Soon, Sharon Shaw, Andrew Smith, Daniel Carter, as well as Emily Hall and a few others who were together, all gradually came out together.

William Carter glanced over, stood up, and smiled.

“Let’s go, the private room is booked.”

“We’re eating on your dime this time! I know you just got a big payout.” Daniel Carter said with a laugh.

William Carter sent the address and private room info in the small group chat, and then the group headed downstairs. To his surprise, there were as many as twelve people.

Quite a few of them were guys who came for the girls. Two of them shamelessly asked to join, and William Carter didn’t mind at all.

The group split into a few cabs and headed to the restaurant.

The dinner spot was a place called Zhulan Restaurant.

It had decent reviews on the food app, with dishes mainly featuring spicy and sour flavors and stews.

The group entered the restaurant and, led by the waiter, took their seats in the Lanxiangju private room.

“Come on, come on, today Brother William is treating us! The big spender is opening the table, so don’t be shy!” Daniel Carter stood up to liven the mood, inviting everyone to order together.

William Carter waved his hand with a smile.

“Just don’t try to rip me off on purpose, order whatever you like.”

“Brother William, now that you’ve resigned, where are you planning to go? I saw you coming out of the supervisor’s office with a non-compete agreement in your hand. Are you not planning to stay in the internet industry?” a newly hired young woman asked.

“I’m not planning to take a new job for now, just going to take a break.” William Carter replied with a smile.

Everyone sat around the round table. He sat next to Daniel Carter and Sharon Shaw, and got up to pour drinks for everyone.

Since they still had to work in the afternoon, he only ordered a low-alcohol red wine.

428 yuan a bottle for Morra dry red—not the cheapest, but suitable for the occasion.

“Brother William, what’s really going on at home? If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know. If nothing else, Hai Mei and I will definitely help however we can, no questions asked.” Daniel Carter asked seriously.

William Carter had a great project, and just when it was about to be completed and he had a shot at a promotion, he suddenly quit.

Who would believe it wasn’t something serious?

Daniel Carter stood up and asked, and the private room gradually quieted down. Everyone looked at William Carter, waiting for his answer.

“It’s nothing major, just some family stuff I need to go back and handle.” William Carter shook his head and raised his glass.

“But thanks anyway. Here’s to you both—may you get married soon and have kids early.”

The couple, Daniel Carter and his wife, saw he didn’t want to talk about it, so they didn’t press. They stood up, each with a glass, clinked with him, and downed it in one go.

On the other side, Sharon Shaw also stood up.

“Same here, keep in touch. I’m a local here, so if you need anything, just call me. Back then, Brother William, you helped me a lot, and I’ve never forgotten it.”

She raised her glass seriously and clinked it with William Carter.

“No need to be so polite.” William Carter smiled and clinked glasses with her. “Back then you were so clueless, always breaking things. If I hadn’t been sitting so close to you, I bet any of the other guys here would have jumped in to help.”

The other guys around chimed in, and the room filled with laughter and teasing.

But there was no smile in Sharon Shaw’s eyes, only a faint sadness. It was clear she really didn’t want William Carter to leave.

Or rather, as someone just starting out, this was her first time experiencing such a farewell. That’s why she was so moved.

“Don’t forget to keep in touch.” she said seriously.

“Yeah, by the way, I forgot to mention—I’m a local too.” William Carter suddenly smiled. “If you ever need anything or run into trouble, you can call me. Around here, most things are pretty easy to handle.”

He spoke gently, and though his voice was soft in the noisy room, his words gave Sharon Shaw an unexpectedly strong sense of reassurance.

It made people instinctively believe his promise.

“Talking big, aren’t you!” Sharon Shaw couldn’t help but laugh. “After all this time, this is the first time I’ve heard you sound so cocky.”

“Isn’t that just being low-key?” William Carter laughed too.

Emily Hall, Andrew Smith, and the Daniel Carter couple nearby also heard their conversation.

The Daniel Carter couple didn’t pay much attention, but Emily Hall gave William Carter a curious look.

She felt that William Carter’s demeanor was unusually calm and relaxed at that moment, almost like… almost like the unique aura she’d seen in her entrepreneur father.

This kind of aura might sound mysterious, but it really just comes from having experienced a lot of big occasions, resulting in a sense of ease and command.

In social situations, very few people can truly achieve this. Only those who genuinely enjoy socializing, or who stand at the very top of the social circle, naturally exude this relaxed confidence.

But although Emily Hall noticed it and was curious, she didn’t ask more. After all, she wasn’t that familiar with William Carter.

But Andrew Smith, who had always wanted to elevate her social circle, keenly picked up on it.

Her eyes flickered, and she finally began to seriously observe William Carter.

With this closer look, she immediately noticed some unusual details.

Chapter 009 Situation (Part 1)