Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Obsessive-Compulsive 'Professor

Joe Ga and two others were warmly invited into the wooden cabin by the Ivanovich couple. Once inside, Joe Ga noticed that Ivanovich indeed exhibited some symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The man paused after each sentence, wanting to make sure that you truly understood what he was trying to express. Moreover, the cabin, identical in structure to the one Joe Ga and his companions were staying in, was tidied up so orderly. Though not spotless, Joe Ga found that almost everything was placed in the most convenient position. Next to the books, there always had to be a pen, the cabin's keys must be hung in the most conspicuous place at the entrance, and the tips of the shoes had to point outwards… Watching Ivanovich walk to the sofa in the living room, he smiled and motioned for Anna, who was watching TV, to get up and greet them, then casually picked up the TV remote that Anna had left on the sofa and placed it in the center of the coffee table. Li Wei began to realize that Ivanovich might not only be obsessive-compulsive but also likely a workaholic, as the placement of all his belongings indicated an unrelenting pursuit of efficiency. Chatting with Ivanovich was quite awkward for Joe Ga, as the man's English, although accented, was extremely strict in its grammatical application. If Joe Ga showed even the slightest hint of distraction, he would say, "I'm sorry, did I not make myself clear?" A person like this could not tolerate any distractions in his mind, and he had to immediately deal with anything that made him uncomfortable, otherwise, he would continue to feel uneasy. Joe Ga found it strange and could not understand how such a man could have become an arms salesperson for Seville Country's state enterprise. Seemingly noticing Joe Ga's confusion, Valentina brought everyone a cup of coffee and then said with a regretful expression, "My husband used to be a professor in the mechanical engineering department at Seville University. He was later transferred to the Yuginebert Company as deputy general manager to work in business. You may have noticed that he is actually more suited for teaching." As she spoke, Valentina sat next to Ivanovich, took his arm, and said with a smile, "He has encountered some setbacks in his career, but Anna and I both think that if he has the opportunity to return to the university this time, it would also be a good thing. Unfortunately, he doesn't see it that way, so he secretly drank all night yesterday, and after we left in the morning, he drank quite a lot more." Since talking to Ivanovich was really tiring, Joe Ga simply turned to Valentina and said, "I think Mr. Ivanovich seems very tense. As a man, I can sense the helplessness in him. What exactly is it that makes him feel that a setback in his career will cause his daughter to lose her dreams?" While speaking, Joe Ga glanced at Anna sitting silently with her head down, and he smiled as he said, "I guess any father would be willing to give everything for such an outstanding daughter, even if it means engaging in a profession they dislike and are not good at." "I don't need it!" Anna stood up as if provoked and shouted at Ivanovich, "I don't need any damn coaches, no physical trainers, and certainly no nutritionists, It's enough to practice with my mom. I can do it on my own. I don't need you to sacrifice anything for me…" "Anna, sit down!" Valentina stood up and scolded her daughter loudly, then turned to Joe Ga and the others with an apologetic smile, saying, "I'm really sorry…" Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Joe Ga decided to be straightforward. Looking at the disheartened Ivanovich, Joe Ga asked, "Excuse my frankness, but what sport does your daughter play? Is hiring a coach very expensive?" "Tennis. Anna's mother was once a tennis player, and even achieved a world ranking in the top 80, but unfortunately injury ruined her professional career. Anna's mother was very talented, but it was the lack of professional coaches and medical staff that led to her frequent injuries. I don't want Anna to suffer the same way. She is a talented child and should pursue her own dreams, not go to Italy to be a model just to make money." Explore stories on m,v l-NovelFire.net Joe Ga didn't understand much about tennis; aside from knowing Kournikova and Maria Sharapova, he was completely clueless about the sport. Looking at the crestfallen Ivanovich, Joe Ga asked curiously, "So you switched from the university to Yuginebert Company just to earn a bit more money to hire a coach for your daughter?" Ivanovich nodded slightly and said, "Yes, but unfortunately, I messed up because some of my documents weren't fully prepared, and our company's batch of goods got stuck at Italian Customs." Those were the samples our company was going to use for the defense exhibition in Tunisia next month. "If I can't resolve the issue, then I'll have no choice but to be unemployed," he said. As he spoke, Ivanovich might have felt it was inappropriate to discuss such matters with a guest, so he waved his hand and said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be telling you all this. My intention was to apologize for my rudeness this morning. At the same time, I have to thank you. If you hadn't driven me home, I would have made an even bigger fool of myself." Joe Ga, looking at Ivanovich, who had to tell the whole truth and had not an ounce of talent for lying, said sympathetically, "Buddy, I really think you're not cut out for a sales position. But do you remember what I said before? We're in the same business. Although I don't fully agree with your job choice, I have to admit that you're a very honest person. Maybe I can help you get the goods back..." Ivanovich was stunned for a moment, then grabbed Joe Ga's hand with excitement and said, "Really? Thank you so much!" Valentina, seeing her husband, who didn't have a clue about social niceties, walked over embarrassingly and pulled Ivanovich aside, whispering a few words to him. Then, Ivanovich came over awkwardly and said, "Is there anything I can do to repay you? The company has given me a bit of authority—if you could..." S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Joe Ga felt a bit awkward hearing this. Fortunately, Valentina rushed over and yanked her husband's sleeve forcefully, then looked at Joe Ga and said, "I'm sorry, he's just like that, please don't take it the wrong way. If you really can help, we'd be extremely grateful. If there's anything we can do for you, just let us know, and as long as it's within our power, we will not refuse." For the first time, Joe Ga realized how painful it could be to talk to an honest person. Ivanovich's 'honesty' left him feeling awkward and unsure of what to do. However, such a guy would be the safest business partner, as Joe Ga wasn't sure he could outmaneuver the old hands in the arms trade. Somewhat helplessly rubbing his temple, Joe Ga just got straight to the point, saying, "I have some military equipment customers in Africa, so when I heard you were from Yuginebert Company, I thought I'd try to get to know you, as there might be opportunities for collaboration in the future. To show my sincerity, you give me the detailed information on why your goods were detained, and I'll try to help you get them back. However, there might be some costs involved. I believe your company surely has a budget for public relations expenses—can you make a decision on that?" Looking at Anna and then at the conflicted Ivanovich, Joe Ga said, "I help you keep your job, you help your daughter keep her dream. You can consider this a meeting gift to a potential quality client! If you want to repay me, just tell me about things I'm interested in. Of course, if you can give me some discounts when I decide to purchase military equipment in the future, I'd be immensely grateful." Ivanovich looked incredulously at Joe Ga and said, "You're going to purchase military equipment? You're Chinese, and you actually want to buy products from Seville?"