OFR – Chapter 289 What is cold, what is king! (Part 6)

At this moment, Rong Qingwen was watching the boy across from him with great interest.

Cold Shao!

Just last night, when he had arrived in Nanjing City, Li Shaofeng had already mentioned this boy to him.

He said this was a figure who had suddenly risen from nowhere, and in less than two months, had overwhelmed all the powerful figures of Nanjing—a storm-like existence!

So Rong Qingwen was very curious: what kind of youth could make even someone like Li Shaofeng speak of him with such reverence?

Was he truly as formidable and unstoppable as the rumors claimed, or just an overrated figure with an inflated reputation?

After all, in today’s society, it was no longer the era where “under great fame, there must be no false men.” Quite the contrary—those who were all name and no substance were everywhere, too many to count.

The so-called prestige in this society had long been marked as untrustworthy in Rong Qingwen’s eyes.

Indeed, the Rong family, a family of over two hundred years of history, had once been so powerful it could rival nations. At the founding of New Huaxia, the contributions the Rong family had made to society, to the nation, and to all Huaxia people were immeasurable.

But now?

Now the ones basking in the titles of “richest Chinese,” “wisest businessman in Huaxia,” “most promising and world-renowned entrepreneur”—none of them came from the Rong family!

It was the same for the Nalan family that once ruled this vast land.

Those truly deserving of fame rarely stood in the public eye, while many deceivers and imposters constantly rose to prominence.

So Rong Qingwen never placed much trust in popular tales or reputations.

He only believed what he personally saw and confirmed.

With that mindset, he continued to observe this strikingly handsome young man.

He noticed that when it came time for the boy—this so-called “Cold Shao”—to speak, he still hadn’t looked at his hole cards. He merely reached out to touch his chips, seemingly unfamiliar with Texas Hold’em poker rules.

After pausing for a few seconds, he turned to the female dealer and asked politely,
“Hello, I don’t really know how to play Texas Hold’em, and I’m not too clear on the betting rules. I’d just like to confirm—am I only allowed to call with three million, or can I raise as much as I want?”

This question… it was hard not to laugh at.

It was the kind of question no one who had even casually played Texas Hold’em would ask.

But due to the boy’s highly esteemed status, no one at the entire Zijin Pavilion laughed—not even Rong Qingwen. He merely smiled faintly.

He hadn’t expected that this boy had never even played Texas Hold’em.

And yet this very same boy had now brought fifty billion to the table, standing firmly in opposition to him.

Realizing this, Rong Qingwen felt a flicker of solemnity—and even a hint of sympathy.

Solemnity—because despite never having played Texas Hold’em, the boy still dared to bring fifty billion into this world-shaking game.

Sympathy—because a youth like Cold Shao, who should be carefree and enjoying life, was now forced to put forward a terrifying sum like fifty billion in a game he didn’t even understand, standing against the Rong family!

Yes, if not forced, who would willingly bring such an enormous fund into an unprecedented gamble like this—and oppose the Rong family?

Of course, Rong Qingwen didn’t know that the fifty billion in Mu Bai’s hands had been gifted to him by Nalan Yunshao.

Had he known, his thoughts would’ve been completely different.

For a moment, countless thoughts crossed Rong Qingwen’s mind.

At that moment, the female dealer was briefly stunned by the boy’s question.

She clearly hadn’t expected such a basic inquiry.

But fortunately, she had long been seasoned at Zijin Pavilion and had seen her share of storms.

Her excellent professionalism kicked in, and she quickly recovered, replying respectfully with a flawless smile,
“Hello, Cold Shao. You can raise freely. Just now, both Young Master Rong and Young Master Yun stated that this is a no-limit Texas Hold’em game—meaning there’s no cap on the bets. You may call, or raise any amount you wish.”

After she spoke, Rong Qingwen—perhaps feeling that it would be dishonorable to win against someone so new and likely forced into the game—gave a rare reminder.

“Cold Shao, aren’t you going to look at your hole cards? Even if you’re unfamiliar, I think at the very least, you should glance at them.”

This was the first time since arriving in Nanjing that the Rong heir had shown any form of goodwill.

Though tinged with condescension, it was still a rare show of kindness.

Not only Mu Bai, but even those nearby—Nalan Yunshao, Chen Yunzhi, Dongfang Jing—all sensed this goodwill from Rong Qingwen.

And they understood his thoughts.

He felt that Cold Shao had never played poker before, and that beating him wouldn’t be honorable?

To be honest, that was a faint reflection of a good-natured mindset.

It showed that this heir of the Rong family was not an absolute villain.

They were on opposite sides only because their interests clashed.

No matter the outcome of this historic gamble, it was never about right or wrong, good or evil!

But Nalan Yunshao, Dongfang Jing, and even Li Shaofeng were visibly stunned by Rong Qingwen’s almost teacherly words.

What had this heir of the Rong family just done?

He had, with a tone of superiority and condescension, tried to instruct Cold?

Instruct this boy who had once dominated all of Nanjing?

Instruct this youth who, back in old Yue, nearly overturned the entire city of Yue’an?

They were left speechless.

Just then, Mu Bai, who had heard Rong Qingwen’s well-meaning advice, calmly held Rong’s gaze for a few seconds before softly replying:

“Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Rong. But… I’ll still choose not to look at the hole cards.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Qingwen found it quite amusing, so he chuckled and asked playfully:
“Why? Don’t tell me Cold Shao plans to just hand the money to my Rong family?”

He then waited for the boy’s answer.

But what Rong Qingwen—this heir with overwhelming influence in the north—never expected was that the boy’s next reply would be so shocking, so beyond imagination.

At that moment, Mu Bai smiled lightly, then slowly rose from his seat.

He bent slightly and pushed the neatly stacked fifty billion in chips to the center of the table.

Then he straightened up proudly, raised his voice, and declared:

“Actually, I simply feel that since the community cards aren’t fully dealt yet, whether or not I look at my hole cards doesn’t matter much.
But since Young Master Rong has said so, then fine—a mere fifty billion, gifting it to the Rong family… what’s the harm?”

That crisp, clear voice rang out across the entire Zijin Pavilion.

In an instant, everyone present at the Pavilion stood up involuntarily, eyes filled with shock as they looked toward the graceful youth standing boldly above the arena!

Even the wealthy elites who hadn’t seen him before felt a surge of awe and reverence welling up from within.

Now, for the first time, they truly understood the strength behind the myth of “Cold Shao.”

“A mere fifty billion—gifting it to the Rong family, what’s the harm?”

What sort of boundless courage was that?

The female dealer stood frozen for twenty or thirty seconds before finally snapping out of it.

She swallowed hard and, her voice trembling with emotion, announced:

“Cold Shao raises fifty billion! One-round All-In!”