My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 189 - 176: Strategic Resolve

Xu Manning's little actions under the table went unnoticed by the others. The women continued to eat and chat, and maybe it was the first glass of red wine that loosened them up, their relationships seemed closer, and they thoroughly opened up their conversations.

"This sandwich tastes good, with beef inside. Sister Tianxuan, Professor Zhao, you should try it."

"Hmm, it's the first time I've known he has such good cooking skills. Do you three usually have him cook?"

"I cook with him. But recently I've been busy with work, and he hasn't had time either, so we mostly eat at the cafeteria or order takeout."

These two were chatting about everyday matters, while Xu Manning was discussing work with Huang Tianxuan.

"Sister Tianxuan, did you join the family business after college too?"

"Yes."

"So how did you deal with the issue of authority? Those subordinates are older than me and more capable, and a few are disobedient at work, always wanting to do things their way..."

The two girls were discussing corporate management, basically, the art of capitalists, how to elegantly and gracefully exploit the labor of employees.

Li Peifeng gradually felt at ease; this situation was stable, not as risky as he had imagined. His intimacy score of forty points with Old Zhao was preserved, with chances for recovery later on.

If Zhao Qingge were to base her suspicion on just chatting with Xu Manning and Wu Wenyue, it would only fuel her doubts, but she wouldn't be certain that the three of them had any undisclosed relationship because there was no evidence.

After all, Xu Manning and Wu Wenyue valued their reputations too and knew that if the matter among the three was leaked, they would face immense pressure themselves, so they always acted overly intimate in front of Zhao Qingge...

Huh?

Li Peifeng's peripheral vision caught sight of a fair bare foot extending from Xu Manning's direction. His hand holding the rice bowl paused slightly, as that little foot was not content with pinching his leg but started to rub and tug, forcing Mr. Li's shoe off, placing it directly on his foot.

The five creamy-white toes danced nimbly and adorably on top, with varying pressure, as if playing a piano, touching his heartstrings. Yet, Xu Manning maintained a serious face at the dining table, attentively listening to Huang Tianxuan speak.

You big pervert, control yourself!!

Li Peifeng, fearing a bigger commotion, dared not struggle, and just removed his apron, then his glasses, noticing that the halo of his spokesperson image decreased by thirty percent, thinking this might also cool Xu Manning's ardor.

"Why aren't you eating?"

To his surprise, Zhao Qingge showed kindness and served Li Peifeng a dish, which he gratefully devoured, unaware of the next words from Old Zhao that nearly made him spit it out...

"How's your chat with those girls going?"

In a flash, three pairs of eyes turned towards him!

"Those girls??"

"He's chatting with other girls?"

"When did this happen?!"

Li Peifeng faintly realized his mentor's malicious plan, his heart sank...

"Last week, Peifeng met my mother. Upon hearing that he was single, my mom insisted on setting him up." Zhao Qingge smiled amiably, but to Mr. Li, it was utterly despicable.

"Oh?" Xu Manning squinted her eyes: "He's single? I really didn't know that."

Wu Wenyue seemed to feel a back pain, taking a sharp breath while laughing: "Indeed, I haven't heard Xiaofeng mention this, was this really the case?"

Huang Tianxuan, sipping her wine with interest, watched from the sidelines, while Zhao Qingge pressed on: "Apparently, Peifeng got introduced to quite a few people, students from Yandu University, even from the Finance University, I've heard there were over ten in just a week."

Shifting her tone, Zhao Qingge continued looking at Li Peifeng, smiling: "So? After chatting with so many, do you fancy any? Met with any?"

What a clever move to remove the scaffold after the job is done, a classic set-up tactic!!!

Xu Manning's foot was no longer playing the piano, but now stomping hard.

Li Peifeng remained stoic: "Instructor, you know I agreed to the blind dates out of necessity, Auntie was too enthusiastic to decline! Who would have thought she was not only enthusiastic but also serious and responsible, continually sending me WeChat contacts. After adding them, I didn't know how to chat with them, told Auntie it wouldn't work, yet she kept introducing seven or eight more, barely chatted, not to mention meeting."

"Please do inform Auntie next time, not to introduce anyone anymore, I don't have extra time for romance now, just want to study!!"

Zhao Qingge's gaze swept over Wu Wenyue and Xu Manning, observing their reactions thoroughly, nodding slightly: "I can tell her, but you need to solve your personal matters quickly as well... By the way, Manning, didn't you date Peifeng before, why did it end?"

Xu Manning pouted: "We weren't suited."

Wu Wenyue coughed lightly: "Professor Zhao, let me toast to you."

"Sorry."

Zhao Qingge, as if suddenly realizing, raised her glass, apologetically finishing her wine.

"Let's have one too, can't be left behind."

Huang Tianxuan retracted her gaze that had been fixated on Li Peifeng's face, smiling, raising her glass and clinking it with Xu Manning's, leaving only Li Peifeng behind, wanting the meal to end quickly, not wanting to drink, feeling indifferent to being left out, swiftly finishing his plate, as if reminding everyone: "I'm full."

You all should quickly finish and go home!

"Pour me some wine."

Zhao Qingge didn't care if he was full or not, but had Li Peifeng continue pouring wine, seemingly attempting to use alcohol to loosen Xu Manning and Wu Wenyue's tongues for her to probe their relationships?

Li Peifeng was certainly against it, Zhao's mention of Li Xin introducing potential partners almost blew up the two girls, he thought if not for his perfume, Xu Manning and Wu Wenyue might have flipped the table.

Thus, Li Peifeng not only refused to pour her wine but also advised: "Don't drink anymore, it's late, and you have work tomorrow, don't you?"

Zhao Qingge didn't respond, just when she was about to reach for the decanter, Xu Manning got up and poured for him, her foot still pressing hard on Li Peifeng's...

"Red wine won't get you drunk, let me pour it for you, I also have the driver's number, they'll be here in a few minutes."

"Thank you." Zhao Qingge raised an eyebrow and glared at Li Peifeng, seemingly intentional.

Xu Manning, you're really helping others count their money after being sold!

Li Peifeng was also fired up, both at Xu Manning and Zhao Qingge. After the former sat down, he withdrew his foot from hers, turned the tables, and pinched Xu Manning's toe with his own.

"You... are you full?"

Xu Manning glared at him fiercely, her eyes filled with a mix of annoyance and teasing: "If you're full, then get off the table!"

"I'm full, but I still want to drink."

Li Peifeng tilted his head and picked up the wine decanter, almost filling the wine glass to the brim.

His plan was simple: Old Zhao, you want to drink and push others to drink? Then I'll play the trump card, drink all the wine and leave nothing for you. Anyway, my liver has been altered and functions far beyond a normal person's. Forget one bottle, even drinking two bottles myself is nothing!

The master and student were stealthily competing, but Li Peifeng's action displeased the others.

Zhao Qingge frowned, saying: "You're acting like you're drinking beer."

Xu Manning was also angry: "You drank it all; can we still drink?"

"Exactly, save some for me; I'm just out as well."

"Yueyue, you just got hurt; you shouldn't drink much."

"This isn't a serious injury; it's fine."

Li Peifeng ignored their protests, lifted his brimming wine glass, and gulped down more than half in one go, savoring the lingering fragrance between his lips and teeth, releasing a long breath: "Hmm, good wine!"

After speaking, he was about to fill up again, but Xu Manning snatched the decanter, fiercely saying: "This wine is very expensive; you drank almost half, no more for you!!"

"I won't drink if I can't." Li Peifeng casually glanced at the remaining wine, estimating there was just half a bottle left, which would provide enough for each of the four girls to have half a glass. Given their drinking capacity, they wouldn't be too drunk, just lightly tipsy at most, of course, barring other external factors.

For instance, perfume, that thing seems to be intoxicating too.

"Professor Zhao, haha... you're pushing Li Peifeng, but honestly, I think you should be more anxious. Aren't you single too? Are you not planning to get married?"

Wu Wenyue dared to joke with Zhao Qingge, seemingly in retaliation for her earlier questioning about why Xu Manning and Li Peifeng broke up...

My Brother Yue, so mighty and domineering!

Li Peifeng nodded secretly, that's how it should be done, turn passive into active.

Zhao Qingge licked her lips: "Haven't met the right one."

"What do you consider the right one?"

Xu Manning chimed in: "Any standards?"

What standards do you have? Your standard is me!

Li Peifeng resisted Zhao Qingge's strategic maneuvers and successfully undermined her drinking plan. Watching the four stunning beauties of different styles at the table, thinking about how they all had ambiguous moments with him or had developed deep connections, he felt a bit inflated.

Although his liver was altered, providing stronger metabolism capabilities and the swift ability to flush out with urine, increasing his alcohol tolerance and ensuring quick sobering, but he still was human; drinking too much too quickly would still lead to intoxication. That large sip of red wine just now was too rash, and within half a minute, Li Peifeng began to feel slightly tipsy, his rationality decreasing, facing this scene with a bit of excitement...

"No standard really, just someone I can get along with."

Zhao Qingge responded perfunctorily, then lowered her head to eat, but the hand holding the chopsticks inexplicably paused as she felt someone kicking her under the table!

"That standard isn't low; finding someone you can get along with isn't easy. As the saying goes, among thousands of guests, not one is a confidante."

Li Peifeng said with emotion while gently stroking Zhao Qingge's exposed foot with his left foot beneath the table.

Because Zhao Qingge was wearing a dark grey professional outfit with sheer stockings, very delicate, very smooth.

Don't misunderstand, Li Peifeng wasn't just brazenly trying to take advantage, he was playing a major strategic chess game.

He aimed to prompt Zhao Qingge to finish her meal and leave quickly through this approach.

As they say, when a toad crawls on your foot, it doesn't bite but it annoys you!

I don't believe Old Zhao can withstand this!

In response, Zhao Qingge simply glanced at him, her eyelids drooping slightly, moving the hair on her forehead behind her ear: "Go with the flow."

Go with the flow?

What does that mean? I can touch freely?

Li Peifeng was shocked and uncertain when…

"Have you met someone you can get along with?"

Xu Manning suddenly teased, using both feet under the table, slipping off her shoes, bare foot stretching towards Li Peifeng's direction... only to step on one?

Xu Manning was somewhat dissatisfied with her accuracy, but it didn't matter; looking under the table would attract attention.

"Aren't we chatting?"

Li Peifeng deflected, now both feet occupied, one caressing Zhao Qingge's nylon-clad foot, Old Zhao seemed oblivious while eating; the other held down by Xu Manning's bare foot, playing piano on his foot-top, Miss Xu's gaze remained playful, proud, with that look towards trash.

Precisely at this time, possibly due to fullness, or the faint fragrance of Li Peifeng's perfume, Wu Wenyue and Huang Tianxuan fell under the influence of alcohol, perfume, and aura, abandoning the dishes on the table, staring intently at Li, their eyes dreamy or with subtle tenderness, especially Huang Tianxuan, unable to conceal the peach blossoms in her eyes, even lightly biting her lip.

"Huh, you get along with everyone!"

Wu Wenyue mocked, muttering to herself: "Is today Monday?"

Hmm, Monday, it's your shift!

Li Peifeng was thoroughly enjoying, especially being sneakily intimate with Zhao Qingge and Xu Manning while the other two were wide-eyed, oh, about to soar... However, amid this secretly uncomfortable hard work, Li Peifeng silently murmured;

"Second brother, you must endure, aim for long-term objectives and principal contradictions amid complex circumstances; have strategic perseverance! You must not stand up and flip the table!!"