"Back-to-Back Card Flip" is a classic matching elimination game. It first originated from "Pharaoh's Light" during ancient Egypt's Fifth Dynasty around 5300 BC. Back then, it was the second most popular leisure card game among Egyptians.

Renowned archaeologist Albert Bulhouse once discovered many stone cards with repeating patterns inside Khufu's Pyramid. This proved the pharaoh himself often played this game.

The solo version is simple. Shuffle a deck, lay all cards face down on a table. Each round, flip two cards. If they match in rank—like the 7 of Clubs and 7 of Spades—remove them. If not, turn them back face down. Repeat until all cards vanish.

There's also a two-player mode. Each has their own deck. Take turns flipping cards. Whoever clears their cards first wins.

But Li Xinglan added a twist: "Taking turns is boring. If you match a pair, you keep going until you fail."

It's like pool—sink a ball, keep shooting until you miss.

Jiang Xuehan agreed. To save time, they removed the Jokers. The deck split into two halves: one all red suits (Hearts and Diamonds), one all black (Spades and Clubs), each with Aces to Kings. Only two cards per rank existed per player.

For fairness, opponents set each other's cards. Jiang Xuehan shuffled her 26 cards and arranged them face down in a 6-6-6-8 formation. Li Xinglan did the same. After placing them on the small square table, they swapped chairs. Game on.

"Well, you start first," Li Xinglan said confidently.

Jiang Xuehan didn't hesitate. She flipped the two leftmost cards in row one: the 3 of Spades and 9 of Clubs. No match. She turned them back face down.

This was standard play. The game tests memory—you must recall every flipped card to pair them later.

Since Jiang Xuehan failed, it was Li Xinglan's turn.

With a mischievous grin, she flipped the leftmost card of row one and the rightmost of row three. They were the 3 of Hearts and 3 of Diamonds—a match! The cards vanished.

"Huh? How is she so lucky!" Wen Jiaqi muttered from the sidelines, disappointed.

Indeed, matching on the first try had only a 4% chance. Such an unconventional flip seemed pure luck.

Li Xinglan shrugged. "Just lucky! Your turn's skipped. I go again."

"Mm, Lanlan, continue," Jiang Xuehan said calmly, her gentle smile unchanged.

Li Xinglan flipped the second card from the left in row one and the fifth from the left in row four. The 9 of Hearts and 9 of Diamonds—another match!

"Heh heh, luck's unstoppable!" Li Xinglan crowed, hands on hips.

"Seems so... keep flipping, Lanlan."

Fourth turn: 7 of Hearts and 7 of Diamonds. Fifth turn: King of Hearts and King of Diamonds...

Blessed by Lady Luck, she found pairs with every random flip. Soon, only four cards remained before her. One more match would end the game.

Li Xinglan flipped the top-left card: Ace of Hearts. She didn't rush. Her slender finger tapped the backs of the last three. "Heh heh, which is the Ace of Diamonds? One in three chance. Will my luck hold?"

Two suited men with sunglasses watched nearby. Both smirked coldly.

Just then, Jiang Xuehan's phone vibrated in her jeans pocket. She pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and placed it on the table edge. "Ugh, spam again. Claims he's Qin Shi Huang, took the elixir of immortality, and needs funds to revive his Terracotta Army to conquer the world. Donate more, get higher ranks later."

Li Xinglan burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "Giggle! Such a dumb scam—who'd fall for it?"

Jiang Xuehan shrugged helplessly. "Who knows? Fools exist. Your turn, Lanlan."

Li Xinglan snapped back, smiling confidently. She flipped the bottom-right card. "Well, I win—huh? Huh??"

The 2 of Hearts stared back, mocking the Ace of Diamonds—and her overconfidence.

"No! No!" Li Xinglan slammed the card down, disbelief on her face. "Why... why is it..."

"Your dumb luck ran out. Big deal," Wen Jiaqi taunted.

"But... hmm..." Li Xinglan's doubts lingered, but she conceded. "I failed. Your turn."

*Hmph. Only two unknown cards left. I'll win blindfolded in two turns!* she thought.

But the corners of Jiang Xuehan's mouth curled up slightly.

*This spoiled girl cheats and has a rotten temper. Pretty or not, she deserves a little hardship.*