A series of di-di-di sounds came from the machine, and the reels finally stopped—right on Double Stars.
"Jackpot!"The guy who had bet fifty credits shouted and immediately pressed the payout button.
Clack-clack-clack… Coins poured out.
Cao Yang reminded him, "Ten of those were mine."
"I know, I know," the man replied and counted out twenty coins for him.
Cao Yang happily pocketed them, bought a pack of cigarettes from the shop owner, lit one, and continued watching the gamblers.
He watched all the way until 1 a.m. The owner was closing up before he finally left.
Throughout the night, five or six players rotated around the machine. People came and went, but overall dozens had played—and most lost more than they won.
After watching for hours, Cao Yang estimated the owner must have earned several hundred yuan in one night. If it were an entire day, maybe over a thousand.
This beats working a factory job!
Rent a small storefront, pretend to run a convenience shop, install two slot machines—earning a thousand a day meant thirty thousand a month, over three hundred thousand a year.How many years of labor would it take to make that kind of money?
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He really wanted to try it for himself—but he needed a few thousand in startup money.
Where could he get that?
After thinking back and forth, the only possible lender was Li Yan.
Did Li Yan have money?He wasn't sure.
But from what he knew about her, that stingy girl wouldn't lend him a cent even if she had plenty.
Still… no harm in trying. Maybe she'd suddenly grow a conscience.
Cao Yang headed to the Nightingale Club. It was peak business hours, and the parking lot was filled with luxury cars—Mercedes, BMWs, all kinds.
He sat near the entrance, waiting for Li Yan to finish work, and stared enviously at the wealthy guests.
"Robbery!"A sharp scream snapped his attention.
He turned around—two men on a motorcycle were tugging at a girl's handbag. The girl refused to let go and screamed for help.
Annoyed, the robber kicked her hard, snatched the bag, and sped away.
Cao Yang instinctively wanted to chase after them. He even stood up—but then he stopped.
Not my business.Sister Yan already told him—don't meddle in things outside.
The girl crouched on the ground, crying quietly.
Cao Yang felt a twinge of regret. He should have helped.What if she was some rich young lady?He could've been her hero, earned her gratitude… maybe she'd even help him find a cushy job.
That's how it works in TV dramas.
He sighed. Too late now. The motorcycle thieves were long gone.
After a while, the girl stopped crying and stood up.
Only then did Cao Yang notice—she was actually quite pretty.
She walked straight into the Nightingale Club. Two hours later, she came out again—this time clinging to a big-bellied middle-aged man.
He had his arm around her waist, occasionally touching her butt as they walked to a BMW and drove away.
"Damn… she's a hostess."
…
Cao Yang waited another hour. Cars gradually left; customers were almost all gone. Those who stayed weren't leaving tonight.
At 4:30 a.m., a group of girls walked out of the club. Li Yan was among them.
She wore a short skirt, carried a small purse, and waved goodbye to her coworkers with a smile.Looks like she made friends quickly—social skills on point.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised to see him.
"I was worried that manager might give you trouble," Cao Yang lied, scratching his head.
"You're overthinking. Manager Xu is nice. She doesn't hold grudges."Though she said that casually, she couldn't deny it—being cared about felt warm.
"Let's go."
They walked down the quiet street together.
Cao Yang hesitated, thinking of how to bring up the money.
"Sister Yan, I saw a slot machine at the convenience store downstairs today. The owner earns a lot!"
He knew Li Yan loved money—maybe he could lure her in before asking for a loan.
But as soon as he finished, she grabbed his waist sharply.
"You played it? Did you gamble with the money I gave you for food?!"
"No, no!" Cao Yang denied quickly.
Why is she focusing on the wrong point?
"What I mean is—maybe we could rent a small shop and put two slot machines there. We'd make money easily. One month of profit equals a whole year of working!"
"Heh."Li Yan let out a cold laugh.
"Are you trying to die? You think those slot machines belong to the shop owners?"
"Those machines belong to gangs. The shop owner is just renting them space for two hundred yuan a month."
"If you dare set up your own machines, they'll smash them the next day. If you're unlucky, they'll even stab you a few times as a warning."
She added, "In this world, easy money is never for people like us. Just find a normal job and stop dreaming."
"I'm not a normal person," Cao Yang insisted. "I'm good at fighting. I'm not afraid of them."
Li Yan punched him lightly. "How many can you fight? They come in groups of dozens—some carrying knives and even guns!"
The moment she said that, angry shouts erupted ahead.
A shirtless man was sprinting down the street, chased by six men wielding machetes.
One of them ran fast and kicked the man to the ground. The other five pounced, slashing wildly.
In just a few seconds, the man was cut more than a dozen times and collapsed in a pool of blood, unmoving.
The six attackers didn't run. They laughed, cursed, chatted casually, and walked away slowly.
One blond-haired guy glanced at Li Yan and Cao Yang. Seeing Li Yan's looks, he whistled at her, stuck out his tongue, then slung his machete over his shoulder, acting like he was the coolest guy alive.
Terrified, Li Yan hid behind Cao Yang until they left.
"See that? They're from the Sichuan Gang. This area belongs to the Sichuan and Hunan gangs. If you dare set up slot machines, you'll end up like that man!"
Cao Yang snorted. "I run faster than he does. They wouldn't catch me."
"You idiot! Is this about running?! Why do you have to argue with everything I say? Are you itching for a beating?!"
She tried pinching him again, but his muscles were too hard; it didn't hurt him at all.
"How do you even know they're from the Sichuan Gang?" Cao Yang asked.
"Listen to how they curse. When someone keeps saying 'f— your mother,' that's usually a Sichuan accent."
Cao Yang tilted his head at her. "So… are you cursing at me?"
"No! I'm explaining!"
He nodded, then said stubbornly, "I still want to set up slot machines."
Li Yan pressed a hand to her forehead. She had explained everything, yet he remained as stubborn as a brick wall.
"Do whatever you want. When they kill you, your mom can come collect your body."She walked faster, ignoring him.
Cao Yang caught up. "I don't have money for a shop or machines… I was hoping you'd lend me some."
"Oh, so that's why you came. I thought you were worried about me!"
"So… can you lend it?"
"No! Don't even think about it! I have no money!"