Suddenly blocked, Yang Chen felt a surge of irritation.
The situation with Qin Dayong had already left him simmering with anger, and now someone was deliberately provoking him. It was easy to imagine how furious he was at that moment.
Behind the dozen or so bodyguards, a lean and shrewd middle-aged man approached.
He was tall, around 1.8 meters, wearing a dark checkered shirt tucked into dress pants and polished black leather shoes. His short, neat hair and the slight smirk on his lips gave him a roguish charm. A Hetian jade Buddha pendant hung around his neck, and he fiddled with a white jade bracelet in his hand.
The man carried himself with an air of effortless authority, his well-proportioned frame making him look like a living clothes hanger.
"Isn't that Liu Kai, the boss of King's City? Why is he here?"
"Could it be because of that young man who just won those women?"
"Rumor has it that any woman Liu Kai fancies here ends up in his bed. Those two women are absolute stunners—there's no way they'll be allowed to leave."
Whispers spread through the crowd, hushed but audible enough for Yang Chen to catch.
"Kid, snatching women by force in my territory—that's not appropriate, is it?"
Liu Kai smirked, his narrowed eyes fixed on Yang Chen.
Yang Chen frowned. "I won them fair and square. Is that against the rules here?"
"I'm not his! Let me go! Let me go!"
Su Shan immediately began shouting, her hope rekindled now that Yang Chen was being intercepted.
"Don't worry, beautiful. In my place, nothing happens without my say-so."
Liu Kai flashed a gentlemanly smile at Su Shan before turning back to Yang Chen. "The lady says she's not your prize. Care to explain?"
Yang Chen had only taken Su Shan to shut her up. But since she was being ungrateful, he saw no reason to bother with her anymore. He set her down without another word.
"Can I leave now?"
Still holding Qin Xi's hand, Yang Chen met Liu Kai's gaze coolly.
"No, you can't!"
With Liu Kai backing her, Su Shan regained her confidence. She grabbed Qin Xi's arm. "Xiao Xi is my best friend. You can't take her away!"
Qin Xi was frantic. This had all been an act she and Yang Chen had agreed upon—a scheme to make Qin Dayong hit rock bottom and quit gambling for good.
But now her best friend was interfering out of genuine concern. Touched as she was, Qin Xi couldn't explain the truth without ruining their plan.
"I won her. That makes her mine. Do you have a problem with me taking my own woman?" Yang Chen's voice turned icy.
"If you won her fair and square, of course I wouldn't object."
Liu Kai's smile didn't waver, but his tone shifted. "However, this young lady seems unwilling to let you take her friend."
"That's right! You can't take her!"
Su Shan glared at Yang Chen. "Qin Xi is a person, not a betting chip! Even if Uncle Qin is her father, he has no right to wager her!"
"I quite agree. In all my years running King's City, I've never allowed people to be used as stakes."
Liu Kai seized the opportunity. "How about this? I'll give you 20 million—consider it buying her freedom. The extra 4 million is my personal compensation to you. Deal?"
"So, I can't take her today?" Yang Chen asked flatly.
Liu Kai's lips curled. "What do you think?"
"What if I insist?"
Yang Chen's expression darkened, his voice laced with frost.
The onlookers gasped. Liu Kai had connections with many of Jiangzhou's elite. Though King's City was just an entertainment venue, his influence was immense—even the top-tier families tread carefully around him.
For Yang Chen to openly defy Liu Kai was nothing short of suicidal.
"If I let you walk out of here with her, where would that leave my reputation?"
Liu Kai smirked, utterly dismissive. "Kid, don't get greedy. An extra 4 million is more than generous. Leave the girl, and you walk away."
"Listen to Brother Kai, kid. Take the money and go!"
"Yeah, with money, you can have any woman you want. Why pick a fight with Brother Kai?"
"Don't throw your life away over a woman!"
The crowd chimed in with "well-meaning" advice while Liu Kai watched Yang Chen with amusement.
Qin Xi was beside herself with worry. She regretted their plan now. But revealing the truth would undo everything. Truly, no plan survived contact with reality.
Just as she debated coming clean, Yang Chen spoke again.
"Since this started with gambling, why don't I play a round with you, Boss Liu? If I win, I take her. If I lose, I'm at your mercy. How's that?"
The room erupted in murmurs. Everyone stared at Yang Chen as if he were insane.
Challenging Liu Kai to a gamble in his own territory? Was this a death wish?
"Kid, you sure you want to play with me?" Liu Kai's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Very sure. The question is, do you dare accept?" Yang Chen provoked deliberately.
"Even though I know you're baiting me, if I back down in my own place, I might as well retire."
Liu Kai chuckled. "Fine, let's play. What's the game?"
"Keep it simple—high card. One draw."
"Best of how many?"
"Until one of us surrenders."
A dangerous glint flashed in Yang Chen's eyes. *You want to play? Then I'll bankrupt you.*
Liu Kai blinked, then burst into laughter. "Kid, I'll admit—you've pissed me off. Since you're itching to die, I'll oblige."
The crowd was stunned. A single round might have given Yang Chen a slim chance. But this? Pure idiocy.
"Is this guy out of his mind?"
"Who knows? Challenging Brother Kai in his own den—what else would you call it?"
"He plans to play until Brother Kai surrenders? Hah!"
Mockery filled the air, yet anticipation hummed beneath it.
Earlier, Yang Chen had bet a million in one go against Qin Dayong. How much would he wager against Liu Kai?