Chapter 58: Winning with a Self-Draw

The car drove all the way back to the Shang family’s old residence, and only then did Liang Jinshang realize that today happened to be the day of the Shang family’s monthly banquet. She had hoped to spend the evening alone with Shang Yucheng, but it seemed that plan was now impossible.

The car stopped in the garden square, where luxury vehicles were lined up like a high-end auto show. From a distance, Liang Jinshang caught sight of Gong Xueyuan. She nearly forgot—now, she was the most legitimate woman at Shang Yucheng’s side.

Shang Yucheng got out of the car and walked over; Gong Xueyuan naturally linked her arm through his, tilting her face up to speak to him. There was no sign of the cold indifference he’d shown in the car when he ignored Liang Jinshang’s calls; the two looked every bit the sweet, affectionate engaged couple.

Even the chauffeur had somewhere to go, leaving only Liang Jinshang sitting in the back seat. Getting out felt awkward, but staying put felt worse.

Fortunately, Shang Ao’er remembered her. After getting out, she ran over and said, “Sister, come and take a bath with me first!”

Liang Jinshang followed Shang Ao’er to her princess-themed room. After her bath, Shang Ao’er prepared to go downstairs for dinner. “You…”

“I’ll just stay here in your room, don’t worry,” Liang Jinshang replied.

The Shang family’s routine banquet brought together all the various branches—so many people, so much idle gossip. With Gong Xueyuan present, no matter how much Shang Ao’er supported her, she wouldn’t bring Liang Jinshang downstairs. She simply promised to have a servant bring up some food later.

Liang Jinshang didn’t care much about what she’d eat, but she couldn’t help but press, “I still need to talk to your uncle… about the kidney source from the black market. I must get it.”

“I understand. I’ll help you find a chance to talk to him.”

The meal lasted nearly two hours, and Liang Jinshang dozed off, only to be awakened by a call from Shang Ao’er.

“Sister, the adults have all dispersed. Would you like to come down and join us?”

“What’s Shang Yucheng doing?”

“A few of them have set up a mahjong table—they’re going to play. Do you want to watch?”

Liang Jinshang had no interest in mahjong. She was a bookworm who only knew how to study, so she declined.

Shang Ao’er said, “Then I’ll go play a few rounds. I’ll win some ‘emotional damages’ from Gong Xueyuan for you.”

That phrase seemed to trigger something in Liang Jinshang. Right—what were a few emotional damages compared to the hefty remaining payment for the kidney source?

“Ao’er, I’ll come too.”

By the time Liang Jinshang went downstairs, the mahjong table was already full. Gong Xueyuan and Shang Yucheng sat on one side, with Shang Ao’er as their partner.

The other two players, a young man and woman, were likely Shang Yucheng’s cousins. The man wore glasses, but instead of looking scholarly, he had a rakish, charming air. Liang Jinshang didn’t know them, but from their attire, it was clear they came from wealth or status.

Shang Ao’er beckoned Liang Jinshang to sit beside her. “Sister, do you want to play?”

Liang Jinshang admitted frankly, “I’d like to, but I don’t know how. Could you teach me?”

The man with glasses joked, “Ao’er herself barely knows what she’s doing. Why not sit over here? I’ll teach you.”

Liang Jinshang politely declined. “I’m rather slow; I’d better not trouble you.”

He’d only spoken to her because of her looks, but seeing her reluctance, he let it go. “Well, once you learn, come play a round with us.”

Liang Jinshang was about to nod when Gong Xueyuan interjected, her tone sharp and sarcastic. “Do you know how high the stakes are at our table? You dare play with us?”

Such blatant discrimination bordered on rudeness. Here stood a domineering, privileged heiress and a gentle, delicate beauty—this kind of confrontation always stirred men’s protective instincts.

The man with glasses seemed unconcerned. “It’s just a game—what does it matter? Beautiful, I’ll cover your chips.”

Gong Xueyuan, embarrassed, protested, “Old Eight, I played with your girlfriend just the other day. Aren’t you afraid—”

“My wife isn’t as petty as you, cousin-in-law.” He glanced at Shang Yucheng, teasing, “Only Cheng spoils you like this…”

Shang Ao’er couldn’t bear it either. “What’s the big deal? She can use my chips!”

After all, it was Shang Yucheng’s money—losing didn’t hurt.

As the game began, Liang Jinshang quietly asked Shang Ao’er about the actual stakes. Shang Ao’er told her a number, and Liang Jinshang felt a pang of anxiety. No wonder Gong Xueyuan looked down on her…

Shang Ao’er was indeed a novice, but her strength was her fearlessness. Every time she played a tile, Liang Jinshang asked why she chose it, and Shang Ao’er explained everything.

This open style of play made the man with glasses laugh. “Ao’er, aren’t you afraid of losing?”

“Losing is losing. It’s not like I’m telling you all my tiles—none of you would let me win anyway.”

After watching a few rounds, Liang Jinshang said she wanted to try. At first, she kept losing. The man with glasses, unable to watch any longer, offered a few tips, which Liang Jinshang quickly absorbed.

By the fifth round, she started to win—targeting Gong Xueyuan in particular. Gong Xueyuan’s skills weren’t impressive to begin with, and losing to a beginner like Liang Jinshang was unbearable.

The more she played, the more she lost, and the more she lost, the more she wanted to play. Eventually, even Liang Jinshang wanted to call it quits.

Most of the remaining money for the kidney source had already come from Gong Xueyuan’s losses. Fearing Gong Xueyuan might renege, Liang Jinshang took the initiative to stop the game.

Losing money was one thing, but losing to Liang Jinshang was unacceptable. Gong Xueyuan slammed her handbag on the table. “Did you cheat?!”

Liang Jinshang replied coolly, “You give me too much credit.”

Even Shang Ao’er, who’d been watching her play the whole time, was incredulous. “How did you do it?”

Shang Yucheng had stepped out earlier to take a work call and returned just in time to hear Shang Ao’er’s question.

How did she do it?

When someone’s memory and mental arithmetic are good enough, they can keep track and calculate the tiles. Shang Yucheng had seen Liang Jinshang, no matter how little sleep she’d gotten, recite dozens or even a hundred vocabulary words the next day without fail. Her favorite pastime was playing Sudoku.

Winning at mahjong with her mind alone was hardly a surprise to him.

Gong Xueyuan’s tantrum only made her look foolish. Shang Yucheng frowned. Losing to family in a friendly game and making such a scene—she was an embarrassment to him. Even if most of the lost money ended up in an outsider’s pocket, it didn’t matter.

“All right, Xueyuan, don’t make a spectacle of yourself,” said Shang Yucheng, and his words made Gong Xueyuan fall silent—though her eyes instantly reddened.

The other two cousins, unaware of the details between Liang Jinshang and Shang Yucheng, or why Gong Xueyuan was so upset, quietly settled their chips and slipped away.

Their departure seemed to force Gong Xueyuan to pay up as well—otherwise, if word got out that she couldn’t even afford to lose at mahjong, it would be humiliating.

Fuming, Gong Xueyuan paid her debts, then left without joining any further activities.

Liang Jinshang, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to slip back into Shang Yucheng’s car while no one was watching. She had a hunch that he wouldn’t be staying at the old house tonight.