Chapter 39: Playing Cards, the Wager Is Luo Xing

Gu Shiyan had clearly noticed her as well, his gaze pausing. Ji Rutang looked at Gu Shiyan; when they played cards, they typically followed his lead.

“Shiyan, what are we playing?” Ji Rutang asked.

Gu Shiyan handed the black card back to Luo Xing and replied coolly, “Hold’em.”

His voice was soft and muffled, yet pleasing to the ear.

The only card game Luo Xing had ever played was Dou Dizhu; she had no idea what he was talking about.

Ji Rutang shook his head and sighed, “Jumping straight to something this difficult, huh.”

He must be in a bad mood, Ji Rutang thought, already resigned to being thoroughly defeated.

“How many are playing?” Su Mo shuffled the cards with practiced ease.

“Raise your hand if you’re in,” Ji Rutang glanced around. “Only four players?”

Naturally, the ones called over to pour drinks wouldn’t join—they played with high stakes, and to accompany even a single round could mean losing all their night’s wages, perhaps even more.

The others, lacking their wealth, especially the timid ones, dared not play with Gu Shiyan present.

Lu Yuanyi looked at Luo Xing with a bright smile. “Luo Xing, why don’t you join us?”

She replied straightforwardly, “I don’t know how.”

She was usually quite gentle with people, but with Lu Yuanyi, she simply couldn’t muster it. It was all she could do not to roll her eyes.

Lu Yuanyi’s smile didn’t falter. “If you don’t know, have your friend teach you. The more, the merrier.”

Luo Xing glanced at Gu Shiyan, then realized Lu Yuanyi was referring to Qi Zhi.

Fearing Lu Yuanyi was deliberately targeting Qi Zhi, Luo Xing shook her head, refusing to play.

“Then let Qi Zhi play,” Lu Yuanyi said.

Luo Xing frowned. Did she really have to single him out?

Gu Shiyan pressed his hand over Luo Xing’s. His palm was large, easily covering hers.

The black card he had just placed in her hand pressed its edge into her skin, stinging a little.

It was clear Gu Shiyan was telling her not to play.

Ji Rutang grinned, “Sis-in-law, Shiyan will definitely win. If you play, you’ll only lose.”

Luo Xing furrowed her brows. “Who are you calling sis-in-law?”

“Ha, you’re shy, aren’t you, Sister Xing?”

She decided not to bother arguing over what he called her.

Lu Yuanyi glanced at Qi Zhi. “If you win, I’ll let Qi Zhi go home and celebrate his birthday properly. How’s that for a wager?”

Gu Shiyan didn’t stop Lu Yuanyi; he was curious as well.

How much did Qi Zhi really mean to Luo Xing?

“I won’t let you win,” Gu Shiyan turned his head slightly, his eyes dark as he warned Luo Xing with a low voice.

Luo Xing lifted her hand, gripping his wrist where it pressed into her palm, her fingertip pressing into the prominent bone.

She flung his hand away. “I’ll play.”

Her resolute voice echoed in someone’s ear.

He let out a cold, amused snort, his gaze icy as he looked at Luo Xing, then at Qi Zhi by her side. “Don’t cry later.”

Just four words, filled with menace.

The numbness on Qi Zhi’s face faded after Luo Xing spoke. Worry flickered across his expression. “Miss Luo, my card skills can’t compare to Young Master Gu. You don’t have to do this for me…”

Luo Xing reassured him. “It’s fine. Just play. If you win, great. If not, so be it.”

Lu Yuanyi sneered, “Confident, aren’t you?”

Gu Shiyan tipped his head back slightly, his proud gaze landing on Luo Xing.

He held a whiskey glass in one hand, the heavy, classic tumbler swirling with liquor.

He raised his arm toward Luo Xing. “What’s the bet?”

Luo Xing focused on his hand, avoiding his eyes. “What else is there besides money?”

“Money?” Gu Shiyan leaned in, drawing closer.

His presence, dark and oppressive, made it hard for Luo Xing to breathe.

“Hundred thousand a round, are you in, sweetheart?” he said, the sum rolling off his tongue as if it were nothing.

Luo Xing jumped, but what bothered her more was that, though the last word was directed at her, his gaze flicked to Qi Zhi.

Because of the previous video mishap, the term “sweetheart” between them carried no hint of flirtation or intimacy.

She knew Gu Shiyan was threatening her with Qi Zhi.

“Change the stakes,” Luo Xing said. She couldn’t afford to gamble money, and neither could Qi Zhi.

Gu Shiyan clicked his tongue softly, his eyes lingering on her. “You.”

Damn.

Luo Xing barely managed to hold back a curse.

Gu Shiyan continued, “For the next two months, you do as I say.”

Luo Xing was fuming, tempted to swear aloud.

A hundred thousand per round, two months at his beck and call.

She glanced at the game rules: four rounds of betting per game.…

At a hundred thousand a round, she couldn’t possibly afford it!

If she used Old Mr. Gu’s card, the money would be no issue.

Gu Shiyan knew as much—she would never use Old Mr. Gu’s money to gamble.

Two months…

It would end before the new semester began.

“Deal!”

Su Mo began to deal the cards.

Her elbows tucked in, fingertips pressing the deck, left thumb pushing outward, forefinger and thumb pinching a card.

Her wrist and arm didn’t move; the cards flew skillfully from her fingers.

At least to Luo Xing, a complete outsider, there wasn’t a single flaw.

Five community cards were dealt on the table.

Each player held two hole cards.

Luo Xing examined her two cards, Qi Zhi watching from beside her.

Su Mo turned the cards; the first three community cards were revealed.

Luo Xing glanced at Qi Zhi.

Gu Shiyan’s gaze was fixed on her.

Luo Xing tilted her cards away slightly. “Mind your line of sight.”

Gu Shiyan’s stare, deep and sharp, remained locked on her.

Since you’re so arrogant, let’s see just how badly your beloved Qi Zhi will lose.

Qi Zhi followed along, checking cards and placing bets; Luo Xing had to continually consult the rulebook just to keep up.

After a few rounds, Luo Xing realized that Qi Zhi truly wasn’t Gu Shiyan’s match.

Her eyes lingered on a term in the rulebook—Bluff.

Bluffing: when a player has a weak hand but bets or raises to make the opponent believe they hold a strong hand, thereby forcing them to fold.

Gu Shiyan held his cards in one hand, taking a deep drink from his glass, which was down to its last third.

Luo Xing stared intently at her two cards.

The three community cards on the table: J, 10, Q.

“Three bets,” Gu Shiyan said without hesitation.

Luo Xing looked at Qi Zhi, who was still studying the table. “…Twenty-four bets.”

Everyone except Gu Shiyan paused; then Ji Rutang caught on and laughed. “Twenty-four bets, hmm…”

Lu Xingjian and Ji Rutang both stayed put. Luo Xing’s gaze fell on Lu Yuanyi.

Her smile remained. “Fifty-four bets.”

She glanced at Qi Zhi. “Your moves are as stubborn as you are.”

Lu Yuanyi flipped the fourth card—an Ace.

Gu Shiyan’s turn; he looked at Luo Xing. “Fifteen.”

Luo Xing eyed her cards, instinctively wanting to grab the nearby cup and bite the straw, but resisted.

Qi Zhi was about to speak, having placed his cards face down.

Luo Xing stopped him, facing off with Gu Shiyan. “Forty-five bets.”

She didn’t even blink.

Gu Shiyan’s gaze swept to the hand she pressed on Qi Zhi’s knee.