"Why don't we get back together? Let's stay together forever, okay?" Zhao Xue'er pleaded again, her voice tender.

His response was cold and concise. "Leave."

Zhao Xue'er suddenly felt a force wash over her, sending her flying backward with a scream.

"See? I told you! It's her!" someone pointed at Zhao Xue'er with a mocking grin. "Well, well! Isn't this 'Pity from Sight'? The one who went viral for trashing that tycoon online, claiming he was too stingy to buy her an LV bag and that's why she broke up with him? I'd love to know how you have the nerve to show your face to him again."

"Haha… Your sob story was top-notch; you had a lot of people fooled. But no one's buying it anymore!"

A few people recording on their phones walked over, smirking at Zhao Xue'er.

Slandering me? Chen Zheng had intended to leave, but after hearing that, he couldn't resist checking the news on his phone.

DING! Congratulations to the Host for making a choice. You have received the following reward: Crazy Dark Card.

Chen Zheng's gaze fell on the malicious articles, his expression turning as frigid as a harsh winter. The Crazy Dark Card in his hand flickered with a cold light. He used his ability without hesitation, targeting Zhao Xue'er directly.

At this moment, Zhao Xue'er, looking like a lone goose abandoned by the world, struggled to stop Chen Zheng again. But he gave her no such chance. He slammed his foot on the accelerator, which bit down like the fangs of a ferocious beast. With a furious screech of tires against the pavement, the car vanished from her sight in an instant.

"Ah, he's gone. So, dear Miss 'Pity from Sight,' care to share your thoughts on this little escapade?" another bystander taunted. "Can we get an interview? What gave you the courage to use a nickname like 'Pity from Sight' anyway?"

The surrounding voices surged like a tidal wave, drowning Zhao Xue'er. "Stay away from me!" she roared in a fury. "All of you, just stay away from me!"

Then she stormed off.

"That streamer is amazing! Someone send him a rocket!"

"What he did was so satisfying! I'm sending him a Super Fire!"

Watching the screen fill with gifts and comments, one of the livestreamers felt a surge of satisfaction. He addressed his viewers, "I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me in this virtual world. For that tycoon, I would gladly step forward to shield him from the wind and rain. It is my mission and my honor."

From that day forward, Zhao Xue'er spiraled into a vortex of darkness. Her online notoriety became like a fire in the night—surrounded by shadows, yet burning all the more fiercely for it. Her life became a tightrope walk over a razor's edge, every moment fraught with vigilance and fear.

The incident with Zhao Xue'er was just a passing shower, so brief that Chen Zheng paid it little mind. He drove on, heading toward Gourmet City.

Just then, his phone rang with a pleasant tune.

"Hello, Mr. Chen!" Zhu Tuyuan said politely.

"What is it?" Chen Zheng asked.

"Sir, the Regional Head for Asia of Lanluo Purple has just arrived in Yun City. She is currently at the Yun City Grand Hotel and hopes to have breakfast with you. Are you available?" Zhu Tuyuan's voice was filled with anticipation.

Chen Zheng was slightly taken aback. He had almost forgotten that he owned thirty percent of the shares in Lanluo Purple, a globally renowned cosmetics empire.

"Alright," Chen Zheng agreed immediately.

"Excellent! We look forward to your arrival at the Yun City Grand Hotel!" Zhu Tuyuan said before hanging up.

Chen Zheng set his phone down, and the car sped up, racing toward the hotel. It didn't take much thought to figure out Lanluo Purple's intentions. They must be after the Beauty Cream. He felt no unease about making a deal for the Beauty Cream. As long as the price was right, he would be happy to let them bring it to market. With a commercial empire as vast as Lanluo Purple, he knew sales wouldn't be an issue.

His car soon pulled up to the entrance of the grand hotel. As soon as he got out, a handsome man with gold-rimmed glasses and an unmissable smile approached him.

"Mr. Chen, I'm Zhu Tuyuan. Welcome!" he said, extending a hand.

"Hello," Chen Zheng replied with a smile, shaking it.

"Right this way, Mr. Chen. Please follow me." Zhu Tuyuan turned and led the way to the elevator, with Chen Zheng following close behind as the doors slid shut.

"Mr. Chen, you are truly a man of remarkable presence!"

Inside the private dining room at the end of the elevator ride, a woman in her forties rose to her feet. This was Pan Ziying, the head of Lanluo Purple's Asia region. Though time had left its mark on her face, her elegance and charm made her appear closer to thirty. "Hello, my name is Pan Ziying."

"You flatter me, Ms. Pan," Chen Zheng replied politely, though he didn't pause his stride, seating himself directly in an exquisitely carved chair. At that moment, Zhu Tuyuan moved like a shadow to stand behind Pan Ziying.

Pan Ziying gracefully took her seat and then stated her purpose with clarity and conviction. "Mr. Chen, I believe you already understand our proposal. Headquarters is willing to offer you five percent of the company's shares in exchange for you transferring the Beauty Cream's secret formula to Lanluo Purple for commercialization."

Lanluo Purple was a company with a market value in the trillions. Five percent of its shares was equivalent to a staggering fifty-billion-dollar fortune—a dream most people could never hope to achieve in their lifetime.

Yet for Chen Zheng, this enormous temptation felt more like a bad joke. It left him stunned.

Five percent?

His understanding of business wasn't deep, but he knew the immense potential of the Beauty Cream. He was confident that, even on his own, he could use the Beauty Cream to reach the pinnacle of the cosmetics market, perhaps even surpassing Lanluo Purple. And they wanted to trade all that potential and value for a mere five percent of their shares?

DING! Congratulations, Host, for triggering a selection mission.

[Choice One: Reject Pan Ziying. Reward: 10% of Lanluo Purple's shares.]

[Choice Two: Agree with Pan Ziying. Reward: Become Lanluo Purple's lapdog.]

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Zheng chose Option One.

"Mr. Chen, what are your thoughts?" Pan Ziying asked.

Chen Zheng snapped back to reality. He looked at Pan Ziying, a firm glint in his eyes. "Ms. Pan, I feel that Lanluo Purple may not have fully grasped the potential of the Beauty Cream. Don't you think five percent of the shares is undervaluing it just a little?"

Pan Ziying's expression turned serious, her voice low and powerful. "Then, Mr. Chen, what do you consider a more reasonable price?"

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