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Compared to Xiaolajiao's excitent and exhilaration, Qu Yuancheng appeared much calr. However, from the slight glimr in his eyes, one could still spot a hint of delight.
Winning money didn't an much to him—he wasn't lacking in that aspect. What mattered more was the thrill of victory.
After all, he typically lost, and frequently at that. Suddenly clinching a big win was bound to be an exhilarating feeling.
"We won, we won, we really won..."
After shouting those words, Xiaolajiao slowly started to regain her composure, though it was evident her excitent hadn't completely subsided. Even as she sat down, she couldn't help but mumble to herself.
But then, her mind turned to Qin Fang sitting beside her, the man who had firmly predicted number seven's victory even before the race had begun.
Imdiately...
Xiaolajiao's flushed, exhilarated face, which had turned rosy from excitent, now blushed even more deeply. Though her personality leaned toward the fiery and bold, a trace of gentleness and grace couldn't help but surface—after all, she had grown up in a wealthy and influential family.
Qin Fang wore a playful smirk, watching this seemingly transford Xiaolajiao with so amusent. Her sudden change in deanor genuinely surprised him.
To be honest, Xiaolajiao acting gentle and demure gave off an air of a proper young lady from a distinguished family, so much so that Qin Fang couldn't resist the urge to comnd her inwardly.
But...
This deanor didn't last long before Xiaolajiao flipped the script.
"What are you staring at? Never seen a beauty before...?"
Her expression instantly changed, adopting a severe look as she snapped at Qin Fang with visible irritation.
Perhaps sensing sothing odd in Qin Fang's gaze, Xiaolajiao realized she'd sohow lost her guard against him. Weren't they supposed to be rivals? How could she let herself treat him so kindly all of a sudden?
In response, Qin Fang rely smiled faintly, showing no intention of taking offense. This reaction felt more like Xiaolajiao's usual self—her earlier behavior was the one that seed out of place to him.
"A beauty? Where? I don't see one..."
Seeing a look of faint curiosity under Xiaolajiao's serious expression, Qin Fang, clearly prepared, countered calmly with a sharp retort.
After all, the "Four Young Masters" on the other side, along with Qu Yuancheng, were all watching this scene intently with concerned expressions. It was as if they were worried Qin Fang might truly take Xiaolajiao away from them.
"Hmph..."
With an icy snort, Xiaolajiao shot a fierce glare at Qin Fang, apparently too disdainful to dignify his comnt with an explanation.
"Qin Fang, for the second race, which horse do you think will win?"
Qu Yuancheng, feeling increasingly awkward about this exchange, broke the tension with a question.
The first race had concluded, and there would be a short break before the second race began. During this ti, bettors still had the opportunity to place new wagers. Casually, Qu Yuancheng directed the question at Qin Fang, partly to steer the conversation away from the growing argunt and partly to test if Qin Fang's supposed knack for predictions was as remarkable as it seed.
"Number three, I guess."
Without even looking up from his al, Qin Fang nonchalantly tossed out a number.
Horse betting for Qin Fang was no longer a challenge. If he were to place bets, it was almost guaranteed he'd win. However, with the limited stakes on the table here, earning money through betting felt trivial compared to what he could win at the casino. Naturally, he wasn't particularly invested in the outco.
Horse betting, much like lotteries, tended to favor only a rare few winners. The only entity that profited consistently was likely the Jockey Club itself.
With more bettors involved, the payouts could increase, but the total pool remained limited—it wasn't possible to win massive multipliers. Just look at the first race: the odds for horse number seven started at 3:1. But after Xiaolajiao and Qu Yuancheng wagered heavily, the odds imdiately dropped to 1.5:1.
In truth, those who really aid to profit in Hong Kong's horse racing scene often gambled on underground wagering, where the stakes were much larger and the odds far higher than official ones.
For the wealthy, horse betting was more a form of entertainnt than a money-making endeavor. Odds and payouts held little significance to them—real interest lay with those who had little money and saw betting as a chance for overnight riches.
Much like Xiaolajiao and Qu Yuancheng, they didn't care much about the money won or lost—this was purely entertainnt. If earning money were the goal, Xiaolajiao's prized steed Blood Linglong could enter just one race and secure earnings many tis greater. But such winnings wouldn't offset even a month's worth of the horse's upkeep costs.
"Alright, we'll just follow your lead... number three it is!"
Seeing Qin Fang bury himself in his food, Qu Yuancheng, though slightly doubtful, went along with the suggestion. Winning would, of course, be great, and losing rely negated their earlier win—no big deal.
Qu Yuancheng quickly placed his bet and glanced back at Xiaolajiao, clearly seeking her input. After all, her enthusiasm for horse betting far surpassed his own.
"Hmph... I refuse to believe you can get it right again! I'll pick... umm... number three!"
Xiaolajiao deliberately shot Qin Fang a defiant look, seemingly hoping to provoke him. But noticing that Qin Fang didn't even acknowledge her, her irritation flared. She had been set on opposing him, vowing to choose differently.
Yet, after scrutinizing all the participating horses of the second race, she couldn't shake the feeling—maybe it was just psychological—that number three truly looked like the winner Qin Fang claid it to be. With no other choice, she begrudgingly placed her bet on number three as well.
Qin Fang, unsurprisingly, paid no attention, choosing instead to quietly finish his al, uninterested in the unfolding drama around him.
The second race began quickly. The scenes on the track were as thrilling as ever, though so minor mishaps occurred. Of note, however, was that Qin Fang's champion pick—number three—was squeezed to the back of the field early on.
"Haha… number three is at the back, number three is dead last!"
Seeing the number three horse trailing everyone else, Xiaolajiao didn't seem disappointed in the slightest by her bet. Instead, she burst out laughing, eager to annoy Qin Fang, her voice loudly mocking his prediction.
anwhile, Qin Fang continued calmly eating, entirely unconcerned about the events on the track. Whether number three won or lost was of no consequence to him—after all, he hadn't placed a bet himself.
"You… obnoxious!"
After yelling for a while without provoking even the slightest reaction from Qin Fang, Xiaolajiao grumbled inwardly at his indifference, growing increasingly irked by his nonchalance.
"Jiajia, Jiajia..."
Qu Yuancheng, standing nearby, quietly called out to Xiaolajiao, seemingly wanting her attention.
"What?"
Xiaolajiao snapped, irritated, only to notice Qu Yuancheng subtly pointing toward the big screen. Following his finger, her gaze landed on the display, and her eyes went wide.
The seemingly sluggish number three horse, which had fallen to the back, suddenly burst forward like it had been injected with adrenaline. Within re monts, it overtook three horses ahead and climbed to third place.
And that was just the beginning! Over the next ten or so seconds, the horse effortlessly passed two more competitors, seizing first place and widening its lead at lightning speed...
Although the remaining horses perford well, desperately trying to keep pace with the surging number three, none could catch up...
The race ended swiftly, with number three easily clinching victory exactly as Qin Fang had predicted.
That slight stumble at the start? Instead of hindering its result, it only added to its mystique and earned it even more applause and admiration.
"How is this possible?"
Though she won yet again, Xiaolajiao's frustration only deepened.
Just when she'd thought she'd found an opportunity to mock Qin Fang, her attempt backfired spectacularly. Instead, it felt like she'd been slapped in the face by her own arrogance—absolutely humiliating!
"Nothing's impossible."
Seeing her visibly aggrieved expression, Qin Fang, having just finished eating, casually chuckled and added fuel to the fire, making Xiaolajiao grind her teeth in anger.
"Anyway, I'm full. Ti to stretch my legs. You guys carry on! For the next four races, keep an eye on numbers four, nine, thirteen, and two—your call."
After his al, Qin Fang decisively made to leave. Staying any longer risked more entanglent with Xiaolajiao, whose overly competitive nature might stir up trouble if this continued.
Not to ntion the visibly distressed "Four Young Masters," who seed on the verge of ntal collapse. Though Xiaolajiao and Qu Yuancheng couldn't hear their private complaints, Qin Fang picked up on snippets—enough to gauge their frustration.
"You're leaving?"
Xiaolajiao blinked in surprise, clearly unprepared for Qin Fang's abrupt departure. She had just been scheming ways to outwit him—assuming she could still turn the tables sohow.
Compared to her inner turmoil, Xiaolajiao paid little thought to Qin Fang's predictions about the next few races. She dismissed them almost imdiately.
"By the way…" Qin Fang paused with a sly grin near the door. "For the fifth race, I'm less certain. You might want to try a Trifecta—thirteen, one, and five."
Before either Qu Yuancheng or Xiaolajiao could respond, Qin Fang gave a quick gesture toward the large screen and casually walked out.
Whether those parting words were ant more for Qu Yuancheng or Xiaolajiao remained ambiguous. Regardless, Qin Fang left swiftly, not looking back.
Stepping away from his interaction with Xiaolajiao was one reason for his sudden exit. But another was the discovery that the Bloody-handed Demon Tu San had appeared nearby...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this chapter, please visit Qidian to cast your votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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