Just as I was about to shake hands with Lao Liang, the person who followed him in stopped me.

It was Chen Biao! He was already tall and burly, and maybe it was because he had been thriving these past few years, but he walked in sideways like a crab.

His reaction to seeing me wasn't surprising at all, as if he had been expecting it. Lao Liang must have mentioned me to him. I awkwardly greeted him with, "Director Liang!"

Lao Liang gestured for me to sit down, then said enthusiastically to Pei Shiyu, "Shiyu, it's rare to see you now. This must be Shiong's son, right?"

I could tell that Pei Shiyu hadn't recovered from the argument earlier, and her expression was a little stiff. She only moved her lips, and her voice was so soft that I couldn't tell if she had responded.

Before I could sit down, Chen Biao had already taken a seat on his own. He crossed his legs in an extremely arrogant manner, stuck a cigarette in his mouth, and blew smoke in my face.

I ignored him and calmly lit a cigarette for myself. After taking one puff, I immediately put it out, because Xiao Long was here. Although I didn't know what self-cultivation was, I at least knew to be considerate of children.

I looked up and saw Pei Shiyu in the process of frowning and then relaxing her brow. Even if I hadn't put out the cigarette, she didn't need to make such an obvious expression. On the other hand, Chen Biao was still smoking away without a care, and she didn't even glance at him.

This time, I didn't look away. Instead, I stared back at her unhappily, as if to tell her that I was a worthless person!

Lao Liang finally stopped Chen Biao, saying in a somewhat stern tone, "Chen Biao, put out the cigarette. Don't you see there's a child here?"

"Oh, okay, Director Liang."

My gaze shifted from Pei Shiyu to the phone on the table. Today's occasion was destined to be a little awkward, but only for me.

A few years ago, I had indeed gotten a big deal from Chen Biao, and the kickbacks alone were worth hundreds of thousands. Although those years had passed, it seemed Chen Biao still hadn't been able to let go of that grudge.

If he had seemed friendly today, I might have talked things out with him face to face, but the attitude he was putting on wasn't that simple. Luckily, I didn't work under Lao Liang. If I had known he would be involved, I would have avoided this.

As the door to the private room opened again, Director Li arrived. There were five people in total, and I hadn't met some of them before. As soon as those people came in, Chen Biao immediately stood up from his seat and shook hands with them one by one very diligently, offering cigarettes and greetings, as if deliberately showing off in front of me.

I kept listening to their conversation and finally figured out what was going on. Pei Shiyu was transferring the engineering project to Lao Liang. I guessed she probably didn't have the energy to manage that part of the business anymore. The two parties were discussing the price very quickly, basically settling on the price Pei Shiyu set.

At this point, I understood why Chen Biao was acting so arrogant today. I relied on Director Li, and Director Li was dependent on Pei Shiyu. So her withdrawal meant an increase in Lao Liang's power. If Chen Biao took the opportunity to stir things up, I could be kicked out at any time.

After weighing the situation, I also realized that the conflict between Pei Shiyu and me was coming to an end because of her departure. If we didn't see each other anymore, there wouldn't be any chance to speak.

Director Li was smooth in his actions and words and chatted very congenially with them at the dinner table. His articulate personality also made him seem very sociable.

Chen Biao's momentum had been pressing down on me all day, giving me a bad feeling. I basically didn't say anything all evening. Xiao Long, who was sitting next to me, was probably excited about the promise of going to the arcade and couldn't sit still, looking up at me from time to time.

I said in a soft voice, "Your aunt doesn't agree. We can't go to the arcade."

As soon as I finished speaking, he suddenly burst into tears. Pei Shiyu immediately stood up, took Xiao Long's hand, and said, "We're going home."

Then, with basic politeness, she greeted the people at the table. Director Li had just stood up and was about to try to persuade her to stay, but Pei Shiyu pulled Xiao Long out without even turning her head.

I don't know what I was thinking, but I suddenly stood up and casually said, "Enjoy your meal, I have something to take care of."

As soon as I opened the door, I heard Chen Biao say mockingly, "Little follower."

My back stiffened for a moment. I didn't turn around, but pulled the door open heavily and walked straight out.

Around the corner, I saw Xiao Long squatting on the ground, protesting in a tearful voice, "I don't want to go home. I want to go to the arcade. Why won't you let me go?"

Pei Shiyu replied helplessly, "I don't know how to play. Do you?"

"That uncle knows how to play. Why won't you let me go with him?"

Pei Shiyu also saw me as she looked up. Her expression was very unpleasant, as if blaming me for promising to take Xiao Long without her permission.

I gently pulled Xiao Long up from the ground, then looked at Pei Shiyu and said, "I can understand if you're in a bad mood, but don't impose that mood on the child. You keep him locked up at home all day. What child can stand that!"

Pei Shiyu was about to retort when Xiao Long spoke up before her, "Uncle, take me to play."

"Okay!" I agreed very decisively, completely ignoring Pei Shiyu.

Then I said to her as if it were unimportant, "If you don't want to go, I'll send him back later."

"Who allowed you to make decisions without asking?" Pei Shiyu's tone was obviously angry.

"I don't want to interfere in your family's mess. I'm just fulfilling my promise to the child."

"How can someone like you be trusted?"

"What's wrong with me? Isn't this just a small matter? Your face is scratched up like this. Shouldn't that be even now? Or do you think someone like the Lin Hai family is trustworthy?"

Pei Shiyu immediately pulled Xiao Long from my hand, and the words she spoke were very aggressive, of course, meant for me to hear: "Do you think you can just go out and play with a stranger? Do you have any sense of self-protection?"

"Don't you know him?"

"No!" Pei Shiyu replied emotionally.

"Just let me play once, please?" Xiao Long looked at her with a pitiful expression.

Seeing Pei Shiyu's expression soften instantly, I also realized that this woman was soft and not hard. Acting pitiful to gain sympathy was her fatal weakness.

Actually, I myself didn't understand why I had to go out of my way to be disliked. I could have completely ignored this matter. It was as if I saw a reflection of myself in Xiao Long, and I really wanted him to experience the nature that should belong to a child.

Taking advantage of Pei Shiyu's speechlessness, I took Xiao Long's hand again and led him straight out. And I felt that the little hand in my hand was also holding me tightly, perhaps this was a kind of trust and a desire to gain freedom.