King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

I left Mr. Zeng's house. Though Zeng Hong cried bitterly as I departed, I offered her no comfort. My purpose had been fulfilled, and her presence was now inconsequential. Toward Zeng Hong, I had to remain resolute—just as she once was with me.

Outside the villa, I saw Zhao Kui. He asked, "Brother Fei, Wang Gui's been discharged from the hospital. He said he's waiting for your red envelope and went off to chase women."

I chuckled at the news. Wang Gui truly hadn't changed. The man had narrowly escaped being buried alive, yet now, freshly recovered, his thoughts had already turned to flirtations. It's like he'd forgotten the pain as soon as the scars healed.

Just then, my phone rang. It was a call from Qian Guang. I answered, "Hello, Brother Guang. What's the matter?"

"How's Old Five's development in Myanmar?" Qian Guang asked suddenly.

His question caught me off guard. Why ask now, of all times? I replied cautiously, "It's going okay. He's recruited a few subordinates..."

"Boss Wei put in a lot of effort to save you this time, didn't he? Does he hold significant power in Myanmar?" Qian Guang pressed.

My heart tightened. Was Qian Guang starting to piece things together? I feigned ignorance. "I suppose so. I'm not entirely sure..."

"I thought Khunsan rescued you, but I spoke to him earlier. He claimed he didn't even know you'd been kidnapped," Qian Guang said coldly.

Surprise flickered across my face. Old Five had used my five million to buy weapons. We hadn't told Qian Guang about our clandestine operations—there was no way we could let him in on our plans. I'd always understood Boss Wei's nature; he was the type to use public matters for private gain. So, we leveraged his tendencies, shifting the credit for rescuing me onto him. As expected, he said nothing and took all the glory.

The plan had gone smoothly until now. Unexpectedly, Qian Guang had reached out to Khunsan and grown suspicious. I licked my lips, my mind racing for a way to smooth things over. "I don't know," I said hesitantly. "Everything was chaotic. By the time I opened my eyes, I was already rescued."

I treaded carefully, aiming to blur the lines. If Qian Guang couldn't pin down the details, he'd find it harder to investigate further. Moreover, asking Boss Wei directly would only create awkwardness and raise more doubts.

"Boss Wei seems untrustworthy," Qian Guang mused after a pause. "He claims he has no influence in Myanmar and relies on Khunsan. But he managed to resolve such a significant kidnapping incident. I read the news—over a dozen people died in gunfights. The other side was armed, too. Without considerable power, how could he have caused such carnage? Boss Wei is lying. I asked Old Five, and he said he only learned of your kidnapping after you were already rescued."

Hearing this, I began to weigh my options. Should I deepen the rift between Qian Guang and Boss Wei?

"Perhaps," I replied. "This whole thing shows Boss Wei wants to hide something. Even Khunsan didn't know about it, which indicates he's keeping secrets for personal reasons."

Qian Guang was silent for a moment before saying, "Understood. I'll have Old Five keep an eye on him. Boss Wei is someone we may need to discard if necessary. Right now, we don't need him standing in our way, profiting off us while laying traps. This kidnapping incident gives me an unsettling feeling. I suspect it was orchestrated by Boss Wei to frighten you and sow discord among us. Otherwise, why would he wait until the second day of your kidnapping to demand ransom from me?"

I nodded and said, "I understand, Brother Guang. We are inseparable allies."

"Good. If you've rested enough, return soon. Skinny Monkey's been making moves. He and Chen Xi have gathered a lot of people. Ostensibly, they're targeting the people from Nongdao, but they're still conducting business as usual. They even approached Four Eyes for secret discussions. I fear they have ulterior motives. We must stay vigilant," Qian Guang said.

"Got it, Brother Guang."

After hanging up, I gripped my phone tightly, staring out at the horizon. Balancing these players against each other was the best strategy. With no wealth or manpower to my name, survival meant pitting them against each other. Boss Wei, don't blame me. I've repaid the favor you did me, but when it came to my life, you turned to Qian Guang for ransom money. Was my value to you worth less than fifty million?

If you cannot part with something, you will never obtain what you seek.

Just as these thoughts ran through my mind, my phone buzzed with an unknown number. Answering, I said, "Hello, who's this?"

"Stop pretending. What's your game?"

Hearing Hua Hua's voice, I couldn't help but smile. "Let's meet. I'm at Kunming Times Square."

Before she could bargain, I hung up. "To Times Square," I instructed.

Zhao Kui drove toward the square. At the monument, we waited under the blazing sun. Kunming's afternoon heat was oppressive, even with the car's air conditioning.

Hua Hua didn't show. Two hours passed, then three. Frustrated, I debated whether to call her but stopped myself. Calling would put me at a disadvantage. She was testing my resolve—gauging how far I'd go to engage with her, or perhaps testing my audacity to break the invisible wall between us.

"Brother Fei, I don't think she's coming," Zhao Kui said.

Wiping the sweat from my face, I stayed silent, staring at my phone. Finally, I dialed her number. No answer. But then I heard a phone ringing nearby. My brows furrowed as I stepped out of the car. Circling the monument, I found a vehicle with its door ajar. Inside sat Hua Hua, phone in hand, watching me.

Fury boiled within me. This damn woman had been here all along, hiding on the opposite side of the monument, making me wait for hours.

Before I could speak, Zhao Kui stormed over. Seeing her chew gum and disdainfully spit it toward him, he snapped. His fist crashed through the car window, shattering the glass. Hua Hua screamed in shock as Zhao Kui yanked her out of the car and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of grain.

I watched her struggle, shouting insults, but Zhao Kui ignored her, throwing her into our car. I slid in beside her, and when she continued to resist, I slapped her hard across the face.

"How dare you hit me?" she hissed.

"To calm you down. Drive," I ordered Zhao Kui.

As the car pulled away, I stared out the window. We needed to leave the scene quickly, fearing witnesses—or worse, that Hua Hua wasn't alone.

She glared daggers at me, her defiance palpable. "You wasted my time and tested my patience. That slap? Consider it interest."

"Interest? Do you think you can intimidate me? You don't have the guts," Hua Hua retorted coldly.

"We'll see about that," I replied. "But I didn't want this to get ugly. I reached out because I want to work together."

Her frosty demeanor persisted. "There's nothing to discuss. Don't think that fooling Zeng Hong means you can strut around here unchecked."

I smiled darkly. "Don't push me. I'm not here to banter. You're just another scammer. Save your bravado for someone else. If I didn't need your help for something bigger, you'd already be buried alive."

She froze, her defiance faltering for the first time.

But I wasn't done. This was only the beginning of a long game, and I intended to play it masterfully.

I left Mr. Zeng's house. Although Zeng Hong was crying inconsolably as I departed, I offered no comfort. My goal had been achieved; her existence was now insignificant to me. Toward her, I needed to remain ruthless, just as she had once been with me.

Outside the villa, I saw Zhao Kui. He asked, "Brother Fei, Wang Gui has been discharged from the hospital. He mentioned waiting for your red envelope and is off chasing women now."

I smirked at the news. Wang Gui's incorrigible nature truly amused me. The man had nearly been buried alive, yet after narrowly surviving, his first thought was to flirt with women. It's as if he's forgotten the pain of his near-death experience.

As I glanced at my phone, a call came in from Qian Guang. Answering, I said, "Hello, Brother Guang, what's the matter?"

"How's Lao Wu's progress in Myanmar?" Qian Guang asked abruptly.

I found his timing odd—why inquire now? Treading carefully, I replied, "Not bad. He's recruited a few men…"

"Mr. Wei played a significant role in saving you this time, didn't he? Does he wield substantial power in Myanmar?" Qian Guang pressed on.

A sense of unease crept in. Was his line of questioning hinting at some discovery? "Perhaps," I said evasively. "I'm not entirely sure…"

"I thought it was Kun Sang who rescued you, but I had a phone call with him earlier. He claimed he knew nothing about your kidnapping," Qian Guang said coldly.

I was stunned. Lao Wu had used my five million yuan to buy guns without informing Qian Guang, keeping our plans secret. Naturally, we couldn't let him know. Mr. Wei, being the opportunist I had sized him up to be, took credit for the rescue just as we anticipated.

The operation had been going smoothly until now, but Qian Guang's conversation with Kun Sang had sown seeds of doubt. I wasn't sure how to deflect his suspicions.

Licking my lips nervously, I replied, "I don't know. Everything was chaotic. When I woke up, I had already been rescued."

I chose to feign ignorance, muddying the waters so Qian Guang wouldn't find a clear focal point. He couldn't directly confront Mr. Wei without making things awkward or suspicious. He'd only have me to interrogate, and I intended to stay ambiguous, hoping to weather this storm.

"Mr. Wei is unsettling. He claims to have no influence in Myanmar, relying entirely on Kun Sang, yet he managed to handle a major incident like your kidnapping. I read the Myanmar news—over a dozen people died, all victims of a gunfight. The opposing side was armed, too. Without significant power, how could he achieve such destruction? Mr. Wei is lying. I even asked Lao Wu; he said he only learned of your kidnapping after you'd been rescued," Qian Guang said icily.

His words made me deliberate—should I stoke the flames of discord between him and Mr. Wei?

"Perhaps. His silence on the matter suggests he's hiding something, even from Kun Sang. It shows he has ulterior motives," I said.

Qian Guang fell silent for a moment before responding, "Understood. I'll have Lao Wu keep an eye on him. If necessary, we'll have to discard Mr. Wei. We don't need him, especially if he hinders our progress. Profiting off us while setting traps won't be tolerated. This kidnapping incident has left me uneasy—I suspect it was orchestrated by Mr. Wei to intimidate you and sow division among us. Otherwise, why would he wait until the second day of your abduction to inform me and demand money for the rescue?"

I nodded and said, "Understood, Brother Guang. We are inseparable allies."

"Good. If you've rested enough, return soon. Skinny Monkey has been making moves lately, rallying people under the guise of targeting Ningdao's men. But business as usual continues, and he's even been meeting in secret with Four-Eyes. I fear he has other schemes brewing. Stay vigilant," Qian Guang advised.

"Got it, Brother Guang…"

After hanging up, I gripped my phone tightly and gazed outside. Mutual restraint was the key to a good strategy. With nothing—no money, no manpower—I could only ensure my survival by playing them against each other.

Mr. Wei, don't blame me. I've already repaid your help. But when my life was on the line, you still sought money from Qian Guang. Does my life mean so little to you?

Give and take—since you were unwilling to give, you certainly won't receive.

As I contemplated this, my phone rang with a call from an unfamiliar number. Answering, I said with a smile, "Hello, who's this?"

"Stop pretending! What do you mean by this?"

Hearing Hua Hua's voice on the other end, I couldn't help but feel excited. "Let's talk in person. I'll wait for you at Kunming Times Square."

I hung up without giving her a chance to negotiate further. "Head to Times Square," I instructed.

Zhao Kui drove us to the square, stopping near the monument. The scorching Kunming sun blazed overhead, making even the air-conditioned car feel stuffy.

Yet Hua Hua didn't show. After waiting for over two hours, I began to wonder what game she was playing. I resisted the urge to call her back—doing so would mean losing the upper hand. Perhaps she was testing me, gauging my patience or my resolve to pierce through the veil of pretense between us.

"Brother Fei, I don't think she's coming," Zhao Kui remarked.

Wiping the sweat off my face, I said nothing and stared at my phone. Finally, I decided to call. The phone rang unanswered, but I could hear the ringtone nearby. Frowning, I stepped out of the car, following the sound around the monument. There, I saw a car with its door ajar. Inside sat Hua Hua, staring at me while holding her phone.

Frustration surged within me. That damn woman had arrived long ago, lurking just out of sight. She made me wait for hours—this brazen disregard infuriated me.

Zhao Kui joined me, his expression darkening as he approached Hua Hua. She casually chewed gum, then spat it at Zhao Kui disdainfully before attempting to roll up her window. Zhao Kui, enraged, smashed the glass with a single punch. Shards flew as Hua Hua screamed in terror. Without hesitation, Zhao Kui reached in, grabbed her, and hoisted her over his shoulder.

I watched as Hua Hua flailed and cursed, but Zhao Kui remained unfazed, shoving her into the car.

Sliding in beside her, I saw her defiance as she glared at me. Without a word, I slapped her hard across the face. She froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You dare hit me?" she seethed.

"That's just to help you calm down. Drive," I ordered.

Zhao Kui started the car, leaving Times Square behind. My nerves were taut—I feared someone might have noticed us. Worse still, I worried about Hua Hua's possible backup.

We drove for some time. Hua Hua sat silently, her fury palpable. "You brought this on yourself," I said. "You wasted my time and tried to toy with me. That slap? Consider it interest."

"Interest? And what if I refuse to cooperate?" she sneered coldly.