One Against Five

"Let Lianhu go first," Xia Li said with a faint smile, glancing at Zhao Rui.

Zhao Rui nodded. "Sure, Brother Qiao can start."

Qiao Lianhu acknowledged with a neutral expression, looking at Su Yang and the others. "Who's first?"

Liu Bo placed the drinks on the table with a grin. "I'll go. Drinking game or fifteen-twenty, your pick."

"Dice," Qiao Lianhu replied.

"Fine."

Liu Bo and Qiao Lianhu each picked up a dice cup and started shaking.

After a moment, Liu Bo stopped and checked his dice: two ones, a three, a five, and a six.

"Three fours," Liu Bo called first.

Qiao Lianhu glanced at his own dice and said flatly, "Four fives."

Liu Bo thought for a second. "Add one."

"Open," Qiao Lianhu immediately flipped his cup.

Everyone looked—inside was just a single five.

"Damn it!" Liu Bo cursed under his breath.

"Next," Qiao Lianhu turned to the others.

Meng Wenzhou patted Liu Bo’s shoulder. "My turn. Loser picks the game—fifteen-twenty."

"Sure."

The two raised their hands and started calling.

Meng Wenzhou shouted "twenty," gesturing ten with his fingers.

Qiao Lianhu called "fifteen," showing five—losing instantly.

Zhao Rui chuckled from the side. "Meng, don’t go easy on us."

Meng Wenzhou smirked. "No rush. We’ve got two more, plus a wildcard."

"Alright, keep going."

Next was Su Yang. He looked at Qiao Lianhu and said, "Fifteen-twenty for me too."

Qiao Lianhu nodded. After three rounds, Su Yang also lost.

So far, Qiao Lianhu had won three straight, riding high on momentum.

Xia Li laughed. "Two drinks for the dragon’s tail."

Su Yang grinned. "Deal."

Finally, it was Pan Ning’s turn. She picked up a dice cup and said coolly, "Dice."

"Fine," Qiao Lianhu remained expressionless.

They gave the cups a casual shake.

Pan Ning peeked at her dice—Su Yang barely caught the numbers before she covered them and called, "Three threes."

Qiao Lianhu thought for a second. "Four fives."

"Open. Single color."

Pan Ning flipped her cup with a finger. Qiao Lianhu glanced up. "I lose. Next."

Zhao Rui smiled at Pan Ning. "Miss Pan’s got skills."

"I’ll go," he said, taking Qiao Lianhu’s cup for a shake.

Pan Ning gave hers a light swirl. "Loser calls first."

Zhao Rui raised a brow. "Three ones."

"Open. No ones." Pan Ning revealed her dice again.

The group looked—Pan Ning had none, while Zhao Rui only had two.

"Holy shit! Pan, you’re insane!" Liu Bo cheered.

Su Yang gave a thumbs-up. "Only you could pull off a one-vs-five sweep."

Zhao Rui frowned. He’d expected at least one one, but got none.

He forced a smile. "Well played." Passing the cup to Xia Li.

Xia Li studied Pan Ning, then grinned. "You’re too good at dice. I’ll play fifteen-twenty instead."

"Your call." Pan Ning set the dice down and raised her hands.

Two rounds later, Xia Li lost too.

Liu Bo pumped his fist. "Pan’s unstoppable! Two left!"

Only Gu Qingqing and Kong Fang remained. Gu Qingqing seemed like an airhead, clearly inexperienced.

Kong Fang was calm, unreadable.

Pan Ning tilted her head. "Who’s next?"

"I’ll try," Gu Qingqing took the cup with a smile.

Xia Li warned, "Qingqing, she’s a pro. Maybe pick something else?"

"It’s fine, I don’t know other games anyway."

"Guess we’re drinking two more then," Zhao Rui sighed playfully. "Don’t jinx us, Xia Li. Even if we lose, it’s just drinks. I’m thirsty anyway."

Xia Li smirked but stayed quiet.

Pan Ning and Gu Qingqing shook their cups.

Pan Ning checked hers—Su Yang still couldn’t see the numbers before she covered it.

Gu Qingqing called, "Three ones."

Pan Ning countered, "Four ones."

"That many?" Gu Qingqing hesitated, then flipped her cup. "Open. I’ve only got one."

Pan Ning smiled, revealing hers. "Lucky me—three. One more and I’d have lost."

Gu Qingqing gaped, then laughed. "Damn, you’re good!"

Tang Ziyun and the others clapped. "Pan’s on fire! One more win and they’re done!"

Last was Kong Fang. "Dice for me too."

"Go ahead."

After shaking, Kong Fang called first. "Three twos."

"Three threes," Pan Ning replied.

"Four fours."

"Four fives."

Kong Fang paused. "Five fives."

Pan Ning didn’t hesitate. "Add one."

"Six? Sure?"

"Sure."

Kong Fang realized he was trapped—opening or not, he’d lose.

He gambled. "Seven fives!"

Pan Ning’s eyes gleamed. "Open. I’ve got two."

Kong Fang sighed at Zhao Rui. "Sorry, boss."

"No big deal. Bottoms up, everyone."

The girls only realized Pan Ning had won when the guys raised their glasses, erupting in cheers. "Pan’s the queen!!"

Meng Wenzhou thought, Playing dice against Pan Ning? I’ve barely seen her lose.

Liu Bo grinned. "Wish you smoked—I’d light one for you right now!"

Pan Ning rolled her eyes and went back to her phone.

The five opponents downed two beers each. The mugs here were larger than most bars—about 350ml per pour. With standard 500ml bottles, one bottle barely filled a mug.

Two rounds in, only Gu Qingqing winced—the others showed no reaction.

Zhao Rui set his mug down. "Impressive, but it’s just the beginning. Let’s keep going."