《Who says retiring at the speed of light doesn’t make you a hero?》 The Story Begins with Farewell "Here¡¯s two thousand bucks. Is this enough to cover the cost of your sheets?" Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on the woman''s face. Lin Cheng looked at the woman before him, who was fastening the buttons on her white shirt, with an odd expression. Her shirt was not fully buttoned, and her pale, slender collarbone, illuminated by sunlight, resembled a delicate porcelain bowl. Her jet-black hair fell messily across her chest. As she reached the last button, she paused and lifted her gaze slightly to meet Lin Cheng''s eyes. ¡°Are you mute? Speak.¡± Her voice was as cold as ice clinking in a glass. ¡°It¡¯s enough¡­¡± Lin Cheng¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t linger on the stack of red banknotes she had tossed onto the bed. Instead, he shifted his focus from her collarbone to her slender waist. She wore a light blue plaid skirt that was only about 42 cm long, and her long, smooth legs were straight and together. ¡°But I¡¯m not a prostitute,¡± Lin Cheng said, scratching his head. His eyes then traveled down to her slender calves, where she had just put on lace-trimmed white socks. ¡°I know, Lin Cheng. You dropped out of high school, and now, at twenty, you¡¯re an unemployed drifter. Occasionally, you sing in bars or sell flowers. Sometimes your account receives transfers from unfamiliar women. Are you being kept?¡± Lin Cheng¡¯s expression grew even stranger. He looked at the indifferent woman in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and nodded. ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± The woman sneered dismissively, muttering as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°This two thousand is hush money.¡± ¡°Hush money?¡± Lin Cheng asked, puzzled. ¡°Don¡¯t mention meeting me to anyone, and don¡¯t bring up what happened last night. Pretend nothing happened, understand?¡± Lin Cheng hesitated for a few seconds and then nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°If what happened last night gets out¡­¡± The woman lightly bit her lip. In Lin Cheng¡¯s view, three sharp, ice-like shards suddenly appeared, aimed directly at his neck. Lin Cheng hurriedly closed his eyes. The ice shards stopped just before his neck, and the woman¡¯s cold voice whispered in his ear, ¡°You know what will happen.¡± The ice shards instantly melted into water and splashed onto Lin Cheng¡¯s face, effectively giving him a cold splash. Lin Cheng wasn¡¯t angry; he took a tissue from the table and wiped his face. Looking at the woman, he asked, ¡°You weren¡¯t lying last night, were you? You really have abilities?¡± ¡°Just so you know.¡± The woman sat on the edge of the bed and put on her black short boots, which had white lace trim. After putting them on, she stood up. Lin Cheng, who had just gotten up from the bed, was slightly taller than her. He lowered his head slightly to meet her gaze. ¡°Alright¡­ are you leaving?¡± Lin Cheng asked tentatively. ¡°Why would I stay here?¡± The woman cast a disdainful glance at him. Lin Cheng looked a bit troubled. ¡°Your attitude was different last night.¡± Before he could finish, the woman raised her voice. ¡°Forget what happened last night!¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Lin Cheng raised his hands in surrender and walked to her side. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs together. I¡¯m hungry. How about we get a pancake?¡± Lin Cheng picked up a red banknote from the bed, ignoring the faint bloodstain on the sheet, and walked out of the fifteen-square-meter rental apartment with the woman. The elevator was right outside the door. Lin Cheng glanced at the woman¡¯s reflection in the elevator mirror. Her expression was indeed excessively indifferent. Last night, when she bit her lip, she wasn¡¯t like this. ¡°You smell really nice,¡± Lin Cheng commented awkwardly. The woman slowly turned her head and gave him an especially cold look. At that moment, Lin Cheng felt a shiver down his spine and quickly retracted his head, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be quiet.¡± The elevator soon reached the first floor. The early spring weather was warm and sunny, with peach blossoms scattered on the ground. It had rained the night before, and today was bright and sunny. The pancake stall on the roadside was still open, not yet closed. ¡°Do you want one? I¡¯ll treat you,¡± Lin Cheng hesitated before offering. The woman gave him a cold glance and sneered. ¡°Right, you don¡¯t seem like someone who eats pancakes. Boss, one pancake with egg, sausage, and pork floss, extra spicy.¡± Lin Cheng thought for a moment. ¡°Where are you going? How about I give you a ride?¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°With your old, broken motorcycle?¡± ¡°No, even though the bike is old, I ride it steadily, right? I got you home safely in the heavy rain yesterday.¡± The woman¡¯s gaze turned cold once again. Lin Cheng slapped himself on the cheek and asked, ¡°So, you¡¯re leaving?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Will we stay in touch?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Alright then. What if fate brings us together again?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s cross that bridge when we come to it.¡± The woman turned her eyes away and walked straight to the curb, seemingly waiting for a taxi. Lin Cheng followed behind, his eyes lingering on her elegant figure and long, snow-white legs beneath her skirt. The gentle breeze lifted the hem of her skirt, creating a wistful image. Unfortunately, beneath the skirt were white lace-trimmed pumpkin pants. As she neared the taxi, Lin Cheng suddenly remembered something. He grabbed the freshly made jianbing and hurried to the curb. Just as the woman settled into the taxi, she looked at him with a cold, slightly impatient expression. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just a reminder¡­ remember to take your medicine.¡± The woman¡¯s chest rose and fell with her breath. She gave Lin Cheng one last, lingering look before uttering a single word. ¡°Scram.¡± The taxi drove away, and Lin Cheng stood by the curb, taking a silent bite of the jianbing.
Lin Cheng wasn¡¯t in a hurry to return home. He had some errands to run, so he waited by the curb with the jianbing. After a few minutes, a silver sports car pulled up. ¡°How do you open the door?¡± Lin Cheng puzzled over the mechanism but couldn¡¯t figure it out. Just as he asked, the door opened automatically. He climbed into the passenger seat, buckled up, and glanced at the girl driving. She wore a white shirt, a pink plaid skirt, and had shoulder-length hair. She looked like a youthful high school student, an odd contrast to the luxurious sports car. Her skin was milky white, and her slender calves resembled a doll¡¯s. ¡°Litchi, your age is really more suited for a JK uniform,¡± Lin Cheng mumbled. ¡°What?¡± The girl named Litchi glanced back at him. ¡°I met a girl around twenty-one or twenty-two last night who was wearing a similar uniform. The bar was too dark to see clearly, and I mistook her for an innocent high school girl. I was deceived,¡± Lin Cheng said with a hint of annoyance. ¡°That was Lu Xiaoxiao, a Judicator from the Alliance.¡± The [Alliance] is the largest official organization of superhumans, and Judicators are the title for battle groups dealing with heretical threats. A century ago, natural disasters struck the world, with sudden spatial rifts opening intermittently. Alien killing machines invaded and slaughtered indiscriminately. Some humans awakened special powers during that chaotic time. Three years ago, the largest spatial rift was closed by the strongest human in history, significantly reducing disaster frequency. The legendary Judicator disappeared after closing the rift. ¡°How do you know?¡± Lin Cheng finished the last bite of the jianbing. ¡°Do you think our bar doesn¡¯t have surveillance? I saw you leave the bar with her and ride a motorcycle to her place.¡± ¡°Well, you could have given me a ride,¡± Lin Cheng mumbled. ¡°The boss wasn¡¯t speaking up, so who would dare to ruin your fun?¡± Litchi¡¯s voice carried a hint of sarcasm. ¡°Stop being sarcastic.¡± ¡°Dare to sneak a bite and not let me comment?¡± Litchi¡¯s cheeks puffed slightly as the sports car began to accelerate. The wind howled in Lin Cheng¡¯s ears, drowning out his voice. ¡°I wasn¡¯t hiding anything from you, so it¡¯s not really sneaking.¡± The sports car sped from the suburbs to the city, tearing through streets and arriving at Rose Street in the west of the city in twenty minutes. It parked in the designated spot. Just as Lin Cheng was unfastening his seatbelt to get out, Litchi¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Explain.¡± ¡°Explain what?¡± He turned to look at Litchi, who was crossing her arms and pouting, clearly sulking. ¡°Explain what happened last night.¡± ¡°Last night¡­ the new bar of ours opened, so I went to check it out. I met that¡­ Xiaoxiao.¡± ¡°Lu Xiaoxiao.¡± ¡°Oh right, Lu Xiaoxiao¡­ I saw her drinking alone, so I went over to keep her company and had a few drinks with her. It was to boost our bar¡¯s performance anyway, and she paid.¡± ¡°The entire bar belongs to you¡­ Do you really need that little bit of money?¡± Litchi took a deep breath, clearly unimpressed by Lin Cheng¡¯s attempt at humor. ¡°Alright, I was attracted by her white silk stockings. It¡¯s her fault for acting so young at twenty-one or twenty-two! Then¡­ I had a couple of drinks with her, mostly listened to her talk. Drunk and frustrated girls tend to ramble.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°And then she insisted on coming home with me. You know, it¡¯s unsafe for a girl to be alone at a bar late at night, so I¡­ took her home.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°And then¡­¡± Lin Cheng grew increasingly guilty. He quickly skipped over this part. ¡°In the morning, she gave me two thousand yuan.¡± Litchi looked at his resentful expression. Despite her earlier icy demeanor, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°And you just accepted it?¡± ¡°It was money I earned, why not take it?¡± Lin Cheng replied confidently, then pouted. ¡°And then she told me not to contact her again. Hmph, women can be so cold and indifferent once they put on clothes.¡± ¡°¡­Are you sure you didn¡¯t use sweet talk to seduce her to your place?¡± ¡°Such things rely on talent,¡± Lin Cheng pointed to his face. ¡°That woman even used the Alliance¡¯s authority to check my identity and found out you transferred money to me. She thought I was a kept man and used the money to humiliate me.¡± Litchi gave him a resigned sideways glance and slightly pouted. ¡°Forget it. You can explain the rest to Sister Grape. She didn¡¯t sleep all night and almost came here to burn that woman. I had to stop her several times.¡± ¡°I knew my Litchi was the best.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Litchi seemed used to his tone and ignored his attempt to flatter her. She got out of the car with him. Though she wasn¡¯t tall, her figure was well-proportioned. At that moment, with her arms crossed and looking sulky, she seemed cold. Lin Cheng, unable to appease her, awkwardly scratched his head and changed the subject. ¡°So, why did you call me today?¡± Litchi walked beside him, her delicate white feet in small leather shoes unintentionally stepping on his foot. ¡°There¡¯s a Judicator from the Alliance who wins money at your casino every day¡­ She¡¯s already won thirty million this week. Aren¡¯t you concerned at all? A few days ago, when you were singing at the bar, you said you were too busy.¡± ¡°What, thirty million?! Aren¡¯t we a regulated small casino? When did we become able to afford such losses?!¡± Litchi took a deep breath. ¡°You haven¡¯t been paying any attention to our business these years, have you? Can you be a bit more responsible? I¡¯m fed up! I¡¯m resigning!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lin Cheng¡¯s foot was stepped on again. He glanced at Litchi, who looked like a cute girl but was clearly on the verge of losing her temper. Someone is Crying Lin Cheng, a twenty-year-old drifter, moonlights as a bar singer and sells flowers on the side during holidays. He pulled out his phone and logged into the Alliance¡¯s exclusive portal to check his personal details. The site listed his educational background as "high school dropout." At that moment, he and Lychee were in the council hall. Lychee, sitting across from him, had her arms folded and her slender legs crossed. Her legs were encased in delicate 15D white stockings that swayed gently. Summer seemed to be just around the corner, and he had a sudden craving for ice cream. Lin Cheng leaned forward with his phone and asked Lychee, "How do you pronounce this character?" "Yi, high school dropout." "Impressive, being a college student really shows," Lin Cheng remarked, setting his phone aside and glancing at the authority table. "Could you add ''poet'' to my profile? I believe I have the makings of a poet." "Just update it on your main account." "But I deactivated my main account when I retired," Lin Cheng said with a shrug of resignation. "Or perhaps you could elevate my education level. I was only one year away from finishing high school. Isn¡¯t this a bit of educational discrimination?" "¡­¡­" Lychee, weary of the man¡¯s antics, watched him with a smirk as he continued to be playful. She let out a chilly laugh and said, "When Sister Grape finishes her work and arrives, I hope you¡¯re still this lively." "¡­¡­" Lin Cheng fell silent and took a sip of the coffee on the table. His face immediately scrunched up. "It¡¯s so bitter!" "It¡¯s extra strong," Lychee repliedµ­µ­µØ¡£ "So bitter, so bitter, so bitter. Is there any sugar?" "No." "Then why is your cup filled with milk coffee?" "I like milk coffee." "I¡¯ll drink yours." "I¡¯ve already had some." "I don¡¯t mind." Lin Cheng grabbed her coffee cup and took a sip. His frown instantly relaxed. Lychee took a deep breath, watching as he even nibbled on her straw, her small fists clenched tightly. Endure, Lychee, endure. "Wow, it¡¯s so sweet," Lin Cheng said, biting the straw and giving Lychee a playful wink. "It tastes like lychee." Lychee took a deep breath and said, ¡°Can you stop talking nonsense all the time? Boss! The more you surf the internet, the more absurd you become!¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°¡­¡­Don¡¯t you find it amusing?¡± ¡°Ha ha,¡± Lychee responded coldly. ¡°Should I keep laughing?¡± ¡°It really does taste like lychee,¡± Lin Cheng said innocently. ¡°I added lychee,¡± Lychee replied flatly. ¡°So you still think I¡¯m being absurd?¡± ¡°I feel like the lychee you¡¯re referring to isn¡¯t the same as the lychee I added.¡± ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s not the same? Lychee is lychee. It¡¯s my favorite fruit,¡± Lin Cheng said, setting his coffee cup aside. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to business. You can¡¯t joke around with the boss during work hours. Remember, next time your salary will be deducted.¡± Lychee lifted her white-stockinged leg and aimed a kick at him, but Lin Cheng caught her ankle firmly. ¡°Heh, your sneak attacks stopped working on me a year ago.¡± As soon as he let go, Lychee¡¯s other leg kicked out. This time Lin Cheng didn¡¯t defend himself and got lightly kicked. Although Lychee used very little force, Lin Cheng exaggerated his reaction, grimacing in pain. Lychee retracted her leg and picked up the remote control, turning on the large screen in the conference room to display footage from the casino on the thirty-first floor of the building. ¡°This is the woman. Xu Wanyue, a judge from the Alliance. Seven days ago, she came to our casino with just twenty dollars. She started with slot machines and won a hundred thousand dollars before moving to table games. She won at baccarat, poker, blackjack, dice, and roulette, never losing. In just seven days, our casino has suffered a net loss of thirty million. The experts we brought in couldn¡¯t beat her or uncover her cheating methods. Due to regulations, we couldn¡¯t expel her.¡± Lin Cheng focused on the screen for several seconds. Lychee leaned in slightly. ¡°Have you figured anything out, boss?¡± ¡°Those shorts are incredibly short! Her legs are so white, and she has leg rings! It¡¯s outrageous! The way these girls dress nowadays is excessive! It needs to be condemned!¡± Lychee tapped Lin Cheng¡¯s head sharply. ¡°Have you figured it out or not?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t,¡± Lin Cheng shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s not cheating.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± Lychee bit her lip. ¡°Winning like this based solely on luck is less than one in ten million.¡± ¡°Well, maybe she¡¯s just exceptionally lucky,¡± Lin Cheng said with a resigned smile. ¡°Let her be lucky. You can look forward to your five thousand monthly allowance shrinking to five hundred,¡± Lychee warned. ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll meet her. The title of Rose Street¡¯s little gambler isn¡¯t for nothing.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better,¡± Lychee muttered discontentedly. Then her phone rang. After answering, she glanced at Lin Cheng. ¡°You¡¯re in luck. Sister Grape has an urgent matter and can¡¯t make it today.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Anomalous energy fluctuations have appeared in the neighboring K City. According to our agreement, we need to assist the Alliance again this month.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Lin Cheng nodded. ¡°So can I leave now and come back tonight?¡± Lychee smiled at him. ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Lin Cheng looked at her innocently. ¡°I have a game scheduled.¡± ¡°Even though Sister Grape isn¡¯t here, she specifically asked me to check on you and find out what you said to that woman last night¡­ so, no moving.¡± Lychee approached him and pinned him to the chair. She gently cradled his head with her soft, white hands. Lin Cheng¡¯s face was pressed against her gently rising chest, and her slender collarbone was visible through her slightly transparent shirt. A faint floral scent wafted from her, which Lin Cheng vaguely recognized as the perfume he bought from a street vendor for forty bucks last year for Lychee¡¯s birthday. It was probably fake, but it still smelled pleasant. Gradually, Lin Cheng felt drowsy, his eyelids growing heavy. Soon, he fell into Lychee¡¯s embrace, his face nestled against her chest. Lychee held his head tenderly, allowing him to rest. She bit her lip slightly and began to delve into Lin Cheng¡¯s memories. This was her ability as a psychic. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ The story begins on a rainy evening. As a twenty-year-old drifter, Lin Cheng had just finished his flower-selling for the day. The last unsold white rose was tucked into his shirt pocket. He parked his motorcycle at the street corner, locked it, and walked into a newly opened bar on Rose Street. Soft and Fragrant The story between Lin Cheng and Lu Xiaoxiao began around eleven. Lin Cheng effortlessly shifted the conversation from the heavy topic of the trolley problem to contemporary music, then to folk songs, poetry, and from Gu Cheng to Hai Zi, and then to Sartre and Camus. As the evening wore on, Lu Xiaoxiao, already quite drunk, began serving Lin Cheng drinks herself. They then moved on to the nightclub next door. It was Lu Xiaoxiao''s first time there, and from her initial hesitation, she gradually relaxed as Lin Cheng held her close and caressed her waist. At two-thirty in the morning, Lin Cheng rode his motorcycle, leading Lu Xiaoxiao back home. After lying down on the bed, with Lu Xiaoxiao already in a drunken state and having removed her clothes, she brought her face close to his, just a centimeter away, and pressed her soft, petal-like lips against his... and then Lin Cheng pushed her away. Then, Lin Cheng woke up.
¡°Soft and fragrant,¡± Lin Cheng said as he lifted his cheek from Litchi¡¯s chest, then poked her forehead with his finger. ¡°The rest of the memories are not suitable for children. No peeking!¡± Litchi shot him a resentful look. ¡°Do you have any more explanations?¡± ¡°She came onto me first. I... was rather passive,¡± Lin Cheng said with an innocent look. ¡°I¡¯m not guilty.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell her that it¡¯s dangerous for a girl to walk alone at night? And you knew she¡¯s a capable person, so it would be risky?¡± ¡°Yeah, she knew that too. But she was the one who wanted to come home with me,¡± Lin Cheng said, blinking his innocent eyes. ¡°She was already drunk. Handling her would have been a hassle for our bar¡¯s security. As the boss, I should be considerate of my subordinates. This saved our security team quite a bit of trouble.¡± ¡°How dare you say that!¡± Litchi lifted her leg, and this time she wasn¡¯t aiming to step on Lin Cheng¡¯s toes; it looked like she was going to kick him in the face. Lin Cheng hurriedly grabbed her leg. ¡°Stop, oh, come on. Last night... people lose their rationality when drunk. Everything done while drunk should be unrelated to their actions when sober.¡± Litchi¡¯s leg was still in his grasp, and her cheeks reddened slightly. ¡°Let go, you lowbrow.¡± ¡°Next time, don¡¯t lift your leg so high when wearing a skirt. Wait, I haven¡¯t seen you in a skirt for a long time. Aren¡¯t you usually a sportswear girl? Why the sudden change to a skirt?¡± ¡°None of your business.¡± Litchi turned her face away but stole a glance at him. Her cheeks had a faint pink hue, and Lin Cheng looked utterly puzzled. ¡°Could it be that at nineteen, you¡¯ve finally realized you¡¯re actually a young beauty?¡± ¡°Go to hell.¡± Lin Cheng released his hold on her calf, his fingertips still lingering with warmth from earlier when he touched the white silk. Litchi sat down opposite him again and tossed a financial report at him. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the financial report for all our businesses over the past two years. The income and expenses are detailed on this document. Take a look.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, you all manage it.¡± ¡°Look.¡± Litchi¡¯s tone was a bit firmer. Lin Cheng immediately took the financial report and started reviewing it. As he read and pondered, he quickly understood Litchi¡¯s point. A few minutes later, he put down the report. ¡°As expected of you, Litchi. You¡¯ve made two hundred million in just two years.¡± ¡°Two hundred million!!!¡± Litchi hit Lin Cheng on the head with the report. ¡°Wow, two hundred million. My dear Litchi, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Lin Cheng started clapping. Litchi crossed her arms and glared at him with annoyance, pouting slightly. His praise seemed so insincere, which disappointed her. ¡°Forget it. Your salary as a Judge back then was probably more than this, so it¡¯s normal that you don¡¯t care.¡± Litchi¡¯s tone carried a hint of grievance. Lin Cheng spread his hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t take a salary back then.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that just your own idealistic nonsense?¡± ¡°I regret it so much.¡± Lin Cheng said with a bitter face. ¡°If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have played the noble superhero. I should have taken money for every case solved. Otherwise, how could I let my Litchi baby work so hard every day?¡± Litchi¡¯s pout softened a bit. ¡°You know it too.¡± ¡°Come here, let me give your shoulders a rub.¡± ¡°No, you just want to take advantage of me.¡± Litchi shrank back slightly, giving a soft hum. ¡°So why did you really want to retire at that time? The natural disasters had already been resolved.¡± ¡°Yeah, the natural disasters were over. Why would I stay if I didn¡¯t retire?¡± ¡°World peace and general joy should mean it¡¯s time for rewards and promotions, yet you vanished.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Well, honorary titles are of little use. Even the medals I received at the time didn¡¯t turn into much money. I even offered them to a scrap collector, but he didn¡¯t want them.¡± ¡°That was the Starfall Cold Crystal. Do you expect a scrap collector to recognize that? Wait, you didn¡¯t actually sell it, did you?¡± Litchi¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at him. ¡°No, but I don¡¯t know where I misplaced it.¡± Lin Cheng scratched his head and added, ¡°It seems my decision to retire at light speed was right. Fighting monsters was fine for me, but with everyone shouting about justice, morals, and rules, it¡¯s not the same as when I was the passionate, top-of-the-world hero. The current alliance is weird. Look at Lu Xiaoxiao; isn¡¯t she a product of the current alliance system¡¯s pressure?¡± ¡°So you took advantage of her vulnerability?¡± ¡°I was comforting her emotions, okay? She was willing.¡± Lin Cheng answered with a sense of grievance, but Litchi¡¯s gaze remained cold. She stood up and walked to the window. Beneath the transparent window was a bustling street. Rose Street, once known as Fallen Street, was the site of a nefarious organization formed by a group of ordinary ability users with the code name K. They established numerous gray-market industries to amass wealth here. Two years ago, Litchi and Grape took over, transforming Fallen Street into Rose Street. Most of the gray industries were cleaned up, leaving only some marginally related businesses. The casino was one of them, but their casino received alliance certification, paying a certain percentage of its income to remain operational. The remaining businesses included bars, dance halls, and bathhouses¡ªprofitable industries that had made a lot of money over the past two years. The alliance is the only official organization, indirectly managing all private ability user groups and cleansing all rule-breaking ability users with ruthless and iron-fisted methods. As natural disasters became less frequent, previously united humanity began to divide the spoils, with the alliance being the blade holder in charge of distribution. ¡°Grape cried last night,¡± Litchi suddenly turned around and looked at the man sitting in the chair, who was secretly drinking her coffee. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You know why she cried. Don¡¯t play dumb.¡± Litchi said flatly. ¡°If she cried... then she cried.¡± Lin Cheng bit the straw again, ice cubes in his coffee melting slowly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Grape?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you like her?¡± ¡°I only like those who don¡¯t like me.¡± Lin Cheng answered innocently and frankly. Litchi gave him a cold glance. ¡°If you have psychological issues, you should see a doctor.¡± ¡°Feelings can¡¯t be forced.¡± Lin Cheng smiled helplessly, standing up and moving to Litchi¡¯s side to look at the bustling street below. ¡°Has there been any trouble lately?¡± ¡°With Grape and Lemon around, who would dare cause trouble?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Where¡¯s Lemon?¡± ¡°Knowing you would be here today, she didn¡¯t come to the office.¡± ¡°Still sulking?¡± ¡°Serves you right.¡± ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t understand.¡± Lin Cheng reached out to gently pat Litchi¡¯s head. Litchi stepped back, looking resentful. ¡°Don¡¯t take advantage of me; you¡¯re only a year older than me.¡± ¡°A year is still a lot.¡± Litchi¡¯s cheeks puffed out slightly. ¡°I have things to do. There¡¯s a bookstore on the fifteenth floor. Go sit there for a while. The woman named Xu Wanyue comes every night at eight. I¡¯ll let you know when she arrives.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Lin Cheng obediently turned around, left the meeting room, and took the elevator to the bookstore on the fifteenth floor. He randomly picked up a poetry collection and sat in a corner, flipping through it.
Litchi wasn¡¯t lying to Lin Cheng; she indeed had things to do. For the past two years, she had been managing everything on Rose Street, so she hadn¡¯t worn such... youthful outfits in a long time. She had a meeting in the afternoon regarding an investment in a pharmaceutical company. She changed into a white shirt and a black pencil skirt in the dressing room. Given it was summer, she chose 15D black stockings, paired with black high heels, and wore gold-rimmed glasses. Her jet-black hair was pinned up with a shark clip, completely transforming her demeanor. She had worn something similar in front of Lin Cheng before, and his evaluation was... ¡°A baby face shouldn¡¯t wear such mature clothes.¡± She didn¡¯t listen to him. The meeting went smoothly, as the other party¡¯s company wasn¡¯t insignificant and had a background of ability-user families. However, halfway through the negotiations, the representative suddenly asked Litchi if she was available for dinner that evening. ¡°Is it really just dinner?¡± Litchi tilted her head, her voice innocent and naive, with a strangely endearing contrast given her current outfit. The representative, having been exposed, wasn¡¯t embarrassed and explained that they wanted to understand who was operating behind Litchi or to determine if she was eligible to share in the benefits of the deal. ¡°Qualification?¡± Litchi murmured softly, ¡°My boss is a lousy person, just someone who knows how to live off others and do nothing.¡± The representative¡¯s expression shifted to one of surprise, waiting for Litchi¡¯s next words. Litchi thoughtfully pulled a silver ornament from her pocket and placed it gently on the table. The moment it was set down, the atmosphere in the meeting room turned icy. The partner, who had previously shown a hint of disdain toward Litchi, now broke out in a cold sweat. His body stiffened, beads of sweat rolling down his face, and his voice began to tremble. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s something from Sister Grape. She gave it to me as a gift. The Silver Wings have been disbanded for a long time, so no need to be so scared,¡± Litchi said softly, pushing a tissue towards the trembling partner and smiling at him. ¡°So, do you think we qualify now?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, definitely.¡± Litchi stood up, her demeanor graceful. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. We¡¯re just businessmen looking to make some money. We don¡¯t need your small business. However, we can only provide some research funding and no technical support. Do you think we need to revise the contract?¡± ¡°Revise, definitely revise¡­ How about fifty percent profit after the drugs are released?¡± Originally, the contract had specified a profit sharing of 0.7 percent, but just that 0.7 percent, according to Litchi¡¯s calculations, already yielded nearly ten times the return. Litchi¡¯s lips curled up slightly, but she remained silent, only looking at him with a gentle gaze. ¡°If you think it¡¯s appropriate¡­ then it¡¯s appropriate.¡± ¡°Sixty percent, sixty percent is our utmost sincerity¡­¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Litchi murmured softly, her fingers twirling a strand of hair by her ear, appearing somewhat troubled. After about five or six seconds of silence, the partner beside her seemed to be on the verge of collapse, as if about to kneel. ¡°Seventy percent¡­ Absolutely, absolutely can¡¯t be more.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s settle on that,¡± Litchi¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she stood up, her steps light. She picked up the silver ornament from the table, smiling softly. ¡°I thought most people had forgotten about the Silver Wings.¡± The partner beside her wiped his sweat, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet Litchi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who¡­ would dare forget?¡± he replied, trembling. Litchi shook her head. ¡°The Silver Wings have been disbanded. There will be no more Silver Wings from now on. Sister Grape is now quite gentle, so there¡¯s no need to be so scared.¡± The partner could not immediately respond to Litchi¡¯s words. Everyone knew that the mercurial, cold-blooded woman who used to kill without a second thought seemed unlikely to have changed. Gambling Scene
Evening, Seven o''clock. Lin Cheng had been seated in the bookstore for seven hours straight. He hadn''t moved from his spot except to switch books. Occasionally, the bookstore staff refilled his disposable water cup. At last, after finishing her tasks, Litchi arrived at Lin Cheng¡¯s side, still in her office attire. She waved her hand in front of him. Lin Cheng looked up. "What are you reading?" "Gu Cheng¡¯s poetry." "It seems that scumbags often find common ground," Litchi remarked disdainfully, clearly holding Gu Cheng in contempt¡ªa man who ultimately killed his wife and himself, seen as no better than a giant baby. "You look distant when you gaze at me, but close when you look at the clouds," Lin Cheng said, closing his book. "We can¡¯t deny his poetic achievements just because he was a scumbag. Though, he was indeed a damned scumbag." "What¡¯s with this distant and close talk?" "Gu Cheng¡¯s sense of distance and closeness." Lin Cheng¡¯s expression was unusually earnest. His eyes gently rested on Litchi¡¯s face, observing the beads of sweat on her fair forehead. He softly said, "You¡¯ve worked hard." Litchi turned her face away, seeming a bit uncomfortable with his gaze. She muttered, "I didn¡¯t know you actually care." "It¡¯s rare to see you dressed like this. Are those stockings ultra-thin? May I touch them? Just a touch." Lin Cheng said as he set the poetry book aside and slowly reached towards Litchi¡¯s slender legs covered by black stockings. However, before he could touch her, Litchi turned back and pulled a book from the shelf, lightly tapping him on the head with it. "Go to hell." Lin Cheng withdrew his hand, looking disappointed. 7:30 p.m. Lin Cheng and Litchi were in the surveillance room. In front of Lin Cheng was a bowl of ramen. He checked several times, "This ramen wasn¡¯t cooked by you, was it?" "No." "Good." Lin Cheng happily picked up his chopsticks and began slurping the noodles. He had previously experienced Litchi''s cooking, and given that she had earned an advanced degree by the age of fourteen, her culinary skills were, to say the least, lacking. The surveillance screens showed scenes from the casino on the top floor. Though it was only 7:30, the casino was already lively. Men in suits and women in elegant attire, their bright eyes moving through the crowd, and waitresses dressed formally, all created an intriguing scene with the piled-up chips and the varied expressions of disappointment and joy on the gamblers'' faces.
"Let me see the previous surveillance footage of Xu Wanyue." Lin Cheng accessed the earlier footage featuring Xu Wanyue. She appeared to be around twenty-one or twenty-two, with finely sculpted features. Each time she visited, she wore something provocatively stylish¡ªultra-short shorts, tiny tank tops, backless evening gowns, pleated skirts, lace-trimmed strapless dresses¡ªall of which invariably drew the attention of many gamblers. As Lin Cheng watched her move through the casino while eating his noodles, Litchi sat nearby, her legs encased in black stockings crossed beneath her pencil skirt. "Did you spot anything?" "Nothing." Lin Cheng finished the last of the soft-boiled egg. "But it¡¯s a great complement to the noodles." "We¡¯ve already lost thirty million," Litchi said, her gaze somber. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "But this year¡¯s revenue is two hundred million. We still have plenty to lose," Lin Cheng replied casually. His monthly expenses were covered by Litchi¡ªfive thousand a month. When he ran out of money, he could request more, as long as he provided a reason. Litchi was particularly meticulous about these matters. However, since it was a rule they had set, Lin Cheng didn¡¯t mind. After all, a true master is always adept at making the most of situations. "Have you figured out how she was cheating?" "She wasn¡¯t cheating." Lin Cheng shook his head. "At least, I didn¡¯t see any evidence of cheating." "I refuse to believe that... Statistically, it¡¯s almost impossible," Litchi said, her brows knitting together in frustration. As a probability expert and a skilled gambler, Litchi knew just how improbable it was to turn twenty bucks into thirty million within three days. "She was just extremely lucky." "That¡¯s absolutely impossible." "No, what I mean is..." Lin Cheng chuckled, belched, leaned back in his chair, and his voice took on a slightly enigmatic tone. "Her luck was extraordinary." Litchi was about to argue further but suddenly fell silent. It took her several seconds to regain her composure. "So... that¡¯s how it is." "So, how do we get our money back?" Litchi asked Lin Cheng. Lin Cheng stretched lazily and replied, "According to the rules, she won that money through her own skill. We shouldn¡¯t take it back. After all, the casino should abide by its own rules."
"Are you a stickler for the rules?" "I believe I am." "Win against her, and I¡¯ll let you touch my black stockings." "Deal!" Lin Cheng sprang to his feet, his earlier lethargy giving way to sudden enthusiasm. His eyes locked onto Litchi¡¯s slender calves, slightly raised, her toes gently tapping in her black high heels. "Stop drooling, hehe..." Litchi shot him a disapproving look.
8 PM. In the surveillance footage downstairs, Xu Wanyue, the Alliance adjudicator, appeared as scheduled. She stepped out of a taxi, and upon seeing her, Litchi''s frustration was palpable. "She really has the nerve to come back." "Disappointing," Lin Cheng remarked, his gaze critical of her outfit. Xu Wanyue was tall and well-proportioned, dressed today in a white tank top. Her slightly wavy black hair cascaded over her shoulders, revealing her delicate collarbone and an endearing belly button. However, her loose-fitting denim jeans concealed her long, graceful legs. Lin Cheng turned to Litchi, noticing her annoyed expression. "It¡¯s odd. Why are you so upset?" "When she won five million, I played Texas Hold¡¯em with her all night." "And you lost?" "Even though her every expression was so clear and readable, I still lost five million." "That makes sense." Lin Cheng and Litchi had been friends for years. Litchi, proud and exceptionally skilled at Texas Hold¡¯em, would understandably be particularly irked by a loss in her area of expertise.
Lin Cheng''s eyes finally revealed some interest. ¡°My name is Lin Cheng. Today, I¡¯ll be your opponent. I suppose you could say I¡¯m a skilled player hired by the casino.¡± ¡°What are we betting on?¡± Litchi had already set up the box, arranging the chips in front of Lin Cheng. The stack was a billion chips high, forming a small mountain. ¡°I¡¯m open to anything. The choice is yours,¡± Lin Cheng said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m flexible too. You decide.¡± ¡°Very well. Before we start, I¡¯d like to ask you a question, Miss Xu Wanyue.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you believe gambling is a game of luck?¡± Lin Cheng asked, his smile never fading as he looked into her eyes. Xu Wanyue tilted her head thoughtfully. ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Lin Cheng pushed one of the two dice cups on the table toward Xu Wanyue. ¡°Let¡¯s roll the dice and compare our totals. Each of us will use five dice. The highest possible total is thirty, and the lowest is five.¡± Xu Wanyue frowned slightly. ¡°What¡¯s the point of a game if I can¡¯t be sure you¡¯re not cheating? I¡¯ve heard that seasoned gamblers can easily manipulate the dice.¡± ¡°I understand your concern.¡± Lin Cheng tapped the table lightly. ¡°So, you¡¯ll be the one to roll the dice. We¡¯ll simply compare the sum of the totals. The highest total wins. If it¡¯s a tie, we move to the next round. Each round¡¯s stake is ten million.¡± Xu Wanyue studied Lin Cheng for several seconds, her expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°The dice are yours to inspect. You can roll both sets and choose which one you want to use. I¡¯ll use the remaining set. If you have any other requests, feel free to mention them.¡± Xu Wanyue¡¯s only concern surfaced. She looked up slightly, biting her lip. ¡°If I win all your chips, will I be able to leave here safely?¡± ¡°Of course. The Alliance behind you is our trusted partner. We would never harm a friend. Besides, cheating gamblers goes against the rules.¡± Lin Cheng leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlocked, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on her. ¡°Alright,¡± Xu Wanyue said, narrowing her eyes slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s begin. I¡¯m eager to see where your confidence truly lies."
05 Tremors The game was officially underway. Xu Wanyue handed her bank card to Litchi for chip exchange. Before her lay 30 million in chips, which seemed paltry compared to Lin Cheng¡¯s 100 million. Despite her immense confidence, Xu Wanyue''s breathing grew slightly rapid. In such a high-stakes game, the atmosphere felt almost playful. With 30 million pitted against 100 million, Xu Wanyue had only three chances to lose, while Lin Cheng had ten. Statistically, Lin Cheng had the upper hand, but as Xu Wanyue had earlier stated, gambling is ultimately a game of luck. In the first round, Xu Wanyue picked up the two dice cups, shook them, and set them down on the table. Turning to Lin Cheng, she said, ¡°For this round, you have the first choice. Which one will you take?¡± Lin Cheng chose the left cup. When opened, the total of the five dice was 23 points. He immediately beamed, his pride evident. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m in a great position to win.¡± However, his pride barely lasted three seconds before Xu Wanyue revealed her cup, showing 24 points. Lin Cheng¡¯s smile faded as he pushed 10 million in chips toward Xu Wanyue. Litchi stood by the table with a calm demeanor, her eyes betraying no hint of concern or disappointment. With the boss involved, victory was all but assured. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ The second round began. The two dice cups, having been shaken, were set on the table. Xu Wanyue rested her chin on her hand and looked at Lin Cheng. ¡°This time, you still have the first choice.¡± Lin Cheng opted for the right cup. It revealed just six points. His face fell instantly. Xu Wanyue opened her cup to reveal twelve points. Lin Cheng had to fork over another 10 million in chips to Xu Wanyue. In the third round, Xu Wanyue once again gave Lin Cheng the first choice, and he lost. In the fourth round, Lin Cheng lost again. In the fifth round, Lin Cheng lost once more. Lin Cheng¡¯s chips dwindled to 50 million, while Xu Wanyue¡¯s stack had grown to 80 million, piled high like a small mountain. Despite this, her expression remained unchanged, betraying no visible joy. Lin Cheng¡¯s face, in turn, showed no significant disappointment. The bizarre scene at the gambling table was marked by winners who felt no joy and losers who felt no sorrow. ¡°Do you want to keep going?¡± Xu Wanyue askedµ­µ­µØ, her gaze steady. ¡°I¡¯m offering you the chance to end the game.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Lin Cheng took a long swig from the Coke bottle on the table, finishing it with a contented burp. ¡°You must find this quite tedious too, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Winning all the time is indeed monotonous,¡± Xu Wanyue replied without even lifting her eyelashes, her tone laced with disdain. It seemed the only pleasure she derived was from the 50 million figure. ¡°There¡¯s no excitement in gambling like this,¡± Lin Cheng sighed softly. Xu Wanyue looked up. ¡°After losing 50 million on behalf of the boss, shouldn¡¯t you be considering how you¡¯re going to handle the rest of the night?¡± Lin Cheng smiled. ¡°That¡¯s not a concern. Litchi is a good girl.¡± Xu Wanyue was momentarily surprised. She had thought Lin Cheng was merely a skilled player Litchi had brought in to replace her. After all, she had sensed nothing extraordinary from him; he seemed like an ordinary person. But now, judging by his comment and Litchi¡¯s helpless expression, it seemed his role was more significant. The atmosphere grew slightly odd. Xu Wanyue shook the dice cups on the table. ¡°So, does that mean you want to continue?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°You choose first,¡± Lin Cheng said In the sixth round, Lin Cheng rolled fifteen points. Xu Wanyue rolled seventeen. Lin Cheng lost. In the seventh round, Lin Cheng rolled thirteen points. Xu Wanyue rolled thirty. Lin Cheng lost again. At this point, Lin Cheng had only 30 million in chips left, while Xu Wanyue¡¯s stack had swelled to 100 million. The balance of power at the gambling table had shifted. Xu Wanyue glanced at Litchi, but her expression remained unchanged. She remembered that night at the gambling table, where, despite Litchi¡¯s best efforts to conceal it, her frustration was palpable after losing 5 million. Why was she now so composed? This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Lin Cheng toyed with the chips on the table and looked up at Xu Wanyue. ¡°If you wish, I can end the game now. You can take this 100 million in chips downstairs, exchange it for cash, and leave.¡± Xu Wanyue¡¯s expression revealed her confusion. What is going on? ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Xu Wanyue¡¯s lips curled into a subtle smile. It must be said that a beautiful woman¡¯s smile has a disarming charm that can leave one spellbound. Lin Cheng, however, did not feel any insult from the mockery. He simply smiled with resignation. ¡°You¡¯re not a professional gambler. In the world of gambling, you¡¯re merely a novice. At first, you lacked confidence, so you played it safe on your first day here. From the second day onwards, you started competing with other gamblers, and your attire changed to be slightly more alluring. Men naturally let their guard down around attractive women, and you¡¯re a somewhat clever girl who knows how to use her advantages. After making some money, you grew more confident, but also began to find it tiresome.¡± ¡°A game where you can¡¯t lose is a rather dull night,¡± Lin Cheng sighed softly. ¡°I had hoped there would be some leg rings to see today.¡± Xu Wanyue¡¯s expression grew puzzled. Why had his tone suddenly shifted? ¡°If you want, you can take the 100 million in chips and leave now, but you won¡¯t be allowed back into this casino in the future. Such an offer is quite generous.¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to leave?¡± ¡°Greed is not a virtue,¡± Lin Cheng replied with a smile. ¡°No, I¡¯m just betting... I won¡¯t lose next.¡± ¡°What if I told you that you won¡¯t win a single game from now on?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Xu Wanyue¡¯s eyes sparkled with intrigue. She looked at Lin Cheng, trying to understand his source of confidence, but her own confidence remained unwavering. ¡°Then if I win all your chips, you¡¯ll have to play the next game with me,¡± Lin Cheng said, his voice lowering slightly. ¡°Do you accept?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the next game?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t started yet. Are you already worried about losing? If so... you might find yourself abandoned by the goddess of luck,¡± Lin Cheng said playfully. Though it seemed like a casual remark, Xu Wanyue felt a sudden surge of inexplicable unease. This unease brought with it fear, and fear, in turn, ignited... excitement. Her eyes brightened as if she had just awoken. ¡°I¡¯m curious... how do you plan to win?¡± The eighth round began. Xu Wanyue shook the dice herself and looked at Lin Cheng with a hint of disdain. ¡°I¡¯m still giving you the first choice.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the left one.¡± Xu Wanyue opened the dice cup, revealing a total of twenty-nine points. Lin Cheng looked at Xu Wanyue with a smile. ¡°How about surrendering and losing half?¡± But Xu Wanyue¡¯s face betrayed no sign of frustration. She opened her dice cup with a calm demeanor and said, ¡°What if I had rolled a thirty¡­¡± Her voice suddenly faltered. The dice cup revealed a total of twenty-eight points, just one point short of Lin Cheng¡¯s. She had lost. Xu Wanyue stared at the dice cup in disbelief. Despite twenty-eight being a significant number, she remained in a daze for several seconds. When she finally looked up, she encountered Lin Cheng¡¯s indifferent smile. Lin Cheng¡¯s gaze was not on her face but on her slender collarbones, exposed by her white spaghetti strap top. The heat had made her collarbones slightly damp, giving them a faint sheen. An unsettling feeling spread within her. She reached out to luck, but it remained unresponsive... Damn it, why now? The next round began quickly. This time, she chose the dice cup first. When she opened it, she found twenty-nine points, almost a guaranteed win. A chilling premonition settled in Xu Wanyue¡¯s heart. She opened Lin Cheng¡¯s dice cup, and her face turned pale. Thirty points. Lin Cheng won again. The next round commenced. Xu Wanyue¡¯s expression shifted from calm and disdainful to one of shock and panic. In just a few minutes, Litchi, who had been standing quietly, finally allowed a smile to curve her lips. Xu Wanyue shook the dice cup again, her desperation evident as she bit her lip. Yet again, Lin Cheng¡¯s result was slightly higher. At this moment, Lin Cheng¡¯s voice rang out with precise timing. ¡°I told you, you wouldn¡¯t win another game.¡± ¡°Are you quite pleased with yourself?¡± Xu Wanyue¡¯s gaze met his. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Lin Cheng shrugged innocently. Xu Wanyue¡¯s chest heaved with each breath. Lin Cheng¡¯s gaze lingered on her openly, and his scrutinizing look only added to her sense of humiliation. She shook the dice cup one final time, but the result was still... a loss.
No matter how many times she tried¡ªtwice, three times, five times¡ªthe result remained unchanged. Despite her desperate attempts to harness her abilities or invoke ¡°luck,¡± it never answered her call. Lin Cheng¡¯s points always surpassed hers by the tiniest margin, and her stack of chips had been wiped out. Yet, after her chips had vanished completely, she suddenly noticed that the elusive ¡°luck¡± she had been pleading for, which had previously ignored her, was now enveloping her once again. Her luck had moments each month where it seemed less favorable, and it was clear she had just endured one of those periods. But now, her fortune had returned. However, all her chips had been amassed in front of Lin Cheng. Lin Cheng¡¯s gaze turned eager as he looked at Litchi. ¡°You can touch them now¡­¡± Litchi responded with a playful tap on his head, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, and with a touch of mock severity in her voice, she warned him, ¡°Not just yet.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lin Cheng stretched and turned to Xu Wanyue. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for you to join me in the next game.¡± Xu Wanyue, taking a few seconds to shake off the frustration of her recent losses, crossed her arms and fixed Lin Cheng with a steady gaze. ¡°What game do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Playing with just two people¡­ can be quite thrilling¡­ might make you sweat a lot¡­ never mind, it¡¯s too embarrassing.¡± Lin Cheng tapped his own head, as though assisting Litchi with a similar gesture. He then turned to Litchi. ¡°Is everything prepared?¡± ¡°Ready,¡± Litchi¡¯s smile took on a slightly ominous quality. Litchi placed a revolver, capable of holding six bullets, on the poker table. Lin Cheng smiled at Xu Wanyue. ¡°I suppose I don¡¯t need to explain the rules?¡± Xu Wanyue hesitated for a moment, but as she met Lin Cheng¡¯s gaze, she saw that the earlier playfulness and gentleness had given way to a more profound, almost chilling intensity in his eyes. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
The Trap
¡°Alliance¡¯s specially designed explosive rounds can deliver a headshot at close range, even to an A-grade ability user.¡± Lin Cheng lifted the elegantly crafted revolver from the table. This wasn¡¯t standard Alliance equipment but a piece of black market merchandise obtained by Litchi. Alongside it, Litchi had placed a bullet on the table. The atmosphere grew palpably tense. Every sound in the room became sharply pronounced in Xu Wanyue¡¯s ears. Lin Cheng¡¯s deliberate, slow movements as he loaded the gun seemed almost exaggerated. After he finished, he placed the revolver on the table. ¡°The rules are straightforward. It doesn¡¯t matter if you shoot first or if I do; there¡¯s no limit to the number of shots. Each time you shoot, you can take 20 million chips from the table, with no upper limit. When you finish shooting, it will be my turn, and the game continues until all six shots are fired and the game is over.¡± ¡°Do you want to go first, or shall I?¡± At this moment, Lin Cheng¡¯s voice, now gently laced with an unsettling calm, felt like a death knell to Xu Wanyue. She was convinced that she had finally received a response from ¡°luck,¡± yet sweat continued to trickle from her forehead. Her legs, pressed tightly together under the table, were trembling uncontrollably. She raised her hand, but her pale arm began to tremble as well. Lin Cheng¡¯s voice broke the silence again, ¡°If you¡¯re afraid, I can go first.¡± ¡°Do you prefer¡­ for me to go first, or for you to?¡± Xu Wanyue asked, her gaze fixed on Lin Cheng. ¡°I¡¯m fine with either, but out of kindness, I suggest you go first,¡± Lin Cheng replied with a smile. Xu Wanyue suddenly recalled that from the moment Lin Cheng had sat at this gambling table, he had never lied to her. He had offered her the best advice¡ªto leave with the 100 million chips. Yet she hadn¡¯t heeded it¡­ She had reasons she couldn¡¯t leave. Now, she stared into Lin Cheng¡¯s eyes, searching for any sign of deceit or truth. His calm, unwavering gaze oddly steadied her fraught emotions. She pressed the muzzle of the revolver against her temple, her fingers trembling violently. Cold sweat continued to bead on her forehead, and even her smooth shoulders and delicate collarbone were slick with perspiration, as if she had just completed a grueling workout. She closed her eyes and pulled the trigger. ¡°Boom.¡± The deafening shot echoed through the private room.
In an instant, Xu Wanyue collapsed into her chair, her legs splayed open involuntarily. Her body began to tremble and spasm uncontrollably, but when she opened her eyes, she was unharmed. The earlier ¡°boom¡± had only been Lin Cheng¡¯s exclamation. ¡°Twenty million,¡± Lin Cheng said, pushing the chips toward Xu Wanyue. He looked into her eyes and asked, ¡°Do you want to continue?¡± It took Xu Wanyue a moment to regain her composure. Slowly, she straightened up, feeling as if ¡°luck¡± had enveloped her entirely. This had been her source of security for years, but now she began to doubt it. Her trembling body and rapid breathing placed her in an inexplicable state of heightened excitement. Facing Lin Cheng¡¯s smiling face, she suddenly smiled back, but her smile appeared almost deranged compared to Lin Cheng¡¯s playful grin. ¡°I don¡¯t, I don¡¯t believe luck would abandon me!¡± She pressed the revolver¡¯s muzzle against her temple once more and pulled the trigger¡ªonce, twice, three times! Three clicks of the empty chamber. By now, she had pulled the trigger four times and could no longer summon any strength. She slumped back into her chair, unable to fire a fifth shot. Litchi, ever considerate, took a towel and began to wipe the sweat from her forehead. At the same time, the ¡°suggestion¡± lingering in her mind was lifted. ¡°Is it my turn now?¡± Lin Cheng asked, pushing 60 million in chips toward her. He then picked up the revolver from the table, aimed it at his own temple with no hesitation, and pulled the trigger. The expected bloody scene did not unfold. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A single click. Lin Cheng smiled. ¡°Only one shot remains, and it¡¯s your turn.¡± He aimed the revolver at Xu Wanyue¡¯s forehead, adjusting the aim to her brow. Xu Wanyue¡¯s eyes widened in fear. ¡°No... please... don¡¯t...¡± ¡°The chance of the revolver misfiring is one in a million, much like the odds of winning 30 million at the casino in three days.¡± Lin Cheng¡¯s smile gradually faded, and his eyes grew serious as his finger rested on the trigger. ¡°I suspect you lack the courage to make this shot, so... I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°No... please... I beg you...¡± Lin Cheng pulled the trigger. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ Xu Wanyue, slumped in her chair, felt the warm dampness on her body. She clearly heard the gunshot this time; it was not an empty click. However, the bullet merely grazed past her head, striking a painting on the wall. The private room¡¯s wall was reinforced with special metal, preventing a direct crack. But Litchi instinctively exclaimed, ¡°My painting!¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Lin Cheng looked up at her. Litchi¡¯s gaze was heavy with sadness. ¡°This painting was purchased for 800,000.¡± ¡°¡­ Make her cover the cost,¡± Lin Cheng said, setting down the revolver and pointing at Xu Wanyue, who was now completely exhausted and unable to move. Her eyes were hollow, and she was gasping for breath, unable to speak. ¡°The game is over. My shooting skills remain as poor as ever. If you want to take the 80 million, you¡¯re welcome to it.¡± Xu Wanyue remained silent, looking utterly defeated. Lin Cheng rose, stretched lazily, and a smug grin spread across his face as he addressed Litchi. ¡°So, what do you think? Wasn¡¯t I impressive? I called it, and I won.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Litchi removed the cracked painting from the wall and looked at Lin Cheng with a hint of resentment. ¡°But my painting is ruined, so¡­ you don¡¯t get to touch it either.¡± Lin Cheng¡¯s face fell instantly, and he looked at Litchi with a mixture of hurt and disbelief. ¡°How can you do this? I protest!¡± ¡°Protests are futile.¡± Litchi crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°Yuyu, Zisha.¡± Lin Cheng picked up the revolver from the table, reloaded it with a bullet, and fired four blank shots at himself. He set the revolver down again and muttered, ¡°Such a dull ability.¡± ¡°How did you win against her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret,¡± Lin Cheng said, his expression turning smug once more. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°Alchemy operates on the principle of equivalent exchange,¡± Lin Cheng said with a playful glint in his eye. ¡°I¡¯ll let you touch it later,¡± Litchi said in a lowered voice, her curiosity barely contained. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ¡°Her ability is luck,¡± Lin Cheng said, glancing at Xu Wanyue, who was still lying in the chair, trying to recover. ¡°Can luck truly be considered an ability?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite complex. Her ability is of an exceptionally high tier. Think of it this way: she¡¯s the kind of person who, if she consistently wishes to win the lottery, would at least win second prize. And as long as she believes, she can continue to be lucky.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡­¡± ¡°Yes, exactly. So I gave her a psychological suggestion that her ability would malfunction for a few minutes each month. In truth, her ability didn¡¯t fail; she merely thought it did. As a result, she lost her luck and lost to me. Her ability is inherently subjective.¡± Litchi¡¯s power lies in the psychological domain, especially advanced branches of it, one of which includes psychological suggestion. When she and Xu Wanyue were heading upstairs earlier, Litchi pretended to trip and unintentionally touched Xu Wanyue¡¯s hand, subtly planting the idea that her ability would temporarily fail for five minutes within the next ten minutes. This led Xu Wanyue to believe that her luck had abandoned her, making her think she was no longer fortunate. Consequently, when the dice game ended, she mistook the timing as her luck returning, which encouraged her to continue with the revolver game. ¡°So how did you manage to win against her?¡± ¡°When she doesn¡¯t believe in her own luck¡­ she is left with nothing but misfortune. That¡¯s the hidden rule of her ability.¡± Lin Cheng¡¯s smile was enigmatic. ¡°So I didn¡¯t really do anything; it was all thanks to you.¡± Litchi seemed to grasp part of it but was still uncertain, then suddenly reached out and pulled Lin Cheng out of the room. She slammed the door shut behind them. ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ In the corridor, Litchi folded her arms and looked at Lin Cheng with a scrutinizing gaze, while Lin Cheng¡¯s expression remained innocent. ¡°Did I inadvertently help you flirt with women?¡± ¡°I had no intention of flirting with her.¡± Litchi¡¯s lips curled into a skeptical smile. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that.¡± ¡°Once suspicion is raised, the accusation sticks. But at least give me a reasonable cause for your suspicion,¡± Lin Cheng said with a resigned smile. ¡°You don¡¯t usually¡­ treat people like this. Was this a bit¡­ excessive?¡± Litchi hesitated, her tone revealing concern. Though not particularly demure, she understood that Lin Cheng was generally a kind-hearted person who wouldn¡¯t normally act this way toward a woman. ¡°You¡¯ve overlooked two things,¡± Lin Cheng said softly. ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°First, why did she dress so extravagantly when she came here a few days ago? It wasn¡¯t to distract the man she was gambling with because she knew her luck would guarantee her victory. Her flamboyant attire was meant for someone specific. Can you guess who?¡± ¡°Second, why did she choose to stay and try to win the remaining 30 million from me, even though she could easily have taken the 100 million and left? Money is just a number; whether more or less doesn¡¯t make much difference to her. She¡¯s not a real gambler, so she should have chosen the safest route.¡± Litchi¡¯s eyes narrowed with growing suspicion. Lin Cheng¡¯s meaning was becoming increasingly clear, and Xu Wanyue¡¯s identity as an Alliance Judicator was no secret. ¡°Perhaps she isn¡¯t concerned with winning or losing. Maybe she came here just to draw our attention. An ability user with luck is a coveted asset for major organizations. Our progress in the Alliance has been closely monitored, and it¡¯s natural to feel uneasy. And we¡­ definitely need someone with her abilities.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need turncoats,¡± Litchi scoffed. ¡°No, we need her,¡± Lin Cheng sighed in resignation. ¡°Her ability could be beneficial for Lemon.¡±