused about what was happening.

"You damn worthless piece of trash, you—" Zhang Ming's expression was ghastly.

"Chen Zheng, what are you doing here again?" Just then, Wei Zixuan reappeared, running over quickly.

"President Zhang… did he… did he hit you again?"

"Zixuan, your husband is unbelievable! He resorts to violence at the slightest disagreement. I honestly suspect he's abusive at home!"

"Why haven't you divorced a man like him?" Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Ming immediately started playing the victim.

Hearing this, Wei Zixuan spun around to face Chen Zheng, her body trembling as she stared at him with pure fury.

She raised her right hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist.

"Chen Zheng, let go of me!" Wei Zixuan bit her lower lip and struggled frantically, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from his grasp.

"Zixuan…"

"We've been doing this for so long. Shouldn't this be enough?"

"I'm being completely sincere with you, don't you understand that?" Chen Zheng said, taking a deep breath.

"Chen Zheng, you know how important President Zhang is to me, yet you still hit him! Is this what you call being sincere?" Tears streamed from the corners of Wei Zixuan's eyes. "You always say that, but then what about the matter with Miss Sun of the Sun Family? Was that you being sincere with me, too? If you care about me so much, why do you go out of your way to make me anxious and insecure? Think long and hard about it. Have you ever truly been good to me?"

Wei Zixuan seized the opportunity to finally unleash all the words she had suppressed in her heart. She had been holding them in for far too long.

Chen Zheng was speechless. He never imagined her misunderstanding of him ran so deep.

"What's going on? Is this some kind of trashy love triangle?"

"I'm not sure, but based on how things look, the guy must be a total scumbag. That's probably why the woman is so hysterical!"

"Oh my god… who would dare get married these days? I wouldn't know what to do if I ended up with an abusive man like that."

The surrounding diners began to murmur amongst themselves. Hearing their whispers, Wei Zixuan's face burned with shame and anger. She shot Chen Zheng a final, hateful glare, then grabbed her bag and stormed away.

"Zixuan—" Zhang Ming saw his chance and started to go after her, but Chen Zheng grabbed him and pulled him back.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.