Medical Sage

”Have you both made your decision? It’s one stroke to determine the winner. If you lose, Xiao Shao, you must hand over your three-story, 2,000 square meter storefront in the city center as your wager. If you go back on your word, our Dongyun International Private Club will no longer welcome you, and your Diamond Level VIP Card will be canceled.”

A short while later, a somber-faced Manager Liu from the Dongyun International Private Club appeared on the scene. After being apprised of the situation, he was visibly taken aback. He remained silent for a long moment before slowly turning to Xiao Hao and speaking with grave formality. As soon as he finished, he turned his gaze to Chen Fei. ”As for you, sir...”

”How about I just transfer fifty million to you now?” Chen Fei cut him off, his expression calm and indifferent. ”Your club can hold the money in escrow. If I lose, you can transfer it directly to Xiao Shao. How does that sound?”

”Transfer it to us... That would certainly be fine. What do you think, Xiao Shao?” the manager asked, pausing for a moment before looking back at Xiao Hao.

”No problem, I agree!” Young Master Xiao Hao replied without the slightest hesitation. A mocking arc formed on his lips as he added loudly, ”But don’t forget. In addition to the wagers, whichever side loses must also publicly shout ’I submit!’ three times to the winner. I’d like to ask Manager Liu to witness this, just in case certain people try to back out and deny their loss later.”

”What? That as well...” Manager Liu couldn’t help but look surprised. A bitter smile spread across his face; he hadn’t expected them to play for such high stakes. The bet of a storefront and fifty million was already staggering enough, but now they were adding public humiliation to the mix. This was no laughing matter. Whoever lost would suffer a complete loss of face, making it nearly impossible for them to hold their head high in their social circle ever again.

”Back out? You’ve got some nerve saying that, after you were the one who... never mind. We won’t stoop to your level. Let’s let our skills do the talking on the green,” Dong Jianhui snapped, his initial anger quickly turning into a scornful laugh filled with anticipation.

It was a joke. The situation was clear: their opponent had foolishly walked right into Brother Fei’s trap.

Tsk tsk, a three-story, 2,000 square meter storefront in the city center. What a grand gesture! It must be worth at least sixty or seventy million, right? I wonder what kind of expression he’ll have on his face when he loses? This is going to be exciting!

”Alright, if there are no more issues, let’s begin,” Chen Fei said, no longer interested in wasting words as he cut straight to the point. ”Xiao Shao, will you go first, or shall I?”

”Heh.” A haughty curve appeared on Xiao Hao’s lips. He looked at Chen Fei with an air of arrogant condescension and a mocking smile. ”Forget it. Let’s not have anyone say I, Xiao Hao, bully a rookie like you. You can serve first, if you dare.”

”Why would I not dare?” Chen Fei returned a faint smile and turned to the manager beside him. ”Manager Liu, I’ll begin then. Please bear witness for us.”

”Of-of course. Mr. Chen, please, you may begin,” Manager Liu said at once.

At the same time, other club members on the golf course seemed to notice the escalating commotion and a buzz of excitement began to spread. They gathered in groups, their expressions animated as they whispered among themselves.

”Hey, have you heard? That Xiao Hao kid is making a huge bet with Young Master Hui.”

”Of course I’ve heard, but it seems the bet isn’t with Young Master Hui, but with his friend. If Xiao Hao loses, the wager is apparently his three-story storefront in the city center...”

”Hiss... you mean the one on Changchun Road? That’s in the heart of Tongzhou City! A place that big has to be worth tens of millions, easily.”

”My god, they’re playing for such high stakes? Then what did Young Master Hui’s friend put up? It must be something equally terrifying, otherwise how could it be a fair bet?”

”I heard he transferred fifty million directly to the club. If he loses, that money—all fifty million of it—goes to Xiao Shao.”

Perhaps because the eight-figure wager was so shocking, the various scions at the club became agitated, swarming over to see who would emerge victorious in this battle. After all, a bet of this magnitude was serious business. On one side was a storefront worth at least sixty to seventy million, and on the other was fifty million in ’cash’. No matter who won, it was enough to make anyone burn with envy.

But even that wasn’t the most important part. The real clincher was that the loser had to publicly shout their submission. That was no joke. Whoever lost would be utterly and completely disgraced, their reputation in tatters. That was where the real stakes lay. The circle of Jiangnan Province’s top government officials’ sons hadn’t seen this much excitement in a long time. It was truly something to look forward to.

”Xiao Shao, I’ll be starting then,” Chen Fei said with a light smile as he stepped up to the teeing ground. The crowd around their section of the course continued to swell as he addressed the supremely confident Young Master Xiao Hao.

”Be my guest,” Xiao Hao replied nonchalantly, his arms crossed as he coldly dismissed Chen Fei’s ’provocation’. It was a joke. His golf skills were at a professional level; he had even placed in the top three at an Intercontinental Championship in California, America. Why would he feel any pressure in a small-time match against a complete rookie?

Obviously, I, Xiao Hao, am guaranteed to win! There’s absolutely no chance of an upset!

”Heh.” Chen Fei’s lips curled up in a faint smile. He casually selected a golf club, took a couple of practice swings, and then swung down with force. With a loud CRACK that tore through the air, the golf ball shot off the tee, leaving the crowd momentarily stunned.

”Hey, no way! Does that kid even know how to play? With a swing that hard, where did the ball even go?”

”Could it be that he doesn’t know how to play golf at all? Look, he can’t even hold the club correctly.”

”...He can’t even hold a club right, but he dares to challenge Xiao Shao? What guts! Is that kid crazy? Did he just come here to throw away fifty million?”

It was clear that Chen Fei’s shot had gone completely astray, flying off to some unknown corner of the course. A wave of whispers went through the crowd, and many onlookers wore expressions of mockery mixed with a strange envy.

Damn it, where did this kid come from? He clearly can’t even hold a club or hit a ball properly, yet he dares to make such a huge bet with Xiao Shao... That’s fifty million! Is he some nouveau riche?

”Pfft! Hahaha, hahahaha... A fine opening shot! Hahaha.” Upon seeing this, Xiao Hao burst out laughing. A look of pure ridicule and scorn filled his face. ”I thought you might have some hidden skill, but it turns out you were just lucky before. Alright, it’s my turn to tee off. Shouldn’t you get out of the way?”

He had to admit, he’d felt a flicker of unease earlier, worried he was being set up or walking into a trap. But now... what the hell kind of shot was that? The kid was a super-rookie among rookies. If a player like that could beat him, then pigs could fly. Anyway, Xiao Hao refused to believe it; he already considered the victory his. With an arrogant swagger, he walked up to the teeing ground.

”Brother Fei...” Dong Jianhui sidled up to Chen Fei, a look of confusion on his face. Although he had immense faith in his Brother Fei, the problem was this last shot... it had flown off to who knows what remote corner of the course. It was like he was deliberately sabotaging himself.

”Have you ever experienced true despair?” Chen Fei replied cryptically, saying no more. He simply squinted his eyes and offered a faint smile.

A botched tee shot? I’m going to lose? Please. How can you witness true despair without first being given a glimmer of hope? Besides, if I hit another hole-in-one, some people might actually lose their minds. It’s better to keep a low profile.

WHOOSH!

Just then, Xiao Hao hit his first ball. The golf club in his hands moved as if it had a life of its own, striking the ball with a perfect balance of power and finesse. The ball rocketed forward. Though the swing looked powerful, both the force and the flight angle were flawless, a truly impressive sight.

”Great shot! As expected of Xiao Shao, he’s really got the skills!”

”Nice! Xiao Shao’s technique is truly convincing. He’s definitely at a professional level.”

Instantly, many of the government officials’ sons who often associated with Young Master Xiao Hao began to cheer, showering him with flattery that made him swell with pride, a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

”Brother Fei? It’s your turn now, heh,” he said a moment later, walking proudly off the teeing ground. He brushed past Chen Fei and Dong Jianhui, a mocking smirk on his lips as he spoke in a jeering tone.

”Heh.” In the past, hearing such a mocking tone would have made Dong Jianhui explode with anger. But now, he simply let out a cold, faint laugh, his eyes filled with playful amusement.

”Yes, it is my turn,” Chen Fei agreed with a placid nod. He followed a club staff member, who, ’with great difficulty’, located his ball. It had indeed landed at the very edge of the course. Chen Fei couldn’t help but blink, remarking, ”If I had known, I wouldn’t have hit it so hard just now.”

”It’s all the same. With your skills, Brother Fei, beating Xiao Hao is just a matter of time, isn’t it? Easy peasy,” Dong Jianhui chimed in with a laugh, his expression turning completely serious and earnest. He, of course, had unconditional faith in Chen Fei’s abilities. A mere Xiao Hao was nothing to worry about; it would be an easy, casual win.

”It seems you have a lot of confidence in me. Well then, I guess I’ll take my shot,” Chen Fei replied, a small smile playing on his lips as he couldn’t help but shake his head. He really did feel like he was bullying someone; it was almost too cruel.

”Mr. Chen, please begin,” a staff member from the golf course whispered. He was following the two of them, his job being to prevent cheating and ensure fairness. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead as he spoke.