Xue Manting's expression was dejected, and she said listlessly, "The host of the King of Gamblers' Night is Qiao Ruosheng's family. To ensure the success of the event, Su Moyao, as Qiao family's future son-in-law, has been busy for nearly a week. During this week, I had no contact with Su Moyao, but Qiao Ruosheng still sent me an invitation. This woman is deliberately showing off. If I don't go, those bitches from the Beijing circle will surely mock me behind my back, so I decided to come."
As Xue Manting spoke, she carefully took off the necklace she was wearing around her neck. "Our Xue family is declining day by day, and I don't know what to do. I've even sold my valuable jewelry to subsidize our household expenses. Don't be fooled by my seemingly glamorous appearance; in reality, I can't even come up with hundreds of thousands, let alone a set of jewelry specifically for tonight's banquet. So yesterday, when I saw this conch pearl necklace, I recognized it as an exquisite piece of jewelry, priceless. I wanted to borrow it from you, but such a necklace is too precious, and I couldn't bring myself to ask. I don't know what came over me at the time, but I took the necklace back."
Xue Manting looked extremely self-reproachful. She knew that what she was doing was wrong and that it would hurt Lin Xingwan.
But she had no choice. Having been so proud her entire life, she always put face first.
Especially as the Xue family's fortunes dwindled, Xue Manting found herself caring even more about her reputation.
She didn't want those who were once beneath her to mock her; that feeling was worse than death.
"I'm sorry, Xingwan. I truly know I was wrong, but if given a second chance, I would do the same. I'm a hypocrite, and I hate my hypocritical self, but I've found that for the sake of face, I can do almost anything."
Xue Manting handed the necklace to Lin Xingwan, who looked at it for a few seconds before taking it.
In fact, Xue Manting was still reluctant to part with it. At least tonight, when she wore this conch pearl necklace, she had garnered countless admiring glances.
Even Qiao Ruosheng had sent that fool Ma Yanyan to snatch her necklace, which meant her goal for the night had been achieved.
"You..." Lin Xingwan's tone was full of helplessness. She didn't put the necklace away. Instead, she leaned slightly towards Xue Manting and put the necklace, which she had just taken off, back around Xue Manting's neck.
Xue Manting's tear-filled eyes were filled with disbelief. She had never imagined that Lin Xingwan would do such a thing.
She was already a fox-like beauty, sexy and charming!
Her current surprised expression made her look adorably naive.
"Xing... Xingwan... What... what are you doing?"
Xue Manting stammered due to her extreme surprise.
"I'll lend you this necklace for tonight, but after the banquet, you must return it to me, because this necklace is of great significance to me."
Lin Xingwan smiled, pinched Xue Manting's cheek, and continued, "Tonight, you must fiercely hold your head high!"
Xue Manting also smiled, and excitedly hugged Lin Xingwan. "Thank you, Lin meimei. I love Lin meimei the most."
Bai Xiao and Liu Mengqin exchanged glances. They didn't quite understand the world of young people.
As for Zhou Jinbai, he remained silent. Although Xue Manting's act of theft was detestable, he had other plans in mind.
The Xue family had once offended the Dongfang family, which was why they were ostracized in Yanjing.
Some families were afraid of being implicated, while others were probably just kicking them while they were down.
After all, the four great families of Yanjing—Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue—all wanted to bring down the Xue family and become one of the new four great families.
As for the Qiao family that Xue Manting had just mentioned, their development had been strong in recent years. If the Xue family were to be removed from the four great families of Yanjing, then the Qiao family would become one of the new four great families.
Which of the two pawns should be used?
"Let's not just stand here foolishly. The weather is so cold, and these beautiful ladies are dressed so thinly. If they catch a cold, we'll be the sinners."
Since Bai Xiao got together with Liu Mengqin, the straightforward man had slowly started to understand how to be considerate and cherish women.
"Wait—" Xue Manting said.
"What is it?" Lin Xingwan asked, frowning, thinking Xue Manting had other questions.
"I'm waiting for a male escort. Otherwise, if you all go in as couples and I'm the only one, it'll be too embarrassing."
"You've found a male escort too? Who is it?" Liu Mengqin asked curiously.
"Of course, it's me."
From behind them, Jia Yanzhen's voice suddenly came. He walked up to Xue Manting, his extremely delicate face looking handsome and beautiful. Standing next to the striking Xue Manting, he wasn't overshadowed but rather gave off a vibe of a perfect match.
"You're Manting's escort?" Lin Xingwan looked at Jia Yanzhen, who seemed indifferent. Not long ago, they had dealt with his brother and his parents. Logically, Jia Yanzhen should hate them!
But Lin Xingwan noticed that Jia Yanzhen hadn't changed at all.
"Don't I deserve it?" Jia Yanzhen retorted.
Lin Xingwan was speechless for a moment.
"Yes, why can't Yanzhen be my escort? He's one of my few male confidants, and he's a man who can rival Su Moyao at tonight's banquet! Even if I break up with Su Moyao, I will never be worse than him!"
Xue Manting became more and more agitated. Even her charming and seductive face showed hatred and anger.
Her expression seemed to tell everyone: Just wait and see how I'll deal with them!
"Let's go in." Zhou Jinbai, who had been silent, said calmly. With that, he led Lin Xingwan into the venue.
Bai Xiao and Liu Mengqin followed closely.
As for Xue Manting and Jia Yanzhen, they walked at the end.
Lin Xingwan couldn't help but turn her head to look. She even saw Jia Yanzhen playfully locking Xue Manting's neck, and Xue Manting tugging at Jia Yanzhen's tie. They looked like a bickering couple.
She couldn't help but ask, "I feel like ever since I went to Yanjing, I can't sort out many relationships. Jia Yanzhen doesn't seem to worry about his family at all, and his relationship with Manting seems even better than with Su Moyao."
Zhou Jinbai explained methodically, "Jia Yanzhen's relationship with his family is not good. He moved out on his own at sixteen. Moreover, with Jia Yansong and Jia Yankang crippled, Jia Yanzhen became the biggest winner. In wealthy families, sibling affection is of little use; in fact, there's often sibling rivalry. As for Xue Manting and Jia Yanzhen, they've known each other since childhood. Su Moyao was once just an illegitimate son of the Su family, later brought back by Old Master Su. If we're being precise, Jia Yanzhen and Xue Manting are childhood sweethearts."
Lin Xingwan seemed to understand but not fully. Zhou Jinbai looked at her confused expression and knew that some things couldn't be grasped all at once.
He couldn't help but lightly tap Lin Xingwan's nose. "I'll tell you more about the prominent families of Yanjing in the future, and you'll understand."
Oh, no!
He also had to let his wife gradually integrate into the Yanjing elite circle. Even if there were many difficulties, his woman was a phoenix soaring in the nine heavens!
Lin Xingwan nodded, but her mind was on something else.
She had a purpose for attending the King of Gamblers' Night tonight.
She hoped she could see what she wanted to see.
The group of six slowly approached the venue of the King of Gamblers' Night. The place was already crowded.
In the hall, which had been transformed into a mini Macau casino, various "toys" were displayed. In the casino, all windows were covered, clocks were removed, and even the oxygen level in the casino was higher than outside, all to keep people excited for extended periods.
Although the King of Gamblers' Night was a banquet inviting successful people from all walks of life, it was actually the least like a banquet. Because at the King of Gamblers' Night, there was no so-called core figure, no lengthy and complicated opening like ordinary banquets. Everyone who entered could become the protagonist.
Sudden riches, sudden ruin, sudden imprisonment... all sorts of possibilities existed.
Su Moyao and Qiao Ruosheng stood on the opulent second floor.
Qiao Ruosheng wore a red halterneck dress, revealing her fair skin. Coupled with the diamond and tourmaline necklace she wore, she looked every bit the heiress of a wealthy family.
"This year's King of Gamblers' Night is very lively, even more so than in previous years," Qiao Ruosheng said with pride. "I suppose our wedding will be grand as well, right?"
After speaking, Qiao Ruosheng drank her red wine in one gulp.
If one looked closely, Qiao Ruosheng's temperament had some similarities with Xue Manting.
"You don't like me, and there are so many excellent men in Yanjing. With the Qiao family's current strength, what kind of man can't you find? Even the one sitting on the divine altar, you could try for him. Why are you fixated on a weed like me?" Su Moyao, dressed in a white suit, appeared like a dandy nobleman. However, only those who knew him well knew that the more he disguised himself, the more malicious he became.
"Who told you... Xue Manting likes you. I'll snatch anything she likes, including her house, her car, and her man," Qiao Ruosheng replied with a smile. "Who told Xue Manting she was so wicked and had made so many mistakes? She caused the two people I love most in my life to die. I want revenge."
Qiao Ruosheng's mature face was filled with a cold sneer. Since that incident years ago, the former Qiao Ruosheng had died. The one who survived was filled with hatred, wishing every moment to make Xue Manting experience the despair she once felt.
Su Moyao's expression was one of extreme annoyance, even disgust towards the woman in front of him.
But his current strength was not enough. Only by marrying this woman could the Su family, led by him, reach greater heights.
"They're here," Qiao Ruosheng suddenly said, her gaze falling on the entrance of the hall. "I didn't expect Jia Yanzhen to be Xue Manting's escort. It seems that not long from now, Xue Manting will marry Jia Yanzhen."
Qiao Ruosheng's words made Su Moyao's face turn cold.
The man walked forward directly.
Qiao Ruosheng, however, swayed her slender waist and followed Su Moyao.
Only when Xue Manting and her group arrived would the real show begin tonight.
As Lin Xingwan and her companions entered the hall, they were taken aback by the liveliness of the place.
The entire casino was shrouded in mist, the smell of smoke was thick, and there were various gambling tables.
Unlike the gentlemanly elegance of other banquets, people of all sorts of postures could be seen everywhere.
Some had pale faces from losing, some had flushed faces from winning, and some were crying and screaming as they were carried out by security guards.
In short, it was chaos!
"Is this the King of Gamblers' Night?" Lin Xingwan asked, frowning. It didn't seem to be of much higher caliber than entering a large casino.
"This is just the outer perimeter of the King of Gamblers' Night. The stakes aren't that high, usually a few hundred yuan. The further inside you go, the higher the stakes. If you reach the center, there will only be one table, and the new King of Gamblers tonight will be decided at that central table. It will also be broadcast live for everyone to witness the exciting moment."
Xue Manting explained. With her playful and lively personality, she had attended various banquets in high society.
As expected, as Lin Xingwan and the others moved further inside, the venue became more spacious.
They entered the third circle, where the entrance was already cordoned off by a barrier.
Two voluptuous women in revealing attire blocked their path. "Esteemed guests, beyond this point is the VIP area of the King of Gamblers' Night. If you wish to enter, you must first top up ten billion yuan."
"Wh-what? Top up... ten billion yuan? Did you make a mistake with the unit?" Liu Mengqin's expression was as if she had been struck by lightning upon hearing the woman's words.
"Yes, you need to top up ten billion yuan to enter the VIP special area. When you leave, we will refund ninety percent of the cost. This is the established rule of the King of Gamblers' Night. Otherwise, you can only spend in the regular area."
So, what this woman meant was that even if they went in and did nothing, they would lose one billion yuan upon leaving...
"Are there any other activities at the King of Gamblers' Night? Where is the stone gambling area?" Lin Xingwan wasn't interested in gambling. She only wanted to visit the stone gambling area to see if she could encounter that person.
"The stone gambling area is also in the VIP special area. In fact, all the fun activities at the King of Gamblers' Night, except for the outermost ones, are in the VIP special area."
Lin Xingwan began to hesitate. Entering would cost one billion yuan. If she didn't meet the person she was looking for, that one billion yuan would be gone!
One billion yuan was money that an ordinary person couldn't earn in a lifetime!
Although she was now worth over a billion, she wouldn't dare to spend money like this.
"Does this card qualify to enter?" Zhou Jinbai took out a golden card and handed it to one of the women. The woman's expression changed drastically, and she quickly said respectfully, "Mr. Dongfang, welcome. It was my oversight. Please, come in."
The two women bowed ninety degrees, and Zhou Jinbai and his companions walked into the VIP special area.
However, as soon as they entered the VIP special area, a man suddenly fell from the sky and was kicked right in front of them.
Zhou Jinbai quickly pulled Lin Xingwan behind him to prevent any accidents.
Liu Mengqin and Xue Manting also screamed and quickly hid in Bai Xiao and Jia Yanzhen's arms.
The man lying on the ground coughed up a mouthful of blood. "You lied to me... lied to me... you lied to me..."
The voice sounded full of anger and despair. When Xue Manting heard the voice, her expression froze, and she immediately looked at the man lying on the ground.
As soon as she clearly saw the man's face, her complexion turned pale. She cried out, "Dad!" and rushed to the man.
"Dad, why are you here? What's going on? Who beat you up like this? Dad, are you okay? Don't scare me."
Xue Manting's tears streamed down her face. She knelt on the ground, holding the middle-aged man's upper body. Seeing her father beaten black and blue, with a bloody head, her heart was clenched tightly. The pain and suffocation were so intense that she felt she could faint at any moment.
Lin Xingwan also looked at Xue Manting with concern and walked towards her.
When she saw the middle-aged man, whom Xue Manting was holding, gasping for breath, her mood also sank.
"Manting, they lied to me... they set a trap for me. I don't want to live anymore. I'm a sinner..."
The middle-aged man continued to bleed from his mouth as he spoke. Xue Manting saw this and immediately used her expensive evening gown to wipe it.
But there was so much blood, it seemed endless.
"Dad, who beat you up like this? Who? No matter how fallen our Xue family is, we won't tolerate such humiliation. Tell me, and I'll get revenge for you."
Xue Manting cried heartbrokenly, and Lin Xingwan felt very distressed.
On one hand, she felt sorry for Xue Manting; on the other hand, she worried about her own future.
Even though the Xue family was in decline, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse. Being so humiliated at the King of Gamblers' Night, what about her?
Besides owning Peak Entertainment, she had nothing.
If it weren't for Zhou Jinbai, she would have died several times already.
She had to become strong, avenge her mother, protect Zhou Jinbai, and protect those she wanted to protect.
No one noticed that Lin Xingwan's eyes showed an unprecedented determination.
"I'm the one who ordered him beaten. Not only do I want to beat him, but I want to find someone to chop him up and throw him into the sea to feed the fish," Qiao Ruosheng's voice came from the front. Everyone's gaze fell on Qiao Ruosheng. She was arm-in-arm with Su Moyao, and even in ten-centimeter heels, she walked steadily.
Even Lin Xingwan, upon seeing Qiao Ruosheng for the first time, was awestruck by her calm demeanor and confident, arrogant aura.
This was a true noblewoman. In terms of figure, appearance, and temperament, she completely outshone all the wealthy and beautiful women Lin Xingwan had ever seen.
Even though she wore a red evening gown of the same color as Lin Xingwan's, with a halterneck and open back design, because of the nobility radiating from her eyes, a dress that should have been sexy and alluring on her exuded an air of grandeur and confidence.
Especially Qiao Ruosheng's eyes, which were not as captivating as Xue Manting's, but seemed to contain the gentleness and calmness of the sea, yet could stir up stormy waves.
If Xue Manting was playing the role of a dramatic character, then Qiao Ruosheng was playing the role of an invincible female lead.
"Qiao Ruosheng, how can you do this to my father? I know you hate me, but you've called my dad 'Uncle' for over ten years. How can you do this to him?"
Xue Manting's emotions broke down, especially seeing her father's意识不清. She hugged him even tighter.
"I'm just following the rules. Your father borrowed twenty billion yuan to gamble in the VIP special area. Now that he's lost all twenty billion, to leave this door, he either pays the money... or his life."
Qiao Ruosheng looked at the tear-streaked Xue Manting and curled her lips into a cold smile.
"Is there no other way?" Lin Xingwan asked.
Qiao Ruosheng's gaze fell on Lin Xingwan. "These are the rules of the casino. If Miss Lin wants to help her, she can ask Mr. Dongfang to pay twenty billion yuan."
Lin Xingwan did have that thought, but only for a moment.
She could accept helping Xue Manting within her means.
But twenty billion yuan... that was enough to bankrupt her!
Moreover, if she were to help Xue Manting, she couldn't just act recklessly because Zhou Jinbai was rich, could she?
"Qiao Ruosheng, I don't need anyone's help. Isn't it just twenty billion yuan? I can afford to play!" Xue Manting suddenly raised her head, her resentful gaze fixed on Qiao Ruosheng.
Looking at Qiao Ruosheng's innate elegance and generosity, she felt that she must look extremely ugly at this moment.
She was tired of living like this.
"Oh? How do you want to play? I'll accompany you anytime," Qiao Ruosheng said, like a condescending benefactor, looking at Xue Manting with contempt.
"Everyone in the VIP special area can borrow twenty billion yuan, right?" Xue Manting got up from the ground, her gaze meeting Qiao Ruosheng's.
"But only people of standing can borrow it. What, do you want to borrow it?"
Qiao Ruosheng's faint smile throughout the conversation was inexplicably infuriating.
"I'll pay the twenty billion yuan for you," Su Moyao said, frowning. "Hurry up and take your father to the hospital. The hospital on the cruise ship is on the seventh floor."
Xue Manting just sneered. "Who are you to me? Why would you pay for me? I'm not your cat or dog, to be fed when you think of me and ignored like trash when you don't."
Su Moyao's tone was harsh. "Manting, don't be absurd. This is not the time for absurdity."
"Heh, every time it's me being absurd, every time it's me being willful. In your eyes, I'm just a useless woman. Su Moyao, I thank you for your kindness. You and Qiao Ruosheng are truly a couple. One almost beat my father to death, and the other comes to give me twenty billion yuan. Why didn't you offer it when my father wasn't beaten? You only offer it now that he's beaten like this. Is giving a slap and then a candy meant to make us Xue family members look like circus monkeys?"
There weren't many people in the VIP special area to begin with, and the commotion Xue Manting and her group was causing had already attracted a lot of attention.
Even people in the stone gambling area were looking over.
A middle-aged man, surrounded by a crowd, also cast a curious glance at Xue Manting's group.
Originally, the middle-aged man had a careless and hypocritical smile on his face. But when he saw the necklace on Xue Manting's neck, he trembled all over, his expression as if he had seen a ghost. He even dropped the imperial green jade teacup in his hand and immediately ordered his subordinate, "Quick, help me over there."
The subordinate, who didn't know what was happening, had no choice but to help him over.
Lin Xingwan also wanted to persuade Xue Manting. Although Su Moyao's offer was a bit of an afterthought, this was the best solution at the moment.
However, before Lin Xingwan could speak, Zhou Jinbai tugged at her arm. Lin Xingwan looked at Zhou Jinbai, and the man shook his head slightly, signaling Lin Xingwan not to do anything.
Lin Xingwan had no choice but to give up.
"Qiao Ruosheng, I'll use my life to borrow twenty billion yuan. If I can't win forty billion yuan tonight, you can do whatever you want with my life. If I win forty billion yuan, you must let my father go."
Xue Manting knew that her father was just a pawn. Qiao Ruosheng's true target tonight was herself.