My eyes traced the perfect curves of Su Mei's figure.
After a moment, I spoke slowly.
"Take off your skirt."
Su Mei was taken aback.
She hadn't expected such a request from me.
She felt a mix of embarrassment and defiance.
"Is this how you want me to apologize?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"If I don't, will you never forgive me?"
I lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, but I didn't respond to Su Mei's question.
Su Mei hesitated, her face taut, as if she had made a significant decision.
"Fine, I'll do it!"
Su Mei was quite a player.
She was willing to spare no expense to recruit talent.
She wore a long skirt, exuding elegance and grace.
The skirt, a light aqua colour, complemented her delicate snow-white skin, accentuating her beauty.
She reached behind to unzip it.
The light aqua skirt slid smoothly down her silky skin to her ankles.
In front of me, Su Mei was left with only three intimate items.
I had to admit, that Su Mei had an exceptional figure.
Sculpted, graceful curves adorned her body.
Even her abdomen bore no excess fat.
My gaze roamed shamelessly over her.
While Su Mei's expression gradually turned cold.
She was the manager of Tianxiang.
Apart from the owner, she was the queen of Tianxiang.
And now, this queen was doing what she deemed humiliating in front of a mere server like me.
"Is this sufficient?"
Su Mei's tone turned cold.
Even a hint of anger crept in.
"Continue!"
"What?"
Fury blazed in Su Mei's beautiful eyes.
She hadn't expected me to ask her to continue undressing.
Another step and she would be left with nothing.
"Lupan, you've gone too far!"
"You were the one who went too far first!"
My tone remained indifferent.
"I've offered you such generous terms, yet you're still unsatisfied. Lupan, tell me, what do you really want?"
Taking a drag of my cigarette, I replied calmly:
"I want too much, and you can't provide it. Find someone who can meet my demands to negotiate with me..."
With that, I stood up.
But before leaving, I turned back to look at the cold Su Mei and added:
"Oh, one more thing I can tell you now. You, I've already settled on!"
With those words said, I paid no mind to Su Mei's reaction and headed towards the door.
Just as I reached the door, a knock sounded from outside.
Su Mei hastily dressed, calling out somewhat awkwardly, "Come in."
Entering was the thin man who had just gambled with me, Brenden.
Standing at the doorway, he stared coldly at me and said:
"You're leaving?"
I nodded.
"You can't leave?"
"Why not?"
"I want to gamble with you once more!"
I shook my head.
"Why? Are you afraid?"
Brenden, the thin man, stared at me icily.
I walked slowly up to him, locking eyes with him, and said coldly:
"Because you're not worthy."
My reason for saying this wasn't arrogance, but the fact that we had no prior conflict.
During the dice game earlier, he had deliberately provoked me to force my hands down.
Such a person wasn't fit for the world of gambling techniques.
And certainly not fit to be my opponent.
With that, I pushed past Brenden and walked out.
Behind me, I heard Su Mei's voice, a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"Lupan, don't think you're the only one who understands cheating methods in Haibei. There are plenty of Blue Faction members here. Without you, this casino will still operate and thrive!"
I smirked.
Indeed, the casino would run without me.
But I sought to sell at a high price, never demeaning myself.
What Su Mei didn't anticipate was that from the moment I entered this so-called casino, I sensed something was amiss.
The rudimentary casino, the poor environment, even the pervasive musty smell everywhere.
As someone who valued quality in all aspects of life, how could Su Mei spend a week gambling here? And how could she lose almost three million?
The unprofessional dealers, the casual betting of the gamblers, lacked passion and greed.
How could this be a normal casino?
That's why I dared to tamper with their gaming table sensors.
In a typical casino, I wouldn't dare.
Because in that case, the casino would never let me go unpunished.
But I already knew this was a trap.
Su Mei thought I was the pawn.
Little did she know, she was the true pawn.
Upon returning home from this so-called casino, I burned three sticks of incense in front of my father's portrait.
I lay quietly on my bed.
My eyes closed, and sleep eluded me.
Insomnia had become a habit over the years.
Every night, before sleep, my father's tragic death always haunted me.
And the mocking faces of those who brought him back.
I had known for a long time that my father was a skilled gambler.
That was why I wholeheartedly followed Varg to learn cheating methods.
Without joining the world of gambling techniques, how could I avenge such a deep-seated grudge?
The day and night shifts at Tianxiang Bathhouse changed at 8 PM.
However we had to be there by 7:30 PM for a meeting with the manager or supervisors to review the previous work cycle.
Today's meeting was different from usual.
Su Mei was present, and even the technicians who weren't on the night shift the previous day attended.
Including Filla, the girlfriend I had won from Ranulph, she was there too.
We stood in rows in the hall, listening to speeches from department heads.
After all the supervisors had spoken, Su Mei asked if any of the team leaders had anything to add.
Typically, at this point, the meeting would conclude.
Team leaders seldom spoke up normally.
But today was an exception.
As soon as Su Mei finished speaking, Ranulph, the team leader of the male bath area, suddenly stood up and addressed Su Mei.
"Mei, I have something to report!"
Su Mei nodded.
Ranulph glanced in my direction, then began speaking:
"I want to bring up Lupan's attendance in the male bath area today. Lupan didn't request leave and was absent for seven consecutive days. Even though he was scheduled for the late shift yesterday, he disappeared without notice. According to the bathhouse's attendance policy, an unexcused absence results in a 100-dollar fine per day. Lupan was absent for eight days, so he should be fined 800-dollar..."
Ranulph paused at this point.
Intentionally, he glanced at Su Mei.
Su Mei remained expressionless, proud and cold.
The gazes of everyone in the room turned to me, most of them simply curious spectators.
Of course, some took pleasure in others' misfortune, and a few who sympathized with me.
A few female technicians standing with Filla whispered to her playfully.
"Filla, your ex-boyfriend is quite domineering. He decides who gets fined, isn't that impressive?"
Filla snorted and immediately denied:
"Nonsense, he's not my boyfriend. We've broken up. He's just bullying Lupan unfairly. I can't stand his bullying behaviour..."
Filla's voice was loud.
While speaking, she glanced towards me nearby.
I knew she was deliberately speaking for my benefit.
Of course, she wasn't showing compassion or trying to help me.
Nor was it because of our time spent alone together that she had developed feelings for me.
She was convinced I knew some cheat methods.
She wanted to appease me, to work together to make money.
I also knew that after winning Ranulph and even taking away Filla, Ranulph would seek revenge on me.
I just didn't expect his retaliation to be so childish.