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

I looked at him and asked, "Your name is Yang Rui?"

He remained silent, only weeping in bitter resignation, his sobs rendering him speechless…

I sensed his profound sorrow and heartbreak. My own sadness mirrored his, though my deception was less profound.

A decade of love…

Our encounter, Sang Ling and I, was purely serendipitous; I felt no remorse.

I urged, "Tell me everything…"

Yang Rui looked up, his voice choked with emotion: "She truly was my girlfriend. Everything I say is the truth. We've been together since high school. Back then, she didn't gamble. We were perfectly happy. The disaster struck during my doctoral studies. We were engaged, planning to marry this year. My father, the owner of a shipping company operating on the Mekong River in Yingjiang, had spent six million of his savings on a house for our wedding…"

I frowned, watching him as he choked back a sob, continuing, "I don't know why, but one day, my father told me the house had been sold. I confronted Sang Ling, and she claimed she needed the money. I trusted her implicitly and didn't question it. But then, she escalated her actions, not only mortgaging my father's cargo ship but also borrowing a colossal sum—an astronomical amount, my entire fortune, my father's life's work—all squandered. Initially, I couldn't fathom her extravagance. Only when I finally tracked her down did I discover her at the gambling tables, having gambled away everything."

My brow furrowed. I never imagined Sang Ling to be such a woman—one who could ruin a man's life, his family, his very future, and his fiancé no less. Even more heartless was her fabrication of lies to deceive me, portraying her fiancé as a villain. Such a woman…

The adage, "Appearances can be deceiving," now held a chillingly profound meaning. Born and bred in the depravity of the island's second factory, her downfall was almost inevitable. My heart held no sympathy for Sang Ling, only pity for the man before me, and a chilling premonition. Had I not harbored a sliver of suspicion towards Sang Ling, I might soon have shared his fate.

"She's been in hiding, owing massive debts, dragging me down with her. But I always believed she'd change, always promising to turn her life around with a big win. But it was an endless cycle. I sought her out to make her see reason, to turn her life around, but she claimed you're her boyfriend. It broke my heart…" Yang Rui wept.

Zhao Kui violently kicked his chair aside, roaring, "That woman! Damn her! Men toil and sweat, and she squanders everything, betraying love and trust. She deserves to die!"

I raised a hand, saying, "What do you plan to do?"

Yang Rui looked at me, shaking his head. "I don't know what to do. I owe over ten million, and my father's ship is mortgaged. If we can't repay the debt within a month, the company and the ship will be seized. I want to find Sang Ling, to have her testify in court. The money was hers; if she has an ounce of conscience…"

I chuckled wryly. "Do you think she has a conscience?"

Yang Rui shook his head weakly, collapsing to his knees. "It's my fault. I ruined my father, my family…"

I sighed. The shipping business in Ruili was fiercely competitive; many would relish seeing their downfall. Sang Ling, Sang Ling, you are a force of nature, and I almost fell victim to your machinations.

Zhao Kui asked, "Brother Fei, what now? This woman…"

I stopped Zhao Kui with a gesture. "Hold on, brother. Take that million back, it'll help tide you over. As for Sang Ling, don't hold out hope. She's mine."

Yang Rui glared at me, his voice laced with bitterness. "Why? Why, knowing her true nature, do you still want her?"

I tapped my fingers, unsure myself. A deep ache resonated within me. "To punish her…"

Wang Gui pulled Yang Rui away. "Let's go. Consider yourself unlucky. Next time, keep your eyes open; don't let a woman deceive you."

Yang Rui was dragged out, his resentment palpable, but I ignored him. The two men returned to me. Zhao Kui asked, "Brother Fei, what's the plan?"

I stroked my chin, lost in thought. What had Sang Ling deceived me of? Nothing substantial. Frankly, my entanglement with Sang Ling was my own fault. I lusted after her beauty. Had I not been so greedy, would I have been deceived?

It was all my own self-deception. Men must not be self-deceived…

I picked up the phone and called Sang Ling. "Hello…"

"Zhao Fei, woohoo, she scolded me and hit me…"

Sang Ling's words filled me with disgust. "You know Yang Rui…"

My words silenced Sang Ling. After a long pause, she whispered, "You know…"

"Why did you deceive me?" I asked.

"Deceive you? What did I deceive you about? You gave me the money, you bought me the house. What did I deceive you about? How can you say that? When we were together, you didn't say I deceived you! You men are all bastards, using women and then denying it. I deceived you? Humph…"

Sang Ling's fury was astounding, leaving me speechless. Yes, the money was from me, the house was my gift. But hadn't she meticulously plotted and manipulated me?

Yet, she was right. It was all my own doing. I said, "Sang Ling, mend your ways. I hope not to see you again tomorrow, otherwise…"

"Zhao Fei, must you be this cruel? Have you forgotten my tenderness? Must you be so heartless? Don't you remember anything good? In bed, you were so gentle, you said I was beautiful…" Sang Ling sobbed.

I swallowed hard. "Sometimes, a woman is no different from a piece of meat. I loved you because I thought you loved me. I treated you as a living, breathing person, engaging with you wholeheartedly. But I was wrong. You didn't truly love me; you ensnared me with a web of lies. Now that I know, you're dead to me, no different from a piece of dead meat. I could buy meat from the street, stab it with a knife, and it would be no different. Understand?"

Sang Ling fell silent, weeping uncontrollably. "How can you be so cruel, so heartless…"

"You should be grateful you didn't swindle me of much, unlike Yang Rui. Otherwise, that piece of meat would rot. I'm not a good man; I'm a villain. You should know that better than anyone. Mend your ways."

I hung up…

"Brother Fei, you're too merciful. Letting her off like this, other men will fall prey to her schemes," Zhao Kui said.

I looked at Zhao Kui, my eyes slightly red. "Let's just say I spent nine million on a very expensive prostitute…"

"Damn, that's one expensive prostitute…" Wang Gui chuckled.

I playfully punched him, then laughed. Wang Gui understood me best, offering the most effective solace. Unlike Zhao Kui, their personalities differed, and I preferred Wang Gui's calming influence to Zhao Kui's inflammatory nature.

I looked at Zhao Kui, his expression tinged with resignation. "Zhao Kui, sometimes with women, we can only grit our teeth and bear it. It's our own fault, men and women are different…"

Zhao Kui shook his head. "In my eyes, they're the same. You're too kind. But it's good, too. Just don't regret it. We soldiers know vipers don't repay kindness, nor do they know gratitude."

I nodded, embracing Zhao Kui. He was a good brother, just too straightforward…

Money was important, but not important enough to preclude forgiveness. Sang Ling wasn't always a gambler. She stumbled onto this path by accident. No one wants ruin and wasted potential. I prefer to believe the image of Sang Ling, the beautiful girl next door, was once real. I'll consider it a timeless romance with the pure Sang Ling. I loved the pure part of her; let the corrupted part rot away.

In the morning, a frantic phone call jolted me awake. I picked up my phone, annoyed at the interruption to my rare respite. It was Xuan Ling. "What's wrong?"

"Why didn't you come to class? The end-of-year exams are approaching! You're doomed, I tell you…" Xuan Ling's voice was laced with anxiety.

Her words jolted me into realizing my prolonged absence and the impending exams. "I'll be back for the exams. Help me pass, and I'll treat you to spicy hot pot."

"Humph, you're cramming at the last minute. My aunt keeps asking if you're neglecting your studies, if your business is interfering. I'm lying to her, and it's agonizing. Every time I see her, I feel guilty. What am I supposed to do?" Xuan Ling complained.

I chuckled. "I'll pass. Gotta go, another call. Business is booming. I need to make money to build my father-in-law a few houses for the New Year. Bye."

Xuan Ling's hearty laughter confirmed my success in cheering her up. Another call came in—from Ma Lan.

"Zhao Fei, something's happened…" Ma Lan's voice was strained.

Her tone made me frown. "What happened?"

"We've been robbed! Everything's gone…"

Ma Lan's words struck me like lightning, leaving me stunned…

Robbed…