The Wager

Campus life always passes by quickly, and one night just blurred into the next.

"Dude, hurry up and wake up."

"What's the big deal? Can't you see I'm daydreaming here?"

"Stop messing around, today's the big fight between rookie Zhou En and benchwarmer Yue Hua."

"What? How could I forget something so exciting?"

"I heard a senior even set up a betting pool today."

Conversations like these filled every corner of the campus.

Hearing these discussions, Zhou En's face turned pale, and he hesitated. There was no way he could beat Yue Hua.

Yesterday, he'd been completely egged on by a few mischievous friends. Now that his head was clear, he immediately wanted to back out.

This had already spread throughout the campus. If he lost, Zhou En would truly become a rat crossing the street, with everyone wanting to get rid of him.

How would he ever show his face again?

"Zhou En, listen to your buddy, don't go!" Chubby said again.

Zhou En hesitated, then gritted his teeth.

"Alright, I'll take a taxi out to hang around today and come back in the afternoon," Zhou En said.

"Yes, you've finally made the most sensible choice," Chubby said, sounding older than his years.

"Huh? Zhou En, the school gymnasium is that way, you're going the wrong direction." Just as Zhou En started walking towards the school gate.

A discordant voice rang out.

At this moment, Zhou En had no idea he had already become a campus celebrity.

"Oh," Zhou En replied, but he quickened his pace considerably.

Zhou En wasn't an idiot; he didn't want to be severely humiliated in front of the entire school.

"Zhou En's trying to run away!" Zhou En immediately regretted not just shutting that troublemaker up.

This shout from a passerby startled a couple kissing under a tree, and they walked over to block Zhou En's path.

"Zhou En, this is really dishonorable of you. As a man of your stature, you can't go back on your word," Passerby B accused.

"Even if you're going to lose, you should do it with honor."

"I'm not a man of my stature!" Passerby B's words made Zhou En's face turn red with anger.

Everyone present showed a shocked expression. Could he be a Thai ladyboy?

"I'm a man of eight feet!" To be honest, Zhou En was quite satisfied with his height.

"Zhou En, no matter how many feet you are, you should be in the stadium right now, not chatting with us here."

"Even if you're going to get beaten up, you can't back down."

Passerby B waved his hand impatiently.

There was no help for it; an arm couldn't twist a thigh. Under everyone's imposing presence, Zhou En could only obediently head towards the stadium.

"Hey, brother, there's a betting pool here for the match between rookie Zhou En and martial arts expert Yue Hua."

Just as he reached the gymnasium entrance, a figure blocked Zhou En.

"Zhou En lasts one round, odds are 0.5 to 1."

"Zhou En lasts two rounds, odds are 20 to 1."

"Zhou En lasts three rounds, odds are 30 to 1."

Without waiting for Zhou En to speak, the person rattled off the odds.

"Are there any bets on Zhou En winning?" Zhou En asked casually.

The young man looked a bit embarrassed and scratched his head.

"Brother, offering odds for Zhou En lasting three rounds is already enough to make me lose money."

Upon hearing this, Zhou En almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Brother, I'll bet on Zhou En lasting one round." Beside Zhou En, Chubby gritted his teeth and pulled out 20 yuan.

Chubby thought that if he could win, he'd make ten yuan. Although it was only ten yuan.

But even a mosquito's leg is still meat, right?

"Wang Ning, you..." Zhou En looked at his friend with grief and indignation, trembling and unable to speak.

Clearly, he was quite angered by Chubby's actions.

"Alright, alright, I'll treat you to meat buns after I win," Chubby said generously, patting Zhou En's shoulder to comfort him.

"Zhou En, you don't need to be nervous. This is at school, Yue Hua won't make it too difficult for you."

Chubby's comforting words felt like a Ruyi Jingu Bang being brutally jammed into Zhou En's heart.

"Fine, fine," Zhou En said, furious. He had already decided that no matter what, he had to win today.

Zhou En turned and looked at the young man behind him. "Are you still taking bets?"

The young man was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "The odds here are absolutely the fairest. What are you betting on?"

"We accept Alipay, WeChat, and JD Baitiao transfers."

Upon hearing this, Zhou En cheerfully pulled out a hundred-yuan bill, a "Grandpa Mao," and declared with dominance, "I bet on Zhou En to win."

When Chubby saw the "Grandpa Mao" in Zhou En's hand, he couldn't help but widen his small eyes in disbelief.

Chubby knew full well that if Zhou En lost this bill, he wouldn't be able to eat for the last few days of the month.

The young man, hearing Zhou En's words, stammered, "Brother, what did you say? Did I hear that right?"

Regardless of the young man's idiotic question, the person Zhou En was betting on was simply too unbelievable.

This was why he asked.

"Brother, nobody here bets on Zhou En to win."

Hearing this, Zhou En's anger flared up.

So, you all look down on me.

"Just because no one else is betting doesn't mean I won't. Can you do it, or should you just get out of the way?"

Zhou En waved his hand impatiently. If anyone else saw Zhou En like this, they would truly be intimidated.

"Okay, okay, I'll take the bet," the young man said after some thought. "The odds for Zhou En to win are one hundred to one."

Hiss. Hearing this, Zhou En couldn't help but gasp.

Even Chubby, standing beside him, was greatly shocked. He patted Zhou En's shoulder.

With a sympathetic look, he said, "Bet it. If you win, you'll make a clean thousand."

Hearing this, Zhou En became full of confidence and strode into the stadium.

"Who is this idiot?" the young man asked Chubby, watching Zhou En's retreating back.

"Tch, you don't even recognize the famous Zhou En?" Chubby said with disdain.

Without waiting for the young man to reply, he walked away on his own.

The young man stood there dumbfounded. It took a full minute before he reacted with ecstatic joy.

The young man immediately opened Meituan Waimai and ordered a 99.8 yuan KFC deluxe meal.

In the young man's mind, Zhou En was just handing him money for free.

As for Zhou En winning? Heh, that was more absurd than the end of the world.