Chapter 52: Chess
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After the exercise, Wan Hai took out his cherished wooden chessboard and looked at Wan Feng and Min Nan. “Who wants to play a few rounds of chess with me?”
Wan Feng quickly waved his hand. “No, no, I’ve never beaten you. I don’t want to embarrass myself with Sister Lingling here.”
“Haha, no spirit for a challenge at all.” Wan Hai teased Wan Feng, then turned to Min Nan. “How about you?”
Min Nan’s gaze flicked toward Ye Ling. Seeing her keen interest in Wan Hail s chessboard, he nodded. “Sure, let’s play a couple of games.”
Wan Hai set up the chessboard, and the two sat on opposite sides. Wan Hai made the first move.
When playing chess, Wan Hai was very immersed. He would always place a
piece after careful consideration. Sometimes, he would frown, and sometimes,
he would show a frustrated expression when he made the wrong move.
On the other hand, Min Nan’s expression did not change much. No one could tell what he was thinking. At the same time, Min Nan’s chess speed was also relatively fast. He usually did not think for too long, and his movements were very casual. He was not as serious as Wan Hai. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡．𝙘𝙤𝙢
Their skill levels appeared to be evenly matched, as they played for a long time without a clear winner.
Wan Feng was already impatient and ran to the bedroom for some unknown reason. Wan Xue had just returned from playing outside and was squatting beside Ye Ling to watch her two brothers play chess.
A few minutes later, Wan Hai rested his hands on his knees and chuckled.
“You’ve lost.”
Min Nan nodded, seemingly unperturbed by the loss. “You’ve improved a lot since last year. ”
Wan Hai smiled and shook his head. With a subtle meaning in his words, he remarked, “Because your mind isn’t calm, chess requires concentration.”
Min Nan understood the implication of Wan Hai’s words. During the game, he had indeed been less focused and hadn’t put much thought into his moves, as his attention was often drawn to discreetly glancing at Ye Ling.
watched both chessboards intently, her adorable expression revealing
her contemplation. Min Nan’s heart tingled, as though something was on the verge of emerging.
Wan Hai turned his gaze to Ye Ling and suggested, “Although he lost this round, he’s better than me. I see you’re interested in chess too. Why not play a game against Min Nan?”
Ye Ling hesitated for a moment, not expecting to be mentioned. She glanced at Min Nan, who was also looking at her.
Quickly, she shook her head. “No, my skills are lacking! I’m certain I’ll lose!”
Wan Hai chuckled and continued, “Why are you like Wan Feng? If a chess player feels inferior to their opponent and refrains from playing, how will they ever become skilled? In my opinion, losing is where the interest lies. It fuels determination and hidden motivation, a desire to overcome the person who defeated you.”
Ye Ling acknowledged the truth in Wan Hai’s words. Nonetheless, she truly didn’t want to play chess with Min Nan. The main reason was that Min Nan’s presence during chess felt overwhelmingly intense. Despite his casual appearance, his aura diminished the surrounding atmosphere.
She felt that if she were to sit across from Min Nan, she might want to escape before even beginning the game. She admitted, in matters of chess, she might be more like Wan Feng.
Seeing Ye Ling’s reluctance, Wan Hai couldn’t help but smile, his eyes holding a teasing glint as if saying, “See, she doesn’t even want to play with you.”
“Then, how about playing against Wan Xue? He knows chess too, but he’s fond of retracting moves and playing tricks, so I don’t enjoy playing with him. If you can accept that, the two of you can have a few rounds.” Wan Hai turned to Ye Ling and suggested.
Upon hearing Wan Hai’s proposal, Wan Xue’s face flushed. “I don’t play tricks! Don’t slander me!” That annoying Second Brother, he doesn’t even spare me any dignity in front of Sister Lingling!
Wan Hai ignored Wan Xue’s outburst and reassured Ye Ling, “Don’t worry, Wan Xue’s skills are subpar. Beating him shouldn’t pose a challenge for you. No pressure.”
Wan Xue was nearly infuriated. He roared angrily, “Wan Hai!”
Seeing his younger brother’s reaction, Wan Hai chuckled, raising his hand disarmingly. “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more.”
With that settled, the four of them swapped positions. Ye Ling and Wan Xue occupied opposite sides of the chessboard, while Min Nan and Wan Hai watched from the sidelines.
Ye Ling and Wan Xue began their chess match.
Ye Ling was well aware of her abilities and didn’t underestimate Wan Xue. She pondered each move carefully.
Wan Xue had the weakest chess skills in the family. Even Sun Li, who rarely played chess, could defeat him. Consequently, whenever anyone played chess against Wan Xue, it was often accompanied by snacking on sunflower seeds, sipping tea, chatting, and even dozing off. Very few treated him as a serious
“opponent”..
