Chapter 67

The next morning, Cui Shanshan came and knocked on the door, calling Guan Ying to have breakfast together. Unexpectedly, there was no response from inside the door. She suddenly had a bad feeling, so she hurriedly called Dong Zhiqiao, who had gone to the cargo yard early in the morning to take inventory, and asked him to check whether there were any workers missing in the cargo yard.

Dong Zhiqiao replied to her that Masters Liu and Qin suddenly asked someone to take leave this morning.

When Cui Shanshan heard this, she immediately ran to find her uncle: "Uncle, Manager Guan is gone!"

"What do you mean by gone?" Manager Xu was still confused. After a moment's reaction, he slapped his thigh and said, "She ran away? When?"

Cui Shanshan analyzed, "Zhiqiao said that Master Liu and Master Qin from the freight yard suddenly asked for leave this morning. They must have left together before dawn."

Manager Xu jumped up and said, "How could she get away?!"

Cui Shanshan sighed, "Ah, if it were me, I would run too...Uncle, don't worry. Since Manager Guan asked the two masters to pick her up, she's going back to Dubai. As long as we apologize properly and it's not Seattle, there's still room for negotiation."

"Apologize? What should I apologize for? Why are you always so mean? She promised to solve Kassim's problem for us, how can she go back on her word! And you, what did you say to Zhiqiao? He didn't sleep all night and went to the cargo yard early in the morning. What will he do? Aren't you afraid that he will cause more trouble?" Manager Xu suffered a series of setbacks. Even his niece didn't understand him. He was afraid that his efforts would be in vain, so he vented all the words that he shouldn't have said.

Cui Shanshan, however, was clear-headed. "Uncle, you're too eager for quick success! I don't care. I've already begged someone from Seattle to come over for you, and you scared them away again. If you still can't bring yourself to apologize to Manager Guan, I'll go back home too! Anyway, I'll only be a drag on you here, and Dong Zhiqiao will only cause you trouble. Let's just leave!"

Manager Xu was irritated and said, "Go, everyone, go!"

This was the first time the uncle and nephew had a falling out.

Cui Shanshan felt wronged and aggrieved. She ran back to her room crying. After she calmed down, she couldn't make up her mind. She called Guan Ying anxiously. The first call went unanswered, so she shamelessly called again, and finally she got the call.

It was Master Qin who answered the phone with a loud voice: "Good morning, Manager Cui! This is Old Qin. Manager Guan is driving right now and can't answer the phone. What do you want to talk to her about? I'll tell her for you!"

Both Masters Liu and Qin were foremen hired by Mr. Zheng from Dubai at high salaries, so they naturally followed Guan Ying's orders. Master Cui's boldness in answering Guan Ying's call showed he wasn't afraid of being held accountable by the Nangang staff.

Cui Shanshan didn't waste any words, and even showed some sympathy. "Good morning, Master Qin. I know you're in a hurry to return to Dubai. You must have something to do. I called just to ask if you're still going back to Dammam Port."

There was a pause on the other end, as if they were discussing their words together outside the microphone, and then Master Qin replied: "Yes, we will go back after we finish our work. Manager Cui, you can rest assured, hahahaha!"

Master Qin was a straightforward person; judging by his tone on the phone, he was telling her he was being honest. Although Guan Ying didn't speak directly, her attitude came through Master Qin. He must have been trying to reassure her, but he didn't want to say more. Alas, there was still a rift between them!

......

After escaping the Hongmen Feast in Riyadh yesterday, Guan Ying had made up his mind to flee. He spent the entire journey in the car gathering his strength. When he arrived at the hotel near Dammam Port, he feigned jet lag to lull Manager Xu and his group into a state of panic. After calling Lao Zhao that night, he looked out the window for a way out, but the place was too unfamiliar.

Thinking about it, she remembered Cui Shanshan's earlier phone call: "Mr. Zheng was worried we weren't familiar with the area, so he hired a worker he knew to come over and help. He lives and eats in the freight yard every day, and at night he sets up a makeshift tent on the top of his pickup truck..." It made sense that Mr. Liu and Mr. Qin must be nearby, and her white pickup truck was also here! With the right time, place, and people, why wouldn't they run?

Master Qin hung up the phone for her and said cheerfully, "Guan Guan, with you here, we have a backbone! Lao Liu and I haven't been able to eat or sleep well these past few days, but now we can finally put our minds at ease!"

Master Liu, speaking eloquently, quickly added, "Isn't it? Back then, it was us and Mr. Zheng who entertained Kassim. Now that Kassim is acting up, we're feeling pretty bad... When Kassim secretly asked for drinks, I should have known he wasn't a good person. I was just too careless!"

Guan Ying was driving, and Dubai was familiar to her. She finally calmed down and said with a smile, "Ha, Brother Liu, Brother Qin, this has nothing to do with you two. Mr. Zheng and I can't thank you enough! Business is business, and Kassim did nothing wrong. He's making a profit, so why not? That's the rule of the game."

Master Liu licked the corner of his mouth, which was blistered due to inflammation. "Guan Guan, if you really think so, then we two brothers will feel much better!"

Guan Ying glanced back at the two of them. When they met last night, she noticed that they were thinner than before. Zheng Juyong had been away for so long, and the people at Nangang had little experience. All the work at the cargo yard depended on the two of them, and their salaries had not been fully settled yet. They were able to do this only out of conscience.

Guan Ying felt unbearable, but she had to pretend to be relaxed. "Haha, what's the big deal? Old Sabur couldn't get any advantage from me, let alone that Kassim. What's there to worry about? I have an appointment with a lawyer. Let's go to the law firm together today. You know Kassim, he can be of great help to me!"

Master Qin immediately became excited: "Is this the law firm of your boyfriend, Lawyer Xiao? Yes, Lao Liu, with him around, we have nothing to worry about!"

Master Liu kept blinking.

Master Qin was puzzled: "What? Did you drive late at night and your eyes got damaged?"

Guan Ying stepped on the accelerator and stopped at the curry-smelling express hotel next to the Dubai branch. "Brother Qin, Brother Liu, you two didn't sleep well last night. Rest here first. I'll pick you up in the evening."

After arranging the guest rooms, Guan Ying was about to leave. Master Liu asked curiously, "Guan Guan, aren't you going to rest?"

Guan Ying smiled and said, "I'm suffering from jet lag. The Dubai branch is right next to me. I'm going to find a place to rest there."

Master Liu opened his mouth wide: "Huh?"

......

As evening approaches, it is the time when Dubai law firm staff are most efficient.

Eric was having a meeting with someone in the conference room when his secretary suddenly knocked on the door and whispered something to him. Eric's eyes rolled around and he stood up hurriedly and ran back to his office. As soon as he entered, he pulled down the strip curtain on the glass door.

"Ms. Guan, please take a seat. Everyone, please take a seat! Who are these two?" Eric looked at the two big brothers, Liu and Qin, standing behind Guan Ying.

Guan Ying politely introduced herself and got straight to the point: "Eric, I know you're busy, so let's get straight to the point. What do you think of the proposal I made on the phone earlier?"

Eric smiled subtly. "The case isn't complicated. Even if Kassim files a lawsuit for damages based on quality defects, we can still countersue for the outstanding balance and interest on overdue payments. The contract stipulates a 10% liquidated damages clause, and such a high percentage is bound to provoke a counterattack. Kassim will definitely challenge the reasonableness of the liquidated damages clause and demand a reassessment of the contract... While we may not necessarily win, a draw isn't difficult. However, dragging things out like that won't benefit us. We recommend prioritizing negotiation and striving for a settlement before litigation."

Guan Ying nodded. Eric and Professor Wilson had similar views on the penalty for breach of contract, and he wasn't fooling her. If Eric was willing to take action, as he'd suggested, he could at least counterattack the other party, forcing Kassim to carefully weigh the pros and cons of delaying performance and avoid a unilateral defeat. However, a law firm whose KPI is always win-loss rate might not be willing to take on such a thankless case.

"Instead of both sides suffering losses, it is better for both sides to make concessions. I think Boss Kassim will understand this. If your law firm, Eric, can accept this commission, I will definitely promote the management trainee program between Seattle University School of Law and your law firm. All living expenses of the management trainees in Dubai will be sponsored by our Xicheng Steel." This was Guan Ying's proposal.

Business at the Dubai law firm was booming, but local staff were having to work five times a day, and during Ramadan, they couldn't find enough staff for the entire month. Foreign staff, hampered by the Middle Eastern climate, often didn't stay long, so during busy seasons, they had to request special approval from the New York headquarters for personnel assistance. This not only added to the Dubai branch's operating costs, but also required careful handling of those sent from headquarters. The management was neither boss nor employee, and Eric had been troubled by this situation for a long time! He had worked so hard to cultivate Xiao Weiyan, only to have him poached away... The law firm needed fresh blood, and that was no small matter. Joint international management trainee programs between universities and businesses were not uncommon, but the challenges lay in corporate sponsorship and building credibility. Guan Yingruo, facilitating this, combining her dual roles as a student and a business owner, was undoubtedly the best choice. Eric was naturally tempted!

When I spoke to Eric back in Seattle, he sounded eager to take on the case, but now that we're together, he's suddenly become indifferent, even a little nervous. Otherwise, he wouldn't have pulled down the curtains the moment he entered. This isn't a major case...

"The case is not complicated, I am confident, and your proposal is very good, I am very tempted. Alas... but..." Eric supported his chin with both hands, with a complicated expression, as if he wanted to accept but didn't dare to.

Guan Ying stood up and walked to the window. She looked up at the pink and purple sky outside the cubicle. A line of white airplanes still lingered between the clouds. She said thoughtfully, "But you found out that Daniel was Kassim's attorney, so you hesitated?"

Eric, feeling flustered, tried to spin a pen again. He pulled a red signature pen from the pen holder and twirled it nervously between his fingers. Not to mention Daniel's standing in the legal profession, even many of the staff at his Dubai office were still fans of Daniel. Even the senior lawyer sent from New York headquarters to replace Xiao Weiyan was one of Daniel's people. Even he, the boss, had to show some respect.

So when Eric found out that Daniel was behind this case, his heart sank. He was upset that the duck that was about to be in his mouth flew away!

Guan Ying turned around and folded her arms. She knew too well how many calculations these lawyers had in their minds. She made up her mind and said, "Eric, do you remember your blue Ferrari?"

Eric didn't know why she suddenly brought up the car, so he smiled wryly and replied, "Of course I remember. You were playing bumper cars in the basement. To help you get out of the police station faster, Xiao bought the car and put it in his name. He's the owner, so if he doesn't pursue the matter, you'll be fine."

Hearing this, Masters Liu and Qin looked at each other in their seats, eating the melon with gusto.

Guan Ying laid two slips printed from the police system on the table without blushing or faltering. "To be honest, Xiao Weiyan broke up with me that week and left Dubai shortly after. He had no need for this car. You said he was taking advantage of the situation to clear my name, but I'm going to tell everyone that he was doing it to clear yours!"

"Me? My car was hit so badly by you, there is surveillance evidence, what are you talking about?" Eric spun the pen.

"That's right. I'm an Oriental woman with no grudge against you, so why would I have to ram your car? Is it possible that you've done something wrong to me? Doesn't your wife find it strange that a subordinate's girlfriend suddenly ran into your car in the basement, and then this subordinate who never buys cars actually bought your car, went to the police station to settle the matter for you, and then used this incident to get special treatment from you, which angered the entire company and ultimately got you kicked out of Dubai! And the woman who caused the trouble immediately broke up with the subordinate, and soon reappeared by your side... Well, if I were your wife, I would definitely not make a big deal about this matter!"

With two "clicks", the pen first fell on the table, rolled a few times, and fell to the ground.

Master Liu winked at Master Qin again, and Master Qin grinned and never dared to mention her "boyfriend, Lawyer Xiao" again. Ah, young people nowadays are so secretive!

Eric nearly jumped out of his chair as he held the police note. "You... you sent these to my wife too?"

Guan Ying pouted. "Of course Xiao Weiyan won't ask me for compensation, but I'm going to take the initiative to send money over to make up for the aftermath. The police department contacted the insurance company to confirm the amount of loss. Of course, the insurance company will compensate someone like me who took the initiative to compensate. I found a random excuse to ask for your wife's contact information. The compensation has been transferred. As for this receipt, please take it back with you. I'm so young and beautiful, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it clearly to your wife!"

"You! Wow!! Ha! Wow!!!" Eric laughed, then got angry; he gave her a thumbs-up, then a thumbs-down. He wanted to scold her, but was afraid she'd actually do it; he wanted to coax her, but it was unbelievable! He mumbled incoherently, sitting up and down in his office chair, unable to find his balance.

Guan Ying saw that he had fallen for her trick, and was secretly happy for a moment, then said nonchalantly: "I can't stand being pried into when it comes to relationships. Everyone in your law firm knows that I was with Daniel first, and then with Xiao Weiyan. Oh, they all think I'm an easy girl, right? Do you think your wife thinks the same way..."

Eric laughed angrily: "Ha! Easy girl? Crazy girl! Bad girl! Why, why do Daniel & Xiao love you?! Morons!"

The more exasperated he became, the more confident Guan Ying became. If bribery wasn't enough, then he could just use some intimidation! His tactics were a bit dirty, but they were dealing with lawyers after all. If he reasoned with them, who could win?

"Eric, hasn't Xiao Weiyan's being poached taught you a lesson? You have to defeat Daniel once before the law firm's people will rally around you again. And I, Guan Ying, am absolutely your most suitable ally. Cooperate with me, or go against me, choose one!"

Eric was furious: "What do you want me to choose! Guan Ying, promise me, you will never be a lawyer again!"

Guan Ying curled her lips: "OK! I promise you, honey~"

The pen Eric had just picked up shook again and fell to the ground with a thud. "God!"