Old Yang lost, stopping in the final four and getting eliminated.
Yet the moment he stepped down from the gambling table, he felt utterly relieved, comfortable from head to toe.
He never wondered whether, with his luck today, he might have won it all if he had made the final, nor did he regret giving Old Liu over two hundred thousand in chips at the end.
When both feet landed firmly on the steps leading down, he knew his life was safe, his limbs were safe, and the chips and Star Source he had spent twenty grueling days accumulating were safe. He would never agonize over gains and losses again, nor would he ever suffer another mental breakdown...
When the countdown here ended, he would return home safely, and life would go on as before. His wife and child would be waiting, along with a table of simple dishes and a little liquor.
Nothing could have felt more reassuring, more comfortable...
Below the stage, a group of players on fairly good terms with Old Yang gathered around him.
"Holy shit, I never saw that coming. I only told you to give it a try. Who knew you'd almost make the final?"
"That was incredible. How did you do it?" the middle-aged man asked in disbelief.
"...I didn't really do anything. Just kept drawing three of a kind." Old Yang answered honestly, then smiled and pointed toward the restroom. "Can't hold it. I was nervous the whole time and drank too much water. I'm off to the restroom."
With that, he passed through the crowd and saw Ren Ye standing near the outside, cupping his hands toward him.
Old Yang said nothing more. He merely smiled and nodded at him, then headed to the restroom with his legs squeezed together.
"The