Chapter 87

In the afternoon, Guan Ying returned to Huagang's conference room and found that Daniel and several team members were not there. She became worried again. Would he quit at this time?

Having witnessed Secretary Li's agility and resourcefulness, Guan Ying ran over to ask, "Where are they?"

Seeing her nervousness, the secretary asked in confusion, "They went to the Foreign Trade Bureau, and President Li went with them. I thought you had agreed to meet there... Why did you go back to the company?"

At least Daniel didn't give up, so Guan Ying relaxed a little: "When did they leave?"

Secretary: "After lunch, Daniel and Mr. Li had a closed-door meeting, and then they left. It was about half an hour ago."

She came back an hour later than Mr. Li. Since she was not a professional assistant, there was no need for everyone to wait for her.

Guan Ying: "Isn't there still a few days until the response date? Isn't it too sensitive for everyone to go to the Foreign Trade Bureau now?"

The secretary smiled and said, "It was originally a sensitive issue, but with Daniel taking the lead, things are different. The Foreign Trade Bureau is very welcoming to him. Manager Guan, you should know this. Daniel's family members are scattered across the political and business circles in the United States and Canada. His stance and remarks here, and the signals they send, are of the greatest concern to the Foreign Trade Bureau."

I guess this is why Huagang must cooperate with Daniel.

Guan Ying sighed, suddenly understanding Daniel: Perhaps the extraordinary excellence and perfection he displayed was, for him, a shackle and bondage—perfection stemmed from harshness, and harshness stemmed from the very mission he was so obsessed with breaking free from. It was just that he was caught in it, unable to see the outcome. The very things he resisted had already permeated every aspect of his life, forming a complex web that entangled his fate.

Thinking back to when I was with him, I was ignorant and fearless, and inevitably tore a hole in the giant net for him by accident, making him think he saw hope, which is why he has never forgotten it.

"Manager Guan?" Seeing her stunned, the secretary called her.

"Hmm? Oh..." Guan Ying came back to her senses: "Just now you said that it was Daniel who took the lead in taking Mr. Li to the Foreign Trade Bureau?"

Secretary: "Yes! Although Mr. Li has had this idea for a long time, he still has to wait for Daniel to give the final word."

This is Mr. Li's style of doing things.

Secretary: "I didn't expect Daniel and his team to react so quickly after only a day and a half of reviewing the materials. He's truly extraordinary!"

If it were any other person, after being offended by her last night, they would have quit long ago. At this point, Daniel was probably just unintentionally trapped in his own shackles: the more he tried to break free, the deeper he sank.

......

It was not until the end of the working day that Daniel and Mr. Li and his team returned to the office.

The negotiations seemed to be going smoothly, and everyone was smiling, a rare sight. After a brief summary with CEO Li, and before arranging the next steps with the team, Daniel couldn't wait to tell Guan Ying the good news: "Hey, you really should treat me to dinner tonight!"

Having just offended him last night, Guan Ying should be more tactful today. He joked, "Will the Foreign Trade Bureau revoke the investigation order because of you?"

Daniel narrowed his eyes, shrugged his shoulders and took a step back. "Ha! I'm not God."

Guan Ying nodded: "Indeed, but you are amazing Daniel."

Daniel was very impressed and was eager to share his findings with her: "I think I have figured out the bottom line of the Foreign Trade Bureau."

Guan Ying asked quietly, "What percentage?"

Daniel understood and smiled: "I thought you really wanted me to withdraw the investigation order just now."

Guan Ying sympathized with his "perfect" logic and responded with a sympathetic smile: "Of course, I'm joking. Revocation is unrealistic. This is not only a business issue, but also a political one. I think Mr. Li is well aware of this. As long as we can reduce the anti-dumping duties to a historic low, we'll have won the case."

Daniel raised his eyebrows. "Oh, then you're asking too little of me. The historical low isn't enough. We need to create a new historical low."

Sure enough, what he wanted to break free of was already ingrained in his bones.

Guan Ying exclaimed in shock, "Could it be lower than 13%? That's simply unbelievable... And Steel Union won't agree to that. They'll repeatedly pressure the Foreign Trade Bureau, and the counterattack will be even more severe."

Daniel is very confident: "Putting pressure on Chinese steel companies will cause the supply chain to shift to countries like Vietnam. This also involves re-export trade, which has costs. We will carefully calculate the economic benefits for them."

After just a day or two of quick communication, he had a solution, and he hit the nail on the head! For such a smart and capable person, being a lawyer would be a waste of his talent.

Guan Ying didn't want to spoil his fun. She wore a smile, but deep down she felt sorry for him. Zheng Juyong had only just achieved a little success, and she was pushing him to take the reins at a critical moment. Seeing the small, she saw the big picture. How much more so for Daniel's family? If she were Daniel's family, she probably wouldn't be able to fulfill his personal wishes, and would have forced the entire family's development onto him!

The surprise on her face clearly brought him new hope and joy. Daniel said complacently, "Wait a moment! I'll go talk to the team and then I'll take you to dinner. We should have a small celebration!"

Since they were going to settle the financial accounts, everyone would have to work overtime tonight. She was his assistant, though it was just a title, but she didn't want any special treatment and declined, "Why not celebrate after we actually win the case?"

Daniel: "Why, you doubt my judgment?"

Guan Ying had no choice but to make an excuse: "I have an academic call with Professor Wilson later. You know I missed some classes..."

"Oh, OK, then let's just go about our own business first. When you're done, we'll go for a drink." Daniel gave in a little.

That night, the lights in Huagang's offices stayed on all night, as a team of domestic and international lawyers, along with key Huagang employees, took turns working the shift. By the time the first shift finished, it was already late. Guan Ying was about to return to the hotel with the team for a quick break, but Daniel, remembering their planned drink, squeezed in at the last moment before the elevator doors closed.

The team observed each other's expressions, and when the elevator opened again, everyone claimed to be tired, quickened their pace and went ahead, leaving enough space for the two of them.

The same tone as when dating: "Want to have a drink with me?"

At this moment, in Saudi Arabia, the only place to have a drink was probably his top-floor suite. Guan Ying pretended to doze off: "Ah, I'm so sleepy. I want to go back to my room and rest early. Aren't you tired?"

Daniel said ambiguously: "You only promised me half a month, so of course I have to hurry up."

Guan Ying smiled and said, "We've been in the same office every day."

"It's different. That's work."

"But I'm really tired."

Daniel sighed softly, "Okay, then, I'll take you back to your room."

"I can do it myself."

"Guan Ying, at least give me the chance to say good night to you."

It seems that this is the only way.

Daniel intentionally walked much slower because the distance back to the hotel with her was too short. Even when waiting for the elevator in the hotel lobby, he hoped that the elevator would arrive later.

After reaching room 1206, Guan Ying turned around and said, "Daniel, thank you for bringing me back. Good night."

Daniel was reluctant to leave: "You really don't want to have a drink with me?"

Guan Ying smiled and said, "We're really exhausted today. We should all take a good rest. Besides, we'll meet again in the office in five hours, and we can have a cup of coffee together then."

Daniel had to lower his head: "Okay, I'll pick you up in five hours."

Guan Ying: "Five hours later, it will be daylight. There's no need to go through so much trouble."

Daniel took out a room card and pointed to the door of room 1212 opposite him: "No trouble, I live across from you, and the secretary just changed the room for me today."

Guan Ying was surprised: "You, but..."

Daniel knew what she was going to say and smiled, "I just wanted to be closer to my team. Besides, the suite on the top floor was too spacious and I didn't sleep well." As he said this, he did have a pair of dark circles under his eyes.

Guan Ying was flustered, but she could only accept it: "Then, see you in five hours."

After returning to the room, Guan Ying became more and more restless, because Zheng Juyong lived next door at No. 1205!

Just as I was panicking, the landline in the room suddenly rang.

"Don't come over here!" Although she was startled by the ringing, she knew who was calling without even thinking.

"Oh?..." The person on the other end was shut up by her words.

"Anyway, don't go out!" She didn't want to explain any more, and was convinced that he would listen to her unconditionally now.

"Because he lives across from you..." He had already been waiting for her footsteps inside the door when he heard the sound of the team returning to their rooms and passing by the corridor outside his door.

"How do you know!"

"If I don't know, are you going to hide it from me? Guan Ying, you are really playing big games. This really looks like an affair..." He teased her.

"...It's obviously you, you crazy!"

"I know. I don't want to be beaten by him again, but I'm very hungry now."

"There's still so much lunch left..."

"Huh? You're willing to let me eat cold rice?" He started to act coquettishly towards her.

"Zheng Juyong, every grain of rice is hard-earned, please don't waste it!"

"...Hahaha..."

"What are you laughing at!" Even when she scolded him, she spoke in a low voice out of guilt, as if Daniel was standing right behind her.

"Guan Ying, do you remember that I'm taking a flight back home the day after tomorrow morning?"

"certainly."

"We only have 30 hours left..." His voice trailed off, "He and you still have more than ten days. That's not fair."

She hadn't even asked him how he planned to return to China to arrange the marriage he had promised Qiao Qi, but he dared to complain that it was unfair?

"I'm very tired today, please don't make trouble so late at night!" This is what a man usually says to a woman, but she said it to Zheng Juyong very fluently.

"I was at the door just now and heard you say good night to him. Shouldn't you say good night to me too? That would be fair." Was it just for this that he called in such a hurry?

"Is three times enough? Good night, good night, good night!" She lowered her voice, sounding exasperated, but unconsciously obliged to comply.

"Oh, you're just trying to please me..." he said darkly.

"Isn't this fair?" Guan Ying held her forehead, at a loss as to what to do. She felt it was unreasonable for a man to act so childishly and artificially in front of her.

"...Will you come see me tomorrow?"

"I have to go to Huagang's office in five hours. Tomorrow will be very busy..."

"But I don't know when we'll meet again." His tone became like that of a punching bag again.

Guan Ying frowned and said impatiently, "I know, I know! I won't let you get on the plane hungry!"