“I’m not.”
He spat out an obvious lie. However, Ray Jun didn’t seem to believe his words.
In fact, it was something anyone could notice. Like the saying ‘can’t eat the cake, but won’t let go,’ he could have raised until the end, but suddenly gave up. Since he’d been boldly pushing forward before that, it would have looked even more suspicious.
“Why did you do that?”
“……”
“Didn’t you even regret the 300,000 patacas?”
“That wasn’t my money from the start anyway. We can’t receive money from customers anyway. Why are you asking when you already know.”
“Hmm……”
Ray Jun stared directly at him. Perhaps because his eyes were fox-like, it strangely felt like he could see through him. Kang Siwon completely ignored that gaze and acted as usual—washing his hands at the sink, going to the refrigerator to drink water, and so on.
Even while unbuttoning his stuffy shirt one by one, Ray Jun’s gaze didn’t leave. If it was a blatantly observing gaze, he was sick of it by now. Kang Siwon whirled around and asked.
“What are you looking at?”
“I was thinking it’s rare to see such an ascetic temperament.”
“Ascetic my ass. I just didn’t want to get involved with a troublemaker.”
He snapped curtly and finished taking off his clothes. Ray Jun’s gaze remained the same, but he didn’t care at all.
“Pervert bastard with weird tastes. Hitting on a man with the same equipment…… Disgustingly……”
As he spoke, irritation surged again. Kang Siwon roughly thrust his arms into his loungewear.
“But Xie Wei, it wasn’t your first time playing poker, was it?”
Caught in his excuse, Kang Siwon closed his lips. In truth, he’d given up trying to look like a beginner from the middle of the game. It was preposterous for someone who claimed not to know the rules to keep beating Feng Tao repeatedly, no matter how lucky he was.
“Where did you learn?”
“Just picked it up here and there.”
“For something like that, you played properly.”
“I was lucky.”
“Hmm, really because of luck?”
Ray Jun questioned him outright. However, he had no energy left to deal with him anymore. Today he’d worked hard enough, and despite that, he still had tasks remaining.
“Aren’t you eating dinner?”
“I should eat. Why, shall we eat together?”
“No. I need to rest a bit.”
In other words, it was a request or rather a command to stop staring and leave. Of course, as his roommate, Ray Jun also had the right to stay in the bedroom, but he obediently turned around.
“Okay. Good work, Xie Wei. Rest well.”
“……You too.”
Ray Jun had worked hard today too, so had he been too curt? It bothered him belatedly, but he also threw uncomfortable questions at him, so he decided to consider it even.
Kang Siwon collapsed onto the bed and took out his phone from his pocket.
Today was the day he had to make his regular report to the Baeksa Faction. Because of that, when finishing the settlement, he’d examined the transaction records more carefully than usual. This was because he had to filter out individuals who exchanged 10,000-unit chips 100 times or more as Manager Park instructed.
There were a total of four people who met the conditions. Kang Siwon had memorized their names, total exchange amounts, and transaction times. Kang Siwon relied on his memory to input all that information.
It would be nice if he could take notes, but the casino had so many watching eyes and CCTVs everywhere that it was difficult. In the end, this primitive method was the best.
“Ha……”
As soon as he pressed the send button, he felt completely drained. Kang Siwon put down his phone and relaxed his limbs.
Even when working 10 hours a day in a battlefield-like kitchen, he hadn’t been like this, yet somehow lately his body often became limp like waterlogged cotton. He wondered if it was because he was getting older, but at only twenty-three years old, it seemed too early to blame aging. He thought it was probably because of stress, the root of all ailments.
Anyway, the long, long day had finally ended. Now it was truly time to rest.
* * *
When he opened his eyes again, a day had already passed. What was supposed to be a brief rest turned into a deep sleep. Kang Siwon was dumbfounded by the fact that his precious evening time had melted away without a trace.
“Ah, you’re up?”
The bedroom door opened and Ray Jun stuck his head out. He was already ready for work. His neat face was bright again today.
“I was just wondering whether I should wake you up. You really slept well.”
“Uh……”
He sat up while responding in bewilderment. It felt like he’d just gotten off work, but he had to go to work again—it was incredibly unfair. Moreover, his head was throbbing despite the fact that he’d slept soundly.
“Let’s go to work together once you’re ready. I’m on evening shift too.”
“It’s okay if you go first.”
“We’re going the same way anyway.”
Ray Jun smiled brightly. As always, he was such an amiable guy. Sorry to him, but Kang Siwon wasn’t in the mood to be around others today.
“Go ahead. I’m going to shower, so it’ll take a while. You can’t be late too.”
“Then there’s no choice.”
Ray Jun readily agreed and left the room. Fortunately, he didn’t seem offended. Kang Siwon quietly sighed and got up.
After washing up in the bathroom and coming out, the room was already quiet. Ray Jun seemed to have left for work. Kang Siwon, having finished preparing, also came out of the front door.
Checking the time, it wasn’t enough to be late, but it wasn’t leisurely either. Normally he would have hurried, but perhaps because of yesterday’s events, he didn’t even have the motivation to do so. Kang Siwon just walked at his own pace. There was also a bit of a defiant feeling of ‘fire me if you’re going to.’ Anyway, he arrived at the casino on time.
“You’re here, Xie Wei? Is it shift change time already?”
“Good day.”
“Well, nothing special happened today either.”
A colleague handed over the shift. After fully preparing to work in earnest, Kang Siwon stood in front of the exchange counter. Then the interior of the casino came into view at a glance.
As his colleague said, there was nothing particularly noticeable. As usual, under the dazzling lights, customers were absorbed in gambling. The characteristic glamorous yet dry atmosphere also remained the same.
Just then, a familiar face entered his vision. It was Ray Jun sitting at a game table, resting.
Ray Jun also recognized Kang Siwon and smiled with curved eyes. That smile spreading refreshingly gave him the momentary illusion of entering a forest.
To be so kind to him who had been somewhat curt before work—it created guilt that hadn’t existed before. Kang Siwon raised his hand to greet him, feeling unnecessarily sorry.
Ray Jun also responded by gently waving one hand. Kang Siwon, whose nape felt ticklish somehow, scratched it awkwardly.
Somehow Ray Jun seemed to be in a particularly good mood today. Had he won big against a customer or something?
Of course, winning or losing wasn’t important for casino dealers. What mattered was how long and how much customers played.
Then something good must have happened. Just as he was thinking that, a shadow fell in front of the counter. A customer had arrived.
“Good day.”
“Exchange. Twenty-five 10,000s.”
“Yes. ID please.”
The man, Zhang Weiren, pulled out his ID from his wallet and handed it over. Today was the same conversation again. While receiving the cash and proceeding with the exchange procedure, Kang Siwon was seized by a feeling as if trapped in repeating time.
Yesterday he exchanged 250,000 patacas for 10,000 chips, and today was the same. Zhang Weiren had visited the exchange counter three days ago and five days ago too. Each time, what he requested was always 10,000 chips.
It might simply be a matter of preference. However, because he had a mission from the Baeksa Faction, this repetition felt somehow suspicious. He had a premonition that some fishy circumstances were hidden.
“250,000 patacas total, exchanged for 10,000-unit chips. Please confirm.”
While growing suspicious, Kang Siwon politely handed over the chips. Zhang Weiren carelessly received and gathered them, then left. Kang Siwon couldn’t take his eyes off his retreating figure.
Zhang Weiren, who seemed to be pondering where to go as he looked around, soon changed direction. It was Ray Jun’s table.
Ray Jun, welcoming the customer, stood up from his seat. Though his face wasn’t clearly visible, obscured exquisitely by obstacles, Kang Siwon could easily imagine Ray Jun’s expression. He would certainly be wearing a gentle smile.
The two sat down simultaneously. As if the game had started, cards being distributed on the table were faintly visible.
Was it poker again today, or baccarat?
Kang Siwon narrowed his eyes slightly, but before he could examine closely, a new customer came to the counter.
“100,000 patacas exchange.”
“Yes. ID please.”
Kang Siwon put aside his other thoughts and focused on work again. However, even between working, for some reason he kept glancing at Ray Jun and Zhang Weiren.
