Her Rebirth.

The low hum of jazz music filled the smoky air of the Song family’s underground casino, a casino to which quite a number of people had lost their wealth. The casino was decorated with gold-tinted chandeliers which cast a sultry glow over the velvet-covered tables, and the din of slot machines and low conversation hummed through the hall. The casino was one of the Song family’s streams of income, and it was where an important decision determining the fate of the Song family would be made.

Kai stepped inside, dressed in a casual blue T-shirt and simple black trousers. His eyes scanned the crowd with disinterest until they landed on the poker table at the center of the room.

There she was.

Ye Jin, the new leader of the Hei Long gang, the one he was to meet today.

Her black hair cascaded down her back like silk, curling softly at the ends. Her gown, a shimmering shade of gold, hugged her body like a second skin and her striking green eyes gleamed with mischief as she sat at the blackjack table. Her body language was relaxed and playful, as if she hadn’t just staked millions of dollars in a game.

Beside her sat a man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He was calm and quiet, seemingly a gentleman, but Kai could feel that he wasn’t just a pretty face, he was no less dangerous than he and Ye Jin.

Surrounding her at the table were men who all carried the look of seasoned gamblers, yet none of them were smiling. Rather, they all donned a deep frown.

To be able to make them look like this, then she must have some sort of ability.

This piqued Kai’s curiosity, and he leaned back on a pillar, arms crossed as he observed the game.

It was blackjack.

Ye Jin received her two cards, casually fanning them open: a Jack of Spades and a Six of Hearts. The dealer dealt himself a face-down card and a visible Nine. The others played recklessly. One man hit on a 15 and bust. Another stayed on a soft 17. The man with blond hair received two eights and split them, gaining a Ten on one and a Nine on the other.

Ye Jin barely glanced at her hand before tapping the table.

"Hit me."

A Five of Diamonds.

She had 21.

A smile curled on her lips as she leaned back, eyes flicking toward the dealer. The others groaned as they realized they had once again been played. She had counted cards, her eyes subtly tracking every face card that had been played in the last few rounds. She knew the deck’s pulse.

The dealer revealed his hidden card, a Five, bringing him to 14. He hit again and pulled a Queen.

Bust.

Coins clattered toward Ye Jin’s side of the table, and she collected them lazily.

"One more round," a man grunted, clearly frustrated at losing again.

Ye Jin tilted her head, her smile never fading. "Are you sure? I’d hate to leave you bankrupt."

"I want a proper chance," he demanded.

Before Ye Jin could answer, Kai stepped forward, his lips pulled to a grin. "Mind if I join?"

Her hand paused mid-reach. Slowly, her green eyes lifted to meet his.

"Hello," she said and nodded, gesturing to an empty seat just before her. "I do not mind. The more, the merrier. And obviously, more money to my pockets."

Kai laughed, clearly finding her little remark funny, then said, "Thank you."

The dealer reshuffled as Kai took his seat. The blond man gave him a quiet nod of acknowledgment. Cards were dealt. Soon they began playing, and one by one, the others lost, leaving only Ye Jin, Kai, and the blond man.

Kai had a seven and a three, ten total. Ye Jin had a queen and a five, fifteen. The blond man had a king and a six, sixteen. The dealer’s face card was a nine.

Ye Jin tapped the table lightly. "Hit me."

She received a six. Twenty-one. Again.

The blond man hesitated, glanced at Kai, then tapped. A five. Twenty-one. A tie.

Kai smiled. "Hit."

A Jack.

Twenty. Close, but not enough.

Ye Jin raised a brow. "So close."

The blond man chuckled. "Luck’s favoring the women tonight."

Kai leaned back but didn’t reply. It was just luck, Ye Jin was just too good at this, terrifyingly so.

Another round began. This time, the stakes were higher, with chips piling onto the center of the table like blood on the battlefield. Spectators had already gathered around the table.

Ye Jin’s hand this time was an eight and a seven, fifteen. Kai had a nine and a four , thirteen. The blond man had a pair of fives.

The dealer had a visible ten.

Ye Jin didn’t hesitate. "Double down." She slid her chips forward with a smirk. The dealer handed her one card.

A six.

Twenty-one.

Kai narrowed his eyes, amused.

He tapped the table. "Hit."

A Queen. Thirteen to twenty-three. He bust.

But he only smiled, even as the chips were pulled away from him. "You’ve got some nerve," he said lightly.

Ye Jin tilted her head. "So do you, mister."

The game continued, and this time, the blond-haired man lost the last of his chips with a resigned sigh and a small smile, then rose from his seat, murmuring, "I’ll be watching."

Now only two remained, Ye Jin and Kai.

Final hand.

Kai received a Jack and an Ace, blackjack. Ye Jin got a nine and a King , nineteen.

She looked at her cards, then at him. Slowly and deliberately, she smiled and flipped over a second Ace from under the King.

Kai raised a brow. "Hidden card?"

She winked. "A magician never reveals her secrets."

He laughed, genuinely impressed. "Touché."

As she raked in the final pot, Ye Jin leaned forward, her green eyes glittering in greed.

"Good game."

Kai exhaled softly and leaned back in his chair. "Well played."

Ye Jin gathered the chips with a smug smile. "Likewise, Mr. Kai."