Chapter 374 Stay Here If You're Drunk

"Speaking of the Hua family..."

Li Yuanchang and Xiao Weilai exchanged a glance.

Finally, Li Yuanchang rubbed his hands together and tentatively said, "This time, you faked your death during a mission, and the Hua family, or rather Hua Zhuo, did indeed take good care of us. He even said he wanted Xiao Cheng to come back to the Hua residence with him so they could take care of her. However, Xiao Cheng has never agreed to this, and he hasn't forced her. But he will send someone over every now and then, and occasionally he will come to see Xiao Cheng in person!"

“From Hua Zhuo’s series of actions, it’s not hard to see that he genuinely wants to make amends, rather than being hypocritical,” Xiao Weilai added.

Lu Jinye, who had been listening in silence, nodded. "Wen Ni, after this period of contact with the Hua family, Brother Xiao and I have come to similar conclusions."

"If the Hua family is determined to abandon your mother, then so be it. So many years have passed, why would they come knocking on our door again? But if it's to curry favor with us, I don't think it's necessary. After all, the Hua family's legitimate businesses are thriving, second only to my Lu family. In the underworld, they are the top bosses in China's underground, far beyond our reach."

"However, such large families are very complex, and it's best to investigate things carefully to be on the safe side!"

It was rare for Lu Jinye to say so much in one go.

He paused, then turned to look at her and asked, "Do you need my help?"

"I want to investigate this matter myself." Wen Ni looked at him with bright and determined eyes. "I want to personally seek justice for my mother!"

"I believe you are fully capable of handling this." Lu Jinye nodded affirmatively.

"Alright, since Boss Wen has said so, let her handle this matter!" Xiao Weilai chuckled and made the decision, then called out, "Xiao Cheng, are you hungry? Come and eat with us!"

"Yes, yes, yes! The food is getting cold, I'll go heat it up." Li Yuanchang quickly got up and took Xiao Xiaobao back and forth to heat up the food.

At the dinner table, Xiao Weilai put a piece of pig's trotter into Wen Cheng's bowl and said to Wen Ni, "Little boss, you don't know how much Xiao Cheng has grown while you were away! He used to be like a child who hadn't grown up, but now he can handle everything on his own, whether it's studying or business! Sometimes when I look at him, it's like I'm seeing you!"

"My younger brother, of course, looks a lot like me."

Wen Ni smiled gently and reached out to pat Xiao Cheng's head.

Seemingly feeling her sister's physical touch, Xiao Cheng couldn't help but cry again, her tears falling into the rice bowl on the table.

A tissue was handed to me.

"Wipe it." It was Lu Jinye's soft voice.

"Thank you, Mr. Lu." Wen Cheng choked up, rubbing her face a little shyly, then looked up earnestly, her eyes red-rimmed. "I haven't had a chance to thank you yet. Thank you for not giving up on finding my sister, and thank you for bringing her back safe and sound! If you ever need anything from me, Xiao Cheng, just ask, don't hesitate to ask!"

“Indeed, there will be things I need your help with in the future.” Lu Jinye’s gaze slowly shifted from Wen Ni’s face, and when he looked at Xiao Cheng, his expression returned to normal. “After going through so much, my relationship with you and Wen Ni has become much closer. From now on, just call me Brother Lu. There’s no need to be so formal. We’re all family.”

Close, distant, or one's own people?

"How come I never noticed before? You're so outgoing." Wen Ni gave a forced smile and glanced at him sideways.

Lu Jinye's lips curved into a smile. "Is this how you treat your savior?"

"Threatening me?" Wen Ni raised her eyelids. "How many times have I saved your life?"

"Bringing up old grievances?" Lu Jinye retorted, not to be outdone. "Then why don't we make a list and take stock?"

"Tch, I don't have time for that, and I can't be bothered to argue with you." Wen Ni rolled her eyes. "Consider it a debt I owe you for now, remember that!"

"Why don't you pay back what you owe me now? I don't ask for much."

How much do you want?

After Wen Ni finished asking her question, the others at the table also looked up, casting curious glances at Lu Jinye.

Lu Jinye's eyelashes curved slightly. "I can't say. I'll take the opportunity when it's right!"

"Tch~"

The group, bursting with curiosity, heard nothing and waved their hands in boredom.

"Alright! Today's meal is to celebrate Boss Wen's safe return! We should all have a few drinks!" Xiao Weilai opened a few bottles of wine, not forgetting to remind him, "Boss Wen, you shouldn't drink, you haven't fully recovered yet!"

"Um."

"The rest of you, drink until you drop!" Li Yuanchang said with a beaming smile as he brought over the heated food.

They chatted and laughed, talking about all sorts of random things.

Time passed by, and it was already 2 a.m.!

Xiao Cheng was injured and went to bed early.

At the dinner table, there was only Wen Ni, who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, and Boss Xiao and Li Yuanchang, whose drinking prowess was off the charts, plus Lu Jinye! They were drinking one glass after another, completely overwhelmed!

As for Qin Yuan, he was already too drunk to hold his liquor and passed out. He was sleeping like a log on the sofa next to him, while Xiao Xiaobao was lying on his stomach, also fast asleep.

"You three, that's enough, you can't drink anymore!" Wen Ni couldn't take it anymore and snatched the wine glass from Lu Jinye's hand, giving Xiao Weilai and Li Yuanchang a warning look.

Unfortunately, Li Yuanchang was already so drunk that he was oblivious to the world around him!

His eyes were barely open, and his breath reeked of alcohol, yet he still managed to hook his arm around Lu Jinye's shoulder, grinning with his two big black teeth in a rather affectionate manner. "This... it's so late, Jinye, if you ask me, you shouldn't go back! Just stay here!"

“Brother Li is right! Even Qin Yuan is drunk. No one will drive you home.” Xiao Weilai also swayed and shook his head drunkenly.

"Let them stay here?" Wen Ni pricked up her ears sensitively, as if facing a formidable enemy. "You guys are really drunk. Where are there rooms for them to stay?"

Although the house is nearly 200 square meters, the original design deliberately allocated more space to the living room, so there are only three bedrooms in total. Xiao Cheng lives in one, Wen Ni lives in one, and Li Yuanchang and Xiao Bao live in the other.

As for Xiao Weilai, because Bao Xiangzhai is often busy until very late, he usually stays at the shop and only comes back occasionally. The sofa bed in the living room is spacious enough for him to use!

Wen Ni suggested that they buy two more apartments separately, or upgrade to a villa.

But they didn't want to.

The villas are all too far from the shop, and they don't want to be separated. It's only when everyone lives together that it's lively and cozy!

"If there's not enough room, how about letting Xiao Cheng share a room with Mr. Lu?" Xiao Weilai was still suggesting solutions.

"Are you out of your mind?" Li Yuanchang still had the energy to mock others, but the next second he uttered something shocking: "Mr. Lu is of noble status, how can he just squeeze into a room with someone? Even if he has to squeeze in, he should be with our young lady..."

He wasn't given a chance to finish speaking.

Wen Ni stood up, raised her hand, and slapped Li Yuanchang on the forehead, knocking him unconscious so he collapsed onto the table, motionless!

"!!"

Xiao Weilai, standing next to him, shuddered. He instantly felt sober and swallowed hard, clearly terrified.

"Don't be nervous." Wen Ni's smile held a murderous edge. "Brother Li is drunk and acting crazy. I'll help him out and get him to sleep!"

He felt Wen Ni's glare, which seemed to conceal a sharp edge.

Xiao Weilai immediately covered his head with a sensible gesture, banged the wine bottle against his head until he was dizzy, and then slumped onto the table with his eyes closed. "No need for the boss to do it, I'll do it myself!"