"Should I continue?" Qin Zhao murmured to herself.
Tiny beads of cold sweat seeped out onto her forehead and trickled down her cheeks.
Seeing her delicate eyelashes flutter, shaking off the sweat drops resting upon them, her eyes as limpid as a doe's evoked compassion.
The noblewoman standing not far away took out a handkerchief and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes, saying, "Who can lend me some money? I want to invest in her!"
The person beside her turned up their nose in disgust, "Even when doing a good deed, you can't forget to borrow someone else's money. You really are crafty!"
The noblewoman gave a light cough to hide her embarrassment, "But this young girl is truly pitiful, it softens my heart just looking at her."
The person beside: But it hardens my fist!
Qin Zhao used a tissue to wipe the sweat from her forehead, burying her head into Nan Yue's chest, and murmured, "Let me replenish some energy."
The crowd: "..."
What energy? The sensual kind of energy?! How outrageous!
Nan Yue gently patted Qin Zhao's back, consoling her, "It's alright, we won't continue. After all, it's other people's money we're losing anyway."
Liu Zhongyuan, sitting to the left: "..."
Hearing this, Ye Jianxiong could no longer sit still. How could he let this insolent girl Qin Zhao just walk away like this!
If she left, all his plans would be for naught!
He absolutely could not let her leave!
"I was thinking the same thing," Qin Zhao said as she reluctantly raised her head.
She got up and took Nan Yue's hand, preparing to leave.
"Wait!" Ye Jianxiong called out loudly, "The gambling match isn't over yet, you can't leave!"
Qin Zhao said, "I can leave whenever I want, no one can stop me!"
Ye Jianxiong feigned calmness and asked, "Have you forgotten what Zhao Zhongyi told you?"
To avoid causing panic, Ye Jianxiong did not explicitly mention that killers had been arranged in the casino, but Qin Zhao understood.
Qin Zhao turned around and grabbed Liu Zhongyuan's arm, saying, "This man's arm, I'm the one who broke it.
You've competed against me before, so you know what I'm capable of.
Whoever dares to stop me should be prepared to go to hell!"
Ye Jianxiong had no rebuttal. He stared at Qin Zhao for a long while.
He raised his hand and put it back down, very conflicted over whether he should make a move.
After a few breaths, he laughed and said, "Miss Qin, why be at such odds with me? I admit your strength is formidable, but if we fight, both sides will inevitably be injured.
Besides, you have a burden with you, do you not?
If there is any issue, we can sit down and talk it out. You can propose any conditions you want."
Qin Zhao's expression was as cold as frost. She half-embraced Nan Yue and said, "Nan Yue is not a burden. If you want to negotiate with me, apologize to her first!"
Ye Jianxiong's expression briefly twisted. To have an elder like himself apologize to a junior was even harder to accept than losing his life!
Ye Jianxiong forcefully suppressed his anger. "Little girl Qin, I'm willing to give you a chance to state your conditions, that's already the greatest concession. Don't overreach!"
Qin Zhao spread her hands. "Fine, then let's not talk."
She moved to leave again, only to hear Ye Jianxiong bellow, "Alright, I apologize!"
Qin Zhao took a step to Nan Yue's left and made a "please go ahead" gesture.
Ye Jianxiong looked at Nan Yue, and just as he was about to speak, Nan Yue preempted him saying, "No need, Uncle Ye."
Ye Jianxiong felt somewhat better. He thought, this Nan girl is well-mannered after all.
Nan Yue looked at Qin Zhao and said, "Zhao Zhao, I only care about your opinion of me. What others think isn't important."
Qin Zhao let out a sigh, "Then it's fine if you're okay with it."
Qin Zhao sat down facing Ye Jianxiong again.
After thinking for a bit, she said, "You just said I could propose conditions. I happen to have one that came to mind temporarily."
Ye Jianxiong said, "Please go ahead."
"Everyone's hand being good or bad depends on the whims of fate, but I've always believed that people can overcome fate.
So I want to incorporate an element that can be controlled by people into the original rules."
"Oh, that sounds interesting," Ye Jianxiong gestured for Qin Zhao to continue.
"After getting your cards, both sides start betting and raising. In the end, the one who bets more decides whether to compare high or low cards.
The other rules remain the same."
"In simple terms, it becomes a contest of financial power!"
"Yes."
Ye Jianxiong glanced at Qin Zhao's 10 million chips. "But you only have this little. What will you use to compete with me?"
Qin Zhao laughed. "I have thick skin. I'll just ask the audience for money later."
Ye Jianxiong: This girl really leaves me speechless!
"Alright, we'll do as you proposed!"
"Thanks. Give me five minutes to rally."
Qin Zhao turned her gaze to the spectators. Everyone looked away or hid behind others.
Through this evasion, the originally cramped space around the gambling table opened up.
Qin Zhao gave a meaningful smile. She cleared her throat, while the crowd preemptively covered their ears.
She paid them no heed and began speaking, "Have you ever fantasized about getting rich overnight?
Ever dreamed of being knocked out on the street by a huge wad of cash falling from above?
Have you envisioned being surrounded by beauties, with wine and meat aplenty?
Today, I'm giving you all a chance to make your dreams come true!
Don't miss out on this passing opportunity. I don't want 998 billion or 98 billion, just 9.8 billion!"
Ye Jianxiong, Crowd: Let her be happy...
Nan Yue: What could be more important than Zhao Zhao's happiness?
The scene fell silent for a time.
Everyone breathed lightly, afraid that Qin Zhao would hear them and cling onto them if they made any sound.
The two sides were at an impasse for half a minute.
Qin Zhao's mind raced, and she thought of another line.
Just as she was about to speak, a voice as mellow as the first yellow oriole leaving its nest sounded from behind her, "Sister Qin, is 9.8 billion enough?"
Accompanying it was the sound of orderly footsteps.
The crowd looked towards the voice.
Qin Zhao turned around.
Xiao Ning walked over unhurriedly in a Saint Laurent suit, her long curly hair swaying with each step.
Compared to before, she seemed less naive and more imposing.
On either side was a group of muscular men with forgettable faces standing at attention.
Such a formation confirmed some of Qin Zhao's prior speculations.
Xiao Ning was indeed a high-level executive of the casino!
Stunned by her grand entrance, the 502nd asked, "Host, you don't seem surprised at all. Did you already know she would come back?"
Qin Zhao replied, "Yes, her very appearance was full of mystery.
She was able to rampage through the casino without being dragged away by thugs, indicating she was no ordinary person.
Casually mentioning her father being conned to death with an untroubled expression makes one think further.
And she was actually followed all along by several nondescript men.
At the time, you said the spectators were deterred by my momentum, but in truth those men silently cleared the way for her,
and later shielded her from the crush of people.
That's also why Nan Yue was immediately squeezed to my side after she left."
502: "Guessing she was a casino executive, that's why you recklessly lost the match despite the audience's poor hearts?"
Qin Zhao: "That's not the only reason.
Most importantly, I wondered about Xiao Ning's reason for approaching me.
My performances in the first and fifth casinos tonight were especially eye-catching due to Ye Jianxiong's schemes.
She must have watched the whole thing through surveillance and deemed my gambling skills remarkable, perhaps rivaling Ye Jianxiong's.
Xiao Ning mentioned her father twice, that wasn't a coincidence. I suspect her father's murderer was Ye Jianxiong, or at least connected to him!"
502: "Why?!"
"She remained perfectly composed all night, even when bringing up her father's death. Only after I lost to Ye Jianxiong did she show obvious panic!
Something capable of exposing the emotions of a wealthy and influential woman must have triggered unpleasant memories.
Of course, this is just my speculation, no need to take it as truth.
The real reason I deliberately lost money was to verify Xiao Ning's claim that she was 'not lacking money.'
If she wanted to use me against Ye Jianxiong, she would definitely step in when I asked for funding.
But she's a prudent woman, so she sent a stand-in first.
Luckily, Xiao Ning eventually realized and came herself.
All that mockery from the audience was not in vain."
502: "Weren't you afraid your reckless behavior would scare her off?"
Qin Zhao said, "Others might be scared off, but Xiao Ning who saw how I dealt with Li Kun, Lan Sister-in-Law, and Wu Yong wouldn't be."
502 was left speechless by the convoluted workings of the human brain!
Xiao Ning walked up to Qin Zhao and held out her hand, smiling. "Sorry for the wait, it took some time to change outfits. I was looking forward to seeing Sister Qin again."
Qin Zhao shook her hand. "The pleasure is mine."
