The beautiful CEO falls in love with me
Chapter 617 - 598:

Chapter 617: Chapter 598:

The maids who were making merry in the villa, thoroughly enjoying the festive music, were suddenly stunned. When the master was home, it was absolutely taboo to indulgently use appliances like the television or the home theater. Thus, the maids were dumbfounded, each and every one of them standing up from the sofa, and then they hung their heads and said, "Young Master, you’ve returned?"

"Hehe, it’s fine, everyone continue to enjoy yourselves!" Ye Chen smiled and said, "Today is New Year’s Eve; haven’t you gone home?"

"It’s too far, going back is not worth it!" A slightly bolder maid quickly responded.

"Yeah, my family is in Henan, so going back home involves a lot of ceremony. Just the red envelopes alone would cost several thousand yuan!" Another clever maid began to pour out her grievances, saying, "And at this time, it’s hard to find transportation, so it’s better not to go back for now. It’s not only less crowded, but you can also save several thousand yuan in gift money!"

The bold maid had opened the floodgates, and others also began to speak freely, pouring out their grievances. They all complained that it was now impossible to enjoy the New Year, with all the aunts and uncles to gift, and buying presents for parents and young nephews; without spending twenty thousand yuan, one could hardly manage. They were all from poor families, and even those with slightly better family circumstances struggled to afford the big gift packages handed out during the New Year.

"Everyone has their own difficulties!" Ye Chen laughed, then took out a stack of thick red envelopes from his pocket and said, "Go call the people from the kitchen too. Since it’s Chinese New Year’s Eve, I’m handing out red envelopes to everyone, and I hope everyone will work hard in the future!"

"Wow, the young master is handing out red envelopes, everyone, come on over!"

"Young Master, that’s great!"

Upon hearing there were red envelopes to be received, everyone excitedly ran out. Aunt Zhang, who was responsible for managing the villa’s affairs, glared at the crowd and said, "Don’t be chaotic, even receiving red envelopes should be done in an orderly manner. As servants, how can you cause such a commotion? Haven’t I taught you always to behave?"

"Yes!" The people all bowed their heads in submission.

"Aunt Zhang, just let everyone be happy for a bit, don’t be so stern!" Ye Chen said with a light smile, "It’s a rare New Year, after all, there should be some sense of festivity."

"Yes, Young Master!" Aunt Zhang, who had a higher education, always did things by the book and very much according to etiquette. She believed that when the family head was present, one must follow discipline, unless the master was not around, just like a while ago when Ye Chen was absent—everyone was making a racket, and Aunt Zhang didn’t voice any discipline.

Ye Chen then began to give out red envelopes. More than ten red envelopes were handed out, and with each, he received a ’Happy New Year’!

After finishing the distribution of red envelopes, Ye Chen put the extra ones back in his pocket. A little maid covertly took a glance inside the red envelope, which contained one thousand yuan. The maids were ecstatic. Ye Chen left the villa without staying for the New Year’s Eve dinner because he understood that if he did stay, he would destroy the happiness and joy there. When the male head of the household was present, all the maids who were being managed would have to attend to him.

Therefore, Ye Chen chose to leave, giving them back their space of happiness and joy.

Upon arrival at Heavenly Reversal Gang, the Black Water Security Company entrance already had couplets posted, and red lanterns were hanging high. Ye Chen looked at this place imbued with the New Year spirit but couldn’t get excited at all, feeling as if someone was missing—Xiao Ruo.

"Brother Chen, you’ve arrived!" King Guangmu immediately came out to greet him and handed Ye Chen a Furong King.

"Oh, got new clothes on?" Ye Chen grinned.

The boys of Heavenly Reversal Gang had all changed into brand new suits, patterned shirts underneath, vests with Mandarin collars on top, and ties tied nicely. Their appearance was beyond reproach. The other little brothers also rushed out, each one of them thrilled. Xiao Bai, holding a pair of couplets, came running out excitedly and said, "Brother Chen, take a look at this pair of couplets I’ve written, how are they?"

"Damn, you know how to write couplets?" Ye Chen was surprised.

"That’s right, I wrote all the couplets here!" Xiao Bai said, then immediately unfurled the couplets in his hands—a pair was opened. Upper couplet: Joyfully welcoming a season of peace and prosperity; Lower couplet: Laughingly accepting wealth and fortune from all directions!

"Not bad; these must be for the casino entrance, right?" Ye Chen laughed.

"Exactly, I’m going to put them up right now!" Xiao Bai, followed by a few little brothers, immediately headed to the nearby casino to post the couplets on the entrance. During the New Year, the casino business was at its peak, with many people hoping to catch the holiday to relax and unwind.

At Black Water Security Company, apart from some brothers who had to work overtime, everyone else had gathered here, planning to have a group dinner. The ingredients were all prepared, and the kitchen was busily working nonstop. They had started prepping food for over two hundred people since dawn; there was also a lot of alcohol. Small vans went for supplies in the morning, hauling several cases of baijiu and more than ten cases of beer, rattling into the company.

"Brother Chen, stay and have New Year’s Eve dinner with the brothers this afternoon!" Xiao Bai said excitedly. "After the dinner, the brothers have some activities planned!"

"Sure!" Ye Chen, on a whim, called Liu Momo, who was out shopping for new clothes, and asked her to come directly to Black Water Security Company by taxi later.

"Brother Chen, should I bring Li Wen and Qianqian as well?" Liu Momo laughed.

"Yes!" Ye Chen nodded, realizing that Li Wen and Qianqian hadn’t gone home for the New Year either. The main reason was the railway department’s transport capacity issues. Students like Li Wen and Qianqian, who couldn’t afford plane tickets, had to take the train, but tickets were now harder than ever to come by. This year, the railway department introduced supposedly real-name ticketing, but purchasing tickets remained a problem.

Li Wen and the others had a late holiday start, so when they failed to get train tickets, they simply decided not to go back. Jianghuai City University had opened its dormitories to allow students who were not going home to stay and had organized a reunion night for them on New Year’s Eve.

At 4:30 in the afternoon, the kitchen staff had already started serving dishes. The hall of Black Water Security Company was bright with lights shining on the eighteen large round tables set up after removing all the training equipment and the ring. The tables were laid with bowls and chopsticks, and the little brothers brought out dish after dish of fragrant food from the kitchen.

At this point, Liu Momo, accompanied by Li Wen and Qianqian, arrived at Black Water Security Company by taxi. Momo, with her keen eyes, spotted Ye Chen right away.

"Brother Chen!" Momo shouted. She and the two girls entered, carrying big and small bags of clothes they had bought.

"Momo, you’re here, quickly put your things down, we’re about to have New Year’s Eve dinner!" Ye Chen was busy playing the Bullfighting card game with some little brothers. Dozens of little brothers were watching. Momo, pulling Li Wen and Qianqian, left their clothes in an office to one side and then ran out to watch the game.

Soon, all the dishes were served. The centerpiece was a roast suckling pig, which was placed in the middle of the table with two glowing round balls for eyes, making it look even more appealing. The skin of the suckling pig had been pre-sliced.

Then, there was white-cut chicken, soy sauce duck, king prawns... the array of delicious dishes made the little brothers want to drool, but because there were three beautiful girls there, everyone behaved extremely cordially. Men are like that; when females are around, they tend to mask their coarseness and faults. Just like in the early days of dating, men always seem so perfect, but once they’ve won the girl over, all their quirks and shortcomings burst forth.

"Princess Momo, you and your classmates, please take a seat. If you don’t, these boys will probably be standing till tomorrow!" Xiao Bai said with a chuckle.

"Thank you, Big Brother Xiao Bai!" Momo quickly led the two girls to their seats.

The lively reunion dinner was about to begin, and the kitchen staff had also finished their work, leaving two little brothers to watch things there, while the head chef and the assistants hurried out. Xiao Bai shouted: "Crutch, hurry up and set off the firecrackers already! If you don’t set them off soon, the dishes will get cold!"

According to southern tradition, firecrackers must be set off before the New Year’s Eve dinner starts.

Very soon, a string of firecrackers was lit and the crackling noise immediately filled everyone’s heart with jubilation.

Ye Chen took the lead in raising his glass and said with a smile amidst the thick New Year’s atmosphere, "Brothers, let’s all raise our glasses."

The crowd raised their glasses in unison, looking at Ye Chen with synchronized movements and upright postures. Ye Chen said with a smile, "This first glass is to our brothers who have fallen in battle. In the south, it is customary to visit graves on New Year’s Eve. Today, let us dedicate this first glass to remember the dead."

"To our fallen brothers!" Xiao Bai shouted.

"To our fallen brothers!" everyone shouted in unison, their voices and spirit making Liu Momo and the other two girls unable to help but get swept up in the fervor. The three excitedly watched the group of men also cry out, "Cheers!"

After the first glass went down, it felt like a flame was burning in their bellies. Ye Chen poured a second round and, holding his cup, continued, "This second glass is to our brothers out on campaigns, braving the freezing cold, yet still striving for the future of the Heavenly Reversal Gang. Raise your glasses, cheers!"

Having downed the second drink, the flame in their bellies seemed to be fueled by gasoline, shooting up three feet high. Ye Chen then raised his third glass and said, "This third glass is to our Heavenly Reversal Gang. Here’s to hoping that in the future, it can reach greater and more distant heights."

"To the Heavenly Reversal Gang!" The little brothers drank their third glass, and the atmosphere peaked. Ye Chen waved his hand and declared, "Brothers, dig in! Drink your fill and eat your fill today. Anyone who holds back is disrespecting me, Ye Chen!"