On the way to the casino, it was already seven o’clock in the evening.
Night had fallen. The streetlamps lining both sides of the road began to flicker on. As the car moved along the street, Shen Yi’s gaze remained fixed on Rong Qian the entire time.
Shen Yi had rarely seen her wear a dress, and he never knew that a casual outfit could make her so breathtakingly stunning.
She was better suited to red than anyone else. That vivid red gown looked anything but vulgar on her — if anything, it made her appear all the more refined and noble.
Her long hair had been swept up, revealing a slender, fair neck. With earrings and a jeweled necklace added, her entire bearing transformed in an instant.
The Rong Qian before him now bore none of her usual sharp, capable air. Instead, she radiated a quality that was noble and elegant — like the daughter of a distinguished family, untouched by the dust of the ordinary world.
According to Xu Mo, she had put together both the makeup and the outfit entirely on her own.
The moment she walked out of the room, even Xu Mo had been left dumbstruck.
The car window was down, letting the outside breeze rush in. Rong Qian gazed out the window and, with a casual, graceful motion, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
In the warm amber light of the car’s interior, veiled in the soft ambiguity of the night, she was bathed in shifting light and shadow — both sensual and alluring.
Just as Shen Yi was almost completely lost in the moment, unable to pull himself back, Rong Qian suddenly spun around, leaned right up to his face, and said with a shameless grin: “So? Have I mastered the refined, ladylike vibe? Doesn’t it look convincing?”
Shen Yi: “……”
Well. Whatever atmosphere had been building — it shattered instantly.
Rong Qian performed an exaggerated, affected hair toss, then batted her eyes at him flirtatiously and blew him a kiss — the very picture of theatrical over-the-top coquetry.
And yet, despite himself, Shen Yi couldn’t help laughing, charmed by her all the same.
As it turned out — when you’re smitten with someone, everything they do becomes endearing, no matter what it is.
Rong Qian, for her part, quietly let out a breath of relief.
His gaze just now had nearly suffocated her. Those burning, hungry eyes — so full of pressure, so restrained and yet so full of a predatory, encroaching intent.
She had felt as though she were completely bare before him, every inch of her swept over by his gaze. It was becoming too much to withstand.
To cut her losses before things went further, she had rushed to divert his attention.
After that, neither of them spoke for the rest of the ride.
When they arrived at the casino, Shen Yi, ever the gentleman, took Rong Qian’s hand as she stepped out of the car. For this outing, he had brought along Rong Qian and Xu Mo, as well as four bodyguards including Zhang Jin.
Entering the casino, Shen Yi led the way at the front. Rong Qian and Xu Mo flanked him on either side, and the bodyguards followed at the rear. Together, their presence was no less commanding than anything they might face inside.
The casino was enormous. The ground floor was the main gaming hall — slot machines lined the walls on either side, while the central floor was arranged with numerous round tables, each staffed by a female croupier. Since it was still early, the crowd was sparse.
After passing through multiple security checkpoints, they were met by He Ji’cheng, who had come out to greet them.
Following brief pleasantries, He Ji’cheng’s gaze settled on Rong Qian. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes before he offered a compliment, then turned and walked ahead to lead them forward.
It was the kind of detail most people would have missed — but it did not escape the eyes of either Shen Yi or Rong Qian.
The two exchanged a glance, said nothing, and followed him in.
He Ji’cheng led them upstairs. The second floor was also a gaming area, with booth seating added and noticeably higher prices. The third floor housed private rooms and VIP reception suites.
The room He Ji’cheng brought them to was one of those VIP suites.
The bodyguards standing on either side of the entrance simultaneously gripped the door handles and pushed the double doors open — as if a camera were slowly zooming in — revealing an opulently decorated, jewel-adorned VIP lounge in all its splendor.
And there, seated on the sofa, was an elderly man resting on a walking cane, dressed in a Zhongshan suit and wearing gold-rimmed reading glasses.
This was Yao Zhengxing — the legendary Casino King.
The moment Shen Yi’s party entered, the bodyguards at the door immediately pulled the doors shut — and locked them.
Rong Qian raised an eyebrow. Locking the door — were they afraid their guests would make a run for it?
After He Ji’cheng invited Shen Yi to take a seat on the sofa across from Yao Zhengxing, He Ji’cheng himself moved to stand behind the old man with the others in tow, the assembled bodyguards forming an atmosphere thick with pressure.
Watching this scene unfold, Rong Qian thought that Yao Zhengxing looked less like a Casino King and more like a crime boss.
And the atmosphere — once Shen Yi sat down — felt even more like a standoff between rival gang lords before a confrontation.
To bolster Shen Yi’s presence, Rong Qian, Xu Mo, and the others all stood behind him as well, their combined bearing holding its own against the opposing side without yielding an inch.
Yao Zhengxing cast a sidelong glance at Rong Qian, then curled his lip and turned to face Shen Yi with a somber expression. “Do you know what happens to people who reject my daughter?”
“I’d very much like to hear it.” Shen Yi smiled slightly, his expression entirely composed.
Yao Zhengxing, however, had no patience for pleasantries. “No one has ever dared challenge my authority. You’re the first,” he said coldly. “You came here today — give me an explanation, or don’t expect to walk out.”
With that, Yao Zhengxing produced a pistol and set it on the table.
“A gun!” Xu Mo exclaimed in shock, his face draining of color.
Rong Qian merely narrowed her eyes slightly. This Yao Zhengxing — he really did operate like a crime lord. In all likelihood, that’s exactly what he was.
Shen Yi, meanwhile, remained completely unfazed. He didn’t even blink.
“There is one bullet.” Yao Zhengxing placed the bullet beside the gun and fixed Shen Yi with a sharp, hawkish stare. He spoke slowly. “I want to make a bet with you. We will gamble on whose forehead this bullet lands on in the end.”
The meaning was simple. Load the bullet into the chamber, take turns firing — and gamble on whose head it finds. Win, and you get to leave.
Of course, whether you walk out or get carried out — that was the variable.
“Isn’t it a bit unfair to stake Yao’s life against mine?” Shen Yi replied with courteous modesty. “If something happens to me, that’s one matter. But you, Yao — that would be an entirely different situation.”
Yao Zhengxing was too impatient for roundabout diplomatic talk. “Never mind what I think. I want to make this bet, and that’s that!”
He picked up the gun and tossed it to Shen Yi. Shen Yi caught it with one hand and, holding it in his palm, looked it over with complete ease.
“I’m giving you the right to load the bullet,” Yao Zhengxing said. “Now. I’m betting you take the hit. Begin!”
“Since you insist, then — very well.” Shen Yi accepted without further argument, utterly calm and composed, as though the prospect held no fear for him whatsoever.
He Ji’cheng was somewhat taken aback by Shen Yi’s manner. The man was barely past twenty — yet the force of character he projected was matchless, well beyond what He Ji’cheng had anticipated.
“Wait.”
Just as Shen Yi was about to load the bullet, Rong Qian spoke up.
Shen Yi paused what he was doing and turned to look at her. Her lips carried an easy smile as she addressed Yao Zhengxing. “I’d like to ask — who fires the first shot?”
“Does it matter who fires first?” Yao Zhengxing didn’t spare her a proper look.
Rong Qian’s smile deepened with quiet meaning. “It matters to me. And it also determines who our Shen Yi bets will take the hit.”