Chapter 15

"Finally, my trip to the UAE wasn't in vain, haha~" Jiawei sat on the long bench under the window, unpacking the items she had just bought, and taking inventory of them. She couldn't let go of each one. "I'll give this celebration horse to my mother when I get home. Their folk art troupe is going to Russia for a diplomatic performance soon."

Guan Ying leaned against the window and accompanied her: "Auntie, you have too many scarves like this, right?"

Jiawei: "That's different. This is my way of honoring her with my own ability! Alas, it's a pity that the time is too short. I originally wanted to go to Chanel and Dior."

Guan Ying: "Well, after dinner, let's go shopping. There's nothing else to do, and we're not in a hurry to go back."

Jiawei: "Really? Great! I still have several gifts to prepare."

Xiao Weiyan made a reservation at a high-end Chinese restaurant in advance. Although it was called a Chinese restaurant, it actually incorporated Middle Eastern flavors, making it a half-Chinese and half-Western restaurant. However, the environment on the upper floors of the Burj Khalifa was impeccable, allowing guests to look down at the entire night view of Dubai.

The shop owner was a well-spoken Chinese woman. After sending Guan Ying and the others into a private room, she started chatting with Xiao Weiyan outside.

This short half day's work, from borrowing the hard-earned money to buy the files to settling down in this private room, was all Xiao Weiyan's achievement. What's more, he was adept at everything and it seemed effortless, making it seem like all these were not worth mentioning.

The waiter brought in a pot of tea and poured it for everyone.

Zheng Juyong sat alone at the dinner table and took a bite of peanuts. "Is your boss very familiar with Xiao Lu?"

The waitress was a pretty young girl. "Well, Xiao Lu often comes here to take care of our business, and he also helps our boss a lot."

Zheng Juyong tossed a peanut into the air, then tilted his head back and caught it in his mouth. "This private room is pretty expensive, isn't it?"

The waiter smiled politely: "Today is Xiao Lu's private party, our boss is treating."

When the waiter went out, he pushed the door open briefly. Through the crack in the door, Zheng Juyong saw the female boss hugging Xiao Weiyan affectionately.

"What kind of lawyer is he? He can afford so many luxury goods and eat in places like this every day. Don't tell me he's just trying to show off!" Zheng Juyong picked up the teacup lid and scraped it back and forth along the rim of the cup, like sharpening a knife.

"Brother Yan earns US dollars, and his law firm is very powerful!" Jia Wei's ears were indeed sharp. She was busy packing across a large round table, but she also heard Zheng Juyong's mumbling. "Brother Yan's annual income is beyond your imagination."

"How much money can you make working for others? Besides, he is just a senior, not even a partner!" Zheng Juyong became really curious.

Jiawei hugged the large orange packaging bag and giggled, "Haha~ Boss Zheng, do you know how many lawyers there are in the world? How many of them are Chinese? How many Chinese lawyers are practicing in top New York law firms? How many of them have defeated their competitors in top New York law firms and been sent to the Middle East to serve top financial group clients? Guan Guan's boyfriend, you must not underestimate him, haha~"

"..." Zheng Juyong's throat was blocked by a few peanuts, so he took a few sips of tea.

Guan Ying sat back at the table. "I was just about to ask you, what did you two talk about outside the Hermes store? On the way here, Xiao Weiyan kept urging me to take you to see a doctor to make sure there's no blood clot in your brain. I think it's better for you to stay tonight. Tomorrow I'll take you to the doctor he recommended and get a brain CT scan or something."

Zheng Juyong choked on his tea. "Ahem! He said there's something wrong with my brain?!"

Guan Ying frowned and said, "You are indeed a little abnormal today. I am a little worried."

"Heh! Guan Ying, I think you have a problem with your brain! He was the one who violated the traffic rules in the beginning!..." He glanced at Guan Ying's expression, and suddenly remembered what Xiao Weiyan said to him in the smoking area [Take care of her, she cares about you more than I thought]. He couldn't help feeling a little awkward again. Could it be that she was too concerned about him and was confused?

"Well, anyway, don't make a fuss about it. I'm not going to see a doctor."

Although Xiao Weiyan was the cause of everything, it was Guan Ying who got angry at him in the end. And she accepted it all today. This was completely different from the way they got along in the past, and it really fulfilled her promise last night, "I promise not to hit you again."

For some reason, when he realized that "Guan Ying had changed", he felt uncomfortable all over. He felt weak from the inside out, completely weak!

"Why don't you and Sister Jiawei stay here and continue shopping tomorrow? I'll go back to the dormitory by myself tonight. Don't worry, I'll let you know I'm safe when I get to the dormitory."

When he said this, he had lost all his fighting spirit and just wanted to finish dinner as soon as possible and say goodbye to them. He needed to calm down and think carefully about what went wrong.

Xiao Weiyan finally finished socializing with the boss outside, pushed the door open, and sat directly next to Guan Ying: "Knowing you were coming, the boss specially arranged for the kitchen to make a vinegar fish dish tonight. I heard that she even called the chef at Louwailou to ask for advice. Let's try it later."

Guan Ying didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed to bother others. Instead, she gave Xiao Weiyan a thumbs-up: "Louwailou? It has to be you, Lawyer Xiao. I'm in for a real treat tonight."

He even took care of a fish!

It wasn't until this moment that Zheng Juyong fully realized his own immaturity. Whether in vision, eloquence, skill, or strength, he was no match for Guan Ying. His past attempts at seeking help or venting his anger on Guan Ying paled in comparison, appearing incredibly foolish and ridiculous.

The Marlboro cigarette lay in his breast pocket, like a small carving knife, each cut drawing no blood, yet rubbing deeply into his bones.

The dining table was filled with various dishes, and everyone was laughing and talking happily. No one noticed that although Zheng Juyong cooperated on the surface, he had already been completely defeated by the vinegar fish in his heart.

When Guan Ying was halfway through her meal, her cell phone rang.

"Hmmm? Tomorrow morning? Why so urgent?"

"Mr. Hassan?...Well..." Guan Ying glanced at Jiawei's expression, then looked at Xiao Weiyan beside him, and thought for a moment, "Fine! See you tomorrow."

Xiao Weiyan picked up a piece of fish for her: "What's the matter? Is Hassan in trouble?"

"It's not that troublesome. It seems there's something wrong with his automated equipment, and he wants me to deliver the remaining goods as soon as possible before the machine is repaired. I'm afraid I'll have to rush back tonight..."

Hearing this, Jiawei put down her bowl and chopsticks, like a deflated ball: "Ha~~~~"

Xiao Weiyan frowned and looked at Zheng Juyong meaningfully.

Zheng Juyong also put down his chopsticks. "It's better to send out the remaining scraps earlier to save the rental of the freight yard. I'll go back and deal with it tonight. As we agreed before, you and Sister Jiawei can stay here."

Jiawei clasped her hands together and bowed to Zheng Juyong in gratitude. Xiao Weiyan remained silent, but his expression was very satisfied.

"I think I'd better leave early. You guys take your time eating." Zheng Juyong had no appetite at all, so he simply took the opportunity to go home and leave without delay.

"Hey, wait for me." Guan Ying also stood up and said goodbye. "I don't know why Hassan specifically asked me to come over this time. I forced him to sell this scrap material in the first place. Haha, he probably wants to get back on track. If he doesn't see me tomorrow, I'm afraid he won't stop."

"Then, what should I do?" Jiawei stood up in panic.

Guan Ying quickly pressed her down: "Jiawei, don't follow me. There are still a lot of dishes left. Don't waste the boss's kindness. Eat more for me."

Then she hugged Xiao Weiyan and started to act coquettishly: "Dear, take good care of Jiawei for me. When I finish this batch of goods, I will be able to accompany you well~"

Jiawei couldn't sit still, so she followed him out: "Let's go together, Brother Yan is very busy."

Guan Ying pushed Jiawei back into the private room. "My dear Jiawei, your brother Yan has already arranged his leave, and he also needs to prepare gifts for clients. You two can consult each other! Before returning home, you must go to Dubai for a while to save money. Otherwise, I will be sorry for you. It's a deal!"

Xiao Weiyan looked back at the half-eaten vinegar fish on the table and smiled bitterly: "You are always busier than me."

Guan Ying stood on tiptoe, kissed his forehead, and hurried away to chase Zheng Juyong who had already left.

......

The white pickup truck was driving on the coastal highway at a slow speed.

Zheng Juyong rolled down the driver's window, put one arm on it, and brushed his head, as if thinking about something important.

"The air conditioning has been turned off, and the temperature has finally dropped a bit." Guan Ying reminded him.

"Oh." He withdrew his arm, reset the car window, and was absent-minded.

"Stop in the emergency lane ahead and let me drive." Guan Ying was a little worried about his condition.

The car happened to be parked at a seaside viewing platform. There was not a breath of wind at the beach, and the air was filled with a simple heat. Zheng Juyong walked to the front of the car, looked out, and hesitated to get in.

"What are you looking at?" Guan Ying had no choice but to urge him.

"I was just thinking, the ocean is right in front of us, but here it's all desert. Tell me, is this ocean all for show but no use?"

Guan Ying glanced at the back of his head worriedly. "All I know is that the Palm Island on the sea has supported our Xicheng Steel for many years. I think it's still quite useful."

"Guan Ying, do you think Xiao Wei's words are true?"

"ha?"

"Didn't you ask what we talked about today? He told me something today. He said that he never chooses anything he needs for the rest of his life casually."

Guan Ying nodded after hearing this, thinking it made a lot of sense: "A lifetime...Alas, are you missing Qiao Qi? I didn't see you actually buy her any gifts today. Actually, using Xiao Weiyan's name, you could buy some nice limited editions like Jia Wei."

Zheng Juyong frowned: "Even you have thought of it, but how can he say [use] this word?!"

"Just saying it casually, that's what I mean."

"He's a lawyer. Sister Jiawei praised him as such a formidable lawyer! How could he have just said that casually? Or was he talking to me..." Zheng Juyong's brows furrowed even deeper. "I'm not just being idle to remind you that leaving him with Sister Jiawei isn't a good arrangement. Did you know that when I went to the airport to pick him up, he was there too, driving that Ferrari?"

Seeing Guan Ying's nonchalant expression, Zheng Juyong sighed, "Do you know what he meant? He deliberately changed lanes today to leave a criminal record for me!"

Guan Ying frowned. "No way. I was in the car at the time. He blamed himself afterward, and this is troublesome for him."

"He's a lawyer! He knows his way around here, and he knows a lot of people!"

"Zheng Juyong, why are you so hostile to him? And Jiawei, she helped you so much when I was away. How could you..."

"Oh, I really am... Can't you see? I just can't understand why they're suddenly acting so distant today. Don't tell me you don't feel anything today."

Guan Ying checked the time and said, "Alright, I thought you were worried about something. Even if there really is something going on between them, I'll just help them out and give him to Jiawei!"

When Zheng Juyong heard this, his jaw dropped to the bottom of the sea: "Wow! You say that? Listen, does it make sense?"

Guan Ying had already jumped into the car and muttered to herself in the car: "Hey, Zheng Juyong, you got hit and your brain has become clear. Why don't you take a good look at the green hat on your head before you meddle in my business!"

Zheng Juyong was outside the car, pacing back and forth in disbelief.

Guan Ying had no choice but to urge him loudly: "Stop hanging around outside. Are you going to leave or not? I have to get up early tomorrow!"