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When Yang Er was the only one left in the room, he whispered, "So, is it what you expected?"
A door nearby was gently pushed open, and a calm voice replied, "Just as I guessed."
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter 104: Simple Happiness
Emerging from Mr. Yang's room, I suddenly felt a deep sense of unease. Originally, in Toronto, I had successfully resolved all the future troubles facing the Hells' Angels. Yang Wei had devised three strategies for me, one of which was to solidify our rear and secure old Thorin's full support by offering localized benefits.
Now it seems that I have passed old Thorin's test, gained his true trust, and made the Hells Angels openly stand on my side of alliance.
Without a doubt, my trip to Toronto, though full of twists and turns and quite a few thrills, had a very satisfying outcome. The final result made me very proud. After all, I got the best result I wanted.
But being suddenly invited to Las Vegas by Mr. Yang Er, especially the conversation we just had, almost ruined all my good mood!
Yang Wei... Yang Wei... Sigh, it's about Yang Wei again.
Although I spoke very resolutely and decisively to Mr. Yang in the room, and seemed to firmly state my attitude, could I truly let go of the name "Yang Wei" deep down?
God knows!
Although I cruelly refused Yang Wei's visit when I was injured, and even said those resolute words to her: "Since you've made your choice, don't waver."
But wasn't that also a form of revenge against Yang Wei for her previous indifference towards me?
When Yang Wei's letter was placed in front of me, I seemed to see again that woman who had racked her brains to come up with ideas for me and cared for me wholeheartedly, especially the tear stains on the letter. And the last two words, "Take care," written in almost trembling handwriting.
How could my heart not have wavered?
Yang Wei wavered, and so did I... But now Mr. Yang the Second has stepped forward.
Haha... a couple who love each other but can't be together for various reasons, and... family elders standing in the middle and interfering.
This really does resemble a melodramatic Taiwanese prime-time soap opera.
On a night like this, in a mood like this, it's really not suitable to go back to your room alone and brood over the ceiling until you fall asleep.
Fortunately, this is Las Vegas. And I also know that there's a casino right downstairs.
As distinguished guests personally welcomed by Mr. Yang, our every move was closely protected by the Yang family.
I also learned that the hotel I'm currently in is the Yang family's first casino and first hotel in Las Vegas... Of course, due to its age and the rapid development of this monster city, Las Vegas, this old hotel and casino are no longer able to adapt to the new needs. Therefore, the Yang family now basically uses this place as their headquarters, and the hotel business is merely a commemorative decoration. Apart from the casino downstairs still operating normally, the hotel upstairs is basically no longer accepting customers; only some of the Yang family's business associates are invited to stay here.
I was just casually looking around in the corridor when members of the Yang family appeared in front of me and politely asked if I needed anything.
"Alcohol, cigarettes... and then. Take me to the casino downstairs and exchange some chips for me."
My request was quickly fulfilled.
Yang Wen, the man who brought me to Las Vegas, quickly came to my side and accompanied me downstairs to the casino. At the same time, someone brought me the finest cigarettes and liquor. Yang Wen then acted as the introducer.
"Mr. Chen, this casino's history dates back to the founding of Las Vegas! As one of the earliest legal casinos in the city, this place has witnessed almost the entire rise of Las Vegas. Of course, in terms of scale, although it has been expanded, it couldn't meet the ever-changing demands a decade ago. Compared to the large-scale casinos of today with thousands of gaming tables, this historic casino seems somewhat shabby. However, many veteran Las Vegas gamblers still like to come here to see old friends and relive the feeling of nostalgia... Oh, and by the way, this was also the venue for three gambling tournaments."
Yang Wen pushed my wheelchair out of the elevator and into the casino. He continued, "Now, the hotel upstairs is no longer open to the public, and this casino is only partially open. Ordinary tourists can't enter; only members can come here... In other words, this place is now like a memorial hall. But don't underestimate this place; this membership isn't something ordinary people can obtain... because almost everyone in this casino is a seasoned gambler, and any customer you see at any gambling table might be a contestant in some gambling tournament in the city."
"Oh?" I said casually, "So, this is a place where many experts gather? I know that the more experts a casino has among its customers, the less profit the casino makes. If all the customers are gambling experts and they win all the money, wouldn't the casino lose money?"
Yang Wen smiled slightly, seemingly used to such questions, and said calmly, "Oh, that's not the case. There are some special regulations here."
"What special regulations?"
The refined and clean-cut young man smiled and said, "Sir, as you probably know, when a person possesses skills, wealth, or status that are superior to those of ordinary people, while it may bring them great success and career achievements, they often also lose a lot... such as the joys of being an ordinary person."
I nodded, a thought flashing through my mind, and I couldn't help but murmur, "Hmm... the pleasures of being an ordinary person... interesting."
“Yes,” Yang Wen said casually, “You see, when a gambling master or a professional gambler sits at the table, the table becomes their battlefield, their job! They need to meticulously count the cards, carefully calculate the probabilities, and desperately utilize their gambling skills… In other words, they are working! As you know, when something becomes a job, it’s hard to find enjoyment in it. And these gambling masters, while earning money through gambling, may make money, but they lose the ‘joy of gambling’.”
“That makes sense.” I quickly understood what he meant and casually said, “Even with the simplest dice game, the happiest moment is the moment after throwing the dice and not knowing the result! That’s the fun of gambling! If you rely on gambling skills to listen to the numbers on the dice, although you can win for sure, you lose the fun and it becomes just a job.”
Yang Wen smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, you are an expert."
I shook my head, looked around, and said calmly, "No, I'm not an expert. I haven't even studied gambling techniques much."
Indeed, as Yang Wen said, compared to the super-large casinos in Las Vegas that are now decorated in a glittering style, this casino with only a little over a hundred gaming tables seems much more shabby.
Moreover, it was clear that the Yang family wasn't deliberately pursuing extravagance. Although everything here was very clean and meticulous, the decor had an old-fashioned feel from decades ago. Even the dealers at the gambling table wore those old-fashioned, oversized bow ties, and the rows of slot machines were old-fashioned models that are almost impossible to find on the market now.
"The guests here are here to enjoy the thrill of gambling. Many of them are true experts. But when they gamble here, they don't consciously listen to the dice rolls to predict the numbers, nor do they painstakingly count or remember cards when playing poker. They simply enjoy the game as ordinary people... Gambling is, after all, just a game." Yang Wen still had a smile on his face: "Therefore, the stakes here are very small. We've even set a limit on the amount of bets we accept, and we've set that limit very low, because the guests here aren't here to win money, but to enjoy the game."
Yang Wen pushed me around and showed me around. I found that he was right. Unlike other casinos I had been to, the customers here seemed very relaxed. The customers at the gambling tables did not have the bloodthirsty look of gamblers in other casinos. They all looked leisurely and content.
Judging from their attire, they were all wealthy people, yet cheers and sighs could often be heard, all for a mere few hundred dollars in winnings or losses.
Yang Wen quickly exchanged several thousand dollars worth of chips for me, and then led me past several gambling tables.
Since this is a place to purely enjoy the game, I certainly won't be vulgar enough to take out my gambling ring and gamble with others. Everyone else is playing the game, and if you cheat, then even if you win, you won't enjoy the fun.
And just as Yang Wen said, I quickly started to enjoy it!
This is truly a wonderful thing.
Here, your opponent holding the cards might very well be a contestant in a gambling tournament, or a renowned professional gambler. But when they gamble without any skill, simply relying on luck, you might even beat them a few times, even against a gambling god!
For example, I just won $300 from an old man in a solitaire game. Afterwards, Yang Wen told me that the old guy was actually the runner-up in a gambling competition! He was a master comparable to the King of Gamblers! When he was young, he represented a casino to challenge other casinos, sweeping six casinos in one night and taking away hundreds of millions of dollars!
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter 105: Yang Wei's Secret
But watching this old man lose to me in a game of Texas Hold'em and then laugh like a child... that scene was indeed very pleasant.
One night, I won at first, then lost, and finally threw away two thousand dollars. But the joy I experienced was unlike anything I had ever felt in any gambling I had ever played in my life!
After playing for a while, Yang Wen led me to the bar next to the casino and we sat down. I drank a glass of tequila, then looked around at the place, and suddenly it struck me: "This place is really amazing... Does Las Vegas have similar venues?"
“…That’s all.” A hint of surprise flashed in Yang Wen’s eyes: “This place doesn’t make a profit; it’s purely for entertaining customers. There’s only one like this in the entire casino.”
I sighed, then gestured for the bartender to refill my glass, and smiled: "Hmm, the person who came up with this idea was probably a former leader of the Yang family, right? The person who came up with this idea was really shrewd!"
Yang Wen raised an eyebrow and smiled nonchalantly.
I glanced at him and said casually, "Isn't that right...? Well, this place, despite having a casino, isn't making any money... In a gambling city where land is so valuable, it's such a waste. But in my opinion, this place is worth far more than any big casino that makes a fortune every day."
Then, I picked up my glass and downed it again in one gulp, letting the fiery tequila flow down my throat. I squinted, savoring the burning sensation that spread down my throat, before letting out a long sigh. Pointing to the casino in front of me, I chuckled softly, "Look... so many gambling masters! Hidden gems inside. I wonder how many are former gambling gods or kings? How many are famous professional gamblers? These people are regulars here. They may not make any money for the casino, but they gain the most important thing... favors!!"
I turned to look at Yang Wen, whose face showed a hint of surprise, and smiled, "Isn't it? Even I, an outsider, can't help but think this place is amazing! Really amazing. And those who have lost the joy of gambling all day long will definitely love it here. Once they come, they'll find themselves coming here often to enjoy some real fun after their boring work... And the more they come, the more likely they are to develop a good impression of the Yang family! And as a family that made its fortune through a gambling syndicate, using this method to win the favor of many gambling masters and top professional gamblers... Is there a more profitable deal than this? Genius... a genius idea!" I sighed.
And in my heart, I couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.
What kind of family is the Yang family?
The person who came up with such a brilliant idea and created such a place was definitely not Mr. Yang Er, because judging from the history of this place, it should have been established before Mr. Yang Er took charge of the Yang family.
Imagine, after the Yang family produced such a genius leader, the second Mr. Yang was also a clever and capable outstanding person. And the younger generation, Yang Wei, was also an exceptionally intelligent individual.
Is such a family always producing geniuses?
"You are truly remarkable." Yang Wen sighed, then smiled. "I've brought many guests here, but you are one of the few people I've ever met who have immediately recognized the value of this place."
"Oh...who's the other one?"
Yang Wen thought for a moment, then chuckled softly, “He is also a distinguished guest as young and extraordinary as you… Mr. Li Wenjing.”
"...
Upon hearing this familiar name, I instinctively paused for a moment, then fell silent.
After a long while, I finally smiled and said, "Haha! It was him... So it was him."
I shook my head. Then I pointed to the glass in front of me, signaling the bartender to fill it up.
"Actually, there's another open secret, one that everyone knows." Yang Wen, this guy, seems really suited for the job of a commentator. He's clearly a talent cultivated by the Yang family, skilled in public relations or hospitality. He chuckled, "The major families in the gambling city all know about a tradition of the Yang family, which is also an open secret. Every patriarch of the Yang family, before taking over the family business and while still the heir, is first appointed as the manager of this casino. In other words, if a young member of the Yang family is appointed as the manager of this special casino, then even if he hasn't been established as the heir, it's practically an open indication that the patriarch will pass the position to him. However… in all these years, only one person has broken this tradition…"
"Oh?" A thought popped into my head.
I'm not surprised that the Yang family's heirs are first appointed to manage this place. Since the purpose of this place is to gain favor and connections among many gambling masters, it's undoubtedly a brilliant approach for the Yang family's groomed heirs to hone their skills here, while simultaneously making connections with as many gambling masters as possible and building networks within this circle.
However, there's one "exception"... Could it be...?
"It's Miss Yang Wei." When Yang Wen mentioned Yang Wei's name, his eyes revealed a look of sincere respect, even admiration: "Back then, everyone thought that since Young Master Yang Yi had been publicly established as the heir, he would definitely be appointed as the manager here... But in the end, Mr. Yang Er made an exception and chose Miss Yang Wei to be the manager here. This is the only exception in the history of the Yang family. However, Miss Yang Wei's intelligence and talent have not disappointed Mr. Yang Er's expectations!"
"..." Hearing the name Yang Wei again, I really couldn't tell whether I felt bitter or something else.
Hmph… It's certain that Mr. Yang didn't appoint his incompetent son as the manager here. With Mr. Yang's intelligence, he naturally knows his son is a good-for-nothing. If such a person were to manage such an important place responsible for recruiting talent and making friends, and if that good-for-nothing started causing trouble, he would probably squander all the goodwill and connections the Yang family had painstakingly built up over the years!
However, seeing the expression on Yang Wen's face when he mentioned Yang Wei's name, I couldn't help but ask, "Do you... know Yang Wei?"
"...I wouldn't say we know each other." Yang Wen, this clean-cut young man, even showed a hint of shyness and regret in his eyes. He couldn't help but chuckle softly. "By blood, I'm a distant cousin of Miss Yang Wei, though quite distant. Miss Yang Wei is widely recognized as the most outstanding businesswoman of this generation in the Yang family. She's incredibly intelligent... and... and so beautiful. Which young person in the family doesn't know her? Hmm..."
I laughed; I could tell. Yang Wei was probably an idol to many young men from collateral branches of the family, like Yang Wen.
"Speaking of which... Mr. Yang Er finally decided to make Miss Yang Wei the successor to the next head of the family. This decision was truly wise..." Yang Wen said, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. However, he quickly realized his mistake, let out a soft "Ah," and said in a low voice, his expression changing, "I'm sorry... I'm afraid I've been a bit out of line. Mr. Chen, it seems rather impolite to discuss family matters in front of a guest like you."
"It's alright." I smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in my smile. "I really enjoyed listening to what you were saying. I was also very interested in it."
Next, I had Yang Wen drink a few glasses of wine with me. Under the influence of alcohol, even this restrained and polite young man couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Moreover, with my deliberate attempts to get information out of him, our conversation seemed to unknowingly turn into a discussion about Yang Wei.
Fortunately, Yang Wen wasn't one of Mr. Yang's confidants, and what he said wasn't anything confidential. Furthermore, it seemed he didn't know about my relationship with Yang Wei… Mr. Yang must have deliberately kept my relationship with Yang Wei a secret within the family.
After all, it wouldn't sound good if the most outstanding young girl in the Yang family were to have an ambiguous relationship with a married man.
For this reason, Yang Wen spoke to me about Yang Wei without any reservations—of course, we were only talking about trivial, non-confidential matters. It was like two men casually discussing a popular female celebrity.
"Miss Yang Wei is no longer the manager here. After she took over as the successor, she will have more important things to do... However, I was fortunate enough to work here for a while, and it was a very pleasant experience to work under Miss Yang Wei. Although she was very strict with people, she was very kind to everyone." Yang Wen smiled and said, "Miss Yang Wei's former office was upstairs. When she was the manager, she lived here. Her bedroom, studio, and music room were all upstairs. Miss Yang seemed to enjoy painting and playing the piano. Her studio had a collection of many unique works. Many of the works were by strange artists. Although others thought those things were worthless, Miss Yang Wei once said that great works of art often only truly appreciate in value after the artist's death. Therefore, she felt that her collection might become as valuable as works by Van Gogh or Monet in a few decades."
My heart skipped a beat when I heard that…
Who would have thought that the calm and rational Yang Wei would have such a childish moment?
I couldn't help but become interested: "May I go and see those works?"
Yang Wen seemed a little surprised by my request, but he did not refuse: "Oh, those works are all in a studio upstairs... that place is not confidential. Besides, Miss Yang Wei never refuses people to visit her collection. Moreover, you are a distinguished guest whom Mr. Yang Er instructed us to treat well, so we will try our best to meet your request."
He immediately stood up and said with a smile, "The studio is upstairs, I'll take you there right away."
Yang Wen left for a short while, then quickly retrieved a set of keys, pushed me out of the casino, and took the elevator to the fifth floor of the building.
Stepping out of the elevator, Yang Wen smiled and said, "Miss Yang used to love spending time here. Her former bedroom and office were upstairs... but I'm sorry, I can't take you there, haha..."
As he spoke, he pushed me to a doorway, unlocked it with a key, and then turned on the light…
This is indeed an art studio. As I slowly entered the room in my wheelchair, I was immediately greeted by a strong smell of oil paint. There were many picture frames and canvases on the walls and floor, and in the corner there were many jars and bottles of oil paint.