Chapter 21: If You Don't Drink, You Don't Respect Me

"Meeting adjourned. Everyone, keep up the good work."

The meeting at the Jiang Corporation concluded perfectly. Jiang Cheng valued the company highly, and as a result, the business operations were impeccable, with every department functioning in an orderly and dedicated manner. However, Jiang Cheng was overly rigid, afraid to venture into new markets and stubbornly tethered to real estate as the core industry. With the economic downturn over the past few years, the company's performance had clearly lagged behind previous years.

"Man, your workstation is here."

After the meeting, everyone returned to their desks. Jiang Shi had his own private office, but Jiang Man, having finished the meeting, did not know where she was supposed to go. Jiang Shi had ordered a desk and chair to be set up right next to his own, serving as a temporary workspace for her.

"Oh, okay."

The expansive office was divided into a work area and a reception area. Jiang Man had assumed she would just work on the sofa in the reception area, never expecting Jiang Shi to place her seat right beside his.

"Feel free to use the lounge. I’ve had everything replaced, and I won't go in there myself."

During the two hours of the meeting, Jiang Shi had instructed Zhao Qi to contact the logistics staff, replace the bed and linens in the lounge, and have the bathroom thoroughly sanitized from every angle.

"Understood, thank you, Mr. Jiang."

Since she was at the company, Jiang Man followed the others in addressing him as Mr. Jiang. After all, she was completely ignorant of business matters and needed to learn from him. If other departments learned of her true relationship with him, they might not hold her to the same high standards, and she wouldn't be able to learn as comprehensively.

"Rest for a moment. We're heading out in fifteen minutes."

Jiang Shi had Zhao Qi arrange a dinner with the company's shareholders at a five-star hotel next to the office. Most of these individuals had worked alongside Elder Jiang since the early days; this meeting was simply to introduce Jiang Man to them.

By the time Jiang Shi and Jiang Man arrived, the shareholders were already present.

"Mr. Jiang is here! Please, take your seats."

The shareholders, all shrewd and experienced, cleared the seats of honor for them and greeted them with eager enthusiasm.

"Come, Mr. Jiang, let us toast you! We look forward to your guidance in the future!"

A few of the more boisterous ones, seeing them sit down, had already poured drinks and raised their glasses.

Even Jiang Man’s glass was filled halfway. "The little beauty should drink too. If you want to do business, you have to learn how to drink."

Back when Jiang Cheng was in charge, he had always brought along various young women, so naturally, they assumed Jiang Man was Jiang Shi’s little mistress. Before Jiang Shi could introduce her, a glass was thrust into her hand.

"That’s too kind. I look forward to your continued support."

Jiang Shi downed a full glass of strong white spirits as if it were water, his expression unmoved. Jiang Man felt trapped. Seeing everyone else drain their glasses, she was caught in a dilemma: should she drink it, or leave the glass untouched?

"Oh come now, we’ve all finished ours. If the beauty doesn't drink, isn't that a sign of disrespect?"

A man with a beer belly and a thinning hairline spoke up, targeting Jiang Man with malicious intent. This kind of behavior was common at business dinners. The others didn't intervene, watching quietly to see how she would react.

A timid person would grit their teeth and swallow the high-proof liquor regardless of their tolerance, while someone who didn't want to drink would usually try to act cute or beg for leniency. Jiang Man was clearly the former, and she was just about to down the drink in one go.

Before the glass could reach her lips, it was snatched away by the person beside her. "I'll drink this one for her. If the Old Master knew his precious granddaughter had been drinking out here, I wouldn't know how to explain myself when I get back."

Since it was the first day, Jiang Shi didn't want to offend all the shareholders, so he invoked the Old Master. Upon hearing the name, those who had been pressuring her fell silent. They had assumed she was just a girl Jiang Shi had brought along, but it turned out she was sent by the Old Master himself.

"So she is Old Mr. Jiang’s granddaughter! My apologies, my apologies. Please don't be angry, young lady, you are a person of great character."

The aggressive tone vanished, replaced by fawning politeness that left Jiang Man at a loss for how to respond. It was her first time encountering such a situation, but she knew this culture wasn't new, and she would likely face it many times again.

"My niece is a bit shy. Everyone, please, let's eat, or the food will get cold." Jiang Shi noticed the girl was frightened and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Eat, eat! Mr. Jiang, please, you first."

"Young lady, you need more training. When you first walked in, I honestly thought you were just a girl Mr. Jiang had brought along."

Clearly, some were unwilling to let it go. The man’s words were a blatant slur, painting her as a woman who provided special services.

"Watch your tongue."

Jiang Shi’s expression turned icy, lacking the pleasantries from before. Jiang Man, sitting beside him, understood the man’s implication. She dug her fingernails into her palm, struggling to hold back tears. How could there be such disgusting people, finding joy in mocking and demeaning others?

"Let's end the dinner here. If we stay any longer, who knows what kind of social scum some people will paint our Jiang family as."

Jiang Shi reframed the man’s hostility toward Jiang Man as an insult to the entire Jiang family. If word of this got out, that shareholder’s career would be over; there were countless people outside dying to be in the Jiang family's good graces. With that, Jiang Shi took Jiang Man’s hand and left the table.

"Find an opportunity to cut ties with those who were the loudest during the meal. I’ll handle the Old Master," Jiang Shi said to Zhao Qi as soon as they stepped outside.

"Well? Scared silly?"

Jiang Man had been raised at home by the Jiang Cheng couple and had never witnessed such a scene, so she was still in a daze. But she had heard what Jiang Shi said to Zhao Qi. "Uncle, weren't those old partners of Grandfather? There's no need to ruin the relationship for my sake."

She wasn't even the real daughter of the Jiang family. There was no reason for him to offend business partners for a fake daughter who had been swapped in.

"Anyone who offends you cannot be tolerated," Jiang Shi said, his tone half-serious, half-joking.

Yet, these words struck a chord in Jiang Man’s heart. He was still the kind brother from before, protecting her, an unrelated outsider, without a second thought.

"Uncle, when I go home, can I tell Grandfather that I won't come back? I don't think I have the ability to manage the company." Furthermore, the Jiang family business couldn't be handed to her; Jiang Ming was much more suitable and the only real choice. She had her own dreams—she loved acting. If it weren't for Li Baizhen and Jiang Cheng’s demands, she would have applied to the Film Academy in the neighboring city this year.

Jiang Shi understood her concerns. "If you don't like it, you can tell the Old Master. But don't say you aren't qualified. In his heart, you are no different from Jiang Ming. He has never had any other thoughts."