Indeed, neither French nor European law said it was illegal for one man to have this kind of relationship with four women. As long as all parties consented, it was not illegal.
"B-but you, you're setting a bad example, making some of your fans or younger players copy your fooling around. Wouldn't that throw everything into chaos? That's exactly the kind of behavior that crosses moral boundaries and nobody wants to see."
The reporter from The Sun said.
"Ha! Then let me ask you, does Denmark allowing bestiality cross moral boundaries? Do the brothels in red-light districts all over Europe cross moral boundaries? Does the Czech Republic making adult action movies cross moral boundaries?
"Do those politicians and tycoons who casually play with women cross moral boundaries? I've also heard that missionaries at some churches are pedophiles. Does that cross moral boundaries? Why don't you condemn and question those things? Why come and question me, a foreigner whose behavior is legal and compliant?"
Almost all the reporters were dumbfounded. Was that the kind of razor-sharp answer a footballer should give?
Was this a boy of just eighteen?
Zhang Kuang was very different from those uneducated footballers in Europe who had been poor students. He even understood critical reasoning? Now this was interesting.
"But you can't deny that, as a footballer, you have to follow many club rules, and most clubs' rules don't allow players to indulge excessively in women, because it's bad for them."
A reporter said.
Zhang Kuang said, "What counts as indulging in women? If a married man has sex with his wife every night, does that count as indulging in women? Does that mean players can't get married? Because once they're dating or married, they certainly won't be able to resist having sex."
"That's different!"
"How is it different? Isn't it the same kind of relationship? Don't you fall asleep exhausted after getting your release just the same? What's the essential difference between doing the same thing with your wife or with several other women? There is no difference.
"Besides, it's not illegal, and it doesn't violate the team's management rules. It's not like slacking off in matches or training, or disrupting unity within the team. So tell me, what's the problem?"
Zhang Kuang shot back sharply.
The reporters looked at one another. This Chinese Zhang had some skill. He had actually left a whole crowd of reporters speechless with his questions. This was a first in football.
"But you're corrupting teenagers and setting a bad example for young players."
"If you're really afraid of corrupting teenagers, then close the brothels, declare those Czech filming crews illegal, shut down Denmark's bestiality venues, clear out the Netherlands' red-light districts, and put the powerful and wealthy under scrutiny for fooling around with women and children. Wouldn't that be more meaningful than keeping your eyes on my behavior?"
Zhang Kuang's tone was not heated, but it left the reporters with a helpless sense that they had no way to refute him.
"Aren't you worried that indulging in women will affect your career?" a reporter asked.
Zhang Kuang smiled and waved a hand. "Don't worry. I care more about my career than you do. I know how my behavior affects me. I'm an adult, and I'll take responsibility for my actions."
"Are you saying that many football clubs' rules for their players are wrong?" a reporter asked.
Zhang Kuang said, "I didn't say they were wrong. There's nothing wrong with using those rules to regulate young players under eighteen who lack self-control. But I'm eighteen. I'm an adult."
A reporter asked, "Zhang, you've scored nine goals in three league matches and currently rank sixth on the scoring chart. When do you think you'll climb to first?"
Zhang Kuang said, "Now that's the kind of question you should ask a player. Nine goals in three matches, so in another three or four matches, I should be first. That's very simple math."
"Huh? You're that confident you'll keep scoring two or three goals or more every match?"
"I have great confidence in myself. I'm a striker. My job is to keep scoring. That's my firm belief. The Golden Boot is my basic goal."
"Then what goals do you have beyond that basic goal?"
"After realizing my own value, helping the team win the championship. That's a basic quality a player should have."
"Then are you confident of winning the league title this year?"
"Of course I'm confident. But my confidence alone isn't enough. It also takes teamwork and effort from everyone at the club. After all, football isn't a sport where a single hero can win the championship alone."
The reporters were surprised by how maturely Zhang Kuang handled the media. He did not seem like an eighteen-year-old youngster at all, but rather a seasoned old hand.
"Then..."
The reporters went on to ask many more questions, and Zhang Kuang answered them one by one. Once he saw that they had no more questions, he said goodbye and entered the training ground.
As soon as Zhang Kuang went in, everyone gave him a thumbs-up. They had all been listening to his interview outside and truly admired his ability to handle reporters. He was simply incredible.
Zhang Kuang smiled, then went to change into his gear and get ready for training.
"Zhang, you've got the air of a football superstar now. Honestly, none of our players can go back and forth with reporters like that," Hengbart said, patting Zhang Kuang on the shoulder.
"That's right, Zhang. Your answers were brilliant. Seeing those reporters unable to argue back really got me excited," Dennis Oliech said, nodding as well.
"Haha, those were all little things. Now..."
Just as Zhang Kuang was about to boast a little, head coach Fernandez arrived.
"All right, whatever you have to say can wait until after training. Time to train."
At Fernandez's words, everyone began training. Meanwhile, the reporters outside gathered around the perimeter of the training ground and started taking pictures. They were already there, after all, so they might as well make use of the trip.
But just an hour later, the news began appearing!
L'Équipe: "China's Zhang Kuang: Sleeping with four women is legal and compliant. Before criticizing me, criticize brothel owners, the powerful and wealthy, the church, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and so on"
The Sun: "What counts as indulging in women? Does exercising with your wife every night after marriage count?"
Le Monde: "Chinese Zhang effortlessly counters the reporters' onslaught"
Yomiuri Shimbun: "No Asian player in Europe has ever hit back at the global media like this"
United Daily News: "Zhang Kuang is great at scoring and great at playing with women, but his silver tongue is even greater"
Beyond the flurry of media reports, there were frenzied comments from netizens, and even wild teasing from the opposing team's head coach.
On February 5, at the pre-match press conference for Grenoble versus Auxerre in round 23 of Ligue 1, Grenoble's Bosnian head coach, Mohammed Bazdarevic, told the reporters:
"Yes, we're the bottom team. Against a strong Auxerre side, we'll try our best to defend well, especially against that Chinese Zhang in their team.
"The news has been full of him these past few days. He really is impressive-great at scoring, great at playing with women, and great at running his mouth. Our players are all very scared.
"But we have an Asian player in our squad too. Our number 22, Daisuke Matsui, is a Japan international. He told us not to fear that Chinese player, because China once suffered defeat at their hands. So what will the result be? Let's wait and see."
When the reporters put Mohammed's remarks to Fernandez, Fernandez shrugged.
"As everyone knows, we're a team that's not good at running our mouths. We only know how to use results to shut our opponents up. I don't know whether China has suffered defeat at Japan's hands, but I believe that in tomorrow's match, Chinese Zhang will definitely show that Japan international what an Asian cannon is."
When the exchange between the two head coaches spread online, both the Chinese and Japanese internet erupted.