Chapter Forty-Three: Gao Youde’s Threat

I got up to open the door, and it was gently pushed open. The person who entered was Sister Hong, carrying several items in her hands, her expression grave.

“Sister Hong, it’s so late—what’s the matter?” I sat up, a vague sense of unease stirring in my heart.

She walked to the side of my bed and handed me what she was holding. I looked down: a fake identity card, a train ticket, and an airline ticket.

“You must leave Ruijing immediately.” Her voice was low and resolute.

“Why?” I frowned. “Tomorrow morning is the stone gambling—you’re telling me to leave now? What do you mean by that?”

“Suli isn’t someone simple. There’s a more complex force behind her.” Sister Hong sighed. “When she left your room just now, I saw her make a phone call—it seemed she was contacting someone.”

My heart tightened. Was Suli really going to send someone after me? But all I did was refuse to lose, wasn’t it? Surely that wasn’t enough to warrant fleeing Ruijing?

“Sister Hong, I don’t think it’s necessary to be so nervous. I have the strength to handle this.”

I tried to reassure her—and myself.

“You don’t understand Suli’s background,” she shook her head. “Her ex-boyfriend is actually the owner of an underground casino. Her father’s current predicament is because of that casino. She urgently needs money to fill that hole, and you’re the only lifeline she can think of.”

I was stunned; I hadn’t expected things to be so complicated.

I looked at Sister Hong. “I know what you’re saying, but so what? Other than blood, there’s nothing between me and Suli. She tried to persuade me to lose just now... I didn’t agree!”

“There’s no connection between us!”

Suli’s background had caught me off guard, and her willingness to do whatever it took was even more unsettling. The deeper reason behind all this was a blur to me.

“Leave Ruijing first. I prepared this fake identity and tickets ahead of time. Go to Kunming, then decide your next move based on the situation. There’s identification and a passport. If you stay in the country, find some remote place and disappear. If you go abroad, you’ll have even more freedom. I’ll transfer all the money to your salary card.” Her eyes were full of determination. “I’ll stay here and continue investigating, find out who’s behind Suli.”

“I understand, Sister Hong. Thank you.” I took the fake ID and tickets, smiled faintly, and then pulled a lighter from my jeans.

With a flick, I set them ablaze.

“But... I don’t need them.”

Sister Hong was taken aback by my ungrateful attitude, her gaze cold. “I brought you into stone gambling, but you’ve changed so much, Wang Hu—I hardly recognize you now.”

The flames danced across the fake ID and tickets, casting a complex light across Sister Hong’s face.

I looked at her calmly. “People change, Sister Hong. You change, too, don’t you?”

Her eyes flickered with pain, but she quickly regained composure. “You don’t understand. This is more complicated than you think. Gao Youde isn’t an ordinary opponent, and the forces behind him are beyond your imagination.”

I scoffed, “Weren’t we just talking about Suli? If I’m not mistaken, Suli’s actually your person, isn’t she?”

Sister Hong’s expression froze, and she stared at me.

Then she whispered, “I’m doing this for your own good.”

“I know you mean well,” I sighed. “But I can’t just run away. I have my own convictions and dignity. Stone gambling isn’t just my profession—it’s my faith. I won’t abandon it out of fear.”

She fell silent for a moment, then finally spoke. “Fine, if you insist, I won’t persuade you further. But promise me—tomorrow, at the right moment, I’ll give you a signal... you must—”

Just then—

Suddenly, there was a loud crash!

Someone kicked open my door.

Gao Youde, reeking of alcohol, glared at me and Sister Hong, cursing, “You two bastards! I knew you were plotting against me tomorrow!”

Before I could respond, Sister Hong pulled me to her, pressing me against her chest. I stumbled, my arms wrapping around her waist.

The unexpected intimacy left me momentarily flustered, but what shocked me more was how Gao Youde’s face turned livid at the sight.

“You two damn traitors! I knew something was off!”

He roared, his eyes filled with fury and jealousy.

Sister Hong, however, remained unmoved. She stared coldly at Gao Youde, her voice icy. “Gao Youde, don’t make trouble here. You know what we’re doing.”

His expression shifted unpredictably, clearly enraged by her words but also wary.

He took a deep breath, lowered his voice. “Sister Hong, don’t think you can fool me. What are you and this kid up to? From the start, you planned to drag me into this, didn’t you?”

My heart tightened; things were getting even more tangled.

Sister Hong’s hand pressed lightly against my waist, signaling me to keep calm.

She turned to Gao Youde, a hint of mockery in her eyes. “Gao Youde, are you afraid? Didn’t you want Wang Hu to help you settle old scores and take down Chen Leopard? What, just because I’m involved, you’re scared I’ll devour you?”

Gao Youde’s expression grew darker. He swung his arm abruptly, then realized he wasn’t on his own turf.

He awkwardly waved his hand, then looked at us, sneering. “Fine, you two play your games. I’ll go find something else to amuse myself!”

He was about to leave, but paused, as if remembering something unsaid.

Turning back to us, he declared, “You think I’m scared? Ha! Sorry, I, Gao Youde, am never afraid. The ones who should be scared are you two. You have no idea what you’re doing or who you’re up against! Don’t worry, I won’t back down. Tomorrow, we’ll settle everything on the stone gambling field!”

After he left, I pushed Sister Hong away, my eyes full of bewilderment and anger. “Sister Hong, what does all this mean?”

She straightened her clothes, her gaze serious. “Wang Hu, you have no choices left. Gao Youde is certain that you and I are working together. Tomorrow, you’ll have to follow my lead.”

My heart sank, realizing there was no turning back.

She continued, “Tomorrow, at the stone gambling field, we must join forces against Gao Youde and Suli. Only then do we stand a chance.”

I nodded, though doubts lingered in my heart. “And what about the banker, Chen Leopard?”

“Isn’t he the greatest threat of all?”