Chapter 62: I’d Risk My Life to Drink with You
Xiao Li hosted the banquet, with Luo Ying accompanying him.
Yet before the meal even began, Xiao Li raised his glass first…
“The first glass is for you, Brother Lu. Thank you for saving my life today.”
“The second glass is for you, Xiao Ying. Thank you for managing Riley International for me, day after day, these past twelve years.”
“The third glass is still for the both of you. From this day on, I, Xiao Li, will treat you as my own family!”
“I’ll drink it all—drink as you please!”
After just three glasses, Xiao Li’s cheeks were already tinged with red, clearly unable to hold his liquor.
Lu Ye and Luo Ying exchanged glances, and a plan formed instantly. “Hahaha, Boss Xiao is a straightforward man—let me toast you as well!”
“Boss, let me toast you too!”
Lu Ye and Luo Ying raised their glasses again, and Xiao Li had no choice but to follow suit. In the blink of an eye, he’d downed five drinks.
He was born with a low tolerance for alcohol, his liver less capable of processing it than most. What’s more, they were drinking strong baijiu, over fifty degrees. Soon enough, he was feeling dizzy.
Seeing Lu Ye reach for his glass again, Xiao Li hurried to dissuade him, “Brother Lu, don’t just drink—try the dishes, the dishes!”
But Lu Ye ignored him, slamming the table and shouting, “How can we be satisfied with such tiny glasses? Come, bring up a few jars of wine! Tonight, I won’t stop drinking with Boss Xiao until we’re both flat on our backs!”
Xiao Li was dumbfounded. “Maybe we shouldn’t…”
Lu Ye hiccupped, a little tipsy, and slurred, “Boss Xiao, if you don’t have a good drink with me tonight, you’ll be turning your back on your savior!”
Xiao Li squinted at him, realizing this fellow was just as much a lightweight. It didn’t seem he wanted to deliberately get him drunk—he genuinely wanted to bond.
After thinking for a moment, he agreed decisively, “Brother Lu, I’m not much of a drinker. At most, three taels when drinking with others…”
“But for you, I’ll push myself!”
Lu Ye finally nodded in satisfaction. “Straightforward!”
At that moment, several jars of wine were indeed brought in.
They were all fine vintage nu’erhong, aged for decades—mellow and not particularly strong. But for someone like Xiao Li, the smoother the wine, the easier it was to get carried away!
Round after round, they drank. Once Lu Ye started talking, he didn’t stop—slapping Xiao Li on the shoulder and boasting endlessly.
From luxury cars and designer watches to celebrities and models, then on to grand discussions of the world, and finally, he even analyzed global economic trends for Xiao Li…
Seeing that Xiao Li was nearly unconscious, Lu Ye’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Boss Xiao, I’m not exaggerating—there’s nothing in this world I don’t know!”
Sure enough, Xiao Li, face flushed, grinned foolishly, “Brother Lu, that's one thing you can’t match me on. Do you know about the Hongying Society? It’s the world’s largest spy organization!”
“My brother here is the chief executive officer for the Asia-Pacific region of the Hongying Society. I even know what color underwear the Japanese Prime Minister is wearing today!”
Lu Ye played along, “Oh? What kind of underwear is he wearing today?”
Xiao Li let out a long hiccup, then bit his tongue and mumbled, “It’s… got a SpongeBob pattern. Just like yours!”
The corner of Lu Ye’s mouth twitched, but he continued to coax him, “Boss Xiao, is your position in the Hongying Society really that impressive? I don’t believe it!”
Bang!
Xiao Li slammed the table in indignation, then clutched his hand in over-the-top agony. “Ow, ow, ow…”
He said miserably, “Brother Lu, you don’t know me—I never brag to outsiders.”
Lu Ye chuckled, “Unless you can tell me where the Hongying Society’s headquarters is, and who the supreme leader is—then I’ll believe you!”
Xiao Li suddenly grinned, a deep look in his eyes as he muttered, “Trying to trick me, are you?”
Lu Ye and Luo Ying exchanged glances. Was this guy just pretending to be drunk?
But in the next moment, Xiao Li toppled over and rolled under the table, continuing, “Trick me if you want—since you’re like family now, there’s no harm in telling you.”
“Our Hongying Society headquarters is on a small island in the Pacific…”
“The leader is an American woman named Ivanka.”
With that, Xiao Li promptly rolled over and fell asleep under the table, snoring thunderously!
Lu Ye paused for a moment. So the Hongying Society was founded by Americans?
He crawled under the table as well, shaking Xiao Li by the neck. “Boss Xiao, don’t sleep yet, we’re not finished talking! Which countries and cities in the Asia-Pacific region do you have people in?”
Xiao Li could barely open his eyes, and drowsily rattled off a string of countries and cities…
Halfway through, he grew impatient, “Damn, I can’t remember that many!”
“All the files are on my computer. If you want to know, check for yourself—the password is…”
“My head hurts so much, Brother Lu, please, let me sleep a while!”
Done!
Lu Ye dragged him out from under the table and handed him to Luo Ying. “Sister Ying, let’s split up. You take him to the docks—someone will be waiting for you. I’ll go steal his computer!”
Luo Ying immediately understood, slinging Xiao Li’s arm over her shoulder and helping him, swaying and staggering, out of the dining room.
Downstairs, a minor boss from Riley International blocked their way, asking warily, “Stop right there! Where are you taking the boss?”
Blushing, Luo Ying explained, “The boss drank too much and insisted I accompany him to stay at the Ika Hotel tonight…”
At the mention of the Ika Hotel, a famed lover’s retreat, the underling immediately gave her a knowing smile.
He thought to himself, Luo Ying is so feminine and has devoted twelve years of loyalty to the boss—it’s no wonder he’s taken a liking to her. “I see. Sister Ying, shall I arrange a car for you?”
Luo Ying demurely refused, “No need. The boss said he just wants to be alone with me tonight—he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
The underling suspected nothing and nodded. “Alright—take care on the road.”
“Mm.”
Watching Luo Ying sway her hips as she helped Xiao Li toward the Rolls-Royce Phantom waiting outside, the little boss couldn’t help but fantasize enviously.
Tsk, if only I could spend a night at the Ika Hotel with Sister Ying—what a blissful night that would be…
Suddenly, a piercing alarm blared throughout Riley International Hotel!
The little boss jumped, snapping back to attention and shouting at Luo Ying, “Stop right there!”
But as he led a group in pursuit, Luo Ying slammed the accelerator, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom roared away from Riley International Hotel, heading for the docks!
“Someone’s broken into the boss’s office!”
“Team A, pursue the suspects!”
“Team B, seal off the hotel!”
Instantly, Riley International Hotel was thrown into chaos…
At this moment, Lu Ye felt as though a thousand wild horses were stampeding through his mind!
He truly was a lightweight—he’d nearly drunk himself under trying to get Xiao Li drunk. Racing against the clock to steal Xiao Li’s computer, he’d had no time to make himself vomit and rushed straight into Xiao Li’s office, only to find that Xiao Li had left a trap: if any stranger entered, the hotel’s alarm would go off.
Even Luo Ying hadn’t known—after all these years away, Xiao Li had returned and immediately installed such a sophisticated security system in his office!
The shrill alarm kept blaring, but Lu Ye couldn’t find Xiao Li’s computer anywhere, no matter how thoroughly he searched.
Then, his gaze landed on the office safe in the corner.
That was the only thing he hadn’t opened yet!
But already, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Lu Ye looked up at the ceiling, and an idea flashed through his mind…
Bang!
The little boss and his men kicked open the office door, only to find it empty. “Where is he? Did he just walk out?”
“Spread the word—lock down all of West Gate Island. Not even a fly is getting out!”
“Search every room in the hotel, kick down the doors if you have to!”
Su Qianqian sat in her room, increasingly unsettled by the alarms outside.
Suddenly, she heard a strange noise above her.
Looking up, she saw that a section of the ceiling had mysteriously vanished, leaving a dark hole overhead.
And then—a safe fell right out of it…