Chapter 341

The crystal glass held a deep red liquid, shimmering temptingly under the light.

Victoria Langley elegantly uncorked a bottle of aged red wine she had been saving for years.

"We're celebrating today. Have a little," she said, pouring Evelyn Langley a half-glass.

Evelyn nodded obediently.

No one expected—

She secretly refilled her glass twice!

William Langley was enthusiastically detailing his company's new project, while Victoria focused on savoring each dish.

No one noticed Evelyn's little trick.

Except...

"Third glass," Adrian Klein suddenly spoke up.

Evelyn's hand, reaching for the bottle, froze mid-air.

"Oh my!" Victoria finally noticed the empty glass in front of her daughter. "I said just a little. How did you drink so much?"

William frowned too.

But he quickly shifted his attention.

"Adrian, you're incredibly observant! No wonder you've achieved such remarkable success in research..."

William hadn't been idle these past few days.

He had used his connections to thoroughly investigate Adrian's academic background.

With every achievement he uncovered, he marveled for hours.

Victoria had privately told her daughter, "Your father is obsessed."

Evelyn hadn't taken it seriously.

Until now—

"He can even turn this into praise?" she muttered under her breath.

She strongly suspected her father viewed Adrian through rose-tinted glasses.

"Adrian, you pay such close attention to Evelyn, noticing even these small things. As her father, I'm truly ashamed..." William took a sip of wine.

Suddenly, he set down his glass.

"Why don't we become sworn brothers? Evelyn can call you Uncle!"

Victoria nearly choked on her wine.

Evelyn's eyes widened: "?"

Adrian stiffened completely: "!!!"

William grew more animated. "This is a brilliant idea! Victoria and I are in Linshi, while Evelyn is alone in Cambridge..."

"You're steady and reliable. You could look after her studies and daily life..."

"Not as a favor, of course! Just so she has an elder looking out for her while she's away..."

With every mention of "elder," Adrian's eye twitched.

As William prepared to initiate a sworn brotherhood ceremony on the spot, Victoria finally had enough.

"Enough nonsense!" She snatched her husband's glass. "You're drunk and talking rubbish! Adrian is practically Evelyn's age. How can he be her uncle?"

Adrian sat stiffly, mentally giving Victoria a standing ovation.

Evelyn quickly smoothed things over. "Don't mind him, Professor. My dad gets like this when he drinks..."

"It's fine," Adrian forced out. "Uncle is drunk. I won't take it seriously."

"Who's drunk? I'm perfectly sober!" William fixed Adrian with an intense gaze. "I genuinely want to be brothers with you..."

Adrian internally screamed in refusal.

"That's enough!" Victoria's command finally put an end to the absurd discussion.

But William's address for Adrian had already shifted to—

"Little brother, try this peach blossom mandarin fish. It's my specialty."

Adrian: "..."

"How is it, little brother? To your taste?"

Adrian swallowed the fish with difficulty. "...Delicious."

William beamed. "Have more if you like! And this crystal beef..."

For the rest of dinner, Adrian could only mechanically repeat:

"Exquisite..."

"Unique..."

"First time trying it..."

William's enthusiasm only grew.