CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95: VICTORIA SHINES AT MAHJONG, DOMINATING ALL THREE SIDES

The game begins.

Victoria Sinclair is nervous, her palms slick with sweat.

Eugene Vaughn gently and patiently says, "Each time, take four tiles, taking turns until you have 13 tiles."

"Okay." Victoria follows their steps shyly while picking the tiles.

Eugene helps her arrange the mahjong tiles, his cheek so close to hers to avoid being overheard, whispering softly, "There are four categories: these are ’bamboo’, these are ’characters’, these are ’dots’, and then there are ’honor’ tiles."

Grandma Vaughn raises an eyebrow, watching Victoria and Eugene opposite her, the scene particularly intimate. She struggles to hide her smile, happily playing the first tile: "The blank tile."

Second Aunt is about to draw a tile when Eugene stops her, "Wait."

Victoria looks at Eugene, "What’s up?"

Eugene points to a pair of blank tiles, "If you have two, you can ’pong’; if you have three, you can ’kong’, take her tile back, and then discard an useless one."

Victoria obediently picks up the blank tile, discarding a south tile.

Eugene leans in again, whispering the rules to her.

After everyone has drawn, it’s Victoria’s turn again, and she draws another blank tile.

Eugene looks at her and can’t help but laugh.

Victoria looks at the three blank tiles in front of her, then at Eugene’s extraordinarily indulgent smile, "Another one, what should I do now?"

"That’s called a ’kong’." Eugene guides her hand to lightly place the blank tile in front, then takes her hand to the back to draw a tile, whispering the rules of ’kong’ tiles.

Victoria draws a nine-dot tile and looks at the three identical nine-dot tiles ahead of her, bewildered.

Eugene can’t help but smile softly, "You really have good luck."

Grandma Vaughn is curious, "What good tile did you draw to make you so happy?"

Victoria quickly picks up on the rules from Eugene’s explanations, "Four identical tiles, is this a ’kong’?"

Grandma Vaughn is excited, "That’s a hidden ’kong’, cover the tiles quickly, then draw another one."

Victoria obediently covers the four tiles, draws another tile, arranges them, discards an unrelated nine-bamboo tile.

Mrs. Miller draws a tile, her tone sour, "Can you believe it? Is there really a newbie protection period, having such good luck? Two ’kongs’ right away."

Victoria gets the hang of it quickly.

Because it’s Guangdong mahjong, you can only win by self-draw.

On the sixth draw, Victoria stacks her tiles, leans back, almost touching Eugene’s face, softly asks, "Eugene, did I win?"

Eugene gently rubs the back of her head, "Yes, you won, you can show everyone."

Victoria happily turns over her tiles.

Second Aunt and Mrs. Miller’s faces darken instantly, Grandma Vaughn beams, immediately opens the drawer, hands chips to Victoria.

"Thank you, Grandma." Victoria happily accepts.

Second Aunt and Mrs. Miller also hand over chips.

Starting from the second round, even though Victoria still doesn’t quite know how to calculate chips, she has fully grasped the mahjong rules.

She seems to be on a roll, playing smoothly, winning three games in a row.

She enjoys playing, and Eugene enjoys watching even more.

Mrs. Miller and Second Aunt’s expressions become increasingly unpleasant.

Second Aunt forces a smile as she reminds, "As the younger generation, should you be more tactful when playing cards with elders?"

Victoria doesn’t quite understand her meaning, leans back towards Eugene, softly mutters, "What does Second Aunt mean?"

Eugene whispers in her ear, "Just ignore her, play the way you want to."

"Oh." Victoria feels his warm breath tickle her ear, making her face a little hot.

She has a good memory and excels at math and science; complex problems don’t trouble her, let alone simple rules relying on probability and luck in mahjong, she finds it particularly easy.

Two hours later.

Grandma has won two rounds, Second Aunt and Mrs. Miller each won one, all other games won by Victoria.

Eugene’s eyes are intense, his voice proud and adoring, "Little one, you’re amazing."

At this moment, the door opens, and Vivian Miller and Jenny Vaughn walk in.

"So you’re playing mahjong here?" Vivian walks over with a bright smile.

Mrs. Miller quickly calls Vivian over, "Daughter, come help your mom win a few rounds, I’ve been losing all night!"

"Let me see." Vivian replaces Mrs. Miller’s chair, sits down, glancing happily at Eugene beside her.

Jenny walks over to Grandma, "Grandma, did you win?"

Grandma happily says, "No wins, it’s all your sister-in-law winning."

Jenny scowls at Victoria, mutters softly, "So inconsiderate, even winning against Grandma?"

Grandma Vaughn’s face darkens immediately, "What are you talking about? I don’t want to play with you guys always intentionally letting me win, your sister-in-law is the most genuine, playing seriously, I don’t mind losing."

Jenny pouts, sulks over to sit beside Second Aunt, "Mom, did we win?"

Second Aunt replies, "We’ve been losing the whole time!"

Victoria feels justified in winning after hearing Grandma say that.

Vivian glances at Victoria and Eugene from the corner of her eye.

They’re almost sticking together, looking nothing like a couple close to divorce.

Even with Vivian joining, Victoria’s luck remains overwhelmingly good.

"Won again." Victoria happily reveals her hand.

Eugene tenderly pats her on the back of her head, "Who can beat you?"

Victoria smiles sweetly at him, "Mr. Vaughn, help me gather the chips."

"Your wish is my command." Eugene whispers, reaching to collect the chips for her.

Vivian’s eyes darken, but she forces a smile, slaps Eugene’s shoulder, deliberately shifts over to peek into their drawer, "Let me see, how much did you win?"

Eugene gently pushes her hand away, "Won from three families."

Vivian sense Eugene deliberately keeping distance, her smile gradually stiffens.

Then, Eugene shifts his position, sitting on Victoria’s other side, further away from Vivian.

Victoria doesn’t notice anything unusual.

Vivian lets out a cold snort, tears welling up in her eyes, just as she’s about to question Eugene’s attitude, thankfully Grandma Vaughn, with sharp eyes, speaks up a second before she does.

"Oh dear, my old bones are tired, let’s call it a night, settle the score."

"Alright." Second Aunt pulls out the remaining chips, irritably says, "It’s been nothing but Victoria winning, makes it no fun."

Vivian grumbles, "I just sat down, why stop now?"

"You young folks carry on, I’m really tired." Grandma Vaughn urges, "Grandson, where’s the QR code?"

Eugene takes Victoria’s phone from her pocket, holds her finger to unlock it.

Victoria puzzled, "Why using my phone?"

Eugene opens the payment QR code, places it in the middle of the table, "Helping you collect money."

Victoria realizes, "Isn’t this supposed to be just casual fun? How did it turn into gambling?"

She always thought it was just a time-killing game, that’s why she dared to win so recklessly.

She never imagined it was gambling.

Mrs. Miller snorts, "We always play mahjong for money."

Eugene pats her back soothingly, "It’s okay, they’re all wealthy ladies."