C52 How Can You be so Poor?

Teddy, momentarily dazed, suddenly had an epiphany.

Wait a minute!

He didn't have that many gold coins, so how could Zhang Xing possibly have them?

Zhang Xing must be trying to con him, to swindle his money!

Luckily, he caught on fast, or he would have been duped. If he won, there'd be no prize money, but if he lost, he'd be out a whopping 100,000 gold coins!

"Zhang Xing, I can't believe you're this kind of person. Do you take me for a fool? Show me the hundred thousand gold coins. Show everyone here!" Teddy exclaimed, gesturing to the students around them. "Fellow students, I have serious doubts about Mr. Zhang's integrity!"

"Our friendly wager was supposed to be a small bet of gold coins, but he's escalated it to a hundred thousand out of nowhere."

"What's he up to? This is highway robbery! No, it's worse—it's outright fraud!"

"Hey, Teddy, enough with the grandstanding. What good does riling up the students do? Think your words alone can ruin my reputation?" Zhang Xing retorted.

"Drop the act. What if I actually can produce 100,000 gold coins?"

Zhang Xing cut through Teddy's bluster.

"If you can show 100,000 gold coins, then so can I!" Teddy declared, his resolve steeling. He'd find a way to come up with the money, even if it meant borrowing or selling other assets. He would not be humiliated!

Zhang Xing, puzzled, scratched his head. "You too? What kind of statement is that? Of course, you can!"

He turned to Kai Erduo, "What's Teddy's story?"

"He's the young master of the Holly family from East City, and good friends with Glen. They're loaded!" Kai Erduo murmured to Zhang Xing.

Reassured, Zhang Xing addressed Teddy, "As a noble's son, you should be good for the money, though I wouldn't put it past you to renege on the deal."

"Let's both bring the cash, inspect it on the spot, and draw up a contract. That way, neither of us needs to worry about not getting paid."

After Zhang Xing finished speaking, he began to pull out gold coins from his spatial zone. He laid out ten bags on the ground.

"Each bag contains a thousand gold coins. Here are ten thousand gold coins."

He then produced another ten bags.

"That makes twenty thousand. I'll open the bags so you can see for yourself—they're the real deal."

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Xing opened the twenty hefty bags, revealing the shimmering gold coins inside.

Wow! He's loaded!

All the male students' eyes bulged at the sight.

Wow! Look at all those gold coins!

The female students' eyes sparkled with excitement.

Teddy was gobsmacked. This kid actually brought out gold coins! Next to Zhang Xing, did he even qualify as a Young Master?

No, Zhang Xing was the true Young Master!

"Eh? What are you standing around for? Grab the money already!"

Zhang Xing couldn't help but think how miserly the wealthy could be, hesitating even to show their gold coins.

Sweat began to bead on Teddy's forehead as he reluctantly took out a dozen small bags from his storage ring, placing them on the ground one by one.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xing had already laid out another twenty bags. Seeing Teddy stall, he prodded, "Come on, hurry up! The food's getting cold!"

After much hesitation, Teddy murmured, "This is all the money I have on me."

"What? No way! How can you be so broke?" Zhang Xing exclaimed, staring at Teddy incredulously.

He then scoffed, "Why even challenge me if you're penniless?"

Zhang Xing's disdain was palpable as he retrieved a bag of gold coins, giving Teddy a pitiful glance before shaking his head and repeating his scornful gaze and exaggerated gestures.

Zhang Xing was deliberately taunting him. With his savvy, how could he not recognize Teddy's discomfort?

He had guessed right—Teddy didn't carry that much gold on him.

Now, he'd seize the chance to embarrass Teddy.

These young masters from noble families prided themselves on being more refined than everyone else, always boasting about their civility and grace, while looking down on the poor as filthy and contemptible.

This time, Zhang Xing was eager to see how Teddy would manage to keep up his facade of elegance.