Chapter 89: Registration Closed, Lin Meng Seeks Ye Chenjing's Cooperation

Cousin, are you awake? The registration for the Stone Gambling Convention closed an hour ago. What should we do?

Xu Yixiao saw Lin Meng standing outside the car, quickly ran over, and told her the news he had heard.

I didn't expect the registration to close so quickly either. Sorry, sis.

Lin Meng hurriedly patted her cousin's shoulder.

It's not your fault; you don't need to apologize to me. The registration closed, that's that—I don't have to participate.

Xu Yixiao nodded, but he still felt uneasy.

Even though he didn't know whether his cousin understood stone gambling, he privately didn't want her to take the risk, but he could see she was looking forward to the Stone Gambling Convention, and as a local he felt helpless to help.

Let me take you to find my parents first. My dad is a stone cutter here; maybe he has a way.

Xu Yixiao said that and headed to the stone gambling venue; the gate staff didn't stop them, and they entered the venue smoothly.

Xu Yixiao explained: "I'm familiar with the security guards here, and my parents are longtime employees, so I don't need to be checked when coming and going."

Lin Meng nodded. Having an insider as a relative certainly saves a lot of trouble.

The stone gambling venue is huge; its lobby is like a hotel's. Apart from the lower floors where stone gambling is done, the upper floors are all hotel suites.

Sis, I'll take you to find my dad and ask if there's a back way in.

Xu Yixiao knew the way well and quickly brought Lin Meng to the stone-cutting area.

Lin Cuihua first saw her own son, then Lin Meng.

She instantly recognized her niece, whose features resembled those of her third brother, and exclaimed in delight.

"Are you Xiao Meng? You've finally come—come on, let Auntie take a look."

Father Xu heard his wife speaking and looked up, but he was busy with work and couldn't get up to greet her.

Lin Meng looked at the thin, slightly sallow middle-aged woman before her and immediately felt she was kind.

Among Grandfather's children, only her father and her youngest aunt resembled him; she disliked all the other uncles and aunts, but she took an instant liking to her youngest aunt.

"Auntie, I've come to see you."

As Lin Meng finished speaking, she silently thought of her grandfather; her grandfather, worried about her, had sent a dream asking her to check on her well-being.

But Lin Meng certainly couldn't tell her aunt about the dream.

Although she was thin and her face looked older than her peers, her spirit was vigorous—she looked like a capable person.

Lin Cuihua stared at Lin Meng with reddened eyes, then couldn't help but say:

"You look like your parents, but even more beautiful—my third brother and his wife raised a fine daughter."

This was Lin Cuihua's first time seeing Lin Meng, and she was the first relative from their hometown to visit her, so she naturally had many questions.

But she knew this wasn't the place to talk, so she took Lin Meng to see Father Xu.

"Old Xu, my niece Lin Meng—how is she? My third brother's child is quite good, right?"

Lin Cuihua proudly introduced her maternal niece to her husband; Xu Hong kept working with one hand while raising his head to give Lin Meng a simple, honest smile.

"Welcome, Xiao Meng, classmate. Aunt's husband can't get away right now, so I'll have to impose on you and let my troublemaking son entertain you first."

"After work ends today, I'll take you and your aunt to our town's most famous restaurant for a big meal to welcome you."

At a glance, Xu Hong was the sort of honest, simple person who had also weathered many hardships.

As a couple, they were typical self-sacrificing parents—no matter how hard they worked, they never neglected their son.

Xu Yixiao chuckled, wiped his father's forehead sweat, and then asked about the registration.

"Dad, do you have a backdoor way to get into the Stone Gambling Convention?"

Xu Hong blinked, then asked casually: "Why are you asking about that? I warn you—don't deal with scalpers, or you'll get scammed."

Xu Yixiao pursed his lips, glanced at Lin Meng, was about to explain, but Lin Meng herself took over the conversation.

Lin Meng said:

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm not a scalper—I want to enter the Stone Gambling Convention, but registration is already closed."

In the next second, Xu Hong and Lin Cuihua both froze for a few seconds, then turned their gazes to Lin Meng, eyes full of surprise.

"You want to participate?"

"Xiao Meng, do you understand stone gambling? It's extremely costly, and the chance of losing big is huge—Aunt is afraid you'll suffer a loss."

After all, it was their first meeting; Lin Cuihua didn't say anything harsh, but her first reaction was that she absolutely could not let Lin Meng join the Stone Gambling Convention, or else she would feel guilty toward her deceased third brother and his wife.

Xu Hong also furrowed his brow and simply shook his head.

"I really have no connections here, Xiao Meng. Stone gambling requires caution—you're still young, so definitely don't get into this lightly. But if you're interested, I can give you two tickets and let Xiao Xiao take you to have a look."

Lin Meng understood: her aunt and uncle didn't want her involved, and even if they had connections they wouldn't help.

That's understandable—after all, stone gambling really costs money, and examples of losing everything in a big bet are everywhere.

They've worked here for years, so they've surely seen even more tragedies.

As relatives, they naturally wouldn't want to see Lin Meng end up like those people—full of confidence, then losing everything.

Finally, Lin Meng took the two tickets and her cousin and left the stone-cutting area.

Xu Yixiao saw his parents' intention and thought for a moment, then said:

"The Stone Gambling Convention happens every year—why not just be a spectator this year?"

"Once your cousin sees the convention site—those who splurge thousands on a rise, only to end up in rags after one cut, wailing or even seeking death—maybe that'll put her off the idea of joining."

Lin Meng gave a faint nod, and the two returned to the main hall, where they happened to see Ye Chenjing there as well.

Behind him followed several elderly experts; it seemed the Ye Family had hired stone gambling masters.

"Cousin, go buy me a bottle of water—I'm thirsty."

After sending the simple-minded Xu Yixiao away, Lin Meng quickly walked toward Ye Chenjing.

In unfamiliar Li Shi, if she wanted to participate in the Stone Gambling Convention with as little fuss as possible, she had no choice but to ask the man before her for help.

Ye Chenjing hadn't expected to meet Lin Meng here; when she stood before him, he instinctively froze, staring fixedly at her, as if judging whether she was an illusion.

Sun Yao, who had been reporting the meeting rules to him, felt the boss was actually spacing out, and was suddenly startled.

He turned his head, Sun Yao saw Lin Meng, and instantly realized.

"Miss Lin? Why are you also here?"

Sun Yao spoke up for his boss, and Ye Chenjing then realized this wasn't his hallucination—this woman had really come.

For a moment, Ye Chenjing regretted his earlier blank stare, wondering how his reaction could have been a bit slow.

Ye Chenjing frowned slightly, head lowered, his proud browbone just right to hide his introspective gaze.

He felt that just a moment ago, he seemed to have been thinking at night, which is why he saw a hallucination in the daytime.

Since when did he start to be distracted by a woman?

It must be because Lin Meng is special; it's her mysterious aura that has aroused his curiosity, that's all... it must be like that...