Lao Huang, a client treated me to dinner last night and kept asking about a new project our company hasn't announced yet.

You need to be careful. A dinner gathering isn't a place to casually discuss work, especially information that hasn't been made public.

He didn't directly ask about confidential information. He just said, 'I heard your company has something big coming up recently,' and kept offering toasts.

That's exactly what makes it troublesome. Some people first build rapport and then gradually try to find out internal information.

I just smiled and didn't continue the topic. I only said the project hadn't been announced yet and wasn't convenient to discuss.

That was the right way to handle it. Project progress, internal arrangements, and key data—revealing even a little can cause problems.

It seems that even if people flatter you at dinner, you shouldn't say more just to save face.

Exactly. Before speaking, you need to be clear about the boundaries. If you notice someone fishing for information, refuse promptly.

I'll be more careful at these dinners in the future. Drink less, talk less about work, and avoid creating trouble for myself.