Everyone’s expressions lightened slightly, and they looked at Dan Zihao with disapproval.
"Little Dan, why are you so good at picking fights?"
"It’s not like that, I..."
Dan Zihao was completely dumbfounded, feeling like he had no defense. Every single statement, when taken out of context, was true, yet the reality was entirely different. However, he couldn’t accuse Han Lie of lying, nor could he claim he had no intention of causing trouble...
In the end, all his grievances condensed into one word—
Of course, although it seemed that things had been clarified, everyone still wasn’t showing Han Lie much favor.
Among them, the young handsome guy’s anger was the most intense.
"Impossible! How come I have never heard of you?"
Yo, so you mean to say you’re very familiar with Pan Ge’s family?
Brother Lie glanced over, his question laced with ironic amusement, "Zhou Ci, isn’t it? What does Uncle Pan think of you—don’t you have any clue?"
In reality, Han Lie had no idea what Uncle Pan thought of Zhou Ci or what relations the two families had. He was purely bluffing based on the other party’s tone, using an ambiguous attitude to deceive.
If Panzi really liked Zhou Ci, why would he need Han Lie’s help?
As expected, the experience of bluffing and pulling strings paid off, as Zhou Ci’s face changed color at the question.
The young handsome guy stared intently at Han Lie’s face, angrily questioning, "What do you mean by that?"
Feeling assured, Brother Lie smiled and confidently went all in, "What I mean is... what right do you have to have heard of me?"
They now looked at Han Lie with caution and respect.
As for Zhou Ci, his face shifted from pale to flushed in embarrassment and total confusion.
He couldn’t understand how Han Lie had suddenly appeared and how he could be so closely connected to Pan Ge’s family.
It didn’t make sense, did it?
Liu Yingjun voiced his doubts, "Brother Han, are you really close with Pan Ge’s family?"
Han Lie smiled modestly, casually dropping a fact, "Uncle Pan’s stock account is under my management, though we don’t talk much normally."
Everyone’s expressions changed again, now filled with reverence. Such nonchalant boasting! This guy was terrifying and not to be underestimated.
Some immediately changed their tune, saying, "Brother Lie’s skills are indeed amazing; he’s making our school proud!"
Another added flattery more subtly, "Judging by Han Young Master’s age, it must be a family tradition, right?"
With composure, Han Lie replied, "Sort of from a financial background, dealing with money more often than not."
Yeah, that’s right. My mom works at the supermarket checkout; she indeed deals with money every day.
The group’s enthusiasm surged even higher. Some guessed he might be a bank leader, others from a fund company... ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝
But of course, nobody dared guess he was talking about a supermarket checkout.
However, those who had shifted to a friendlier attitude were mostly people without much interest in Pan Ge or whose interest wasn’t deep. The rest, meanwhile, became even more wary of Han Lie.
Previously, their dislike was quite obvious, but now it was hidden deeper.
Han Lie thought it was pretty good. He hadn’t planned to make everyone like him. As long as he suppressed their restless urges and prevented them from resorting to violent tactics like ganging up on him, that would be fine. From the looks of it, his performance had been quite successful.
Liu Yingjun warmly invited, "Come on, Han Young Master, let’s talk and play! You know how to play Three-card Brag, right?"
Before he was Brother Han, now he has become Han Young Master. Who said Brother Jun was foolish with lots of money?
Han Lie decisively declined, "You guys play. All my cash is in the stock market; I’m just here to watch the fun."
If someone else had said this, they would definitely be criticized. But coming from Han Lie, even Dan Zihao and Zhou Ci, who hated him the most, didn’t dare call him a "poor bastard" or a "pretender."
Who would dare look down on someone who could manage Uncle Pan’s stock portfolio and was a national competition weekly champion?
Though envious and resentful, bringing up money would just be foolish.
Sitting across from Zhou Ci, a chubby guy with a beefy face complained self-deprecatingly, "Look at Young Master Lie. I’ve never earned a penny on my own... Young Master Lie, let’s have a good talk some time. Judys, I’ll arrange it!"
Judys? What kind of place is that? Han Lie had never heard the name in either of his lives and felt the chubby guy’s laugh didn’t bode well, making him instantly wary.
"Hey, keep that to a private chat!" someone interjected, and the group erupted.
Everyone else chimed in with teasing remarks. "Watch your kidneys!" "The new Japanese girl is incredible!" "Heard you can get five centimeters in with number 999!" Such strange comments led to a fresh burst of laughter, and the atmosphere became very lively.
Han Lie joined in with a joke and quickly blended in.
Finding an opening and fitting in—something all men can do.
Han Lie snagged a seat and watched them play a few hands, basically getting a good sense of everyone’s character.
Dan Zihao looked down on others from his high horse, was used to sizing people up from the corner of his eye, and was easily provoked at the poker table.
Zhou Ci was cunning and slippery, but his current shrewdness lacked depth, making his intentions too obvious, and his slipperiness was unsettling.
Liu Yingjun was truly reckless. He treated money like it was nothing, played blind in three out of five hands, boldly took on those who had seen their cards, and dared to call a bet even with just a pair.
The chubby guy named Wang Hong was very cautious; his playing style didn’t match his outwardly bold demeanor.
Another person was playing very relaxedly. He didn’t talk much, was always smiling, and didn’t care about winning or losing, leaving a very strong impression on Han Lie.
His name was Fang Tongzhi.
One could vaguely sense that everyone respected this Brother Fang.
Han Lie realized that although the school was shabby, it wasn’t devoid of remarkable people; there just weren’t many of them.
Overall, the card game was very normal.