Ethan lay on the small cot beside his mother's hospital bed. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Serena smiling at him, drunkenly sharing her secrets.
This was the first time Ethan had truly felt the abrupt, brutal randomness of life. Someone he thought he'd know for a long time, someone he thought could be a friend for half a lifetime, was just suddenly… gone.
"Son, get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, go to the casino. Show them who's in charge."
"Okay. Goodnight, Mom."
He slept fitfully and woke early, heading straight to school.
Lately, Oliver Wu had been smugly trying to strike up conversations with Ethan, as if to prove to everyone that he was still the 'top dog' at City Prep No. 3, and that Ethan's recent rise was just a fluke that didn't threaten him.
But today, when Oliver saw Ethan, he didn't dare speak. He felt an aura of menace around Ethan, a simmering rage that seemed ready to explode, making him too afraid to risk provoking him.
Ethan paid intense attention in class that day. He didn't take breaks, instead burying himself in practice problems.
After school, he didn't go to the casino. He went home, changed, and studied late into the night before finally sleeping.
The Boss informed Ethan that Serena had already been buried. No funeral parlor, no traditional week-long vigil. The formalities were rushed through.
For the next full week, Ethan's life was a cycle of school, the hospital, and home. He didn't set foot in the casino.
The Boss didn't push him.
Mulan, however, sent him several texts, asking how he was and wanting to meet up. Ethan replied that he was focusing on school.
He threw himself into his studies. Winter break was just over two weeks away. Ethan planned to request leave before the break officially started to devote himself fully to the casino. Until then, he aimed to finish all the coursework scheduled before the holiday.
January 10th.
Ten days since the incident involving Serena.
Time was supposed to wash everything away, and it seemed even the sharpest grief had dulled somewhat.
After getting permission from his teacher, Ethan went straight to the casino.
The hostesses and attendants at the entrance were momentarily stunned when they saw him, then quickly greeted him with a chorus of "Good afternoon, Manager Chen."
Walking past the marble screen inscribed with "Elegance Redefined," he entered the bustling heart of the casino.
Everyone was busy with their own tasks, faces wearing smiles. For those who weren't directly affected, other people were just passing figures. Despite all the fawning and the "Sister Serena" this and "Sister Serena" that when she was alive, no one seemed to remember her now.
"Manager Chen! You're finally here!"
A dealer hurried over to him. Ethan recognized her—Hong Zhi, the dealer who had been in the VIP room during Mulan's first visit.
Seeing her anxious expression, Ethan asked, "What's wrong?"
"The new Manager He," Hong Zhi said, glancing around nervously. "He says he wants to audit the books. Manager Chen, you remember after those VIPs in the private room left all those chips as tips? You told us to split them, so everyone took a little. But a couple of people couldn't keep their mouths shut, word got out, and it reached Manager He's ears."
"He's auditing now and says he's going to make trouble for you."
"I see," Ethan nodded. "Where is he?"
"In the office."
"Alright. Go back to work."
Ethan straightened his collar and walked toward the office.
It was a shared office, the one he had used with Serena.
Pushing the door open, he saw it had been converted into a single workspace. Only one desk remained. Tyler He was lounging in the office chair, feet propped up on the desk, holding a file.
Hearing the door, Tyler glanced over. "Well, well, Ethan. Perfect timing. There's something I want to ask you."
Ethan walked over to him.
Tyler pointed at the file. "I see last month, a lot of staff exchanged chips directly into their personal accounts. Care to explain?"
Ethan remained silent.
Tyler's brow furrowed. "I'm talking to you. Are you deaf or what?"
Ethan picked up a teacup from the desk, unscrewed the lid, and poured the entire contents over Tyler's head.
Tyler froze for a second, then shot to his feet. "Ethan! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Ethan gestured dismissively with his chin. "Get out of that chair. This isn't your spot."
Tyler wiped the tea from his face. "Ethan, have you lost your mind? This casino belongs to my father! And you? You just work for him! You think you can yell at me? You think I'm like that bitch, following your every order?"
Ethan suddenly smiled. "You know, on my way here, I kept telling myself to stay calm, to keep my temper in check. It's a shame... I just can't do it."
As he finished speaking, Ethan drove his foot hard into Tyler's stomach.
Tyler grunted in pain, doubling over.
Ethan didn't stop. He swung the heavy ceramic teacup in his hand, smashing it against the side of Tyler's head.
A dull THWACK echoed. Tyler saw stars, his head swimming.
Ethan followed up with several sharp kicks, forcing Tyler to stumble backward.
"Guards! Get in here!" Tyler roared.
The office door burst open as Tyler's personal lackeys rushed in.
Seeing their boss being beaten, they didn't hesitate, grabbing whatever was at hand and charging at Ethan.
One man swung a heavy decorative plaque, hitting Ethan squarely in the back.
Ethan ignored it, his focus solely on Tyler. He grabbed Tyler by the hair and brought his knee up hard into his face.
Tyler was thrown to the floor. He felt a sharp, wet pain on his face; his hand came away covered in blood when he touched it.
Furious, Tyler screamed, "Kill him!"
The lackeys swarmed Ethan. He didn't even try to evade them. His eyes were locked on Tyler. He shoved his way through the men blocking his path and went after Tyler again.
Seeing Ethan coming at him like a man possessed, a flicker of fear rose in Tyler's heart. He turned and scrambled for the door.
Ethan wasn't about to let him escape. He lunged after him.
One lackey charged head-on, swinging a club at Ethan's head.
Ethan blocked it with his forearm, wrenched the club free, and cracked it backhanded across the man's face, sending him spinning to the ground. He took two quick steps, caught up to Tyler at the top of the stairs leading down to the main floor, and brought the club down hard on his back.
The office was on the casino's second level. Tyler, already off-balance from the blow, tumbled head over heels down the wide, grand staircase, landing in a heap on the first floor.
The commotion drew the attention of everyone in the main casino hall.
The casino's security team rushed over.
Tyler, sprawled on the floor and seeing all the guests, Bunny Girls, and attendants staring at him, felt utterly humiliated. "Beat him! Beat him to death! I'll take responsibility!" he shrieked.
Emboldened by this, his lackeys, now like bloodhounds, threw everything they had at Ethan.
"Break it up! Everyone, back off!" The security team pushed their way in, physically pulling Tyler's men away from Ethan.
"Manager Chen, are you okay?!" the security head asked, looking nervously at Ethan.
Blood streamed down Ethan's face from a cut on his forehead and stained his hands.
Ethan slicked his hair back; the sticky blood plastered it against his scalp, making him look older, more severe. He pointed down at Tyler. "Tyler He! If you have a problem, you bring it to me. Ethan Chen will handle it!"
Tyler, clutching his bloody nose, snarled, "Ethan, you dare lay a hand on me?! Don't worry, I'll make sure my father hears all about this. He needs to know what an undisciplined dog he has working for him."
"Go ahead." Ethan waved a dismissive hand, utterly unconcerned. "Go cry to your daddy."
A wave of laughter rippled through the crowd in the hall. Even a few of the security guards couldn't suppress their chuckles.
Standing in the crowd, Hong Zhi looked at Ethan with gratitude. So did several of the male attendants.