Chapter 98: I’m Waiting for Someone to Ask for a Light.
Perhaps he had offended the system before and was now being punished, or maybe Qin Jiu’s luck just wasn’t all that great.
First round, the dealer lifted the dice cup:
Even.
The expression on Jinli’s face instantly became a kaleidoscope of emotions.
He wasn’t sure whether to be proud that his luck still had some life in it, or to give Qin Jiu a good beating.
The onlookers immediately began beating their chests in frustration, as if the exemption card had been snatched straight from their own pockets.
“Insane, absolutely insane.”
“Holy shit, I thought we got two lucky charms—using the pass cards as bait and then winning hands left and right. Who knew…”
“It’s done, it’s done. My hands were shaking.”
“That’s a pass card!!!”
Under the watchful eyes of countless gazes, You Huo tossed the pass card to the opposite side.
The genuine NPC mouse danced with joy, hopping in place three times, as excited as if it were real.
The dealer reminded, “Betting three rounds at a time. The rules of the comprehensive area are that the chips stay on the table for the three rounds.”
What’s placed on the table in the first round cannot be taken back. You can only add, not subtract.
This means that the bets get bigger with each of the three rounds.
This is also why many people are addicted to it; on one hand, it’s truly thrilling, and on the other, it always makes people feel like they can win it back.
In front of the mouse, there were now three cards:
One card said “Three-Good Student,” another said “Outstanding Student,” and the third said “Exemption Recommendation Card.”
You Huo and Qin Jiu had nothing to show.
The dealer gestured with a “please”: “Do either of you have any other cards? You may present them now.”
You Huo replied, “No.”
The dealer continued, “Cash, property, vehicles, shops, or buildings?”
You Huo: “No.”
The dealer: “…Then the points?”
This could be arranged.
“Let’s bet mine first,” Qin Jiu placed his own card on the table.
It showed three subjects already taken, with the word “Retake” marked after history. The score had been recalculated based on the retake history score, totaling 27.125 points.
The score clearly rolled along the edge of the gambling table, and the crowd murmured softly for a moment without much surprise.
Had they known Qin Jiu started his third subject with negative points, their reaction would have been anything but this.
“In case anyone is unclear about the rules, I’d like to remind everyone,” the dealer said. “In the scoring section, you can bet as much as you want on points, starting from 3 points with no upper limit. The comprehensive section is different; it’s more thrilling here—you have to bet everything.”
The integrated area was a mixed bag, where chips deemed undesirable by other sections would be squeezed out and end up here, gradually giving rise to these unique rules. Ironically, this turned the place into an exclusive zone for examinees making a last-ditch stand.
Qin Jiu nodded and said, “Sure.”
Opposite him, the rat man rubbed his hands together.
The dealer shook the dice cup again, then slammed it down onto the table with a sharp snap.
Qin Jiu asked the Golden Carp: “Chief Examiner, odd or even?”
The Golden Carp was already numb: “Even.”
Qin Jiu said to the dealer: “Even.”
The Golden Carp: “?”
It was rare to see You Huo show such a confused expression, and Qin Jiu couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “Is there a problem?”
“Are you really choosing to follow me? If you lose, you’ll be at zero points,” You Huo said.
“I’ve even ended up in negative points before, so what’s there to fear about zero?” Qin Jiu tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table, joking: “This is a gambling house—fortune favors the bold. Anyone who walks in should be prepared to lose everything.”
This was truly madness.
Exactly like him back when he took the exams twelve times in a row.
Not here to struggle for survival, but to persist to the end.
Back then, Qin Jiu wasn’t the only one who had entered the system with a mission—he was part of a group. The group wasn’t large, partly because they weren’t certain of success, and partly to avoid triggering the system’s rejection or alerting it.
The group’s name was D, and their mission was to understand every aspect of the system as thoroughly as possible, try out different possibilities and push the boundaries, find the hidden core somewhere, and then destroy it.
Some jokers said this wasn’t a d, but a d-to-d—a suicide squad.
Yet, the system had a self-protection mechanism—those who entered it gradually forgot their past, why they had come, and what they were meant to do. Qin Jiu rarely remembered it himself and had never spoken of it.
But he carried it out to the extreme.
……
“Damn it!!!!!” Another wave of frustration and despair swept through the crowd.
The onlookers were hopping with anxiety.
Because the dealer lifted the dice cup:
Odd.
This time, You Huo’s luck returned to normal.
They lost another round.
The dealer took Qin Jiu’s card, swiped it through the machine at the table, and the points on the card instantly dropped to zero.
The rat opposite them was beyond thrilled.
After two rounds, the chips on his side of the table had completely turned the tide.
Who would have thought that two good person cards could be exchanged for a guaranteed pass plus 27 points!
“Third game,” the dealer gestured again to You Huo and Qin Jiu, saying, “please.”
Though he was used to seeing gamblers, this was the first time he had witnessed such a bold bet—his hands were trembling.
Yu Huo didn’t hesitate in the slightest; he slapped the card onto the table.
The information on it was similar to Qin Jiu’s: three subjects already taken, and a retake in history.
But the scores were truly shocking.
42.125
The number rolled once along the edge of the table. After two seconds of stunned silence, the onlookers instantly erupted.
Because it required betting all their points, steady-minded examinees definitely wouldn’t come to the comprehensive area.
No, to be precise, steady-minded examinees simply wouldn’t come to the casino at all!
You fucking scored over forty points in three subjects, an A grade among A’s, and you even have a special exemption card. Why do something good for nothing and have to come to the casino looking for thrills?
Everyone’s eyes were practically bulging green with envy, cursing everyone in the casino under their breath, shouting, “If you don’t want these points or this card, can’t you just give them to me?!”
The atmosphere on the entire floor had reached its absolute peak.
Stimulated by this atmosphere, the opposite side immediately pulled out their card.
The dealer steadied the table and asked him, “Wait a minute, what are you doing?”
“Raise the stakes!” Rat threw his card on the table and declared, “This is the most thrilling game I’ve ever played—raise! I’m putting my points on the line.”
You Huo: “…”
He asked Qin Jiu, “Is this really an NPC?”
“Convincing performance, isn’t it?”
“……”
The casino’s NPCs were always highly realistic, with cards identical to those of regular examinees. The front displayed room card information, while the back featured the exam admission ticket.
It stated he took 4 subjects, with a total score of 40, especially even across all.
The dealer took his card, swiped it first to add Qin Jiu’s 27 points, then placed it in the betting area.
The spectators screamed even louder.
At this gambling table, aside from those two good guy cards, pulling out any single chip would be enough to drive any examinee mad on the spot.
The dealer shook the dice cup again.
This time, he shook for a long, long time, building up everyone’s suspense before finally placing it on the table for the third time in the quiet room.
Qin Jiu picked up the card and looked at You Huo.
This time, without even needing to speak, You Huo said, “I still feel like it’s even.”
With that, he directly grabbed Qin Jiu’s wrist and pressed it onto the character “odd.”
Some koi fish are quite magical; after being kept for a long time, they can even answer in advance.
This time, even the dealer was unbearably nervous.
He took two deep breaths, gripped the dice cup as he scanned the surroundings, then abruptly lifted it.
Strange.
The entire floor fell silent for a moment, then everyone went wild.
The dealer froze for a few seconds before pushing all the chips on the table to You Huo.
Three games in one bet.
Two losses and one win.
The two handsome young men who went mad at a young age won back their direct promotion cards, received two good person cards, got back their own score cards, and even earned an extra 40 points.
“This is like not making a single sale for two years, and then hitting the jackpot all at once!”
“Wait! After adding the points, could it be… maxed out?”
Discussions and conversations came surging toward him.
The dealer took the card and swiped it, much to the rat’s deep chagrin.
He asked You Huo, “40 points. How would you two like to split them?”
You Huo said, “Add them to even out both cards.”
He handed over his own card and Qin Jiu’s to the dealer. The dealer was completely baffled, thinking to himself, “Do I have to do a math problem now???”
Before the dealer could even start calculating, a line of text eagerly lit up along the edge of the gambling table:
Congratulations to examinees You Huo and Qin Jiu for returning with a full load!
One could tell that the system wanted to dance more than anyone else.
With their current scores, even if You Huo and Qin Jiu absolutely refused to use the guaranteed pass card, they could easily coast through the last two exams without any trouble! Once that happens, it wouldn’t hesitate for a second—it would kick both of them out.
* * *
After leaving the casino, they headed to the hotel where the examinees of this round were staying.
Yang Shu and the others had been waiting there for quite some time.
Zhao Jiatong asked, “I heard the invigilation office didn’t penalize you. Why are you only showing up now? What were you doing?”
“Gambling,” said You Huo.
Zhao Jiatong: “???”
She and Gao Qi immediately glared at Qin Jiu.
They had no idea what Qin Jiu was like, but in their minds, A certainly didn’t gamble—how could he have become like this in such a short time?!
Besides… didn’t they have any awareness of their own luck? Who gave them the courage to step into a casino?!
Qin Jiu’s gaze toward Gao Qi was meaningful, and he raised a hand to signal his innocence.
“I bet three rounds and got this.” You Huo slapped the card onto the table.
Then he fanned out the three cards he already had and placed them on top.
Five good person cards, just enough to complete a set, with two extras to spare.
“You actually managed to get them?!” Gao Qi exclaimed.
The moment he saw the card, he didn’t have time to feel awkward anymore.
You Huo asked, “How do you use a complete set?”
“Well—go to the front desk, find the hotel owner. Every rest stop hotel has a special situation registration book, you just write the names of the people you want to team up with.”
Gao Qi said, “Actually, it’s not just names—codes, aliases, anything that can represent identity works. That’s what the legend says, but we don’t know if it’s true or not. Anyway, we’ve never used it.”
You Huo nodded and then asked Yang Shu, “Do you want to get out of here?” Yang Shu immediately became alert. “What do you mean? Are you trying to give me a pass card? I don’t want it.”
“A doctor shouldn’t be wasting time here,” Qin Jiu said.
Yang Shu responded immediately, “I’m not really a doctor, and I can’t leave now. I still need to find someone.”
“Find someone?”
Yang Shu said: “I came in with my senior, but we got separated when they divided us into exam rooms. I can still handle myself, but she can’t. If I go out alone, what will happen to her if she gets stuck here?”
She wasn’t accustomed to showing worry, and with some awkwardness, added, “Then I won’t know how to explain it to the professor later. I was just thinking that if you could form a team, with no limit on numbers, could you help recruit her?”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. What’s your senior sister’s name?”
“Wu with the mouth and sky, Li for clever and sharp,” Yang Shu said. “Her name is Wu Li—what’s with those expressions?”
Qin Jiu looked slightly surprised, “…Is your senior a brain doctor?”
“Yes, have you met her?!”
“We have. We’re retaking this history exam—in the last one, she was with us.”
Yang Shu beamed with delight, “Really?”
When she smiled, her usual domineering demeanor softened, replaced by a more lively and radiant expression.
But she quickly retracted it: “So how is she? Is she injured?”
“At least she was fine after finishing the exam. Considering the timing, she should still be waiting somewhere for the next round, barring any accidents.”
“That’s the best outcome then,” Yang Shu said.
You Huan went to the hotel front desk to get the registration book and wrote down the names of Lao Yu and his son, Wu Li, Shu Xue, and a whole string of others.
The boss watched in a daze and couldn’t help saying, “With such a large group, you might not necessarily get a high score.”
You Huan didn’t say a word, clearly not considering the issue.
The boss tutted twice and then said to him, “Take out your card and check in, including the one who was with you just now.”
“He’s stuck with me.” You Huo said, handing over two cards.
The boss flipped them over and read: Three exams completed, total score 54.625.
The boss: “…Forget I said anything.”
By the time You Huo returned to the tea table, everyone was already chatting.
Qin Jiu asked Yang Shu with a surprised expression, “Are you studying neurology too?”
“And what’s that look for?” Yang Shu said.
Perhaps stirred up a bit, Miss Yang, for a rare change, began to talk more, explaining her field of study and how she and Wu Li ended up there.
She mentioned that their professor had returned from abroad, and she and Wu Li went to see him with project-related questions, followed by a casual meal together.
“The study was in the attic. While I was coming down the stairs, somehow I missed a step and collided with my senior sister.” Yang Shu said, “And in the next moment, we ended up here.”
This situation was quite similar to You Huo’s experience.
Everyone else could relate and started chiming in one after another.
For some reason, You Huo seemed lost in thought. After a moment, he asked Yang Shu, “You just mentioned that the professor also has the surname Wu?”
“That’s right, he’s Senior’s uncle,” Yang Shu said. “But he’s actually quite strict with her.”
You Huo took out his phone and opened a photo.
“Is this Dr. Wu?”
Yang Shu was taken aback. “…How do you have the professor’s photo? He focuses on research projects and usually doesn’t see patients.”
You Huo: “What project?”
“Then I wouldn’t know, my specialty is different from his, and the projects are independent.” Yang Shu said: “Wu Li was involved in some, you can ask her when she gets here? But not many, she can only tell you a few non-confidential parts.”
As everyone was talking, the sky darkened.
Gao Qi and Zhao Jiatong were going back to the invigilation area, You Huo and Qin Jiu went with them to see them off.
The resting area at night was brightly lit, and the area near the casino remained bustling, but the streets and alleys further away were deserted and devoid of a single shadow.
“Are you only taking one exam?”
“Yeah, generally, violations only lead to punishment in one subject,” Gao Qi glanced at Qin Jiu and said, “But your case is truly rare. Did you offend someone?”
“Who else could it be?” Qin Jiu gave a slight, knowing smile.
“However, the rule states that the penalty ranges from one to five subjects at discretion, and we haven’t violated it.”
Gao Qi thought to himself that the system probably wanted to teach Qin Jiu a lesson, never expecting… it would end up pairing two troublemakers together.
He muttered, “It’s like lifting a stone only to drop it on your own foot. The system must be deeply regretting this.”
Qin Jiu chuckled softly in agreement, then glanced at You Huo once more.
“What are you regretting?” Zhao Jiatong heard it and asked, puzzled.
“……”
Gao Qi opened his mouth and said, “Nothing, just an offhand sigh.”
Zhao Jiatong looked thoroughly confused.
She felt that the three men around her each harbored their own thoughts, and the atmosphere was bizarre.
But the white fog was already before them.
She didn’t think too much about it, said farewell to You Huo and Qin Jiu, turned around, and left with Gao Qi.
“There’s a supermarket ahead, let’s go buy some supplies for the next exam?” Qin Jiu suggested.
You Huo nodded.
Having amassed higher points, the two of them had even fewer reservations, loading an entire cart with medicine and food.
The cashier’s eyes were wide with shock when it came time to pay the bill.
Score slips gradually decreased, in just 20 minutes, the two went from 54 points chopped back to 30. The entire supermarket’s checkout system was so overwhelmed it froze, and the boss spent ages trying to get it working again.
“Is that all?” the shopkeeper wanted the two of them to confirm, wondering if they might want to cut back a bit.
And so, You Huo habitually pointed at the cabinet: “Grab a pack of cigarettes.”
Qin Jiu stopped in his tracks.
You Huo himself also paused for a moment.
The lingering smoky scent from the examination hall seemed to drift over once more…
The owner never expected him to ask for more and asked, “Are you sure?”
You Huo’s gaze swept across Qin Jiu’s face before turning away.
He remained silent for a couple of seconds before replying to the shop owner, “Yeah.”
As he grabbed his purchases and headed for the door, he heard Qin Jiu following a step behind him. With a deep, amused voice, Qin Jiu said to the shop owner, “Just grabbing a lighter. Someone’s tempting me to smoke, so I’m waiting for them to come borrow a light.”