Having already lost money and filled with pent-up rage, the shop owner now found himself yelled at by a mere waiter and burst into a frenzy at the doorway, shouting wildly into the street like a madman. This reminded Ye Fan of gamblers who had lost their cool.
In the beginning, when they started playing, it felt exhilarating, and they would tell themselves it was just a small game. After losing once, they would think about trying again, maybe they could recoup their losses. Or if they won the first time, they would consider going for another round, hoping for another win. Playing with this mindset was like sinking into quicksand—falling deeper and deeper, until they struggled to escape, and by then, it was already too late.
Then they would fall into despair, howling madly like rabid dogs, trying to mask their internal despair and regret.
And now the shop owner was in that exact state.
