Chapter 457
A group of people, led by Zhong Boyu, headed towards the casino after finishing their meal.
As soon as they entered the casino, Yu Xia clung tightly to Lin Mengyao for safety, her eyes, like black jade, curiously and awe-struck examining everything inside.
The casino looked like a giant palace, crowded with people who waved chips in their hands, watching the gambling tables with flushed faces. The atmosphere was noisy and smoky, while bunny girls with rabbit ears flaunted their long legs and snowy white backs as they walked among the guests. Some winning guests would use a finger to flick open the bunny girl’s outfit and toss their chips inside as a reward.
Besides the bunny girls, there were cat girls equipped with cat ears and jingling bells, but whether it was the cat girls or bunny girls, all of them were attractive.
Apart from these, every gambling table had a croupier dressed in a tailcoat. Their faces were stern as they swiftly managed their tables, watching the gamblers indifferently, like the contrast between a room heated by a dragon and the cold wind and snow outside, a polarizing comparison.
The enthusiasm excited in Yu Xia by the gamblers started to cool under the croupier’s indifferent gaze.
“Won’t having such aloof people as croupiers drive the customers away? Just seeing their serious faces sends a chill through me,” Yu Xia whispered, and Zhong Boyu heard her clearly.
“It’s only a kid like you who feels cold around them. The gamblers here don’t find the croupiers cold; to them, the croupiers are much more charming than these bunny and cat girls. These croupiers are like walking potions; once the gamblers see them, their minds get muddled and their blood starts to boil,” Zhong Boyu said with a smile that carried a hint of something indescribable, his eyes deeply observing everything in the casino, as if he had erected a barrier, separating himself from it all.
But when he came back to reality, the barrier seemed to disappear, and it was as if everything was just an illusion.
Yu Xia blinked, curiously glancing at Zhong Boyu, puzzled about his sudden change of mood. However, her curiosity didn’t last long as she didn’t enjoy probing into others’ secrets, much like she disliked anyone prying into her own. Although her past wounds had healed, tearing them open would still hurt, so Yu Xia withdrew her gaze and continued marveling at everything in the casino.
Seeing Yu Xia’s eyes roving around incessantly, Zhong Boyu’s expression turned serious, “Here you just watch, don’t get involved, not a single round, understand?”
Yu Xia, intimidated by Zhong Boyu’s stern warning, cast a timid glance at him and reined in her roving gaze, standing obediently beside Lin Mengyao, as delicate as a doll.
“Come on, Brother Xu, let me show you around my casino.” Zhong Boyu relaxedly draped an arm over Xu Ke’s shoulder, sounding both at ease and slightly proud.
Xu Ke nodded; indeed, the place had changed a lot from a few years ago.
When they had just begun walking, a man with a pencil mustache approached Zhong Boyu, his face gloomy, and whispered something in his ear. No one else could hear what the man said, but they could see Zhong Boyu’s face growing darker and darker until it became as dark as the bottom of a pot.
“What’s wrong, why the long face?” Xu Ke asked.
Zhong Boyu roughly rubbed his handsome face and with a blackened expression said to Xu Ke, “Brother Xu, there’s a bit of trouble at my place, I might need to trouble you to handle it.”
“A guy named Ye Yuan somehow brought in a skilled gambler who defeated all my resident champions. The lost money is secondary; the main problem is it’s causing a huge commotion. If we don’t stop him, my casino will become a joke, and I’ll have to go out with a mask on my face,” Zhong Boyu said, with a bitter smile.
“Alright, let’s see what kind of challenge he poses.” Xu Ke said, patting Zhong Boyu’s shoulder.
Seeing Xu Ke agree to help, Zhong Boyu’s face brightened with a smile, dispelling his previously dejected look.
Due to the opponent’s impressive gambling skills and the stakes getting higher, the gambling venue had moved from the main hall to a slightly smaller room. Unlike the outside, the atmosphere here was calm like an upscale restaurant, with tables beside each gambling table, offering food, exquisite snacks, and even meal orders according to personal taste, showcasing a very attentive service.
“Is that person you’re talking about ever going to show up? I’ve been waiting here forever. It’s annoying, you know? If they don’t arrive soon, I’ll be leaving.” spoke a young man. He used a table meant for food to prop his legs, with a ladies’ cigarette dangling from his lips as he spoke, exhaling smoke, looking totally nonchalant.
“Wait a bit, wait a bit, I’ve heard this too many times. Tell me, do you have anyone who can stand up to me? If no one shows up, I suggest you close the casino down. I’m giving you five more minutes, if no one is here by then, I’m leaving, and I might even announce your casino’s closure,” the man taunted inversely, his eyes bearing a threat.
Feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on him in the room, the attendee grew tense, not knowing he was starting to sweat on his forehead.
“Please be assured, they’ll be here shortly, it won’t take five minutes,” the attendant replied with a forced smile, the sweat now dribbling down his forehead, gathering on his eyelashes, threatening to drip into his eyes. Just then, footsteps echoed from the doorway.
Four people entered, two men, and two women, with three wearing masks, only Zhong Boyu revealing his face to the air.
The man raised an eyebrow at the oddly dressed trio, coldly mocking, “Why are you wearing masks in this age? Ugly or hiding something?”
“Why so much chatter? Are you gambling or not? My time is limited. If you’re not going to gamble, get out; I’m busy,” Xu Ke rebuffed, countering the man’s earlier disdain for the attendant.
The man’s expression twisted almost instantly.