Chapter 6 đ
There were only six dice placed on the table, and the girls beside Hayes and Asher couldn't join the game. They could only sit and watch from outside the casino.
In the first round, Lucas became the first player, followed by Dylan, and then Milim. This order was likely related to Asura's territory. No matter how Milim played, Dylan would always have to suffer the consequences.
The six sets of dice totaled thirty-six, and by the time it was Milim's turn, the call had reached twenty-two diceâan unbelievable number. Lucas curled his lips into a smirk.
"It's yours, little sister," he said.
Seeing her hesitation, the girls seated nearby grew anxious for Milim. They thought she should call "open" instead.
Asher, having played just before her and already sipping wine, leaned over.
"Would you like to open it?"
Milim casually leaned closer to Dylan and whispered,
"One point can count as any point, right?"
The sudden warmth of her proximity distracted Dylan. He tried to refocus and only managed a nod after she asked again.
Receiving his confirmation, Milim announced,
"I'll add one more. Twenty-three twos."
Asher immediately put down his wine.
"Do you really believe there are that many twos?"
Milim nodded seriously.
"Everyone can't just tell."
The crowd burst out laughing, even Dylan, famous for his stoic expression, couldn't help but crack a smile. Internally, he wondered if he should tell Milim that her earlier question had been a trick to distract her.
Lucas, with his stomach aching from laughter, kicked Dylan under the table and teased,
"Here you are. Ready to drink?"
Still composed, Dylan simply added,
"I'll add one moreâtwenty-four twos."
The room fell silent. Then Lucas loudly cut through the silence, shouting,
"Cut you! Double!"
He opened his dice cup, revealing three twos.
"Even though I have three, I don't believe everyone else has twos!"
A girl sitting next to Lucas shyly lifted her cup:
"I have four."
Hayes frowned, scratching his head,
"I have four, too."
Hearing this, Hayes opened his cup himself, revealing five twos.
Milim, holding her breath, lifted her own cup and looked at Dylan, eyes shining with hope.
"Can you open four?"
The innocent devotion in her gaze made Dylan's heart throb. He never thought shaking dice could be such a thrilling experienceâuntil tonight.
Lucas facepalmed dramatically.
"Come on, Dylan. If you really have four, I'll drink another!"
"You said it," Dylan replied, smiling like a mischievous villain.
Slowly, he lifted his cup.
Inside were not four, but five twos.
Lucas cursed aloud, staring wide-eyed at the dice.
"You're insane!" he yelled.
"The first to dare shake the leopard, and it's YOU!"
Hayes laughed dryly,
"If Lucas had been a little smarter, he might have won..."
Dylan knocked the table lightly, smiling.
"Two glasses, Lucas."
With a bitter face, Lucas poured the wine. Facing Milim, he muttered,
"Pretending to be an innocent hog, but you're a hidden tiger. Just waitâyou'll be embarrassed soon."
Milim smiled innocently. After all, it wasn't her who shook the leopard.
As they waited for Lucas to drink, someone shoved another cherry into Milim's mouth. She felt like a fat piece of pork, helpless against the man next to her who seemed determined to "devour" her.
Seeing her cheeks bulge adorably, Dylan couldn't help but continue feeding her with easy-to-eat snacks, tenderly caring for her.
Everyone noticed their interaction. It seemed surrealâbut they were secretly delighted. The once untouchable Dylan had finally picked his "cabbage."
"Come, come, let's continue!"
The table was filled with laughter and noise.
Throughout the night, Milim often bore the brunt of teasing. She was constantly pushed into being intimate with Dylanâkissing him, confessing to him.
Luckily, she didn't lose many rounds, and she hadn't even finished her two-pound can of milk before the game ended.
In contrast to the past, Dylan drank heavily tonight and was slightly drunk. After the dice game, the girls started singing karaoke in their private box.
Feeling tipsy, Milim collapsed beside Dylan, who had turned strangely silent after drinking.
Asher tossed a cigarette case at her.
"Give Dylan a smoke."
Dazed, Milim pulled a cigarette from the case, lit it, and held it to Dylan's lips.
"Mr. Dylan, open your mouth."
He slowly opened his eyes, black and deep, and obediently accepted the cigarette.
Propping himself up, Dylan cupped Milim's cheek with one hand, the cigarette between his fingers, and leaned inâasking for a kiss.
With the girls' singing in the background, Milim's mind blanked out as Dylan kissed her.
Snapping back to her senses, she shoved him away, eyes reddened with anger.
Lucas, slurring, shouted,
"Dylan, take her away!"
Dylan smoked quietly. When the cigarette was half-finished, he stubbed it out, collected his belongings, and stood.
"Let's go."
Milim blinked up at him.
"Where?"
The man looked down at her,
"Wherever you want to go."
The only sober person among the group, Milim now felt awkward pretending to be drunk.
She stood up to follow him but grabbed his wrist at the door.
"I'll send you downstairs to find a driver."
Dylan grabbed her back firmly.
"No need. I'm staying here tonight."
Milim pulled away and offered,
"Then I'll help you book a room."
Unexpectedly, Dylan pulled her into his arms.
"It's not just for me. It's for us."
"Who agreed?" Milim scoffed, wriggling free.
"I'm going home. And just so you know, Mr. Dylan, I'm not a duck, and I won't sleep with you even if you throw money at me! That night was a one-time mistake!"
Dylan's drunken warmth vanished, his face becoming cold again.
"I never treated you like that," he said quietly.
"Nor did I want to buy you."
"Oh? So you don't even want to spend money?" Milim rolled her eyes.
"Either way, I'm not sleeping with you. That's our relationship."
She turned to the front desk.
"Book a room for the gentleman in 309."
"No need," Dylan's cold voice interrupted.
"I'll book it myself."
Without another glance at her, he walked away.
Milim thought the clean break was good. No mess, no lingering feelings.
A few minutes later, Dylan ran into Brother Zee in the hallway.
"Mr. Dylan! Are you still enjoying yourself tonight?"
"Manager Zee," Dylan said calmly.
"Settle Milim's bill tonight. And no more hiring part-time students in the club."
Brother Zee turned pale.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dylan. I'll fire her immediately."
"No need to embarrass her," Dylan added quietly.
"I just don't want her working here anymore."
Brother Zee quickly agreed.
Later, he found Milim resting in the lounge.
Milim smiled brightly,
"Brother Zee, can I get off work now?"
He handed her a thick stack of cashâabout $100.
"Not only can you leave, but you don't have to come back tomorrow. This is your commission for tonight. Take it and go, alright?"
Milim clutched the money, confused.
"You don't want me anymore? Did I do something wrong?"
"You did nothing wrong. It's me," Brother Zee sighed.
"I never should have let you work here."
Still puzzled, Milim protested,
"But I sold wine well, and I didn't embarrass you..."
Losing patience, Brother Zee blurted,
"Mr. Dylan got involved personally! And he didn't want me to embarrass you, either!"
Milim's brows furrowed.
"Mr. Dylan... Is his full name Dylan Maverick?"
Brother Zee nodded.
"Yeah, the one you were drinking with tonight."
Milim muttered under her breath,
"Animal... dared to cut off my money..."
Brother Zee thought he misheard her.
Still furious, Milim shoved the money into her bag.
"Brother Zee, I'm leaving. Thank you for tonight."
Without looking back, she left the club.
"Go on, kid," Brother Zee muttered, shaking his head, still unsure if he had heard her insult Dylan correctly.