Whether it was Jiang Chen, Li Shuru, or Xue Yali, surely it was their first time in a place like a casino.
But for Bai Haoran, it was different.
As Marx said, "Where there is profit to be had, there will always be people willing to risk it all." Despite strict regulations, Shenzhou has plenty of underground gambling dens. However, when it comes to scale, they simply can’t compare to Las Vegas.
After all, here, casinos were not shameful dens of iniquity, but rather, they operated openly and legitimately.
As guests staying at the MGM, they could enter the casino freely to sightsee and spend money, thanks to their room cards. Even if one had never been there in person, almost everyone had seen a movie featuring gambling elements.
But upon witnessing the real hustle and bustle inside the casino, Xue Yali couldn’t help but marvel.
The sea of people was bustling, the noise was deafening, and it felt as if all the tourists in Las Vegas had gathered here.
But don’t forget, there’s more than just the MGM in Las Vegas.
They say films are an artistic processing of reality, but in truth, reality can be more exaggerated than fiction.
It is no exaggeration to say that the casinos depicted in movies pale in comparison to the scene before them.
The massive casino hall, its boundaries out of sight, was filled with all sorts of gambling tables, glittering with gold and dazzling lights. Each table was surrounded by a dense crowd of people who shouted obliviously, completely immersed, their eyes glued to the tabletop. The expressions on their faces varied—some were excited, some clenched their teeth, some beat their chests in frustration, some were ecstatic, and others had faces ashen with despair...
The crowd wasn’t just men—there were many women as well. The allure of gambling knew no gender. Among them were some hostesses dressed in sexy uniforms resembling bunny girls, office ladies, and air hostesses, adding a touch of sensuality to the casino.
A true spectacle of glitz and glamour.
Every breath of air was filled with a seductive aura that could make one lose themselves.
Entering here was like stepping into a magical world that was completely separated from reality.
Bai Haoran, who had been away for a short while, came back with a tray.
"Give it to her," Jiang Chen signaled toward Xue Yali with his eyes.
"Miss Xue, here you go."
Bai Haoran handed over the tray.
Xue Yali was stunned, looking at the colorful chips in the tray, somewhat at a loss.
"Take it," Jiang Chen laughed.
"We’ve come all this way, we can’t just feast our eyes, right? I’m afraid the casino would detain us here if we don’t spend a penny," Jiang Chen joked.
"This... how much is it worth?"
Xue Yali couldn’t help but ask.
Bai Haoran replied, "A hundred thousand US dollars."
A hundred thousand US dollars?! Xue Yali was shocked inside.
Her family was very average, and although she had gone abroad and found an outstanding boyfriend working on Wall Street, they weren’t particularly well off financially.
Her boyfriend, Liu Hongzhi, had an annual income of just over a million.
Now that a hundred thousand US dollars was laid out before her, how could she not be dazzled?
"This hundred thousand dollars is your capital. If you lose, it’s on me. If you win, keep it. If it’s neither win nor lose, I’ll take the money back. So, it’s all up to your skill," Jiang Chen said.
The title of brother-in-law had not been given in vain.
Jiang Chen was remarkably generous beyond words.
"Ya Li has no idea how to gamble," Li Shuru interjected.
Compared to the internationally-educated Xue Yali, her horizons were undoubtedly broader, especially after being with Jiang Chen, as she became less sensitive to money.
It was simply that anyone living in a top-notch mansion and who had seen a diamond worth nearly a hundred million shatter in front of them would gradually become desensitized to the value of money.
Without reaching the point of seeing money as a boring string of numbers, at least one hundred thousand US dollars definitely couldn’t provoke much sensation anymore.
Such is the subtle influence of one’s environment.
"What does not knowing how to gamble matter?"
Jiang Chen looked towards the throngs in the casino with a playful smile, "Do you think they really know how to gamble?"
Bai Haoran thought that Mr. Jiang’s words were quite insightful.
No one could truly "learn" to gamble.
Even the most adept gambler couldn’t outplay the casino.
"Brother-in-law, it’s too much," Xue Yali didn’t eagerly take the chips, which Jiang Chen quite admired.
Being able to restrain oneself in the face of money was a rare quality.
At least Li Shuru, his sister-in-law, was stronger than her aunt in this regard.
"Don’t feel any pressure. Surely you don’t intend to play with the mindset of losing everything? Who knows, maybe today you’ll have great luck and win?" Jiang Chen encouraged.
Xue Yali was still hesitant.
She knew that her cousin’s boyfriend was unimaginably wealthy.
But their wealth was theirs.
"Since he promised to cover all your expenses, why be polite with him?"
As she spoke, Li Shuru took the tray and pulled her sister deeper into the casino.
Jiang Chen and Bai Haoran followed.
Xue Yali really had no idea how to gamble and was completely clueless about the various games available in the casino.
Li Shuru was the same.
But it didn’t matter.
After all, gambling was just about spending money to place bets.
And surprisingly, as if validating the old saying about beginners’ luck, the sisters managed to win far more often than they lost by simply guessing or going with their gut feeling. Despite placing conservative bets each time, their winnings weren’t substantial, but they weren’t there to get rich.
In gambling, the joy is in the win, isn’t it?