Chapter 25

The foreign colleagues at the law firm had already worked late into the night with Xiao Weiyan last night, and when they heard they'd have to work overtime again tonight, they all expressed dissatisfaction. One or two emergency assistance sessions were common, but two, three, or even four consecutive days of work would challenge their work-life balance.

Just before the end of the get off work day, Eric called Xiao Weiyan into his office and banged his pen on the table anxiously: "Is this how you lead a team? I have high hopes for you, but look at the situation now, what do you want me to do?!"

Xiao Weiyan stood upright and remained calm. "Last night, when we all had our overtime meal together, the atmosphere was quite good. Besides, it's not like the team hasn't worked overtime with me before, and no one has ever been so critical of me. I wonder if some news leaked out from New York?"

"Impossible! When headquarters approved it, all texts and emails were marked as confidential, and HRD was personally responsible for handling it. There were no more than three people in New York who knew that you were specially approved for promotion." Eric always liked to twirl the pen when he was anxious, but he couldn't twirl it well, so it always fell down with a "click, click" sound.

The three insiders at headquarters were all core executives and would never knowingly commit a crime. In Dubai, only he and Xiao Weiyan knew about the incident. At this moment, Xiao Weiyan, receiving the email requesting a full team strike and a unified review, seemed far too calm, forcing Eric to look at him with suspicion.

"Haha, Eric, you don't think I said that myself, do you? I'm not that stupid, and I won't get carried away." Xiao Weiyan thought the look Eric gave him was a little funny. Everything today was hard-earned, so how could he destroy it with his own hands.

Eric picked up the pen that had fallen on the table, twirling it between his index and middle fingers. He decided to be direct: "You really shouldn't get carried away. After all, I didn't help you get the shares you wanted... So, is there a possibility that if you spread the word, Vancouver will offer you better conditions, such as shares that New York can't give you?"

Xiao Weiyan frowned at this time: The workplace is never easy.

Even if Eric kept him, he wouldn't trust him as deeply as before. This went beyond the workplace and became human nature. He needed to prove himself: "Eric, I forwarded you the complete email rejecting their offer. You clearly read it all."

Eric shook his head. “You Chinese are always very polite when you refuse.”

The cultural gap was too deep, and Xiao Weiyan could only use Eric's logic to justify himself: "No, Eric, there's another possibility. It's the senior foreign player originally scheduled to be sent from New York. He's already seen our counsel cost report. If he's interested, he can just use his salary structure to figure out my..."

Eric put down his pen, stood up, walked to the window, and sighed. "Ah! If that's the case, it's even worse. You've taken advantage of his position, and he'll definitely try to squeeze you out. Vancouver has probably already locked in your current salary package, so they can negotiate with you more specifically. But I don't have any more cards to play."

Xiao Weiyan stood up and made a promise: "I have already bought your car, and my girlfriend is still in the police station. Eric, you should know that I have no intention of leaving the UAE. Even if you didn't do anything, I had already given up in the underground garage that day. You were there at the time, you heard it all, didn't you?"

After a moment's silence, Eric turned around, no longer doubting him. Instead, he gave a wry smile to himself. "Haha, I always felt like things had gone so smoothly these past few days that I seemed to have overlooked something, until you mentioned your girlfriend just now. She wouldn't have hit your car for no reason. I forgot that she used to be Daniel's girlfriend... She must have met Daniel, she knows everything."

"No, she crashed the car because..." Xiao Weiyan almost blurted out Jiawei's name.

As if expressing sympathy, or letting go, Eric stepped forward and patted his shoulder with regret and helplessness: "I guess we can't keep you here anymore."

If the Dubai branch submits a request for special review to the headquarters again, Eric may have no choice but to resign. Therefore, the best way at the moment is to release Xiao Weiyan and ease the resentment of the entire team as soon as possible.

As soon as the next offer letter arrives from the Vancouver law firm, Eric will quickly approve Xiao Weiyan's resignation and host a lavish "farewell party" for him in front of the team, not only publicly thanking and recognizing his past achievements but also warmly congratulating him on his new position. Only with such an open and lavish ceremony will Xiao Weiyan's "jump ship" become an unrepeatable industry legend, and no one on the team can match his dedication and achievements, naturally shutting up. When everyone meets at the peak of their careers in the future, they can still shake hands and say hello.

Xiao Weiyan finally realized that he had been pushed into a gorgeous corner without realizing it: the offer that was still on the way was everyone's last bit of dignity.

In an open and honest fight, no one wins Daniel; in seeking benevolence, no one gets it, so Daniel can’t be blamed.

He wanted to ask Guan Ying if she had really met Daniel, but when he reached the door of the police station, he backed off and turned to go to the Burj Al Arab.

Jiawei listened to him and stayed in the hotel, but she was worried about Guan Ying and felt uneasy about her food and accommodation. Now that she finally saw him, she couldn't wait to ask, "Brother Yan, how is Guan Guan?"

Xiao Weiyan changed into a pair of slippers, walked to the window, pulled open the gauze curtains, and looked out at the shimmering Persian Gulf: "You've been staying in your room all day. Didn't you go out for a walk?"

"You asked me to wait for you, but I don't know when you will have time to come over..." Jiawei stood across a coffee table from him, keeping a distance from him, her slender and gentle figure reflected on the glass.

He turned around and sat down, patting the empty seat on the sofa next to him: "Your waist is still uncomfortable, sit down and talk."

Jiawei was obedient but awkward, and sat on the sofa opposite him, still separated from him by a coffee table.

"She paid the fine at the police station this morning, and she is in good condition." Xiao Weiyan lowered his head and unbuttoned a button on his collar. At least in front of Jiawei, he could breathe a sigh of relief.

Jiawei nodded and asked again: "How many more days will it take?"

"It's almost done. We just need to wait for the insurance company's damage assessment results, and then the procedures will be complete." Xiao Weiyan crossed his hands and rubbed his knuckles, making a series of crisp clicking sounds.

"Brother Yan, you still have to go back to work overtime tonight, right? In fact, you can just give me a call, you don't have to take the time to rush over..." She always treats him like a gentle and considerate flower.

"Something went wrong at work."

Jiawei unconsciously leaned towards him: "With your abilities, Brother Yan, how could something go wrong? Is it serious?"

Xiao Weiyan looked up at her for a moment, then lowered his head to crack his knuckles. "I used to think I was capable. I dared to do what others didn't dare to do, and I dared to ask for what others didn't dare to ask for, because I felt I deserved it. But today I realized that I might have overestimated my abilities..."

Jiawei didn't understand, but racked her brains to cheer him up: "Brother Yan, I've seen how you handle work at the law firm. I don't believe any difficulty can stump you. I know I'm an outsider... but you have to trust Daniel. I remember you said he's amazing. Even he recognizes your abilities, so what can't you do?"

Xiao Weiyan turned his head to look at the dark night sky outside the window and gave a wry smile: "Oh!" Then he leaned back on the sofa, feeling lost, "Jiawei, I'm going to Vancouver. I can only go to Vancouver!"

Jiawei stood up instantly and demanded, "But you already promised Guan Guan to stay. Did you forget? Is the title of partner so important?"

He still looked up at the ceiling, but raised his hand and ripped off another button on his chest, taking a deep breath: "Huh... I can't refuse anymore! Besides, she won't go with me... Do you still think nothing can defeat me now?"

Outside the window, the waves hit the pier one after another, stirring up clusters of black waves like clusters of claws, rushing towards the endless night sky, and then sinking silently in an instant.

At first glance, it seems majestic and powerful; later on, it’s all bubble.

The room was quiet for a moment. Jiawei slowly sat back on the sofa, her tone gentle again. "Actually, you don't need to be embarrassed. Guan Guan had already decided to break up with you when she entered the police station, but I never told you on her behalf."

"What did you say?!" Xiao Weiyan straightened up from the back of the sofa.

"Guan Guan knew you'd eventually go to Vancouver. She said it would be better for her to bring it up first, rather than you being unable to bring it up when things got this far. Don't misunderstand Guan Guan as heartless. She's just always decisive. Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked me to comfort you as a friend... Actually, I've been feeling very difficult these past few days... Seeing you so determined to stay, I thought there might be a chance for things to turn around between you two."

The air seemed to freeze.

Jiawei had never seen him look so lost and empty before. She wasn't sure if he needed comfort, so she could only stare at him quietly.

The phone vibrated and buzzed. Jiawei took a quick look and hung up.

At that moment, Xiao Weiyan felt that Jiawei was gradually blurring out in front of him, as if he was trying to grasp something. "It's so late, whose phone is it? Why didn't you answer it?"

"Oh... nothing..." Jiawei didn't want to say more to avoid upsetting him.

Xiao Weiyan frowned: "Jiawei, come with me to Vancouver!"

"Hmm?" The cell phone rang again. Jiawei didn't bother to look at it. The heart in her chest was beating even more violently than the vibration of the cell phone.

"Guan Guan knows me very well. I'm a face-conscious person. I was the one who was dumped, so I really need some comfort. At least, you and I are still friends, right? Jiawei, don't let me go to Vancouver alone, okay?"

The look in his eyes as he looked at her was no longer empty, and gradually there was a hint of light, flickering faintly and humbly.