"Come on, Shan Shan, let's have a drink to celebrate the upcoming start of filming for 'The Mystery of the Garden Hotel'." Director Li happily raised his glass, looking at Shen Zhi Qiu with a beaming smile.
Shen Zhi Qiu picked up the teacup on the table, raised it in a toast across the table, and said with a smile, "I'm allergic to alcohol, so I'll use tea instead of wine."
Director Li didn't force him and just chuckled as he did it himself.
After several rounds of drinks, Lu Jia still hadn't returned. Director Li and President Zhao, on the other hand, were quite tipsy and were both insisting on having a few more drinks.
Director Li remembered that he had two bottles of good wine in his car, so he volunteered to go to the garage to get them.
"I'll be right back, you guys keep eating!" Director Li, slightly tipsy, walked towards the door.
As soon as the door to the private room closed, Mr. Zhao, his obese body swaying, moved closer. His face flushed, and fueled by alcohol, he grabbed Shen Zhi Qiu's hand. "Shan Shan, you have no idea how much I love your books! They're so well-written!" He then gently stroked her hand. "I never imagined that such thrilling and exciting plots could be written with these hands. They're so tender. Did you insure your hands? If not, I'll buy you some."
Shen Zhi Qiu calmly withdrew her hand, smiling faintly, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Zhao. It is the book's good fortune to have received your favor."
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Mr. Zhao became even more unrestrained, and his hand casually touched Shen Zhi Qiu's waist. "I like you just the way you are. You might as well stop writing books. How much money can you make from writing books? It's also quite tiring. If you come with me, I guarantee you won't have to worry about food and clothing, and you can buy whatever you want."
"Mr. Zhao, please have some self-respect. I can support myself by writing books." Shen Zhi Qiu moved aside, avoiding Mr. Zhao's groping hands. Considering the child, she didn't want to anger him in such a confined space, lest she bring trouble upon herself.
But in Mr. Zhao's eyes, this was nothing more than a young girl's affected manner. He wasn't annoyed; on the contrary, he found it quite amusing.
He leaned closer, licked his lips, and looked at Shen Zhi Qiu's fair face. "I like you even more like this! If you had given in to me from the beginning, I would have found it boring."
He stared intently at her. "How about this, if you're willing, I can invest in a movie just for you. You won't need to write books to make money anymore. I'll let you join the cast with your own investment and be the lead actress. You're so beautiful, it would be a shame if you weren't an actress." As he spoke, President Zhao's hand involuntarily wrapped around Shen Zhi Qiu, and then he began to grope her haphazardly.
Shen Zhi Qiu's face darkened, and she quickly grabbed the nearest dish and slammed it on President Zhao's head, causing the soup to spill everywhere.
"Mr. Zhao, I've already said I hope you'll respect yourself," Shen Zhi Qiu said coldly, her face darkening.
Mr. Zhao doesn't have much hair to begin with, and he had specially used hair wax to make the few remaining tufts stand up today. Now, soaked in vegetable juice, they are lying crookedly on his head, making him look quite disheveled.
He had seen countless women; given his status and position, what woman couldn't he have if he set his sights on her? He never imagined that he would be treated like this by a woman on his own turf.
He touched the greasy liquid running down his cheek and instantly flew into a rage. He grabbed Shen Zhi Qiu's hand, then pulled his right hand away and slapped Shen Zhi Qiu across the face, his eyes wide as he roared:
"Did I give you too much face?"
Shen Zhi Qiu was slapped until her eyes were dizzy, and a bloody taste spread in her mouth. She tried to struggle, but the difference in physical strength between men and women made it impossible for her to break free.
Mr. Zhao glared at her fiercely, then ripped her clothes open.
With a tearing sound, the top two or three buttons flew off. Several bloody marks appeared on Shen Zhi Qiu's fair neck, a shocking sight.
"Let's see how capable you are!" President Zhao leaned down and grabbed her chin without any politeness, then lowered his head to kiss her.
With a "smack," Shen Zhi Qiu's freed right hand grabbed a plate and then slammed it hard onto President Chen's head with all her might.
The plate shattered instantly, and a warm liquid trickled down his forehead.
"Are you looking for death! Let me tell you, in Rongcheng, killing you is as easy as killing an ant!" Boss Zhao was furious. He fiercely grabbed Shen Zhi Qiu's throat and continued to squeeze harder.
Shen Zhi Qiu felt her breathing becoming increasingly difficult. She struggled to raise her right hand and ripped off the tablecloth in front of her, sweeping all the plates and bowls on the table onto the floor.
A series of crackling sounds echoed in the private room.
"What happened?" The door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and a young man wearing a black baseball cap poked his head in.
Upon seeing the scene before him, the newcomer couldn't help but gasp. He had vaguely heard some angry shouts as he passed the private room, and feeling uneasy, he pushed open the door, only to find that the situation inside was far more serious than he had imagined.
He rushed forward and forcefully pried Mr. Zhao apart. Mr. Zhao was furious and desperately lunged downwards again.
The boy frowned and suddenly grabbed his hand. In an instant, Mr. Zhao's scream echoed throughout the private room, and because the door was open, people passing by in the corridor also heard his scream.
Lu Jia had just returned to the corridor after finishing the phone call when she heard screams coming from the direction of the private room. She immediately rushed towards the room.
Seeing Shen Zhi Qiu's swollen face and torn collar, Lu Jia's eyes immediately turned fierce. He quickly took off his coat and covered Shen Zhi Qiu with it, then walked towards President Zhao, who had already been subdued on the ground by the boys.
"Excuse me, could you please move aside?" Lu Jia said calmly to the boy. "Thank you for saving her. I will call the police, but it's not convenient right now. Please leave first."
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