Everyone curiously looked toward the staircase. A man, about six feet tall, wearing a green tank top, red shorts, and flip-flops, walked in, followed by a group of men in suits carrying heavy black suitcases. They approached Yvette, guided by a waiter. It was Eagle King.
Seeing Yvette nod, the men in suits opened the suitcases, revealing piles of cash that amazed everyone. One hundred million dollars! Most present were wealthy and familiar with money, but seeing such a brazen display was unprecedented. Even for them, gathering that sum would require family permission. A collective thought rippled through the room: “Who is this girl? How could she easily acquire one hundred million dollars so quickly?”
Ethan’s expression was grim. He hadn't expected Yvette to actually produce that much money. He was certain it didn't come from Ryan; the Lewis family would never employ someone so poorly dressed. This meant the money was Yvette's. Ryan, too, was stunned, realizing he had underestimated Yvette's capabilities.
Eagle King scratched his messy hair and, under curious gazes, walked to Yvette, saying in a sleepy tone, “What’s going on, uh… Yve? Why this display? Isn’t one hundred million dollars too little? Why not add more? You rarely show interest in these things. Shouldn’t you go all out? How about a check?”
Yvette smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “No need. I’m just playing casually. You can step back now.”
Eagle King cast a sympathetic glance at Ethan, silently mourning for three minutes: “Boss’ idea of ‘just playing’ could really take him out!” His voice echoed through the room’s speakers. A collective shock followed: “What kind of lunatic is this? One hundred million dollars isn’t enough? Add more? What does ‘just playing casually’ even mean? Is there no way out for others?” Yet, his serious expression made it hard to disbelieve him.
Eagle King stepped aside, glanced at Ryan and Bonnie, then approached Bonnie. “Hey, girl, did you come with Yve?” he asked. Bonnie nodded politely. Normally, she would avoid someone like Eagle King, but she felt anyone who was so close to Yvette must be good. Eagle King was surprised that Bonnie already considered him a "good person." He later insisted on becoming her godbrother, offering a gold mine, an offer she firmly refused.
“I-I came with Yve. Hello, Boss,” Bonnie stammered.
Eagle King chuckled. “Girl, I haven’t been the ‘boss’ for many years now.” Bonnie laughed, instantly making their relationship closer.
“Check it over, and if everything’s okay, we can start,” Yvette said.
Ethan gave her a deep look and nodded grimly. “All right. I’ll use the chips from the gaming hall. I’m sure that’s enough for you to trust me with the reputation of Sky Nimbus.”
Yvette shrugged indifferently. “As you like.”
The crowd outside was astounded by Yvette's boldness. Initially, they were casually observing, but now they were intensely focused. The deputy mayor's son and a female university student—two seemingly unrelated individuals—were captivated by this high-stakes gamble. If Ethan won, that was one thing, but a loss could cause chaos. Regardless of the outcome, Yvette wouldn't be unscathed. Yet, her casual display of one hundred million dollars suggested powerful backing. The uncertainty of the bet was paramount.
The physics students were stunned by the one hundred million dollars. They thought, “How could she be just a regular student, a girl from the countryside? She’s clearly a hidden bigwig!”
Ethan rested his hands on the chair, asking with a sinister tone, “What are we betting on? Blackjack? Grand Hazard?”
“Grand Hazard,” Yvette replied.
Ethan smirked confidently, thinking, “You had the chance to take the easy path, but now you’ve barged into hell.” His best skill was dice. Those outside who knew Ethan sighed, feeling sorry for Yvette. They thought, ‘If she’d chosen another game, maybe she could have taken a chance. But rolling dice? Her luck is just too low…’
A physics student, gathering courage, asked, “What are you talking about?” The man, unsure if he was one of Ryan's associates, replied, “Ethan’s great at dice. Nine out of ten times, he wins. She’s going to have a hard time today.” The physics department’s worry for Yvette grew.
“Since you chose the game, don’t accuse me of bullying. You go first. Each round is 1.5 million dollars,” Ethan said.
Yvette sat arrogantly, her worn canvas shoes showing considerable wear. She tapped the chips and waved her hand, saying lightly, “I don’t like wasting time. One hundred million dollars—winner takes all in one round.”
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. “One hundred million dollars, winner takes all in one round? This is definitely the biggest bet in Sky Nimbus’ history!”
Eagle King, unnoticed, ordered an orange juice. He was the only one calmly sipping when Yvette proposed the bet. Bonnie found the scene odd, as did everyone else.
“Boss, aren’t you at all concerned about Yve?” Bonnie’s worried voice trembled.
Eagle King casually sipped his juice, even texting. He cursed inwardly: "That fangirl, Flying Fish, dares to go missing! She’s not replying to texts or calls—she’s really gotten bold!”
“Worried? What’s there to worry about? Yve could win even if she played with her toes. One hundred million dollars is just for fun to her,” he said. Seeing Bonnie’s puzzled face, he added, “Don’t worry, girl. Unless Mars collides with Earth, Ethan can’t beat her. Relax, here’s another glass of juice for you.”
Bonnie, relieved, accepted the juice. Eagle King sighed, thinking, My charm even caught the ladies’ attention. “Just drink your juice and watch. Trust me, it’s all good,” he told Bonnie.
Hearing this, Bonnie relaxed, sitting beside him, sipping their juice together.
When he heard Yvette's proposal, Ethan's smug expression vanished. He hadn't expected a one hundred million dollar opening bet. He could afford it—his grandfather had left him a fund of exactly that amount. ‘Should I use the money?’ he thought, realizing his difficult position with so many watching. Everyone waited for his response.