Chapter 288 - Minor Dilemma

Before lunch, Zoey had to bid farewell to her friend as she went off to work. Their discussion was mostly about the story and Cora Ma found herself getting invested in the story. 

Why? It was simply because Zoey was narrating the story smoothly as if it had already happened. Heck. Cora Ma was an aspiring writer that needed time to think of the course of the path on where the story would go. 

On the other hand, Zoey seemed like she already knew what the story would be. She wasn't like this two days ago. Hence, Cora Ma could only assume Zoey had spent little time on that solid plot. 

"Anyway, before I go, don't spend all your savings gifting your boyfriend." Standing at the opened door, Cora Ma arched her right brow at Zoey as she remembered about Zoey and Ezekiel Tang's second anniversary. 

Although Zoey told her that she broke up with him, she wasn't fully convinced. Cora Ma even thought that her storytelling was just a diversion from this subject. 

"Sis, why would I spend a dime on trash?" Zoey chuckled, almost scoffed at how silly the word 'boyfriend' sounded. 

For a little while, Cora Ma glanced up at Zoey from head to toe, studying her. To be honest, Cora Ma couldn't discern when Zoey was lying or telling the truth. Still, one factor that made her a little convinced that Zoey finally found enlightenment was because she never talked bad about Ezekiel Tang. 

Whenever Zoey talked about Ezekiel Tang, Cora Ma cringed as her best friend sounded like a loyal believer. Those kinds of followers that worship a cult. 

"Good. I'll probably stay over later because you need to tell me what woke you up from being love drunk." Dropping the subject, Cora Ma informed before waving her hand. 

"Cora," Just as Cora Ma resumed to exit her office, Zoey called out which stopped the latter in her tracks. 

Turning to face Zoey, Cora Ma knitted her brows together. "What?"

��Take care and love ya!" Zoey beamed a bright grin on her lips, showing her even white teeth. 

Alas, her words and sweet expression made Cora Ma's shoulder shudder. "Z, you're really weird today." Not used by Zoey's sweetness, Cora Ma shook her head before heading out. 

Zoey chuckled as she didn't mind Cora Ma's reaction. After all, Zoey rarely expressed herself and blurted sweet things. Even to Ezekiel Tang, Zoey couldn't recall telling those three magical words 'I love you'. 

She would rather show it through her actions. But after having a second life, Zoey wanted to express herself more especially towards the people she cared for. 

One way or another, Zoey failed them in her previous life. When Matthew Xi died, she closed herself. That's why Cora Ma died so easily because Zoey had a hard time coping from losing her husband and child on the same day. 

If not for the fact that Vivian Xi came to check on her in the morgue that day, Zoey would have followed her husband and baby sooner. Alas, her attempt to take her own life got delayed because Vivian Xi had stopped her in the nick of time. 

And then Cora Ma's death... Zoey found herself like an engine that needed fuel to uncover the mystery of her best friend's and husband's death which weren't just mere accidents. 

That motivation to know the truth gave her the drive to live... and kill. In the end, it was all futile because she didn't even think twice before pulling that trigger. 

But now, she had another chance. Another chance to protect them; Another chance to be with them. Therefore, Zoey swore an oath that she wouldn't make the same mistake again. 

But for now...

"Boss Zhou!" Just as Zoey was deep in her thoughts, the office door suddenly opened as Melanie Xue called, snapping Zoey back to reality. 

"What?" 

"Err... we've ran out of ink." Hesitant, Melanie Xue scratched the back of her head as they had already run out of ink to print the designs they had to finish. 

"Ah? Why are you telling me? Go to the storage and change it!" Annoyed at this simple problem, Zoey clicked her tongue as she strode towards her desk. 

"But, we don't have any in the storage Boss Zhou..." Seemingly confused at Zoey's response, Melanie Xue raised her brows. 

Since the company was struggling, barely having enough projects to work on, their resources were also limited. Hence, Melanie Xue had informed Zoey about this a week ago so they wouldn't need to wait if any of their supplies run out. 

"Uh..." Realizing their dilemma, Zoey forgot for a second that Z Image Group wasn't as established just like eight years later. They were still in the struggling phase, barely figuring things out.

"Right..." Massaging her temple, Zoey waved her hand. "Give me a moment. Work on the things you can finish for now." Since this was just a normal day in this timeline, Zoey had to review what was happening then and even her schedule. 

After all, her body might be back at 22 years old, but her mind was occupied with the memories of eight years later. Therefore, her schedule for today, tomorrow, and next month was something Zoey couldn't remember immediately. 

With that in mind, Zoey began checking her schedule which was considered almost empty. "June..." Zoey checked the current month, and then all the previous months before moving forward to next month. 

For the next three hours, Zoey didn't do any work and just reviewed everything. Fortunately, she had a good memory and recalled the big events like the deals that would give her breakthrough in the business. 

"Uhm, boss Zhou..?" After three hours, Melanie Xue knocked on the door lightly before taking a peek inside. 

"Leave early today and rest. Z Image will skyrocket in a month." Without turning towards the door, Zoey advised as she would hasten the success of Z Image Group. 

Instead of taking the original course of Z Image's success path in six months, Zoey would make things easier in one month. After all, before meeting Professor Ernest Meng, Zoey had lost a lot of opportunities to make a deal with the businessmen before him. 

The reason? Zoey had nothing to prove or her words bore almost zero value. Although the situation was the same, Zoey had her means of not letting those opportunities go easily this time around. 

"Uhm, okay...?" Seeing how serious Zoey was, Melanie Xue closed the door again and informed her colleagues about the Boss's advice. 

Meanwhile, Zoey kept on jotting down important people she had on her schedule, crossing out the bad ones she knew would bring her trouble in the future. 

When Zoey was done reviewing, a large grin plastered across her lips. "Done!" Satisfied and proud, Zoey radiated with positivity until she realized it was already night time. 

"Sh*t! What time is it?" Her eyes widened, immediately checking the time and saw it was six and a quarter in the evening. 

"Gosh...! I can still make it!" Relieved that it's still early, Zoey still moved quickly to have a change of clothes. 

Why? She needed to meet a very important person because apparently, that certain person might bed someone under the influence of a love drug if she wouldn't show up! Heck! 

That was the last thing Zoey wanted to happen; her husband from eight years later cheating on her in this lifetime!