Chapter 58: Why Don't We Play Big Instead?

By the start of the eleventh round, Cao Ping had clearly lost his previous fluid confidence. From time to time, he glanced at Shang Ying, trying to read her, worried that the strength she was currently displaying wasn't even her full potential.

He was here to reclaim his honor, not to get humiliated. So, he shot a glance at the Queen of Hearts, who understood instantly and hooked her arm through his.

Fabric rubbed together intimately as the two embraced and kissed, creating a steamy scene. Amidst the sweet moment, a trace of icy coldness slid into Cao Ping's cuff. The Queen of Hearts shyly kissed his cheek and pulled back.

Xie Tuo leaned slightly forward, his impeccably styled hair cleverly blocking some of the inappropriate view. Unfortunately, Shang Ying had already seen it, and she rolled her eyes.

"This is a private room, not a hotel room. Are you really that unable to hold back, needing to kiss at every turn?"

She was currently a minor. Please do not attack her mental health.

"Little sister is making fun of us. The two of us are just used to being clingy. Come, come, let's continue."

Having secured his trick, Cao Ping felt much more grounded. Facing Shang Ying's rude words, he even maintained a calm expression.

‘Hmph, yell all you want now. Once you lose, you'll behave.’

When it came to pure skill, he might indeed be no match for others. But when it came to cheating, no one in the Capital dared to claim second place above him, which was precisely why he thrived in gambling circles.

So even if this girl Xie Tuo brought along was formidable at cards, he wasn't afraid in the slightest. How could calculating cards ever beat directly swapping cards to guarantee a win?

As the fourth card was flipped over, Cao Ping's expression didn't change at all as he raised his hand ever so slightly. The movement was extremely subtle and lightning-fast, almost impossible for anyone to notice.

In an instant, the card on the table was swapped for a different one. He couldn't help curling the corners of his mouth upward, his shoulders relaxing imperceptibly as he leaned back comfortably into his chair.

Shang Ying's eyes twitched slightly as she sneered in her heart.

‘Someone actually dared to cheat right in front of her’

Pretending not to notice, she calmly pushed all her chips forward at the dealer's prompt.

"All in."

‘All in?’

The Queen of Hearts and Cao Ping exchanged a glance, both reading a hint of doubt in each other's eyes.

Watching from the outside, Xie Yancan's eyes widened.

‘This... she's All In just like that? Are her cards really that good?’

He silently shifted closer and peeked at Shang Ying's hand. A 5 of Spades and a 2 of Diamonds, starting with a 2 and a 5. A total garbage hand!

It didn't form any combination with the community cards at all, so how did she dare go All In?!

‘Does this little sister actually know how to play or not?’ Xie Yancan's mind was in total chaos.

"Fold."

Xie Tuo's voice wasn't loud, yet like a thin blade, it sliced through the strange atmosphere with a breath of fresh air. His gaze fell upon Shang Ying, who was sipping juice, his deep eyes blinking lightly.

He naturally knew Shang Ying's hand. Just a moment ago, Xie Yancan had passed the message behind his back using a code only the two of them understood. It was obviously impossible for him to come here tonight without any preparation.

Yet with those two cards, she still chose to go All In, which was clearly unwise. Xie Tuo was somewhat curious about her intentions. He naturally believed Shang Ying possessed the ability to win, so he simply wanted to know what kind of mischief this kid was brewing.

Shang Ying bit down on her straw, her amber eyes shifting slightly under the shadow, casting a half-smiling glance away.

‘Great, every single one of them is cheating. They all have tricks up their sleeves.’ But this was within her expectations. A major villain like Xie Tuo certainly wouldn't leave himself in a state of uncertainty.

Aside from skill, the second most important thing at a card table was psychological warfare. Cao Ping had been completely certain of his victory, but this nonchalant "All In" threw him off, leaving him momentarily hesitant.

He had just raised the bet by a large sum. Folding now would mean losing too much, but what if he called and lost?

Cao Ping's hand under the table naturally rested on the Queen of Hearts' thigh. A blush immediately washed over her face as she shot him a playful look, as if blaming him for being out of line, while her red-nailed fingers lightly scratched the back of his hand.

Naturally, that wasn't a simple scratch.

The position of her fingertips and the direction of the strokes were all carefully designed. A code practiced countless times. Almost the moment her fingertips left his skin, Shang Ying's hole cards became crystal clear in Cao Ping's mind.

Cao Ping maintained his greasy smile, his gaze not even shifting toward Shang Ying. There were plenty of people standing, watching, and serving in this room, meaning plenty of eyes.

Winning was the ultimate outcome, and the methods used were simply a matter of skill. Besides, he hadn't said others weren't allowed to cheat. So, one couldn't be rigi. One had to keep their mind flexible.

Trying to win with a 2 and a 5 was absolute recklessness. Cao Ping now knew where he stood, cast aside his doubts, and pushed his chips forward decisively.

"Since little sister is in high spirits, I'll accompany you to the end. How about it?"

Shang Ying raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.

Being so confident, he obviously knew her hand.

The corners of her mouth under her mask curled into an arc.

‘Knowing is good. What she feared was him not knowing~’

The Queen of Hearts chose to fold as well, leaving only the two of them in a head-to-head showdown.

Shang Ying spoke up at this momentñ

"Since you're risking it to play with me, why don't we play big instead?"

Cao Ping let out a chuckle.

"How do you want to play?"

"I'll All In his chips too." Shang Ying pointed her chin toward Xie Tuo. "And you All In this beauty's chips."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire room went silent in shock.

Xie Tuo raised an eyebrow, turned to Shang Ying, and smiled silently at the playful glance she threw him.

‘Fine, she even set her sights on his chips. Truly greedy.’

Then, he said calmly.

"Sure."

‘Sure?!’

Xie Yancan felt like his heart condition was about to flare up and he was on the verge of fainting. His boss's brain tonight must have been eaten clean by bugs!

Cao Ping narrowed his eyes, a dangerous cold light flashing through them. Holding two garbage cards, she actually dared to double down. Could she have a trick up her sleeve?

"I can do it too, Chairman~" The Queen of Hearts' delicate voice sounded as her snake-like arms wrapped around Cao Ping's neck, whispering into his ear. "Don't worry. She can't pull off any tricks right under my nose."

With her reassurance, Cao Ping hardened his heart and agreed. An unlit cigarette dangled between his lips as he moved them up and down.

"Don't go regretting it when you lose in a moment, kid."

"Sure, win or lose, I can afford it."

Shang Ying replied innocently. Seeing her naive act, Cao Ping felt even more relieved, letting out two cold snorts and shooting a glare at the dealer.

Receiving the signal, the young dealer flipped the final card, his clear voice sounding unhurriedly.

"River card, Ace of Spades."

Cao Ping's mind settled completely as he flipped his hand over.