新华社-💝TG@fnseo💛

"滴答"声punctuatingthequietoffice,theairwasthickwiththetensionofanunseenstorm.Inthecorneroftheconferenceroom,agroupofyoungwomengatheredaroundaminipokertable,theirlaughterandtalkingsoundsmuffledbehindthethickglassesandcardcases.

"首长,这次你运气真好。"ZhangHuipassedastackofcardstoherneighbor,noddingathercomrade.Hersharpeyesflickedthroughthecards,searchingfortheAceofspades.Shehadheardrumorsthatthecompany'snewdirector,Mr.Li,hadanencyclopedicknowledgeofpoker,buthadneverseenitinaction.

Thesoundofshuffledcardswasalmostimperceptible,butthetensionintheroomwaspalpable.Mr.Liplacedhiscardsfacedownonthetable,asmallbetonthetable.Hisfacewasimpassive,buthiseyes,assharpasever,lockedontothecardsinhishand.

Theotherswatchedwarily,wonderingwhatLihad.Theyhadheardthathehadbeatenthetoptwoplayersintheofficeinthelastmonth,butnoonehadseenithappen.

"Let'sdeal,"Lisaid,hisvoicesteadybutcommanding.Hepulledoutadeckofcardsanddealteachwomanfivecards,placingthemfacedowninfrontofthem.

Theroomfellsilentagain.Thecardstumbledontothetable,andthewomen'sexpressionsofanticipationwereevidentintheirbodylanguage.Theyhadalllosttheirbets,exceptforZhangHui,whohadafaintsmileonherface.

Asthecardswererevealed,thetensionbegantoriseagain.Li'shandwasaclearpairofAces,andheplayedthemwithacalmconfidence.Theothers,however,struggledtomatchhisbet.

Justasthegameseemedtobeinitsprime,Li'shandwasinterruptedbyasuddeninterruption.Oneoftheplayersaccidentallyspilledacard,andtheroomwasfilledwiththesoundofcardsbeingshuffledandBitsofconversation.

"Oops,"saidLi,quicklycoveringthespilledcardwithhishand."Let'scontinue,"hesaid,continuingtoplay.Hiscalmdemeanorreassuredeveryone,andthegameproceededasusual.

Buttheincidentmadetheothersmorealert,andthegamesoonbecamemorecompetitive.ZhangHui,whohadbeensittingoutofthehand,raisedherhandtentatively.Lilookedathercardandnodded.Sheplacedhercardsfacedown,andthegamecontinued.

Intheend,Licameoutontop,andtheotherswerelefttowonderhowhehaddoneit.Butwhenherevealedhiscards,theywereapairofAcesagain,andheplayedthemwiththesameconfidenceasbefore.

Asthegameended,thewomenlefttheoffice,theirvoicesstillcarryingthememoryofthatpokernight.Theyhadspenttheeveningnotjustplayingcards,butalsolaughing,arguing,andbondingovertheirsharedloveofthissmallgameofchance.

Inthequietofthenight,itwasclearthatthisgamehadbroughtthemcloser,notjustthroughthecards,butthroughthestoriesandmemoriesthathadbeenexchanged.Andinthatmoment,itwasclearthatevenintheworldofbusinessandpolitics,thepowerofagoodstorywasstillalive.

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