King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

"I won't let Ma Qing get involved in our jade-gambling business. Even if it costs me my wealth and reputation, I'll block her at all costs."

Qian Guang said, "Zhao Fei, let's head out for a bit tonight."

I nodded without saying much. We got up and prepared to leave the bar. At the entrance, Ma Qing got into Qian Guang's car. I stayed silent as the car headed towards Boss Wei's shop. Upon arrival, we stepped out of the car. Qian Guang gallantly held an umbrella for Ma Qing—a gesture of gentlemanly charm that Ma Qing, a woman of elegance, certainly deserved.

We walked into Boss Wei's shop. Business was sluggish that evening, perhaps because he hadn't replenished his stock lately.

We went straight to the second floor, where Boss Wei was berating some staff members. His sharp reprimands about performance and service echoed. The employees probably weren't at fault; it was more likely Boss Wei venting his bad mood.

Seeing us arrive, Boss Wei dismissed the staff and came over, his demeanor quickly transforming into one of warm hospitality. "Brother Guang, Brother Zhao Fei, you've come. Visiting so late?"

Boss Wei always maintained an amiable front, but his core was driven by cold calculation and profit.

Qian Guang nodded. "Money's tight. I still owe the bank a fair bit, so I figured I'd try my luck here."

Boss Wei chuckled. "Of course. I've got some fresh stock. Brother Zhao Fei, take your time browsing. I'll give you a good deal."

I nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing. Ma Qing sat gracefully on a chair, sipping tea with Qian Guang, leaving the task of gambling to me. It was our usual practice—Qian Guang never interfered with my picks and trusted me implicitly. But tonight, as Ma Qing sat by his side, watching me choose, I felt like a servant working under the watchful eyes of a landlord. The unease gnawed at me.

In the raw stone section, I noticed that the stock had indeed been refreshed. Boss Wei must have brought in a lot of material from Myanmar recently. I examined the stones carefully, seeking one that was promising yet strategically flawed—not a complete win, but not a glaring loss either. I didn't want Qian Guang to develop suspicions or grievances against me.

I picked up a stone the size of a pillow with a yellow pear-skin texture. Two faint streaks of green emerged from its surface, accompanied by serpentine patterns adorned with mossy flecks and scattered greenish pools. Beneath the skin lay soft, loose black patches—decay-prone yet potentially valuable. Scraping lightly with my fingernail, I felt confident. Even if it wasn't fully green, the areas showing promise could fetch a million.

The gamble was high—the odds of the black decay consuming the green were significant. Weighing the ten-pound stone in my hand, I approached Boss Wei. "What's your price for this one?"

Boss Wei smiled. "Brother Zhao Fei, just take it and play."

Feigning politeness, I replied, "Business is business."

Boss Wei laughed again. "Seven million. For you, Brother Zhao Fei, I wouldn't ask for more."

Seven million? My heart skipped a beat. This stone—a ten-pound piece from Dama Canyon—worth seven million? Outrageous! Boss Wei's cheerful facade couldn't hide his true intentions; he clearly hadn't forgotten our last encounter and was looking to settle the score.

But I didn't mind. Tonight, my goal was to set a trap for Ma Qing. "Seven million it is," I said coolly.

Boss Wei seemed surprised but said nothing, nodding in agreement.

Approaching Qian Guang, I informed him, "Brother Guang, the stone is seven million. Let's split it three-three-four."

He nodded. "Sure, I'll take seventy percent. Count Miss Ma's share under my tab."

His remark irked me. I glanced at Ma Qing, whose expression betrayed a hint of anticipation, though she kept her gaze on the stone rather than on me.

We paid up—2.1 million from me and 4.9 million from Qian Guang. The stone was ours.

Since my goal was to lose, I wasted no time. Bringing in a master cutter, I instructed him to start working on the decay spots. As the wheel spun, the master abruptly said, "The decay's gone."

Surprised, I checked the stone. The soft black patches had completely vanished, leaving the green beneath intact. My heart sank. Winning was easy, but losing strategically was proving to be a challenge.

Noticing the activity, Ma Qing walked over. "What's going on?"

I shot her a glance. "You wouldn't understand. Why ask?"

Her face darkened. "I've invested so much money. Don't I have the right to know what's happening? And mind your tone."

Annoyed, I replied, "The decay's gone. No need to worry about it consuming the green. Do you even know what decay is? Or what 'decay consuming green' means?"

Her puzzled frown confirmed her ignorance. I chuckled lightly and turned back to the stone. The soft decay scraped off easily. With its removal, there was no longer any risk of the material beneath being compromised. "Master, cut a deep edge," I instructed.

The master nodded silently and began cutting.

Ma Qing stood aside, her eyes fixed on the spinning blade, her cheeks flushed with tension. Even someone as composed as her couldn't resist the allure of jade gambling's high stakes—one cut could mean instant wealth or devastating loss.

As the stone cracked open, the master examined it, shook his head, and declared, "It's black."

Hearing this, I initially felt a pang of shock, followed by a surge of joy. Ma Qing's luck had run dry. Examining the cut, I saw dark spots—a sign of hard decay within the stone.

"Seven million, gone just like that?" Ma Qing asked, incredulous.

I nodded. "That's jade gambling for you, Miss Ma. Care to try again?"

"No, I've had enough. Qian Guang, I'm leaving," she snapped, storming out.

Watching her graceful figure disappear, I allowed myself a satisfied smile. Her initial hopes had turned into disappointment, fueling her anger. She had no idea this was all part of my plan.

This stone wasn't worth even two hundred thousand. Paying seven million to drive a wedge between Ma Qing and Qian Guang? Totally worth it.