Chapter 4 I'm Not a Brilliant Person

  Zhao Zhi reached across the red cloth and touched something in the tray, a stack of banknotes. Feeling that someone was staring at him, Zhao Zhi slightly turned his head to look over, just seeing Xie Xiuyun leaning against the pillar. Zhao Zhi flashed a smile, his neat white teeth dazzling Xie Xiuyun's heart into a chaotic beat, she hastily lowered her head, but her two hands were unconsciously rubbing the tassels hanging from the pillar.

  He lifted the red cloth covering the tray, and indeed it was a stack of banknotes, all $10 bills, about 20 in total. After grabbing the banknotes from the plate, Zhao Zhi put all the chips in his hand onto the plate, hooked his hand under the waitress's chin, "This is for you," he whispered in her ear, blowing out a warm breath, watching as the waitress's ears began to turn red, and with a smile, he left the gambling table.

  Zhao Zhi joined another gaming table, and Xie Xiuyun called over a waitress who whispered something in her ear. "Sir, this is the key to our fourth-floor suite. Our casino provides you with one night's free accommodation service." It was still the same lovely waitress from earlier, but this time she wasn't carrying a tray, just holding a key in her hand. Zhao Zhi glanced at the several men in suits standing around him and slowly got up from his seat. "No need," he said, brushing past the waitress and heading towards the stairs.

  "Sir, may I invite you to have a drink?" Xie Xiuyun leaned against the handrail of the stairs, her eyes fixed on Zhao Zhi with a flirtatious gaze. "I don't drink," Zhao Zhi replied stiffly and went downstairs. Xie Xiuyun lit the cigarette in her mouth with the lighter handed over by the waiter, watching Zhao Zhi's back as he walked down the stairs through the swirling smoke, muttering to herself, "What an interesting person, I really look forward to seeing you again."

  After leaving the casino, Zhao Zhi wandered aimlessly along the road, recalling the scene that had just unfolded in the casino. He couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Although he had been sent back to this era and his appearance and skills hadn't changed, it seemed like his personality had undergone some changes. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have shown any interest in the beautiful woman at the casino earlier? Was it because crossing over had caused physical changes within him? He discreetly slipped his hand into his pants pocket and felt around, relieved to find that everything was still there - apparently, he had just been overthinking things.

  Looking at the crowded streets, Zhao Zhi suddenly realized that he still didn't have a place to settle down. With $200 in his pocket, he was considered a rich man now, so he decided to find a place to live first. Walking out not far from the road, he saw a neon-lit club - the Haneda Club. Just by looking at the name, he knew it was run by Japanese people. Zhao Zhi, who had little interaction with Japan in his previous life, didn't have much of an impression of Japanese people, neither good nor bad.

  Looking at the neon lights, there was a pattern of a sieve on the corner, Zhao Zhi decided to go in and have some fun, and then think about how to get some more money to spend. The club's name was Japanese-style, but the interior design was Western-style, with hundreds of square meters of large halls filled with various gaming tables, and in the center of the hall was a circular bar where customers exchanged chips.

  "Change them all into chips." Zhao Zhi lazily took out all the cash and placed it on the bar, then lit a cigarette from the ashtray. "Sir, here are your chips," said the bartender, pushing over a small plate with two stacks of chips: 10 chips worth $10 each and 20 chips worth $5 each. Apparently, they also used US dollars to calculate the value of their chips.

  He took his chips, and then very unceremoniously took a few cigarettes and the lighter on the bar. As in Huang Guang, Zhao Zhi still went to the dice table first, and lost several small bets in a row, but pressed 100 dollars big on the fifth bet. Before everyone had time to discuss, Zhao Zhi took over the chips pushed by the dealer and changed tables, he came to win money, didn't want to make too much noise and attract the attention of the casino.

  After changing several gaming tables, Zhao Zhi's hands already had nearly 500 US dollars in chips. He decided to leave, and if he stayed any longer, he would likely attract the attention of the casino. "Sir, your luck is really good," said the waitress who helped Zhao Zhi exchange his chips, flattering him in the hope that this big spender would give her a tip. He pulled out a 5-dollar bill and placed it on the bar, preparing to leave.

  "Sir, our boss wants to invite you for a drink." A guy who looked like a stone statue stood in front of Zhao Zhi, blocking his way. Following the direction of the stone-like man's hand, on the stairs leading to the 2nd floor, there was a man wearing a kimono. His half-gray hair, neatly trimmed beard and the fox-like smile on his face were all characteristic of a typical Japanese person.

  "Hello, I'm the boss of this club, my name is Mitsui." Seeing Zhao Zhi walking over, Mitsui quickened his pace and made a polite self-introduction. "My name is Wu Ren," Zhao Zhi casually fabricated a name, Wu Ren, doesn't that mean 'no such person'? Mitsui silently cursed Zhao Zhi in his heart, then lifted his head again, still with a smile plastered on his face.

  "What does Mr. Wu do?" Sanqi personally handed Zhao Zhi a cup of wine, with a smile on his face, and asked carefully. Since Zhao Zhi entered the club, Sanqi had been paying attention to him. In less than an hour, Zhao Zhi's stake had more than doubled. If the club came every day with people like this, wouldn't it go bankrupt?

  "A leisurely person, I am a leisurely person, very leisurely" Zhao Zhi said with a smile as he sipped his whiskey. San Qi's little thoughts, how could he not know? He simply teased San Qi to play along. Seeing Zhao Zhi respond like this, San Qi's face turned gloomy and his eyes became complex. "Mr. Wu, I genuinely want to be friends with you, why do you want to fool me?" San Qi finally lost his temper, stood up and interrogated Zhao Zhi, the stone-faced man next to him also had a murderous aura as he stared at Zhao Zhi.

  "What do you want to do? Tell me." Zhao Zhi calmly held his cup, the wine inside didn't even ripple. Zhao Zhi's fearlessness stunned Sanjing, and he stuttered over the words he had planned to say earlier. "This is just my personal intention, I only want to ask you one question?" Sanjing clapped his hands, and a casino attendant who had been waiting on the side brought over a silver tray with some silver coins on it.

  "Are you here to stir up trouble for the Huangpu gang?" Mitsui's hand stretched out, and a plate filled with silver coins was pushed in front of Zhao Zhi.

  "I'm not a lucky person" Zhao Zhi dryly spat out a few words, got up and took the silver plate to the cashier. "Change them all into dollars" He pushed the plate with silver coins and chips to the receptionist, Zhao Zhi thought to himself, what's wrong with these two casinos? Why are they both giving him money for no reason? Are their brains malfunctioning or something?

  "Send someone to follow him, don't make a move for now." Watching Zhao Zhi's receding back, San Qi's knife-edged face revealed a hint of sinister intent.