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For the next few days, Ye Xingzhou, who claimed to be here on business, didn't do a single legitimate thing.
He just spent every day with Qi Xing as they wandered through the casinos while throwing money around lavishly.
From the simplest slot machines, roulette, and even-odd bets, to blackjack, Texas Hold'em, and baccarat.
Qi Xing was surprised to discover that Ye Xingzhou, who usually seemed serious, was actually more at home in these casinos than he was.
He was like a fish in water.
At first, it was just a small gamble but later, the amount of money they were putting down grew larger and larger, until they were invited to the VIP room upstairs.
"What are you actually here for? Didn't you say you were here to talk business? Is this how you talk about business?"
Qi Xing asked casually as they entered.
It had been several days, and this jerk still wasn't done playing?
Ye Xingzhou took two drinks from a tray held by a passing waiter and handed one to him: "I'm here to talk business."
Qi Xing: "Here?"
Ye Xingzhou casually explained, "I made an appointment with the other party but they wouldn't show up. I could only come here to try my luck. This casino, and the auction house before, are owned by the same person. The person I'm looking for is him."
Qi Xing: "……You spent almost two hundred million to buy that ruby, and it was all for another purpose?"
He thought it was a special gift for him.
Ye Xingzhou glanced at him: "Do you think I really have that much money to burn?"
Qi Xing: "Well, who knows."
Okay, he knew it was unlikely. He probably just wanted to give it to him as a gift and at the same time, attract the other party's attention.
Qi Xing was happy again after figuring it out.
He asked him, "What kind of business are you talking about?"
"The money Ye Wanyao brought back from overseas, besides the part he got from selling his assets here, the other half was provided by this guy. Since he's targeting the Ye family, then I'm giving him a chance. It's better to cooperate with me than with Ye Wanyao because Ye Wanyao's good days are over." Ye Xingzhou said calmly.
It turned out to be another internal struggle within the Ye family.
Qi Xing wasn't interested in this, so his eyes scanned the surroundings, "Let's go to the table."
He wouldn't brag about anything else but when it came to playing cards, no matter what the game, he wasn't afraid.
When they sat down at the table, Ye Xingzhou reached out and pulled Qi Xing's waist and directly made him sit on his lap.
People around them all looked over.
But they didn't shy away from it.
Ye Xingzhou leisurely lit a cigarette with his hair messy, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, no tie and no glasses.
This look was completely different from his public image, but it fit in perfectly with the atmosphere of this place.
He was like a real old gambler as he casually stared at the table while puffing on his cigarette.
Qi Xing snatched the cigarette from him and put it in his own mouth. He grin as he waited for the dealer to deal the cards.
And they won the first hand.
They bet a thousand chips to play blackjack, a small test.
The two cards they got were a four and a seven. After glancing at the dealer's face-up card, Qi Xing directly chose to double down.
The third card flipped over, and it was indeed a face card.
He happily put the chips he won back in his pocket while beaming. Ye Xingzhou reached out and gently squeezed his waist.
It continued like that.
They stayed there without sleep, for a whole day and night.
The chips in front of Qi Xing gradually piled up into a mountain, and more and more onlookers gathered around.
Whether it was Qi Xing's luck or Ye Xingzhou's luck, they won eight out of ten hands.
Without calculating, they had already won millions of dollars.
Qi Xing yawned as he chewed his gum, and made small talk with Ye Xingzhou during the dealing, "Do you think they'll suspect we're cheating? If we stay here for a few more days, can we win back the money we spent on that ruby?"
Ye Xingzhou put his hand on his back and gently stroked it, "Tired?"
Qi Xing's face did show signs of fatigue, but his eyes were still bright: "I'm tired, but it's worth it after winning so much money."
Ye Xingzhou reminded him, "A little gambling is fine."
Qi Xing "tsk tsk"
This was consider a small gamble? As if he didn't know who it was who didn't even blink an eye when throwing chips.
"Let's stop here." Ye Xingzhou glanced at the pile of chips in front of them but not interested in counting them.
He just directly called someone to help them exchange them.
They were at their peak of luck.
They played baccarat and won more than ten hands in a row. There were many onlookers cheering them on, many of whom were probably the casino's shills.
Other people would probably have gotten carried away and bet more and more, then waited for the tide to turn and lost everything in an instant.
This kind of routine wasn't new in this place.
But someone like Ye Xingzhou, unless he wanted to give money away, no one could take advantage of him. So when he said he was leaving, he left without any hesitation.
Qi Xing didn't mind either. He had enough to buy a top-of-the-line sports car with the money he won. There was no need to keep going.
While waiting for the money to be exchanged in the lounge, a man in a suit came over and politely told Ye Xingzhou that his boss wanted to see him.
Qi Xing laughed and teased Ye Xingzhou, "The other party is finally willing to show up, huh? They're afraid you're too troublesome and are even more afraid that you'll come here every day to win their money, right?"
"Thanks to you." Ye Xingzhou stood up but seeing that Qi Xing wasn't going with him, he said, "You're not coming?"
"No." Qi Xing slumped back on the sofa. Clearly not wanting to move. "You go. Besides, it has nothing to do with me and I'm not interested in listening."
Ye Xingzhou instructed him, "Stay here and don't go outside. I'll have someone to follow you."
Qi Xing closed his eyes and waved his hand: "Got it, Daddy."
Ye Xingzhou left two of the three bodyguards who came with him.
Qi Xing closed his eyes and rested for a while, but he couldn't sleep in this place. He got up and went downstairs to play the slot machines again.
But it wasn't interesting.
After playing for a whole day and night, his eyelids were heavy, let alone the fact that Ye Xingzhou wasn't here, and there were two bodyguards behind him, watching him every step of the way.
"Do you guys want to play?" He was so bored that he even tried to make small talk with the bodyguards behind him. "I'll give you chips to play, do you want?"
The bodyguards stood still and just shook their heads slightly with a look of unwavering duty.
Qi Xing felt even more bored.
The murky air in the casino made him feel uncomfortable.
He wanted to go outside for some fresh air but the bodyguards behind him spoke up to remind him, "Young Master Qi, Young Master Ye said you should stay here and don't go outside."
Qi Xing was impatient, "I'm not going far. I just want to go out for some air."
This was the most bustling and lively area in the city center, and it was broad daylight.
So, what could possibly happen?
Across the street from the casino was a row of sidewalk cafes. Qi Xing went over and picked a random table to sit down. He ordered a cup of coffee and took a few sips and finally felt a bit more awake.
He squinted his eyes and looked at the pigeons foraging on the sidewalk for a moment.
His vision flickered, and he suddenly saw a familiar face.
He thought he was seeing things.
The other person also saw him. That person hesitated for a moment, but still came over to greet him.
It was indeed Lin Zhinian.
"Teacher Lin, what are you doing here? Sit down." Qi Xing gestured to him.
Lin Zhinian sat down and also ordered a cup of coffee.
He explained that he was invited to an art exhibition here and the exhibition hall was nearby, "I didn't expect to run into Young Master Qi here. I saw the news about your company going public here. Congratulations."
Qi Xing said lazily, "Thanks."
Lin Zhinian nodded and took a sip of coffee before continuing, "Actually, I should be the one thanking you. Your eight million helped me a lot because it really saved me from a difficult situation. Because of what happened before, I was too stubborn and lost my composure that the things I said were offensive, I hope Young Master Qi won't take it to heart."
Qi Xing was surprised: "Teacher Lin, are you being sincere?"
Lin Zhinian said with self-deprecation, "To be honest, it's not easy to say that I've completely let go, but I can only do this."
He sighed, "Young Master Qi, you're here with Ye Xingzhou, right?"
Qi Xing raised an eyebrow: "How do you know?"
"His bodyguards, they've been watching us warily till now." Lin Zhinian pointed at the people standing on the sidewalk. "Those are Ye Xingzhou's bodyguards, right?"
Qi Xing didn't deny it.
Seeing the two of them standing stiffly like door gods on the busy street and attracting more people passing by to look at them intentionally or unintentionally, he couldn't stand it anymore.
He waved to them and gestured to the one on the left, "Yesterday, I saw a cake shop on the next street with a lot of people queuing up. Go buy me two pieces to try."
Then he gestured to the one on the right: "You go back to the casino and keep an eye out. Contact me if Ye Xingzhou comes out. He shouldn't be talking to people for too long."
The bodyguards looked hesitant: "Young Master Qi, at least leave one of us here. Otherwise, Young Master Ye will know and deduct our wages."
"Go." Qi Xing waved them away. "You're standing here and I can't even drink coffee comfortably. I'm not going anywhere else and just sit here. If Ye Xingzhou hasn't come out after I finish my coffee, I'll go back to the casino."
The bodyguards still didn't want to leave but Qi Xing insisted, so they had to listen to him.
Finally getting rid of them, Qi Xing said to Lin Zhinian across from him, "I don't want them following me either. It's annoying."
"Ye Xingzhou really cares about you that he even sent people to follow you."
As he said this, Lin Zhinian suddenly realized that Ye Xingzhou really didn't care about him anymore.
That's why when his studio was targeted and he called for help, Ye Xingzhou was so calm that it even felt cold.
It was only after this Young Master Qi urged him that he finally agreed to go.
The difference between caring and not caring is like heaven and earth.
Qi Xing didn't care, "He's just overreacting."
Lin Zhinian put his thoughts aside and asked him, "Are you two here to play?"
Qi Xing said nonchalantly, "I came here to marry him."
Lin Zhinian was surprised at first, then he understood.
There was a fleeting sadness in his lowered eyes, but he still said softly: "That's great. Congratulations."
After a moment of silence, he continued, "I didn't expect you two to get to this point, and so quickly."
Qi Xing smiled, "I didn't expect it either."
Actually, they hadn't reached that point yet. He just didn't want this Teacher Lin to have even a shred of hope left. It would be best if he could completely give up.
"If I knew," Lin Zhi Nian said casually after regaining his composure. "I should have agreed to you chasing me back then. In the end, the dinner date we agreed on never happened."
Qi Xing laughed, "I wanted to chase you back then, but Ye Xingzhou said we weren't suitable. Do you know why we're not suitable?"
Lin Zhinian looked at him in confusion.
Qi Xing: "Think about it."
Lin Zhinian stared at his face, which was exceptionally flamboyant and dazzling.
This Young Master's appearance, he could even say it was the best he had ever seen.
No wonder Ye Xingzhou would be attracted to him.
And meeting Qi Xing's smiling peach blossom eyes, Lin Zhinian inexplicably felt his ears start to burn. Suddenly, as if he had a sudden realization, he understood.
"…Young Master Qi is joking."
Qi Xing, "Finally figured it out?"
Lin Zhinian nodded and smiled, "If it were Young Master Qi, I might think the same way as Ye Xingzhou."
Qi Xing was taken aback by his retort and felt a little speechless: "You have to have the ability to do that. I can't beat Ye Xingzhou, but you're not the kind of person who would fight at all. How could you take advantage of me."
Lin Zhinian was speechless.
He laughed then sighed: "I was just kidding."
They finished a cup of coffee together.
Qi Xing put down the empty cup before looking at his watch and was about to leave.
Just as he was about to get up, a jeep parked on the side of the road and the loud braking sound startled the pigeons that had been leisurely strolling.
Three tall and strong men got out of the car.
The one in the lead walked to their table while holding a photo in his hand. He looked back and forth between the photo and Lin Zhinian before gesturing to the other man behind him, "It's him."
They muttered something in English that was so fast that neither Lin Zhinian nor Qi Xing could understand. Qi Xing just frowned, and the other party had already put a hand on Lin Zhinian's shoulder.
Lin Zhinian immediately became alert and tried to struggle: "Who are you? What are you doing?"
Unfortunately, he was no match for the other party in terms of size and strength. He was lifted up with one hand and dragged towards the car.
Qi Xing also stood up and took a step forward, "Hey! What are you doing?!"
The tall black man at the back turned around before looking at him, up and down, and warned him: "Kid, don't try to get involved if you don't want to get hurt."
Lin Zhinian had already been shoved into the car.
Qi Xing hesitated.
He wasn't stupid enough to rush in and save him, and he wouldn't be able to save him anyway. But watching these people abduct someone right in front of him and not doing anything was not his style.
He spotted armed patrol police across the street. Qi Xing shouted loudly, and the black man turned his head and saw the police coming over.
He cursed a few swear words as he seemed to be angered by Qi Xing's actions that he turned back and grabbed him forcefully.
Qi Xing was caught off guard and was hit on the back of the neck by the other party. This blow was so hard that he was dizzy and almost fell to the ground.
When he came to his senses, he had already been pushed into the car. The black man who followed pushed him again. Qi Xing was pushed back against Lin Zhinian, who was already scared out of his wits.
The car door slammed shut.
He struggled to sit up, and a black gun barrel was pressed against his temple. The grumpy black man yelled at him, "Behave yourself!"
The police behind the car chased after them for a few steps while panting and stopping after a while.
The jeep sped away.
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