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Chapter 76

This once ice-cold CEO couldn’t maintain her frosty demeanor anymore, trying hard to seem amiable.

“I’m sorry, President Zhang, but President Lu is very busy. He won’t see you without an appointment,” the receptionist said with a polite but distant smile.

President Lu had already given strict orders to refuse Zhang Ziqin, regardless of who she brought with her.

A glimmer of disappointment flickered in her bright eyes, although she had anticipated this outcome. Still, she couldn’t help feeling a bit unwilling. However, Zhang Ziqin quickly shook off that feeling and perked up.

Zhang Ziqin had already decided to repay everything she owed to Lu Li. A few rejections were nothing. After all, Lu Li had pursued her diligently for eight whole years!

Having been stopped at the company’s entrance repeatedly back then, she now understood all too well how that must have felt.

“Then… will President Lu come out for lunch? I can wait for him here.” She asked the receptionist, hopeful. With her status, when had she ever been so courteous to a mere receptionist?

But Zhang Ziqin knew this receptionist must have been instructed by Lu Li, as she had done the same thing in the past to dismiss Lu Li when she didn’t want to see him.

“If only I had known today, why the deeds of yesterday?” Watching the proud CEO showing such an expression, the receptionist couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her, thinking to herself.

She had been the most direct witness to Zhang Ziqin’s transformation. From her initially icy demeanor to now, even speaking with a bit of flattery.

Shaking her head silently, she thought if only Zhang Ziqin had seized just one opportunity back then, things wouldn’t have come to this.

Only after losing did she understand the value of what she had.

Such people truly aren’t worth pitying.

“I’m sorry, President Zhang. President Lu doesn’t wish to see you,” the receptionist said, though it was harsh, she spoke the truth.

Zhang Ziqin’s face stiffened for a moment, and she stood frozen, fighting the urge to cry. She was well aware of Lu Li’s current attitude towards her. It was not just a lack of love but also hatred. She had always been unwilling to accept it, always harboring some hope.

Maybe Lu Li just wanted her to apologize. Maybe he just wanted her to experience what he had gone through, or perhaps it was Lu Li’s strategy of retreat.

Zhang Ziqin didn’t mind and even felt a bit gleeful, thinking this might mean Lu Li still had her in his heart. She was willing to accept everything; these were all debts she owed Lu Li.

At this point in her previous life, Lu Li hadn’t completely given up hope, but reality was cruel. It wouldn’t leave any room for expectations.

Shattering all her illusions, Lu Li had truly stopped loving her.

Now by his side were Chen Xiaoyi, the girl, and Cao Yingying, the woman full of him. What was she, Zhang Ziqin? Just a woman who only hurt Lu Li, deserved to be abandoned.

Clutching her heart, as if it were being torn apart, the intense pain made her struggle to pull herself together.

“Alright, I’ll come back tomorrow!” She managed to say before leaving Lu Corporation.

“One year, eight years, eighty years, I’ll keep trying. One day, Lu Li will accept me again.” Wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Zhang Ziqin encouraged herself. If Lu Li could persevere for eight years, why should she give up?

She wouldn’t blame Lu Li. The situation they were in now was all her own doing.

The phone suddenly rang, irritation flashed in Zhang Ziqin’s eyes, but she composed herself and answered the call.

“What’s up!” The ice-cold CEO was back to her aloof demeanor.

“It’s terrible, President Zhang. A large amount of unfavorable online news about Zhang Company has suddenly appeared.”

“You should be able to handle such trivial matters yourselves, or are you saying you don’t even have the capability to deal with this?” Zhang Ziqin’s tone was harsh.

“It’s not that, President Zhang. The situation about Zhang Company is making waves now. We suspect there’s a manipulator behind the scenes, someone targeting our Zhang Company, and the stock price of Zhang Company has plummeted.”

Zhang Ziqin frowned: “I’ll be at the company right away.”

During this time, all she thought about was how to win Lu Li back, barely concerning herself with Zhang Company’s affairs. In her eyes, Lu Li was far more important than Zhang Company. Only after losing did she realize how precious Lu Li was to her.

“What’s going on?” Zhang Ziqin’s beautiful face looked grim, her icy tone showcasing her CEO demeanor.

The secretary hesitated before replying, cautious of Zhang Ziqin’s recent frequent visits to Lu Corporation.

“Speak,” Zhang Ziqin commanded with a cold gaze.

“President Zhang, those internet trolls came from nowhere, but Lu Corporation has been confirmed to be involved in this smear campaign against our Zhang Company, and even… the board of directors suspects this was orchestrated by Lu Corporation.”

The secretary put it politely. The executives and shareholders of Zhang Company were almost certain this was a targeted strike by Lu Corporation, but knowing her president’s daily visits to Lu Corporation, she didn’t want to be too absolute.

“Lu Corporation?” Her stern gaze turned blank.

“Uh… They made no attempt to hide their actions, openly attacking our Zhang Company,” the secretary nodded, thinking maybe President Lu was acting out of spurned love, but hadn’t President Zhang turned her affections back?

A grown man being so petty.

Zhang Ziqin’s face paled, bitterness flashing in her eyes.

“Are you telling me there’s no chance for us anymore? But I just wanted to see you!” In Zhang Ziqin’s view, these recent attacks were warnings from Lu Li because she had repeatedly visited Lu Corporation, disturbing him.

“You underestimate me. You think attacking Zhang Company will make me give up? No way. Compared to you, what is Zhang Company? I owe you so much; consider this a partial repayment of my debts!”

Misinterpreting the attack as a warning from Lu Li, she thought he didn’t want her visiting Lu Corporation anymore, a mistaken assessment on her part.