The meeting ended.
Chairs scraped against the floor and papers were gathered without urgency. The silence that hung in the air was the kind that followed bad news, not decisions.
Zimo stood outside the boardroom as everyone walked out one by one, no one seeming relieved. Only a few whispers could be heard here and there.
As everyone had left, Zimo walked in and found Gu Yuxuan and Lingling both staring blankly ahead. An untouched glass of water sat in front of Gu Yuxuan, pulling in his gaze.
"I don't take this as a good sign", Zimo said as he sat down. "What's wrong?"
Lingling looked up at him. "Half of the business owners are not willing to move back", she said, pouting her lips in anger. "They are afraid Gu'Ai Square will collapse again before even reaching a break even. "Mr Gu already compensated them generously, and even that wasn't enough to reassure them."
"We can't blame them", Gu Yuxuan said. "After all, it was me who wanted to get something out of it."
