Lin Xiang's home was in the West City slums, not far from the hotel where Chen Xiaobei was staying—just a five-minute drive away.
Parking his car by the roadside, Chen Xiaobei rushed straight into Lin Xiang's house.
"Teacher Lin! Are you okay?!"
As soon as he reached the door, Chen Xiaobei's face filled with 紧张 ness. The entrance to Lin Xiang's house was splashed with red paint. The shocking color looked particularly eerie at night, and the pungent smell made people feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Xiaobei! You're finally here!"
Lin Xiang ran out and couldn't help but hug Chen Xiaobei. Her voice trembled with fear, and her delicate body shook—clearly, she'd been badly frightened.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here. No matter how big the problem is, I'll solve it." Chen Xiaobei gently patted Lin Xiang's back. She was so fragile, like a wounded kitten—lonely and pitiful, arousing compassion.
They then entered the house. Chen Xiaobei got straight to the point: "What exactly happened?"
Lin Xiang hung her head, bit her lip, and whispered: "My brother… he gambled again. This time he lost 500,000 yuan… I want to borrow this money from you…"
Upon hearing this, a flash of anger appeared in Chen Xiaobei's eyes. Lin Xiang's prodigal brother had lost 300,000 yuan just a few days ago, nearly getting Lin Xiang into trouble with Wang Jianren. In such a short time, he'd actually racked up another 500,000 yuan in debt! It was like pushing Lin Xiang onto a dead end!
"500,000 yuan isn't a big deal for me, but I have to tell you—this kind of thing is like a bottomless pit! Lend him money once, and there will be a second time, a third time, countless times!" Chen Xiaobei said seriously.
Lin Xiang nodded slightly, disappointed: "Of course I understand what you mean, but I really have no choice… My brother and I have depended on each other since childhood. I can't just abandon him, can I?"
"Taking care of him means disciplining him! Not bailing him out again and again, indulging him every time!" Chen Xiaobei said sternly.
"But I can't discipline him…" Lin Xiang shook her head bitterly, her voice choking with tears.
"If you trust me, let me take care of him for you!" Chen Xiaobei's eyes narrowed, assuming the air of a master of the house.
"Really? Can you really help me discipline my brother?"
Lin Xiang's body trembled, and she said earnestly: "As long as you can make my brother quit gambling, I'm willing to do anything to repay you! Even give myself to you!"
"Cough… Well, I'm helping you voluntarily. No repayment needed…" Chen Xiaobei's old face flushed. He spoke righteously, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at Lin Xiang's delicate figure—her stunning chest, slender waist, ripe peach-like hips, plump long legs, plus her almost perfect looks! She was simply a born seductress! If he could really have her, men all over the world would surely be green with envy!
"Bang!"
Just then, the door was kicked open. A frivolous voice came first: "Sis! Come quick! There's a Bugatti Veyron parked at our door! It's so cool it's exploding!"
"Lin Nan is back."
Lin Xiang's eyes flickered, and her expression instantly became complicated—there was joy, anger, and a touch of confusion.
"Ignore him. And don't say anything later. I want to see just how unmanageable he is!" Chen Xiaobei said calmly.
"Oh." Lin Xiang nodded obediently and stayed seated.
Two minutes later, the boy named Lin Nan walked in.
"Sis! I called you just now. Didn't you hear me?"
Lin Nan kicked off his shoes, put on slippers, and swaggered in, ordering: "Sis, go boil me an egg noodle. I'm exhausted after today."
"Your sister worked all day and came back to worry about you! You good-for-nothing gambled all day and have the nerve to say you're tired?!" Chen Xiaobei slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.
"Y-you who are you?"
Lin Nan froze, frowning as he studied Chen Xiaobei carefully. He had a good eye—he could tell Chen Xiaobei's suit was very expensive, and he exclaimed: "Wow! Is that Bugatti Veyron at the door yours?"
"We're talking about you now, not the car!" Chen Xiaobei snapped.
But Lin Nan put on a "dead pig is not afraid of boiling water" attitude, sneering: "Sis, when did you hook this tycoon? I've been telling you to do this, but you wouldn't listen! Were you trying to surprise me?"
"Stop talking nonsense! I didn't do that!" Lin Xiang's eyebrows furrowed, her little face flushed with anger.
"What's there to be shy about? Nowadays, any woman with a bit of looks spends all day trying to catch a rich guy or hook a sugar daddy! With your looks, hooking a tycoon is totally reasonable!" Lin Nan laughed heartlessly.
"In your eyes, is your sister that kind of woman?" Chen Xiaobei's eyes turned cold, his anger rising.
"Oh, brother-in-law, don't look so serious! First, give me 800,000 to 1 million to spend, and I'll make sure my sister serves you well!" Lin Nan laughed frivolously.
"No 800,000 to 1 million, but I've got a big slap for you!" Chen Xiaobei swung his arm back and slapped Lin Nan across the face.
"Pa!"
Lin Nan was knocked to the ground. His cheek instantly swelled up, and he howled in pain, tears streaming down his face.
"Xiao Nan…" Lin Xiang's heart ached, but remembering Chen Xiaobei's words, she forced herself to hold back. A doting mother spoils her son—she couldn't indulge her brother anymore!
"Why did you hit me! Why?!" Lin Nan covered his face, crying and making a scene.
"Because you're stupid!" Chen Xiaobei glared at him.
"How am I stupid? If you don't explain clearly today, I'm not letting this go!" Lin Nan threw a tantrum.
Chen Xiaobei said sternly: "Gambling is all a trick to cheat people, but you're obsessed, wallowing in it. You're not just hurting yourself, you're dragging your sister down too! If that's not stupid, what is?"
Lin Nan stubbornly insisted: "Who says gambling is cheating? I've just been unlucky lately. Once I win money, I'll definitely take good care of my sister!"
"Unlucky?"
Chen Xiaobei laughed: "In every casino in the world, the house always wins! To put it bluntly, gambling isn't about luck—it's about cheating skills! Unless your skills are better than the house's, you'll never win money in your life!"
"Hmph! You talk like you're some kind of gambling god."
Lin Nan refused to convinced: "Anyone can run their mouth! If you're really capable, prove it to me!"
"Fine! Then I'll make a bet with you!"
Chen Xiaobei said seriously: "I only need 50 yuan as principal. If I win back your 500,000 yuan gambling debt before sunrise tomorrow, you have to quit gambling obedient. If I lose, I'll give you 5 million to spend however you want!"
At these words, Lin Nan's eyes lit up. He forgot about the slap he'd just received, jumped up excitedly, and said: "Deal! I'll bet with you! I'd die before believing you can win 500,000 yuan with 50 yuan!"