They became stronger through blind dates, and all their wishes came true.

Chapter 18 The Gambler's Mother

The large gold chain was interrupted by Zhou Kang, and his face instantly darkened.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Trying to act all high and mighty?"

He looked Zhou Kang up and down, his eyes filled with hostility.

"Do you even know who we are? How dare you ruin our plans?"

The people around him echoed his words, their excess fat jiggling with each movement.

"I'm her boyfriend, can't you tell?" Zhou Kang glanced at them and gently patted Tian Tian's shoulder.

"Isn't it Tian Tian?" Zhou Kang pulled Tian Tian closer to him.

Sweetie then looked up at Zhou Kang, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "It's you! From yesterday..."

Zhou Kang gave Tian Tian a look.

Sweetie immediately understood: "Brother Kang, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you for so long."

"As for who you are, I don't know, but I'm sure the police do."

Zhou Kang took out his phone, tapped three times, and turned to the large gold chain: "Want me to ask for you?"

The man with the large gold chain's expression changed; a crowd had already gathered around. Some people had even taken out their phones to take pictures.

Seeing that things were not going well, Big Gold Chain glared fiercely at Zhou Kang and left with the other men, cursing and swearing.

"I'm sorry, it was just a moment of panic..." Zhou Kang let go of her hand, looking at Tian Tian's still slightly trembling shoulders, and felt a little bad.

She nodded sweetly, but was still trembling. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.

After a long while, she finally looked up, her eyes slightly red: "Thank you, Brother Zhou Kang. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do..."

"Don't rush to thank me."

Zhou Kang pointed to his seat not far away: "Want to sit down and rest for a bit?"

Sweetie hesitated for a moment, then shook her head: "No need, I don't want to bother you..."

"Why be so polite at a time like this?" Zhou Kang didn't give her a chance to refuse and pulled her to a seat. "Besides, it's not very interesting for me to eat alone. You can keep me company while I eat."

"Why isn't there a live stream today?" Zhou Kang asked casually.

Then, while waving to the waiter, she said, "Two more beef skewers, and a bottle of orange juice. And where's my lamb leg? Isn't it ready yet?"

"The lamb leg is ready, it'll be served to you right away." The boss responded, and soon the waiter brought over the sizzling, oily roasted lamb leg, half-cooked beef skewers, and orange juice.

"...I'm not in the mood." Sweetie sat at the table with her head down, looking somewhat restrained, her hands on her knees, showing no intention of making a move.

"I've heard that eating meat can relieve stress." Zhou Kang pushed the food towards her.

"I don't know if it's true or not, but eating delicious food always makes people feel better."

Seeing that she still didn't make a move, Zhou Kang simply tore off a piece of lamb leg and held it to her mouth like he was coaxing a younger sister.

"Here, try this."

This slightly intimate gesture startled Tian Tian, ​​and she hesitated for a moment.

But seeing the smile on Zhou Kang's face, she still opened her mouth and accepted it.

The tender, fragrant, and steaming hot mutton whetted her appetite, and she perked up, swallowing the mutton in just a few bites.

Then she picked up a chicken wing in one hand and a piece of lamb in the other, occasionally taking a big gulp of orange juice.

The way they eat is like they're trying to turn their sadness into a craving for food.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you," Zhou Kang said with a smile.

Sweetie smiled shyly, but still ate very quickly.

Suddenly, she started coughing violently, her whole face turning bright red.

She choked.

"I told you to eat slowly, look at you."

Zhou Kang quickly got up, walked behind her and gently patted her back. He reached for the water, only to find that she had already drunk all the orange juice.

Sweetie choked and felt uncomfortable, so she reached out and grabbed the half-full glass of draft beer that Zhou Kang still had left and drank it down.

"Wait, what's that...?"

"Gulp, gulp..."

Sweetie drank half a cup in one go before she recovered.

She was panting heavily, her face flushed red, whether from choking or from being overwhelmed by the smell, it was hard to tell.

She put the cup down and then realized she had taken the wrong one.

"I'm sorry, Brother Zhou Kang, I was in such a hurry just now and didn't notice..." Tian Tian said somewhat embarrassedly.

"It's okay. As long as you don't mind that I drank it before."

Zhou Kang sat back down and found her rosy cheeks rather cute.

After what just happened, Tian Tian ate much slower this time.

After eating for a while, Zhou Kang noticed that although Tian Tian was eating, she was obviously distracted.

She would often space out, her eyes vacant, chewing something but seemingly lost in thought.

Zhou Kang didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

"Brother Zhou Kang, could... could you order me a draft beer?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of pleading.

Zhou Kang glanced at her face, which was as red as an apple, paused for two seconds, and then beckoned to the waiter: "A draft beer, please."

The draft beer was served quickly.

Zhou Kang poured most of the cup into his own cup, leaving only a little for her.

Sweetie picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The alcohol made her face even redder, but it also emboldened her.

She stared at the empty glass in her hand, remained silent for a long while, and then suddenly spoke:

"Brother Zhou Kang, I... can I talk to you?"

Zhou Kang nodded, signaling her to continue.

"I was originally admitted to a university of political science and law, and I wanted to become a lawyer. That was my dream since I was a child."

"But..." Tears began to fall from her eyes. "But my mom gambles and owes a lot of money. She ran to the school gate and begged me, saying that if I didn't help her pay off her debts, those people would beat her to death."

"I couldn't stand the pointing and whispering of my classmates, and I couldn't stand her making a scene at the school gate every day, so I... I chose to drop out of school."

Zhou Kang listened quietly without interrupting her.

"I spent the better part of half a year working and doing live streams to earn money." Sweetie's voice grew softer and more subdued. "I finally paid off all the money she owed."

"I was planning to go back to school after paying off the debt. But... but she gambled again, and this time she owes three million!"

"I've been diligently studying law on my own. I've always wanted to fulfill my dream! But why did she do this to me?!"

Zhou Kang frowned. Three million was no small sum.

Is this definitely her biological mother?

Not an enemy?

This is really bad for kids!

A bright future for a child who could have been admitted to a university of political science and law was ruined by her gambling mother!

Sweetie wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to stop herself from panting.

"Sometimes I can earn 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a month from live streaming if I'm lucky, and sometimes I can't even earn 2,000 or 3,000 yuan. Three million... I really don't know when I'll be able to pay it back."

"Today, she told me that if I sleep with the casino owner, he'll forgive her gambling debts..."

She shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. "But I don't want to! I really don't want to!"

"She's my mother! She's my only family in this world! But she... she treats me like this!"

"I'd rather spend my whole life paying off debts than sell my virginity like a commodity!"

Her voice grew louder and louder, and her emotions became increasingly agitated:

"But she wouldn't listen! She said I was unfilial, selfish, and that I only cared about myself and didn't care about her life or death!"

"She said if I didn't agree, those people would beat her to death..."

At this point, Sweetie completely broke down.

She lay on the table, her shoulders trembling violently.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, her eyes red and swollen, her voice hoarse.

"Brother Zhou Kang, I've always felt that a girl's first time is very precious and should be given to someone she can entrust her life to."

"But now, before I've even found the person I can entrust my life to, I'm about to become dirty..."