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In the café, Cheng Yuwan saw Guo Zhiqian sitting by the window, staring intently at the Casino across from him, and teased her sister, "Sister, what's wrong with Guo Zhiqian? Did you two have a fight?"
Cheng Yuyao replied, "Stop talking nonsense. Mom completely disapproves of me being with him."
"Mom is concerned about his background and fears we might be used by him. But why is he here in the café today?"
Cheng Yuyao looked at Guo Zhiqian and shook her head. "I don't know. He's been sitting there since early morning, as if he's waiting for someone."
Guo Zhiqian picked up the coffee on the table, took a light sip, and when he looked up again, he saw Guo Zhuanghuai walking into the Casino across the street.
Guo Zhiqian withdrew his gaze, deep in thought.
Cheng Yuwan approached Guo Zhiqian with a cup of coffee and asked, "Guo Zhiqian, are you here again just to see my sister?"
Guo Zhiqian replied, "I'm tracking someone."
"Who?"
"The person you just saw your sister enter the Casino. He is likely one of the kidnappers of Zhou Junsheng."
Cheng Yuwan's expression changed in shock, and she hurried back to the bar to relay Guo Zhiqian's words to Cheng Yuyao. Cheng Yuyao looked at Guo Zhiqian in surprise, and he nodded at her.
Cheng Yuyao stepped out from behind the bar and approached Guo Zhiqian.
Guo Zhiqian told Cheng Yuyao, "He just entered the Casino across the street. I'll follow him when he comes out."
Cheng Yuyao said, "Let me go with you."
Guo Zhiqian politely declined, saying, "No need. It would be inconvenient with too many people."
...
Guo Zhuanghuai walked into the Casino and approached the chip exchange counter, tossing a money bag filled with Silver Dollars onto the counter.
The Tavern Keeper opened the ledger, found Guo Zhuanghuai's outstanding debt, and said apologetically, "Boss Gu, you still owe... ten dollars from last time."
Guo Zhuanghuai replied, "Apply last time's debt to this, and exchange the rest!"
"Alright, please wait a moment!" The Tavern Keeper handed the money bag to the Cashier. The Cashier counted the Silver Dollars in the bag, placed them in a drawer, and retrieved chips from under the counter to hand over to Guo Zhuanghuai.
Guo Zhuanghuai took the chips and wandered around the Casino. Suddenly, he was called by a familiar face—Lao Cai.
Lao Cai said, "Old Guo, have you come to lose money again?"
Guo Zhuanghuai chuckled, "Lose money? I can afford to lose because I have money, unlike you, who cries after losing just a few dollars."
"Who looks like they're crying? How much money did you bring today? I'll bet against you!"
"Let's gamble then; I'm not afraid of you!"
Guo Zhuanghuai and Lao Cai found an empty table in the Casino and took their seats. A new Gambling Table was set up, immediately attracting the attention of onlookers.
Lao Cai asked, "What are you betting on? Dice or poker?"
Guo Zhuanghuai, unafraid, said, "Do as you wish!"
Lao Cai replied, "Then let's play poker!"
Guo Zhuanghuai declared, "Twenty-one."
Lao Cai agreed immediately, "Alright!"
Dealer shuffled and dealt the cards. After several rounds of play against Lao Cai, Guo Zhuanghuai found his chips dwindling to almost nothing. Lao Cai was becoming increasingly cheerful as Guo Zhuanghuai, growing anxious, began to sweat profusely.
Lao Cai suggested, "Old Guo, let's call it a day here!"
Looking at his visible cards—7 of Diamonds and 8 of Spades—and then glancing at his hidden card—5 of Hearts—Guo Zhuanghuai resolutely pushed all his chips into the pot, which was piled high with chips.
With a fierce determination, Guo Zhuanghuai exclaimed, "Are you afraid of losing this round?"
"Me afraid?" Lao Cai scoffed, "I'm worried you'll lose so much that you won't even have money left for a rickshaw!"
Lao Cai revealed his visible cards: 9 of Spades and 9 of Hearts.
Guo Zhuanghuai confidently stated, "I've already won this round; show your cards!"
Meanwhile, Lao Cai, with his hand hidden under the table, discreetly pulled out a card from his sleeve and concealed it in his palm. "Since you're so sure, don't blame me for being ruthless."
With that, Lao Cai swiftly flipped over his hidden card—9 of Spades. The onlookers gasped in surprise, "That's exactly one point!"
Guo Zhuanghuai looked at Lao Cai's cards, feeling a bit dizzy. The dealer pushed the mountain of chips toward Lao Cai, who stood up proudly and bowed to him, saying, "Brother Guo, I appreciate your generosity!"
Just as Lao Cai bowed, Guo Zhuanghuai caught a glimpse of a card hidden in Lao Cai's sleeve. Suddenly, he grabbed Lao Cai's arm and shouted angrily, "You hid a card in your sleeve!"
Lao Cai feigned innocence, saying, "I didn't! You lost too much money and are seeing things!"
Without hesitation, Guo Zhuanghuai tore off one of Lao Cai's sleeves. With one bare arm exposed, Lao Cai shouted at Guo Zhuanghuai, "Guo Zhuanghuai, have you lost your mind?"
"That card must be on you!"
Guo Zhuanghuai lunged at Lao Cai, who quickly dodged and ran into the crowd while shouting for help.
Guo Zhuanghuai yelled after him, "Don't run! Take out the card you have!"
As Guo Zhuanghuai chased after Lao Cai, chaos erupted in the casino. Seven or eight thugs surged into the crowd to subdue Guo Zhuanghuai. He turned around and kicked two of them down, then sprinted to block Lao Cai's path. Lao Cai turned to run again, crying out, "Help! Someone's trying to kill me!"
People around them quickly moved aside as the thugs grabbed hold of Guo Zhuanghuai. Three more thugs rushed in from outside and finally managed to pin him down.
Lao Cai hurriedly collected his chips and ran toward the counter.
He said to the Tavern Keeper, "Tavern Keeper, remember this for me; I'll come back to exchange later." Then he slipped out of the casino.
Guo Zhuanghuai was pinned down by six thugs but continued to shout at Lao Cai, "Cai Tonghui, if you're cheating, I won't let you off easily!"
The six thugs lifted Guo Zhuanghuai and threw him out the door, face-first into a muddy puddle, leaving him covered in filth. He rolled over and stood up angrily, glaring at the eight thugs behind him and the Tavern Keeper standing behind them.
The Tavern Keeper said sternly, "Guo Zhuanghuai, if you cause any more trouble, I'll have them take you away and send you to the police station!"
Guo Zhuanghuai snorted in anger and waved his sleeve as he left.
Sitting in the café, Guo Zhiqian saw Guo Zhuanghuai being thrown out of the Casino and quickly got up, saying to Cheng Yuyao at the bar, "Cheng Yuyao, he's out. I’m leaving now." He then exited the café and quietly followed Guo Zhuanghuai.
After Guo Zhiqian disappeared from the doorway, Cheng Yuyao turned to Cheng Yuwan and said, "Sister, I'm going to follow them. You take care of the café by yourself for now."
Cheng Yuwan replied, "I know you're worried about him! Go ahead!"
Cheng Yuyao hurried out from behind the bar and chased after Guo Zhiqian.
It was now nighttime.
Guo Zhuanghuai walked forward in a fit of rage and turned into an alley. Guo Zhiqian quietly followed him into the alley as well. Cheng Yuyao stealthily approached the entrance of the alley and peeked around the corner. Guo Zhuanghuai and Guo Zhiqian turned onto another street one after the other, prompting Cheng Yuyao to hurry after them.
Guo Zhuanghuai stood in the middle of the street with a wooden stick in hand. Lao Cai, dressed in a shirt with only one sleeve, squinted as he sat on a Rickshaw approaching this street corner. When they were close enough, Guo Zhuanghuai suddenly shouted, "Stop!"
The Rickshaw driver quickly halted, and Lao Cai opened his eyes. Upon seeing Guo Zhuanghuai, he looked unconcerned and said, "Old Guo, what are you doing here?"
Ignoring him, Guo Zhuanghuai walked toward the Rickshaw with his stick raised. This startled Lao Cai: "What are you doing? Old Guo, don’t be reckless!"
Guo Zhuanghuai paid no attention to him and continued walking toward Lao Cai. Realizing something was wrong, Lao Cai hurriedly jumped off the Rickshaw and turned to run. Guo Zhuanghuai followed him at a leisurely pace.
As Lao Cai ran, he glanced back. Ahead was an alley, and without thinking twice, he dashed into it.
But this alley was a dead end.
Lao Cai ran forward for a short distance and reached the end of the alley—a high wall blocked his way.
Turning back, Lao Cai saw Guo Zhuanghuai leisurely walking into the dead end. Lao Cai pleaded, "Old Guo, Old Guo, I'll return the money I won. How about that?"
Guo Zhuanghuai said nothing, only raised the wooden stick in his hand as he approached.
Fearful, Lao Cai suddenly lunged forward, trying to slip past Guo Zhuanghuai from the side. Guo Zhuanghuai swiftly countered with two strikes to Lao Cai's waist, knocking him to the ground, and the playing cards hidden in Lao Cai's arms scattered everywhere.
Lao Cai hurriedly scrambled to get up. Just as he stood up, Guo Zhuanghuai struck him again, breaking Lao Cai's right leg. Lao Cai quickly got back up, limping along the wall to escape. Guo Zhuanghuai followed him at a leisurely pace.
Lao Cai could barely form complete sentences: "Old... Old Guo, please spare me. I'll give you all the money I won... I... I'll give you all my money..."
"I don't want your money! You embarrassed me at the Casino; today I want your life!"
With that one sentence from Guo Zhuanghuai, Lao Cai was already in a daze, tears streaming down his face, and even urine flowed from his pants. Guo Zhuanghuai cornered Lao Cai against the wall.
Lao Cai continued to plead, his voice trembling: "Old... Old Guo, it was... it was my greed. For the sake of our years of friendship..."
Guo Zhuanghuai replied, "It is precisely because we have been friends for so long that you will die by my hand today."
Guo Zhuanghuai stepped right in front of Lao Cai and raised the wooden stick, ready to bring it down on Lao Cai's head.
Lao Cai's face turned pale as he froze in fear, unable even to dodge.
Just as the wooden stick came crashing down, Guo Zhiqian swooped in and kicked Guo Zhuanghuai aside.
Seeing Guo Zhiqian, Guo Zhuanghuai was furious and shouted, "You always have to go against me!"
Guo Zhiqian replied, "I hope you stop doing these harmful things, Dad!"
The word "Dad" from Guo Zhiqian shocked and moved Guo Zhuanghuai, leaving him surprised and unable to believe it. "What did you just call me?"
"Dad!" Guo Zhiqian continued, "Dad, Mom was killed because of you. Turn back!"
Guo Zhuanghuai sneered, "Now my son is lecturing me! You probably know what I've done; do you think I can turn back?"
"As long as you are willing, why can't you?" At this point, Guo Zhiqian paused and added, "Come with me to the police station and confess!"
Guo Zhuanghuai still sneered, "Confess? Hmph, that would be seeking death!"
"If you don't go, I'll take you there by force!"
"Fine! I want to see if you have the ability to do that!"
Guo Zhiqian struck first and immediately engaged in a struggle with Guo Zhuanghuai. Guo Zhuanghuai had the advantage with his wooden stick as a weapon but refrained from using it harshly against Guo Zhiqian. Guo Zhiqian tried every means to snatch the wooden stick from Guo Zhuanghuai's hands and finally managed to seize it during a moment of carelessness.
Guo Zhuanghuai's expression tightened as he quickly feigned an attack and smashed a glass bottle at Guo Zhiqian's feet. The smoke that erupted from the broken bottle immediately enveloped Guo Zhiqian. He stumbled out of the smoke but fell to the ground after a few shaky steps.
Guo Zhuanghuai crouched down and snatched the wooden stick from Guo Zhiqian's hands, saying, "I went easy on you because I was afraid of hurting you, yet you are being ruthless with me. Is this how a son should treat his father?"
Guo Zhiqian wanted to get up from the ground. He used all his strength, but it was futile; he could only watch helplessly as Guo Zhuanghuai approached Lao Cai, who was quietly crawling along the wall, and struck him on the head with a wooden stick. Lao Cai fell to the ground, lifeless. Afterward, Guo Zhuanghuai discarded the stick and strode away.
Finally overwhelmed, Guo Zhiqian closed his eyes.
Fortunately, this entire scene was witnessed by Cheng Yuyao, who had been quietly following them. Cheng Yuyao helped the unconscious Guo Zhiqian to her home, where she lived with her sister and their mother.
After taking Guo Zhiqian's pulse, Cheng Shuhua told Cheng Yuyao and Cheng Yuwan, "He's fine; he just inhaled some sleeping powder and has a slight fever. Apply a cold towel to him, and he will be better after a night's sleep. You both should go back to your rooms now!"
Cheng Yuyao replied to Cheng Shuhua, "Mom, I want to stay here with him."
"Sister..."
Cheng Yuwan tugged at her sister, worried that she might anger their mother and trying to pull her away. However, Cheng Shuhua was not angry; instead, she expressed concern: "Don't stay too long."
"Okay!" Cheng Yuyao nodded gratefully.
Cheng Shuhua and Cheng Yuwan left the bedroom. Inside the room, Cheng Yuyao washed a towel in the basin by the bed, folded it into a strip, and placed it on Guo Zhiqian's forehead while gently stroking his temples.
The next morning, when Guo Zhiqian slowly opened his eyes, he saw Cheng Yuyao sitting by the bed, curled up and asleep. He didn't dare to move. He lay quietly on the bed, admiring Cheng Yuyao's peaceful and beautiful sleeping face. She was so close to him; her long eyelashes, straight nose, and rosy lips were all tempting him, making him unconsciously reach out his hand to touch her delicate features.
Just at that beautiful moment, Cheng Yuyao suddenly woke up. She hurriedly looked at Guo Zhiqian and upon seeing that he had opened his eyes, she smiled with relief.
"You’re awake?" Cheng Yuyao asked joyfully.
Guo Zhiqian nodded, "Mm."
"Then I'll go call my mom and have her check your pulse again."
Cheng Yuyao started to walk out, but Guo Zhiqian grabbed her arm.
Guo Zhiqian asked, "Did you sit here all night?"
At this question, Cheng Yuyao felt a bit embarrassed and replied, "I intended to just sit for a while last night, but somehow I fell asleep."
Guo Zhiqian looked at Cheng Yuyao, making her feel even more shy. Just then, Cheng Yuwan opened the door, and Guo Zhiqian and Cheng Yuyao quickly separated. Cheng Yuwan and Cheng Shuhua stood outside the door.
Cheng Yuwan said, "Sister, I called Mom over so she can take another look at Guo Zhiqian's pulse."
"Okay. Then... I'll head out first!"
Cheng Yuyao lowered her head shyly as she moved beside her mother. Her mother could naturally tell what was on her mind.
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