Chapter 6, Undercurrents (03)
Xu Tang's gaze fell upon the large photograph hanging behind the television. It was taken when she was in her first year of high school, at a time when her grandmother was still alive, her father was in good health, and the whole family sat together in the yard, posing for this singular, well-composed family portrait. Although their lives were not affluent, they were blessed with completeness. Later, Xu Tang's father passed away, her grandmother lost her husband in middle age and her son in old age, and after enduring such blows, she succumbed to illness and passed away.
Xu Tang was silent for a few seconds and then let out a soft "Oh"
Once you have healed, you may leave
Zhou Xian glanced at her, "Each person has ten tokens of sincerity."
No, I am sleeping
Zhou Xian reached out to retrieve the cigarette box that was placed aside, took one out and lit it. He slowly inhaled a puff and, amidst the rising smoke, looked at Xu Tang and asked, "Do you have a purpose in approaching me?"
Zhou Xian curled his lips slightly and slowly blew a smoke ring towards Xu Tang. Xu Tang choked and immediately opened his eyes wide to glare at him, "What are you doing?"
Seeking stimulation or provocation
After having lunch, Zhou Xian walked around the room three times. With nothing to do, he asked Xu Tang to play cards with him. Xu Tang had a habit of taking a nap in the afternoon and was currently lying on the lounge chair, feeling drowsy and showing no interest in him.
No
Amidst the swirling smoke, Zhou Xian furrowed his brows and gazed sternly, "I do not know how your father died, but it has nothing to do with me or any of the men under Brother Xiao."
Zhou Xian, with a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown, looked at Xu Tang, his expression no longer as serious as before. "Xu Haitang, do you think I am very handsome?"
Yes
Xu Tang lowered her gaze and remained silent for a moment, then said softly: "Willing to bet, willing to accept the loss, you may ask."
Zhou Xian looked at her, "Xu Haitang."
As he entered and was about to speak, he noticed Zhou Xian standing on the balcony, casually playing with a butterfly knife, his expression somewhat bored. Although it was a one-handed maneuver, it did not hinder his performance in the slightest; the butterfly knife in his hand exhibited both agility and complete control, showcasing a dazzling array of tricks that left one mesmerized
How do two people fight
Xu Tang nodded
No
Xu Tang's fingers trembled slightly, unable to be restrained. She slowly pinched one side of the playing card and turned it over: Spade 8
Xu Tang's expression was calm and composed, perhaps even overly so, as the tension that had been present before answering the first question had dissipated significantly
Xu's mother was disappointed, "Did he say when he would leave?"
No
There is one more time
Mother Xu looked her up and down and asked, "Did you go out to restock today?"
We usually do not gamble money when playing with women
Xu Tang's fingers moved slightly, "Yes."
The two individuals then turned over the fourth and fifth cards, and in the end, Xu Tang had four cards laid out: the Ace of Spades, the King of Spades, the Jack of Spades, and the 10 of Spades. On the other hand, Zhou Xian had the 8 of Hearts, the 8 of Clubs, the Ace of Clubs, and the Ace of Diamonds, while the total number of questions asked reached 8 times
At noon, neither Xu Yang nor Xu's mother returned home for lunch, leaving only Xu Tang and Zhou Xian in the house
Yes
Upon hearing these words, Mother Xu immediately let out a cold snort and muttered, "As if he were a great lord." Saying this, she came out of the kitchen and took a seat at the dining table
Zhou Xian silently calculated for a moment, smiled, pinched the remaining half of his cigarette, got up from the chair, and turned to walk towards Xu Yang's room. Upon reaching the door, he suddenly stopped, saying, "Tonight I will sleep in your brother's room"
Zhou Xian curled his lips and then asked, "Has your father passed away not long ago?"
Zhou Xian then retracted his palm
After washing and cutting the cards, she pushed the deck in front of Zhou Xuan and asked, "How do we play?"
Xu Tang instantly understood Zhou Xian's intention, and her feelings became somewhat complicated. She took out a large bowl, picked up a few pieces from each dish, and piled them high in the bowl, creating a small mountain of food.
Xu Tang instantly resembled a deflated balloon, completely devoid of strength, leaning against the back of the chair, her lips pressed into a thin line
Zhou Xian's gaze slightly narrowed, and with a smile, he said, "Alright." Zhou Xian shuffled the cards and placed them in front of Xu Tang, saying, "You cut the deck."
Xu Tang looked at him with curiosity
Xu Tang slightly parted her lips, but ultimately lowered her gaze and fell silent.
Xu Tang looked up at him, her brows furrowing even tighter. She clenched her fingers, took a deep breath, and said, "Once"
Zhou Xian's lips curled into a smile, "Let's deal the cards."
Xu Tang shook her head, "There is none," she paused, "You ask me whether I believe what you say..."
No
Do things for the subordinate
No
His tone carries not the slightest hint of doubt; this sentence is a complete statement.
Of course not
Xu Tang looked up
With a smile at the corners of his mouth, "You think your father did not die by accident"
Yes
Do we have your relatives among us
Xu Tang widened his eyes—he actually wagered all six of his remaining chances.
Xu Yang was stunned for a while, and it took him a long time to regain his senses. He cleared his throat and said: "Xian Ge, dinner is ready"
Zhou Xian glanced at her without saying anything, picked up a piece of fried lotus root, and focused on eating.
Zhou Xian paused for a moment, looking at her, "Let's play Truth or Dare."
There are two ways for two people to play
You have a good relationship with Dad
Do you not believe what I am saying
Fifteen times. Zhou Xian rested his right hand on the back of the chair, smiling at her, calculating the results of the battle
The two each drew three cards and placed them in order in front of them. Before the cards were revealed, Xu Tang couldn't help but ask: "What stakes are you playing for?"
He walked up to Xu Tang with a cigarette in his mouth, "Xu Haitang."
No
Xu Tang's thoughts were interrupted, the warm and strong hand resting on the back of her head seemed to offer a silent comfort. Xu Tang lowered her gaze and picked up the chopsticks
Do you want to get close to Xiao Ge
Do you want to be my girlfriend
Xu Tang looked up at him and said, "It has been used up fifteen times."
There is only one card left, and based on the cards laid out on the table, Xu Tang has the potential to form the highest flush, the fourth flush, or the fifth straight, or alternatively, the ninth high card.
Mother Xu let out a sigh, "Don't stay at home during the day. I know that with his current injuries, he won't amount to much, but you can never predict what a little punk might do..."
Mother Xu turned on the faucet to wash her hands and began to help Xu Tang pick vegetables
The cards in Zhou Xian's hand may potentially form a third full house or a seventh two pairs
Mom, Xu Tang interrupted him, "I know."
Zhou Xian followed Xu Tang's gaze and glanced over, put down his chopsticks, and gently patted the back of Xu Tang's head, "Xu Haitang, eat your meal"
He brought over the risk cards, removing the cards numbered 2 to 7, leaving only 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A. While he was discarding the cards, he explained the rules of five-card stud poker to Xu Tang.
gourd
Zhou Xian hardly blinked, "All in."
Xu Tang tightly closed her eyes. Zhou Xian squinted, bent down, and brought his face closer to Xu Tang, asking, "Aren't you getting up?"
Are you helping me because of your father's matter
Zhou Xian picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and then asked, "I haven't seen your father."
Xu Tang was a bit confused after hearing a couple of sentences, "Are we gambling?"
His movements were too swift; Xu Tang did not even have time to prepare mentally before seeing that card laid out on top of the other four, which was the Ace of Hearts
Yes
After the cards were cut, both individuals drew a card each as their hole card. Subsequently, Zhou Xian drew another card, revealing a Heart 8. Xu Tang took a deep breath, drew a card, glanced at it first, smiled slightly, and slowly revealed it; it was a Spade Ace.
Zhou Xian slowly curled his lips, "Bet on the number of pieces of clothing to be removed."
Xu Tang immediately looked up and met Zhou Xian's gaze, then quickly averted her eyes. "... ... Yes," she replied, her answer lacking the previous decisiveness and tinged with a hint of subtle hesitation.
As Zhou Xian completely entered the room and could no longer be seen from where she stood, Xu Tang let out a long, gentle sigh of relief and silently smiled at the door of the room.
No
Xu Tang took a deep breath, flipped the corner of her fifth card, glanced at it, pressed her lips tightly together, and furrowed her brows in deep thought. Her mind was racing, calculating various outcomes. Opposite her, Zhou Xian remained calm and unhurried from beginning to end, exuding an air of leisure at this moment.
Zhou Xian lifted his eyelids slightly and uttered a soft "Hmm". After a few seconds of silence, he said, "I won't go out to eat. Please help me bring some in."
Xu Tang's hand, which was serving rice, paused for a moment, "He has passed away"
Xu Tang was jolted awake, completely devoid of sleepiness, "How to gamble?"
The third card of the risky game is the grass flower A
Xu Tang's heart raced uncontrollably as she gazed at Zhou Xian's slightly provocative look, momentarily lost in thought. After a moment, she shook her head and said, "No, the question can only be answered with 'yes' or 'no', each person has ten chances."
Zhou Xian's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Xu Tang
Mother Xu raised her voice: "Have you been in the room with him all day?"
Zhou Xian did not hesitate: "Follow."
Xu Tang pondered for a moment, "Once"
Zhou Xian stopped and quietly smoked for a while, then Fang spoke again: "Are you trying to inquire about something from me?"
Xu Tang brought the dishes to the table, set the bowls and chopsticks, and called out towards the bedroom, "Aren't they coming back?" Zhou Xian stepped out and sat down beside the table, picking up the chopsticks but pausing for a moment.
Accidental death
Xu Tang clenched her hands resting on her thighs, and a word sprang from between her teeth: "Yes"
Xuyang glanced at his mother, who was standing at the kitchen door, and quickly changed his words, "Zhou Xian said he didn't want to come out to eat, and asked me to bring the food in for him"
Xu Tang's eyelids fluttered slightly, yet she still did not open her eyes
Yes
Zhou Xian called out again, but Xu Tang still did not respond
Xu Tang's ears turned red, and she immediately lowered her head to flip over the third card, which was a spade King
Zhou Xian paused for a moment, "Do you want to be Fang Ju's girlfriend?"
In the afternoon, Xu Tang was still cooking. When Xu's mother returned from work and did not see Zhou Xian in the living room, she immediately rushed into the kitchen to ask Xu Tang, "Has he left?"
Cannot accept his death
As soon as dinner was ready, Xu Yang returned home. Xu Tang set the dishes on the table and called Xu Yang to invite Zhou Xian to come out for dinner. Xu Yang responded and went to the bathroom to wash his face, then walked to his own room to call Zhou Xian.
No, I went out to find a classmate, preparing to go stock up with her
Xu Tang was curious: "What is going on?"
Xu Tang, feeling helpless, ultimately got up reluctantly to find the playing cards. She cut a few slices of watermelon and sat beside Zhou Xian at the dining table, where a large electric fan was blowing. She was overtaken by drowsiness, yawning repeatedly while shuffling the cards.
Xu Yang did not consider the reason at all, hurriedly nodding and going out to serve Zhou Xiansheng his meal
Zhou Xian did not miss any expression on her face, "You place your bet."
"Flush, you are quite lucky." Zhou Xian smiled softly, raising his hand to reveal his hole cards.
Play cards with me