Pushing all the money back in front of Zhao Mingyue, I said in a deep voice, "Consider it a thank-you gift for taking me to the birthday banquet two months from now."
Upon hearing my words, Zhao Mingyue's expression faltered slightly.
Shifting her gaze from the pile of crimson hundred-yuan bills, Zhao Mingyue immediately sized me up from head to toe.
Her eyes, as gentle as autumn water, flickered with various emotions...
After an unknown period of time.
Extinguishing the cigarette she had just lit in the ashtray, Zhao Mingyue suddenly asked with a hint of implication, "Chen Xiang, is it? You're not the type of person who works a regular job, are you?"
"And you're definitely not looking for him for something as simple as work-related matters! Am I right?"
Hearing this, I didn't rush to deny it, but chose to remain silent.
Although I couldn't understand Zhao Mingyue, she couldn't understand me either.
Therefore, silence was the best answer!
Seeing my silence, Zhao Mingyue changed the subject and asked with a light laugh, "What do you think of my card playing skills?"
After a moment's thought, I blurted out without hesitation, "Very bad!"
"Heh heh."
As she chuckled, Zhao Mingyue suddenly stood up from her seat.
Leaning close to me, Zhao Mingyue boldly hooked my chin with her hand and whispered into my face, her alluring red lips puffing warm breath, "Since you know I play cards badly, why don't you hurry up and take the money back?!"
"Although I have many flaws, one of my few virtues is that I have a strong sense of self-awareness!"
"Without you, I wouldn't have been able to turn the tide in this last round of cards; I would have probably emptied all the money in my bag."
"So, take it!"
"Not only is all this money yours, but I'll also take you to the birthday banquet in two months."
"No matter who you are or what your intentions are in approaching him, it's none of my business!"
"Because I've already decided that on the day of the birthday banquet, in two months... I'm going to break ties with him completely!"
With that, Zhao Mingyue pulled away, picked up her handbag, and walked directly towards the door of the private room.
Startled by Zhao Mingyue's sudden words, as I was about to speak after regaining my senses...
Zhao Mingyue suddenly stopped again, turned back, and looked at me, smiling, "Do you know why I'm telling you all this and why I'm willing to help you?"
"Is it because I helped you win money?" I ventured.
"Wrong!"
Zhao Mingyue shook her head decisively at my answer and replied with a serious expression, "It's because... I consider you a friend."
"Although we've only known each other for a few hours, I can tell you're different from Sun Jingjing and the others!"
"So, if you also consider me a friend, please keep everything I've told you today... buried deep!"
"Of course, if you talk, there's nothing I can do to you!"
"Just consider it... me being blind again! Hehehe~"
Although Zhao Mingyue was smiling when she said that last sentence.
But as she turned and walked away again, I caught a glimmer of tears welling up in the corner of her eyes.
For some reason, at this moment, a very peculiar feeling suddenly arose in my heart.
A canary like Zhao Mingyue, kept in a cage, is actually very similar to us gamblers!
Although they appear infinitely glorious and dazzling, in reality, they can only live within a fixed territory, without companions, without friends.
Living like this, lonely and solitary!
..........
Not long after Zhao Mingyue left, Sun Jingjing called me.
She said she wanted to give me a ride home, but I knew it was for that ten thousand yuan.
As soon as I walked out of the door of the chess and card room, I saw Sun Jingjing's red Volkswagen Polo, flashing a bloodthirsty red under the night lights.
After opening the rear door and getting into the back seat, before I could speak, Sun Jingjing asked with a smile, "How did it go in the end? Did you win or lose?"
Compared to Zhao Mingyue, who generously gave me money, a woman like Sun Jingjing was a natural vampire, a money-devouring beast!
Fortunately, she left early; otherwise, this ride would have cost me more than ten thousand yuan!
Thinking of this, I put on the act of a gambler who had lost money and replied, scratching my head, "How else could it be? Of course, I lost!"
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't put on an act with me here."
My answer caused the light in Sun Jingjing's eyes to dim instantly. She stopped pretending and spread her hands, saying directly to me, "No matter how much you lost, the ten thousand yuan you promised me... not a single cent can be missing!!!"
"Alright! Here you go!"
Taking a final drag of my cigarette and tossing the butt out the window, I reached into my pocket and took out the envelope.
After pretending to count the money, I handed the envelope directly to Sun Jingjing, frowning and saying, "I'm still short two thousand. Can I give it to you later?"
I did this because I knew Sun Jingjing was a woman who was easily swayed by money.
If I had given her the full ten thousand yuan all at once, given her previous greedy nature, she would have relentlessly pestered me for that two hundred thousand later.
Although I didn't know what gave Sun Jingjing the confidence to demand two hundred thousand, I knew it must be related to Zhao Mingyue.
And now that I had gained Zhao Mingyue's trust, I had to stall Sun Jingjing.
Keep her from focusing on me, and then, without her knowledge, interact with Zhao Mingyue as much as possible and try to get more useful information from her.
As long as I could get some key substantive evidence from Zhao Mingyue before Sun Jingjing noticed something was wrong, all problems would be solved naturally!
Whether it was Yu Shuang's delay or Sun Jingjing's greed, it would have nothing to do with me!
..........
Upon hearing that I only had eight thousand yuan left in my pocket, Sun Jingjing was stunned.
I thought Sun Jingjing would refuse, or even curse me with foul language.
But I underestimated this woman's greed and craving for money.
This woman, as greedy as a vampire, took the envelope without a word, reaching out her arm to accept it.
After counting the money inside, Sun Jingjing threw the envelope onto the passenger seat and then said coldly to me, "Get out!"
Hearing Sun Jingjing's words, a flame of anger instantly ignited in my heart.
I've seen people who are heartless after sex, but I've never seen someone so cold-hearted after taking money!
This woman, Sun Jingjing, is truly insatiable!
Fortunately, Zhao Mingyue had a good impression of me; otherwise, this clue that suddenly emerged because of Sun Jingjing might have been interrupted by her greed!