281: VIP treatment

Led by the waitress, Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong arrived at a private room on the fourth floor. Outside the heavy wooden door stood two burly men who looked like bodyguards, though their attire suggested they didn't belong to the same person.

Seeing Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong follow the waitress, the two bodyguards scrutinized them from head to toe as if they were prisoners.

"What are you looking at? If we really wanted to do something, could you stop us? Stand back a bit."

Li Qinghe glared and reprimanded the two bodyguards in Vietnamese, his tone annoyed. He disliked their stares; why put on such an act when their employer wasn't present?

Especially since he had Vu Linh Huong with him. Seeing his woman being stared at so rudely was unacceptable even for the usually good-tempered Li Qinghe.

Ever since the 141 unit eliminated a few people in Tay Ninh Province, a subtle killing intent had lingered in Li Qinghe's demeanor. Coupled with his superhuman physique, the sharp glint in his eyes was intimidating.

It was like a tiger's death stare.

This glare made both bodyguards tense up and take a step back, their hands instinctively reaching for the extendable batons hanging at their waists.

"Sirs, these are esteemed guests of our VIP room. Please do not disturb their mood."

A waitress, who had been leading the way, sternly warned the two bodyguards. She then pushed open the heavy door of the VIP room and respectfully invited Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong inside.

After being reprimanded twice, the two bodyguards stood by the door, looking dejected.

They had intended to demonstrate their unwavering loyalty to their employer, but they were jointly put down by the other guests and the casino staff.

Li Qinghe, with his arm around Vu Linh Huong's slender waist, entered the VIP room. He found a redwood carved screen immediately inside the entrance. Turning past the screen, there was a space of about 120 square meters.

In the very center was a huge gambling table, surrounded by a circle of large sofas and massage chairs placed against the walls.

Beside the gambling table, three middle-aged men with female companions and two middle-aged women with male companions were already seated.

These early arrivals were leisurely enjoying drinks and fruit.

The young male companions with the two middle-aged women were gently feeding them fruit, looking very affectionate and loving.

As soon as Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong walked in, their outstanding looks and demeanor immediately caught the eyes of these earlier middle-aged men and women.

In terms of looks alone, their own mistresses and young male companions weren't bad, especially a few of the mistresses, who had amazing figures and dressed very revealingly, as if afraid their sugar daddies wouldn't notice their bodies.

And the two young male companions were also handsome, with somewhat muscular builds, at least enough to withstand the 'rich woman's happy ball' treatment.

However, compared to the aura of Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong, these mistresses and young male companions were completely out of their league.

It was like an original luxury item placed next to a crudely made imitation; the difference was immediately apparent.

Guided by a waitress, Li Qinghe took a vacant seat at the gambling table, which was the rightmost position from the dealer. Vu Linh Huong sat beside him.

A waitress placed a box of chips in front of Li Qinghe. These were the chips he had exchanged for 500,000 US dollars.

Another waitress placed a bottle of whiskey and a fruit platter on a stand beside them.

This was VIP treatment; if Li Qinghe needed anything else, he could make a request to the waitstaff in the private room at any time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, all the guests at this table have arrived. I will now begin the game for everyone. A reminder of the rules..."

After Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong were seated, the dealer, who had been waiting in a corner of the VIP room, walked to the gambling table and reiterated the rules in Dragon Country People, Korean, and Vietnamese.

To ensure fairness, eight decks of cards would be used each time. After being unsealed, they would be handed to each customer to cut once. Each bet could not be less than 10,000 US dollars, and each raise could not be less than 1,000 US dollars.

Listening to the dealer fluently explain the rules in multiple languages, Li Qinghe realized the dealer was a polyglot.

After hearing the rules, Li Qinghe chuckled. Wasn't this tailor-made for him?

Li Qinghe observed that, judging by their reactions while the dealer explained the rules, the gamblers at this table were from three different countries.

Because they were all East Asian, it was hard to tell them apart without close inspection.

But upon careful observation, it could be seen that among the other five people, the two middle-aged women were Dragon Country People and seemed to know each other. Among the men, one was a bald Vietnamese, and two were Korean.

It truly upheld Vietnam's casino requirement of primarily targeting foreigners. As for the Vietnamese present, it simply meant that no matter where you are, some people don't need to follow the rules.

From the composition of the people here, the two bodyguards outside must have been Korean. They were the ones most often putting on an arrogant attitude, so the dogs they brought along usually had the same attitude.

The dealer was a young man in a shirt, vest, and bow tie, looking very professional.

After consulting everyone in three languages, the dealer began to deal the cards.

First, eight brand new decks of playing cards were unsealed. The dealer shuffled all the cards and then handed them to the guests to cut, starting from the left.

Li Qinghe was the last one.

The card-cutting process revealed the skill level of the other gamblers. Overall, the others' card-cutting techniques were quite good, proving one thing: these people were all seasoned gamblers.

Since it was the first deal, each gambler personally cut the cards. Surprisingly, the two Dragon Country People women's card-cutting skills appeared to be the best among the others.

Soon it was Li Qinghe's turn. He smiled, casually cut the cards a few times, and then placed them in front of Vu Linh Huong: "A Xiang, blow on them. We're definitely winning this hand."

Because he spoke in Dragon Country People, the eyes of the two middle-aged women sitting in the middle of the table lit up again.

"Little brother is also Dragon Country People. We can chat more after the game."

One of the middle-aged women, adorned with gold and silver and wearing a large jade bead necklace, smiled and greeted Li Qinghe.

Li Qinghe didn't reply, only smiling and nodding in acknowledgment.

After Vu Linh Huong blew on the playing cards, Li Qinghe casually handed them to the dealer.

The dealer shuffled the cards thoroughly again before placing them into the shoe.

Vu Linh Huong placed 10,000 US dollars in chips on the table, and the other gamblers also placed their chips on the table.

On the first deal, Li Qinghe got a high score of 19 points. The dealer's upcard was a Queen.

Li Qinghe chose to stand. Some of the other gamblers chose to split, while others, like Li Qinghe, chose to stand.

When the dealer revealed his hole card, it turned out to be an 8.

He won almost every hand at the entire gambling table, except for Li Qinghe's.

Another 10,000 US dollars in chips appeared in front of Li Qinghe.

"Qinghe, this feels so easy to play!" Vu Linh Huong happily collected the 10,000 US dollar chip.

"Then you play the next hand."

"Then I'll just place it randomly, okay?"

"Just play casually, as long as you're happy."

Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong's intimate actions, huddled together, provoked dissatisfaction from the three old men.

The bald Vietnamese old man pulled his female companion close, and she very obediently tucked one of his arms into her bosom.

The two Korean old men, always strong-willed, were truly displeased by this behavior.

They feigned a couple of coughs nearby, and their female companions, very observant, fed them water and fruit.

"Young love is truly enviable."

The two middle-aged women, however, watched Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong's interaction with great magnanimity, a hint of nostalgia in their eyes.

"Sheesh!"

A Korean suddenly shouted in anger.