This time, I didn't use high-end cheating techniques to conceal my actions as I usually would.
Instead, I deliberately left a flaw.
Of course, the flaw I'm referring to isn't in the cheating method itself, but rather in the cards!
Simply put, the cards were exposed!
And Zheng Xinyi definitely knew the value of the exposed card!
The dealer could only reveal one card first, with the other hidden until the player stopped.
The card I exposed to the cameras behind me, so that the casino monitoring room could secretly inform Zheng Xinyi, was that hidden card.
This move is called "Zhe Hua Shou," taken from the saying "When flowers bloom, pluck them if you can"!
The core of "Zhe Hua" lies in the word "Zhe" (to fold or break).
If I were to perform this move at my peak, the visual effect would be akin to...
In major magic shows, magicians often show the audience four cards of different suits and values.
Then, the magician gently folds the corner of each card, and the cards in his hand instantly transform into a visually striking single suit!
Either hearts or spades.
In reality, the folding technique used by magicians to create a single suit doesn't employ the true "Zhe Hua Shou" but rather relies on sleight of hand.
The genuine "Zhe Hua Shou," when performed by an average cheat, would only involve folding a single card.
To fold two cards simultaneously requires a cheat who is naturally adept with both hands.
And I can fold two cards!
With my current level of cheating skill, I could easily fold two cards, but in a precarious situation, I wouldn't easily reveal my secrets.
Therefore, I only folded the suit of one card, altering its value.
And at the moment of folding, I deliberately made my hand tremble, ensuring the high-definition cameras behind the wall captured the scene.
The reason I intentionally exposed this flaw wasn't to have Zheng Xinyi call me out and then employ the "no trace left behind" tactic.
It was after seeing her return from her conversation with Liu Xiang, her previously high ponytail now let down over her shoulders, and the cameras around the gambling table had adjusted several times.
Combined with what was just said, I immediately understood her intentions.
I also knew clearly that Zheng Xinyi had something in her ear.
If my guess was correct, after Zheng Xinyi spoke with Liu Xiang and deduced I was a cheat, Liu Xiang must have immediately considered trying to recruit me.
Since he was willing to poach even a "salted fish" like a chip runner, there was no reason he would let a cheat like me go.
Thus, the two of them secretly conferred and formulated a plan.
My deliberate exposure of the flaw just now was to further test Zheng Xinyi.
And she, as I had predicted, did not call me out.
Because I had less than ninety thousand chips left, and a single hand could end my game. Whether she called me out or not was meaningless.
As long as she won this round, I would have to bow my head and accept defeat to save my own skin.
Thus, the previously stagnant and dangerous situation finally revealed a glimmer of hope!
As a cheat, the thing I fear most is having no value to be exploited.
As long as I still possess value that can be exploited, there are no such things as dead ends or dangerous situations.
Not only that, but I also predicted that Zheng Xinyi would definitely not use Blackjack for this doubled hand.
[PS: Feel free to search for Blackjack and doubling rules online. Don't just spray nonsense without understanding anything!]
...
As expected, after lightly brushing the hair near her right ear, a barely perceptible hint of smugness appeared on Zheng Xinyi's face.
Taking the cards from the dealer, Zheng Xinyi revealed her hand first.
A King, a Seven, totaling seventeen points.
According to the rules of Blackjack for dealers and players, the player can ask for another card.
Lighting a ladies' cigarette, she tapped the table casually and said slowly, "Hit me."
Although the playing cards were hidden in the card holder, I knew the dealer would give her a single four.
Seeing the dealer understand implicitly, one hand pretending to hold the card holder, the other preparing to draw a card from the hidden compartment to deal it...
Zheng Xinyi's red lips curved upwards, exuding an air of confident victory.
Just as she reached out to take the card, I suddenly let out an extremely loud sneeze.
"Achoo!!!"
Using the motion of covering my mouth to sneeze, I pressed the real hidden card against my palm and, at the instant the sneeze subsided, flicked the card from my fingertips.
The movements I made happened in a flash. Coupled with the fact that both the dealer and Zheng Xinyi were startled by the sneeze, and the latter was at the peak of her overconfidence, no one noticed the change at the table.
There's no need to elaborate on the card-flicking skill; I had already demonstrated it in Anhai before.
After practicing card-flicking with Shen Mengqing, I had achieved the current extreme in my control over distance, speed, and force.
Therefore, the card I flicked perfectly replaced the card the dealer was about to deal, and Zheng Xinyi received it.
And the moment she came to her senses, she eagerly revealed it.
A Jack of Spades!
Seventeen points plus a face card, Zheng Xinyi busted.
This scene caused Zheng Xinyi's eyes to widen as she looked at the dealer.
She seemed to not understand why the dealer had made a mistake and dealt her a card that caused her to bust so badly.
Even if there were more than one card hidden in the compartment, a professionally trained dealer should not have made such a basic error.
As for the dealer, the person involved, he was trembling with shock, his lips quivering uncontrollably.
Facing Zheng Xinyi's questioning and angry gaze, he desperately wanted to explain, but ultimately restrained himself and remained silent.
The dealer wasn't foolish. Since the grave mistake had been made, the only thing to do now was to announce the result.
Otherwise, where would the casino's credibility lie?
After all, there were still quite a few gamblers present.
With this thought, after a brief moment of silent pause, the dealer directly announced my victory.
With one exposed nine and one hidden eight, relying on the rule that the dealer's seventeen points could not be increased, I had thoroughly outmaneuvered Zheng Xinyi.
If she hadn't hit, with me as the dealer, both hands totaling seventeen points would have been a tie.
This outcome was something Zheng Xinyi did not wish for.
Previously, during the period of survival in the cracks, through a series of card handling, stealing, and returning, I was left with only one eight.
In a one-on-one duel, I had no opportunity to sneakily steal cards at the end of a hand.
Because there were only four or five cards on the table in total, stealing one would be discovered.
Originally, I thought this eight would likely be useless.
It wasn't until I saw my hidden card was a Jack of Spades that I took the actions I did earlier.