Chapter 162: Everything Has Fallen into Complete Chaos

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After leaving Nine-Dragon Mountain, Lin Le went straight back to the Ji Residence.

When he had set out that morning, the Cadillac had been brand-new and gleaming. Now, however, it was so battered that it was barely recognizable.

“Master, did you drive straight to the front lines?” Ji Xiaorui joked as she stared at the badly damaged Cadillac.

“Uh… something like that,” Lin Le replied with an awkward smile.

If he told Ji Xiaorui that he had just driven there and single-handedly taken on the Xie family, the most powerful family in all of China, while also beating a highly respected grandmaster into submission, the girl would probably make an even bigger fuss. After all, that was far more explosive news than actually going to war.

“Um, I’m really sorry. I only took it out once and brought it back looking like this. I’ll find someone to have it repaired.” Lin Le turned apologetically to Ji Ronghao. He had known the man for less than a day, after all, and their only connection was Ji Xiaorui, so he felt it was only right to pay for the repairs.

“Come on, Xiaole, don’t be so formal!” Ji Ronghao pretended to be offended.

“You’re not only Xiaorui’s master—you also saved my Jietian’s life yesterday. You’re a benefactor of the Ji family! What’s one lousy car worth? My family has everything except a shortage of cars. From now on, drive whichever one you like and crash as many as you please. And don’t ever bring up paying for repairs again!”

Ji Ronghao looked every inch the extravagant tycoon.

He had already been plotting to take Lin Le as a son-in-law. How could he possibly care about such a trivial expense?

Hearing this, Lin Le himself felt he had been overly formal. Besides, judging from the Ji family’s wealth, they clearly did not need his money for car repairs.

“Then I’ll mend my ways from now on,” Lin Le said jokingly.

“Hahaha, that’s more like it!” Ji Ronghao roared with laughter.

His hearty laughter gave him an especially amiable air, rather like the Laughing Buddha. Anyone who saw him on the street would have taken him for a good-natured middle-aged neighbor. No one would have guessed that he was a tycoon with assets worth tens of billions.

“All right, Xiaole. I’ve already had food and wine prepared. Come and have a few drinks with me this afternoon,” Ji Ronghao said with a laugh.

Ji Ronghao was remarkably open-minded. It did not seem to occur to him that Lin Le was still merely a high-school student under the age of eighteen. Perhaps Lin Le’s maturity made him forget the boy’s age entirely; he treated him almost like an old friend of his own generation.

“Sure,” Lin Le replied.

Nearby, Ji Xiaohai curled his lips and exclaimed, “Dad, you still want to drink with Brother Le? I haven’t even had the chance to tell you—yesterday, Brother Le downed three bottles of Moutai in one go and drank Zhang Yang’s cousin right under the table!”

“Really?” Ji Ronghao looked at Lin Le in disbelief, his eyes shining with excitement.

“I don’t have many hobbies. Besides tending flowers and plants, my greatest pleasure is having a drink or two. People call me the man who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Looks like the two of us have finally met our match today! Come on, you have to drink your fill with me!”

Ji Ronghao was plainly determined to settle the matter of who could hold his liquor better.

Lin Le had originally intended to tell him that he still had to accompany Jia Shimao to the Qi family later to discuss purchasing medicinal herbs. But Ji Ronghao’s enthusiasm was impossible to refuse, and Lin Le could only give an awkward laugh as the older man dragged him into the residence.

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Behind them, Ji Xiaorui and Ji Xiaohai both wore gleeful expressions. These two shameless children had already begun placing bets on whether Lin Le or their father would be the first to collapse.

Once inside the residence, Lin Le found that an enormous feast had indeed been laid out. Every dish was a rare delicacy. He could not help marveling inwardly. The Ji Residence truly lived up to its reputation; this banquet was even more lavish than those at the Mountain-and-Sea Pavilion or the Capital Hotel.

That was hardly surprising. Ji Ronghao had spent a fortune hiring the residence’s chef, a renowned culinary master whose skill far surpassed that of the chefs at either of those establishments.

Several attendants stood beside the hall, including the household staff and the chefs.

“Xiaole, I never would have guessed that someone so young could hold his liquor so well. You must have been sneaking drinks for quite some time,” Ji Ronghao teased.

“Well… no. I suppose it’s simply hereditary,” Lin Le said with an embarrassed smile.

“You may be a good drinker, but your Uncle Ji is no slouch either. In all these years, I’ve never once drunk myself unconscious. Today, the two of us are going to drink until we’re thoroughly satisfied.”

Though he spoke casually, it was obvious that Ji Ronghao intended to compete. He was clearly a true drinking enthusiast—whenever he drank with someone, he had to determine a winner.

When Ji Ronghao began loosening his belt, Lin Le knew the man was serious.

But Ji Ronghao was his host. As a guest, Lin Le could hardly spoil his fun.

“Very well. I’ll drink my fill with you, Uncle Ji,” Lin Le said with a smile.

Two hours later…

“Brother, you’re my own flesh and blood… Come on, little brother, let’s have another…”

Ji Ronghao’s face was flushed, and he slurred his words. He was plainly drunk beyond measure.

That was only to be expected. In the space of two hours, he and Lin Le had already finished seven or eight bottles of strong liquor, five or six bottles of rum, and another four bottles of distilled vodka. With anyone else, an entire football team would probably have been knocked unconscious by that amount.

Ji Xiaorui and Ji Xiaohai were practically in tears when they heard their father.

One moment he was calling Lin Le his older brother, the next his younger brother. What kind of family ranking was that supposed to be?

“Dad, you’ve had too much to drink,” Ji Xiaorui urged.

“You’re the one who’s drunk! Otherwise, why would you keep swaying back and forth in front of me?” Ji Ronghao pointed at Ji Xiaorui, his finger wavering from side to side.

Ji Xiaorui was utterly speechless.

Damn it, I’ve been pouring drinks for you two old masters from the very beginning. My wrist is sore, and I haven’t even had a sip of water. How could I possibly be drunk?

“Son-in-law, you’re a decent drinker,” Ji Ronghao said, swaying as he pointed at Lin Le. “But compared with your big brother here, you’re still a little short on experience. Admit it or not?”

“I admit it! Of course I admit it!” Lin Le hurriedly surrendered.

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He was already being called son-in-law. If he refused to admit it, who knew whether Ji Ronghao would soon start talking about a betrothal arranged before birth?

Ji Xiaorui wanted nothing more than to find a crack in the floor and crawl into it. Her father was humiliating her beyond words.

Nearby, Ji Xiaohai covered his face and shook his head with a sigh.

“Alas, what a misfortune for the family…”

The household staff behind them could no longer restrain their laughter and began snickering among themselves.

At that moment, Ji Ronghao suddenly seized Lin Le’s hand with great emotion and gazed at him with utmost sincerity.

Lin Le thought the older man had suddenly sobered up. Ji Xiaorui and Ji Xiaohai also stared at their father, assuming he was about to say something profound.

But then Ji Ronghao clasped Lin Le’s hand and cried out with deep feeling, “Dad, I’ve missed you so much!”

“Pfft!”

Ji Xiaorui had just taken a sip of plain water and immediately sprayed it out, nearly choking to death.

Ji Xiaohai slapped the table, laughing so hard he almost fell backward.

The staff behind them could no longer hold back either. They burst into laughter. Several of the young women were bent double, laughing so hard they could barely stand. One of them finally could not take it anymore and ran outside, laughing all the way. A moment later, peals of thunderous laughter rang out from beyond the door.

Lin Le was rendered completely speechless by Ji Ronghao’s antics. All he could do was smile helplessly.

“Dad, I really have missed you so much…” Ji Ronghao cried again.

With no other option, Lin Le replied awkwardly, “Uncle, I’ve missed you too. Heh…”

“Waaah…”

Ji Ronghao immediately burst into tears.

Then, after fumbling around for a while, he pulled out his phone. He tapped at the screen for quite some time before finally managing to place a call.

“Hello, Brother. Dad has come back!” Ji Ronghao sobbed.

“I know Dad passed away a long time ago, but he really has come back. Yes, he’s right here in front of me. Truly! Do you want to say a few words to him?”

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