Just then, a group of teenagers, around seventeen or eighteen, came running over with a basketball and shouted, “Brother Yu, Brother Zhao, wanna play ball?”
“Brother Yu, let’s go. Time to teach these young guns a lesson.” Zhao Liang flexed his arm.
Gu Wan’er had no intention of making a fool of herself—she didn’t even know how to play basketball. “I just ate way too much. You go ahead—it’ll help with the weight loss.”
“Fair enough. Oh, by the way, Brother Yu, your account’s okay, right?” Zhao Liang asked curiously.
“Ugh, got banned for a year.”
Zhao Liang couldn’t help but gloat. “Serves you right for throwing my games. Next time, bring your main account and carry me.”
“Main account?” Gu Wan’er was startled.
“Duh. You were on your alt today. Looks like Boss Gu really drained you dry—even your memory’s going.” With that envious remark, Zhao Liang turned and walked onto the court.
Gu Wan’er was beyond frustrated. She’d apologized and groveled, and he still wouldn’t let it go. And now she found out that was just his alt account—he hadn’t even mentioned he had a main. He’d deliberately let her apologize for nothing. How could anyone be so mean? What a total liar.
She didn’t head home right away. Auntie’s cooking was too good tonight—she’d ended up eating several extra bowls of rice and needed a walk to digest.
Gu Wan’er couldn’t even remember the last time she’d taken a stroll like this. The feeling of relaxation was wonderful—no thinking, no competing. She truly envied this kind of life.
As she walked, she eventually left the neighborhood and came across a park not far away. Every night, people gathered there for square dancing, and kids were rollerblading around too.
Gu Wan’er wandered through the park, glancing around, until she spotted Uncle’s figure under a pavilion. So this is where he came to play chess.
Driven by curiosity, she stood beside Yu Taiduo. He was so focused on the board that he didn’t even notice his “son” had arrived.
“Checkmate! Haha, Old Yu, you’re just not up to par.” The old man across from him looked especially smug, and the onlookers chuckled along.
Yu Taiduo wasn’t pleased. “Old Bai, don’t get cocky. I slipped up just now. Let’s go again.”
The man called Old Bai rubbed his fingers together, and Yu Taiduo pulled out a red bill and handed it over. “Keep it safe for me.”
“Haha, alright, set up the pieces.”
Gu Wan’er noticed that Uncle’s skill level was probably on par with Yun’er’s—that old man was definitely a pro.
Just as Yu Taiduo was about to move his cannon, Gu Wan’er quickly called out, “Dad.”
Yu Taiduo paused, put down the piece, and turned around. “Xiao Duo? What are you doing here?”
“Just out for a walk and ended up here.”
“Oh, go play somewhere else.”
Gu Wan’er thought to herself, If I hadn’t stopped you, you’d have lost again for sure.
“Dad, you should move the knight here,” she said confidently. Back in the day, she’d even won a championship title—even her grandfather couldn’t beat her.
Old Bai, upon hearing what Yu Xiaoduo said, quickly interjected, “No kibitzing during the game.”
Yu Taiduo immediately shot back, “This is my son. What kibitzing? All those people just now were giving advice too. Move the knight!”
Old Bai glanced at Yu Xiaoduo, didn’t think much of it, and continued playing.
“Dad, take his pawn. Move the rook over. Push the soldier forward.” As Gu Wan’er coached him, the onlookers gradually grew more serious—this young man actually had some skill.
When Yu Taiduo finally called checkmate, his opponent’s position completely collapsed. Old Bai looked visibly unhappy.
Yu Taiduo took back the red bill and laughed. “I told you—just keeping it safe for me. Pay up.”
“Your son’s pretty good.” Old Bai looked at Yu Xiaoduo approvingly and handed over another bill.
“Naturally. Just look at whose genes he’s got.”
Gu Wan’er: “…”
“Have your son play a few rounds with me—you’re too weak,” Old Bai said, practically shooing Yu Taiduo away.
Gu Wan’er felt a bit embarrassed and humbly said, “I don’t think I should. I’m actually just average.”
“Xiao Duo, why be afraid of him? Just crush him!”
Uncle was way too fired up—at least the guy was an old man.
As Gu Wan’er sat down across from him, the match began.
She could tell her opponent played a very steady game—at least on par with her grandfather. Definitely not someone to underestimate. One careless move and she’d lose the whole match.
At one point, Gu Wan’er pushed her pawn forward again. Old Bai across from her frowned slightly, but still chose to take her knight. That was exactly what she wanted. She built her whole strategy around advancing the pawns, and the surrounding elderly men gasped in amazement.
“Oh, Old Bai is going to lose!”
“This is the classic ‘lone pawn captures the king’.”
“Old Yu, your son’s got real talent!”
Yu Taiduo immediately launched into full bragging mode, practically praising his son to the heavens. Gu Wan’er felt especially happy—her own father had never praised her like that, not even when she brought home a championship. He always acted like it was just expected.
“So this is what you two were sneaking off to do—came here to play chess.”
A familiar voice sounded beside them. They turned to see Tang Ling standing there with her arms crossed, staring at them.
Old Bai stood up, stretched his back, and said, “I’m heading home now.”
“Hey, you lost—pay up first!” Yu Taiduo called out, but Old Bai sped off and vanished in no time. Yu Taiduo muttered under his breath about that old fox being quick on his feet.
Tang Ling said sternly, “The older one sets a bad example, and the younger one follows along.”
Suddenly, Yu Taiduo straightened his expression. “Xiao Duo, you’re way too disobedient! So young and already playing chess—don’t you know your mom hates chess the most? Honey, don’t be mad—I already gave him a good scolding. Xiao Duo, apologize now.”
Gu Wan’er was completely dumbfounded. Uncle, you traitor! I just helped you out, and this is how you repay me? Sure enough, like father, like son.
Seeing Uncle frantically signaling her with his eyes, Gu Wan’er had no choice but to play along and apologize: “Mom, I was just bored.”
“Let’s go. Home!” Tang Ling said curtly and turned to walk away.
Yu Taiduo let out a long sigh.
“Dad, why does Mom get so upset about chess?” Gu Wan’er asked curiously. That didn’t seem fair.
“It’s because your grandpa loved playing chess. Every time he was supposed to discipline your mom, he’d be playing instead. Over time, she developed a strong dislike for it.”
Then, with a hint of surprise, he added, “Wait, that’s weird. You already knew that—so why are you asking? And besides, you don’t like chess either, just like your mom. Where did you even learn to play so well? Even Old Bai couldn’t beat you.”
Gu Wan’er panicked inwardly. There I go running my mouth again. Curious woman that I am, I’ve messed up.
“I just play a few games online when I’m bored,” she lied. The mighty Yu Xiaoduo didn’t even know how to play chess—finally, she’d found something he wasn’t good at.
Yu Taiduo didn’t suspect anything. He’d never doubted his son’s ability to learn, but that talent always went toward useless things. Not a single serious skill—until now. And the one serious thing he picked up just happened to be the one thing his wife couldn’t stand.
“Alright, let’s head home. Take the heat for your old man, and I’ll make it worth your while.” Yu Taiduo grinned.
Gu Wan’er: “…”
That grin was way too much like Yu Xiaoduo’s.
