I slowly lit a cigarette before looking at Director Li and saying, "Director Pei has a good alcohol tolerance. I don't think it should be my turn."

After saying that, I deliberately looked at her. Pei Shi Yu's expression was very conflicted, as if she was constantly weighing things. I thought that if it weren't for the liquor being too strong, she would rather pass out than have me stand in for her.

"Lin Che, quickly offer a toast," Director Li urged again, with a rare hint of authority in his tone.

"No, Director Pei has to do it herself," Old Liang said.

"If you get Shi Yu drunk, how are we going to discuss business later?"

"We can't discuss business today, we'll continue tomorrow."

"Old Liang, don't make trouble. It's not easy to get everyone together today."

"Then Director Pei can decide for herself."

I then put out the cigarette I had just lit, looked at Pei Shi Yu, and asked, "You don't mind, do you?"

"It's your freedom whether you drink or not!" Although she didn't have the courage to drink a round, her tone was still quite stiff.

There were so many people in the industry present, and I didn't know their names. I stood up and poured myself two glasses of wine, holding one in each hand, and said to them in a self-deprecating manner, "Since I'm toasting on behalf of Director Pei, then the first glass is for myself."

I deliberately clinked the glass against itself in a funny way and threw my head back and drank it all in one gulp. Laughter immediately broke out, and I heard someone say, "This young man is interesting."

I was about to go around when another voice said, "You should clink twice."

I was stunned for a moment before I realized what he meant, and then said very humbly, "Right, right, it's two rounds, I almost forgot."

There were twelve people in the private room in total. This was an even more difficult task than the current big project. I knew I should toast them first, but I wanted to set an example first, so that toasting them later would be natural.

The third person sitting next to me should also be an authority figure. I could sense it from their conversation. Besides Pei Shi Yu, he had the most say.

I held both glasses of wine in my hands and said respectfully, "Director Liang, you only need to drink one glass."

The other party was also a straightforward person and replied readily, "How can that be? We agreed to treat everyone equally. It's just one glass of wine."

I liked this kind of personality. He wasn't pretentious and was fun to be around. Maybe he thought I was a junior, so he was talking to me in a supportive way. If I could deal with someone like this, it would be a good choice. Thinking of this, I was startled by my own thoughts and felt like I was looking for a way out.

Finally, it was naturally Pei Shi Yu's turn. I held up my glass and observed her face. She seemed calm on the surface, but I knew that she definitely didn't want to drink with me. I prompted her by asking, "Will you drink?"

Old Liang on the left side of the table spoke up, "What do you mean, 'Will you drink?' That's disrespectful. Just toast her directly."

"Then come on, Director Pei will toast you a glass, and also consider it a toast to herself."

Her actions were within my expectations. She picked up her glass without even clinking it with mine and drank it down. In front of so many people, I was snubbed again, but I could only accept it.

Even the person with the best alcohol tolerance would feel uncomfortable after drinking twenty or so glasses, especially since I had been drinking on an empty stomach. So I got up and walked out of the private room.

My purpose in coming was to block the alcohol, but I had to be able to withstand it myself. I thought I only needed to take care of Director Li, but drinking for Pei Shi Yu was beyond my expectations, and she didn't even give me a good look.

At this hour, the flow of people coming and going was heavy. I focused on observing their behavior. Most of them were here for social events, and some were here with their families. This was a high-end hotel, so the people who came to spend money here must have a certain status.

Just as I was paying close attention to everything, I suddenly heard a familiar voice. It was Lin Hai's wife. Her harsh tone was too distinctive.

I was about to turn my head when Lin Yang's sharp eyes spotted me immediately. He was stunned for a moment, and then instinctively called out, "Brother."

His wife saw that he was calling me and immediately said with a dark face, "Who's your brother!"

I didn't answer, and I didn't want to argue with her in public, but Lin Hai, who was beside me, didn't seem willing to let me go. He rushed up to me, pointed at me, and said, "Why do I run into you everywhere? Like a headless fly."

I stood up abruptly and said without any politeness, "Watch your mouth. This isn't your living room. Be careful you don't trip yourself up."

"I'm willing!"

"If you're so brave, let your son go to jail too!"

"Curses are useless. You did something wrong yourself, who can you blame? Next time you fall into my hands, I'll still send you in."

If he really wasn't my father, I would have punched him a long time ago. I glared fiercely at Lin Hai. Lin Yang suddenly grabbed my arm and said, "Let's go outside and talk."

I shook off his hand with disgust. "There's nothing to talk about. Don't call me brother in the future. I don't have relatives like you. I can't afford it."

"I have something to tell you."

Lin Yang's tone was pleading, and then he grabbed me again and walked away.

"Lin Yang, don't interfere."

I heard his mother's voice from behind, but Lin Yang didn't stop and pulled me to a less crowded place before letting go.

"Speak, what is it?"

"I can ignore the matters between our parents, but we young people should be reasonable..."

"Are you saying I'm being unreasonable?" I questioned Lin Yang.

"You've already ruined my marriage. I can ignore that, but please avoid them in the future."

"How did I ruin your marriage?"

"Shi Yu told me what happened after the engagement that day. I can understand if you have bitterness in your heart, but you don't have to take it out on her. She's innocent."

Lin Yang spoke very sincerely. I thought there was no need to be hostile to him, after all, the ruthless ones were Lin Hai and his wife.

So I put aside my resentment and explained, "My conflict with that woman wasn't caused by you. I met her before I met you."

"Shi Yu told me that you offended her. I think you were definitely wrong about that. Her father also knows about this, so he vented his anger on my father. How can he not be angry with you? Not to mention my mother. Anyway, it's impossible for me and her now, and I have a girlfriend now. I hope you won't make things difficult for my father in business."

"Since we've spoken frankly, then I'll formally tell you today, first, my conflict with Pei Shi Yu came first. I did slap her before attending your engagement, and you saw that her father already slapped me back. Second, I didn't know your fiancée was her. If her father hadn't beaten me again after I came out that day, the subsequent events wouldn't have happened. Also, the friends who are helping me in business are people I knew before. Objectively speaking, it has nothing to do with Pei Shi Yu. I didn't even know she was developing it."

After saying that, I didn't give Lin Yang another chance. Even if he was my half-brother, as long as Lin Hai and his wife were involved, I would never acknowledge this family bond.