Hidden truth, intricate love

Chapter 217 Success

The project is finally nearing completion. Thanks to the joint efforts of both teams, all challenges were overcome. Ultimately, this collaborative project has received widespread recognition within the industry and has become a benchmark case for both companies.

Li Hao stood backstage at the project launch, his speech in hand, his eyes fixed on Lin Yue. She was dressed in a stylish gown and chatting with a group of executives at the front desk. Her smile was confident and relaxed, as if all the fatigue was masked by success.

This time, she still didn't give Li Hao any extra glances, as if there was only a cooperative relationship between the two of them and nothing else.

After the press conference, the company held a grand celebration banquet to celebrate the project's success. Lin Yue was the center of attention, with countless people congratulating her. Her aura and charm were impossible to ignore. Li Hao, on the other hand, stood in a corner, a glass of wine in hand, his eyes following her.

Just then, a familiar voice broke his thoughts.

"Li Hao, are you still pretending to be profound here?" Gu Yao walked over with a wine glass, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Li Hao glanced at her coldly and said in a bad tone: "Gu Yao, what are you doing here? You are not welcome here."

Gu Yao smiled slightly, her gaze fixed on Lin Yue in the distance, with a hint of provocation: "Of course I came to see your 'partner'. Lin Yue is really a sight to behold. Why do you look so... embarrassed when you're standing next to her?"

Li Hao frowned and lowered his voice: "Gu Yao, I'm warning you for the last time. Don't sow discord again. If you still want to play these tricks, I will definitely not let you go."

Gu Yao's expression changed slightly, and then she put on a hypocritical smile: "Li Hao, I'm just reminding you kindly. A woman like Lin Yue no longer cares about you. Whatever you do will be useless."

Li Hao was too lazy to argue with her and simply turned and left. He walked to the other side with his wine glass, trying to calm his anger. However, Gu Yao's words were like a needle piercing his heart, making him realize once again the insurmountable gap between him and Lin Yue.

Li Hao mustered up his courage and finally walked over to Lin Yue, who was chatting with several colleagues. He stopped behind her and said softly, "Lin Yue, can we chat for a few minutes?"

Lin Yue turned around and looked at him, the smile on her face instantly fading. She was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay."

The two walked to a corner of the banquet hall, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly quiet.

"Lin Yue..." Li Hao hesitated for a moment and whispered, "This cooperation has been very successful. I really appreciate your hard work and dedication."

Lin Yue smiled slightly and said calmly: "Mr. Li, this is my duty, you don't have to thank me."

Li Hao felt a wave of frustration, but he still tried to continue: "I want to say...thank you and also say sorry. I know that no matter what I say, it can't make up for the past, but I really hope that at least you can see the changes I have made."

Lin Yue's eyes were indifferent, and her voice was calm and almost ruthless: "Li Hao, what happened in the past is in the past. Your change has nothing to do with me. I hope you can understand that our relationship ends here."

Li Hao's throat choked slightly. He wanted to say something, but found his words pale and powerless. He watched Lin Yue's back gradually disappear into the distance, his heart filled with endless pain and regret.

Shortly after the celebration, rumors about Lin Yue circulated within her company again. This time, they pointed to her "excessive closeness" with her project partners, even suggesting her success stemmed from a "special relationship." These rumors quickly spread within the company, significantly damaging Lin Yue's reputation.

When Lin Yue heard these rumors, she was furious but remained calm. She knew that someone must be deliberately targeting her, and the only possible suspect was Gu Yao.

Meanwhile, Li Hao also learned of the rumors. He immediately convened an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures with his team and took the initiative to contact Lin Yue's company to try to clarify the facts. However, Lin Yue chose to refuse his help.

"Mr. Li, thank you for your kindness, but I can handle these things myself." Lin Yue's tone was a little distant and cautious. "I don't want to be involved in anything related to you anymore."

Li Hao's heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that Lin Yue's refusal was not out of arrogance, but because she was completely disappointed in him. However, he could not tolerate Gu Yao's despicable behavior, and he could not bear to see Lin Yue hurt again because of his own mistakes.

Li Hao decided to privately investigate, trying to find the source of the rumors. He mobilized internal company resources and used various channels to find the person who spread the rumors. Soon, he discovered that the spread of these rumors was actually related to Gu Yao's circle.

When he found Gu Yao with the evidence, she still pretended to be innocent and said with a sneer, "Li Hao, are you wronging me again? Rumors are something I can't control."

Li Hao's eyes were cold and his voice was low: "Gu Yao, you've had enough. If you continue like this, I will make you pay for it."

Gu Yao's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly regained her confidence: "The price? Li Hao, you look so pitiful right now. Lin Yue doesn't care about anything you've done for her."

Li Hao was too lazy to argue with her anymore. He simply handed the evidence to the relevant departments and anonymously submitted a detailed clarification report to Lin Yue's company. He did not ask Lin Yue to know his efforts, but only hoped to do his best to clear her name.

---

Despite facing numerous obstacles, Lin Yue proved her innocence through her actions. She ruthlessly refuted those who questioned her in the company's senior management meeting and defended her reputation with precise data and facts.

"I don't need any 'special connections' to prove my worth," Lin Yue said firmly. "My abilities and achievements are clear to see. Any doubt is an insult to my professional ethics."

Her speech won the support of the company's top management, and the rumors gradually subsided. However, she never knew that Li Hao was quietly solving many problems for her behind the scenes.

---

Lin Yue's life returned to peace, but Li Hao's heart was still tormented by pain and regret. He stood in his office, gazing at the distant horizon, his heart filled with endless emptiness.

"Lin Yue, you will never know how much I regret it." He whispered, tears in his eyes.

The entanglement of fate remains unresolved, and the distance between the two seems to grow wider. Will their futures intersect again? Or will this relationship end in endless regret? Nothing remains to be seen.