Chapter 96: Betting

After hearing Chen Xue’s explanation, Lin Xiao nodded, confirming his suspicions.

He had initially been curious about how a casual underground race could have a prize pool as high as five million, with no entrance restrictions, and open to anyone who wished to participate.

The number of luxury cars and the young affluent young masters at the race also caught his attention. After all, racing was a hazardous activity, especially on a dangerous track like Panlong Mountain, where a minor miscalculation could lead to a fatal crash.

While it was not unheard of for a few thrill-seeking wealthy young masters to participate in such a race, the surprisingly high number of them did appear unusual.

But Chen Xue’s explanation shed light on the situation.

The wealthy young individuals were primarily attracted to the betting game associated with the race, which also explained the unusually high prize money for the underground race.

These heirs, born into privilege and with no worries about livelihood, often sought excitement to alleviate their boredom. They desired to flaunt their wealth and status, but simultaneously valued their lives. Hence, they orchestrated this race.

The manor in the background likely served as the venue for the betting game.

The hefty prize money, it seemed, was merely bait thrown out by these young wealthy masters to attract racers. After all, the thrill and status associated with the race would diminish without competitors.

To these affluent young adults, the prize money was negligible. Many of them had more than this amount as their monthly pocket money, a sum any one of them could easily afford.

“In that case, take me to the registration.”

Lin Xiao’s gaze was inscrutable as he opened the car door. He regarded Chen Xue with a mildly teasing look, “Are you quite certain that I stand a chance at winning this race?”

“Absolutely, I have complete faith in you, Brother Lin. Other people might not recognize your true ability, but I, Chen Xue, would never misjudge you.”

With a hint of sly flattery in his tone, Chen Xue continued, “Brother Lin, if you’re the one racing, I’d say claiming victory is practically a breeze. I’ve been around this world for years. I might not be a big shot, but when it comes to reading people, I trust my judgment completely.”

“Have you ever seen me drive?” Lin Xiao asked Chen Xue, his face lighting up with a smile.

“Though I haven’t seen you drive, Brother Lin, I trust you as a person,” Chen Xue said. “With your character, I doubt you’d enter a race unless you were sure of your chances.”

As he spoke, memories of the previous night resurfaced—Lin Xiao standing in the parking lot, calm and composed, his gaze steady and unreadable. There had been something chilling beneath that stillness, an aura that set him apart from ordinary men.

It was that very presence that convinced Chen Xue to extend the invitation. If Lin Xiao agreed to race, then Chen Xue knew—this was a bet worth placing.

Lin Xiao glanced at Chen Xue, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He hadn’t expected such unwavering faith from Chen Xue.

Regardless, he calmly responded, “Just make sure you won’t regret this later.”

“Rest assured, Brother Lin, I never regret my decisions,” Chen Xue said with conviction.

Chen Xue guided Lin Xiao into the manor.

Stepping inside, Lin Xiao realized the humble exterior had been deceiving—the interior was spacious, polished, and carried the elegance of a five-star hotel.

A familiar face here, Chen Xue confidently led Lin Xiao to a desk behind which sat a woman in her thirties, her allure still evident beneath layers of makeup.

Slapping the desk to announce their arrival, Chen Xue addressed the woman loudly, “Sister Xuan, I’ve brought someone to register.”

Sister Xuan lazily lifted her gaze, but the moment she saw Lin Xiao, a flicker of interest lit her heavily made-up eyes. Her gaze slowly traced over his arms, thighs, and chest, lingering with undisguised appreciation.

Despite not being overly handsome and being dressed rather casually, Lin Xiao’s balanced and muscular physique was undoubtedly attractive. His calm, aloof demeanor only added to his unique charm.

As the saying goes, women in their thirties are as insatiable as wolves, and in their forties, as ferocious as tigers.

Sister Xuan was right at that age. Most men she usually encountered were privileged youngsters, leading hedonistic lives, their bodies lacking vitality. It was no surprise that she took an interest in someone as robust as Lin Xiao.

However, despite Sister Xuan’s overtly flirtatious gaze, Lin Xiao was unruffled. He stood as steady as a rock, not feeling cornered or angry.

“So, is this the young man? He seems quite strong,” Sister Xuan said, casting Lin Xiao a coquettish glance.

Although she was older, her allure was intact and her figure well-preserved, making her look like a woman in her twenties.

The men accompanying Chen Xue looked at Lin Xiao with a touch of envy. They wished they were the ones being flirted with. But Lin Xiao was indifferent to Sister Xuan’s flirtatious glance. His expression stayed calm as if he hadn’t noticed her attention.

Chen Xue also felt a pang of envy, but he knew there were more pressing matters at hand. He quickly nodded, “Yes, this is my friend. He’ll be participating in the upcoming race.”

“That’s fine then, you know the drill. Sign this.” Sister Xuan’s attitude cooled when Lin Xiao didn’t react. She pulled out a document from beneath her desk and tossed it onto the table. “If you’re participating in the underground race, you’re responsible for any consequences, even if you have an accident and lose your life. We won’t be held accountable.”

Lin Xiao skimmed through the document. It was essentially a waiver absolving the organizers of any liability in the event of injury or death. He signed without hesitation.

Sister Xuan then handed him a placard inscribed with the number three.

This placard served as his entry pass for the underground car race, and number three marked his position and order in the competition.

Chen Xue asked Lin Xiao, “Brother Lin, I’m about to place a bet. Do you want to bet on yourself?”

“No need,” Lin Xiao refused, shaking his head.

It wasn’t that Lin Xiao didn’t want to bet on himself or had any doubt in his chances of winning the race. He simply didn’t have the money to do so. All his money had been allocated toward Aunt Yuan’s treatment and hospitalization fees, leaving him with spare cash on hand.

Lin Xiao chose to participate in this underground car race to avoid such a hassle and get the funds for her treatment. The idea of joining this gamble solely for money was far from his intentions.

“We’re off to place our bets now, Brother Lin,” Chen Xue said, offering a wave of farewell before leading his underlings toward the mansion’s upper levels.

Lin Xiao walked outside the mansion, securing a spot against a wall to wait quietly for the race to start. As for the upcoming competition, he was as calm as still water, with not a hint of nervousness.

Close by, a man in his thirties also seemed to be prepping for the race. He seemed unsettled, his face streaked with fear and anxiety, as he continuously muttered under his breath.

Lin Xiao could make out the man’s murmurs even amidst the ambient noise.

The man was incessantly repeating four words, “May the Bodhisattva bless.”

Lin Xiao felt a mingling of amusement and pity. This man was paralyzed by fear, yet dared to participate in an underground car race.

Was this the spellbinding power of money? But was he, Lin Xiao, any different? Although he entered the race to sidestep trouble, wasn’t his situation akin to the middle-aged man’s? Both were here under the sway of money.

While in the military, he was indifferent to money. It was only after moving to Jinghai City to care for Yuan Yu and her mother that he truly recognized the indispensability of money.

However, his deep-seated views led him to trivialize the importance of money. Seeing the middle-aged man pushed to such an extreme for the sake of money, a sense of deep contemplation clouded Lin Xiao’s eyes.

In this world, one cannot go a day without power or a day without money.