Chapter 117: The Household Manager

"Come on, everyone, pick up your chopsticks. Please, don't stand on ceremony. When eating a buffet, the goal is to walk in leaning on the wall and walk out the same way," Liu Jingye said suddenly, his tone light and playful.

This broke the heavy tension in the room. Among those present, the one most afraid of Liu Jingye was the "boss," who seized the opportunity to stand up and raise his glass. "Big Brother, I..."

"That’s enough, Brother Hu. No need to get worked up. Didn't I just say that our past grievances are wiped clean? Let's treat this meal as a peace offering," Liu Jingye said with a smile.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! Just call me 'Little Hu', Big Brother," Duan Hu replied, clearly terrified.

Liu Jingye had checked his ID, so he naturally knew his real name. Though it seemed trivial, Liu Jingye never overlooked any detail; even the smallest matters could lead to big trouble.

Liu Jingye clinked glasses with him, officially putting the unpleasantness behind them—which was exactly what Duan Hu had been praying for.

At this moment, Brother Xian spoke up. "Brother Liu, I am truly sorry for today. I was possessed by a devil, blinded by greed, which is why I..."

Brother Xian was a true veteran of the underworld. When the situation turned against him, he immediately lowered his head to apologize, setting aside his pride to ensure his own survival.

Liu Jingye cleverly interrupted, "What are you saying, Brother Xian? You were just testing our strength so you could feel confident about bringing us big business in the future, right?"

"Right, right..." Since Liu Jingye had provided a graceful exit, Brother Xian took it. "Brother Liu’s strength is unparalleled; you are destined for great things."

Under Liu Jingye’s guidance, the atmosphere gradually became relaxed and lively. Even Duan Hu, a simple-minded man who loved brawling, began to loosen up. After a few drinks, his face flushed, and he started to open up about himself.

"I’m really just a small-time hood. Thanks to Brother Xian and friends in the business, they often ask me for help. I do 'odd jobs' for them to make a little money. But meeting you today, Brother Liu... if you don't mind, I’d like to follow you from now on. You’re my boss now." Duan Hu pledged his loyalty. "Though I’m nobody compared to you, if you ever need to fill the ranks, I can still pull people together."

Seeing Duan Hu’s earnestness, Brother Xian chimed in, hoping to cement the reconciliation. "Brother Liu, don't let the fact that Duan Hu has no formal gang fool you. He’s actually quite famous in the streets and holds a lot of sway among the younger thugs. Many kids just starting out want to follow him. I wouldn't say he can summon thousands with a shout, but calling up a few dozen people is no problem."

Liu Jingye said nothing. To him, no matter how many petty thugs there were, they were just cannon fodder. He wasn't interested, but Lin Shengnan was intrigued. They were currently short on manpower, lacking even people to stand guard or show support.

Seeing Liu Jingye’s indifferent expression, she became anxious. She reached under the table, intending to nudge his leg as a hint.

However, because she was in such a rush and couldn't see clearly under the table, her nudge landed directly on Liu Jingye’s "divine weapon."

Being struck in such a sensitive area gave Liu Jingye a massive shock. He nearly jumped out of his chair in an exaggerated motion. Lin Shengnan was equally alarmed, but she knew that if Liu Jingye made a fool of himself, the powerful atmosphere they had worked so hard to build would vanish.

So, the "Big Sister" gritted her teeth and simply grabbed onto his "divine weapon" as if seizing a handle, pinning him back into his seat. She was blushing furiously, because in the process of the nudge and the grab, his weapon had rapidly surged to full, towering attention.

Liu Jingye gave her a strange look. Lin Shengnan, knowing business came first, blushed and signaled to Duan Hu.

Liu Jingye feigned calm and said, "Brother Hu, you're too kind. Actually, I’m just a subordinate myself; here, this 'Big Sister' is the one in charge."

At the mention of "the one in charge," Lin Shengnan’s face turned even redder. She subtly let go of the "handle," though whether intentionally or not, she brushed against it once more, as if trying to cool it down.

Brother Xian and Duan Hu began to study Lin Shengnan. They couldn't believe that such a beautiful, petite, yet spirited woman could tame a killing machine like Liu Jingye. Of course, they had no idea that Lin Shengnan was still holding Liu Jingye’s "fatal handle."

Seeing her flushed face and Liu Jingye’s odd expression, they assumed there was a romantic tension between the two. Duan Hu, focused on joining their ranks, didn't think much of it and immediately raised his glass to offer a toast.

Lin Shengnan returned the toast and downed her drink. She seized the opportunity. "We’ve heard of Brother Hu’s reputation for a long time and have long wanted to meet you. Today, we’ve gotten to know each other through a bit of a scuffle. As for joining us, we wouldn't dare claim that, but if you’re interested, you and your brothers are welcome to hang out at my venues anytime. Treat them as your own. Every month, I’ll set aside some money for your brothers' food and drinks."

Lin Shengnan was clever; her words were airtight. It sounded like a refusal, but it was actually a recruitment tactic, getting Duan Hu to station his men at their venues while providing them with a steady income.

Duan Hu was a veteran street hustler with no affiliation. He was well-known, loved to fight, and often took on jobs for other gangs. He had even worked as a temporary city enforcement officer for a while. But after the fall of the Huangchao gang and the police’s crackdown on organized crime, his life had become extremely difficult. He had been forced to take high-paying work from a bomber to act as a kidnapper, which made him realize the importance of having a strong backer.

Though Liu Jingye’s group was just starting out with only a few nightclubs, his combat prowess and the massive pistol he carried convinced Duan Hu that he was no ordinary man, and the team had unlimited potential.

He immediately accepted Lin Shengnan’s invitation, saying with a sincere smile, "Then thank you, Sister Nan, for taking us in."

"There’s no 'taking in' about it. From now on, we’re brothers—one family. We share the glory and the hardship together!" Lin Shengnan declared firmly.

People in the underworld were generally straightforward. They hit it off instantly, and with a few more rounds of drinks, they were acting like old friends.

Duan Hu shared stories of his years on the streets. While there was a bit of boasting, he was indeed experienced, having been through dozens of fights. He had carved out a reputation with nothing but a machete, which was exactly why local teenagers and troublemakers idolized him.

Liu Jingye sat to the side, smiling while chugging cold beer, hoping to cool his "divine weapon" down. But with Lin Shengnan next to him, she kept poking him, kicking him, or leaning in to whisper, making it impossible for him to calm down.

Next, the topic turned to Brother Xian. He had initiated the change in subject; after all, today was Duan Hu’s surrender and recruitment ceremony, and he felt like an outsider. He wanted to integrate himself and learn more about this small group that had turned Duan Hu into a submissive kitten.

This old fox was the jack-of-all-trades of the underworld. His experience was far richer than Duan Hu’s. He had started with violence but later built his own network, shifting toward influence and strategy—another way for people in the underworld to evolve. Lin Shengnan listened intently; she was planning to move in that direction herself.

The group kept drinking and bragging for three hours. When the meal ended, they weren't finished and decided to head to a nearby KTV to keep drinking with hostesses, with Liu Jingye naturally leading the way.

However, Liu Jingye refused to stand up. He said drunkenly, "You guys go ahead. I’ll rest for a bit and join you."

The others looked to him as their leader, so his refusal was a bit of a letdown. Fortunately, they had already consumed quite a bit of alcohol and didn't pay it much mind.

After they left, Lin Shengnan deliberately hung back. Looking at Liu Jingye, who was sprawled on the table, she said, "Why are you playing dead? Go ahead and keep drinking, just don't call for any 'princesses'."

"I want to go, but do you think I can stand up!?" Liu Jingye snapped.

"Are you lame? Can't you stand?" Lin Shengnan asked.

"Don't you know that when certain parts of a man stand up, his waist has to bend?" Liu Jingye retorted crossly.

"You..." Lin Shengnan wanted to scold him, but then she remembered his condition. Her face turned bright red. "Then you'd better not go. You're so excited, and you've been drinking... if they call for hostesses, I'm afraid you won't be able to resist making a mistake."

"Then why aren't you stopping them from finding hostesses!?" Liu Jingye asked back.

Lin Shengnan was embarrassed but argued, "I don't care about them, I only care about you!"

"Then hurry up and handle me." Liu Jingye pointed to his agitated "divine weapon" beneath the table. "You’re the one who caused this, you have to take responsibility."

Lin Shengnan looked at him, knowing that Brother Xian and Duan Hu were waiting. This was an important diplomatic activity, vital to the growth and sustainable success of their team. Liu Jingye was indispensable.

She thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, and said, "How about I blow on it for you!"

"Huh?" Liu Jingye was stunned, never expecting the "Big Sister" to be so open.

Before he could speak, she walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat beside him. Under his astonished gaze, she reached out, cupped her hands around her own mouth, and began blowing hard against his face...

His eyes were stinging from the air. Liu Jingye blocked his face and said, "Big Sister, you aren't playing by the rules. What good is blowing like that?"

Lin Shengnan replied, "Isn't this to help you cool down? If your body cools down, everything else will naturally cool off too."