Zhang Sumei was more confident than Wen Baozhu herself that Wen Baozhu could get the money. "You're carrying his child now. A million is nothing to him."
"Once I turn the tables, I'll pay you back with interest. I won't take a single cent, A-ma!"
Even at this point, Zhang Sumei still shamelessly asked Wen Baozhu for money.
Her purpose wasn't to stop gambling and go back to treat her mother-in-law immediately. Instead, she wanted to keep gambling until she won.
Wen Baozhu took a deep breath and then shook her head.
"I won't help you get the money." She took a step back, putting some distance between herself and Zhang Sumei. "I came here today to say just one thing."
Zhang Sumei was confused.
Wen Baozhu looked at her and gently parted her lips. "Grandma is dead."
Zhang Sumei was stunned. Her pupils dilated instantly. "What did you say?"
"I said Grandma is dead." Wen Baozhu nodded and spoke calmly. "It's true. I buried her."
There were no windows in the casino. People inside couldn't tell day from night.
Looking around, all they could see was the magnificent and luxurious decoration. Above their heads, a huge crystal chandelier illuminated the place as bright as day. Under their feet was a soft and smooth red-patterned carpet.
Suddenly, there was a cheer from the next poker table. It must be that some lucky guy had won a high-multiple bet and was almost ready to pop open a champagne bottle to celebrate.
Wen Baozhu stood there. Her features were still as innocent and pure as when she first came to Hong Kong, but her eyes were no longer naive.
They were filled with disappointment, coldness, and indifference after seeing the ugly truth.
Fu Lian squinted his eyes and watched Wen Baozhu with her back straight.
There was scrutiny in his eyes. He knew that although this woman seemed calm and composed, her body under the clothes was actually shaking like a sieve. Anger and hatred were filling her mind.
Just like how he felt when he discovered the true faces of his parents many years ago.
Presumably, she was feeling the same way at this moment.
After waiting for a while, Zhang Sumei finally replied flatly, "Oh."
Just an "oh"?
"Thank goodness you're filial enough to give her a proper send-off. That saves me the trouble of going back and delaying my chance of winning money." She added quietly.
Wen Baozhu finally couldn't hold back anymore.
She took a quick step towards Zhang Sumei and carefully scanned the other woman's face inch by inch with her eyes.
This was the A-ma she was familiar with.
But also a strange A-ma.
No matter how much mental preparation she had made before coming here, no matter if there had ever been even a one-thousandth of a thought to consider things from Zhang Sumei's perspective, all of it had vanished at this moment.
She had to admit that her A-ma wasn't a kind mother.
She was a monster that ate human flesh and drank human blood.
Finally making up her mind, she suddenly raised her hand and used all her strength. Before anyone could react, she slapped Zhang Sumei hard.
The loud "pop" sound attracted countless gazes.
The numbness in her palm came before the pain. Wen Baozhu slowly lowered her hand, her face expressionless.
The look in her eyes when she looked at Zhang Sumei was even less enthusiastic than when she looked at a stranger.
It was cold, disgusted, and annoyed.
Zhang Sumei's ears were ringing from the slap. It took her a while to hear anything. She widened her eyes and looked at Wen Baozhu in disbelief.
"Are you crazy? How dare you hit your A-ma?" She covered her face. Embarrassment and shame made her extremely angry. "Wen Baozhu, you're just a brute!"
Wen Baozhu had said the same thing just now.
Wen Baozhu didn't react to this at all. She just calmly took a step back and didn't want to give Zhang Sumei another look.
"After this slap, we're cutting off our mother-daughter relationship."
Her tone was cold and merciless. "You can keep gambling. I won't give you money, and I won't ask Mr. Fu for money either. Anyway, you'll have to pay off your debts with your own life."
Wen Baozhu had always been docile. Even when she was wronged or treated unfairly, she would just wipe away her tears and try to be a bit more insensitive.
It seemed that as long as she was a bit more insensitive, she could be a bit less hurt.
But being tortured like a dull knife on meat would eventually reach the bone.
"Fine for you!" Zhang Sumei finally seemed to have found the moral high ground and began to mercilessly attack Wen Baozhu. "Life and death are natural laws. It was just a matter of time for your grandma to die. Does it have anything to do with me?"
"Don't you know that there's no filial son in front of a long-sick bed? You keep talking about grandma all day long. Do you know how hard it was for me to take care of that half-dead old woman? My hair has turned white from all the worry!"
Wen Baozhu slightly shook her head and didn't want to listen anymore.
"I think you've had it too good in that rich family. You're looking down on me, your penniless A-ma, and can't wait to cut off the relationship with me!"
"You're right." Wen Baozhu nodded. She neither denied nor clarified. "I just don't want to recognize you as my mother anymore. Please don't bother me in the future."
Her eyes were cold. After dropping the last sentence, she turned around and left.
Zhang Sumei was so angry that her face turned green. She immediately wanted to rush up and grab Wen Baozhu's hair. "Stop right there!"
However, the bodyguards were clearly faster. They had anticipated this sudden incident and immediately grabbed her, pinning her arms behind her back.
"Wen Baozhu! You brute! I've raised you for nothing!"
Trapped and unable to move, Zhang Sumei could only shout and curse loudly. "If it weren't for me making the decision for you, would you have been able to be with Mr. Fu? You ungrateful white-eyed wolf!"
The shouting and cursing continued behind her, but Wen Baozhu didn't stop for a single step. She turned a deaf ear to the mean and sarcastic words.
She had already experienced even greater pain. How could she care about an insignificant person and a few harmless curses?
Her heart was stronger than before.
She walked up to Fu Lian. Although her voice was trembling, she tried her best to sound calm. "Mr. Fu, we can go now."
Under the gazes of everyone around, Fu Lian gave a faint smile, making it hard to tell what he was thinking.
He reached out his hand, pulled Wen Baozhu into his arms, and patted her on the back as if to comfort her. "Let the bodyguard take you to rest first. I'll come find you later."
His protective gesture was obvious.
After Wen Baozhu was taken away by the bodyguard, Fu Lian slowly walked up to Zhang Sumei.
He didn't even bother to look up. He just glanced at the croupier. "How much did she lose?"
The croupier quickly replied, "Eight hundred thousand."
Fu Lian crossed his arms and turned around. "She only owes eight hundred thousand. Why did she ask for a million?"
Zhang Sumei gave a sly smile. "This is to leave two hundred thousand for a comeback. For you, Mr. Fu, it's just a drop in the bucket. What's the difference between a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand more?"
Facing her flattery, Fu Lian remained unmoved.
He just tilted his chin slightly and gave an order to the croupier. "Deal the cards."
Zhang Sumei was stunned. "Mr. Fu is in a good mood. Do you want to play a few rounds too?"
"Sure." Fu Lian's words were extremely calm and even gentle. "I'm just in the mood. I'll play a round with Ms. Zhang."
Zhang Sumei beamed with joy and was about to move towards the poker table.
"Zhang Sumei, I'll give you one chance. If I lose, I'll give you another ten million. If I win, you'll never show up in front of Wen Baozhu again."
"Are you satisfied with this bet?"