Chapter 94: Once More into the Labyrinth

This story is purely fictional.

“It’s been several hours since we got back. I was actually cooking, but when I saw you weren’t happy, I came to check on you, to see what had made you so upset. After much persuasion, I finally learned you were angry because of your phone. I didn’t even get a chance to discuss the money with you. You blaming me like this is completely unreasonable,” Chi Zhaoming explained.

Unreasonable? You think I need a reason to blame you now? Don’t you realize that everything you’ve put us through is reason enough? You say I have no grounds, but as far as I’m concerned, every word I say is justified. Gambling away our money is reason enough. Shattering the peace in this house is reason enough. And yet you still want to talk about what’s reasonable? What gives you the right to discuss reason with me?” Dujuan’s accusations poured out relentlessly.

Chi Zhaoming was left speechless by Dujuan’s barrage. Though his heart burned with anger, remembering Dujuan’s care during his times of hardship, he forced himself to swallow his wrath. Again and again, he restrained himself, refusing to let his words escape.

Unable to bear it any longer, Xiyu interjected, “If you two want to argue, take it outside. How am I supposed to study with you going on like this at home?”

At Xiyu’s complaint, Dujuan finally brought her tirade to a reluctant halt.

“All right then. Dinner’s ready. Xiyu, you eat first. We’re going to the telecom office. We’ll buy a smartphone and be back soon.”

Xiyu didn’t respond; he kept his head down, scribbling away at his homework. He had lost all appetite for dinner.

Chi Zhaoming picked up his bag, ready to leave. Seeing Dujuan still standing dazed in the living room, he asked, “Aren’t you coming?” and lightly tapped her shoulder.

The two left the house, one following the other, and walked out of the courtyard.

With Dujuan and Chi Zhaoming gone, the house fell blissfully quiet. Xiyu felt a sudden ease and freedom; his appetite returned, and he found new motivation to study.

Arriving at the telecom office, Dujuan was at first reluctant to go in. She had only left the house because Xiyu needed to study and their argument was hindering him. As for changing her phone, she had completely forgotten Chi Zhaoming’s suggestion.

“Why don’t you come in and have a look? There are plenty of new smartphones now,” Chi Zhaoming called, ushering her into the showroom.

“Show me the latest model,” he said, pointing to a new phone.

“This is currently the best model available in the country. It has a full range of features, a battery capacity of three thousand milliamp hours, which lasts up to three days on standby, and the touch screen is extremely responsive and easy to use,” the clerk explained.

“We’ll take this one. Please ring it up,” Chi Zhaoming said.

At last, the phone was purchased. Dujuan felt a small sense of satisfaction, her mood improving slightly. She no longer wanted to vent her anger at Chi Zhaoming and walked home in silence.

Back home, Xiyu had already finished his dinner alone and had returned to his endless homework.

Dujuan sat at the table. Chi Zhaoming served her a bowl of rice. She glanced at the dishes spread out before her, and, with a modest appetite, picked up her chopsticks and forced down a few bites of vegetables before setting them aside.

Chi Zhaoming, his appetite completely destroyed by Dujuan’s earlier scolding, stared at the food without touching it. As soon as Dujuan put down her chopsticks, he began to clear the table.

Later that night, Xiyu was already asleep. Dujuan sat silently at the bedside, entering contacts into her new phone. As the battery ran low, she prepared to charge it.

Plugging in the charger, Dujuan immediately lay down to sleep, turning away to one side, not wanting to see her husband. Whenever he was in her line of sight, her mood only soured further.

Chi Zhaoming understood Dujuan’s habit and said nothing. He only hoped they could both fall asleep quickly, for he had no desire to endure further complaints.

He turned off the light. Moonlight spilled into the small room. From the other side of the wardrobe, he could hear Xiyu already deep in dreams, softly snoring, occasionally mumbling in his sleep, the words indistinct.

Afraid of waking Dujuan and ruining this fragile peace, Chi Zhaoming moved with extreme caution, even undressing with the utmost care. Once in bed, hearing no sound from Dujuan, he felt relieved that he hadn’t disturbed her.

Yet, even lying down, sleep eluded him. Years of tranquility had been shattered by his own folly, and he was all too aware of his regret. Still, despite his remorse, he couldn’t entirely give up the fantasy of winning through gambling. He remained convinced that, with his understanding and judgment of the matches, he could win money and improve their lives. But in reality, life had become unbearable; not only were good days out of reach, even their former peace and simplicity had been ruthlessly stripped away. The joy and freedom of the past had vanished without a trace.

He tossed and turned, careful not to wake Dujuan. He knew that if she was woken at night, all hope of a good night’s sleep would be lost.

Even after repaying his debts, Chi Zhaoming kept the betting website bookmarked. For a time, as long as he didn’t open the site, it was as if he had forgotten the days of losing. At least half a year had passed without a single debt collector hounding him, and this brought him a measure of relief.

But this relief was only temporary. Afterward, a desire to set things right began to stir—a wish to put his life back on track.

The next day at work, Chi Zhaoming couldn’t resist reopening the betting website he’d avoided for half a year.

All his previous betting records had been wiped clean; the account was spotless, with no trace of the past.

Three South American football matches were yet to start, and the teams’ names were as familiar as ever. Returning to the betting page, Chi Zhaoming felt he had gained new insights after his months of abstinence. Rational, calm, composed—these qualities gave him peace of mind. Yet once he started placing bets, he quickly lost all restraint.

He browsed the Football Club website, and the pain that had once haunted him seemed to fade with time.

Football leagues from all over the world, from the major five to the smallest competitions—EG, EY, DY, FY—scores were all at his fingertips on the site. The information was not new to him.

He knew the backgrounds of every team worldwide, their players, coaches, club histories, star athletes, and tactical styles.

In that moment of temptation, Chi Zhaoming felt that, after half a year’s rest, his wounds had healed completely; the scars were gone.

To regain a sense of control, he now rushed to his computer every morning at the office, racking his brain to analyze each match. He did his homework thoroughly and then chose his bets.

Although he placed bets daily, the lesson of his last disaster still fresh, he constantly reminded himself to stay clear-headed and cautious, to proceed steadily and prudently. He no longer wagered as wildly as before.

But a gambler’s nature never changes. When money comes easily, it is never cherished; it flows away like water. Dining, drinking, singing—things he’d once ignored—became regular indulgences.

In the casino, no one escapes greed. When you win, a thousand is not enough—you want two; win ten thousand, aim for twenty. Satisfaction is always out of reach. And when you lose, you double your bets, desperate to recover. The outcome is always the same: ruin and devastation.

He used to mock his friend, who once won over three hundred thousand in a single night at the MC casino. They agreed to have breakfast the next day at the best hotel in MC, but when he knocked on his friend’s door that morning, he was told that, unable to sleep, the friend had returned to the casino overnight and lost it all.

As Chi Zhaoming ventured back into gambling, others warned him not to repeat his mistakes. He promised to be cautious and prudent.

But human nature is such that, faced with profit, people lose control. At this point, Chi Zhaoming had already brushed aside his friends’ well-meaning advice.

He sat staring blankly at his computer. The station chief, seeing him deep in thought at his desk, patted him on the shoulder and asked, “What’s got you so lost in thought?”

Startled by the touch, Chi Zhaoming snapped out of a reverie about his encounter with Xiao Jin.

Turning to see the chief behind him, he quickly stood and asked, “Is there something you wanted to discuss?”

“Of course. Do you think I have nothing better to do than wander around?” the chief replied.

“Sorry, I had a rough night, some personal matters. I was a bit distracted,” Chi Zhaoming said, trying to cover his worries.

After hearing the chief’s instructions, Chi Zhaoming called Xiao Bianzi to his desk. “I’m leaving these tasks to you. Handle them proactively and with care.”

Xiao Bianzi, trusted by Director Chi, tackled the assignments with extra diligence, showing great respect and delivering impressive results.

Chi Zhaoming was well aware of Xiao Bianzi’s abilities and felt at ease delegating to him, secretly pleased to have such a capable assistant by his side.

(To be continued)