As Sheng Mumu walked past the grandfather playing chess under a nearby tree, her name was suddenly called out.
"Hey, little Mumu, out for a stroll in the park with your husband?"
The three of them turned towards the voice to see an old man with a full head of white hair smiling at them.
Sheng Mumu was the first of the three to react.
She smiled back brightly, "Yes, Uncle Chang."
Uncle Chang was the best chess player in the whole square.
Although he was usually aloof, he had somehow become friendly with Sheng Mumu and affectionately called her "little Mumu".
Uncle Chang looked Qi Mo up and down with his hands behind his back, as if scrutinizing him.
Behind them, Qi Shaobai couldn't help but feel amused.
He hadn't expected his famous bigshot dad to not even warrant a name here in the park square, just like when they were on vacation at the resort in Shen City.
Out of the corner of his eye, Qi Shaobai secretly observed his dad.
His dad remained calm and unruffled at the indignity of losing his name.
On the contrary, he politely nodded and smiled at the old man.
Eager to play a game of chess, Uncle Chang asked,
"Son-in-law, do you play?"
At this question, all three of them paused briefly.
Sheng Mumu looked to Qi Mo.
Her habit of feeling embarrassed for others suddenly acted up.
She didn't know Qi Mo's skill level, but she knew Uncle Chang was the undisputed chess king of the area.
What if Qi Mo accepted Uncle Chang's challenge but lost the game in front of Qi Shaobai?
Would it damage his majestic image in Qi Shaobai's mind?
Sheng Mumu grabbed Qi Mo's arm and tugged him aside, just about to politely decline Uncle Chang's proposal.
But she found the man at her side was like a mountain, completely unmoving no matter how she pulled.
Looking up, he was gazing gently at Uncle Chang with a humble expression.
"Not very well."
Uncle Chang promptly sat back on the stone bench and beckoned him over with a smile.
"It's fine if you're not very good, I'll give you a handicap. Come, let's play a game."
Sheng Mumu: "......"
Sheng Mumu squeezed the man's arm next to her and whispered,
"I advise you not to play. Uncle Chang has dominated the park square, earning him the nickname 'Lonely Seeking Defeat'."
Hearing her amusing description, Qi Mo let out a soft laugh.
His eyes seemed to light up, glinting with specks of light. He raised his eyebrows at her in return and asked,
"Why not try trusting me for once?"
Sheng Mumu was taken aback.
So this is...a man's inexplicable competitive spirit.
She had just experienced it firsthand.
Not wanting to diminish Qi Mo's image in front of Qi Shaobai, she stiffly nodded.
Trying to ease the tension with humor, she gave Qi Mo a big thumbs up and jokingly said to Uncle Chang,
"Uncle Chang, you're doomed! My husband has been playing chess in history class and studying history in chess class since he was little. You're no match for his unorthodox moves!"
Uncle Chang seemed already quite familiar with Sheng Mumu's quirky sense of humor.
He just laughed and waved his hand, playing along,
"Alright, then I won't give him a handicap."
Sheng Mumu froze in place.
Hey, Uncle Chang, you're not following the script!
It seems I've made things worse????
Soon, this impromptu chess match began.
Qi Mo strode over and sat on the stone bench.
The bench was a bit short, making his long legs look cramped and uncomfortable as he bent them. But his posture remained relaxed and deferential.
As the junior, he declined Uncle Chang's offer to play red.
He gently raised his hand, signaling for Uncle Chang to make the first move.
Uncle Chang thought for a bit. The man opposite was little Mumu's husband.
He shouldn't use any devious or difficult chess tactics from books.
He would start simply then.
"Cannon two squares up to five," Uncle Chang said as he made his move.
After he placed the piece, Qi Mo's slender, well-shaped fingers moved over the stone table without much thought, making black's first play.
Uncle Chang's neck jerked back and he couldn't help but stroke his chin.
In his mind he thought:
Pawn three squares up to five.
He actually opened with a Flying Horse variation.
It shows little Mumu's husband has a steady and composed personality.
The two of them continued, move after move, soon reaching the middle game.
More and more onlookers gathered around them.
People started discussing animatedly.
Sheng Mumu and Qi Shaobai stood behind Qi Mo, growing tense.
Glancing at the man sitting steadily on the bench, his handsome face was free of any panic.
Uncle Chang across from him had gone from being full of confidence initially to looking quite serious.
With Qi Mo's final offensive move, Uncle Chang's shoulders sagged in disbelief.
Qi Mo nodded, "Thank you for the game."
"I actually lost to a squeezed chariot!" Uncle Chang looked at the young man opposite in disbelief and said, "Boy, you planned to use this move from the very start didn't you? Luring me step-by-step into your trap?"
Qi Mo didn't deny it and nodded.
Uncle Chang's face showed chagrin at being outsmarted. "Ah, I'm getting old. My mind just isn't as nimble as you young folks."
Qi Mo propped his elbows on his knees and gave a mild, refreshing smile.
"It's not that, don't say the laurels are late when they are still full in the sky."
At his words, Uncle Chang was visibly stunned. He didn't expect the young man who had just beat him to take the initiative to console him.
Sheng Mumu also bent down, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Qi Mo, and said to Uncle Chang:
"Alright Uncle Chang, this was all part of my scheme. I've been observing your chess style for some time and purposefully brought my husband to challenge you."
It was clearly meant as a joke.
But it instantly put Uncle Chang, who had lost the chess game, at ease.
After the three left, one old man scratched the back of his head and looked puzzledly at Qi Mo's straight back as he walked away. Hesitantly, he said:
"Brother Chang, that son-in-law of little Mumu looks a bit familiar."
Uncle Chang looked back. "Oh? Where have you seen him before?"
"I remember now!" The other suddenly exclaimed, "More than 10 years ago, I went to watch a competitive go match. I saw this young man then, he was still a teenager but extremely skilled."
Uncle Chang: "Oh? A professional go player? So he was hiding his ability."
"No no, just an amateur hobbyist. I remember very clearly, in a match between amateurs and professionals, with the skill of a three stone amateur he only lost by half a point to a five stone professional."
Uncle Chang was shocked, then suddenly realized and chuckled.
I thought I was just testing little Mumu's husband's chess skill.
Didn't expect to kick an iron plate.
A person familiar with go can quickly grasp chess after shifting dimensions.
Ah, in the end I just embarrassed myself!
Watching little Mumu's family of three walking farther and farther away.
Uncle Chang waved his fan, eyes narrowing slightly.
Gradually, his heart settled back in his stomach.
A person's chess skill reflects their character.
With his decades of experience and discernment,
That young man is skilled in strategy and planning, has great vision, and most impressively remains modest and respectful.
He should be a trustworthy partner.
No need to worry too much for little Mumu.
On the other side, Sheng Mumu, who had just watched Qi Mo play chess, peeked out from the side.
The man in front of her had clear, piercing eyes, and his handsome, aloof face held a trace of hard to detect pride.
Sensing her gaze, the man's eyes flicked to the side, a smile in his raised brow.
His tone was still low and magnetic, but had a pleased, drawn out lilt.
"You can trust me, can't you? I wasn't wrong."
Sheng Mumu blinked, then laughed softly, "Mr Qi, turn around and let me see."
Although unclear why, the man's tall figure very naturally pivoted slowly.
Sheng Mumu smiled, her brows arching into two shallow curves.
"Look at you, your tail's about to wag off!"
Following behind, Qi Shaobai, who was carrying a bag, froze in place.
Qi Shaobai: "......" He could hear his dad's low, delighted laughter mixing with his stepmom's playful teasing up ahead.
"I'll take that as you praising me?"
"It's praise, don't be modest."
"Thank you."
Qi Shaobai: "???"
In the seventeen-year-old's mind,
He gained new understanding of the phrases "loving couple" and "mutual respect".
