Reborn as Zhao Ruilong of Handong, I will defy fate.

Chapter 354: You, Zhao Ruilong, are allowed to be a scumbag, but I, Zhang Xiaoxue, cannot be a scumb

Zhang Xiaoxue blushed and stood frozen at the door.

Like being petrified into a statue, my mind went completely blank.

Zhao Ruilong, who was in the bathroom, felt even more confused.

Just as I was comfortably urinating, someone suddenly opened the door and saw me in the act.

Any man would be startled in this situation.

The initial surge of alcohol intoxication was sobered up considerably by the fright.

He let out a long sigh of relief, allowing his heart, which had been pounding with fear, to relax.

"Didn't you leave? Why are you suddenly back?"

Zhao Ruilong shouted angrily toward the door.

Clay figures also have three points of fire energy.

Who would feel good about being so unexpectedly startled?

Even though Zhang Xiaoxue has a prominent background, she is still considered to be exceptionally talented and beautiful.

But this doesn't mean we can let her be arrogant and willful.

Damn it, what if I scare my brother to death?

Can she afford to compensate for this loss?

I finally managed to transmigrate into the body of a powerful and wealthy family.

After two years of unremitting efforts.

Now he is not only rich and powerful, but also famous, and surrounded by beautiful women.

There is still a great chance that he can defy fate and avoid being sentenced to death like in the original drama.

The future looks brighter than ever.

It scared the hell out of me.

What's the point of striving then?

Zhang Xiaoxue, who was standing frozen at the door, was also startled awake by the shout.

Questions involuntarily popped into my mind.

"Am I crazy? Why did I suddenly come back?"

"And knowing he was in the bathroom, he just opened the door... What am I supposed to do?"

This moment.

Zhang Xiaoxue finally knew what it felt like to have a mental block.

I finally understand why some people do silly things for no apparent reason.

Something I used to do often, I suddenly can't do anymore...

The item was right in my hand, yet I frantically searched everywhere for it...

If you miss a ramp while driving, you might try to change lanes or even drive against traffic...

Just like today.

I don't know why I did something so rude and disrespectful.

"How to do?"

"How do you explain that?"

"Did I do something stupid?"

"Me, a female PhD student, suddenly acting stupid? Isn't that ridiculous?"

Zhang Xiaoxue hadn't figured out how to answer yet.

The sound of a toilet flushing could be heard from inside the bathroom.

She had just turned to slip away when Zhao Ruilong opened the door and called out:

"I'm asking you something!"

Why did you suddenly come back?

"They opened the door without even knocking."

"Do you know that this is very impolite and scary?"

After giving Zhao Ruilong a scolding, he turned on the tap and bent down to wash his hands.

Zhang Xiaoxue stood motionless in place.

No matter how high your IQ is, your brain is a complete mess right now.

I can't think of any reason or reasonable explanation.

Faced with questioning, he could only subconsciously lower his head.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Just say what's on your mind!"

"Why do you look so wronged and pitiful? As if I did something wrong."

Zhao Ruilong tore off two pieces of paper and wiped his hands.

Seeing that Zhang Xiaoxue buried her head even deeper, he took two steps forward, bent down, and glanced to the side.

"What's wrong? Are you about to cry?"

"You've seen right through me, so I'm the one who should be crying, right?"

Zhang Xiaoxue bit her lip tightly.

I don't know why, but I suddenly have a strong hatred for Zhao Ruilong.

She glared at him fiercely before turning to leave.

But Zhao Ruilong suddenly grabbed her.

"Where are you going?"

"At least apologize!"

Zhang Xiaoxue burst into tears instantly.

"You bastard!!"

"..."

Zhao Ruilong's eyes widened in astonishment.

I have absolutely no idea what I did wrong.

Even though I'm the 'victim,' why am I being called a bastard?

Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue looking at him with a wronged expression, her eyes brimming with tears, her gaze filled with resentment and anger.

Having lived two lives, Zhao Ruilong may not be a seasoned veteran in love, but he is definitely not an naive and clueless straight man.

Upon seeing Zhang Xiaoxue's appearance, Zhao Ruilong quickly understood.

He knew for sure that this woman was 100% in love with him.

In fact, after the two of them went through the car-smashing incident together last year, Zhao Ruilong invited her to visit Jingzhou. He could clearly sense that she had feelings for him.

Perhaps due to factors such as her identity, education, and family background, she was afraid to open her heart to this philandering man.

But once the heart is moved, there's no use in being rational.

Even though one of them was in Handong and the other in Linjiang, they were thousands of kilometers apart.

But ever since they became QQ friends, Zhang Xiaoxue has been chatting with him almost every day.

Even when we talk about things, sometimes it's business, and sometimes it's about current events at home and abroad.

But how can adult men and women chatting so frequently be just ordinary friends or business partners?

Moreover, she turned down her work and traveled across most of Beijing to attend this private event to support herself. How could it be just because she likes driving?

I drank too much tonight, and she took me back to my room. She even stayed, poured me water, chatted with me, and said she would watch me fall asleep before leaving.

result……

She's gone to such lengths, yet I'm telling her to go back and rest.

Wouldn't I then become an unromantic jerk who betrays good intentions?

only……

Zhao Ruilong knew very well that Zhang Xiaoxue was different from ordinary girls.

We can't just accept anyone and then abandon them after we've done our bidding.

Like the Gao Xiaoqin sisters, Chen Yang, Qin Shuang, Xiao Ya, Lin Qiuya, Liu Yufei, and so on.

Their connections and background ensure that even if you fall out with them, it won't affect your main mission of defying fate.

But what about Zhang Xiaoxue?

She is the beloved daughter of Zhang Jinchong, the Secretary of Linjiang Province!

Zhang Jinchong was able to become the top official in Linjiang, a major economic province.

He is not only no ordinary person, but also has a promising political future.

If I don't get along with Zhang Xiaoxue and we fall out...

They might turn Zhang Jingchong into their mortal enemy.

I'm not so horny or starving that I'm obsessed with sex.

How can we only seek momentary pleasure and disregard the future?

It's not like there aren't beautiful women around me.

therefore.

A small leak will sink a great ship!

Knowing that he couldn't give Zhang Xiaoxue the future she wanted, he had to remain unmoved.

She fell in love, her IQ dropped, and she lost her sense of proportion.

But I can't act impulsively and forget my mission.

Seeing Zhang Xiaoxue burst into tears, crying harder and harder.

Zhao Ruilong knew that the time to test himself had come.

If you soften your heart at this moment, you could very well make a big mistake.

Taking a deep breath and gritting his teeth, Zhao Ruilong silently warned himself.

"Be careful! Be extremely careful!"

"Getting her might be easy, but what about afterwards?"

"She wants me to marry her properly and to love only her."

"Then what about Lu Yike, the Gao Xiaoqin sisters, Chen Yang, Qin Shuang...?"

"Everyone else is fine, but what about Lu Yike? She's my girlfriend, Zhao Ruilong's acknowledged girlfriend."

"Even though we're not officially married, she's due to give birth to my baby in a few months!"

"If I abandon Lu Yike and marry Zhang Xiaoxue, wouldn't that be abandoning my wife and children?"

"Becoming Zhang Jingchong's son-in-law will help me defy fate, but it will also offend Lu Changsheng!"

"Besides... I finally managed to transmigrate into the body of a powerful and wealthy family, how could I abandon a whole forest for the sake of a single tree?"

After thinking it over, Zhao Ruilong let go of her hand.

He turned around and grabbed a few tissues from the bathroom.

He could have easily wiped away Zhang Xiaoxue's tears by simply raising his hand.

But thinking about it, such an action is still too ambiguous.

This might deepen the misunderstanding and make Zhang Xiaoxue mistakenly believe that she has also fallen in love with her.

So in the end, Zhao Ruilong simply handed over the paper.

Just like a real scumbag, he said it in a very calm tone:

Why are you doing this? Stop crying and wipe your tears!

"Why should I wipe? I'm not wiping!!"

Zhang Xiaoxue glared at Zhao Ruilong with resentment in her eyes.

Zhao Ruilong sighed.

He took a step back, leaned against the wall, and lit a cigarette.

"To be honest, no man could resist a beauty like you who is both talented and beautiful and has a prominent background."

"As a man who is both psychologically and physiologically normal, I, Zhao Ruilong, am naturally no exception..."

"Just say 'but'!"

Zhang Xiaoxue looked angry.

Zhao Ruilong raised his hand and took a drag of his cigarette.

"But...no one is perfect!"

"I am rich, powerful, and have a good background, as well as some unusual cleverness."

"My looks and temperament are not bad either. Even if I am not the best among men, there are not many who are better than me."

Zhang Xiaoxue gave a cold laugh.

"You really know how to flatter yourself!"

"Is not it?"

Zhao Ruilong raised his hand and said, "Looking across the entire Dragon Kingdom, there are indeed powerful and wealthy scions with more backgrounds than me, but can they be more talented than me? Can they be as proficient in multiple high-tech fields as I am, and also write lyrics and screenplays?"

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me your shortcomings!"

Zhang Xiaoxue wiped away her tears.

Zhao Ruilong took a puff of his cigarette.

"My only flaw is probably my womanizing!"

"Pooh!"

Zhang Xiaoxue retorted angrily, "You're clearly a lecher!"

Zhao Ruilong nodded with a smile.

"Whether it's being a womanizer, a lecher, a philanderer, or a scoundrel."

"Anyway, I, Zhao Ruilong, don't want to be bound by marriage or love in my life."

"I'm not the kind of person who 'wants to be with one person until we grow old'; I'm the kind of person who 'doesn't care about forever, but only about having had it!'"

Zhang Xiaoxue snorted coldly.

"I think you'd be a romantic ghost even if you died under the peony!"

Zhao Ruilong nodded slightly.

"more or less!"

"Anyway, I'm just a fickle person."

"Even if some women are with me simply for fame and fortune, I don't care."

"As long as you're with me and serve me well, you can leave anytime you earn enough!"

Zhang Xiaoxue bit her lip and squinted slightly.

"Does Lu Yike know how much of a jerk you are? Do her parents know?"

Zhao Ruilong smiled faintly.

"Even if I didn't tell them explicitly, they should be able to guess."

"It would be strange if a man like me didn't have a multitude of beautiful women around him."

"Moreover, Lu Yike told me that all she asked of me was that when I was with her, I should be devoted to her wholeheartedly."

Zhang Xiaoxue took a deep breath and raised her head slightly.

"Then you did it?"

"Of course!"

Zhao Ruilong said decisively:

"I can guarantee that when I'm with her, I will be completely devoted to her."

"If you're so devoted to her, why don't you marry her?"

Zhang Xiaoxue asked curiously.

Zhao Ruilong gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Have you forgotten? I've been to jail!"

"I'm a fucking convict with a criminal record!"

"What if I marry her and our child wants to join the military or go into politics in the future?"

"With such a good family background, it's a waste that they can't even pass the political background check."

Zhang Xiaoxue's lips twitched slightly, and she gave an awkward smile.

"I'm sorry, I completely forgot you've been to jail."

"It's okay!"

Zhao Ruilong took a deep drag on his cigarette.

"So I'm not a perfect man. I have flaws and a criminal record. I'm not good enough for you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoxue's smile instantly froze.

The previously ambiguous relationship has now been completely exposed.

"Xiaoxue, we are both adults, and neither of us are idiots."

“I know very well that you have feelings for me, and I also know that you finally mustered up the courage tonight to take things further with me.”

"But to be honest, I'm a scumbag. I can't give you a lifelong, faithful happiness. You really don't need to waste your time on me."

"And don't be fooled by my current success and wealth. If my father doesn't advance further, you should know what the consequences will be."

Zhao Ruilong looked at Zhang Xiaoxue with a serious expression, without a smile.

Others may not understand.

But Zhang Xiaoxue, who was also from a privileged background, naturally understood it all too well.

Zhao Ruilong's father, Zhao Lichun, wanted to go further.

Zhang Xiaoxue's father, Zhang Jingchong, who was also a high-ranking official, certainly wanted the same thing.

But the system is pyramid-shaped, with each person in their assigned position.

The higher you go, the fewer positions there are, and the fiercer the competition for advancement becomes.

Once someone has power, they don't want to lose it easily; they all want as much as possible.

Those who aspire to advance to higher positions and wield greater power will inevitably find it increasingly difficult to climb higher.

So how can we make progress?

Waiting for seniority to accumulate experience and for those above to retire and take their place is obviously too slow.

More people will choose to achieve outstanding results, bring down those in power, and push their competitors away.

In addition, wherever there are people, there is a world of its own.

Driven by self-interest, factions and cliques will inevitably form.

If your people improve, how can mine improve?

To achieve their goals, they will naturally resort to any means necessary.

When the power to be fought for reaches a certain level.

The struggle became a fight to the death.

Zhang Xiaoxue remembers it very clearly.

When my father was promoted from the county to the city, he was framed and falsely accused, and subjected to a barrage of reports.

Someone secretly broke into the house through the window and put tens of thousands of yuan in cash in the closet and under the bed, just to smear the father for alleged corruption.

Some people also reported that the father had questionable conduct, saying that he had maintained an inappropriate relationship with a female employee at the guesthouse for a long time.

Even Zhang Xiaoxue herself...

Not only on his way home from school, but he was also inexplicably stopped and slapped twice.

He was once blocked on the road by thugs who threatened him with a knife, demanding that he play with them.

therefore.

Zhang Xiaoxue knew very well how ruthless the political struggles were.

How despicable and shameless political enemies can be in their pursuit of power and profit.

now.

Zhao Ruilong spared no expense in investing trillions of yuan to develop a high-quality economy in order to help his father advance further.

Can the person being replaced, and their competitors, sleep soundly and ignore the situation?

They probably wish the father and son would commit a terrible mistake and die a violent death.

"My son and I seem to be making great strides, but in reality, we are walking on thin ice!"

"It's a bit of an exaggeration to say that my life is in danger at any moment, but I dare not let my guard down until the very last moment!"

After taking a deep drag of his cigarette, Zhao Ruilong stared intently at Zhang Xiaoxue.

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back!"

"If I don't help my father rise to power, I'll die with my eyes wide open in disbelief!"

"But you are different. You have other options. You don't need to risk your life with me!"

"Besides, I already have quite a few women around me, and I can't be by your side all the time!"

"Give up on me, Xiaoxue. With your talent, looks, education, and background, you absolutely deserve better!"

Having said all he wanted to say, Zhao Ruilong didn't want to add anything more.

Zhang Xiaoxue lowered her head and bit her lip, pondering for a moment.

A few seconds later, he suddenly looked up.

"So you're allowed to be a scumbag, but I'm not allowed to be a scumbag woman?"

"We're all from privileged backgrounds, who's afraid of who?"

Zhao Ruilong was taken aback.

"What do you mean? What are you going to do?"

There was a snap.

The handbag fell to the ground.

Zhang Xiaoxue suddenly strode forward.

Before Zhao Ruilong could react, he had already covered his face with his hands.

Then, their lips sealed together, and two streams of hot tears fell...