At 6:30, Si Qingqing led Xu Suyi into the private room.

Si Qingqing did not know Chen Jie and Yu Lifang, and naturally, Xu Suyi did not either.

"Come on, have a seat."

Song Guanchao called out and went over to sit down.

Xu Suyi sensitively noticed that Song Guanchao sat at the host's seat.

Here, the highest-ranking person was Chu Xiao'e, a member of the City Committee.

Yet she could only sit beside Song Guanchao.

Song Guanchao had no intention of making introductions.

After the waiter served the dishes, Song Guanchao ordered a few bottles of liquor, filling each person's glass.

Song Guanchao had no intention of raising a toast, merely drinking and eating on his own.

Everyone keenly felt that something was off with the atmosphere of this dinner gathering.

Chen Jie and Yu Lifang ate with great restraint, having absolutely no appetite, and were very anxious, not knowing what Song Guanchao intended to do.

Chu Xiao'e felt curious.

Si Qingqing was also a bit nervous, but not as heavy-hearted as the two women.

Xu Suyi's state was completely different; she was relaxed yet cautious.

Though she did not know the identities of Chen Jie and Yu Lifang, through their reactions, Xu Suyi gleaned some insights.

These two women seemed a bit afraid of Song Guanchao.

After Song Guanchao had eaten to his satisfaction, he called a waiter to clean the bone dish in front of him, switched to a cup of tea, and then had the waiter leave the private room.

He picked up the remaining liquor, placed it on the rotating tray, and turned it to a stop in front of Xu Suyi, smiling, "Secretary Xu, have a drink."

Xu Suyi quickly picked up the decanter in front of her and filled a small three-ounce cup with liquor.

She stood up, held the liquor cup, drank it in one go, and displayed a very respectful attitude.

Chen Jie and the two women thought to themselves, is Secretary Song interested in this woman?

As soon as Xu Suyi sat down, Song Guanchao said, "Continue."

Xu Suyi was taken aback for a moment, but did not dare to say anything, filled another small cup, stood up, and drank.

"Secretary Xu holds her liquor well."

"No, I can't really drink much," Xu Suyi modestly replied.

Song Guanchao smiled and said, "In the officialdom, not being able to drink won't do. Liquor capacity is something that can be improved. Today, I'll help you practice, come on, keep drinking."

Until now, Xu Suyi hadn't sensed anything, only assuming that Song Guanchao had some interest in her, and she felt a bit happy inside.

She drank about three taels of liquor in succession, and because she drank too quickly and hurriedly, her face turned completely red, and she choked a few times in the middle.

"There's still some on the table, have another go," Song Guanchao said with a smile.

Si Qingqing couldn't bear to watch: "She can't handle much liquor."

As soon as she spoke, she immediately sensed that the smile on Song Guanchao's face disappeared.

He stared at her with a gaze that made her feel very uncomfortable.

After a full ten seconds, he finally said, "Did I tell you to speak?"

Si Qingqing was stunned and then felt somewhat embarrassed.

There were two strange women here whom she didn't know.

Song Guanchao's tone in front of outsiders... left her somewhat humiliated.

She was about to retort a few words but remembered what Chu Xiao'e had said at her house yesterday and held back.

At this moment, Xu Suyi finally realized that Secretary Song seemed to be deliberately stirring things up tonight.

No, it's not that he's deliberately stirring things up.

It seems more like he's asserting authority.

Xu Suyi pursed her lips and said, "Director, I'm fine, I can still drink."

Director?

Chen Jie and the two women exchanged glances, wondering which department's director this was.

"Have some vegetables to cushion it," Song Guanchao said.

Xu Suyi felt a bit relieved, picked up her chopsticks, and took small bites of the dishes.

Song Guanchao said, "Director Chen, go get a case of liquor from the waiter."

Hearing this, everyone in the private room shuddered inside.

Chen Jie and Yu Lifang got a little flustered.

A case of liquor...

Does this mean everyone has to drink together?

Even if divided among everyone, it's still a bottle per person, and drinking it will definitely leave one dead drunk.

Si Qingqing furrowed her brows, unsure of what Song Guanchao intended to do.

She didn't understand why Song Guanchao called her to dinner tonight.

Logically, he should be figuring out how to negotiate with Ding Lingyan.

Xu Suyi's heart raced, her blood circulation accelerating all over her body, and she felt a vague unease.

But she didn't know where this unease came from.

She could sense that Secretary Song was targeting her... no, should be targeting Si Qingqing, and she was just caught in the middle.

Chu Xiao'e said nothing, merely watching quietly.

She roughly understood what Song Guanchao wanted to do.

Chen Jie went out, spoke a few words to the waiter, and returned.

In less than a few minutes, the waiter brought in a case of liquor.

Song Guanchao said, "Open them all."

The waiter opened each bottle of liquor and placed them on the rotating tray.

Upon Song Guanchao's request, the waiter brought two wine glasses and then left.

Song Guanchao lit up a cigarette and said, "Fill them up."

Si Qingqing did not move, her heart full of anger.

Song Guanchao did not urge her, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said, "If you don't want to drink, then get out."

Xu Suyi was at a loss.

These were wine glasses, and each could hold at least three taels when filled.

How could you drink liquor like this?

Drinking like this could lead to fatal outcomes.

Si Qingqing took a deep breath: "Secretary Song..."

"Qingqing." Chu Xiao'e didn't let her continue: "Pour the drink."

Si Qingqing looked at her, eyes full of grievance and indignation.

Chu Xiao'e said sternly, "Pour it."

Si Qingqing bit her lip, feeling deeply frustrated.

But she listened to Chu Xiao'e, grabbed the liquor, and poured it aggressively in anger.

Seeing her actions, Xu Suyi also began to pour liquor.

Looking at the full glasses of liquor, Song Guanchao said, "Drink up."

Si Qingqing pursed her lips without speaking and merely looked at Chu Xiao'e.

Chu Xiao'e sighed lightly inside and said, "Drink it."

Si Qingqing's eyes welled up with two drops of humiliated tears; she grabbed the glass and stared at Song Guanchao with resentment, drinking while fiercely glaring at him.

As three taels of liquor went down her throat, a wave of stomach acid surged up, almost making her vomit, but she managed to suppress it, though she felt uncomfortable.

She quickly drank a few mouthfuls of tea, and after a while, managed to quell the discomfort.

But she still felt a severe dizziness in her head, her entire body feeling light as air.

Song Guanchao looked at Xu Suyi; she hadn't drunk yet.

Xu Suyi forced a smile: "Secretary Song, I'm sorry, I can't drink that much."

Song Guanchao smiled and said, "Secretary Xu underestimates her own potential."

"I believe you can do it."

"Secretary Song, I..."

"Smack!"

Song Guanchao suddenly tossed a stack of documents over: "Take a look."

Xu Suyi looked at him in confusion, then at Si Qingqing.

Is this for me? Or for Si Qingqing?

As if reading her mind, Song Guanchao said, "It's for you, take a look."

Xu Suyi grabbed the document, and after glancing through a few lines, her pupils contracted, and she looked up in shock at Song Guanchao.

The document contained detailed information about her parents' workplaces.

The content was exceedingly detailed.

Her eyes were blank, her heart racing, filled with tension, panic, and confusion about the unknown.

Why is he showing me this?

Why is he investigating my parents?

"Look at me, I was so focused on eating that I forgot to introduce everyone."

Song Guanchao smiled slightly and said, "This is Chen Jie, Deputy Director of the Industrial and Commercial Bureau."

"And this is Yu Lifang, Director of the Tax Bureau Office."

Hearing the identities of the two women, Xu Suyi's heart was shocked, and she guessed something.

Song Guanchao seemed to have already suspected her identity.

No, not suspected, but confirmed.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have investigated her parents, nor would he have brought the industrial and tax officials here in person.

He's using my parents to threaten me!

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