C20 He Was Forced to be the Boss

The craftsman couldn't stop praising the stone he had just mentioned.

The owner had initially thought it was merely an accident, but upon hearing the craftsman's words, he stood frozen in shock.

How could this be? Nearly everything in Carefree Hall was a replica; how could there be two genuine stones?

Meanwhile, Lin Luo, who had already departed, was unaware of the Carefree Hall owner's frustration over the stone.

Carrying the polished Jade Chess pieces, Lin Luo searched for the white-haired elder but to no avail.

What could have happened to the elder who was a regular here?

After much contemplation, Lin Luo decided to ask for directions.

Once he obtained the elder's address, Lin Luo hurried over and found the old man collapsed on the ground.

Upon seeing the elder on the floor, Lin Luo immediately helped him to his feet.

"Sir, wake up! Sir!" Lin Luo called out urgently, his voice tinged with panic.

If the elder were in trouble, his efforts on the Jade Chess would be in vain.

After checking the elder's pulse and sensing his frailty, Lin Luo made a diagnosis.

The elder's condition was clearly due to overexertion, likely from striving for perfection in his chessboard.

This realization only strengthened Lin Luo's resolve to sell the chess pieces.

Grasping the elder's wrist, Lin Luo channeled Genuine Qi into his body, and with the infusion of Genuine Qi, the elder's complexion noticeably improved.

Lin Luo then carried the man inside and tenderly wiped his face.

"Sir, all you wanted was to perfect your chessboard. I've brought you top-quality Jade Chess pieces; you have to wake up," Lin Luo murmured, his urgency betraying his concern.

An hour later, the elder in the bed slowly opened his eyes, weariness still evident in his gaze.

"Thank goodness, you're awake, sir. If something had truly happened to you, I would have been at a complete loss," Lin Luo said, steadying his breath as if he were the one unwell.

The elder, looking at the stranger before him, furrowed his brow.

"Who are you?" he asked cautiously, his unfamiliarity with Lin Luo prompting a defensive stance.

Judging by Lin Luo's appearance, he was clearly not a local, suggesting he must have come from afar.

"I came here to strike a deal with you, but I was shocked to find you passed out on the floor as soon as I walked in. Where's your family?"

Lin Luo grew increasingly concerned as time passed with no one showing up.

It's truly sad to see someone of his age without any family.

Upon hearing about the potential deal, the old man burst into a hearty laugh.

"Making a deal with me? That depends on whether you have the assets. I'm fond of all kinds of jade, and you don't seem like someone who'd have any."

His gaze swept over Lin Luo, sizing him up, and upon seeing his shabby clothes, the old man couldn't help but tsk in disapproval.

Unwilling to be underestimated, Lin Luo produced a chess piece.

"I'm not sure if this counts as jade, but I guess I was lucky to come across it. It's a shame no one seems to appreciate it. Might as well throw it away."

Lin Luo waved the chess piece teasingly in front of the old man. When the old man caught sight of its emerald hue, he was stunned.

How could this be? How could someone who looked so ragged have such fine jade?

Seizing the moment while the old man was still in shock, Lin Luo stood up. "Well, I should be going. You seem to be alright now. As for this piece, I'll just find someone who values it."

As Lin Luo made to leave, the old man grabbed him.

"Hold on a minute! Let's talk this over. That chess piece of yours looks quite impressive. How about you sell it to me?" The old man's eyes crinkled with delight as he spoke.

Just as Lin Luo was about to reply, a car horn sounded from outside.

He looked up to see a top-of-the-line luxury car.

Seeing the car, Lin Luo instinctively turned to the old man.

"You wouldn't happen to be some wealthy tycoon, would you? That luxury car outside... it's not here to pick you up, is it?" Lin Luo mumbled to himself.

Just then, a group of men in black suits stepped out of the car.

Lin Luo had thought they were debt collectors, but instead, they bowed respectfully.

"Boss, we need you to come back with us. There's an urgent family matter that requires your decision. If you don't return, things could get messy."

Seeing the group address the elder as "boss," Lin Luo couldn't shake the feeling that he had stumbled into the midst of a gang.

This was the first time he'd encountered a boss of such advanced age, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of world he operated in.

Before Lin Luo had a chance to ponder further, the old man abruptly pushed him toward the edge of the bed.

"From this day forward, this young man is my heir. He saved my life and is therefore my lifesaver. He will handle my affairs from now on."

As the elder spoke, the sunglasses on the man's face slid off.

Watching the sunglasses hit the floor, Lin Luo was reminded of an idiom.

Though he lacked the typical boss demeanor, he was certainly centuries old.

"Uh, old man, I'm just here to sell some things. Let's not joke about this."

Lin Luo turned his head stiffly and spoke, causing the old man's brow to furrow.

"You have an extraordinary physique, clearly a martial arts prodigy. I'm entrusting my affairs to you. Consider the Jade Chess piece a gift from me. You can stand in for me from now on."

The old man didn't wait for Lin Luo to respond before snatching the Jade Chess piece from his hands.

Lin Luo, meanwhile, was hoisted up by several men.

Watching Lin Luo being escorted away by his men, the elder whistled casually, showing no signs of illness.

Inside the car, Lin Luo was seated between two muscular men.

"Listen, if there's something to discuss, can we stop the car and talk it out? I did save your boss's life, but it was all a misunderstanding. I just wanted to sell some items."

Lin Luo spoke with a forced smile, doing his best to keep his cool and avoid a confrontation.

He decided to tread carefully until he understood the old man's intentions; failing to honor the elder's goodwill would be disastrous.

"Boss, rest assured, we will serve you loyally in the future. However, there is an urgent matter today that requires your attention."

As Lin Luo mulled over the situation, a noise from above caught his attention, and the car doors swung open on both sides.

Stepping out of the car at the invitation, Lin Luo gazed at the private jet in the distance and lapsed into silence once more.

"Boss, please!" the man said, cupping his fists in a gesture that truly made him resemble a chivalrous hero.