Card Game

Thud! Xie Tian slipped and fell flat on the floor. He struggled to get back up, then looked at Xue Chen. "You've never played? Then why didn't you say so when I mentioned playing Texas Hold'em?"

Xue Chen said, "You didn't ask!" It was an incredibly forceful reason, leaving Xie Tian speechless. But on second thought, it really did make sense. Still, judging by the other man's record, he probably... maybe... wouldn't lose...

Watching this, everyone could not help covering their mouths and snickering. Looking at Xie Tian and Xue Chen, they did not know which one to sympathize with.

Card Game

"To ensure there is nothing wrong with this deck, I'll show it to everyone first. You will have thirty seconds to inspect the cards." The dealer unsealed the deck and spread every card face-up. Everyone took a look and found no issues.

The dealer gathered the cards again, placed them at his side, and said, "Everyone knows that in Texas Hold'em, the five cards are divided into players' hole cards and community cards. The first round requires a blind bet. Folding midway counts as a loss."

As he listened to the dealer explain the various rules and precautions of Texas Hold'em, the corner of Xue Chen's lips lifted. He knew this explanation was really meant for him alone, but his expression barely changed. He simply kept his eyes on the dealer's shuffling hands.

"I'll start. Fifty thousand!" Qin Zhou, seated across from Xue Chen, spoke first. According to Xie Tian, his family was in shipping. They might not rival the Ship King, but they were still one of the leading families in Hong Kong and Macau.

"My visible cards are suited. There's no reason not to call." Qi Si tossed in fifty thousand as well.

"I have a pair of sevens. Even if I lose a hand, it'll only be this much." Fang Jisheng of the Fang Household, who worked in real estate, casually threw in his chips too.

"Boss, should I call?" Xie Tian looked at the two cards in his hand. They were the same suit, but their values were worlds apart, leaving him conflicted.

"Take a chance. A bicycle might turn into a motorcycle." Xue Chen said nothing else and tossed in fifty thousand chips. His visible card was the ace of hearts.

"Hey! Xie Tian, are you betting or not?" Chen Jiayao, seated beside him, rested his chin on one hand. "You're not folding right at the start, are you?"

"Who says I am? I'm calling!" Xie Tian did not really care about the fifty thousand. He had mainly lost too much before; this was a matter of pride.

The dealer dealt everyone another card. Qin Zhou had the highest visible hand. "Wow? I'm first again? Fifty thousand."

"My visible card is the ten of spades. Even if I can't make a flush, I can still make a straight. Call." Qi Si tossed in another fifty thousand in chips.

"I've got the three of clubs. No reason to be afraid of you guys." Fang Jisheng looked utterly unconcerned.

"I've got the five of clubs. I'm in!" Xie Tian pushed his chips forward as well.

This time, Xue Chen's visible card was the four of spades. Without saying anything, he tossed in his chips too. "Call!"

Chen Jiayao glanced at his cards, then threw them onto the table. "I won't be donating money to you guys."

When the fourth card came out, Xue Chen's visible cards showed a pair of aces, along with the four of spades and three of diamonds. Xie Tian had already folded, but when he saw Xue Chen calmly put in another hundred thousand, he suddenly grew nervous.

Only Qin Zhou and Xue Chen remained at the table. When the fifth card was dealt, Qin Zhou directly put two hundred thousand into the pot and nodded at Xue Chen.

"Call—" As he spoke, Xue Chen spread his hole cards, revealing three aces. Xie Tian's eyes widened beside him. "No wonder you were so calm. You had this all along."

"Looks like that trick doesn't work on you." Qin Zhou showed no frustration over losing. Instead, he smiled.

"Poker isn't just about skill. It's also about psychology. I happen to be someone with an extremely strong mindset." Xue Chen merely glanced at him before turning his attention back to the table.

"You won this round, but luck doesn't always follow one person." Qin Zhou shrugged.

"Of course." Yet as Xue Chen said it, he thought, Next time, you might not be so lucky as to lose only this much.

The clock on the wall ticked away. In the blink of an eye, they had reached the sixteenth hand. The dealer had already shuffled and begun dealing. Chips were piled high before Xue Chen, and Qin Zhou's side was much the same. Xie Tian had long since lost all his money and had become a spectator. The only people truly gambling at the table were Qin Zhou, Xue Chen, and Qi Si.

"This hand will decide whether it's fortune or disaster." Qin Zhou's words were rather cryptic, leaving everyone present confused. He simply flipped over his cards, revealing a straight flush without question.

"Damn! Lost again. My sports car's gone down the drain." Qi Si slumped into his chair, practically turning into a salted fish.

"It's your turn." Qin Zhou looked at Xue Chen with eager anticipation in his eyes. He had begun treating Xue Chen as a true opponent.

"Sorry, I also have a straight flush, but mine happens to be a little higher than yours." Xue Chen revealed his final hole card.

"Wow! Ten, jack, queen, king, ace? Xue Chen, you're incredible!" Xie Tian stared wide-eyed at the hand before him, hardly daring to believe it.

"A bet is a bet. The cruise ship I keep at South Sea Bay is yours." Qin Zhou was truly convinced. Although he had lost Xue Chen a luxury cruise ship, this was the most satisfying loss he had ever experienced.

"I don't want the cruise ship. It would be more practical for you to give me cash instead." Xue Chen was telling the truth. At this stage, he could not afford to maintain a cruise ship. Those things burned money.

"Heh, this is the first time I've seen someone choose money over a cruise ship. Are you that short on cash?" Qin Zhou asked curiously.

"I'm not short on cash. I'm very, very, very short on cash." Xue Chen's expression was exceedingly grave.

"Um, Xue Chen, did you come to the He Household's casino just to make money?" Seeing the serious look on Xue Chen's face, Xie Tian cautiously asked.

"Mm!" Xue Chen nodded very seriously.

Pfft—! Qi Si, who had been drinking tea nearby, sprayed every mouthful out. "You really dare to say that? Even if you win the money you need, do you think the casino people will let you leave?"