Chapter 43: Insisting on a Showdown

After a short while, a man dressed in an expensive suit walked in. Not only did he have a strikingly handsome face, but his physique was also impressive—clearly someone who frequented the gym. “You’re Zhang Xiaobei?” he asked me arrogantly.

I nodded. “And you are?”

“Meng Fan. This place? I own it.” He sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and took a cigar from his pocket, holding it between his fingers.

So he was the owner—no wonder he acted so high and mighty. Still, his pretentious manner was hard to stomach. But why had he called me here? Was it just because I’d beaten his man? I got straight to the point: “What do you want with me?”

“I heard you made Li Dong lose quite badly,” he said, his gaze deep and unreadable.

I wasn’t the least bit intimidated. I crossed my legs to match his posture and replied, “Why would you put it like that, Mr. Meng? Wins and losses are common here, aren’t they? Surely your men aren’t immune to losing.”

He looked me in the eye, then turned away and lit his cigar, chuckling softly. “No need to be nervous, Mr. Zhang. I just wanted to chat about the two million he lost to you.”

“I’m not nervous. And what two million?” I didn’t quite understand.

“How quickly you forget, Mr. Zhang. He said all the chips on the table were yours—that was two million.”

So there had been two million on the table. I’d thought it was perhaps a hundred thousand at most and hadn’t given it a second thought. “Remember now?” Meng Fan pressed.

I nodded. “Yes. So what’s your point?”

“Nothing much. I just think you have some skill with cards. I’d like to pit myself against you—if you’re willing.” Meng Fan spoke as though he was certain I would refuse.

But why would I be afraid? The money was theirs anyway; if I lost, so be it. I was about to agree when Su Yao suddenly burst in and called out to me, “Zhang Xiaobei, get out here right now!”

“Yao Yao, Mr. Zhang is my guest. How can you be so rude!” Meng Fan protested.

“Meng Fan, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. He’s not your guest; he’s my friend!” Su Yao retorted bluntly.

“Yao Yao, don’t you have to go to the antique auction? It’s about to begin,” Meng Fan said, trying to sound gentle.

But Su Yao couldn’t be bothered. She came right over, grabbed my arm, and tried to leave.

“Su Yao!” Meng Fan’s face darkened as he saw her ignore him and try to take me away.

I still couldn’t read his intentions, but I suddenly had the feeling he was no ordinary person.

“Meng Fan, I’ve told you, he’s not like you think. Why are you doing this? Just because he helped me?” Su Yao turned to confront him.

“Do you really think I’m that petty?” Meng Fan’s smile turned sinister as he walked over.

“Only you know what you are. And I’m not interested in you, so stop thinking that just because our families are close, I owe you anything!” This time, Su Yao wasn’t leaving him any dignity.

It was awkward for me, caught between the two of them like a third wheel as their spat unfolded. I glanced from one to the other, not knowing what to say.

We were almost out the door when Meng Fan suddenly shouted, “Stop! If that’s how it is, neither of you is leaving unless you beat me!”

“…Hey, don’t drag me into your lovers’ quarrel!” I complained helplessly.

“Fine, you want to gamble? Zhang Xiaobei, take him on—the loss is on me!” Su Yao glared at Meng Fan.

But Meng Fan sneered, “We’re not wagering money.”

“Then what’s the bet?” I asked.

“Her. If you win, I’ll let you take her with you. If I win, you die.”

“…Are you serious? That’s outrageous! I’m the only one who stands to lose anything here—this isn’t fair!” I protested.

“You don’t have a choice,” he replied, as arrogant as ever.

I was speechless. I turned to Su Yao for her opinion. She looked upset and, intimidated by Meng Fan’s anger, hesitated. But it had been my idea to come in the first place, so I shouldn’t drag Su Yao into this. I told Meng Fan, “Fine. But whether I win or lose, you’re not to hurt her!”

“That’s not your concern. No matter what, I won’t harm her,” Meng Fan replied coldly.

Though I couldn’t read his mind, I had the sense that he did have feelings for Su Yao, so I trusted he’d keep his word.

“All right, then how do you want to play?” I asked.

“Whatever you’re best at,” he replied, full of confidence.

“Then just like with Li Dong,” I said.

He gave a dismissive laugh and clapped his hands. Immediately, the door opened and a tall, beautiful female dealer entered with a deck of cards—clearly prepared on Meng Fan’s orders.

We sat on the sofa, the dealer dealing cards on the coffee table between us.

Remembering Li Dong’s earlier attempt to cheat, I clarified before the cards were dealt, “Best two out of three?”

“One hand decides it all,” Meng Fan said with certainty.

He was clearly out for blood; I almost wanted to back out, but it was too late.

As I was about to agree, Su Yao interjected, “Best two out of three!”

“Fine, let’s go with her suggestion,” Meng Fan said, still wearing that look that said I was sure to lose. It irritated me.

“No bets, just straight cards,” I said, signaling to Xiao Yuan beside me.

Meng Fan, without even looking at his cards, flipped them open: two eights and a ten.

Seeing his hand made me nervous. I glanced at mine—two eights as well, but with a nine!

“You lose,” Meng Fan said, as if it was a foregone conclusion.

I gave a wry smile. If I lost the next round, I’d really be at his mercy.

The dealer dealt again. Su Yao looked even more anxious than I did—she clearly hoped I’d win. But this gambling den was Meng Fan’s domain; he hadn’t risen to this position by being ordinary. He wouldn’t be so confident otherwise.

Again, Meng Fan didn’t even check his cards—he just flipped them: a pair of twos and a three.

Seeing his low pair, I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I peeked at my hand—10, J, K. The face cards were high, but they still lost to his pair.

“What’s wrong? Afraid to reveal your cards?” Meng Fan taunted, a triumphant smile on his lips.

I smiled bitterly and turned my cards over.

“How is this possible?” Meng Fan was genuinely shocked.

I was surprised too, having expected to lose—why was he so stunned? I looked again at my hand and realized—it was a flush.

I quickly pretended I’d known all along and said, “One to one.”

Meng Fan shot me a look; though unwilling to accept it, he couldn’t argue with the cards.

Still, I couldn’t understand what had just happened. Against Li Dong, I might have misread the cards, but this time it was impossible—the colors and suits were entirely different. Was someone helping me? I glanced at the beautiful dealer, but she seemed as surprised as I was.

Su Yao, delighted at my win, exclaimed excitedly, “One more round—you have to beat him!”

I said nothing and watched as the dealer dealt the final hand.

“This time, you reveal first,” Meng Fan said.

I took a deep breath and turned over my cards: Q, Q, K. Not bad.

But when Meng Fan checked his hand, Xiao Yuan glanced over and whispered to me: three nines.

My heart sank. I silently prayed that whoever had helped me before would help again.

“Zhang Xiaobei, you’ve lost,” Meng Fan said, a flash of triumph in his eyes.

Though I knew his cards, I said, “Let me see.”

He nodded and placed his cards face up on the table.

But when I looked, I froze. “I think I win this round,” I said.

“What? Can’t you count? Three nines!” he scoffed.

“But these aren’t three nines,” I replied.

He sat up straight and checked his cards—only to find a pair of nines and a six.

“How is this possible? Zhang Xiaobei, you’re cheating!” Meng Fan stood up and pointed at me.

I just smiled wryly. “What, can’t stand to lose? I don’t gain anything from winning or losing—why act like I’ve taken millions from you?”

“Exactly, I didn’t expect you to be such a sore loser!” Su Yao chimed in.

No man likes to be called out by the woman he loves, so Meng Fan gave a cold laugh and said, “Go claim your two million.”

I was surprised—he was actually letting me collect the money? What was his game? Still, I wasn’t about to refuse.

“If you insist, I won’t say no.” I turned to leave.

But as I reached the door, a sudden sound made me dodge aside, just as an arrow slammed into the doorframe beside me.

“Meng Fan, what are you doing?” Su Yao screamed in terror.

Meng Fan ignored her, aiming his crossbow at me.

“Didn’t you say we could leave if we won?” Su Yao shouted again.

“Sure, let his corpse leave with you!” Meng Fan fired another arrow at me.

I dodged again, but at this point, my contempt for Meng Fan was absolute.

I hadn’t wanted to provoke these people, but now that he was trying to kill me, I could endure no longer.