The matters discussed by Gu Shaotao and the others were relayed word-for-word to Ning Yunhuan. She was shocked that Ning Yuncheng would agree to the insult of offering his own sister to someone else for the sake of a woman. Although in her past life, Ning Yuncheng’s actions were entirely reprehensible—personally sending his sister to her death for Gu Yingxi—hearing him agree to Gu Shaotao’s terms this time brought a cold smile to Ning Yunhuan’s lips.

She had been hesitating, and these two had made the decision for her! Gu Xian needed money for surgery? She would send them the money, but she would make them repay it a thousandfold in the future!

Lanling Yan was aware of what she was doing, but to him, Gu Shaotao and his clique were little more than trash. At most, he would have someone keep an eye on them afterward; the rest was up to Ning Yunhuan to play out as she wished.

Just as Gu Shaotao was preparing to deal with Ning Yunhuan, two or three friends suddenly appeared by his side. These men were thugs introduced by a street contact named Run Ge. Since they were all 'on the same side,' Gu Shaotao considered them reliable and let down his guard entirely. As these new acquaintances consciously played along, he quickly began calling them sworn brothers. Once familiar, it was inevitable that Gu Shaotao would bring this group of friends back to his home.

Upon learning of Gu Shaotao’s urgent need for money because his mother was awaiting surgery, one of them, named Lan Ke, expressed surprise: “Brother Gu, you usually don't seem like much, but I never expected your family to be in such difficulty. Since you need the money so badly, have you thought of every way? If there is any way we brothers can help, don't be polite.”

It was rare for Gu Shaotao to make such loyal friends, so he was naturally delighted. After several rounds of heavy drinking, he naturally slurred out, “Don’t worry, brothers, I already have a plan.” He then told them about his plan to kidnap Ning Yunhuan’s father. When Lan Ke heard this, he exchanged a knowing glance with his brothers before smiling, “That sounds decent, but Brother Gu, this is no easy job. If you plan to do this, it will be difficult. I heard that Older Brother Ning’s girlfriend’s family isn't easily provoked. If you want revenge, there’s time later. If you’re short on cash right now, we brothers can pool some money together to tide you over.”

Gu Shaotao had no reason to doubt these brothers. Upon hearing them suggest the kidnapping of Ning Yunhuan’s father was troublesome, he instantly felt a wave of disappointment.

Ning Yuncheng, inexplicably, let out a sigh of relief. Now, deeply fearing that Gu Shaotao would bring up kidnapping Ning Yunhuan’s father again, he quickly chimed in, nodding along, “But Mother Gu’s surgery isn't something a little bit of money can cover.” Gu Xian’s kidney donor had not been matched yet. While they might find one on the black market, the price would be far beyond a mere few tens of thousands; it would take at least several hundred thousand or even a million.

In the past, Ning Yuncheng would not have batted an eye at such sums, but times had changed; he might not even have five thousand yuan to spare, let alone several hundred thousand. Thinking of this, Ning Yuncheng truly didn't want to go through with kidnapping Ning Yunhuan’s father, and a flicker of resentment toward the situation began to grow within him.

“If that’s the case, there’s only one way to make money fast,” Lan Ke stated, pausing for a moment. Gu Shaotao’s eyes lit up when he heard of a quick way to earn cash, and he urged him on: “Older Brother Lan, tell me quickly, what kind of business is it?”

Lan Ke hesitated for a while, and only after a long moment did he murmur, “Gambling.”

He continued, “I used to have a brother who worked as a bouncer at a casino. I heard that once people start betting there, the stakes are at least several hundred thousand yuan. Brother Gu, if you have a good hand, just one session might secure the money for Auntie Gu’s illness.” He neglected to mention the potential consequences if Gu Shaotao’s luck turned sour. Gu Shaotao, naturally, didn't consider the negative outcome either. After a moment of hesitation, he seemed on the verge of agreeing.

Though Ning Yuncheng wasn't inherently a genius, the word 'gambling' instinctively struck him as problematic. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Shaotao shot him a warning glare: “Older Brother Ning, if we are brothers, don't stop me. For my mother’s illness, I’d kill someone! What’s wrong with trying once? If it works, and Mom gets better, Sister Yingxi will surely be happy too!”

Mentioning his beloved, Ning Yuncheng naturally had nothing more to say. After thinking it over, he suddenly gritted his teeth: “Fine then, shared fortune, shared hardship!”

“Good brother!” Gu Shaotao moved to fist-bump Ning Yuncheng emotionally. As the two men shared this moment of masculine bonding, Lan Ke and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief. Completing the task assigned by their master so quickly meant that standing up for the Madam in the future would be no challenge at all.

Initially, Gu Shaotao was hesitant to gamble with money. Instead, he put on a show of observing the casino, acting as if he were learning the ropes. This establishment was the largest, most luxurious casino the Lan family operated in the capital under the guise of legitimate business in Huaxia. It stood seven stories tall, symbolizing the constant ebb and flow of fortune, with each floor hosting higher-stakes games and catering to clientele of increasingly noble status.

When Gu Shaotao and the other man were led into this renowned casino, they felt a sense of disbelief, which only deepened their awe for Lan Ke and his brothers. Since the second floor involved higher stakes, Gu Shaotao dared not venture up. Ning Yuncheng, leveraging the fact that he still had a company to his name, was led by one of Lan Ke’s brothers directly into the elevator. Meanwhile, Gu Shaotao nervously lingered in the opulent, palace-like main hall, dizzy from the sight of the various games and the constant 'whoosh' sound of chips exchanging hands. By the end of the day, he hadn't learned a thing and was instead having second thoughts about the whole endeavor.

Having come this far, how could Lan Ke and the others allow him to refuse? After a flurry of persuasive words and promises, the men pooled together another fifty thousand yuan and handed it to Gu Shaotao, thoroughly pushing him onto the path of no return. He cashed in his chips; since he only had fifty thousand, and the minimum betting unit in this arena was in the tens of thousands, Gu Shaotao’s money converted into a mere five chips.

He used the chips to test the waters with Pai Gow, which was relatively simple among the various games; it only required comparing the value of domino tiles. Gu Shaotao began by painfully tossing one chip into the pot, enduring the mockery of others. Soon after, the money he’d wagered was instantly doubled into fifty thousand!

Once he tasted the thrill of winning money, Gu Shaotao naturally savored the flavor. He grew bolder, tentatively placing thirty thousand in. Upon seeing the return exchange for eighty thousand or even more, Gu Shaotao nearly went mad. This was his first time engaging in such a seemingly fantastical way of winning; it felt easier than winning the lottery, seeing stacks of money pile up right in front of him in the blink of an eye.

A large crowd had gathered around him without him noticing. Every time Gu Shaotao won a hand, the crowd erupted in cheers, their faces showing envy and astonishment.

Gu Shaotao reveled in this feeling of being the center of attention. He started to feel a sense of euphoria. The table was already littered with at least several dozen chips. Lan Ke and the others exchanged glances and even came over to urge him to leave quickly. But Gu Shaotao was addicted to the feeling of gambling and was unwilling to quit while his luck was running hot. He had just overheard a fellow gambler say that if a God of Gamblers was present, one must seize the opportunity to win; if that chance passed, he might never get another such run of luck!

He had just found his rhythm in gambling, and the towering stacks of money seemed to fulfill his lifelong desire to be wealthy. Therefore, when Lan Ke and the others tried to persuade him to leave, he refused, feeling even more confident and betting even higher stakes.

After tentatively wagering a few chips and winning a huge pile back, he eventually pushed all the chips currently in front of him forward!

The God of Luck seemed to have abandoned him. The moment all the money was pushed out, everyone braced themselves, expecting Gu Shaotao to win once more, but he revealed a modest number. Gu Shaotao was very confident about this outcome; several times before, his tile scores had been unbelievably low, yet he’d won because the dealer’s score was just slightly lower. So now, after pushing all his money forward, as he contentedly prepared to collect another substantial sum—hoping to surpass a million before calling it a day—the dealer smiled and turned over his tiles. The dealer’s score was exactly two points higher than Gu Shaotao’s!

Upon seeing this, Gu Shaotao’s face changed instantly, and he jumped to his feet reflexively: “Impossible!”

The dealer, who had been smiling moments before, now grew cold as he saw Gu Shaotao’s expression: “You’re not trying to renege, are you?” As he spoke, the bodyguards who had been patrolling with electric batons nearby quickly converged on the area.

The bodyguards were all tall and imposing. Gu Shaotao’s slender figure was lost among them. Seeing them glare at him, his face paled slightly. He suppressed the panic rising in his chest and quickly shook his head: “No, I’m not. Can you possibly lend me some more chips for one more round?”

It was common for gamblers who had lost heavily in a casino to beg for loans, but Gu Shaotao himself had no money and no family assets, making him inherently nervous when asking for a loan. Just as he expected the dealer to refuse, the dealer instead let out a cold laugh and signaled for someone to bring over a stack of chips. Having just lost one hand and thinking of the chips worth several hundred thousand that should have been his but were swept away, Gu Shaotao’s face turned ashen. When he picked up the tiles this time, he dared not be as relaxed and careless as before. Under the tension, sweat beaded on his palms and dampened the tiles.

But luck betrayed him yet again. Even after praying fervently, Gu Shaotao lost this hand too! Staring blankly at the tabletop for a long moment in disbelief, he gritted his teeth and shouted again, “One more time.”