Chapter Seventy-Nine: They Set a Trap for Me!

When Su Li heard my words, her face turned deathly pale in an instant. A flicker of fear flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger. She shoved me away fiercely, shouting with rage, "Wang Hu, are you insane? What good does this do you?"

I responded with a cold smile, my gaze icy, "Su Li, do you really think I care about that? What you owe me, I will make you repay down to the last penny."

Old Leopard Chen watched quietly from the side, a hint of suspicion and vigilance glimmering in his eyes. Clearly, he realized that the grudge between Su Li and me was far more complicated than it appeared.

"If Wang Hu refuses, then we'll do as he says," Old Leopard Chen finally spoke, his voice deep and forceful. "Miss Su, let's finish the rest of the stones as usual."

Su Li clenched her teeth, her eyes full of unwillingness and anger, but she knew arguing now was futile. She took a deep breath, striving to calm herself. "Fine, we'll do it the usual way."

She turned to Old Leopard Chen, "But I warn you, don't think I'll lose to you just because of this!"

Then she looked at me, "Wang Hu, just watch how I win!"

Su Li strode to the gambling table, her gaze sweeping resolutely over the stones.

I stood nearby, silently observing her every move.

Each choice, every hesitation, became crystal clear to me.

I knew her talent in stone gambling, but I knew my own purpose even better.

"Let's begin," Old Leopard Chen's deep voice broke the silence.

Su Li took another breath, turned toward the raw stones, and said slowly, "There are eighty stones left. We'll gamble in batches—twenty raw stones at a time!"

Old Leopard Chen nodded, and Lu Yi'er quickly arranged for the two of them.

Su Li's fingers glided gently over the stones, each touch like a conversation with fate.

Her eyes radiated determination and defiance, as if she would turn all her anger and frustration into the will to win.

She selected twenty raw stones, her gaze sharp as a blade.

I watched calmly from the side, though turmoil surged within me.

"Wang Hu, do you really think you can drag me down?" Su Li suddenly turned and stared at me coldly.

"Su Li, winning or losing doesn't matter. But you, to me, are important," I replied coolly. "What's important is that you must repay what you owe."

Old Leopard Chen's gaze shifted between us, his expression growing ever more wary.

The gambling began. Su Li and Old Leopard Chen each chose twenty stones and started cutting them.

Su Li's hands were steady as a rock, her eyes sharp as an eagle.

After making her selections, she stepped back indifferently.

She had the staff begin the cutting.

With every cut, she carried unwavering confidence and resolve.

Stone chips flew, and her face appeared all the more steely.

Old Leopard Chen stood nearby, keeping his composure, but it was clear he wasn't at ease.

The first stone split open—worthless material.

The second—also worthless.

Out of the first batch of twenty, only two yielded medium-quality jadeite.

Su Li's expression remained impassive as she looked at Old Leopard Chen.

Old Leopard Chen's face was equally calm. He approached his own batch, carefully inspecting each of his twenty stones, as though communicating wordlessly with them.

Su Li watched him coldly.

"Old Leopard Chen, don't get cocky just yet," Su Li said frostily. "This is only the beginning."

Old Leopard Chen didn't respond, focusing on his selection.

At last, he chose his twenty stones and signaled the staff to start cutting.

All twenty were cut.

Old Leopard Chen's brow furrowed slightly, something felt off.

His batch was almost the same as Su Li's.

It was as if an invisible hand was controlling everything between the two.

The win or loss amounted to only a few hundred thousand.

This round, Old Leopard Chen fell slightly behind, but from his ten million in capital, he still had over nine million left.

The spectators began murmuring, lamenting how dull it was compared to previous stone battles.

Su Li glanced at the sixty remaining raw stones, murmuring, "Old Leopard... there are only sixty stones left. If they yield the same quality, even after all are cut, you'll still lose!"

"Do you still want to insist on fighting me stone by stone?"

Old Leopard Chen ignored Su Li, looking at me instead. "Mr. Wang Hu, I have no interest in talking with Miss Su. Whether you continue or not, it's your decision!"

His words revealed his annoyance with Su Li without disguise.

Su Li's eyes flashed with fury.

I spoke slowly, "Of course I won't withdraw. I hope Old Leopard Chen will teach the younger generation well..."

Su Li, hearing us, was so angry her hair bristled.

Suddenly she turned to Lu Yi'er, "Boss Lu, aren't they setting me up? Isn't it obvious? If I win money, it's normal for me to leave, isn't it?"

But Lu Yi'er shook his head, "Sorry, Miss Su Li. When you revealed your blood relationship with Wang Hu, it was decided—you're partners, and only one can compete at a time..."

"This has nothing to do with whether you win or lose afterward. Even if you lose, the rule stands!"

"If you want to withdraw, both sides must agree. That's the rule!"

"As for your claim that Wang Hu and Old Leopard Chen are colluding to trap you... can you provide proof?"

Su Li shouted, "If I win and can't leave, isn't that proof enough? No fool would choose this!"

Hearing her outburst, I finally laughed, loudly.

Then I looked at Su Li, "You talk about setting a trap, but I think it's you who's playing the game. Since you wanted to join, you knew the rules. Why call me cousin in front of everyone and expose your identity?"

"I suspect you were deliberately placed beside me, to deliver the fatal blow when my life was hanging by a thread! Am I right? Speaking of plots, I think you’re the one plotting!"

Su Li turned even paler at my accusation, a flicker of panic in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, sneering as if she’d heard something absurd.

"Wang Hu, you’re getting better at making up stories," she replied mockingly. "I revealed my identity because I simply don't care. Do you really think your clumsy tricks can shake me?"

Old Leopard Chen's gaze lingered between us, silent for a moment before he spoke, "Miss Su, Mr. Wang Hu, since there is such deep misunderstanding between you, perhaps let this gamble settle everything."