Two sixes

Everyone turned their gaze to Jun Wangchen. The young man had claimed he could determine the numbers on the dice just by listening. After Qin Shou's dazzling display of dice shaking, could he still perform as well as before?

At that moment, many people held their breath, eager to find out whether Jun Wangchen's explanation was true.

Wang Nuli was deeply anxious. He believed Jun Wangchen hadn't bribed the dealer, but found it hard to believe that Jun Wangchen could actually determine the numbers on the dice by listening.

In their three years at university, he had never seen Jun Wangchen touch dice even once. In fact, Jun Wangchen rarely even played cards.

Under these circumstances, he simply couldn't believe Jun Wangchen would successfully prove his innocence.

Xiao Mei, the dealer, was worried too. She hoped Jun Wangchen could identify the numbers on the dice and clear her name, but feared his earlier explanation had merely been an excuse made under pressure. After all, very few people could determine the numbers on dice just by listening.

Looking at the calm-faced Jun Wangchen in the middle of the crowd, Yang Qiang frowned.

As far as he was concerned, inviting someone to test his ability to identify the numbers on dice by sound was a terrible decision on Jun Wangchen's part.

After all, even the best could make mistakes. If Jun Wangchen failed to identify the numbers on the dice, then even if he truly hadn't bribed the dealer, this deadlock would leave everyone convinced he had rigged the game.

In other words, this dice-shaking test was fundamentally unfair to Jun Wangchen.

While thoughts raced through the minds of those around him, Jun Wangchen shifted his eyes and considered for a moment. Then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he suggested to Qin Shou, "I don't think a simple test is much fun. How about we add some stakes while we're at it?"

"Stakes?" Seeing how certain Jun Wangchen looked of victory, Qin Shou gave an amused smile and asked, "What sort of stakes?"

Jun Wangchen smiled bashfully and gave a dry cough. "You don't look short of money. How about this? While we're testing whether I bribed the dealer, let's wager two hundred thousand yuan."

"If I win, you pay me two hundred thousand on the spot. If you win, I pay you two hundred thousand on the spot. No IOUs. What do you say?"

"Whoa!" The surrounding students cried out in shock at Jun Wangchen's words.

Most of these students came from ordinary families. Even those who were a little better off only received four or five thousand yuan a month for living expenses. Jun Wangchen's two-hundred-thousand-yuan wager was an enormous gamble.

Judging by Jun Wangchen's outfit, his clothes were far from luxurious. Clearly, he wasn't wealthy.

So what gave him the confidence that he could produce two hundred thousand if he lost?

Wang Nuli and the others were also stunned. Two hundred thousand yuan was no small sum for an ordinary family.

Although Wang Nuli knew Jun Wangchen had received two hundred thousand yuan from Brother Kai as compensation at the Blue Night Charm Bar that morning and now had plenty of money, staking the entire amount so readily was extravagant and risky.

Besides, this test was only meant to prove whether Jun Wangchen had bribed the dealer. In other words, Jun Wangchen had absolutely no need to wager money and risk losing it.

Beside them, Qiu Ya let out a shrill laugh as soon as Jun Wangchen finished speaking. "You're killing me! Jun Wangchen, I honestly don't understand. A pauper like you who never knows where his next meal is coming from, with a mother who works herself to death sweeping streets every day—your family probably doesn't even have fifty thousand yuan in savings."

"With a background like yours, you actually dare to bet two hundred thousand against Qin Shou? Should I call you poor but bold, or say you have no idea of your own limits?"

Everyone frowned at her words, and some even showed traces of anger.

If Jun Wangchen's family were well off, they would have had nothing to say about his two-hundred-thousand-yuan wager. But his family's circumstances were far from good; even basic necessities were a struggle.

For Jun Wangchen to declare such a wager despite his family's hardships was utterly unfilial and foolish beyond belief.

"If I dare to make the bet, naturally, I have the money." Jun Wangchen tuned out Qiu Ya's mockery as though filtering it through a system. Looking at Qin Shou, he calmly asked, "With so many witnesses, you don't have to worry about me refusing to pay. Well? Do you have the guts to bet against me?"

Seeing Jun Wangchen's confidence, Qin Shou pondered for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Excellent. I really like that attitude of yours. I accept the bet."

He had worked at his cousin's casino for several months. During that time, he had witnessed many novel things and learned plenty of gambling techniques from his cousin, covering games such as Double Color Ball, Blackjack, and poker. Of all these, dice shaking was his specialty.

Although he wasn't particularly skilled at identifying dice by sound, his ability to shake numbers that his opponent couldn't guess was exceptional.

Glancing at Qin Shou's triumphant expression, Qiu Ya quietly smiled.

Perhaps Qin Shou's gambling skills were nothing compared with his cousin's, but in an ordinary casino, he already ranked as an expert.

She had seen Qin Shou compete against skilled gamblers at casinos. His sleight of hand when stealing cards was too fast to follow, and his cheating was so undetectable that his opponents had been driven to despair time and again.

Although Jun Wangchen had performed impressively in the earlier dice games, he still fell short against a seasoned gambling expert like Qin Shou.

Yang Qiang frowned beside them. Jinling University explicitly prohibited students from gambling on campus, and anyone who violated that rule would be handed over to campus security.

He had intended to stop their wager, but the eager expressions of the spectators made him swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.

Truthfully, while he appeared to be the Student Union president, he was really just a puppet of the university. Jinling University had far too many wealthy students. If he angered them, there was no telling how they might destroy him behind the scenes.

Under these circumstances, remaining neutral was perhaps his best option.

"Now that we've agreed on the terms, tell us the numbers on the dice." Holding a cigarette, Qin Shou gestured toward the dice on the square table and gave Jun Wangchen a teasing smile.

Everyone turned to Jun Wangchen. He shrugged and said calmly, "The dice this round are two sixes."

Qin Shou's pupils contracted. As the one shaking the dice, he could produce whatever numbers he wanted. The dice inside the cup were indeed two sixes. That meant Jun Wangchen really could identify them by sound.

However, even if Jun Wangchen could hear the numbers, it would do him no good. His cousin had long since taught him how to change the dice the instant he lifted the cup.

Jun Wangchen, I admit you have some gambling skills. Unfortunately, today you're up against me. Qin Shou sneered inwardly, but asked with outward courtesy, "You're certain the dice are two sixes?"

Jun Wangchen nodded slightly. "Certain."

"All right. Since you've made your choice, let's—"

"Wait!" Just as Qin Shou was about to lift the cup, Jun Wangchen suddenly raised a hand to stop him.

Qin Shou frowned. "What now?"

"If I win, can you actually produce two hundred thousand on the spot?" Jun Wangchen's eyes shifted as he gestured toward Qin Shou.

Qin Shou gave a faint smile. "My family may not be particularly distinguished, but I still receive five or six hundred thousand a month for living expenses. Two hundred thousand is only a few days' worth of drinks for me."

The onlookers were filled with envy. Didn't a monthly allowance of five hundred thousand mean Qin Shou's family earned at least ten million a year?

"Then put the two hundred thousand down first. If you shamelessly refuse to pay afterward, wouldn't I get completely screwed?" Jun Wangchen made a gesture for him to take out the money.

Qin Shou frowned. Though he found Jun Wangchen irritating, he still had Qiu Ya take out a bank card and place it on the gambling table.

"There's two hundred thousand on this card. The PIN is six zeros. If you win, it's all yours!"

"You certainly are generous, Young Master Qin. All right, let's lift the cup. That two-hundred-thousand-yuan gift is far too tempting." Jun Wangchen cupped his hands in acknowledgment, his gaze burning with eagerness.

A gentleman loves money but earns it honestly. Only an idiot would pass up a bargain!

Hearing Jun Wangchen's confident words, Qin Shou's inward sneer deepened, and a faint mocking smile appeared on Qiu Ya's face.

Jun Wangchen was far too confident. Against an ordinary dealer, he might have had a chance, but she had witnessed Qin Shou's gambling skills firsthand. If he could let Jun Wangchen win so easily, why would he put up two hundred thousand?

Wang Nuli looked extremely grave. The more confident Jun Wangchen appeared, the more he worried that Jun Wangchen was recklessly throwing caution to the wind.

The beautiful girl watching this scene shook her head. Jun Wangchen was too arrogant. Even with luck on his side, that disposition would greatly reduce his chances of success.

The spectators said nothing more. As far as they were concerned, whether Jun Wangchen was confident or arrogant would depend on the result.

"Jun Wangchen, I have to say, you're very confident. But today, you're destined to lose!" Qin Shou glanced at Jun Wangchen and sneered. His hand flicked against the Dice Cup, deftly shifting the dice inside, before he lifted it.

As long as he changed the numbers, whatever the dice ultimately showed, Jun Wangchen would lose.

The instant he lifted the cup, Qin Shou could already imagine Jun Wangchen's expression. It would probably be filled with endless regret, wouldn't it?

Yet after the Dice Cup was lifted, the entire room fell strangely silent.

"Hm?"

The silence made Qin Shou pause. When he caught the revealed dice out of the corner of his eye, his eye twitched, and his expression turned exceptionally ugly.

The numbers hadn't changed as he had expected. The final result... was still two sixes!