Chapter 40 Consultation

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As soon as Lu Ranran stepped through the company doors, her secretary, Julian, hurried up to her with a look of anxious panic, clutching the phone tightly. "President Lu, President Zhao from the bank called personally to demand repayment. He said our loan project has reached its final deadline and requires your immediate attention."
Julian's voice carried a hint of panic, and she handed the phone to Lu Ranran as if it were a burning hot potato.
Frowning deeply, Lu Ranran took the phone. Right by her ear came President Zhao’s steady yet somewhat authoritative voice, as heavy as gathering storm clouds: "President Lu, the loan matter can no longer be delayed. I hope you can resolve this as soon as possible, or else bear the consequences."
Lu Ranran's expression instantly turned solemn, her gaze piercing as she looked out at the bustling noise of the metropolis outside the window, while a stormy turmoil churned within her heart.
Hanging up the phone with a heavy frown, Lu Ranran strode briskly across the company lobby, the sound of her high heels striking the floor crisp and urgent.
She pushed open the door and headed straight for President Zhao's office, walking in without knocking, appearing somewhat rushed.
President Zhao sat behind a massive desk, his brow similarly furrowed as he flipped through documents, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes.
Seeing Lu Ranran, he put down the documents and sighed, his tone carrying a touch of helplessness: "President Lu, the pressure on the bank to recover funds is growing heavier by the day. Your company's loan can no longer be delayed. I understand your difficulties, but rules cannot be broken. I hope you can understand the bank's position."
His gaze pierced through his lenses, staring directly at Lu Ranran. The dim indoor lighting illuminated the grave expressions on both of their faces.
Lu Ranran stood before President Zhao's desk, her hands clenched into tight fists, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
She looked straight into President Zhao's eyes, trying to find a glimmer of turning the tide in his gaze, but saw only cold reality.
"President Zhao, our company has been diligently searching for a solution, but our account truly lacks sufficient floating capital at the moment."
Lu Ranran's voice carried a hint of entreaty, yet it could not mask the helplessness and despair within.
President Zhao gently shook his head, his gaze unwavering: "President Lu, I understand your plight, but the bank's rules cannot be broken. I hope you can gather the funds as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will genuinely be severe."
The dim indoor lighting stretched their figures into long shadows cast upon the cold floor, adding an even greater sense of heaviness and oppression.
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Lu Ranran's heart sank to rock bottom. Looking at President Zhao's cold, bureaucratic face, she felt as though she were witnessing the impending desperate abyss of her own company.
She opened her mouth, wanting to argue her case further, but swallowed the words back down.
She knew that pleading at this moment would only make her appear even more humble and helpless.
Taking a deep breath, she forced her voice to sound firmer: "President Zhao, I will figure out a way to raise the funds as soon as possible. I hope you can give us a little more time." With that, she turned and left. The sound of her high heels tapping against the floor echoed through the empty office, every step appearing so heavy. Her retreating figure looked lonely yet unyielding under the dim lights, as if telling the world that she would never give up easily.
Stepping out of President Zhao's office, Lu Ranran felt a heaviness in her heart as if she were carrying a thousand-pound boulder. She walked down the corridor, every step feeling like treading on the sharp edge of a knife—painful and powerless.
At the end of the corridor was a massive floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, the city was still brilliantly lit with a continuous stream of traffic, but all this prosperity had nothing to do with her.
She stopped in her tracks, gazing blankly and dazedly at the world outside the window. Suddenly, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye, traced down her cheek, and fell onto the cold floor, instantly vanishing without a trace.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to suppress the pain and despair in her heart, but that heaviness surged like a tidal wave, making it impossible for her to breathe.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, Lu Ranran's fingers trembled slightly as she dialed Chu Linchen's number.
On the other end of the line, Chu Linchen's voice carried a hint of surprise and tenderness: "Ranran, what's wrong? You sound upset."
Taking a deep breath, Lu Ranran forced her voice to sound calm: "Linchen, I... I have an urgent matter right now. Can we meet? There are some things I need your help with."
Hearing this, Chu Linchen's tone instantly turned serious: "Of course. Where are you right now? I'll come over immediately."
Gazing at the glimmering city lights outside the window, Lu Ranran felt a myriad of complex emotions: "I'm at the company, right outside President Zhao's office. Can... can you come quickly?"
With that, she gently hung up the phone, turned to lean against the wall, closed her eyes, and silently prayed in her heart that Chu Linchen's arrival would bring a glimmer of hope.
Lu Ranran walked quickly out of the bank and drove straight to the Chu Corporation.
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Upon arrival, she went directly to the reception desk and stated that she was here to see Chu Linchen.
The receptionist smiled and efficiently processed her registration, personally guiding her to the elevator that led directly to the floor housing Chu Linchen's office.
The elevator doors slowly opened, and Lu Ranran stepped out into a spacious and bright corridor flanked by green plants, the air filled with an elegant fragrance.
Following the receptionist's directions, she gently knocked on the door of Chu Linchen's office.
A deep and powerful "Come in" echoed from within. Lu Ranran pushed the door open and immediately caught sight of Chu Linchen sitting behind his desk.
He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, with handsome features and a gaze that radiated gentleness and concern.
Seeing Lu Ranran, he immediately stood up, walked around the desk, and headed toward her.
As Lu Ranran stepped into Chu Linchen's office, their eyes met, and Chu Linchen's gentleness seemed to pierce through the gloom in her heart.
She spoke slowly, her voice tinged with a mix of resolve and compromise: "Linchen, I've thought about it. The current situation is unfavorable to both of us. I have a proposal that might allow us both to step back and find a wider horizon. I will contribute forty percent of the funding, and you will hold a sixty-percent stake. This way, you will have a greater voice in the company while also resolving my immediate crisis. What do you think? Is this acceptable?"
With that, she waited nervously for Chu Linchen's reply, her hands unconsciously intertwined, her eyes holding both expectation and trepidation.
Hearing this, Chu Linchen frowned slightly, his deep gaze fixed on Lu Ranran as if weighing something. The office fell into a brief silence, broken only by the occasional sound of distant traffic from outside the window.
Slowly walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window, he gazed out at the city, his back appearing firm and resolute.
Moments later, he turned around, his eyes flashing with a complex light: "Ranran, I will carefully consider your proposal and talk about it then. Is that alright?"
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