...
For a moment, several gazes in the bar all gathered on Cheng Zhu.
After all, customers who stayed until now were definitely soccer watchers. Among them, the proportion who bet was extremely high.
Quite a few people started discussing.
"Looks pretty young, still a student right?"
"Damn, daring to bet twelve thousand on 0-0—today's young people are badass!"
"Ruthless character. I fucking didn't dare bet twelve thousand on straight win, but he dared bet twelve thousand on 0-0!"
"I remember the odds were seven point something times, made a fortune!"
"Luck can be just that good!?"
Those who also won money were one thing, but those who lost money tonight, after hearing Shen Minglang's words, were simply envious to the point of going crazy.
That customer who'd earlier instigated Shen Minglang to give everyone drink discounts was quite familiar with him. At this moment he couldn't help asking: "How many scores did your little cousin bet on? Let me learn from him, study his score betting strategy."
Shen Minglang said awesomely: "Of course he fucking only bet on 0-0! Only bet on one score and hit it—badass right?"
This made the surrounding bar customers even more shocked.
For a moment, they didn't know if this student was a fearless newborn calf, or if his luck was really just too fucking good.
Not even betting on several scores to spread the risk, betting on regular game ending in a tie, score 0-0, yet he actually won!
Nothing more to say—winning money is badass!
And you have to know, although Shen Minglang also won money, he bet a full fifty thousand.
But the money he earned today still wasn't as much as Cheng Zhu's!
Throughout the bar, quite a few people didn't just bet on win/loss, but also bet on things like handicaps, corner kicks, over/under, cards, etc.
TL: I uh... Idk so here's Claude haha:
"大小球" (dàxiǎo qiú) in Chinese soccer betting terminology literally means "big/small ball" and refers to betting on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under a certain number set by bookmakers.
For example:
Over/Under 2.5 goals means you're betting whether the total goals will be more than 2.5 (so 3+ goals) or less than 2.5 (so 0-2 goals)
Among these, some odds were higher than win/loss, some odds were even lower than directly betting which team wins.
It could be said that just from returns, Cheng Zhu was definitely among those who won a lot among all today's customers.
Shen Minglang couldn't help saying: "If I'd known, I would've followed you betting 0-0 too."
After speaking, he even glanced at Jiang Wanzhou: "You kid got lucky, following little cousin betting 2000."
However, as soon as Shen Minglang finished speaking, he noticed Jiang Wanzhou's expression was a bit complex.
"What's wrong with you, not happy even winning money?" He was too lazy to deal with his blood cousin. Right now someone came to toast him—he happily clinked glasses.
As soon as Shen Minglang left, Jiang Wanzhou stared deadly at Cheng Zhu.
Cheng Zhu directly spoke: "I know what you want to ask. It wasn't me betting twelve thousand alone. Several people asked me to bet together. In this, I only account for 800 yuan."
He started seriously bullshitting, and by the end didn't forget to extort: "My 800 principal didn't win much. You, you wealthy dog, bet 2000. Tonight's entire consumption President Jiang must foot the bill!"
Speaking of which, Cheng Zhu wasn't being stingy or taking advantage. It was purely to deepen credibility.
Although Jiang Wanzhou was really easy to fool, he was still a good brother after all. He felt he must deceive sincerely, couldn't deceive carelessly, to show respect for him.
Otherwise it would seem a bit disrespectful.
After getting a wave of "respect" from Cheng Zhu, Jiang Wanzhou's expression indeed improved. He even started saying generously: "I'll split half the winnings with you!"
"Tsk, so the domineering CEO wants to throw money at me." Cheng Zhu expressed disdain and added: "You haven't even finished the drinks you ordered—hurry up! We're leaving soon!"
"My eyes are rulers! Wait, are you raising fish here?"
This side was happy and harmonious. Li Rui's side had a bit of an adolescent breakdown.
Cheng Zhu winning big money—he felt worse than death!
Losing twelve thousand himself was one thing. Forcing a smile, he could still pretend he didn't care about a mere ten-thousand-plus, displaying his financial power in front of Li Xinyue again.
In front of the girl he liked, getting the flex completed—rounding it off, this wave wasn't a loss.
But her ex-boyfriend fucking won 78,000 after subtracting principal in one night!
And me? Me?
I brought her along and lost 500...
Although I'll warmly cover this 500 for her.
But this psychological gap couldn't be made up.
"And Cheng Zhu is now richer than me, his wallet's already fatter than mine."
Li Rui couldn't even compare in the area he was most confident about.
If Cheng Zhu knew his petty mindset, he'd probably say very speechlessly: "What's your status, treating me as an imaginary enemy all day long?"
He fundamentally hadn't thought about showing off in front of Li Xinyue.
To be precise, seeing Li Xinyue now just gave him a headache.
"I just discovered she's wearing those couple shoes I bought underfoot."
"My principal was reduced because of her messing around! Seven point five times odds."
"Is she wearing shoes worth over a thousand? She's wearing ten thousand yuan in motion!"
At this moment, a batch of people left the bar, but another batch of customers still stayed discussing soccer.
Some felt bad about money, some felt bad for Messi who narrowly missed the championship.
But Cheng Zhu was very clear—Messi in the 2022 World Cup would lift the trophy he dreamed of.
He drained the cocktail in his glass, looking at the empty glass, thinking: "I now have ninety thousand yuan. Next, what should I do?"
The next moment, he had a preliminary plan in his mind.
He decided to first use one of his old trades to earn his second pot of gold in this life.
"There's a track in e-commerce with better and better prospects every year."
"Let alone it's only 2014 now—even by 2023, selling that stuff would still be a very good choice."
"That's it." Cheng Zhu looked at the empty glass, making his decision.
"Ninety thousand is plenty."
...
...
In Wine Hidden, Chen Rongrong said with a sad face: "Sigh, Yueyue, we each lost 500."
With one simple sentence, Li Rui, who was internally suffering and agonizing, immediately looked up.
He looked at Li Xinyue, squeezed out a smile: "Xinyue, Rongrong, my brother just messaged me saying when he was betting it lagged. Your two orders didn't go through. I'll transfer the money to you later."
"Ah! Really?" Chen Rongrong instantly became delighted.
But she still picked up her phone and posted on social media. After blocking a fixed group, she also blocked Li Xinyue and Li Rui from this post. The content was:
"Wuwuwu, lost 500 on the World Cup finals, need comfort."
Li Xinyue just nodded, her eyes still occasionally drifting toward Cheng Zhu's side.
She didn't care about the 500 win or loss. She was still shocked that Cheng Zhu won big money.
All of this, Li Rui saw clearly, his heart like being stabbed.
However, Cheng Zhu's side never looked this way from start to finish.
"Yueyue, should we leave?" Chen Rongrong, while chatting flirtatiously on her phone, suggested.
"I want to sit a bit longer." Li Xinyue said.
Li Rui had no objection to this. He was happy to do so, focusing on companionship.
But just then, Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou stood up.
The two greeted Shen Minglang, saying they were leaving first.
Bartender Ye Zi also waved goodbye to them, and actively took out her phone, wanting to add Cheng Zhu on WeChat.
Cheng Zhu, for the sake of her large chest, didn't refuse.
Seeing Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou walking toward the door, Li Xinyue immediately stood: "Let's go, let's go too."
Chen Rongrong, busy flirting, looked up confused. Li Rui, who'd noticed some clues, felt like his heart had been stabbed again.
Somehow, his mind started replaying Cheng Zhu's words to him: "Warm guys rank behind dogs."
The three stood up. Li Rui went to pay.
He still stubbornly wanted to complete the flex he'd originally planned. When the server asked if he had the bar's membership card, he pretended to be calm and experienced: "Yes, deduct from card."
But when he turned around after paying, he discovered Li Xinyue and Chen Rongrong weren't standing behind him at all—they'd long gone outside the bar.
Hot summer, yet they didn't stay inside to blow AC a bit longer.
Li Rui walked out dejectedly and saw Li Xinyue still looking around for something.
Chen Rongrong suddenly spoke: "Oh, Yueyue, why are you crying?"
...
...
On the other side, in the Mercedes G-Class.
The bar manager was helping drive, acting as designated driver—this was Shen Minglang's arrangement.
Jiang Wanzhou sat in the passenger seat, turning to Cheng Zhu: "Want to travel somewhere in a few days?"
"Forget traveling, but I'm planning to go somewhere to survey the market." Cheng Zhu said.
"Tsk, 'survey the market'? That phrase is pretentious enough." Jiang Wanzhou said.
"Don't worry, I'm not bringing you. It's inconvenient." Cheng Zhu said.
"Why? What's inconvenient about it? Could it be... you're fucking getting back together with Li Xinyue?" Jiang Wanzhou glared at him as if glaring at a scumbag.
"Enough, a character that's already wrapped—don't mention it anymore." Cheng Zhu said.
—Life's a big stage. Once you leave, don't come back.
"Then why is it inconvenient to bring me?" Jiang Wanzhou asked.
"Your yin energy is too heavy. That place isn't suitable for you." Cheng Zhu raised his eyebrows, saying extremely seriously.
TL: Savage