Qin Xi's body swayed unsteadily, her fragile state tugging at Yang Chen's heartstrings.
If not for the need to cure Qin Dayong of his gambling addiction once and for all, he would never have resorted to such extreme measures.
*Better a sharp pain than a dull one.*
For Qin Xi's sake, she would have to endure her father's cruelty.
Su Shan quickly steadied Qin Xi, her voice trembling with anger. "Uncle Qin, she's your daughter! How could you even consider using her as a gambling stake?"
Yang Chen's low, chilling voice cut through the tension once more.
"Think carefully before you decide. If you bet your daughter and lose, I'll take her away. You'll never see her again."
His words were like ice. "You won't know where she is. You won't know if she's happy—or even alive."
"Of course, you might win. If you do, all this money is yours."
Yang Chen clenched his jaw. "Now. Make your choice."
Every word was agony. A murderous rage toward Qin Dayong simmered beneath his calm exterior, but for Qin Xi's sake, he restrained it.
"Dad... please stop gambling." Qin Xi's plea was barely a whisper.
Yang Chen's patience snapped. "Bet or get out!"
His voice was a whip-crack of finality.
Qin Dayong's face twisted. Then, with a grimace, he spat out the words:
"I'll bet my daughter. If I lose... she's yours."
Qin Xi's world shattered.
She had never imagined her father would go this far.
The crowd erupted in disgust.
"What kind of monster gambles away his own child?!"
"Even among addicts, this is vile!"
Qin Dayong flushed under the barrage of insults. For the first time, the weight of his choice truly hit him.
*If I lose her...*
"Xiao Xi, don't worry!" He forced a shaky smile. "Dad's going to win this. After tonight, I'll never gamble again!"
With a roar, he flipped his card onto the table.
**The King of Spades.**
Gasps rippled through the onlookers. No wonder he'd been confident enough to wager his daughter.
Su Shan exhaled in relief. "See? With a card like that, he can't lose!"
Qin Dayong was already reaching for the chips, grinning wildly.
Yang Chen's laugh stopped him cold.
"You haven't even seen my card."
Qin Dayong scoffed. "You didn't even look at yours. What are the odds you drew an Ace—or a Joker?"
Yang Chen smirked.
**"Why not?"**
He flipped his card.
**The Red Joker.**
Silence. Then—chaos.
Qin Dayong's face went slack with horror.
*He lost.*
*He actually lost his daughter.*
Before anyone could react, Yang Chen was at Qin Xi's side, taking her limp hand in his.
His declaration rang through the stunned room:
"From today onward, she belongs to me. You no longer have a daughter."
The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
Su Shan suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Qin Xi's other arm. "Let her go!"
Yang Chen's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Interfere, and I'll erase your family from Jiangzhou."
Su Shan paled. *How does he know who I am?*
As the only daughter of Su Chengwu—Jiangzhou's richest man—her identity was a closely guarded secret.
The crowd murmured, reassessing the well-dressed man who could casually threaten a "Su family."
Qin Xi gently pulled away from Su Shan. "It's okay. A bet's a bet."
Her quiet acceptance broke Su Shan's heart. "I'll pay the 16 million! Just let her go!"
Yang Chen's gaze turned glacial. "My woman isn't for sale. Unless you want your family ruined—step back."
But Su Shan stubbornly clung to Qin Xi's hand.
"Name your price. Anything."
A wicked grin curled Yang Chen's lips. "*Anything?*"
Su Shan's cheeks flamed. "Not like that, you bastard!"
In one fluid motion, Yang Chen hoisted Su Shan over his shoulder, keeping a firm grip on Qin Xi's hand.
The crowd gaped as he carried both women toward the exit.
"Put me down! You animal!" Su Shan shrieked, pounding his back in vain.
It was only then that Qin Dayong truly snapped out of his daze.
With a howl of despair, he threw himself at Yang Chen's feet.
"Take me instead! Kill me if you want! Just don't take my girl!"
Tears streamed down his face as he kowtowed violently, forehead smacking the floor.
Qin Xi sobbed at the pitiful sight.
Yang Chen's boot sent Qin Dayong sprawling.
"No second chances."
He strode toward the elevators—only to be blocked by a wall of black-suited bodyguards.
The lead man cracked his knuckles.
"Not so fast."