Chapter 10: You Stay

Ye Linglan turned her head away, glancing past Lord Qin. Lord Qin paused for a moment—his hidden card was a five. Together with his visible card, his total was less than seventeen, and it was an awkward number. Although Mozhicheng’s open card was a four, if his hidden card was any face card, Lord Qin would lose. At this moment, Lord Qin chose to throw in his cards, and Mozhicheng did the same.

Ye Linglan gathered up the cards again and continued to shuffle. The suits flitted deftly through her fingers, but those beautiful, slender hands trembled slightly. The private room was warm, yet she still felt cold, betraying her nervous unease. Was she afraid? Anyone would be scared at such a critical point. Fear is a natural instinct in the face of danger, and even more so when the stakes Lord Qin wagered were her.

She gently pushed the cards in front of the two men; both their open cards were queen of hearts. All eyes fixed on the two hidden cards. Lord Qin lowered his head, quietly lifting the corner of his card to sneak a look, then raised his eyes to meet Mozhicheng’s gaze. Their eyes locked; though neither spoke, fierce sparks seemed to fly between them. Lord Qin flicked out his cigarette, but his gaze remained unwaveringly on the man sitting opposite him. Mozhicheng’s brows drew together slightly as his fingers tapped the table, one beat after another, the scattered glimmer in his eyes making the depth of his gaze all the more unfathomable.

“Lord Qin, would you like another card?” Ye Linglan inquired.

Lord Qin kept his eyes fixed on Mozhicheng, as if trying to read his thoughts. “No.”

She turned to Mozhicheng. “Show your cards,” the man replied softly.

“Lord Qin, it’s time to end this game,” Mozhicheng said like a gentleman, bowing his head to fasten his suit jacket.

***

The crowd drifted out in a great wave. By the time the manager arrived, the room was already in disarray. Seeing Mozhicheng still reclining in his chair, the manager turned pale, his voice tense with fear. “Mr. Mo—”

Ye Linglan let her hand fall to her side and breathed a sigh of relief. She hurried over to where Xiaowen was still curled on the floor and quickly helped her up. “It’s over, Xiaowen, it’s over—” she murmured over and over. Xiaowen clung tightly to her, tears streaming down her cheeks in an unstoppable flood. “Sister Linglan,” her body trembled violently. Linglan held her even tighter, trying to comfort her. “It’s alright... it’s alright...”

Was it really alright?

The manager, seeing this, turned and scolded the two women. “Ye Linglan, I told you to go to Private Room One with Su Qi. Why did you come in here?”

“Everyone out,” Mozhicheng spoke up. The manager turned back, glancing at him nervously. “Sorry, Mr. Mo. I’ll have someone clear the room at once.” He left, feeling both relieved and regretful.

Mozhicheng simply made a gesture. “Leave us—”

With that, the attendants began to file out. Ye Linglan kept her arms tightly around Xiaowen, preparing to take her away, when a voice stopped her. “You stay.”

Ye Linglan froze at once. The man’s voice came from not far away, and her body tensed, rigid as ice. She didn’t turn back, but stood there in a daze until the room fell silent, leaving only the two of them.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his figure stretched by the dim yellow light, casting her into a pool of shadow. She heard his footsteps approaching, each step nearer. Instinctively, she turned—and nearly collided with the man’s chest.