Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

He Damin was stunned for a moment, almost choking on his tea. "What am I supposed to do there? Join in the fun?"

"Aren't you going to check it out?" Chen Xueru blinked, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Didn't you used to love watching those gambling movies? Like 'The King of Gamblers vs. the King of Gamblers,' 'God of Gamblers,' 'Saint of Gamblers,' you watched them with great relish. Now there's a live-action version, don't you want to go see it?"

He Damin looked at her, somewhat amused and exasperated. "How did you know I like watching gambling movies?" He himself had almost forgotten about it.

Chen Xueru smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "You said it in your dream. Once you were talking in your sleep in the middle of the night, shouting 'Straight Flush! I won!'"

He Damin blushed slightly, shook his head, and refused to argue with her. He stood up and walked to the French windows in the living room. Outside, the entire Hong Kong skyline stretched out before him. Victoria Harbour shimmered in the distance, its turquoise waters sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight. Several massive cargo ships, billowing black smoke, slowly sailed out of the harbor, emitting low whistles. He recalled his past life, those years when he lived alone in a dark, damp rented room. Summers were unbearably hot, without air conditioning, and he passed the time with an old television. He would stay up late, wrapped in a blanket, watching "God of Gamblers," "All for the Winner," and "God of Gamblers II," his blood boiling with excitement, fantasizing that he too could be like the protagonists, dominating the world with his extraordinary skills. Back then, he thought those were just fictional movies, fairy tales for adults. Now he realized that they were more than just movies. This world was far more wondrous than he had imagined.

"Brother Damin," Chen Xueru walked to his side, gently leaning on his arm, her body emitting a faint fragrance, "Are you really not going? It would be nice to go to Macau for a trip, we haven't gone out to play in a long time."

"I'm not going." He Damin turned around, looking at his wife's gentle face, a warmth spreading through him. "I'm not short of money, and I have no interest in gambling. Besides, those so-called gambling masters are just show-offs in my eyes." He smiled confidently. With his current cultivation level, a single sweep of his divine sense would reveal exactly what cards the other player held and what tricks were on the table. What's the point if there's no suspense at all?

"Aren't you afraid... what if someone beats you?" Chen Xueru teased him on purpose.

He Damin found it amusing: "Win against me? I don't even gamble."

"Didn't you buy into the gambling industry before? And don't you still have shares in the Hong Kong Jockey Club?" Chen Xueru reminded him.

He Damin then remembered that he had indeed dabbled in gambling in his younger days, and had even invested some money in the Hong Kong Jockey Club. But later he realized that it was harmful and gradually withdrew. "That's all in the past. I eventually quit. Gambling is something you can't get involved in. So many families have been ruined and destroyed because of it. I don't want to make that kind of dirty money."

Hearing him say that, Chen Xueru stopped trying to persuade him and simply leaned silently on his shoulder, feeling the warmth and comfort emanating from him. Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect, casting a golden glow on the floor, warm and comforting. The old pomegranate tree in the yard was lush and leafy, laden with bright red pomegranates, like little lanterns, so heavy they bent the branches. The air was filled with the scent of sunshine and flowers; a scene of peaceful tranquility.

In the afternoon, He Damin was reviewing documents in his study. The mahogany desk was polished to a gleaming shine, and a brass lamp cast a soft glow on it. The documents concerned a new investment project of the He Group in Southeast Asia; the densely packed numbers and clauses were a bit overwhelming. He rubbed his temples, picked up the coffee on the table, and took a sip. The coffee was freshly ground, with a rich, roasted aroma and a slightly bitter aftertaste.

"Knock knock knock." A knocking sound rang out on the door.

"Come in."

John pushed open the door and came in, carrying a thick stack of documents. He was dressed in a suit and tie, his hair neatly combed, and he looked shrewd and capable. He was He Damin's right-hand man, having worked for him for over a decade, rising from a lowly secretary to the vice president of the He Group, and was deeply trusted by He Damin.

"Mr. He," John said respectfully, placing the documents on the table, "we just received a call from Macau. The organizers of the Gambling King Competition would like to formally invite you to attend as a special guest."

He Damin didn't even look up, continuing to look at the documents, and uttered two words indifferently: "I'm not going."

John seemed to have expected this, and continued calmly, "They said they could arrange the best viewing spot for you, right next to the main stage, with an excellent view."

"I'm not going." He Damin didn't even lift his eyelids.

John rubbed his hands together and offered another bait: "They also said... they could arrange for you to meet that mysterious God of Gamblers, Ko Chun. Apparently, Ko Chun himself also hopes to have the opportunity to meet you."

Finally, He Damin raised his head, put down his pen, and looked at John with a half-smile: "John, tell me, how much did they give you to make you work so hard as their advocate?"

John felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, scratched his head, and chuckled twice: "You can see right through me. They... they treated me to a meal at the Lisboa Hotel in Macau, and the food was indeed quite good."

"You were bought off with just one meal?" He Damin raised an eyebrow.

"It's not about bribing Mr. He," John quickly explained, his tone becoming serious. "I just feel that you haven't been in a good mood lately, always staying at home, either at the company or practicing your martial arts. Going out for a walk once in a while, changing your environment, might be good for you. Macau isn't far away, so you could go there to clear your head."

He Damin leaned back in his large leather chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table. He gazed at the magnificent crystal chandelier on the ceiling, lost in thought. John had been with him for so many years; he truly understood him better than anyone else. He had indeed been feeling somewhat restless lately, probably due to a bottleneck in his cultivation; he felt something was missing.

"John," He Damin suddenly spoke, his voice calm, "do you know why I don't go into the gambling business?"

John paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and replied, "Because you don't lack money? And you think gambling is bad?"

"It's not just because I'm not short of money, and it's not just because I feel bad." He Damin stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside. The afternoon sun slanted in, casting a long shadow of him. "It's because I've seen too many families ruined by gambling. When I was young, I was involved in the underworld. I've seen people commit suicide by jumping off buildings after losing all their wealth; I've seen people have their limbs cut off by loan sharks because they couldn't pay their gambling debts; I've seen perfectly good families torn apart, with wives and children left to wander the streets, all because the men were addicted to gambling. I don't want to see that kind of tragedy again. So, I don't earn that kind of money, and I don't want to get involved with those people."

John fell silent. He had followed He Damin for so long and knew he was speaking from the heart. Although Mr. He was ruthless, he was a man who valued old friendships and had principles at heart.

"Mr. He, you are a good man," John said sincerely.

He Damin laughed and shook his head: "I'm not a good person. I just don't want to be a bad person. Being a good person is too tiring."

John laughed too. "So... are you going or not?"

He Damin was silent for a few seconds, then said firmly, "I'm not going. Please send a message back for me. Just say I'm not feeling well lately and need to rest, so I can't attend."

"Understood." John nodded, offering no further advice, picked up the documents on the table, and quietly left.

Silence returned to the study. He Damin stood by the window, gazing at the distant sea. The sea breeze caressed his cheeks, carrying a slight chill. He recalled the people he had seen on the news in his past life—those who had lost everything due to gambling, those who had suffered mental breakdowns and committed suicide after losing money, those who had borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates and had their hands and feet chopped off by debt collectors… Scenes flashed through his mind like a movie. He disliked gambling, and he disliked gamblers. In his eyes, those who entrusted their fate to a vague and uncertain luck, and were willing to do anything for it, were both pathetic and hateful.

But... he couldn't help but think of Gao Jin.

That man in the movies, always impeccably dressed in a suit, with slicked-back hair and a chocolate bar in his hand. He wasn't just an ordinary gambler; he was the God of Gamblers. He gambled, seemingly not for the money itself, but to prove his abilities, to reclaim his lost dignity, and to protect those he cared about. He possessed a lonely heroism that inspired awe.

He Damin suddenly felt a strong urge to meet him, to see if this legendary God of Gamblers was truly as calm and collected as he was in the movies, unfazed even when faced with a collapsing mountain.

But he quickly shook his head, suppressing the thought. Some things are better left unseen. Some people are better left unknown. His life was peaceful and happy now; there was no need to get involved in those江湖恩怨 (jianghu grievances). Gao Jin had his own destiny; let him write his own legend.

That evening, He Damin gazed at the stars on the balcony. The spring night breeze carried a slight chill, but it felt pleasantly cool against his skin. The sky was exceptionally clear, and the stars, like diamonds, were densely studded on a deep blue velvet backdrop, twinkling brightly. In the distance, the lights of Hong Kong shone brilliantly, like a luminous dragon winding through the night.

Chen Xueru walked over carrying a bowl of freshly stewed white fungus and lotus seed soup. The bowl was steaming and smelled sweet. "Brother Damin, it's windy at night. Why are you dressed so lightly?" She handed him the bowl and gently draped a light jacket over his shoulders.

He Damin took the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and the warm sugar water slid down his throat. It was sweet but not cloying, with the fragrance of lotus seeds and the soft, glutinous texture of white fungus. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air."

"Brother Damin, you seem to have something on your mind today." Chen Xueru stood next to him, looking up at his profile. The moonlight shone on his face, making him look exceptionally gentle.

He Damin took a sip of the sugar water and shook his head: "No."

"Definitely. I can tell." Chen Xueru knows him well; when he has something on his mind, his eyes become very deep.

He Damin was silent for a while, looking at the stars in the sky, and suddenly asked, "Xue Ru, if one day you find that this world is not the world you originally thought it was, what would you do?"

Chen Xueru paused for a moment, tilted her head and thought for a while, then said very seriously, "Then let's accept it. Anyway, no matter what the world becomes, as long as you're still by my side, the children are still here, and our home is still here, we're not afraid of anything."

Looking at her, He Damin felt a sudden warmth in his heart. He put down his bowl and pulled her tightly into his arms. The person in his arms was soft and carried a familiar fragrance. "You're right," he said, lowering his head to kiss her forehead. "As long as our family is together, no matter what kind of world it is, there's nothing to be afraid of."

He placed the bowl on the railing beside him, held Chen Xueru in his arms, and quietly gazed at the stars. He remembered many years ago, when he had just transmigrated to this era, he was penniless, friendless, and filled with fear and unease. It was Chen Xueru who, like a ray of light, illuminated his life and gave him a home. Now, he had a wife, children, a vast fortune, and unimaginable cultivation. This world might contain memories of his past life, characters from movies, and fictional stories, but what did it matter? His wife was real, his children were real, and his home was real. That was enough.

"Brother Damin," Chen Xueru snuggled against him like a docile kitten, "Are you really not planning to go to Macau?"

"I'm not going," He Damin replied firmly.

"Then...don't you want to meet that God of Gamblers, Ko Chun? Don't you really like watching his movies?" Chen Xueru asked curiously.

"I don't want to." He Damin's tone was very calm.

Why?

He Damin thought for a moment and said softly, "Because if I see him, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist helping him. Helping him deal with Chen Jincheng, helping him be wary of Gao Yi, helping him escape the calamities in those movies. But everyone has their own destiny, and some things are destined to happen. Forcing a change might only make things worse." He didn't want his presence to disrupt someone else's fate.

Hearing him say that, Chen Xueru understood. She didn't ask any more questions, but simply hugged him tighter.

Outside the window, the moon rose higher, like a silver plate, casting a silvery light that illuminated the balcony as if it were daytime. A gentle sea breeze carried the sound of waves crashing against the rocks in the distance. He Damin held Chen Xueru, standing there for a long, long time. In his heart, he couldn't help but think of Gao Jin, that man who was always so lonely in the movies. He didn't know him, but he sincerely hoped he could win, hoped he could be safe, and hoped he could find his own happiness.

"Brother Damin." Chen Xueru's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Um?"

"Do you think that 'God of Gamblers,' Ko Chun, will win in the end?"

He Damin looked at the brightest star in the sky, thought for a moment, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Yes. He will win."

How did you know?

"Because he's the God of Gamblers," He Damin said with certainty. "A true master might have bad luck for a while, but skill doesn't lie. Good will always triumph over evil."

Chen Xueru smiled, buried her face in his chest, and listened to his strong heartbeat.