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

 I stayed in the hospital all night, and Xuanling was holding me while sleeping. She couldn't sleep well, her body kept trembling. I knew she was scared, and her dreams were nightmares.

 I feel very sorry for Xuanling, really. She's such a petite girl, doesn't offend anyone, yet she has to be treated like this by others.

 I gently placed her on the bed, withdrew my numb arm, and looked at her tightly furrowed brows, feeling very sad. This is just the beginning; she has already been treated like this. What will happen in the future?

 It's hard for me to imagine what life will be like with her after being together. I know that on the road of struggle ahead, there will definitely be more dangers, so it was right for me to refuse Xuanling before...

 I went out, had something to eat, and then went to school. There was a notice posted at the school gate about a fight.

 "In view of the incident where Zeng Hong incited outside individuals to surround and beat Xuan Ling, causing a serious social impact, the school has decided to remove Zeng Hong from the position of student council president, place him under probation, and apologize to Xuan Ling. If Zeng Hong's attitude is found to be bad, we will expel him from the school..."

 This punishment was unexpected for me. I thought Boss Zeng would pay to settle the matter, but it seems that the money wasn't spent, and the school still handled Zeng Hong's issue fairly and seriously.

 However, this once again put Xuan Ling in the spotlight. At that moment, I saw Boss Zeng's car parked at the school gate. He got out of the car, and Zeng Hong was inside. I really didn't expect Zeng Hong to come out so quickly; it hadn't even been a week, just one day, and she was out.

 Seeing me standing at the school gate, the father and daughter came over. Boss Zeng glared at me, very angry. His swollen, red face twisted as he pointed at me and said, "Damn it, your father is really unlucky. Even in death, he still brings me trouble. Nothing ever goes smoothly for me. Let me tell you, have your little girlfriend come out. We'll apologize and compensate you, okay?"

 I looked at Zeng Hong, who seemed indifferent, and she said, "Yeah, call Xuan Ling out, I'll apologize to him. Otherwise, the school will expel me. I'm really scared."

 I know Xuan Ling isn't afraid of being expelled, but Boss Zeng doesn't want his daughter to be expelled. He said, "Good daughter, you've been outstanding since you were young, and you even became the student council president in college. As long as you keep it up, after you graduate, you'll be a top-tier talent. Why would you fight with someone over this little punk?"Isn't this lowering your standards?"Listen to me, just apologize obediently, and Dad will donate a library to the school. This matter will be resolved, okay?"

 Listening to Boss Zeng's words, I felt a bit choked up. Zeng Hong has been outstanding since childhood. The consequences of her attacking Xuanling are indeed quite severe for her. I don't understand, is it really worth it just to get back at me?

 Zeng Hong said, "I want to too, but it has to be approved by Xuan Ling. Zhao Fei, I sincerely apologize. Please let Xuan Ling come out, and let's set a place to meet. I don't want to keep entangling with you. As my dad said, it would lower my status."

 Zeng Hong's words were like needles, piercing my heart. Her contempt annoyed me a bit, and I knew she would never sincerely apologize. I knew her too well.

 "Daughter, it's good that you can think this way. Zhao Fei, I'm really too lazy to get entangled with you. You jinx, just bring your little girlfriend out here. We'll apologize and compensate, and this matter will be settled."Boss Zeng said.

 I said, "Xuanling just doesn't want Zeng Hong to bother her, she doesn't need your apology..."

 "Are you fucking stupid? Are you pretending not to understand or what? Does your school want to blow this matter up? Do you know that if I don't apologize, once it blows up, donating a library won't be enough to settle this? I'm begging you, can you call your little girlfriend out so we can negotiate and resolve this properly? Ugh, can you stop making things worse for me?" Boss Zeng said angrily.

 I looked at Zeng Hong, knowing she wouldn't sincerely apologize. She must have ulterior motives for inviting us out. I said, "Alright, eight o'clock tonight..."

 "Wait for me at the empty space behind the school's food court at eight o'clock, I'll treat you to a meal..." Zeng Hong said.

 After she finished speaking, she turned around and left. The empty space behind the food court?Zeng Hong's ability to lie isn't great; I knew Zeng Hong wouldn't let it go easily.

 I watched the father and daughter enter the school, then picked up my phone. I called Qian Laowu and said, "Can you make it by eight tonight?"

 "No problem, I'll definitely be there..."

 I hung up the phone. Damn it, no matter what kind of trouble Zeng Hong gives me today, I'm going to solve this my way.

 I didn't pay attention to the morning class either, just went through the motions. By the evening, I went to the hospital. There, I saw Xuanling looking in the mirror. When she saw me, she hurriedly put the mirror away. She was wearing a mask, so I couldn't see her expression clearly, but I could see that her eyes were red. I knew she had been crying.

 I said, "Don't take the picture, even with a shaved head, you're still very beautiful..."

 She listened, lowered her head, looking even more sorrowful, walked towards me, slowly reached out and hugged me. I could hear her sobbing, so I held her in my arms. I knew I had wronged her.

 I said, "At eight o'clock tonight, Zeng Hong wants to apologize to you. I agreed."

 Xuanling looked up, surprised, and said through gritted teeth, "I don't need her apology. I just don't want her to keep bothering me. Let's not provoke her anymore, okay?"

 I said, "Don't worry, I'll handle it. Just stay well in the hospital and nothing will happen, really, nothing will happen."

 Xuan Ling looked at me, and at that moment her phone rang. She opened it and said, "It's a text from Zeng Hong. She told me not to avoid her and that I must go tonight. She said her family doesn't lack money and that she would compensate as much as I wanted. She's not afraid of going to jail, and if I want to sue her, that's fine too. But she insisted that I must go, otherwise the school would expel her, and she doesn't want

 I chuckled a bit when I heard it. Zeng Hong was being very cautious; she was afraid Xuan Ling wouldn't go, so she deliberately said something soft. But she's a strong-willed person, and her attempt at softening things wasn't very convincing. She just wanted Xuan Ling to go. I said, "Do you want to go?"

 Xuan Ling hesitated for a moment and said, "Go ahead. Actually, Zeng Hong is very outstanding. It would be a pity if she got fired. If this matter can really be resolved, that would be great."

 I gave a wry smile; Xuanling was really very kind. She couldn't understand Zeng Hong's scheme. I said, "Don't go, let me handle this. You have to trust me, okay?"

 Xuanling looked at me, a bit worried. She nodded, but then quickly said, "No fighting, promise me, absolutely no fighting..."

 She was very serious and eager. I knew she cared about me. I said, "Okay, I promise you, I won't fight..."

 Xuan Ling tightly hugged me and said, "If my hair never grows back and I become ugly, will you still like me?"

 Xuanling almost said it while crying. At first, I didn't have much fondness for her, but later, when I learned how much she had done for me, my feelings for her gradually deepened. However, deciding whether to be with her or not is very difficult for me. I don't want to hurt her; I know I will definitely hurt her.

 But Xuanling was very persistent. She told me that I could deceive her, but I had to do it for a lifetime. I held Xuanling tightly. If I could safely deceive her for a lifetime, I would be willing to tell this lie.

 I said, "Yes, I've always liked you..."

 Xuan Ling held me tightly. I looked at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening. Tonight, I would definitely resolve everything in my own way.

 After Cheng Na arrived, I left the hospital. When I was leaving, I told Cheng Na alone that no matter who calls and asks Xuan Ling to go to the empty space behind the food city, she must not go. Cheng Na agreed, and with her accompanying Xuan Ling, I felt at ease.

 After leaving the hospital, I found Wang Gui, and the two of us went to the food court. I sent a text to Qian Laowu with the exact location. I can't fight because I promised Xuan Ling, but I can hit people.

 Fighting and hitting someone are two different things...

 Behind the food court near Kunming University, there is an undeveloped piece of land, very open and desolate. Looking out, a small river divides the land into two worlds: on one side is the brightly lit food court, while on the other side is the dark and desolate wasteland, giving a somewhat bleak feeling and forming a stark contrast.

 Wang Gui and I squatted on the ground, watching the time; it was already seven-thirty. The sky still had a bit of the sun's afterglow. At the end of the sunset, I watched as car after car parked by the river, and many people got out of the cars—one, two, ten...

 Wang Gui stood up and said, "Fei Ge, are we being set up?"

 After he finished speaking, he threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped on it hard twice. I watched those people standing by the car, just standing there, not moving, as if waiting for something. I said, "Yes, they were wrapped like dumplings..."

 Wang Gui said, "Fei Ge, it's not that I'm afraid of trouble, but a wise man doesn't take unnecessary risks. Let's retreat while they haven't come up yet."

 I said, "No need, just wait."

 As soon as I finished speaking, I saw Zeng Hong's Maserati drive over. She got out of the car, followed by another girl. This girl was wearing a short shirt, leather pants, high heels, and a collar with studs on her neck. Her lipstick was very noticeable, and her eyes were enchanting, giving off a seductive vibe. I knew this girl was Zeng Hong's friend from the underworld, named Hua Hua. I had seen her a few times before. I watched as

 She walked towards me, and as she reached me, a dozen people surrounded us. I looked at Zeng Hong; she was dressed very provocatively, her long hair tied up in a ponytail, heavy makeup, wearing high heels and a leather jacket that accentuated her curves. She looked every bit the tough girl.

 "Zhao Fei, where is he?" Zeng Hong asked me with a smile.

 I said, "You won't be coming, and you won't be leaving today either..."

 Everyone laughed when they heard what I said, their smiles dripping with disdain, but they would never know that I was telling the truth!

Nr 44, Dameiyuan Lane, Crystal Palace,