As Ye Xiaoming, Feng Shijie, and Liu Bing left the Venus Hotel, each clutching their desired items, an air of discomfort settled over them. The BMW car, once familiar, now felt strangely alien.
Ye Xiaoming, sitting in the front passenger seat, closed the door and laughed, "You really have no shame!"
Liu Bing, starting the car, replied, "I wish I had some, but I can't let go of this lifestyle. It feels too damn good to give up."
Ye Xiaoming sighed, "Such a promising situation, ruined by one big move."
From the back seat, Feng Shijie half-joked, "Liu Bing, you've skillfully seized the general manager position. If, by any chance, the company doesn't collapse, you'll be a company veteran. We'll have to call you Manager Liu."
As they drove onto the road, Liu Bing realized he had no idea where they were going. "Where to now?" he asked.
"To Jiahe Garden," Ye Xiaoming directed. "Let's inform Ding about this and be done with it."
Heading towards Jiahe Garden, Liu Bing continued the conversation, "Who's the real expert here? I agree with Xiaoming. Shijie is the real deal—creating a production base for Wang Miao Village without spending a dime. If the company collapses, he can go into sales. If it survives, the company can't operate without Wang Miao Village."
Feng Shijie, with a deep sigh, confessed, "Damn it! When I think about it, I don't know what we're worth. What does Ding get out of this? And Ouyang Xue? I'm so confused!"
Ye Xiaoming sarcastically said, "Confused now? Why didn't you say anything before we signed the agreement?"
Feng Shijie replied, "I realize now we're all just useless."
Ye Xiaoming sighed, "Confused and defeated! When you stop being a hypocrite, I'll wake up."
...
The car soon arrived at Jiahe Garden, parking outside Ding Yuan Ying's building. With 100,000 yuan in cash and nearly 200,000 yuan in promissory notes in the car, Liu Bing stayed behind while Ye Xiaoming and Feng Shijie went upstairs.
Ding Yuan Ying opened the door, greeting Ye Xiaoming warmly, "When did you get back?"
"Two days ago, been busy," Ye Xiaoming replied.
Rui Xiaodan, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen and cheerfully invited them in, "Perfect timing! I'm preparing dinner. Stay and eat with us."
Ye Xiaoming quickly declined, "No need, Liu Bing is waiting downstairs. We just need a quick word with Ding."
Rui Xiaodan, sensing something unusual, didn't insist further.
Standing by the door, Ye Xiaoming said, "Ding, we discussed with the chairman and decided to withdraw from the company. Ouyang Xue has bought our shares. The paperwork is done. We just wanted to let you know."
Rui Xiaodan was stunned.
Ding Yuan Ying asked, "Why?"
Ye Xiaoming explained, "Le Sheng has sued us for unfair competition, demanding 6 million yuan in damages. The court delivered the lawsuit the day before yesterday. The chairman and I went to Shenzhen yesterday. This morning, the negotiation failed, and we returned in the afternoon. The lawsuit is with the chairman. I've handed over all the company's documents."
Ding Yuan Ying understood and courteously said, "It's your own matter to decide."
Ye Xiaoming apologized, "We're small-minded and inexperienced. Please understand."
Ding Yuan Ying replied, "As long as you've settled it among yourselves, it's fine."
Ye Xiaoming said, "Alright, Ding. We'll be going then."
Feng Shijie interjected, "Wait, I have something to say to Ding and Xiaodan."
Ye Xiaoming knew what Feng Shijie wanted to say, likely apologies, so he said, "Alright, you talk to them. I'll wait in the car." With that, he left.
Feng Shijie confessed, "Ding, Xiaodan, I've been carrying something for over two years. I need to clear it up. Do you remember when you and Xiaodan came to Xiaoming's shop for records? I was rude on purpose, trying to pick a fight as an excuse to get closer and invite you to dinner. I've always felt guilty about it."
Ding Yuan Ying said, "It's in the past, no need to mention it."
Feng Shijie insisted, "But it was intentional, to get to know you better. I always felt it was deceitful. Now that you know, I feel relieved."
Rui Xiaodan smiled, "It wasn't deceitful. Yuan Ying knew and said so, asking, 'Which of us is sincere?' You didn't notice, but he knew. No big deal."
"Which of us is sincere?" Feng Shijie recalled the moment, realizing Ding had understood and given him a way out. He felt foolish, questioning if his judgment about the company's future was also misguided.
Feng Shijie, embarrassed, said, "Ding, Xiaodan, I'm sorry about the records and the shares. Truly sorry." He then left without further goodbyes.
Ding Yuan Ying closed the door in silence.