At that moment, my uncle seemed like a stranger to me. His crazed look was something I had never witnessed before. Perhaps he was also worried about being caught cheating or maybe he doubted that I could see through his scheme.
My uncle turned around and glanced around before leaning in, his eyes narrowed. He spoke in a hushed tone, "Come with me."
Without another word, he grabbed my arm and pulled me out into the corridor, like he was carrying a chick. His eyes had turned bloodshot, and his demeanor seemed increasingly manic, frightening me further.
Still, there was a sense of excitement on my uncle's face. But the thought of his sleight-of-hand cheating technique made my heart race. He might not fear death, but I certainly did!
My uncle handed me a cigarette and asked in a low voice, his arm around my shoulder, "Jim, tell me honestly. What did you see just now?"
I quickly shook my head, afraid he might get angry again. Although he had always been unreliable, he held a significant place in my heart.
"I'm asking you a question! How did you know I was cheating?!" My uncle grabbed my neck even tighter, his menacing expression sending shivers down my spine.
"When the cards were revealed earlier, I saw you use the card-switching technique you taught me..." I demonstrated the motion of crossed hands; it was something he had personally taught me.
But my uncle's face grew increasingly serious. He tightened his grip on my neck and demanded, "How did you know? Tell me, what else did you see?"
At that moment, my uncle seemed utterly unfamiliar. His crazed gaze was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Maybe he was afraid of being caught cheating, or perhaps he couldn't believe that I had seen through his trick.
I recounted everything, admitting that if he hadn't taught me the technique, I wouldn't have understood. Even though his movements had been skillful and discreet, I had still seen through it.
In reality, I hadn't seen the actual card-switching; I had only inferred it from the movements. Within a matter of seconds, he had executed two card-switches. Unless something unexpected happened, he should have had at least two extra cards on him by now.
After I finished explaining, my uncle burst into laughter. He patted my shoulder forcefully, and though it hurt, I saw tears in his eyes. Today, my uncle was behaving unusually.
"Good job, Jim. You surprised me. Really impressive." Wiping his tears, my uncle's actions were unexpected. I had never seen him shed a tear before. Although he had laughed earlier, I sensed that these tears were genuine.
Standing together in the corridor, smoking our cigarettes, no one would believe we were uncle and nephew. He wasn't behaving like an uncle, and I certainly didn't feel like a nephew.
As the cigarette burned down, my uncle's face gradually returned to normal. But his usual carefree demeanor was absent. In my mind, a huge question lingered, one that puzzled me greatly.
"Uncle, can I ask you a question?" I cautiously inquired, and my uncle nodded.
"Why did you teach me sleight of hand? Is it to have me help you gamble in the future?"
"No, it's because you're different from others."
Uncle's words left me puzzled. I had been leading an ordinary life like everyone else. I never felt that there was anything distinctive about me.
If there was one thing that made me stand out, it was that I was really good at playing LOL. I was destined to become a man who reached the highest level in the game!
Uncle patted my shoulder and said with a serious tone, "Starting from tomorrow, you will come to this gambling den every night. Rain or shine, even if the sky falls, you have to come. Got that?"
"What the heck, why? I don't agree!"
If I had to come to this dingy gambling den full of rough guys every night, how could I go to the internet cafe? How could I have fun with beautiful girls?
"Because you're different from others. Unless..." Uncle gave me a mischievous grin, and I had a very bad feeling about it...
I understand this uncle's character well. I've seen that cunning smile of his many times before. He's definitely up to no good, either scheming or thieving. I've fallen for his tricks many times in the past, but this time I'm determined not to be fooled.
As a student, nobody would say much if I spent time at an internet cafe. But if I were to hang out at gambling dens every day, it would be better for me to just die. No matter how my uncle tries to manipulate me, I won't agree!
"Oh, by the way, you still owe me $30,000 in medical expenses. Considering you're my nephew, I'll even waive the interest. When can you pay me back?"
"..."
"A real man takes responsibility and stands by his words. Don't forget to pay that kid at the internet cafe the $1,000 medical fee you promised him." My uncle had an air of entitlement, then he switched gears and He started giving me a lecture...
I really wanted to ask him, am I truly his biological nephew?
"In fact, you don't have to come to this gambling den. I could just ask your parents for the medical expenses... And Kathleen has been inquiring about you several times, wondering why you haven't gone there yet."
"Uncle, you're despicable! Didn't you say you wouldn't make me gamble for you? But you..."
"I never said you'd gamble to pay me back. I just want you to come here every night, get to know everyone as quickly as possible, and watch them play cards."
Upon hearing this, I was quite baffled. If I didn't come to the gambling den, he'd ask my parents for money. If I did come, it was apparently to familiarize myself with these thugs and rogues, to observe them gamble and play cards. What on earth was he up to?
And then there's my uncle, always saying I'm different from others. Could it be that I'm remarkably handsome? Or does he want to groom me into a swindler and have me take over his role in the future?