《Dad, Please Try a Little Harder》 Chapter 1 translator: inschain editor: inschain there was no doubt that the chirping of the cicadas on the tree had increased his anxiety and nervousness before his confession. after receiving the acceptance letter from seacoast normal university, he decided to formally confess to the class beauty he had secretly admired for three years, song xi. however, before that, he wanted to ask his classmate and childhood friend, ding linlang, for a bit of a favor.? linlang, i want you to judge whether my confession will work from a girls point of view. on a summer afternoon, the campus of riverside first high school was bathed in bright sunlight while the heatwave engulfed everything. the tall ginkgo trees toward the azure crest. wearing a blue t-shirt and white sports pants, her feet in a pair of sneakers, her short hair remained the same all year round. her face was almost always adorned with an expression that seemed to say, you wont be able to guess my gender. ding linlang succinctly stated, go ahead, im listening. he prepared himself for a moment and said affectionately, song xi, theres something ive kept in my heart for three years. i didnt say it before because i was afraid it would affect your studies. today, i gather the courage to tell you C i like you! ding linlang almost burst out laughing when she heard this. can you be serious? all right, ill hold it in. continue. he made a slight adjustment and continued, also, let me tell you some good news. ive already received the admission notice from seacoast normal university. do you know why i chose this university? because since our first year of high school, i have known that your dream university is azure bay foreign language university, and the city you aspire to is azure bay. in fact, my dream university is nankai university, but i gave it up to be in the same city as you wait a moment, didnt you give up nankai university because your scores werent enough? ding linlang glanced at him sideways, exposing his words on the spot. dont interrupt! he angrily stopped her. all right ding linlang raised her hands, indicating that she wouldnt disrupt anymore. he paused for a moment and continued to practice his confession lines, for you, ive given up my own dreams because, in my heart, youve become a higher priority dream. so, song xi, would you like to be my girlfriend? if youre willing, just nod your head. if not, then recite encountering sorrow. i am a descendant of the gu emperor gao yang, and my deceased fathers courtesy name was boyong ding linlang started reciting without hesitation. ding linlang! he interrupted her again. ding linlang burst into laughter and said, qian quan, dont you realize that this kind of self-proclaimed clever confession is ineffective for a fresh graduate who has just finished the college entrance examination? our current reservoir of knowledge is at its peak in life. we know about astronomy and geography, can solve complex functions, and speak foreign languages fluently. reciting ancient texts is childs play for us. why dont you wait a few years until weve been to university to try this approach? qian quan sighed, all right, ill just write a love letter then. dont do that. confessing your feelings directly to a girl usually works faster. maybe it was because you used another girls name when you confessed to me, and i couldnt relate. now, try confessing using my name, and ill see how it feels. im standing in front of you, confessing using your name. dont you think that scene is a bit strange? its like a scene from happy together or brokeback mountain unfortunately, from childhood to now, qian quan had never really seen ding linlang as a girl. although she had fair skin and attractive features, she kept her hair short and liked to drink beer, whistle, and play basketball. most importantly, she was open-minded and approachable. even when angry, there was no movement in her chest. shes a tomboy, not a girlie girl at all. from elementary school to high school, qian quan helped countless female classmates deliver love letters to her. especially in the second year of junior high, a female classmate in the class copied lecture notes for her for half a semester. when she finally found out ding linlang was also a girl, she was in a daze for a whole week. it was said that she cried into her pillow that night. so confessing to her was indeed a bit difficult for qian quan. haha, thats true. you should write a love letter. at most, ill help you polish it up later. ding linlang looked at qian quan with a half-smile. that works too. qian quan had a lot of respect for ding linlangs literary talent. after all, she won second prize in the national essay competition, and this year she was admitted to the chinese department of fudan university with outstanding grades. furthermore, qian quan also knew a little secret about ding linlang. she had been secretly writing love novels under the name forest gazer on wisteria and even made them to the top rankings. after learning this secret, qian quan didnt expose her. instead, he created a pseudonymous account and joined her readers chat group, where he played the role of a strict, critical, yet loyal reader. he often pointed out flaws and errors, encouraged her, and unexpectedly became the groups administrator. three in the afternoon. students started arriving at the school. today, class 12-2 students were planning a farewell banquet at a nearby pavilion. they had agreed to meet at the school and then go together. this farewell banquet had become a tradition at riverside first high school. on the one hand, it was an opportunity for everyone to have a meal together and bid farewell. on the other hand, it helped avoid the teachers having to attend each students graduation celebration individually. ding linlang reverted to her usual aloofness as others arrived, keeping others at a distance. qian quan greeted everyone with a smile, and his gaze subtly searched for song xis figure. one balloon each. at that moment, the sports representative, luo hu, came over, holding a bunch of balloons, and handed them to people. do we need to take balloons with us today? qian quan asked with a smile. no, this is for another activity. youll find out later. follow my instructions, and there will be a reward afterward. luo hu explained. the prospect of the reward made everyone more enthusiastic. soon, each person held a balloon that gently swayed in the breeze. red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple C the colors were vivid and vibrant under the sunlight. now, lets form two lines. luo hu directed. curiously, everyone lined up as instructed. luo hu took out his phone and sent a message. in the next second. a brand-new black bmw slowly entered the school gate and parked smoothly at the front of the line. then, their classmate sun shaokang stepped out of the car. so handsome! luo hu led the cheer. sun shaokang waved to everyone with an air of elegance and walked to the passenger side, opening the door and extending a hand to a beautiful girl wearing a flowing white dress with long hair. song xi! qian quans expression changed. soon, he watched sun shaokang and song xi walk toward them hand in hand. wow the classmates burst into a gossipy commotion. qian quan felt like he had just been frozen in place with cold water. quickly, sun shaokang and song xi reached him. they stopped. quite a few students who were privy to qian quans secret crush on song xi lit up with a mischievous glint in their eyes. qian quan, why do you look a little unhappy? sun shaokang asked with an amusing tone. oh, im fine. qian quan forced a smile, shaking the green balloon in his hand. good to hear. sun shaokang nodded with seeming concern and looked at song xi again, by the way, song xi, didnt you say you had something to return to qian quan? yes. song xi answered and pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, handing it to qian quan. qian quan, this is the note you left in my yearbook. i felt it wasnt quite appropriate. so today, im returning it to you. qian quan was stunned. sun shaokang on the side laughed, you still remember what you wrote, have you? it was a poem like the sun is setting, i am your fishing boat, your anchor. do you still remember? qian quan didnt answer and took the paper. to be honest, that poem of yours has quite the ambiance. you may deceive some naive girls with it when you go to college haha, just kidding. but i wanted to tell you that song xi having my car is enough. she doesnt need your boat and anchor, okay? as sun shaokang spoke, he friendly patted qian quans shoulder. cheer up. todays a good day. boom! a balloon burst. everyone was startled. ding linlang, standing next to qian quan, said expressionlessly, is it necessary to do this? what? sun shaokang asked. without even looking at him, ding linlang stepped forward and grabbed qian quans arm. lets go. qian quan and ding linlang left together. dont forget to claim your reward from me later! sun shaokang shouted after their backs. ding linlang pulled qian quan along, exited the school gate, climbed up azure crest, and arrived at tranquil vale grotto. going straight home? ding linlang asked. no. qian quan looked into the distance. ding linlang fell silent. after a while, ding linlang suddenly muttered to herself, shes not the leading lady. huh? i mean, song xi is not your leading lady, and she doesnt have the aura of a leading lady. qian quan smiled. he knew why ding linlang said that C she was a writer, after all. but you still need to bid farewell to this chapter of your feelings properly. dont let yourself crumble, dont abandon yourself. wave goodbye, and after three to five years, look back. okay. qian quan nodded. dont worry. i, qian quan, have boundless ambitions. a girl like this wont defeat me. ding linlang smiled with relief and then sighed, thats how the world works. some people strive to get to mystic city, while others are born right there. after all, reincarnation is also a skill. if we want to stand out, we can only rely on ourselves. yeah, we can only rely on ourselves. qian quan agreed. [ding! trigger conditions successfully met. the system has detected a suitable host in this universe, initiating matching] a mechanically synthesized voice suddenly resounded in qian quans mind, leaving him baffled. [matching successful! bloodline system activated, about to bind with the host] qian quan, what the heck? Chapter 2 translator: inschain editor: inschain [system binding progress: 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 85%, 95%, 100%!] [ding! system binding successful!] [hello, mr. qian quan, the host. this system is called the bloodline system. dr. omega designed it based on the concept of heroic fathers, brave sons and further amplified it, projecting each achievement of the father onto the son, magnified by ten or even a hundred times!] [the doctor said that only when successors continuously surpass predecessors, and each generation excels the previous one, can civilization progress continually!] [therefore, after binding with this system, for every additional achievement your father gains, you will simultaneously and correspondingly receive rewards tenfold or even a hundredfold!] qian quan, who had calmed down slightly, began to process this sudden influx of information, forming unbelievable speculation. [attention! the binding of this system with the host is based on the theory of quantum entanglement. hence, you must not disclose the existence of this system to anyone. otherwise, due to the observer effect, this system will collapse into lies and delusions, ceasing to exist.] qian quan fell into deep contemplation, his thoughts fluctuating, making it difficult for him to regain composure for a while. qian quan, what are you thinking? ding linlang, noticing qian quans peculiar expression, couldnt help but ask. just now, you said we should bid farewell to the past and look back in three to five years. im thinking about how ill be in three to five years. it definitely wont be bad. i wonder if ill meet my leading lady by then. upon hearing this, ding linlang naturally placed her hand on qian quans shoulder, saying, with me watching over you, youll surely find the right person. dont worry. im quite adept at this. alright, when we get to mystic city in the future, lets continue looking out for each other. that goes without saying. they stood on the mountain for a while, then returned to the campus. qian quan acted calmly as if nothing had happened, but his classmates regarded him with a subtle gaze. qian quan, dont take it to heart. our youth is inherently full of regrets and embarrassments; thats what makes it complete. class leader qian jiamin privately comforted qian quan. thank you. im fine. qian quan genuinely thanked her. during ones student days, certain interpersonal relationships still retained a touch of innocence, not entirely corroded by money and reality. like today, when sun shaokang and song xi teamed up to tease qian quan, it wasnt something every student approved of or supported. in any case, qian quan and the others released the balloons they held before sunset. the colorful balloons fluttered in the wind, carrying the hues of love unfulfilled. qian quan had decided to let go of the past and stride forward confidently. at 5:30 in the afternoon, the teachers and students of class 2 in grade 3 gathered at the pavilion. the farewell banquet was officially underway. since the college entrance exams were long over, the students had shed the reserved attitude they usually had toward their teachers. the atmosphere was relaxed, and everyone chatted and laughed. those who had achieved their ideal university entrance were brimming with anticipation for college life. those whose scores fell short of their expectations were preparing to retake the exams and fight for another year. a few students were ready to go elsewhere for work after receiving their graduation certificates. as they said, everyone had a bright future. their homeroom teacher, mr. tian, had too much to drink that day. he became quite sentimental, sharing many heartfelt words. in the end, with emotions stirred, he told the students that they were the best class he had ever taught this wasnt just a platitude but backed up by data. in this years college entrance exams, their class had a 93.19% acceptance rate for tier one universities. among them, 25 students were admitted to national key universities, including one to peking university, one to fudan university, and one to renmin university however, at this moment, it was clear that mr. tians words were not based on data but rather on the concentration of alcohol. it could be seen as a form of compensation. after all, at the beginning and middle of the semester, he had said to the same group of students, you are the worst class ive ever taught. for the same exams, your senior brothers and sisters from the previous year performed much better than you. it was like some dramatic structure that emphasized symmetry. and so, the atmosphere at the scene seemed to be approaching the end of a certain comedy show, beginning to trend towards sentimentality. many girls shed tears, and some boys eyes turned red. they all promised to stay in touch and not forget each other. just like the song to riverside sings: when traveling around, dont forget the summers view of riverside after the meal, sun shaokang wanted to invite everyone to sing karaoke to celebrate graduation, and his no longer single. qian quan and ding linlang naturally refused. holding a balloon, celebrating his goddess being with someone else, had already exceeded his embarrassment threshold. how could he go to a private karaoke room to watch them show affection? whats sun shaokang thinking? he was definitely not that kind of submissive simp! the two of them decided to take a stroll around the campus. as they wandered, they played i think you guess. basically, one person thinks of something, and the other person asks questions, to which the first person can only answer yes or no, allowing the second person to guess what the first person is thinking. strolling along like this, they unconsciously arrived at the basketball court and saw people playing a half-court 3v3 basketball game. they stopped to watch. ding linlang asked, do you remember the score when we played one-on-one? i dont remember. qian quan answered straightforwardly. it was 132 to 126. i was leading by six games. ding linlang looked at qian quan with a smile. you remember so clearly. well, do you remember our chinese chess wins and losses? qian quan wasnt about to back down. 732 to 768, youre ahead by 36 games. ding linlang answered just as candidly, but ill catch up with you. ill level the score in basketball too. qian quan said this with a hint of competitiveness. i look forward to it. after all, youre running out of excuses. ding linlang directly threw some trash talk. from junior high until now, they had played more than two hundred one-on-one matches. every time qian quan lost, he would find an excuse. currently, his excuses included but were not limited to having a cold, not sleeping well the previous night, poor shoe quality, too tight underwear, too loose socks, the weather being too hot, being a gentleman who doesnt compete with ladies, not receiving cheers from pretty female spectators, and the ball being improperly weighted, among others. this couldnt entirely be blamed on him; just like in the arts and literature, sports too heavily depend on innate talent. and ding linlang excelled in both realms. on the field, she displayed a mastery of skill and graceful movements. the phrase graceful as a startled swan, agile as a wandering dragon couldnt have been a more fitting description. at times, qian quan just couldnt fend her off! linlang, have you ever thought about the possibility that your combative nature and intense competitive spirit might hinder your prospects of finding a husband in the future? qian quan retaliated. hehe, who said im even thinking about getting married? ding linlang didnt care about his question. qian quan was taken aback, suddenly realizing he had never broached this topic with ding linlang. after all, what kind of man discusses finding a husband with their buddies? curiosity got the better of him, and he inquired, are you implying that theres no man in this world who meets your standards? im not that presumptuous. so, what kind of man do you think would be a suitable match for you? i havent really given it much thought. she said, glancing at qian quan. at the very least, he shouldnt be worse than you. then your expectations might be a bit high. tsk. qian quan chuckled and said, but if you were a guy, youd definitely be turning heads in college. this wasnt a compliment. ding linlang had a striking appearance and a tall, slender figure. her looks overshadowed some handsome male celebrities. to be specific, if a perfect handsomeness score was 10, ding linlang easily scored 9.5, half a point higher than those male celebrities and about 0.2 higher than qian quan. moreover, she was a web novelist on wisteria, boasting a large fan base and earning a substantial income every month from her writing. if she werent keeping her writing endeavors a secret, she wouldnt have needed to rely on her family for tuition and living expenses C she could even support them. she could be considered someone very accomplished among her peers, making others envious. i can tell youre quite agitated today, actually discussing this with me. ding linlang noticed that qian quan wasnt his usual self. qian quan laughed and said, yeah, i suddenly realized the truth today. all those oaths of eternal love and promises of everlasting devotion dont really matter. once money comes into play, love seems to fall into place quite naturally. i disagree with that perspective. ding linlang immediately objected, in my view, true love boils down to two options: liking or not liking. oh, how would you explain that? if you dont have affection for someone, driving a bmw or a mercedes wont change things. if you do like someone, even a bentley or a rolls-royce can keep you together. hahaha thats quite an insight youve got there! at that very moment, a notification from the system chimed in inside qian quans mind. [ding! the system detected your fathers 3,000 bonus, rewarding you with 30,000!] soon, his phone received a text message from the bank confirming the deposit of 30,000. qian quan was left in a daze. could the system be this straightforward? giving out money directly? so, does that mean what the system mentioned earlier about amplifying each of the fathers achievements by tenfold or a hundredfold and projecting them onto the son was referring to this? and where did his dads 3,000 bonus come from? was it legal? could it be spent? at that moment, qian quan was filled with mixed emotions C surprise, excitement, confusion, worry, curiosity, anticipation lets go back. regaining his composure, qian quan decided to head home and confirm with his dad. the two left the school and took a bus back home. qian quan rushed into the house, and before he could even ask, his mother joyfully said, rocky, didnt you have your eyes on a pair of basketball shoes? well buy them for you on your birthday. why? the student your dad tutored participated in a poetry competition, and won second prize. your dad got a 2,000 bonus. 2,000? wasnt it 3,000? qian quan blurted out. before the echo of his words died down, his dads icy gaze turned toward him, and at the same time, his moms sharp gaze turned toward his dad! the atmosphere froze in an instant. after a while. haha, you little rascal, youre too quick with your mouth! i secretly set aside 1,000 to buy your mom a handbag as a surprise. but you blew my cover in a split second, ruining my plan. haha, you little rascal! at that moment, qian quan could hear the undertone in his dads voice that he really wanted to give him a good thrashing right then and there. Chapter 3 translator: inschain editor: inschain in the context of health-oriented family education, parents cannot punish their children for speaking the truth. however, they can discipline them for reasons like not taking their studies seriously, being addicted to games or television, and lacking manners. given the situation with qian quan today, he was likely about to set a precedent by being scolded by his father for stepping into the house with his left foot first. leaving that aside, he had just verified one thing C his fathers bonus had indeed been multiplied by ten and deposited into his own account. 30,000 was enough to cover his tuition and living expenses for two years of college! this system worked, and it really gave him money. as for the 1,000 that his father kept secretly, his mother didnt make a fuss about it. in this regard, there was some understanding between them. however, his mother still subtly reminded his father not to engage in such sneakiness again. she believed it wasnt just about hiding money but about attitude. she didnt want to be the kind of wife who could control her husband to the point that he couldnt breathe, nor did she want her husband to portray her as the kind of henpecked wife. in the end, his father confessed the truth. it turned out he was interested in a set of chinese chess books from an old bookstore owner, who was asking for 1,000 for it. after learning the truth, his mother gave him another 1,000, saying, take this 1,000 and buy the chess books. do whatever you want with the 1,000 you kept. his father was stunned by this. in reality, sometimes, for men, the salary handed over is a responsibility, and a hidden stash is a form of freedom. once the secret stash is exposed, that feeling disappears. watching the entire process, qian quan silently gave his mother a thumbs-up. this was what it meant to navigate the situation perfectly. with the matter resolved, his father naturally had no reason to trouble qian quan anymore. however, he was curious about qian quan knowing about the 3,000 bonus. qian quan could only vaguely say he had seen a notification somewhere and managed to evade further questions. his father didnt press further. qian quan returned to his room after chatting with his parents for a while. he logged into his mobile banking app again and saw that 30,000 had indeed been deposited into his account. it was real and effective. the stone in her heart was lifted, and he began to think about how to reasonably and inconspicuously buy something for his parents and ding linlang. soon, he had an idea. he exited the mobile banking app and logged into his social chat software account mystery man, deciding to join a chat session in the forest gazer readers group. as expected, there were over a hundred new messages. originally, he intended to ignore them as usual, but he noticed that the author, forest gazer, was also participating in the chat. so he started to read the previous chat logs and was surprised to find that tonights topic revolved around him. it was around the time when he and ding linlang took the bus home. ding linlang had asked a question in her readers group. forest gazer: i want to ask you guys, whats a good birthday gift for a guy who has just gone through a breakup? the group erupted into a frenzy as soon as this question was posed. readers were asking who the guy was, where he lived, his measurements, height, whether there were photos if he was in good shape forest gazer: its my childhood friend, dont let your imaginations run wild. [awkward emoji] nightowl: so, childhood sweethearts, then? forest gazer: its a stretch to say that. were more like buddies; our relationship is very platonic, with no romantic undertones. twigelegant: more than friends, less than lovers? forest gazer: its not that complicated. lets stick to the topic. with that, the group got back on track and began discussing gift ideas for guys. no guy can resist a gaming console; get him a psp! ms. forest gazer, you could try giving your friend a set of screwdrivers. my boyfriend bought a set and spent an entire day playing with them. toy guns or ultraman action figures work too is no one suggesting basketball shoes? i feel like giving a guy basketball shoes is always a safe bet. heres an idea, a drone. i think most guys would like that. qian quan looked at the diverse array of answers, finding it both amusing and heartwarming. the sensation of being secretly valued was quite subtle. he decided to join in the fun, how about gifting him a rolls-royce cullinan? i believe no guy can resist that. forest gazer: you should keep quiet! qian quan replied with a sly emoji and then continued, but im curious about something. ms. forest gazer, your friend has someone as exceptional as you as a friend, so why did he go through a breakup? forest gazer: ive said it before. im just buddies with him! were not each others type mystery man: so, what kind of person do you like? forest gazer: someone who can impress me in all aspects. mystery man: what specific aspects? forest gazer: height, basketball, chinese chess, talent, and so on. in short, my ideal partner must be an extraordinary hero. mystery man: and hell come to marry you on a rainbow cloud? forest gazer: thats too much. just arriving in a helicopter is enough. mystery man: what if you dont meet someone like that? after qian quan asked, thinking she might reply with then ill be single forever, she surprised him by saying, of course, there can be exceptions. mystery man: what kind of exceptions? forest gazer: those i cant discuss at this point, other readers started chiming in. numberone: sorry, im that exception. alluring_in_black_silk: sorry, im that exception. northern belle: sorry, im that exception. .. watching the flood of messages, qian quan shook his head with a wry smile. he was about to copy a response and join the conversation when suddenly as if snapped back to reality, he lightly slapped himself. what am i thinking? shes my closest childhood friend! the group chatted for a while longer, and forest gazer typed, thanks for all the suggestions. im going to write my novel now, before leaving. qian quan also logged out of his alternate account and started reading a novel. qian quan accompanied his father to the bookstore to buy a chess manual the next day. on the way, his father brought up last nights conversation: rocky, im really pleased that you were honest with your mom last night, but your tone and attitude werent good. you nearly put both your mom and me in a difficult position. dad, i really didnt mean to his father shook his head without confirming or denying, saying, actually, your mom recently brought up the topic of having a second child. she said she envies those with both sons and daughters, and she also wants a daughter. originally, considering your moms age, i was firmly against it, but after seeing your performance last night, ive become a bit uncertain qian quan was speechless, then said, dad, i really messed up. its not entirely because of you; it was also what your mom said. she mentioned that in the future, we wont have anywhere to go if we want to visit our daughters house. you can come to my house. whats the point of visiting a sons house? besides, if you marry linlang in the future, our families will be just two streets apart. forget about visiting. at most, it will be called just dropping by. qian quan suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking incredulously at his father, marry linlang? what are you thinking? how could i possibly marry her? we could never be together, right? his father gave a knowing grin and chuckled before continuing on his way. qian quan stood still for a few seconds, bewildered, then hurried to catch up. just as they entered the bookstore, qian quan spotted a familiar figure standing in front of the chinese chess bookshelf: a tall figure with short, clean-cut hair wearing a white t-shirt. it was ding linlang. Chapter 4 translator: inschain editor: inschain it was clear that ding linlang was also there to buy chess books. she was eager to improve her chinese chess skills in order to match qian quans chess achievements. perhaps, this was a typical overachievers mindset C quietly putting in effort and then achieving a remarkable comeback, astonishing everyone. unlike qian quan, although he also bragged about wanting to match ding linlangs basketball one-on-one record, he didnt specifically practice for it privately, nor did he get up at 4 a.m. to play basketball. he also had a strong sense of competitiveness and a desire for revenge, but it depended on the person. with ding linlang, he felt it was great to play chinese chess and basketball with her continuously; winning or losing wasnt so important. the display of concern and the excuses were just to add an element of fun to the competition. with sun shaokang and song xi, he would definitely hold onto the humiliation they had inflicted upon him. until he could reclaim that days dignity, he wouldnt reconcile or forgive. the apparent sense of relief and letting go was only because he couldnt do anything about it at the moment. he walked up to ding linlangs side, patted her shoulder, and acted as if he was a stranger striking up a conversation, have you seen qian quan? ding linlang turned her head to look at him, smiled lightly, and said, why are you here? accompanying my dad to buy chinese chess books. what are you looking at? im also looking at chinese chess books. wheres mr. qian? hes at the front negotiating with the owner. hes not interested in the chinese chess books on the shelves. hes interested in the owners family heirloom chinese chess book. family heirloom chinese chess book? ding linlangs eyes brightened. yes. qian quan nodded and absentmindedly grabbed a book from the shelf, flipping through it as he asked, is this thing effective? its decent. it helps you understand different chess strategies and broaden your thinking. i still prefer playing by intuition and countering moves on the fly. thats why were both self-taught. against those experts who plan and strategize, wed quickly lose. qian quan smiled and nodded. at this moment, qian quans father walked over with a beaming smile and looked at ding linlang, asking, linlang, buying chinese chess books? yeah, i heard qian quan say that you bought the owners family heirloom chinese chess book? qian quans father continued to smile and nodded slightly, saying, the chinese chess books on these shelves dont hold much value. they only cover superficial tactics. you can find similar content online easily. lets go back, and ill show you the real chinese chess book. sure. ding linlang quickly put the chess book back where it belonged. the three of them left the bookstore and headed toward qian quans home. on the way back, mr. qian took the opportunity to provide qian quan and ding linlang with insights into chinese chess positioning and strategy. in chinese chess, calculating the pathways is the foundation. we make our moves step by step, each with a purpose. but if you focus solely on the pathways without positioning and strategy, even if you calculate several dozen or hundreds of steps ahead, you might not achieve much. once your opponent stops your momentum and gains the upper hand, the game becomes difficult, and you might suffer defeat, cascading like a collapsing mountain mr. qian was a teacher, and when discussing his area of expertise, he naturally spoke fluently and authoritatively. ding linlang listened intently, lost in thought. qian quan, on the other hand, furrowed his brow and muttered under his breath, this sounds a bit esoteric. mr. qian glanced at his son and said, i havent even mentioned the concepts of chess luck and chess philosophy yet. those are even more profound. after a moment of consideration, qian quan said, but isnt the essence of chinese chess about attack and defense? as long as you balance both, you can win every battle. before mr. qian could respond, ding linlang interjected, you just said something obvious. warfare is also about attack and defense. sports competitions are also about attack and defense. the key lies in how to attack and how to defend. mr. qian smiled and nodded, adding, furthermore, playing chinese chess also emphasizes self-cultivation. for example, those who are impatient should slow down, while those who are slow-paced should speed up. the straightforward ones need to calculate, while the strategic ones need to reveal their strengths too much rigidity leads to failure, excessive flexibility leads to ruin. the essence lies within these concepts. take you two as an example: linlang, your flaw is being too rigid, not leaving room in your moves, and only seeking to attack. the outcome becomes simple win or lose. as for you im too passive? qian quan interrupted. not quite. youre too casual. youve absorbed a bit of the skill of using gentleness to overcome rigidity, which is why linlangs mind is more agile than yours, yet she often cant beat you. this is the truth. as long as she reflects on this and becomes more composed, it will be harder for you to win against her in the future. ding linlang nodded in agreement and acceptance. qian quan turned to ding linlang with a smile and said, youre just nodding and agreeing so readily. i think mr. qian is right. ding linlang replied matter-of-factly. all right, lets not talk much. lets prove ourselves on the chessboard. im not afraid of you. back at home, the two immediately set up the chessboard and began their match. mr. qian sat beside them, watching. ladies first, you may go ahead. qian quan gentlemanly offered. ding linlang didnt refuse and initiated a frontal cannon move. due to their deep familiarity with each others playing styles and strategies, the opening moves were made quickly. after about ten steps, qian quan gradually slowed down, and ding linlangs expression grew more serious. by the thirtieth move, qian quan leaned back slightly and glanced at ding linlang, who seemed to be immersed in the chessboard, focusing to the point of being oblivious. mr. qian, who had silently observed the game, smiled slightly and stood up to make some tea. i concede. after observing the board intently for nearly a minute, ding linlang resigned, setting the pieces back in place. qian quan silently arranged the pieces. linlang, play a bit more conservatively. mr. qian, having finished his tea, offered a piece of advice. sure. ding linlang nodded. the game resumed. after another ten moves or so, qian quan suddenly exclaimed in frustration, making a mistaken move. you can take a step back. ding linlangs expression turned serious. i dont regret my moves. lets continue. taking advantage, ding linlang launched a full-scale attack. qian quan defended for a few moves, seizing the opportunity to exchange pieces. after a fierce battle, qian quan declared, checkmate. ding linlang remained silent. immediately, qian quan used his rook to capture ding linlangs knight and cannon. thus, ding linlang was left with only one rook, while qian quan still had both his guards and elephants. theres a classic knowledge in chinese chess: a single rook is challenging to defeat when facing two guards and two elephants. the game ended in a draw. in the third game, both of them slowed down considerably, especially during the endgame, taking their time for every move. ding linlangs brows furrowed, while qian quan subconsciously clenched his left fist. even mr. qian, usually composed, showed a rare contemplative expression as he watched. after a few more moves, mr. qian chuckled and said, linlang wins. ding linlang looked up and asked qian quan, you didnt let me win, did you? dont be arrogant. were currently tied. qian quan responded cheekily. ding linlang smiled in response. mr. qian then said, im itching to play a game now. whos up for the challenge? naturally, ding linlang didnt hesitate to accept the challenge against a formidable opponent. and so, she lost the first two matches. in the third match, qian quan played with mr. qian, and he managed to hold out for about twenty moves. mr. qian, i noticed you used different opening moves each game. is there a particular reason? ding linlang curiously inquired. im trying out new pathways from the chinese chess books i acquired today. im not very familiar with them yet. otherwise, you both would have lost even faster. ding linlang and qian quan were speechless. qian quan asked, so, dad, when you played with us earlier, how did you position and strategize? mr. qian waved his hand, chuckling, when playing against you, i dont need to go to such lengths. its enough to play casually. those strategies are only necessary when facing opponents of equal or higher skill levels. qian quan thought, i should tell mom the next time dad hides the money. ding linlang laughed and said, mr. qian, id like to see the chinese chess book you bought. mr. qian handed the book to ding linlang, saying, qian quans mom will be back from work soon. ill cook. why not have lunch here? okay. you can certainly study the chinese chess books, but remember one thing: chess pathways are fixed, but opponents are dynamic. before heading to the kitchen, mr. qian offered a final piece of advice to both of them. ding linlang and qian quan began studying the chinese chess book. they sat side by side, their shoulders touching, their heads close together, their interactions reminiscent of an intimate conversation. after a while, qian quans mother returned from work. seeing the scene, she immediately smiled warmly, linlang. ding linlang stood up and greeted, mrs. qian. qian quans mother continued, dont mind me, continue what you were doing. ill head to the kitchen to help. lunch was served quickly, consisting of four dishes and a soup. pork stew, baked eggs, cucumber salad, braised sea bass, and corn and pork rib chowder. ding linlang had eaten countless meals at the qian quans home, and she had developed a sense of being right at home. the four of them chatted and ate, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere. our chinese chess club is considering registering for the city-wide chinese chess tournament. im still unsure whether i should participate. mr. qian, who had spent 1,000 on a chinese chess book, needed a logical reason. youre hesitant despite spending so much money on chess books? mrs. qian challenged her husband. i did buy it, but i havent fully studied it yet. after all, the tournament held by the city offers significant prize money. the competition is fierce. mr. qian responded. upon hearing this, qian quan paused and asked, how significant is the prize money? first place gets 100,000, second place receives 50,000, and third place gets 30,000. quickly calculating in his mind, even if his dad secured the third place, the systems reward that would eventually come his way would be 300,000? my suggestion is that you participate. qian quan responded after a brief pause, earnestly presenting his advice, the prize money isnt the main point. its that you can use the tournament to consolidate your understanding of the new chinese chess book you purchased. ding linlangs movements paused. she tilted her head and looked at qian quan, seeing right through him, you just want mr. qian to win the prize money. qian quan retorted, how vulgar! cant you separate these refined matters from money? tsk, when mr. qian mentioned the prize money, your utensils even shook a bit. dont think i didnt notice. ahh, was i that obvious? qian quan dropped the pretense. the dining table was filled with a warm and cheerful atmosphere. linlang, when you go to college, you can grow your hair out. think about how you used to tie your hair into braids, looking like a little fairy. qian quans mother brought up ding linlangs short hair. ding linlang smiled, mrs. qian, dont worry. when the time is right, ill grow it out. mr. qian chimed in, speaking of college, ill add a few words. both rocky and linlang, when you enter college, dont slack off. the idea that high school is hard for three years, college is easy for four years is absolutely a misconception and misleading! your performance in high school only determines which college you can attend. its your performance in college that ultimately decides how youll enter society. ding linlang nodded in agreement. qian quan also affirmed with a serious yes and added, learning doesnt stop with age. in fact, not only in college but also when you enter the workforce in society, you mustnt abandon learning. you must continuously strive for improvement! whether its at 30 or 40 years old, you should never let go of the ability to learn independently. you should keep up with the times, bravely seize every opportunity to challenge yourself, and enhance your skills! as his words hung in the air, his parents, along with ding linlang, looked at qian quan in astonishment. especially mr. qian, who was approaching middle age, had a suspicion arise in his mind, does he have something hidden in his words? Chapter 5 translator: inschain editor: inschain swish! under the slanting rays of the setting sun, the basketball traced a perfect arc through the air, smoothly entering the net. call me the master! dressed in a white jersey and white basketball shoes, ding linlang struck a deliberate pose after the shot, a playful smirk on her face as she looked at qian quan. in their just-concluded one-on-one match, ding linlang narrowly won with a score of 10 to 8. qian quan did ten push-ups in silence, stood up, clapped his hands, and tersely said, lets go again. why so serious? ding linlang gazed at qian quan, sensing something off about his demeanor today. the loser is embarrassed, so of course i have to be serious. i prefer your defiant and excuse-finding demeanor. cant you go back to that? qian quan glanced at ding linlang, then looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle. the wind today is a bit noisy, affecting my feel. thats more like it. come on, let me crush you again. in the second round, qian quan stepped up the confrontation against ding linlang. eventually, he barely won by one point due to his strength and stamina advantage. after playing two rounds in a row, both of them were exhausted. their faces were covered in sweat, and they panted as they sat down on the steps by the court. tell me, what happened to you today? ding linlang downed half a bottle of mineral water, semi-reclining against the steps as she asked qian quan. she could sense that something was clearly off with this guy. nothing, im thinking about getting a summer job. what summer job? im planning to work at kfc during the summer to earn some money for college life. after all, ill be 18 soon, legally an adult. go for it, whats there to think about? once i start working, i wont have much time to practice basketball and study chinese chess. by then, youll surpass me. youre talking as if practicing every day will keep me from surpassing you. well theres some truth to that. qian quan chuckled lightly. what about your summer plans? do you want to join me in working part-time? i was actually planning to invite you to a trip to azure bay and get familiar with the environment first lets go somewhere else. i want to keep the freshness of azure bay. where do you want to go? the west lake. west lake is fine too. its already on my list. when i first read the poet, half remains at this lake, unable to leave hangzhou, ive always wanted to go. so, are you going to join me in working part-time to earn some money? ding linlang didnt immediately answer. with damp tips of her hair, her clear, watery eyes gazed at qian quan, pondering for a moment before saying, qian quan, if i tell you my biggest secret, can you keep it for me? a flicker of anticipation ran through qian quans mind, but he maintained an impassive expression on his face and said, as long as its not a secret i have to keep from you, i can keep my mouth shut. this near-perfect response struck ding linlang. it further solidified her decision to reveal the secret. actually, ive been secretly writing web novels and even signed a contract with a novel website. the results have been quite good as expected! qian quan had already sensed she would say this, but when she finally spoke, the feeling of trust hit him hard. he nearly blurted out, i knew that a long time ago, but he managed to hold back just in time. after displaying the right amount of surprise, he asked, which website? what kind of novels have you written? ding linlang gave a sly smile, shaking her head. i cant tell you that for now. its not that i want to hide it from you, but its just too embarrassing. youre not writing adult content, are you? get lost! ding linlang scolded angrily, then continued with a bit of sternness, its not that explicit. the website has screening; if its too explicit, itll be blocked. huh? qian quan leaned in intentionally, staring into her eyes. he had read her online novels. how to put it? they certainly couldnt be classified as explicit content, but some of the descriptions were quite suggestive, highlighting the delicacy of a female authors writing style. ding linlang felt a bit self-conscious under his gaze. she pushed his face away with her hand and said, dont worry about those details. the main point i want to tell you is that im planning to write online novels at home during the summer vacation. i wont have time to work at kfc with you. alright then. qian quan did not insist. there was a brief silence. ding linlang asked, by the way, arent you curious about my earnings from my writing? qian quan shook his head. not really, i dont want to share your money. just be curious. dont want to. qian quan firmly denied her the opportunity to show off. oh, youre so annoying! ding linlang kicked qian quans foot. qian quan burst into laughter and stood up. three games, two wins. one more round. july 16th, qian quans birthday. he received four or five happy birthday messages early in the morning, mostly from classmates. qian jiamin, the class monitor who got into peking university, added a few lines: may you have a prosperous future, be happy and free. even if you have to go against the current, dont be swayed by the waves. qian quan thanked them one by one. at 10 in the morning, ding linlang arrived at qian quans house with a gift. to be honest, qian quan had been curious about ding linlangs gift for a while. after all, he had participated in discussions about it in the readers group and was eager to know her final choice. he took the gift without much ceremony, tore open the wrapping immediately, and opened the box. inside was a mechanical wristwatch. a seagull master craftsman series wristwatch, with a black strap and white dial, looked quite refined and stylish. this brand, seagull! it must be expensive, right? qian quan asked, imitating a celebritys tone, while putting on the watch. its quite expensive, around 150. really? well then, ill give you 1,500, and you can get me 10 watches like this. get lost! ding linlang cursed and then reminded him, if your parents ask, just say it cost 150, got it? i know. a little later, his parents returned from outside, his father carrying a cake and dishes, while his mother held a pair of basketball shoes. linlang. qian quans mother saw ding linlang and greeted her happily. mrs. qian, did you buy basketball shoes for qian quan? yeah, i promised him before. he said he cant win you if he wears regular basketball shoes. haha, he tricked you. no matter what shoes he wears, he cant beat me. i know. i just want him to accept defeat gracefully. mrs. qian, youre clever! qian quan, who had been listening to their conversation, felt completely bewildered. ladies, im still here. do you think i cant hear you talking? qian quans mother and ding linlang exchanged smiles and paid no attention to him. did linlang buy this watch? qian quans father noticed the watch on his sons wrist and changed the topic. yes. seagull, right? this watch costs over a thousand. why did you buy something so expensive? qian quans father recognized the brand at a glance. mr. qian, i bought a high-quality imitation, its only a little over a hundred. ding linlang hurriedly explained. i see, it looks quite similar. its just like the one the vice principal at our school has. ding linlang laughed awkwardly a few times and simultaneously pinched qian quan discreetly. qian quan quickly intervened, mom, whats for lunch today? is there chicken? i bought a whole rooster. its enough for you. take the shoes and give them a try. qian quan rushed over to take the basketball shoes and said obediently, thanks, mom. cut it out! qian quans mother said. you go play with linlang. your dad and i will cook. later, mr. ding and mrs. ye will come over. you should host them. okay. qian quan changed into the new shoes, and they fit just right. ever since he was young, his mother had never missed the size of the clothes and shoes she bought for him. around noon, ding linlangs parents arrived. upon entering, they handed qian quan some lucky money. happy birthday, handsome! ding linlangs mother had watched qian quan grow up and always liked to tease him. thank you, mr. ding and mrs. ye. are you playing chinese chess? ding linlangs father saw his daughter sitting in front of the chessboard and walked over. no, were studying the endgame from mr. qians new chess manual. ding linlang spoke while still looking at the chessboard. ding linlangs father was an average chess player, but he had a strong passion for chinese chess. he took a seat and observed the chess game. you go play chess with them. ill check the kitchen. ding linlangs mother waved at qian quan, then went to the kitchen. ten minutes later, lunch was served. ding linlangs mother served the dishes and also asked ding linlangs father, qian quan, and ding linlang to eat. the two families had shared countless meals, so there was no need for excessive formalities. the atmosphere was naturally relaxed, filled with the unspoken understanding of close family ties. lets raise our glasses and wish rocky a happy birthday. after everyone was seated, ding linlangs mother, ye yunlan, raised her glass and said. everyone raised their glasses, and they wished qian quan a happy birthday. facing these four elder figures and ding linlang, qian quan displayed sincere humility and gratitude. starting from today, you are officially an adult. any thoughts? ding linlang asked. in the future, whether my parents give me living expenses and tuition fees will depend entirely on their mood, and there will be no need for them to worry about the law anymore. qian quans words made everyone laugh. so, im planning to work at kfc starting tomorrow. qian quan took advantage of the situation to reveal his decision to his parents. what kind of work? qian quans mother asked. summer job, working as a server at kfc. without waiting for his mother to reply, qian quans father continued, its good to get some experience, and its an early exposure to the job market. itll help him appreciate his campus life. young people need experience. ding linlangs father agreed, glancing at ding linlang and quickly adding, especially young men. subsequently, the two families chatted happily while having lunch. just as the two fathers had a sip of wine and began discussing international affairs, qian quan naturally picked up a chicken leg and placed it in front of ding linlang. she accepted it without a word of thanks, seemingly unfazed. this seemingly ordinary scene happened to be noticed by the two mothers, who exchanged a subtle glance that conveyed everything without words. the next day, qian quans father qian wenlin went to the chinese chess club for an internal selection tournament, while qian quan went to the only kfc in riverside county for an interview. as a budget-friendly, young, and handsome student worker, qian quans interview went smoothly. due to his exceptional image and demeanor, he was specially selected by the store manager to work at the front cash register. after signing the contract, the manager took him to learn the basic skills of cash handling. this included operating the ordering machine, communicating with customers, preparing meals, packaging orders, promoting meal deals, issuing receipts, and quickly identifying counterfeit money. these seemingly ordinary tasks required a fair amount of thought when executed. after half a day of learning, the procedures were mostly sorted out. with practical practice tomorrow, he would soon become proficient. at 6 oclock in the afternoon, qian quan finished his shift, clocked out, and treated himself to an ice cream cone as a reward. leaving the store, he walked toward the bus stop. passing by the entrance of the riverside hotel, he noticed people playing chinese chess and walked over. engaging in the game were two elderly men in their sixties. one was dressed in a white robe, projecting a mild aura and scholarly demeanor, with meticulous grooming despite his partly gray hair. the other wore a white tank top, held a handheld fan, and possessed a benevolent countenance. with a completely bald head, he embodied the quintessential image of a friendly elder. behind each elderly player stood four or five advisors, each displaying a committed expression and engaging in fervent discussions. the discourse ranged from strategic insights to impassioned arguments, all centered around the best course of action. in terms of the games progress, the advisors were much more fervent in their verbal sparring than the two main players. amused by the scene, qian quan suddenly heard the voice of the system in his mind. [ding! the system has detected that your father has secured a triumphant three-game winning streak using the novel chess strategy, earning him a spot on the chess clubs competitive team. you are awarded master-level chinese chess proficiency!] instantaneously, a variety of chess openings and strategies flickered through his mind, transitioning from swift to leisurely before ultimately settling into his existing knowledge and memories. Chapter 6 translator: inschain editor: inschain on the bus back, qian quan briefly reviewed the chinese chess game between the two old men. he found that as long as he closed his eyes, the game would clearly appear in his mind. this was undoubtedly a new ability acquired after gaining master-level chess proficiency. in the past, when he played blind chess with ding linlang, he would become confused after just a few moves. but now, everything had become simple, just like when his senior math teacher demonstrated solid geometry gestures in the air, even without getting confused over drawing three auxiliary lines. it was a feeling of sudden clarity. he even had the confidence to play blind chess against his dad, mr. ding, and ding linlang simultaneously, defeating each of them. the substantial increase in his skill bolstered his belief in inevitable victory, as his capabilities grew stronger, so did his confidence. returning home, he saw his dad sitting on the couch watching the news. he asked, feigning ignorance, dad, how did the competition go today? qian wenlin glanced at him and replied calmly, three consecutive wins, i made it to the team. as expected. qian quan quickly complimented, how about we play another round? he wanted to test where his master-level chess proficiency stood. your moms about to finish cooking. qian wenlin kept his gaze on the tv and then changed his mind, we can play a round, and im in good form now, so it wont take long for me to beat you. okay. qian quan swiftly fetched the chessboard. they quickly set up the board, and as usual, qian quan made the first move. qian wenlin thought they would finish the match swiftly, but after about ten moves, he slightly furrowed his brows, while qian quan became more at ease with each move. is it because the strong will eventually weaken? qian wenlin muttered to himself. however, qian quan knew better. his chess skills had indeed surpassed his fathers, although this ability had been bestowed upon him by his dad. after a few more moves, qian wenlin fell into contemplation. after about three minutes, he said, checkmate? yeah. qian quan readily agreed. as they were about to set up another match, qian quans moms voice came from the kitchen, time to eat! they quickly tidied up the chessboard and washed their hands for dinner. during the meal, qian quans mom asked qian quan about his job at kfc, and he truthfully answered, the tasks are easy to learn, and were trained by experienced staff. the wage is 10 per hour, and i work for eight hours a day. can you get free meals from the store? his father inquired. no, we have to pay for the food as well, but we do get discounts. if you want to eat there, i can order using the employee discount directly, so you wont need separate coupons. listening to their sons description, qian wenlin and yang yuhua displayed expressions of contentment on their faces. qian wenlin took advantage of a brief break while qian quan was in the kitchen to take dishes to speak to his wife, have you noticed that after rocky received his college acceptance letter, he seems to have suddenly matured? yang yuhua shook her head, no, in my eyes, hes forever a kid. qian wenlin smiled without saying anything. after dinner, qian wenlin invited qian quan to play chinese chess again. he was still somewhat bothered by the hard-fought draw in their previous match. coincidentally, qian quan also wanted to sharpen his skills against his father, acting as a whetstone. he hoped to experience higher-level games in advance, hoping it would help him in his own competitions. they set up the board for another round. qian quan let his dad make the first move, but his dad waved him off, saying, you go first. qian quan stopped declining and focused on his moves. after about twenty moves, qian wenlin picked up a piece with his right hand but didnt immediately put it down. he contemplated for almost half a minute, exhaled softly, and said, lets reset. this time, qian wenlin wasnt as polite. he began by making the first move, and his expression became particularly serious, treating his son as a true opponent. qian quan responded calmly, countering the moves and trying to showcase the intricate paths he had in mind. after around twenty moves, qian wenlin paused and said in puzzlement, strange, then made a few more moves. when it was qian quans turn, he remained still and asked slowly, dad, should i continue? qian wenlin put the chess piece he was holding back on the board, smiling as he said, no need to continue. qian quan quietly collected the pieces without saying a word. how did you suddenly become enlightened? qian wenlin looked at his son. because of the chinese chess manual, you bought, qian quan replied with a double meaning. qian wenlin nodded with a smile, such things are rare but do happen. when youre in good luck, things come naturally. its hard to resist. qian quan modestly smiled. in the future, when youre in college, if there are chinese chess competitions you want to join, feel free to participate. but dont be too fixated on things beyond chinese chess. keep a balanced mind, and remember two sayings: do without doing and everything gets done, and if you can forgive others, then forgive others. got it, ill remember that. qian quan nodded in acknowledgment. before going to bed, qian quan habitually logged into his alternate account, mystery man, to check the group messages. he saw someone in the group asking what birthday gift ding linlang had given to her best friend. ding linlang truthfully answered, and then the group erupted with speculations. readers expressed that the watch she gave had a romantic meaning. ding linlang helplessly replied, the watch i gave was just for telling time, and then quickly logged off. qian quan shook his head and chuckled, thinking how imaginative people could be. the next morning, after breakfast, qian quan headed to work. the store wasnt too busy in the morning, so he was assigned to clean the tables and maintain hygiene in the dining area. by 11 a.m., customers began to arrive, and the lunch rush was starting. qian quan moved to the front counter to handle the cash register. half an hour later, three long lines had formed. as a new employee, qian quan was a bit slower, and a man in his thirties waiting in his queue exclaimed loudly, can you be any slower? stop dragging your feet. the manager stepped in to explain on qian quans behalf, sorry, everyone, hes new here. the dissatisfied customer persisted, why are you using a new employee during peak hours? youre wasting our time! if you cant handle it, get someone else! before the manager could continue explaining, someone else in the line chimed in, if you think its slow, you can switch to another line. whats the fuss? besides, which experienced employee didnt start as new? hearing this voice, qian quan, who had been attentively processing orders, looked up and found ding linlang standing in the middle of the queue, pretending to be an ordinary customer, speaking up on his behalf. qian quans mood instantly brightened. the manager took the opportunity to say, were really sorry, sir. we dont have many staff available right now, and its the lunch rush. lets be considerate of each other. then, he said to qian quan in a serious tone, qian quan, you better hurry up! understood. qian quan acknowledged, completely ignoring the complaining customer. later, it was ding linlangs turn. after placing her order, she praised qian quan intentionally, sir, youve got a great attitude! thank you for the compliment. qian quan felt delighted, maintaining his professional demeanor. however, this happiness didnt last long. soon, two more customers interrupted. they were familiar faces. sun shaokang and song xi. qian quan? sun shaokangs eyes lit up when he saw qian quan, who was currently working as a server. what can i get for you? qian quan didnt have time for catching up. well have a family bucket and two strawberry sundaes. sun shaokang ordered, wrapping his arm around song xis waist, sweetie, do you want anything else? no, these will do. song xi calmly shook her head. qian quan swiftly prepared their order. as sun shaokang reached over to pick up the tray from song xis waist, he purposefully patted her curvaceous buttocks right in front of qian quan and casually said, see you. even though qian quan had moved on from song xi, he still felt uncomfortable, experiencing a sense of disillusionment, the feeling that his once thought of as a goddess was being casually played with by someone else. at 1:30 p.m., qian quan took his lunch break. he ordered a double beef burger combo for himself and, while searching for a seat, noticed that ding linlang was still there. she sat in a corner with her laptop, typing away. bathed in the afternoon sunlight, her upright and handsome figure exuded a captivating charm of earnestness and concentration. qian quan walked over and sat across from her, asking, why havent you left yet? ding linlang finished typing a segment and looked up, waiting for you to finish your shift. i wont be off until 6 p.m. then, 6 p.m. it is. lets have dinner together. sure, ill treat you to grilled sea bass. after finishing his burger and chatting with ding linlang for a while, qian quan headed back to work. at 6 p.m., qian quan clocked out punctually, changed out of his work uniform, and left with ding linlang. once outside, about to head to a restaurant, they noticed a few people gathered at the entrance of the neighboring riverside hotel, playing chess. want to check it out? ding linlang suggested. yes. the two of them walked over. the familiar elder man with a fan and a bare forehead was guarding the challenge. he had won several games in a row and seemed unbeatable. after easily defeating his current opponent, no one dared to challenge him anymore. everyone chuckled awkwardly and backed away. anyone else wants to come? the elder man smiled amiably but with a hint of challenge, speaking with a kind tone that contrasted his arrogant words. let me try. ding linlang, driven by competitiveness, handed her laptop bag to qian quan and took a seat across from the elder man. a young lady, not bad at all. the elder man smiled as he used his fan to gesture towards ding linlang, you go first. starting with a speedy and aggressive opening, ding linlang initiated the game, seeking to end it quickly. however, the elder man was experienced and faced her moves with a calm and composed demeanor. after about fifteen or sixteen moves, ding linlang was defeated. keep practicing more, the elder man said with a smile. got it. ding linlang replied nonchalantly, rising from her seat. everyones being too polite today the elder man waved his fan, his satisfaction was evident in his eyes. ill give it a shot too, qian quan said with a smile as he sat down. the elder man glanced at him and asked, should i give you a little advantage first? no need, i can handle it. qian quan quickly set up the board. the elder man chuckled upon hearing this, saying cheerfully, alright, lets see how you manage. you go ahead. qian quan didnt decline, placing his pieces on the board. the initial moves were fine; both of them played fluidly and without hesitation. after about ten moves, the elder mans fan slowed down noticeably. five or six moves later, qian quan stood up with a smile, i win. the elder man stared at the board for a few seconds, then slapped his forehead, careless! i got ambushed by you. shall we play another round? were going to have dinner now, how about tomorrow? qian quan made a move to leave. are you sure youll come tomorrow? definitely, i work at the kfc next door. alright then, ill wait for you here tomorrow. the elder man clearly hadnt had enough of the thrill of competition and was still unwilling to admit defeat. Chapter 7 translator: inschain editor: inschain how did you manage to beat that old man just now? i feel like his chess skills are not inferior to mr. qians. ding linlang was surprised by qian quans outstanding chess performance just now. he who is overconfident will suffer defeat, and i attacked him unexpectedly, qian quan explained. ding linlang looked at qian quan with a mixture of belief and doubt and suggested, how about we play blindfold chess? lets just have a relaxed dinner, weve both had a busy day, qian quan politely declined with a smile. alright, ding linlang didnt insist. they ordered a large portion of grilled sea bass. while waiting for the food to arrive, a stylishly dressed young girl approached, apparently seeking contact details. she seemed to be interested in getting ding linlangs information and also trying to get qian quans for her friend. as the saying goes, you never know to what extent a girl can be proactive with a handsome guy. qian quan and ding linlang had encountered such situations before and were used to them. turning his head, qian quan noticed a pretty girl sitting not far away looking in their direction. when their eyes met, she blushed and lowered her head shyly. maybe theres a misunderstanding, im also a girl, ding linlang explained in a friendly and skillful manner, gesturing towards qian quan, and hes my boyfriend. upon hearing this, the stylish girl became extremely embarrassed, quickly apologized with a bow, and hurriedly left. when we go to university, we cant use this way anymore. it might hinder your future relationships, ding linlang said with a smile, looking at qian quan. its all about analyzing the specific situation. if the girl who approaches us doesnt match our aesthetic standards, just keep using this tactic to refuse her. if the girl is exceptionally good-looking, it might be worth adding her as a friend on a social app and getting to know her better. qian quan spoke logically and confidently. ding linlang chuckled. before long, the food was served. my family restaurants dishes are great, give them a try. at the harmony bistro, sun shaokang was having a meal with three friends from society. when the food arrived, he started inviting everyone to enjoy the meal. shaokang, how far have you and your girlfriend progressed? have you made any moves yet? the bald man sitting on sun shaokangs left, his face flushed from drinking, asked with an oily smile. oh, dont mention it. were only at the holding hands and waist-hugging stage. after buying her an iphone and an lv bag, she reluctantly allowed some touching, but still insisted on keeping our clothes on! d*mn! sun shaokang complained with a grudge. haha, thats how girls are. eventually, shell be more proactive than you imagine. then you can play with her however you want the bald man spoke as someone who had been through it. sun shaokang listened with longing in his heart. when he thought about certain scenes he shared with song xi, his heart raced. by the way, why arent you taking the aggressive approach? the slim and short young man on sun shaokangs right, smoking a cigarette, squinted his eyes and asked. wouldnt that be considered violating her? were in a serious relationship. its only meaningful when both sides are willing. i, sun shaokang, wont stoop to that level the bald man laughed. shaokang is still a student. he is different from a rascal like you. the slim and short young man didnt mind, laughing heartily. i misspoke, so ill have a drink as punishment. sun shaokang smiled and seemed to be thinking of something. he frowned and hesitated to speak. the silent young man sitting beside the slim and short one noticed and asked, kangkang, you mentioned that a guy from your class confessed to song xi. whats the situation now? is he still bothering you guys? thats not the case anymore. ive crushed his spirits. i bet he sees me as the last person he wants to encounter sun shaokangs tone was smug, followed by a click of his tongue. but i still have a bit of a grudge against him. just thinking about him makes me uncomfortable. why? sun shaokang thought for a few seconds and said, i cant tell you the details. im just inexplicably unhappy. when i think about how his confession left a mark on song xis heart and how hes going to go to the same city as us to study at university in the future, i feel uncomfortable all over. the slim and short young man flicked the cigarette ash and asked, whats that guy like? what does his family do? his familys not particularly well-off. theres not much to discuss there. its more about him-a bit of a pretty boy. he hangs out daily with someone whos neither definitively male nor female, stands out in school, and attracts attention, especially from those immature young girls who particularly like his type. everyone understood right away. clearly, the guy was quite good-looking and popular with the girls at school, and he had a complicated history with song xi. that was likely why sun shaokang was so bothered. its all small stuff. tell us where he lives. well find a chance to intimidate him and let you blow off some steam, the bald man suggested. sun shaokangs mind was set in motion. he said, no need to actually beat him. you can just go scare him a bit. hes working at the kfc as a service staff. if you have time, you can drop by. we can go tomorrow. well make sure everything goes smoothly for you. sun shaokang nodded, reiterating, just a gesture will do. dont actually hurt him. dont worry, we know the limits. were professionals. the next day, qian quan went to work, and his business skills had already significantly improved. during the lunchtime cash collection, the store manager, who was doing rounds, personally praised him and suggested that he consider applying for a management trainee position at kfc after graduating from college. upon hearing this, qian quan chuckled and disregarded it. his aspirations had never been about becoming a kfc management trainee. with the mysterious system backing him now, it was even less appealing. as an eighteen or nineteen-year-old teenager, still untouched by the harsh realities of society, his most basic aspiration was to either buy a kfc franchise or establish a more impressive enterprise than kfc. after work, qian quan ordered a combo meal of whole chicken and cola. after finishing his meal, he prepared to head to the nearby elders house for a game of chess. however, just as he stepped out of the kfc entrance and walked a few steps, he was intercepted by three people. the three of them consisted of a bald man with a face full of flesh, a short and lean young man with a sinister look, and a somewhat handsome young man. are you guys looking for me? qian quan became cautious while simultaneously recognizing the somewhat familiar face of the handsome young man. if were not looking for you, should we be looking for your mom? the bald man stepped forward, wearing a smirk resembling a cat playing with a mouse. qian quan gazed calmly at the bald man for a few seconds, then turned back towards the kfc entrance. youre running away just like that? the three exchanged glances, then burst into laughter. what should we do now, should we go in and find him or wait for him to come out? the short and slim youth asked. lets wait for him to come out. lets see how long he can hide, the bald man said with a pleased expression. two minutes later, qian quan reappeared in front of them, holding a set of stainless steel knives. he stared directly at the bald man, his voice neither loud nor low as he asked, what did you just say? though he didnt shout, a surge of furious energy emanated from qian quan, momentarily intimidating the three of them. who the heck are you trying to scare? the bald man, after all, couldnt bring himself to repeat the provocative words from before, but he still retained his defiant stance. i know sun shaokang sent you here, and i know i might not be able to beat the three of you, and today i might even end up dead at your hands, but i wont fear you, and i wont gamble on the probability that youll show mercy. ill resist with all my might. ill fixate on one of you three, then plunge this knife into his heart! and if that doesnt succeed, ill muster all my strength to bite through his artery. ill stick my fingers into his eyes and gouge out his eyeballs. ill make sure to retaliate before you manage to kill me. as he spoke, qian quans gaze swept across the faces of the three, as if searching for his target. perhaps due to the knife in his hand, the three who should have had the upper hand felt an eerie shiver down their spines from being scrutinized, making them seem a little hesitant. no matter who dies in the end, its self-defense on my part, and you guys are guilty of premeditated murder. qian quan concluded, his expression unchanged, devoid of any emotion in his tone. you think you can scare us with that knife? the short and slim youth might have felt his pride challenged and retorted. qian quan said no more, slightly bending his waist, gripping the knife tightly, and adopting a stance that seemed to say whoever made the first move would be the one stabbed. the situation was somewhat tense for a moment. excuse me for interrupting, but yesterday, you had arranged to play chinese chess with mr. huang, right? at that moment, a middle-aged man of average build approached, politely inquiring about qian quan. qian quan turned his head and glanced, replying, yes. mr. huangs been waiting. why dont you go over first? the middle-aged man suggested. qian quan glanced at the three. dont worry. ill talk to them. the middle-aged mans tone was amicable. theres nothing to talk about. we came here today to eat at kfc and just happened to run into him. we were passing along a message for a friend, but he pulled out a knife and acted like he was about to kill us. made it seem like a real threat. the bald man sneered. the middle-aged man smiled and said, so, its just a misunderstanding. alright then, in that case, why dont you three continue with your meal? oh, by the way, this is my business card. if you ever need a place to stay, feel free to contact me. the middle-aged man handed a business card to the bald man. after taking a look, the bald mans expression changed dramatically, you are you mr. liang, liang wanjun, from the riverside hotel? liang wanjun, a famous character, was the general manager of riverside hotel, and one of the most renowned figures in the local underworld. yes, thats me. liang wanjuns smile remained unaffected. ones reputation and influence often extended beyond their name. in this town, not just anyone could afford to offend liang wanjun. both the short and slim youth and the refined-looking young man subtly changed their expressions upon hearing this. oh, mr. liang, um, we didnt know he knew you. we genuinely didnt come here to confront him. it was a coincidence that we bumped into him and wanted to pass along a message to him for a friend. it really was just about conveying a single message, but it turned into a misunderstanding, haha the bald mans expression completely changed, and he awkwardly offered an explanation while laughing. liang wanjun intervened, misunderstandings cleared up, thats good. i wont delay your meal any longer. sure, you guys do your thing. the bald man hastily waved his hand and headed towards the kfc with his two companions. lets go too, so we dont keep mr. huang waiting too long. liang wanjun urged qian quan. qian quan exhaled slowly and said, lets go. liang wanjun led qian quan directly into the riverside hotel and headed to a private meeting room on the second floor. mr. huang, dressed in a navy blue button-down t-shirt, had already set up the chessboard and was waiting for him. come, young man. today, well play inside the room, without anyone disturbing us. qian quan walked over and took a seat on the couch opposite mr. huang. lets continue from yesterdays game. you go first, qian quan said, his anger still simmering like a raging thunderstorm, his tone as calm as possible. mr. huang already knew qian quans level of play, so he didnt act overconfident. taking the initiative, he made his move. qian quan followed suit. having learned from his previous experience, mr. huang started cautiously, playing each move with great care. however, qian quan adopted a different style today. his moves were fierce, sharp, and decisive as if releasing boundless fury through his gameplay. in less than thirty moves, most of the pieces on the board had been captured. qian quans strategy didnt seem to be solely aimed at winning the game anymore, but rather at ruthless elimination. if the chessboard was a battlefield, it would have been a scene of bloodshed and no quarter given. in the end, mr. huang was left with only a lone king, while qian quan still had his guards and elephants, along with a lone side pawn. arch pawn. qian quan gently pushed the side pawn forward. the pawn advanced, crossing the river. Chapter 8 translator: inschain editor: inschain why didnt you win earlier? why play like this? mr. huang, with his sharp eyes and chess skills, naturally noticed something unusual in qian quans moves. sorry, mr. huang. im not feeling quite myself today, qian quans recent moves were actually somewhat impolite. can you talk about it? just some small matters. ill handle them on my own, qian quan was never one to share deeply with others. mr. huang nodded slightly and said, no matter what it is, remember this: the world operates this way, winners take all, losers get eliminated, just like in chess. so, after the losers are eliminated, they still have to be stepped on by the winners occasionally? qian quan asked with a faint smile. mr. huang didnt immediately respond. he gazed at qian quan. after a moment, he nodded and said, yes, in everyone, theres a tendency to be overbearing and oppress others. we shouldnt underestimate peoples malicious intentions. as mr. huang spoke these words, his expression held a sense of detachment that had experienced lifes vicissitudes and understood the worlds ways. it contrasted with his previous image of being friendly and approachable, like a friendly neighbor. i understand, qian quan stood up, so, mr. huang, lets end here for today. shall we continue tomorrow? yes. ill have other guests soon. qian quan bid farewell and was about to leave when mr. huang called him again, young man, whats your name? my name is qian quan. qian quan? from head to toe, mr. huang examined qian quan, you are a good young man, but your name is a bit revealing. do you have a nickname? my nickname is rocky. rocky? good. this nickname sounds more mature. thank you, qian quan smiled. after qian quan left, liang wanjun reported the recent situation to mr. huang. what do you think of him? mr. huang asked. courage and strategy, full of youthful spirit, liang wanjun summed it up concisely. youth should be spirited, mr. huang chuckled, its been many years since ive encountered an opponent who could utterly defeat me in chinese chess without me letting them. you didnt let him win? no. thats truly remarkable. after all, youve even beaten professional chess players. youth can surpass the older generation, mr. huang picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, ive just carefully observed his demeanor. i sense hes a youth with limitless potential. liang wanjun said earnestly, shall i have someone investigate the backgrounds of those three individuals and help him solve this trouble thoroughly? it can help us establish a positive connection with him. no need. a business card will suffice, mr. huang said with a smile, and by the way, xiaoyu will be here soon. have you arranged practice companions for her? its already arranged. explain what! if he asks, just show him the business card. inside the kfc, the bald man grumbled discontentedly as he nibbled on his chicken leg. sun shaokang hadnt disclosed that qian quan knew liang wanjun before sending them three to find him. this left them in a passive position and almost led them to make a big mistake. how could a student like him know liang wanjun? the thin young man asked with a puzzled expression. the quiet and reserved young man, who had remained silent all along, added without expression, we shouldnt underestimate anyone, and besides the young man hesitated. besides what? the bald man inquired. besides, even if liang wanjun hadnt appeared, he had a knife. are you saying that he might really use a knife to hurt us? yes. the young man nodded confidently. the three of them fell silent and thought about the same question. who would he have used the knife on if a fight had broken out just now? sitting on the bus, qian quans emotions were gradually calming down. the phrase from mr. huang, winners take all, losers get eliminated, echoed in his mind, connecting to his own situation his crush was snatched away, and he was mocked in front of the entire class, and if that wasnt enough, he was subjected to inexplicable harassment and insults by them. they could condescendingly manipulate and trample upon him because they had money and resources. an unstoppable urge grew within qian quan. he didnt want to face such situations anymore. he wanted to be the winner! just because he couldnt use the knife to silence the bald mans mouth today didnt mean the matter was over. he would remember this debt and settle it another day. as for now he was determined to wrap up this matter. the bus arrived at the windsor town bus stop. he got off and went to a fruit shop to buy a fruit basket. instead of going home, he took a taxi directly to sun shaokangs house. liang wanjun? i dont know if he knows liang wanjun. sun shaokang, who had just dropped off song xi at her house, was driving his bmw back home. he was on the phone with his three friends, asking about the situation. however, the response he received was a series of probing questions. let it go. it doesnt matter anymore. liang wanjun personally mediated the situation and even handed us his business card. we cant deny this gesture. i think its best to let it rest here, the bald man who hadnt been drinking was still quite rational. alright, i understand. sun shaokang was now utterly puzzled. having frequently interacted with people in society, he had naturally heard stories about the formidable liang wanjun. however, how could qian quan possibly know liang wanjun? they were two entirely unrelated individuals. he mumbled and complained all the way back home. just as he parked the car in front of his house, he witnessed a scene that left him utterly bewildered. qian quan was walking out of his house. what was he doing here? why did he come straight to his house? whether due to guilt or the recent news about liang wanjun, sun shaokang sat in his car, gazing at qian quan. for a while, he didnt dare to get out. qian quan seemed to recognize his car, paused, looked at him for a moment, and then walked away without approaching or greeting him. after a considerable effort to regain his composure, sun shaokang finally parked his car in the garage. returning home and seeing the fruit basket qian quan had left, his father spoke before he could ask, your high school classmate named qian quan came looking for you just now. i told him you werent at home, so he left. hes quite polite-brought a fruit basket when he came. did he say why he came to find me? he didnt mention why. he said he just stopped by to say hello and thank you. he mentioned that after you learned he was working at kfc, you specially arranged for someone to take care of his business. sun shaokangs father spoke with a tone of admiration. sun shaokang, hearing this, was clearly caught off guard for a moment. then he said, oh, that matter. i didnt expect him to make a special trip for that. ill message him later. looking at the fruit basket, sun shaokang thought, this isnt a fruit basket; its clearly a warning. if it were before today, he might have believed that qian quan had brought the fruit basket as a plea, begging him to spare him. however, after learning about his connection with liang wanjun, the fruit basket took on a different meaning. he certainly wouldnt proactively contact qian quan, as that would imply weakness. but he also wanted to avoid qian quan contacting him again. it would be best if everything ended here. back home, qian quan saw his father and ding linlang playing chinese chess. neither of them paid him any attention. qian quan didnt disturb them either. he pulled up a chair and sat down to watch the match. the game on the chessboard had progressed to the endgame, and ding linlang was surprisingly not at a disadvantage. youre doing well in this game, qian quan couldnt help but praise ding linlang. because mr. qian let me gain a slight advantage. ding linlang said as she stared at the chessboard. no wonder, qian quan chuckled. qian wenlin glanced at his son and asked, who do you think will win this game? offering an evaluation now would only disrupt your morale. ill watch the game without commenting. qian quan remained neutral. qian wenlin smiled with satisfaction. youre getting closer to the way of chinese chess. well done. after another seven or eight moves, ding linlang was defeated. linlang, your progress is remarkable. it seems i didnt make a mistake buying that chess manual. qian wenlins victory in this game wasnt easy. ding linlang frowned slightly, still trying to figure out where she went wrong in the game. dont think about it. ill replay it for you. while saying this, qian quan quickly reconstructed the previous endgame. he looked up at his father and asked, dad, could you replay it once more? qian wenlin gladly agreed. then the two of them immersed themselves in the chess match. ding linlang became a spectator, and she watched in astonishment as qian quan slowly, step by step, defeated qian wenlin. Chapter 9 translator: inschain editor: inschain impossible. how can this be? ding linlang looked at qian quan with disbelief written all over her face. qian wenlin smiled and said, hes had a moment of enlightenment, an instant understanding. its quite a rare occurrence. ding linlang was somewhat skeptical and said to qian quan, play another game with me. qian quan smiled and accepted the challenge. the result was that ding linlang couldnt hold on for more than twenty moves before being defeated completely. throughout the process, qian quan didnt pause for a single move. ding linlang looked at the chessboard, then at qian quan, and suddenly realized, were you deliberately letting me win before? really not, qian quan smiled and shook his head, ive just been studying chess manuals lately, and suddenly everything clicked. ding linlang stared at qian quan, her face showing a mix of disbelief and admiration, no wonder you managed to defeat that old man the other day. qian quan nodded with a smile and then inquired about his fathers upcoming chinese chess tournament. the first round starts the day after tomorrow. eight teams with 24 players total. theyll eliminate half of them in the first round. sounds quite competitive. are they eliminating based on teams? theyll form groups and do team-based matchups. its a personal elimination, meaning each teams three players will face the three players from the opposing team. the final rankings will be based on points: win 3 points, draw 1 point, lose 0 points. even if both your teammates are eliminated, you can still advance if you have the highest points. got it, qian quan nodded. by the way, can others watch the matches? yes, but you are not allowed to bring any electronic devices into the venue, nor are you allowed to give any hints. alright, that makes sense. but i can watch the matches to assess the stronger players and memorize their strategies in advance qian quan! qian wenlin suddenly adopted a serious tone and called out qian quans full name. get rid of those thoughts. qian quan was puzzled. youre currently riding a wave of success in chinese chess, and you should use it to understand the essence of it further, not waste your talents on shortcuts. remember what i told you C do without doing, and everything gets done. qian quan suddenly realized that despite his master-level skill in chinese chess, his overall understanding of the game was still not as profound as his fathers. on the surface, his father was talking about chinese chess, but in fact, he was teaching him how to behave. alright, i understand, qian quan said earnestly. actually, i had the same thought as you just now ding linlang, who had been quietly watching, weakly voiced her agreement. lets continue playing chinese chess, qian wenlin smiled and brushed it off. qian quan hesitated for a moment and said, i want to try playing a blindfold game with you guys. what do you mean by a blindfolded game? i wont look at the chessboard while playing against you, qian quan explained. qian wenlin and ding linlang felt their competitive spirits rise at his proposal. too arrogant! who do you want to play against first? at the riverside hotel, on the third floor, in the gym, mr. huang smiled and looked at the girl before him. she was wearing a blue and white tracksuit with her hair tied back in a ponytail. let the two of them face me together, the girl said confidently. standing not far from her were two burly, muscular men C gym trainers and subordinates of liang wanjun. alright, lets do it your way, mr. huang nodded slightly, then signaled the two trainers to step forward simultaneously. the two trainers hesitated slightly. even though liang wanjun had introduced her as a formidable opponent, seeing her age and build, they didnt consider her to be a match for them, let alone the two of them together. ill go first. seeing this, the girl took the initiative to attack. in a seemingly ordinary movement, she took a step forward and raised her right palm diagonally toward the trainer on her left. although there was still some distance between her palm and the trainer, when her palm descended, it barely brushed past the trainers face, missing him by a mere two centimeters. the trainer instinctively took a step back, feeling a sharp gust of wind passing by his face. the girls palm flipped over, cutting across to the other trainers throat. again, it passed by only about two centimeters, forcing the other trainer to retreat two steps. her actions were fluid and seamless, executed in a single breath. although she was attacking both of them simultaneously, it was a complete and undivided move. one move, forcing back both opponents. go ahead, dont hesitate, the girl spoke straightforwardly, radiating a bold air. the two trainers, still shaken, understood the meaning of liang wanjuns claim of her being a formidable opponent. they didnt hesitate any longer. they lowered their bodies, clenched their fists, and assumed fighting stances. the girl smiled with satisfaction, her palms striking simultaneously as she pushed against one of the men. this time, the trainer was prepared and sidestepped, cautiously delivering a punch in return. the girl responded calmly, seemingly flicking her palm lightly to redirect the punch toward the other man. though the two training partners remained somewhat restrained in their strikes, they were slowly beginning to cooperate. after going back and forth for five or six rounds, the two trainers found themselves completely suppressed by the girl. they could only defend and struggle to counter as if they had transformed into two headless flies. despite their attempts to escape, they were unable to break free from her control. with graceful movements, the girls every move was a blend of strength and speed. she effortlessly used force against force, making it seem like she could easily lift great weights. her angles were precise, leaving the trainers with nowhere to execute their moves. they were trapped, like two flies in a web, with strength but no outlet. thank you for your cooperation. the girl quickly retracted her left palm, her right palm tracing a beautifully arcing circle before settling back into its original position. the two trainers were still somewhat dazed. after a moment of recovery, they admitted somewhat awkwardly, were no match for you. the girl smiled and said, i had the first move advantage. alright, lets call it a night here. mr. huang, who had been watching, walked over with a genial smile and looked at the girl with gratification. xiaoyu, you seem to have made significant progress compared to last time. ive finished learning eight-diagram palm. my master said that if i have any insights during my time in the countryside, hell teach me sixty-four hands when i return. the girl called xiaoyu spoke naturally, devoid of pretense or arrogance. good. rest well tonight, and well head to the countryside tomorrow. xiaoyu nodded. i also want to visit my grandmothers grave. okay. mr. huang left the gym with xiaoyu. left behind were the two trainers, exchanging glances. if we had gone all out from the start, what do you think our chances would be? one of the trainers asked. zero chance. she didnt even use her full strength. yeah. the questioning trainer chuckled bitterly. actually, its not a big deal. after all, shes mr. huangs granddaughter and the bosss daughter. surely, shes been taught by a top master. we can only console ourselves this way. back in the room arranged by her grandfather, zhao baiyu freshened up, meditated for half an hour, checked her phone, replied to a few messages, and went to bed promptly at 9 p.m. this habit of sleeping at 9 p.m. and waking up at 7 a.m. had been maintained for over a decade. the next morning. after getting up and freshening up, zhao baiyu went to the adjacent kfc for breakfast. while placing her order, she noticed that the cashier was a handsome young man. he was the attractive type that was relatively rare and caught her eye. however, that was the extent of it. in her eyes, a high-quality man needed more than just looks; he needed strength comparable to her own C at the very least. after finishing breakfast, she sent her grandfather a message and took a bus to his countryside home. her master had said that to learn sixty-four hands, she needed to travel around, experience nature, immerse herself in the surroundings, and observe the mountains, the sea, the sky, the earth, and the bustling human world. only when her mindset was ready would she be able to learn. the deeper the skill, the more important the mindset. zhao baiyu was well aware of this. in fact, it applied to many aspects of life. as the saying goes, mastering the core of one field allows you to excel in related fields as well. after half an hour on the bus, she arrived in her grandfathers hometown, goldridge village. after getting off, she purchased flowers and then walked to her grandmothers grave. after speaking alone for a while, she stood up and headed to experience the rural scenery. born and raised in azure bay, she was accustomed to bustling traffic and skyscrapers. however, she could also distinguish between various grains and livestock. since she could remember, she had visited riverside every year. although the city had large parks, they couldnt compare to the countryside in terms of the vistas and atmosphere. to wander in the mountains and marshes, to enjoy the forests and fields, to linger among the hills and ridges, recalling the lives of past generations walking around like this, she quickly reached noon. instead of returning to the county seat, she found a restaurant on the streets for lunch. in the afternoon, she continued to wander outdoors until around 6 p.m. before setting off back to riverside. upon arriving at the riverside hotel, she saw her grandfather playing chinese chess with someone. to her surprise, his opponent was the handsome cashier from kfc. meeting twice in one day C it seemed like destiny. thank you for letting me win, mr. huang. zhao baiyu saw the handsome cashier rise from his seat with a smile, clearly having won the game. Chapter 10 translator: inschain editor: inschain zhao baiyu was greatly surprised. she didnt know how to play chinese chess, but she was aware of her grandfathers chinese chess skills. when her grandfather was in azure bay, he was virtually invincible in their community and rarely suffered defeat. now he had actually lost to a high school student of similar age to her? could it be another li zhiyi? li zhiyi was the younger sister of her senior, li zihe. it was said that she was a math prodigy, excelling in both chinese chess and go. this year, she was admitted to the computer science department of jiao tong university ahead of schedule. after the young man left, zhao baiyu asked her grandfather, grandpa, who is that young man? oh, his name is qian quan, and hes from windsor town. like your mother, he also attended riverside first high school, and it seems he got accepted into seacoast normal university after this years college entrance exams. he works at the kfc over the summer to earn money. seacoast normal university? there are quite a few students from our class who are going there, zhao baiyu remarked with a hint of surprise. is he skilled at chinese chess? hes probably the most skilled opponent ive encountered so far, mr. huang admitted candidly. alright then. zhao baiyu, a martial arts prodigy herself, was quite open to accepting prodigious talents. hes also quite good-looking, mr. huang added casually. indeed, i rarely encounter such handsome guys in azure bay. zhao baiyu was straightforward. mr. huang chuckled, since youll both be studying in azure bay, you might have more chances to interact. consider making a friend. zhao baiyu shook her head. id rather not. i wouldnt say i like dealing with quiet boys. grandpa, you should know. mr. huang chuckled noncommittally. zhao baiyus interest in qian quan didnt go beyond this point. she had to head to the gym now to practice. xiaoyu, mr. huang suddenly called her back, i dont know much about martial arts, but ive gathered some life experiences over the years that id like to share with you what is it? zhao baiyu stopped and turned to her grandfather. we often say its cold at the top and easy to fall from a height. thats true. however, if we keep a bit of noble spirit in our hearts, keep our feet rooted in the soil, and our gaze often goes beyond, even if were standing at the summit, well have a foundation in our hearts. after thinking for a couple of seconds, zhao baiyu nodded. alright, grandpa, ill remember! qian wenlin, who would be participating in a chinese chess competition tomorrow, demonstrated an excellent state of preparation today. he hadnt touched a chessboard or read a chess manual the entire day. he even turned down qian quans suggestion to play two games to warm up. throughout the day, he simply cooked, read, wrote, and watched tv programs, truly entering into vacation mode. his focus was on maintaining a calm competitive mindset. moreover, he had a scientific rationale. there are two types of learning modes: conscious learning and subconscious learning. under normal circumstances, we can control and output knowledge acquired consciously. those moments of insight in extreme conditions are accumulations of the subconscious C also known as extraordinary performances. so, skilled learners must provide their subconscious ample space to absorb and digest knowledge. qian quan felt like he was learning something entirely new. consequently, he was convinced by the explanation. the next day, qian quan went to work as usual, while qian wenlin joined the chinese chess clubs team to participate in the competition in the city. qian quan knew his fathers skills well and wasnt worried about his advancement in the first round. sure enough, at noon during his break, qian quan was checking his phone in the employee lounge and saw a message from his father in the happy family group chat: advanced to the top 12. qian quan replied with a thumbs-up emoji and then informed ding linlang about it. unexpectedly, ding linlang replied, im in town. just finished watching the match. qian quan asked, youre there in person? yep, are you coming? if my dad makes it to the finals, ill take a leave and go. ding linlang said, ok, once the match ends, well go to the zoo with mr. qian. after finishing work in the afternoon, qian quan went to play chinese chess with mr. huang as planned. he noticed that there was a girl beside him, a girl with a graceful posture tied in a ponytail, radiating youthful vitality. she looked somewhat familiar; he seemed to have seen her somewhere before. this is my granddaughter, zhao baiyu. she grew up in azure bay and got accepted into azure bay university this year, mr. huang gave a brief introduction. hello, qian quan waved and greeted. hi, zhao baiyu responded gracefully. then they started playing chinese chess. mr. huang perhaps didnt want to lose face in front of his granddaughter, so he played more seriously. in the end, as expected, it was a draw. a rare occurrence, mr. huang sighed in relief. qian quan chuckled and said, well battle again tomorrow. battle again tomorrow, mr. huang gazed at qian quan with deep admiration in his eyes. after qian quan left, mr. huang asked zhao baiyu, xiaoyu, do you know why it was a draw today? because you played seriously today? its not related to that, mr. huang shook his head with a smile. hes practicing a saying, something equally important for you too: in a position of advantage, its important to understand tolerance and concession, without being overly self-confident and arrogant.'' zhao baiyu seemed to catch onto something and said, grandpa, i sense that you really appreciate him. yes, im even thinking about recommending him to your father. zhao baiyu looked slightly surprised. though she didnt have a comprehensive understanding of her fathers business in azure bay, she knew well the significance her grandfather held in her parents hearts. whenever her parents discussed something complicated, they often said, why not ask dad? but why? just because hes good at chinese chess? zhao baiyu asked. youll know in the future, mr. huang didnt reveal more. the next day, qian wenlin continued his impressive performance in the top 12 matches in the morning and the top 6 matches in the afternoon, winning three consecutive games to advance smoothly to the finals. according to the event organizers arrangement, the finals included the matches, program performances, and an award ceremony. upon learning that his father had made it to the finals, qian quan immediately requested time off from his manager. he wanted to be there in person to support his father. additionally, he wanted to witness firsthand the interaction between his father receiving prize money and the system awarding bonuses. todays three participants, including your dad, have all maintained an undefeated record so far, especially the one holding string of jade. he wins quickly each time before the formal start of the matches, the organizers gave a speech. ding linlang took the opportunity to introduce the situation to qian quan. moreover, he has quite an arrogant attitude. hes refused to shake hands with opponents several times and even stands up before winning to put pressure on them. his chess style is poor, qian quan remarked. yes, but his skills are strong. qian quan chuckled and said, my dad making it to the top three already exceeds expectations, considering hes more of a third-place or lower kind of player. indeed. after the speeches by the organizers on stage, the matches began. the three participants were paired up for one-on-one matches. the champion would be the one with all wins, the runner-up with one win, and the third place for all losses. a rapid chess tiebreaker would be played if there were draws or each player won one match. given the larger number of media and spectators present today, the atmosphere was quite tense on-site. before the match, a draw was held, and qian wenlin played against another young participant first. the venue fell silent. the audience watched the match on a large screen. unlike casual games, the official competition had a time limit of 30 seconds per move. a timer was placed beside the chessboard. after making a move, a player would tap the timer. if no move was made in 30 seconds, it was considered a forfeit. the rapid chess tiebreaker was 10 seconds per move. those skilled in slow chess could be at a disadvantage in the competition. on the large screen, the two participants had already made five or six moves. they were in the opening phase, strategizing their layouts. mr. qian has a solid opening, ding linlang commented in a low voice. qian quan nodded in agreement. in this game, his dad played a strategy of accumulating strength and biding time. it seemed ordinary at first, but as soon as the opponent revealed a weakness, his dads position would surge like an overwhelming force, sealing off retreat and capturing the opponent. as expected, his dad began an attack after another six or seven moves. many major pieces were in motion, and he was clearly planning to push his opponent into a corner all at once. qian quan leaned closer to ding linlang and whispered, hes going to win. after three more moves, his opponent stared at the board, calculating potential moves until the 30 seconds ran out without making a move. the outcome was decided. thank you. qian wenlin smiled gently. after the first match, there was a half-hour break with refreshments and performances. in the second round, the defeated player from the first round faced off against another competitor. the young player took a desperate gamble, seemingly attempting to confuse his opponent with an unusual opening. the middle-aged player with a string of jade held a mysterious smile, responding skillfully without giving any opportunities. he swiftly turned the tide of the game in just a few moves, taking complete control. seeing that the situation was hopeless, the young player conceded in the middle of the match. the third-place winner was decided. not bad indeed, qian quan remarked. do you think he can win against your father? fifty-fifty. can he beat you? he cant. youre quite confident. after the match ends, should i challenge him to a game for you to watch? sure! ding linlangs eyes lit up. due to the quick conclusion of the second round, the final round started promptly. the tension in the venue reached its peak. as qian wenlins match against the middle-aged man with the string of jade unfolded as qian quan anticipated, the first game ended in a draw after several rounds of intense struggle. following that, the rapid chess tiebreaker commenced. however, qian wenlin made a crucial mistake midway through the match, which allowed his opponent to seize the momentum and ultimately defeat him. the first and second places were now determined. you nearly had me there, the middle-aged man with the string of jade smiled at qian wenlin. but unfortunately, i wont make the same mistake twice. congratulations, qian wenlin brushed off his somewhat impolite remark. with the matches concluded, the awards ceremony followed. the champion received a cash prize of 100,000 and a trophy, the runner-up received 50,000 and a trophy, and the third-place winner received 30,000 and a trophy. all in cash! it was quite thrilling, but as they all sat down, whose heartbeat raced the fastest? of course, it was qian quans. right at the moment when the leader handed the cash prize and trophy to qian wenlin, the system unsurprisingly provided a notification: [ding! the system has detected that your father has won a prize of 50,000. you are rewarded with 500,000!] qian quan felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest. five hundred thousand! thats enough to cover all the tuition and living expenses for the four years of college, and he could even pursue consecutive bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. Chapter 11 translator: inschain editor: inschain after the awards ceremony, the champions, runners-up, and third-place winners were all interviewed. they talked about the significance of the event, such as enriching peoples spiritual lives, promoting traditional culture, and nurturing patriotic sentiment among everyone. after the interviews, qian wenlin finally found qian quan and ding linlang with a beaming smile on his face. he said, im taking you guys out for a good meal. qian quan asked, what did the champion just say to you? whatever he said, qian wenlin replied casually. i want to challenge him to a game. qian wenlin looked at his son. is that really necessary? qian quan insisted, please ask him for me. qian wenlin raised an eyebrow and agreed. he approached the man with a string of jade alongside qian quan and courteously said, mr. fang, this is my son. hes quite skilled at chinese chess and would like to play a game with you to learn from the experience. mr. fang glanced at qian quan, i just defeated your father, and now you want to play against me in chinese chess, seeking revenge? qian quan said, we wont take up too much of your time. can we have a match for learning purposes? mr. fang chuckled, losing wont cost you much, but winning would give you great prestige. youre quite shrewd. oh, if you think youre going to lose, then theres no need to play. lets go, dad, qian quan said, pulling qian wenlin to leave. wait a moment! mr. fang called them back, i know youre trying to provoke me. ill play against you and give you a slight advantage. okay, qian quan agreed readily. the two of them chose a spot and set up the chessboard. you can go first, mr. fang said with the demeanor of a grandmaster. qian quan made his move, but he only moved half of his major pieces. his pawns moved daringly, advancing straight and attacking directly, going deep into enemy territory and making long-distance advances. mr. fang found himself overwhelmed and was soon in a checkmate position. in a position of advantage, qian quan didnt want to waste a second. you made a mistake, qian quan said calmly. mr. fangs attitude changed, another game for all the marbles? qian quan smiled and nodded. the two of them reset the board and started again. qian quan still employed his original strategy C no entanglement in positioning, no array confrontation. he pursued risky tactics, sacrificing pieces to achieve victory and making daring moves at every step. he aimed to penetrate deeply and capture the king. mr. fang struggled to keep up, and the defeat was swift and clean. he failed twice. at this point, the onlookers were no longer composed, all exclaiming, who is this young man? will you continue? qian quan asked. sweat began to form on mr. fangs forehead. he gritted his teeth and said, yes. however, qian quan stood up and said, youve lost your confidence. even if we play another round, youll still lose. lets call it a day. mr. fang turned red, speechless. he knew the young man was right. he had not only lost the game but also his unwavering confidence. theres always someone better. this young man truly is remarkable. people around sighed. mr. fang suddenly looked up and saw that the young man had already left with his father and companion. qian wenlin took qian quan and ding linlang to a traditionally decorated restaurant. it was a well-known farmhouse restaurant in this city. order whatever you like, especially dishes youve always wanted to try but never had a chance to. order them all today, qian wenlin said with great generosity, holding the 50,000 prize money. with already 530,000 in his possession, qian quan suggested, how about getting some beer as well? qian wenlin was initially hesitant, but considering that his son was already eighteen, he said, alright, you can have a can of beer. linlang, you can have a soft drink. ding linlang nodded obediently and said, okay. after ordering the dishes, qian wenlin brought up todays chess competition, if i played it safe, i was confident i could beat mr. fang. but the fast-paced chess requires quick wits and experience, and i fell short in those areas. that mr. fang is a professional chinese chess player, qian quan voiced his judgment. qian wenlin paused for a moment and then realized, no wonder. ding linlang asked, are you implying you can easily beat a professional chinese chess player now? qian quan didnt answer immediately. instead, he said with a serious tone, theres something ive kept hidden for years, something i havent told anyone. ill tell you both today ding linlang had always been amazed by qian quans rapid improvement in chinese chess. she thought he was about to reveal his true secret, and she listened with keen interest. even qian wenlin appeared curious. actually im a genius, qian quan said, nodding to himself. ding linlang replied with a mock scowl, get out of here! qian wenlin chuckled, saying, if you had such an early academic breakthrough, you couldve gotten into peking university or tsinghua this year. ding linlang agreed with a smile, mr. qian is right. qian quan didnt care about their words and continued unabashedly, no worries, ill hire some graduates from tsinghua university and peking university to work for me in the future. oh, and a few from fudan university as well. pfft! ding linlang rolled her eyes. qian wenlin shook his head with a smile. after a delightful lunch, the three of them headed to the zoo. this citys zoo was one of the top three zoos in this province, boasting giant pandas and wolves. after entering the zoo, they strolled around, observing peacocks, spotted deer, asian elephants, giraffes, cockatoos, hedgehogs, tigers, lions, crocodiles, and more at four in the afternoon, they coincidentally caught a sea lion performance. it was a seemingly clumsy yet incredibly agile performer. ball juggling, flips, handstands, water leaps all flawlessly executed. every time i watch animal performances, aside from being amazed by their intelligence, i cant help but create a feeling of sympathy, as if they lose their essence and freedom after being tamed, ding linlang said with a hint of self-deprecation. i sometimes share a similar sentiment. but then i think its just their job after all. who knows, they might be observing humans and laughing at us, qian quan remarked. qian wenlin smiled, humans, too, have been domesticated step by step into what we are now-well-dressed, working nine to five. qian quan and ding linlang nodded thoughtfully. as we look back, its about climate, natural environment, crops, the so-called moving with the water and grass, then industrialization started, and real monsters like factories emerged, giving rise to the working class qian quan had a thought and said, so, rather than saying humans domesticated wheat, its more accurate to say that wheat domesticated humans. yes, similarly, did humans domesticate sea lions, or did sea lions domesticate humans? its getting a bit philosophical, but thinking this way makes watching animal performances much more acceptable. after the sea lion show, the three of them planned to see the reptiles. however, qian quan hesitated. qian wenlin laughed and said to ding linlang, hes scared of snakes, just like his mom. ding linlang suggested, then lets go see something else. the trio continued to explore until 6 p.m. and then left the zoo. outside the entrance of the zoo, they saw a group of seniors practicing tai chi. seeing this, im reminded of your mom learning qigong when she was young, qian wenlin said with a smile. qian quan chuckled. his mom had mentioned this incident to him as well. she told him that when she was young, a young man who taught qigong had come to the village. he was quite handsome, and many girls in the village became interested in qigong because of him. ding linlang also knew this story and asked qian wenlin with a smile, so, mr. qian, did you learn qigong when you were young? qian wenlin shook his head and said firmly, i learned wing chun and specialized in dealing with those who taught qigong. ding linlang and qian quan burst into laughter upon hearing this. ding linlang then asked, so, at what level did you reach in wing chun? i didnt even finish learning the basic little idea move, qian wenlin chuckled. theres no choice. martial arts training requires hard work and substantial material conditions to support it. the poor study literature, and the wealthy study martial arts. my family wasnt well-off back then, so i focused on studying and preparing for college. ding linlang nodded in understanding. i actually had a great aptitude for martial arts, qian wenlin added. you can continue practicing now to make up for that regret. im older now and cant practice as easily, qian wenlin disagreed. qian quan disagreed and continued, i remember you told us before as long as we have the will, its never too late to start, and you also mentioned that peoples average lifespan is longer now than in ancient times, getting married later than in ancient times, so while in ancient times they said at thirty, one stands firm, now its at forty, one stands firm.'' oh, and you told me something on the day my college entrance exam scores came out. you said in this world, some people are born with extraordinary talents, while others bloom later in life wait a minute! qian wenlin quickly interrupted, are you sure all these famous sayings are things i said? yes, qian quan and ding linlang said in unison. as they continued chatting, the bus arrived. Chapter 12 translator: inschain editor: inschain in the evening, at qian quans home. qian wenlin sat by the bedside, reading a book. after a while, his wife, yang yuhua, finished washing up, wearing pajamas as she emerged from the bathroom. qian wenlin placed the book on the nightstand and began to share with his wife about the conversation he had with the two kids earlier at the entrance of the zoo, reminiscing about practicing qigong in the past. ive already mentioned this to rocky and linlang, yang yuhua candidly replied as she sat on the bed. the point i want to emphasize isnt that, qian wenlin chose his words carefully. i want to talk about the changes in rocky. what changes? do you remember when i told you before that rocky seemed to have suddenly grown up after receiving his college acceptance letter? yeah, what about it? i had this feeling again today, and even linglang seems to be in on it. i sense that these two kids are nudging me, using the words i used to teach them as reminders. however, yang yuhua wore an expression of why is this hard to understand? and said, is it really that difficult to comprehend? we all grew up from that stage; dont you understand their little intentions? what little intentions? do you think rocky and linlang might end up together in the future? of course, isnt that the consensus between our two families? a match made in heaven. yes, but think about it. what does linlangs family do? they run a huge furniture store, and linlang herself got into fudan university. the gap is getting wider. can our son not feel the pressure? youre right. its possible. qian wenlin acknowledged his wifes insight. then take some money from the prize money and let me buy the wooden dummy for wing chun. i need to show some determination to the kids, motivate them with real actions, and lead by example! so, you beat around the bush all this time just for this? no, its for our son. qian wenlins fatherly love was steadfast. approved. honey, youre so understanding! qian wenlin praised, gazing affectionately at his wife. honey, i feel you look exceptionally beautiful tonight. whats the matter? stop flattering. no, seriously, i won a prize of 50,000 today, and you do not react? turn off the lights and go to sleep. alright. qian wenlins prize of 50,000 brought about three days of happiness to his family. three days later, life returned to its usual calm. one fact remained: money, indeed, could bring happiness and enhance well-being. however, this kind of happiness was time-bound and had its limits. when that money and the items it purchased became part of your established assets, the extra happiness and novelty began to dwindle until it disappeared, becoming ordinary. moreover, people from different economic backgrounds experienced various levels of happiness when receiving the same amount of money. in simple terms, the subjective sense of happiness for a millionaire receiving ten million and an average person receiving ten million couldnt possibly be the same. the former might be happy for a few seconds, while the latters sense of happiness might last in a high-end state for much longer. however, in the long term, its impact wasnt as substantial as imagined. once you buy a luxury car, move into a mansion, and open a few expensive bottles of wine soon, everything might start feeling mundane. at the moment, qian quans joy about the unexpected bonus was diminishing, but it hadnt completely faded yet; he was still secretly savoring it. of course, the main reason was that he hadnt spent his money yet and hadnt bought the gifts he intended. according to research, when you genuinely give someone a gift, the happiness you gain isnt any less than that of the person receiving it. from this perspective, true and enduring happiness comes from loving interactions with the people who matter to you. however, before qian quan purchased the gifts, he received a present himself. his chess buddy, mr. huang, gave him a phone number. this number is my son-in-laws private number. only a few people know about it. when you start studying in azure bay and need part-time work or assistance with anything, you can call this number. qian quan now had a better understanding of mr. huang. he knew that mr. huangs daughter, who was zhao baiyus mother, used to attend high school at riverside first high school. he also knew that mr. huangs son-in-law was involved in business in azure bay, and he had quite a significant business. as for more detailed and specific information, mr. huang didnt disclose it, and qian quan didnt ask much, either. maintaining a sense of boundaries is an essential principle in social interactions. and in relationships among gentlemen, knowing when to stops even more important. baiyu will also be studying in azure bay in the future. you two might have a chance to hang out together. mr. huang seemingly politely mentioned. sure, qian quan wouldnt naturally decline. by the way, is baiyu into sports? i sense a strong and resolute aura from her. you noticed? it seems her skills havent reached perfection yet, mr. huang chuckled. what do you mean? she practices traditional martial arts and has trained under master gong xuanzhu. shes already accomplished in some ways but hasnt fully mastered it. otherwise, others wouldnt be able to tell. i see, qian quan thought to himself. no wonder mr. huang was so generous in encouraging me to hang out with zhao baiyu. shes a martial arts expert who has studied under a renowned master. the day after, the wing chun wooden dummy that qian wenlin ordered arrived. it was unclear whether he did it to prove himself to qian quan and ding linlang or to fulfill his own dream. but since the wooden dummy arrived, he really dedicated himself to practicing every day. he even bought books and downloaded instructional videos. qian quan and ding linlang also joined in, practicing and mimicking strikes on the wooden dummy. the wing chun wooden dummy is the most advanced skill in wing chun. it consists of a total of 116 moves, primarily designed to cultivate combat awareness, enhance coordination between hands and feet, and maximize technical combat proficiency. it only becomes effective in practice after you have a foundation, qian wenlin briefly explained. mr. qian, does that mean you got the wooden dummy too early? ding linlang asked. not really. doesnt having this prop make me look more professional? besides, i didnt plan on delving too deep into it. im just getting the basic idea, qian wenlin replied. that makes sense, ding linlang nodded, then turned to qian quan, qian quan, lets have a competition to see who can learn the basic little idea routine first. why do you want to compete in everything? well, arent you a genius? are you up for it or not? i have nothing to fear. if i win, youll have to call me master from now on. alright, what if you lose? ill call you master.'' theres no need for that. if you lose, promise me one thing. what is it? i havent decided yet. ill let you know when ive made up my mind. agreed. with those words, they ceremoniously shook hands as a pledge. the cicadas buzzed, and time flowed like water. august 10th arrived quickly, a thursday, and it was payday for qian quan. factoring in the overtime and all, kfc paid him a little over 1,900. that wasnt the focal point, though. the real focus was that qian quan could finally sensibly buy gifts for his parents and ding linlang. for his father, he bought a pair of handmade leather shoes from a famous leather shoe workshop. for his mother and ding linlang, he picked out a pair of sandals and a trendy white t-shirt, respectively. he bought them from the only hip fashion store in riverside. the total cost of the three gifts was a little over 1,800, leaving him with less than 100. he went to a street vendor to buy himself two pairs of boxer shorts. when his dad, mom, and ding linlang received the gifts, they were genuinely surprised. you spent your entire months salary on this? his mom seemed a bit concerned. yes, its my wish. i wanted to use my first paycheck to get you all gifts. didnt you say you were earning money for your college expenses? ding linlangs bright eyes were fixed on qian quan. getting you all gifts is also a part of my life, qian quans response was as matter-of-fact as it could be. qian wenlin and yang yuhua were filled with contentment. yang yuhua turned to her husband. she said, wenlin, i think our son is really growing up. meanwhile, ding linlang was thinking about something. ill definitely keep this t-shirt for many, many years late summer was upon them, and the weather was still hot. many years later, they would still remember it. about this summer. Chapter 13 translator: inschain editor: inschain zhao baiyu was returning to azure bay. this trip to riverside had been quite rewarding for her. without going into detail, her grandfathers teachings about cultivating a noble character, staying grounded, and having a broad perspective had left a profound impact on her. the day before her departure, she encountered qian quan, her grandfathers young yet skilled chinese chess companion. mr. huang mentioned that you practice martial arts. may i ask if youve learned wing chun? this young and handsome chinese chess expert spoke with a smile that was hard to dislike. do you want to learn wing chun that focuses on safety and thoroughness? i havent systematically studied it. are you interested? zhao baiyus curiosity was piqued upon hearing this. no, ive been casually researching it recently. well, i can recommend a few wing chun experts of my generation to you if youre interested. you can spar with them in the future. no need, no need, qian quan refused repeatedly. i was just curious after watching a movie. please dont mind. jokingly, spar? he would surely be thoroughly outmatched by them. i dont mind. zhao baiyu smiled and was about to end the conversation when a sudden inspiration struck her. she asked, youre so good at playing chinese chess. do you have any insights to share? after careful consideration, qian quan pointed at the chessboard and said, look at the border of two opposing powers on this chessboard. it actually reveals the backdrop of the war between the han and chu dynasties. using the boundary of the rivers as a reference, the western side represents the han dynasty, while the eastern side represents the chu dynasty. therefore, im using xiang yu and liu bang as metaphors; its just a metaphorical comparison for illustrative purposes. zhao baiyu nodded, and mr. huang looked at qian quan with genuine interest. in the early stages of the war between the han and chu dynasties, xiang yu, the king of the chu dynasty, had overwhelming dominance in terms of collective forces and individual strength against liu bang, the king of the han dynasty. however, he ended up losing. why is that? he didnt win against liu bang in chinese chess, which means that during the peak of strategic maneuvering, he was outmaneuvered by liu bangs gentle approach. for example, at the meticulously planned gathering with schemes in hongmen, where liu bang yielded at every point, stepping back and confusing xiang yu. however, liu bangs gentle approach wasnt a sign of weakness; it was about accommodation and compromise. he used this strategy to navigate the situation, temporarily halting xiang yus advances and luring him into a trap. he made promises to the people to establish certain terms, constructed mountain paths, confused the enemy and plotted in secret, set up ambushes from ten directions, and created a situation of echoes of chu dynastys folk songs resounded from all directions, all in order to create his own advantage. even more interestingly, these strategic maneuvers didnt seem to originate from liu bang himself. instead, they came from his advisors and generals. figures like chen ping, zhang liang, han xin, fan kuai, and others. liu bang himself appeared to be almost inactive, akin to a ruffian with no significant actions. yet, he managed to turn the tide from defense to offense, ultimately conquering the realm. from the perspective of a chinese chess player, liu bang appeared to be doing nothing while simultaneously doing everything. qian quan combined the chess principles his father had shared with him with his own insights, and he expounded on them. liu bang had the favor of strategic fortune, and he understood how to create a favorable position. he merged the forces of fortune and strength, and he won in the end. these are my somewhat rudimentary insights into the game. im not sure if these concepts relate to martial arts, but feel free to listen and decide. qian quan wasnt someone who typically expounded grand philosophies. however, when asked about his insights into chinese chess, it happened to scratch the itch of his master-level chess skills, prompting him to share his thoughts. mr. huang chuckled and said, very impressive. id say it strikes the core. zhao baiyu pondered for a moment before responding, i have a lot of thoughts in my mind, but im not sure how to express them. i need to sort them out. thank you for sharing these insights with me; i truly appreciate it. zhao baiyu wasnt just being polite to qian quan; it wasnt her nature. she genuinely sensed something profound but couldnt articulate it at the moment. youre welcome. actually, most of these principles were shared with me by my dad, a bit esoteric, qian quan admitted. they might be esoteric, but they also hold truth, mr. huang chimed in, then turned to his granddaughter. you can also take a reference from his somewhat profound words. okay. in the second week after zhao baiyu returned to azure bay, qian quans temporary job at kfc was also coming to an end. he would be starting at seacoast normal university in early september. in the final week of summer vacation, he had planned to spend a few days at west lake with ding linlang. i really like this willow melody hotel the most. the name sounds nice, the hotel has a good ambiance, its convenient for travel, and you can even enjoy a lake view its just a bit expensive. while booking the hotel, ding linlang quickly set her sights on the third-ranked hotel in the province. qian quan was also very tempted when he heard that. moreover, he had enough money to spend now. after all, he had 530,000 in his account. but obviously, he couldnt reveal that now. lets experience it another time when we get the chance. for now, lets just book a regular national chain hotel or maybe even a bed and breakfast. how about booking a bed and breakfast? theres one called misty clouds b&b; looks decent. its a 35-square-meter duplex, with a living room downstairs and two beds upstairs. is it far from west lake? about four or five subway stops away, within a 20-minute taxi ride. that sounds good. lets go with that. after reaching an agreement with qian quan, ding linlang quickly booked the bed and breakfast. for three nights, the price was exactly half of what they would have paid for one night at willow melody hotel. the next day, both of them packed a small suitcase and a backpack and set off. before leaving, qian wenlin gently warned his son, take care of linlang during the traveling. do what needs to be done proactively and avoid anything unnecessary, got it? although qian quan and ding linlang had spent a lot of time together growing up and had plenty of opportunities for individual interactions, this was a different scenario where they would be traveling and staying in the same room. as a parent, qian wenlin couldnt help but worry. dad, dont worry, qian quan responded, sensing the underlying message in his fathers words. he found it a bit amusing. what could he possibly do that he shouldnt with ding linlang? as qian quan and ding linlang boarded the public bus to the high-speed rail station, qian quan received another message from mr. ding, phrased more delicately: rocky, you understand what i mean, right? qian quan quickly replied, i understand, mr. ding. you can trust me! do you know what my mom told me last night? ding linlang glanced at qian quan and casually started the conversation. what did she say? she told me not to cross the line with you, that we should maintain appropriate attitude and behavior. huh? why are you puzzled? its just both our dads gave me a warning too. a warning about what? just not to violate you. violate me? thats what they said. i dont know why theyre worried. we would have done it if we wanted to cross the line. thats exactly what i thought. these unnecessary reminders might just trigger a rebellious mindset in us. we may secretly cross the line and then surprise everyone shut up! ding linlang shot qian quan a glare. just kidding, just kidding an hour later, the bus arrived at the high-speed rail station. since they still had some time before the ticket check-in, ding linlang found a place to write her online novel. at 9:23 a.m., the ticket check-in began. once on the train, ding linlang continued typing. qian quan even began to suspect that she had shared her secret of writing online novels with him so that she could openly type in front of him. however, this was unavoidable C updating was the lifeblood of online novels. around 11:40 a.m., the high-speed train arrived in hangzhou. after getting off the train, they first found a nearby mall close to the bed and breakfast they had booked for lunch. there are so many people here, ding linlang exclaimed. tourist cities are like this, qian quan was mentally prepared, and you see, there are many beautiful women in hangzhou. before his words had even faded, two attractive and sexy young women wearing cat ears and backless dresses with high-end single-shoulder bags walked past. qian quan gave ding linlang a confirming look, and ding linlang smirked, saying, you really like this sexy wildcat look, huh? qian quan shook his head, its not about being sexy or not, mainly i just like cats. ding linlang couldnt be bothered to engage with him and went on to find a place to eat. during mealtime, lines were forming everywhere. in the end, the two of them found a noodle shop with relatively fewer customers. after finishing their noodles, they went to check-in at misty clouds b&b. the room was reasonably tidy, although it had a slight odor. once they had set down their luggage, ding linlang went to open the window. she turned around and noticed a transparent plastic container on the windowsill. whats this? ding linlang picked it up to examine. probably chargers and things? qian quan also approached curiously. the plastic container held various adult items and intimate products. it was written on top: paid items. an awkward silence hung for about two seconds. ding linlang put the container down, saying, these arent chargers. right. lets stick to hotels in the future. agreed. Chapter 14 translator: inschain editor: inschain in the afternoon, west lake was drenched by torrential rain, coming and going in a rush. finally, the weather had turned comfortably cool. walking on the stone-paved path, now scrubbed clean and gleaming from the rain and looking into the distance between the hills and the lake, one could see the clouds and mist swirling. the leifeng tower was faintly visible. willow trees along the lakeside and lotus flowers in the water reflected each other from a distance, with pavilions and cooling corridors, wooden bridges, and small boats-everywhere you looked, there was a picturesque scene. the beauty of west lake was encapsulated in the line from the poem, no matter what kind of scenery, it can captivate and impress people. and it was impossible to tire of its sight. is west lake the first free 5a-grade scenic area? qian quan and ding linlang strolled leisurely under the shade of trees along beishan street, engaging in a casual conversation. yes, starting from october 1, 2002, it became free, relinquishing approximately over 26,000,000 in ticket revenue, ding linlang had evidently done some research, considering maintenance, cleaning, and management costs, it amounted to investing 5 or 6 millions annually. but this decision brought immeasurable economic and social benefits to the entire city of hangzhou. it could be considered a textbook-level business model. yes. west lake has seized the right time, geographical advantage, and human touch, especially with its cultural significance. its in a league, far ahead of similar scenic spots, making this model very hard to replicate. thats true. the two of them continued chatting as they walked to yang gong causeway. qian quan suggested, why dont we take a boat ride to see the three pools mirroring the moon? following their plan, the main focus of the first day was to explore west lake. they visited several of the ten scenes of west lake and only returned after watching the west lake musical fountain performance. on the second day, they would visit lingyin temple, then proceed to hefang street and southern song imperial street for some shopping and dining. the third day was reserved for visiting song cheng and watching the performance of the romance of the song dynasty. now, they were on a rowing boat, leisurely drifting towards the lakes center. sharing the boat with them was a couple, busy taking sweet selfies as if no one else was around. qian quan didnt want to be so close to such a public display of affection. he raised his phone and cautiously moved it closer to ding linlang. his childhood friend didnt disappoint him. ding linlang smiled sweetly, cooperatively leaning in. the two took an intimate selfie with their faces almost touching, seemingly natural. there was something qian quan had never told ding linlang C he really liked her scent. it always reminded him of a distant morning on the first day of the lunar new year when the sky was filled with snow. they played at the three pools mirroring the moon until 5 oclock, then took a boat back to another dock. qian quan and ding linlang continued walking toward lakeside third park. they were aiming to catch the 7 oclock musical fountain performance. the viewing spot was already crowded when they reached the musical fountain area. a foreign tourist approached qian quan and ding linlang, asking when the performance would start. qian quan showcased his foreign language skills briefly. but honestly, the first lines that came to qian quans mind when he saw foreigners were: hello, thank you, goodbye. at 7 oclock, with a reminder from the staff, the renowned 126-meter-long west lake musical fountain began to exhibit its breathtaking beauty to the tune of once in a millennium. how to describe it? swaying? elegant? a wonder? the ten scenes of west lake might have varying interpretations, but the west lake musical fountain was not to be missed. it was qian quans current thoughts. he was still a bit unsatisfied even after the performance of three songs. however, his stomach started protesting at this point. lets go eat, ding linlang said, also feeling hungry. the first day of their west lake tour was drawing to a close. ding linlang chose a restaurant called white deer on a review website, and they took a taxi there. night had fallen, and colorful lights had already illuminated this globally renowned historical city. the car drove through the citys towering skyscrapers, weaving through the intertwining lights and shadows. qian quan looked out of the car window, colorful hues flashing before his eyes. emerald green, tender yellow, soft blue, deep purple, rosy pink C those were neon lights from street lamps, car headlights, billboards, and construction site searchlights, mingling and flickering in the night sky, painting hangzhous night with a vibrant flow of colors. no wonder people didnt want to leave when they arrived in big cities. being immersed in it, it was inevitable to experience a sense of enchantment with the prosperous and glamorous scene before their eyes. ten minutes later, they arrived at white deer. at this time, the restaurant was still about 70% full, proving its reputation as a queue restaurant was well-deserved. ding linlang had ordered a set meal for two online: hangzhou-style spicy sauted beef with peppers, grilled sauce-covered perch, blanched vegetables, two portions of rice, and two cups of iced orange tea. after taking their seats, they also ordered ice cream for dessert. both qian quan and ding linlang were fans of sweets, belonging to the kind of people who could finish a bowl of white rice mixed with sugar without needing any other dishes. by the time they finished their meal, it was almost 9 oclock. they had already walked close to 20,000 steps, so they didnt want to continue wandering. they took the subway back to their accommodation, dragging their tired bodies along. qian quans phone had taken too many photos and videos and automatically shut down. he went to charge his phone while ding linlang went to freshen up. ill use your phone to check tomorrows route and guide, qian quan said as he took ding linlangs phone. okay. qian quan and ding linlang knew each others phone passwords but never snooped through each others phones. qian quan opened the search bar and was about to type when he suddenly saw a search history below. is the safe period really safe? qian quans hand trembled, almost causing him to drop the phone. why would she search for this? what does she want to do? countless unprecedented thoughts exploded in his mind at that moment. is she planning to take advantage of these three days to get me? is she preparing to make a move on me during these nights? i consider her a good buddy, yet she wants to treat me like this? but if she strongly insists, how can i refuse? harming my buddy would be disloyal behavior. confused, so confused, ding linlang, why did you push me into such a dilemma? the teachings of our elders are still in my ears! if we really do something so inappropriate, how can we continue being friends? and stepping back, the safe period, its not safe at all! for a moment, qian quans thoughts were chaotic, filled with distractions. eventually, he decided to watch and wait, to act when the time was right. he ignored that particular search history and continued searching for tomorrows travel routes and guides. twenty minutes later, ding linlang emerged from her washing, dressed in a light blue-gray round-neck short-sleeved cotton home sleep dress. the hem of the sleep dress reached just above her knees, and her pair of snow-white, well-proportioned long legs were even more eye-catching than usual. you go wash up, ding linlang casually said, ill get back to writing web novels. a thought sparked in qian quans mind, suggesting that things werent as simple as they seemed. was she suggesting i shower while she writes her web novel? was this some kind of hint? what was she planning to do after finishing her writing? ill use the bathroom first. qian quan unplugged his phone, which was already at a 30% charge. he decided to go to the bathroom to calm down and think of a foolproof plan that would prompt her to halt immediately without causing any harm. after sitting on the toilet for a while and calming his emotions, he habitually opened the latest chapter of ding linlangs ongoing novel. then, he stumbled upon a truth that made his scalp tingle with embarrassment. ding linlang searched for that safe period because she had written a plot in her novel where the female protagonist had a sexual relationship with the male protagonist during the safe period and accidentally became pregnant! she was just trying to understand a new piece of information and hadnt thought of anything else! qian quan first chuckled in disbelief, then started to mock himself internally. qian quan, what on earth were you overthinking? she was a web novelist! it was perfectly normal to look up all sorts of weird things! d*mn! with that burden lifted, qian quan quickly finished washing up. he planned to sleep early tonight and rest well. at 10 p.m., they bid each other good night and went to their respective beds. the two beds were about two meters apart, but they both had curtains, ensuring privacy. after a while, qian quan was drowsy and almost falling asleep when he suddenly heard ding linlang calling his name. qian quan qian quan was taken aback and hurriedly responded, whats wrong? no answer. after waiting for a moment, there was no more sound from the other side, clearly indicating that she had fallen asleep again. it turned out to be sleep-talking. qian quan turned over and fell asleep as well. that night, west lake was tranquil. and they each had a dream. Chapter 15 translator: inschain editor: inschain the next morning, when ding linlang saw qian quan, there was a moment of awkwardness. however, she quickly returned to her usual self. did you know you talked in your sleep last night? qian quan told her about what happened last night. what, what did i say in my sleep? ding linlang uncommonly showed a hint of nervousness. you called out my name. i asked you what happened, but then you fell asleep again. you must have misheard. it was quite clear. it even startled me. you must have misheard. i didnt call out anything. uh alright. qian quan didnt bother arguing with her any further. after breakfast, the two of them went to lingyin temple. lingyin temple was built during the tsin dynasty, over 1600 years ago. its most famous attraction is the triskelite, believed to be effective in seeking romantic relationships. however, on the internet, there is a more famous rumor about it, the advertisement for recruiting monks at lingyin temple, which gained popularity due to its enticing terms: monthly salary of 8,000, an eight-hour work schedule, including meals and accommodation. additional compensation for overtime and travel expenses for performing rituals. after three years of work, the salary increases to 14,000. those who advance to the highest leadership position within the temple can earn up to 30,000. if skilled in fortune-telling and divination, there is an opportunity for profit-sharing. during working hours, abstinence from alcohol, sexual activity, and meat consumption is required. off-duty hours do not interfere with personal life, marriage, or having children. as for the requirements, a bachelors degree is needed, with a preference for postgraduates. prior knowledge of reciting the diamond sutra and the lotus sutra is preferred. considering that buddha was of indian origin, language proficiency is also required. during the internship, taking one of the seventy-two unique skills and two elective courses is mandatory this notice was written with a convincing tone, and its misleading nature was quite strong. in reality, it was a scam, being posted by various places pretending to be different temples, all to deceive graduates into providing their personal information. why are you planning to visit lingyin temple? in the subway, the crowd was a bit dense. qian quan positioned ding linlang in a corner, and the two stood facing each other, their bodies making contact. their emotions couldnt help but feel somewhat unusual. in fact, when they used to play one-on-one basketball, there was much more intense physical contact. but back then, they were focused on trying to outplay each other or pull off a great move without thinking too much. at this very moment, in this particular situation, being in a strange place, the atmosphere became subtly nuanced. ding linlang intentionally brought up a topic to alleviate the awkwardness. ill start by paying respects to the medicine buddha, seeking blessings for the safety and health of my family. then, ill visit bodhisattva samantabhadra, hoping for a smooth journey through university. finally, ill pay homage to bodhisattva manjusri, asking for success in my career and the dream of becoming the wealthiest person in azure bay. qian quan checked the guide last night to ensure they wouldnt make a wrong choice. you want to become the richest person? qian quan chuckled, who doesnt want to be wealthy when young? ding linlang nodded with a smile. what about you? what are you seeking? qian quan looked at her and asked. same as you, but i wont compete with you for the title of the richest. i just wish for financial freedom, ding linlang replied. qian quan smiled and said, if i become the richest, i promise youll have financial freedom. hope you keep your word. ding linlang smiled back and exchanged a glance with him. both deliberately avoided mentioning the triskelite. the subway suddenly decelerated at that moment, causing their bodies to press together due to inertia momentarily. they discreetly moved apart again. how many more stops? qian quan looked up to check the route map. ding linlang glanced at her phone, keeping her head low. left palm transforms into a fist, striking straight forward along the central line, while the little finger points downward. simultaneously, the right palm transforms into a fist, retracting towards the chest along the central line, close to the left elbow, with the little finger pointing downward as summer vacation was coming to an end, qian wenlin had been diligently practicing wing chun during this period. wing chun emphasized the principle of sending a punch while the elbow remains in the center, so every punch required the elbow to stay close to the central line. the power was generated in a straight line, pushing the fist forward. during the execution of each punch, the other hands wrist had to be struck, maintaining a closed posture, preventing an opponent from attempting to attack through the central path. today, he practiced the straight punch and gradually improved. the little idea movements, although not complex, were foundational. only by mastering the combinations of little idea movements could one advance to learning higher-level skills, progressing to practical combat exercises. after practicing the continuous sequence of left and right punches for three hundred rounds, he retracted the left fist to his chest and stood with his feet together in the ending stance. if nothing goes wrong, i should be able to fully grasp the entire sequence of little idea today. it seems my past efforts in kung fu havent been in vain. qian wenlin was in a great mood, looking rejuvenated after finishing the routine. those two kids, rocky and linlang, didnt even believe im an extraordinary martial arts prodigy among thousands. ill surprise them when they get back. taking a short break, he performed the three-closure palm routine. it was approaching noon by the time qian wenlin had mastered all the segmented routines. he took a deep breath. no more video explanations or guidance from books were needed. standing with his feet together and fists held at his chest, he exhaled lightly. the fists faced upward with knuckles up, the back of the fists facing down. his knees were slightly bent, feet flat on the ground and positioned apart, facing left and right, forming an open scissors stance. he performed this series of movements seamlessly, without pause. next came the downward cross-plowing hand, followed by the upward cross-spreading hand, retracting the fist, advancing with the straight punch spreading the hand, sinking the hand, horizontal palm, upright palm, pointing finger, circling hand left shoulder hand, left spreading hand, left bottom palm and then moving on to the left-right straight punch, finally concluding with the upright closing posture, completing the practice session. wing chun, little idea, achievement unlocked. an hour ago. after qian quan and ding linlang finished their prayers at lingyin temple, they took bus route 7 to southern song imperial street. when traveling to hangzhou, naturally, west lake was the first must-see place, followed by this street laid out during the southern song imperial street. about fifty minutes later, they got off the bus at sanyuan fang and walked toward their destination. not far along, they saw a chinese chess stall by the roadside. southern song endgame, black or red, red goes first, 100 per round, 300 for victory, 100 for a draw, pay 100 for a loss. about ten people were gathered around the stall, discussing and analyzing. lets take a look, ding linlangs curiosity was piqued. the words southern song endgame also intrigued qian quan. he and ding linlang walked over together. the chess player was a man in his sixties. three endgames of games were laid out in front of him, and challengers could choose any of them. do you believe this red side can guarantee victory? i just need to sacrifice both chariots to form a repeating cannon a muscular young man pointed to one of the boards and said. how do you set up the chained cannons? if you move the cannon and put the enemys general in check, the black side can move the elephant to threaten your rear cannon. another person said. ding linlang watched for a while, then whispered to qian quan, i feel like the advantage is with the black side in that game. picking black gives a better chance of winning. qian quan pondered but didnt speak for a while. finally, he said, all three games are draws. no one can win. lets go. all draws? really? cant you win either? these arent endgame; theyre scams. qian quan shook his head and said gently. just a moment, let me take a photo. ill try them out when we get back. qian quan had memorized all three endgames, but ding linlang had already taken out her phone before he could stop her. hey, what are you taking pictures of? the muscular young man noticed ding linlang taking photos and asked in a harsh tone. im capturing these three endgames. i want to study them later, ding linlang replied innocently, her life experience still limited as a high school student. the muscular young man and two others exchanged glances, then closed in on qian quan and ding linlang. what are you studying for? if youre interested, pay to challenge. if youre not brave enough, leave. dont cause any trouble. thats right. these setups are hereditary endgames passed down from the southern song dynasty, an intangible cultural heritage. what do you think youre doing by taking photos and studying them? delete them quickly! qian quan had already realized they were a group, and he positioned himself slightly in front of ding linlang, saying, well delete them, we promise. you guys can continue watching the chess game. delete them right in front of us! the muscular young mans tone turned stern. or you can pay for the next game. you can learn on the spot and wont need to delete the photos, another person suggested. ding linlang held up her phone. ive already deleted them. saying this, she grabbed qian quan and began to leave. the three blocked their way. how do we know if youve deleted, hidden, or sent it to someone else? hand over the phone so we can check. give us the phone or play the next game. its your choice, another person chimed in. qian quans expression changed, too. are you sure you want to escalate this situation? this is one of the liveliest areas in hangzhou. if we start causing a scene, the police will arrive quickly. quit the nonsense. hand over the phone. well check it and give it back to you. were here working hard on these chess setups. were not forcing you to play. its all voluntary, but you took pictures to cheat. so what if the police come? in his mind, qian quan thought, chess games that involve money are scams in themselves, and now theyve arranged a few of you to deceive passersby. this is clearly a very typical fraud. if the police show up, you guys will end up in trouble. dont make it sound like some legitimate business deal. well play a game and pay them, ding linlang sensed that qian quan was about to explode and wanted to avoid any trouble. she decided to spend 100 to settle the matter. naturally, qian quan understood ding linlangs intention. however, he was well aware that he wouldnt get it back if he handed over the money, even if he managed to draw in his game. but if he refused their demands he was concerned not for himself but for ding linlangs safety. as he hesitated, a sudden notification sound from the system echoed in his mind: [ding! the system has detected that your father has made initial progress in practicing wing chuns little idea. you are rewarded with the title of grandmaster level in wing chun!] in the next moment, a vast amount of information surged into his mind. thousands upon thousands of figures appeared, practicing martial arts in his thoughts. some were empty-handed, others held eight slash knives, and some wielded the six-and-a-half point pole, practicing alone or sparring, exhibiting various movements. little idea, seeking bridge, shooting fingers, wooden dummy stance, blade skills, pole skills rehearsing again and again, repeating thousands upon thousands of times, until the memories became deeply ingrained, vividly clear. meanwhile, a peculiar force surged through his body, moving like an electrically charged earthworm, creating an itching and tingling sensation throughout him. it seemed to accumulate boundless strength within him, an urge to vent and release. that sensation was akin to right now, he could take down ten people! Chapter 16 translator: inschain editor: inschain three sets of endgame positions are free to choose, but you must pay upfront. seeing the two youngsters being taken aback as expected, a hint of satisfaction crept into his tone. did you set up these chess positions? qian quan, who had now partially absorbed the information from the system reward, looked at the man and asked. of course not. im just an observer, helping out when things seem unfair. qian quan chuckled, dont be so modest. youre all in this together. what did you say? the muscular youths aggression surfaced. someone nearby chimed in, are you playing or not? dont waste other peoples time! quietly, ding linlang tugged at qian quans sleeve. well play, of course. but not following your rules; well play by my terms. what rules do you have? the muscular youths impatience was evident. you three will play against me simultaneously using these three endgame positions. if any of you can win, ill consider it your victory, and ill offer 100. but if none of you can win, then ill consider it my victory and each of you will give me 30. how does that sound? fair deal? as soon as qian quans words fell, the genuine onlookers around started discussing. that young man has quite the attitude, challenging three at once the young person is daring, but trying to win against three opponents at the same time seems difficult, in my opinion. he doesnt even need to win, didnt you hear him? just not losing is enough. thats also challenging; this chess setup is full of mysteries and complexities, traps with every move. one wrong step, and its over. its tough for everyone, no doubt. the muscular youth exchanged a glance with the old man at the chessboard, and the latter shook his head slightly. they could easily secure 100, so why take such a risk? i think youre not here to play chinese chess at all but to disrupt things. picking on the old man because hes elderly, right? the muscular youth had clearly lost his patience. if you guys disagree, well leave right now. despite qian quans confidence, he didnt want to resort to violence in front of ding linlang for now. otherwise, hed have to come up with another excuse during the explanation later. after all, it would seem quite unbelievable for an 18-year-old high school graduate to take down three adults with his bare hands effortlessly. such a waste of time, take out your phones and format them, then get lost! another person chimed in. the muscular youth dropped the pretense entirely and approached the two with a fierce demeanor. either compensate with 100 or format your phones, stop the pointless talk, another individual joined in the coordination. either you pay 100 or format your phone.the other person was still cooperating. some of the other onlookers were still uncertain about the situation; some saw the scheme but didnt want to get involved, and others were purely there to enjoy the spectacle. not a single person came to the aid of them. qian quan whispered something to ding linlang, call the police, and then reached out to grip the muscular youths wrist, saying, cant trick us, so now youre resorting to robbery, huh? the muscular youths hand was caught, and he instantly flared up, trying to pull away with force. to his shock, he found that he couldnt move! it was as if an iron vice clamped down on him. panic set in his heart. seeing this, another accomplice stepped forward and pushed qian quan. qian quan suddenly pulled the muscular youth, causing him to collide with his accomplice. this was the chasing hand skill from the advanced wing chun set, pointing finger, a strategy frequently employed when outnumbered, entailing using one persons hand to obstruct the hands of others. the third accomplice lunged forward without hesitation. qian quans swift and accurate footkick met the oncoming attack. he struck the front leg of the man, causing him to lose balance and tilt forward significantly. seizing the opportunity, qian quan grabbed the mans ear and smoothly threw him to the ground, leaving him sprawled on the floor. as qian quan retracted his foot, he stepped on the back of the mans hand. ah! the man let out a pained cry. taking control of the three men happened in the blink of an eye. meanwhile, ding linlangs call to the police hadnt been answered yet. d*mn, it turns out hes skilled! the accomplice who collided was now seething with anger, attempting to circle around and attack qian quan. however, the muscular youth, who was still under qian quans control, blocked his way. it was almost like playing a unique game of eagle & chicken. let go of me! the muscular youth was trapped and couldnt free himself, his hands still held tightly, leaving him to gnash his teeth and scream in frustration. hello, officer? were near the sanyuan fang bus stop on southern song imperial street. theres someone engaged in fraud and robbery here. ding linlangs call had finally connected, and she quickly explained the situation. you dare to call the police? the man who collided couldnt reach qian quan and charged at ding linlang instead. pulling the sturdy young man, qian quan advanced his foot forward, executing a cunning tiger tail kick at an acute angle, striking the mans waist, which sent him flying. if qian quan hadnt held back intentionally, the man would have been incapacitated. two of the three assailants were sprawled on the ground, while the remaining one, resembling a sparrow trapped in ones palm, surrendered, no longer putting up resistance. sir, please let me go. we admit defeat, okay? the onlookers were dumbfounded, and even ding linlang stared in astonishment at the scene before her. was that qian quan, the person i know? the old man who set up the chessboard realized the situation was dire and abandoned the chess set, fleeing directly. before long, the police arrived, seeing the chessboard on the ground and the three people crouched beside it, immediately understanding what had happened. this type of scam occurs nationwide every year, persistent despite efforts to prevent it, executed by individuals or groups. they specifically targeted those who were knowledgeable about chinese chess or believed their chess skills were exceptional. and due to their fa?ade of voluntarism, the public didnt report these incidents every time. however, this current scene was peculiar. why hadnt the suspects run away? why were they sitting there obediently, waiting to be apprehended? furthermore, they looked like theyd just been beaten up. handcuff them all and get them into the car, pack up the chess set too. the older police officer in charge ordered, then asked the bystanders, who called the police just now? it was us, ding linlang stepped forward and said. alright, come with us for a statement. the leading officer nodded approvingly. qian quan and ding linlang also got into the police car. can we just not talk about this? after completing the statements, qian quan and ding linlang left the police station. walking in silence for a while, qian quan broke the silence. if i dont ask, will you tell me voluntarily? ding linlang countered. if i dont tell you voluntarily, will you get upset? if i wont get upset, will you enough! qian quan interrupted with a wry smile. continuing this back-and-forth wont lead us anywhere. i can tell you its a kind of combat skill, and im not skilled yet. i used it for the first time today, and you saw how clumsy it was. an expert would definitely recognize that he was using wing chun skills. when did you learn it? i didnt deliberately learn it. otherwise, you would have figured it out a long time ago. i usually read books, watch instructional videos, boxing matches, and even action movies. then, in my free time, i contemplate, ponder, and mentally simulate. i just used it in a hurry earlier. honestly, i didnt know i could fight like that so, are you saying youre also a one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy? that part should come from my dad, qian quan admitted. ding linlang fell silent. though something felt off, it seemed reasonable as well. after all, his talent in chinese chess had also suddenly emerged. in this world, there were geniuses that defied conventional wisdom. just as some people can compose music at five or six, recite poetry at seven or eight, enter university at eleven or twelve, or write novels at sixteen or seventeen. one can only say that each individuals constitution is unique. in extreme emotions, some people indeed manage to unleash unexpected potential, qian quan explained further. like performing a tiger tackle? ding linlang joked, having apparently completed her mental preparation. qian quan inwardly sighed in relief. fortunately, he didnt deliberately show off, like beating them up with a flurry of punches as in the movies, akin to yip mans rapid strikes, or explaining it would have been a real challenge. setting aside these matters, this incident could be considered a memorable experience during their graduation trip. after exploring the southern song imperial street and hefang street, on the third day, they visited song cheng, the first large-scale theme park in hangzhou, constructed based on the along the river during the qingming festival painting. they watched the performance of the romance of the song dynasty. it combines tradition, technology, and impressive choreography, which is certainly worth the ticket price. on the fourth morning, as planned, they began their journey back. someone had been waiting for them at home for quite some time. hence, as soon as qian quan and ding linlang returned home, they were summoned by qian wenlin, who said there was something important to tell them in person. indeed, qian wenlin demonstrated the little idea right in front of the two children. the graceful and fluid movements, coupled with his vitality, reminded qian quan and ding linlang of how he was in his youth. energized, with a spark in his eyes. on this day, qian wenlin had advanced to the primary level of wing chun! as for qian quan, who had already reached the level of a wing chun grandmaster, watching this filled him with both gratitude and emotion. Chapter 17 translator: inschain editor: inschain qian wenlin was satisfied with the responses he got from qian quan and ding linlang, seeing the expected effects. did it seem ordinary to you? qian wenlin asked with a smile. no, its quite challenging. were practicing it too, even competing to see who can master it first, ding linlang replied. qian quan nodded. after mastering all the skills of wing chun, he realized that building a strong foundation wasnt easy. a towering skyscraper begins from level ground. feeling its difficult isnt wrong. this little idea has some interesting origins. in the past, it was called three bows to buddha. later, through generations of martial artists improvements and under the guidance of grandmaster yip man, it transformed from one spread, two subdue to one spread, three subdue. gradually, it ceased to be known as three bows to buddha and adopted the name little idea. do you know why it was renamed little idea? qian quan answered, when the little idea is not correct, the whole life wont be correct. the name chosen has a dual meaning. on the one hand, it assesses and screens the disciples mental comprehension and physical ability to determine the degree of instruction theyll receive. on the other hand, it reminds martial practitioners that even the tiniest notion should follow the right path. otherwise, if one lacks martial virtue, the higher their skill, the greater the harm they could cause. ah, right, thats about it, qian wenlin felt like his lines were stolen by his son, so he decided to raise the topics difficulty level. i mentioned one spread, three subdue just now. in fact, its the essence and focus of the entire little idea routine. do you know what the key points of practicing this routine are? slow, as slow as possible. during practice, its done with millimeter-level speed, then relaxed. the body must be relaxed while coordinating with breathing-slow breaths, punches, and returns. finally, its about training the awareness of keeping the elbows centered, guarding the centerline, using the centerline right, thats about it. qian wenlin glanced at his son and thought, this kid seems to have more theoretical knowledge than me. ive never even heard of this millimeter-level concept. without further inquiry, he went on to add: when you truly grasp the essence of this slow, once youve mastered this set of forms, practicing it will make your body emit heat even in the middle of winter. its like the steam rising from those martial arts masters in martial arts dramas when they practice their skills. qian quan and ding linlang nodded earnestly, absorbing the lesson. after i spend a couple of years mastering little idea, ill continue with the intermediate routine called seeking bridge. that one can be used for real combat but is more challenging. naturally, qian quan understood. seeking bridge mainly focuses on cultivating straightforward, direct, and effective skills for striking, a point thats evident in the yip man film series. i think ill stick to practicing the wooden dummy. it feels more fun, qian quan playfully said. youre a classic case of wanting to run before learning to walk, qian wenlin jokingly scolded, not genuinely opposing. he didnt have any expectations for his son to become a martial arts expert in the future. ill head back now, mr. qian, ding linlang said, needing to get back to her writing. okay. after demonstrating to the two kids, qian wenlin felt satisfied. he now needed to go to the school as the new term was approaching, and there were some preparations to be made. qian quan stood before the wooden dummy alone. his expression was calm, without a hint of frivolity. feet apart, horse stance. slowly extending his arms, he assumed a wen shou position, then started striking the wooden dummy with deliberate yet rhythmically paced movements. thud, thud, thud each move was precise, like clockwork. initially, it was just his hands, his feet firmly planted, stance unwavering. then, hands and feet worked in unison, the speed gradually increasing. thud, thud, thud, thud, thud qian quan showed no intention of slowing down. he maintained the same forms and footwork but at an even faster pace. palm strikes, punches, elbow strikes, kicks, and finger jabs fell upon the wooden dummy like a fierce storm. thud, thud, thud, thud, thud the sound formed a continuous rhythm. even in comparison to scenes from movies, this was a level of speed not seen before. by the end, it was several times faster than combat scenes depicted in movies. qian quans body and skills cast a trail of afterimages. if qian wenlin and ding linlang had witnessed this, they would undoubtedly have been left speechless in astonishment. in the realm of martial arts, each style and training method has its own intricacies, but the unchanging principle remains encapsulated in these words C only speed unbreakable. in actual combat, tai chi isnt just about calmly tracing tai chi patterns. qian quan continued to strike at full speed for nearly five minutes, gradually slowing down his movements until he returned to his initial state. thud, thud, thud as he continued, there were even moments of pause, as if he were contemplating and pondering something. its a pity the wooden dummy cant move. suddenly, qian quan wished to spar with a real person, seeking a worthy opponent for an exhilarating exchange of skills. he regretted not agreeing with zhao baiyu that day. if he had, she could have introduced him to some true wing chun experts, and they could have corroborated each others skills. however, he wondered how many individuals in todays martial arts world could truly match his level. initiating a challenge with someone else? would it be too ostentatious and traditional? or should he wait until he arrives in azure bay, find an opportunity to meet with zhao baiyu, exchange skills with her first, and then ask for her assistance in introducing some skilled practitioners for mutual sparring? evening fell. after finishing todays writing, ding linlang invited qian quan to play basketball. perhaps it was because the two of them had experienced some subtle moments during their trip to hangzhou, so todays one-on-one game involved less physical contact. for example, when ding linlang was backing down, qian quan no longer played tight defense. as a result, ding linlang, who had a slight technical advantage, won two rounds in a row. do you plan to join a basketball club in college? during their break, ding linlang asked qian quan. i havent really thought about it. but i was thinking of starting the stand-up club. whats the stand-up club? its about forming a club with a group of students who like to stand others up. wed share stories about standing someone up and see who has the most outrageous tales. whats the point of that? the point is, throughout the four years of college, wed never successfully organized an event for this club. every time we tried to have an activity, the members of the club would stand us up, hahaha ding linlang was speechless. qian quan, could you be any less humorous? alright, enough joking. i really havent figured out what club to join. if theres a chinese chess club, i might consider joining. oh, thats right. with your chinese chess skills now, youll definitely attract female members to this club. you got that right. you dont really need to worry. last year, the male-to-female ratio for new students at seacoast normal university was 2 to 5. this year, its probably about the same. with your qualities, you wont have trouble finding a girlfriend. sunny, handsome, humorous (like that little joke just now), skilled in basketball and chinese chess add to that the recently discovered attribute of terrifying martial prowess, and in a normal college setting, his competitiveness would probably only be second to those wealthy kids with substantial allowances. no, no, ive said it before. anyone who wants to be my girlfriend has to pass your test first. remember that. of course! qian quan said firmly. as for those who cant pass your test, ill accept them as younger sisters. get lost! ding linlang scolded, i cant believe i was worried you wouldnt be able to get over your heartbreak anytime soon. linlang, youve got it wrong. according to a study from harvard university, after being deeply hurt by a woman, a man needs to date at least six different women to heal his wounded heart. which study from harvard university is that? dont worry about the details. come on, lets have a free throw competition. on september 1st, qian quan and ding linlang packed their bags and were about to head to azure bay for enrollment. their parents were facing their childrens departure for such a long time and distance for the first time, and their hearts were truly mixed with emotions. just like many years ago when they sent them to kindergarten. separation anxiety was never exclusive to children. however, parents understood deep inside that children would eventually grow up, become independent, and venture into the world. qian quan and ding linlang also felt a bit strange. it was the first time they were leaving their parents for such a long time and distance as if they were suddenly stepping into a new phase of life. the southbound train departed. they went off to azure bay to make a solid effort. Chapter 18 translator: inschain editor: inschain he used to live on campus during high school, only coming back once every two weeks. at that time, i didnt feel much about it. why do i feel so empty when sending him to college today? yang yuhua returned home after seeing their son off and sat on the couch, feeling down. its normal. when he was in high school, it was in riverside, just half an hour away by car, and he could come back every two weeks. now hes going to azure bay, four or five hundred kilometers away. he might only come back once a semester. why dont we have a university here? come on, dear, dont overthink it. kids grow up and need to learn to be independent. luckily, hes going with linlang, and they can take care of each other. qian wenlin sat down beside his wife and reached out to embrace her shoulders. im just not used to it. look how clingy he was to me when he was young, and now he suddenly has to go so far on his own, as if he doesnt need us anymore. she glanced at her husband and continued, how about having another child? youve been practicing martial arts recently, right? lets stop there, qian wenlin said with a wry smile, we shouldnt rush into having a second child just because we feel a gap in our hearts. the motivation would be wrong. how about this, lets get a puppy. yang yuhua was speechless. im serious. according to a study from stanford university in the united states, parents feel a certain anxiety and sense of loss when their children leave to pursue education or work. during this time, adopting a pet can help alleviate this sense of loss and redirect our emotions. really? yes. if you dont believe me, you can observe it yourself or talk to colleagues about it. okay. also, there are two other things. i plan to get my drivers license this year and start a chinese chess and calligraphy training class. is it because you feel pressured due to rocky going to college? not really. just after rocky got into college, i realized id been somewhat complacent these past few years, staying in my comfort zone for too long. if i keep going like this, im afraid rocky will surpass me sooner or later. the great aura of being a father that ive painstakingly built will also disappear. so, i want to continue improving myself and, at the same time, set a good example for rocky and linlang. its about leading by example, you know. you wouldnt believe how much admiration is in their eyes when they see me practicing wing chun. speaking of martial arts, you must stick with it, yang yuhua glanced at her husband and reminded him. understood, qian wenlin nodded in agreement. the high-speed train slowly came to a stop at hongqiao station. qian quan and ding linlang got off the train together. there were so many people, it was really crowded. i wonder where the universitys shuttle bus is parked, ding linlang said. lets exit the station first. there should be someone waiting at the exit, qian quan suggested. okay. they pushed their luggage and used their id cards to exit the station. as expected, they saw people holding signs at the exit. there were signs for various universities: fudan university, jiao tong university, tongji university, and seacoast normal university. take care, and keep in touch, qian quan walked towards the sign for seacoast normal university. ding linlang waved her hand and headed towards the sign for fudan university. hello, everyone. im a new student from seacoast normal university, qian quan greeted as he approached the sign. hello, welcome to azure bay. let me take you to the shuttle bus, a senior student with pink-framed glasses greeted warmly. sure, thank you. qian quan pushed his luggage and followed behind the senior. whats your major? the senior student asked along the way. history. i see. im in tourism management, and im a junior this year. lets exchange contacts. if you have any questions about the campus in the future, feel free to ask me. alright. qian quan added the senior student as a friend on the social app. im xun yufei. whats your name? ill add a note. qian quan. qian quan also noted the senior students name, but just as he finished, he received a message from her. ladies, let me tell you, we have a super handsome guy in the history department this year. i think song changyaos position as the school heartthrob might be in danger. qian quan stared at the message for a few seconds, puzzled. however, the message was instantly retracted. oh, she sent it to the wrong person. pretending not to have seen it, qian quan put his phone away. beside her, xun yufeis face turned as red as the evening glow, and she frantically vented in the welcoming new students chat group. so embarrassing! so embarrassing! i want to find a hole to hide in! brocken: what happened? werent you just escorting new students to the bus? xun yufei: yeah, its that new student i just picked up from the history department. i added him on the social app and accidentally sent him the message meant for the dormitory group. brocken: what did you send? xun yufei: i said a handsome guy joined the history department this year and might replace song changyao as the school heartthrob. three seconds later. brocken: yufei, consider applying for an overseas study program or maybe even think about going to a space station other members in the group were also exploding with laughter, flooding the chat with hahaha and various humorous emojis. then, a female classmate said, i really want to know how handsome he is to make yufei lose her composure like this. xun yufei: you can ask luo xueping. brocken: hes quite handsome. even at my peak, id probably have to step aside. simon fishgate: arent you at your peak now? brocken: thats why i had yufei go to pick him up. simon fishgate: makes sense. simon fishgate: yufei, sneak a photo and send it to us to take a look. xun yufei: take a photo of what? im too nervous to even look at him now! simon fishgate: did he see the message? did he reply to you? xun yufei: he definitely saw it, but hes probably pretending he didnt. as they chatted, the bus had arrived. lets get on, find any seat you like. xun yufei instructed and ran back to the station. she didnt even have time to respond to the thank you that came from behind. qian quan smiled as he watched her retreating figure. just as he was about to board the bus, he caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. song xi. wearing a white dress, song xi followed behind a male student while the young man was actively helping her with her luggage. the two walked towards another bus. song xi also noticed qian quan. she suddenly stopped and stared directly at him. qian quan averted his gaze and stepped onto the bus. at noon, qian quan arrived at seacoast normal university by bus. during the start of the semester, with the addition of the second-year students military training, the campus was bustling with activity. with his luggage in tow, qian quan followed the signs to the registration point of the history department. after about ten minutes, he finally found the registration point for the history department. a few orientation volunteers were having lunch at that time. qian quan counted and found there were a total of 10 volunteers: 8 girls and two boys. are you a freshman here for registration? a girl in a gray t-shirt asked qian quan. yes. everyone lifted their heads to look at qian quan. it was clear that a few girls eyes lit up upon seeing him. among them, two girls exchanged a knowing glance. one of the joys of orientation was getting to know good-looking new students in advance. come over, ill help you with the registration, the girl in the gray t-shirt set aside her boxed lunch. thank you, but you can eat first. ill wait. no need, im done eating. the girl in the gray t-shirt waved to qian quan and brought out a new student registration form. then, they went through the process of verifying documents, filling out information forms and confirmation papers, and receiving dormitory numbers and registration certificates. once everything was done, the girl in the gray t-shirt said, you can add me on social app, and ill invite you to the history departments new student chat group. if you have any questions in the future, you can ask me directly. okay, thank you. with the documents in hand, qian quan prepared to go to the accommodation center for check-in. another girl with twin ponytails and a cute, innocent appearance stood up and said, let me take you to the check-in center. at first, qian quan wanted to decline, but the girl had already walked over under the curious and meaningful gazes of other new volunteers. thank you. walking out of the humanities building, the girl started introducing herself, im wang tongyu from the chinese language and literature major, part of the luminous drama society. well be recruiting new members tomorrow, so you can drop by and take a look. okay, qian quan agreed. by the way, what clubs are there in our school? our school has dozens of clubs, but only ten five-star clubs exist. the luminous drama society is one of them. i see. is there a chinese chess club? i havent heard of a chinese chess club, but theres a three-star go club. there might also be a chinese chess club, but it has yet to receive stars. everyone knows the best chinese chess club in azure bay is at jiao tong university. are you good at chinese chess? i have some knowledge, qian quan replied. in that case, you should look for it at the club recruitment event tomorrow. okay. by the way, add me on social app, and ill ask around for you. sure, no problem. are there any other clubs youre interested in? basketball. we have a basketball association, but its also an ordinary club without any stars. thats okay. soon, they arrived at the accommodation center, completed the check-in process, received dormitory supplies, and got the keys. thank you for helping me, qian quan said as he headed to his dorm to settle in. you are welcome. lets keep in touch in the future. okay. oh, and if someone tries to sell you a phone card or something, you can refuse. got it. wang tongyu waved and returned to the registration point. qian quan carried his luggage and headed to his dormitory. he chose the new apartment, a four-person room. upon finding his dormitory, he saw that there was already a fellow student arranging his bed. they nodded at each other and exchanged greetings before getting busy with their own tasks. qian quan chose his bed but didnt immediately start making it. he messaged ding linlang, ive completed the check-in. how about you? after a while, ding linlang replied, ive just arrived at the dormitory too. the senior female students at our school are really friendly, and chatting with them is really pleasant. on my way here, ive already added three or four senior female students on the social app. there was a noticeable pause in ding linlangs response, and then she weakly replied, i added 8. qian quan was momentarily stunned, then he quickly realized what she meant and burst into laughter. Chapter 19 translator: inschain editor: inschain by 5 p.m., all of qian quans roommates had arrived. there was gao yan from linjiang, guo hongyi from oakhaven, and a local student from azure bay named shen fei. among them, guo hongyi and qian quan were in the history department, while gao yan and shen fei were in the philosophy department. after initial introductions, guo hongyi suggested that everyone go out for dinner together to become more familiar with the campus. qian quan and gao yan joined, while shen fei politely declined. it was evident that shen fei, a local from azure bay, carried that somewhat distant air of superiority. he wore branded clothing, carried a vintage single-strap bag, and used the latest model of an apple phone. just as ding linlang had mentioned, he was one of those born and raised in this mystic city. maintaining some distance seemed to be the norm. guo hongyi and gao yan were similar to qian quan C all hailing from small towns, but their personalities were quite distinct. guo hongyi was outgoing and talkative, while gao yan tended to be reserved and introverted. which club are you planning to join for the recruitment event tomorrow? on returning to the dormitory after dinner, guo hongyi asked casually. ill see tomorrow. im leaning toward chinese chess and basketball, but a female senior suggested i consider joining the luminous drama society. ill check it out as well, qian quan replied. im also signing up for basketball, guo hongyi chimed in, then curiously asked, why did a female senior suggest you join the drama club? it was when i was registering today. she came up and added me on a social app, then talked to me about it. didnt she add you? qian quan retorted. nope, when i registered, the male seniors helped with the process! guo hongyis tone grew more animated, can i boldly ask which female senior it was? the one with double ponytails, her name is wang tongyu. the most beautiful one! she even told you her name? guo hongyi had clearly noticed this charming and lovely senior, wang tongyu, when he signed up. his expression turned complex as he stared at qian quan, and finally, with a resigned sigh, he said, forget it. this world is superficial anyway, and your looks slightly outshine mine, so i cant blame her. what about you, gao yan? i didnt get added by any senior either, gao yan answered truthfully. i wasnt asking about that. i was asking which club you want to join. gao yan shook his head, i wont join any club. i want to use these four years in college to do things im personally interested in. got it, to each their own. as they chatted, they returned to their dormitory, realizing that shen fei wasnt there, but no one pressed for details. qian quan briefly updated his registration in the happy family group chat with his parents today. his mom advised him to eat well to ensure getting enough nutrition, sleep more, and drink plenty of water. qian quan replied to his mom, alright, i got it. whether it was due to his zodiac sign or not, qian quan never entered a rebellious phase against his moms care. even during his teenage years, he never considered his mom to be overly nagging. after a while, his dad replied, advising him to excel in his major and consider taking elective courses in other fields. he suggested auditing classes and spending more time in the library, making the most of the four years of freedom in university for comprehensive learning. qian quan responded earnestly to his dad: message received! ill make the most of these four years to comprehensively enhance myself. i wont just idle away my days. ill remember your guidance and follow your example, persisting in my studies, continuing to learn, cherishing time, and valuing life. it seemed like his mom couldnt resist commenting anymore, playfully saying, can you and your dad please not be so formal? qian quan quickly replied with a doggy smile emoji. mom: why did you reply with a dog emoji? do you know your dad and i are considering getting a dog? qian quan was speechless. why do parents have such specific interpretations of certain emojis? the next morning. after breakfast, qian quan and guo hongyi headed to the campus to explore the club recruitment. the scene was even livelier than yesterday. two rows of umbrellas, mostly red but interspersed with yellow and blue, were lined up. the club members responsible for recruitment were divided into two groups: one group registered information and answered questions, while the other showcased their talents. looking around, people were breakdancing, playing the guitar, skateboarding, twirling nunchucks, and even someone dressed in a karate uniform kicking through wooden boards it felt like wandering through a talent market. qian quan and guo hongyi went to find the basketball club. because the names of each club were written on the umbrellas and neatly arranged, it wasnt too hard to locate them despite the crowd. however, before they had gone far, they were stopped. to be precise, qian quan was stopped. hello there, wed like to invite you to learn about our the luminous drama society. our drama society was the first to be established in the school and has the highest rating. once you pass the audition and successfully join, you can enjoy a lifetime of free access to watch dramas. two charming girls stood in front of qian quan, enthusiastically introducing themselves. how did you know were freshmen? qian quan asked curiously. because freshmen have a kind of youthful look on their faces, very easy to recognize, one of the girls answered. qian quan nodded with a smile and asked, this lifetime of free drama access, is it only for myself, or can i bring my girlfriend along? you have a girlfriend? the other girl blurted out. not now, but you mentioned a lifetime of free access. i think i will definitely have a girlfriend in the future. oh, i see, haha. thats right. if your girlfriend is also in the drama club, then that works too, the girl tactfully responded. got it, then ill sign up, qian quan thought. anyway, its just signing up. whether to go for the audition or not can be decided later. great. please come over and register your information. as qian quan wrote his name in the name field, the two girls beside him exclaimed, youre qian quan? you know me? qian quan was surprised. yes, wang tongyu mentioned it to us. she said that the history department admitted a new student with good qualifications this year. oh, qian quan realized. after filling out the information, the two girls added qian quan on the social app. at this moment, guo hongyi, who had been standing by observing, asked, excuse me, can i sign up? one of the seniors glanced at him and said, yes, if you want to sign up, just fill out the form. well, i was just asking. im not interested in performing drama. its fine. guo hongyi called out to qian quan, qian quan, lets go! the two continued to look for the basketball club. after a few steps, guo hongyi said, qian quan, theres a chinese chess club. qian quan looked and saw a yellow umbrella on the left with the words chinese chess association on it. there was a young man and two young women sitting under it. the young man had a crew cut and wore thick glasses. in front of him were three chessboards. the two young women seemed more reserved, sitting at the table registering people and reading a chess manual. it appeared a bit quiet, but it matched the atmosphere of playing chinese chess. qian quan walked up and asked, hello, how do i sign up for this club? the female senior responsible for registration glanced at him and asked gently, do you know how to play chinese chess? yes. any skill level? chinese chess doesnt have ranks like go, but it does have levels divided into professional and amateur categories. qian quan shook his head, no level. alright, you play a game against cao chuande first. if you can pass his assessment, youll officially join. indeed, it was an uncommon club; registration and assessment were combined. okay. qian quan walked over to cao chuande and politely said, nice to meet you. cao chuande glanced at him and then turned to the girl next to him, who was looking at the chess manual, and said, you play with him. ill play against both of you. okay, the girl sat down next to qian quan. you may begin. cao chuande looked like a skilled chinese chess player with a respectable rank. his confident demeanor spoke volumes. qian quan and the girl each made a careful move. cao chuande, with a calm demeanor, played without hesitation, swiftly responding. then, it was the girl and qian quans turn for the second move. after about ten moves, cao chuandes time spent on qian quans side began to increase. after a few more moves, he found himself trapped on qian quans side. he turned to the girl and said, youve lost, then focused his attention on the match with qian quan. after five or six more moves, qian quan smiled and said, checkmate. with qian quans chinese chess skills, defeating a distracted opponent was easy, but he didnt want an unfair victory. as a result, in the subsequent one-on-one match against cao chuande, he managed to barely win. qian quan intended to join this chinese chess club to use this platform to engage in more advanced competitions. he didnt need to perform extraordinarily from the start; passing the assessment was sufficient. shall we play another round? cao chuande wiped the sweat off his forehead. did i pass the assessment? qian quan asked. cao chuande blushed slightly and said, just making it to the 25th move against me is considered a pass. youve even defeated me, so youve certainly passed. alright, we can spar in the future. we need to go sign up for the basketball club now, qian quan stood up. okay, remember to register your information, cao chuandes demeanor had lost some of its former pride. after filling out the form, qian quan and guo hongyi continued forward. lets not delay this time, head straight to the basketball club, guo hongyi suggested. okay. before they could continue, a tall guy in a martial arts uniform intercepted qian quan. he spoke with an unfriendly tone. youre qian quan, right? Chapter 20 translator: inschain editor: inschain in the early 21st century, seacoast normal university established the college of sports and health, offering a martial arts major focusing on tai chi. they widely spread invitations, inviting two true grandmasters of tai chi and xing yi quan martial arts from the folk as guest professors to unearth and cultivate martial arts talents. bai yuanzhi, an english department of luminary pedagogical university graduate, began learning tai chi from her grandfather at a young age. she had been practicing for eighteen years and had achieved remarkable accomplishments. last year, bai yuanzhi was admitted to seacoast normal universitys tai chi masters program with top scores in both written and interview exams. her outstanding theoretical knowledge and exceptional combat performance led to her election as the universitys martial arts association president. moreover, bai yuanzhi was also a popular content creator with 1.5 million followers. her online handle was tai chi-yuanzhi. with her naturally sweet appearance and graceful tai chi movements showcased without any artificiality, she had earned the title tai chis number one beauty online. netizens playfully referred to her as sweet yet fierce. recently, she held a meeting with the heads of martial arts clubs from various universities in azure bay. ultimately, they decided to collaborate on a newcomer pairs tournament to learn from each other, enhance mutual understanding, invigorate the martial arts atmosphere, and discover potential talents. then, last night, luan qingyun, the president of the azure bay university martial arts association, sent a message to the presidents chat group, saying, i declare that this years newcomer pairs tournament champion has already been decided for us, azure bay university. you all need to work harder to compete for the second place. his attitude was extremely arrogant, sparking outrage among the members. upon investigation, it was revealed that they had recruited an extraordinary newcomer this year named zhao baiyu, who specialized in xing yi bagua palm. she nearly knocked down luan qingyun during yesterdays interview, leading to a rather awkward scene. luan qingyun used the phrases unprecedented and powerful beyond comparison to describe this new recruit. this news left everyone stunned. first and foremost, luan qingyun wouldnt lie about his embarrassing experiences. secondly, everyone knew luan qingyuns prowess, having immersed himself in baguazhang for many years. if what he said was true, zhao baiyu would become the top newcomer in the azure bay area this year and potentially rise to the top three nationally. based on these factors, during todays club recruitment event, bai yuanzhi intentionally came to the scene as well. on the one hand, she hoped to unearth a supremely talented newcomer willing to enroll with his skills, and on the other hand, she aimed to gather material for her new video. at the start of the semester, the website strongly preferred related videos. she had unique advantages as a graduate student and future university teacher. to gather materials and attract new students attention, she demonstrated and explained tai chi push-hands with her club members on the lawn throughout the morning. being one of the few internet celebrities at seacoast normal university, her presence naturally drew a considerable number of students to watch. among them was qin shenglong, the ultimate karate club vice president, which was also recruiting new members. whether it was out of competition, teasing, or an attempt to expose the others intentions, qin shenglong watched for a while and felt that the tai chi push-hands demonstration was rather playful, lacking in technical depth. the reason why bai yuanzhi could push her opponent away seemed solely due to her partners cooperation. therefore, after watching a round, he provocatively exclaimed, miss bai, can my friend from the media give it a try? he deliberately played on a popular meme from short video platforms. there was a comedic content creator who earnestly taught traditional self-defense skills, first demonstrating them with his own disciple. due to the disciples cooperation, the demonstrations appeared highly successful. following that, he would say, let the friend from the media give it a try. then, various mishaps would ensue as the uncooperative media friend subjected him to various creative forms of defeat. this was meant to generate laughter and create a satirical effect. indeed, as soon as qin shenglong finished speaking, the audiences cheerful laughter erupted. sure. bai yuanzhi didnt mind and smiled in agreement. qin shenglong, with a rubbing-his-hands-together attitude, walked over. he even bowed slightly exaggeratedly, saying, thank you, before extending his hand to clasp bai yuanzhis. at first, he deliberately cooperated, planning to counter bai yuanzhis final push to return it to her. however, after six or seven rounds, he sensed something was amiss. it seemed like his body was gradually losing control, the situation slipping from his grasp. unsteady and wavering, he felt himself being led step by step by the opponent. by the time he realized the danger and tried to withdraw, it was already too late. go! with a light shout, bai yuanzhi extended her hand forward. qin shenglong felt a long-gathered tremendous force, combined with his own effort, acting upon him. his feet almost left the ground as he slid backward, and then, upon hitting the ground, he continued to retreat seven or eight steps before finally falling flat on his back. he landed in a sprawled position. for a moment, his mind was in shock, and he was at a loss for words due to panic. great! a loud round of applause erupted around them. thank you, mr. qin, for your cooperation. bai yuanzhi gave him a way out. qin shenglong quickly stood up, his expression gradually calming down. he awkwardly smiled and said, miss bai, youre impressive. i was careless and didnt manage to dodge. after speaking, he hurriedly left, looking somewhat embarrassed. everyone just witnessed it. tai chi can also be performed with just one hand, bai yuanzhi added, sharing some knowledge. after this small incident, many new students inquired about and signed up for the martial arts club. meanwhile, bai yuanzhi prepared to shoot videos of other clubs recruitment activities for later editing. filming content only from the martial arts club would be too monotonous. holding her phone, she explained while selecting materials. suddenly, two young men entered her camera frame C one was handsome and tall, while the other was tall and strong. the handsome and tall young man seemed to light up her screen momentarily. he had that typical sunny boy aura, making people feel cheerful just by looking at him. as she was about to approach them for a few words, she noticed that qin shenglong had intercepted them. are you qian quan? qin shenglong glared at the handsome young man, his anger still fresh from his recent defeat. yes, i am qian quan. do you need something? the handsome young man replied gently. did you add wang tongyu as a friend on the social app? qin shenglong asked. yes, she said she would help me inquire about the club. delete her immediately! qin shenglong ordered. that would be quite impolite, the young man responded calmly. i told you to delete it, so just do it. no need for so much talk, qin shenglong grew even more irritated. i wont delete it, the young man, seemingly not intimidated by qin shenglongs karate uniform, shook his head resolutely, showing no fear. do you have any other business? so, you came to the school just to cause trouble, huh? qin shenglongs tone turned threatening. i didnt come to cause trouble. it seems like youre the one causing trouble for me. ill tell miss wang about it if you continue this way. you wouldnt want her to know about such unsavory matters, would you? the young man countered with a threat of his own. bai yuanzhi watched with amusement. she found the young man named qian quan quite interesting, especially his witty manner that complemented his looks. qin shenglong indeed didnt want wang tongyu to find out that he threatened the new freshman, but after being defeated by a girl and rejected by a newcomer, his pride was hurt, fueling his anger. out of habit, he burst out with a furious roar, do you want to face me one-on-one? qian quan hesitated for a moment, his gaze sweeping from qin shenglongs face to the faces of the other two karate members. he replied in a surprising tone, bring it on, all three of you! im not scared! qin shenglong and his two companions were dumbfounded instantly, thinking, has this guy gone crazy? the tall male student who was with qian quan grabbed him, saying, qian quan, looking at their stance, you cant beat even one of them. i know, but if i take on all three and lose, its not shameful, qian quan said with an air of confidence. qin shenglong and his two companions couldnt help but think, are they doing a comedy routine? meanwhile, bai yuanzhi, who had captured this scene on camera, struggled to contain her laughter. this young man was truly amusing! this footage was an absolute stroke of luck! with his handsome appearance and such a facetious sense of humor, the contrast in his charm was bound to spark extensive discussions and shares among netizens once it was posted online. she could already picture the barrage of comments flooding the screen. i was just kidding. if you really mind me adding miss wang, you can ask her to remove me. im okay with it, and i wont delay your recruitment, qian quan said, grabbing his companion and heading off. wait a minute! a recovered qin shenglong turned around and reached for qian quans shoulder. whether it was a coincidence, qian quans shoulder conveniently shifted, causing qin shenglongs grasp to find nothing but air. while bai yuanzhi, who was recording the video, noticed this, and her expression tightened. thinking he might have acted too hastily, qin shenglong took a step forward and attempted once more to grab qian quans shoulder, only to miss again. both times, the contact was evaded in a split second. seeing this, bai yuanzhi no longer hesitated. she put away her phone and prepared to step in to defuse the situation. from what she knew, the remarkable auditory discernment skill demonstrated by that young man a moment ago was likely attributed to his advanced level in tai chi, particularly in listening force. or, he might display a skill renowned in the world of martial arts C wing chuns fluid interaction of wing chun. which skill was the young man named qian quan using? Chapter 21 translator: inschain editor: inschain because qian quans performance seemed too natural, qin shenglong lost his grip twice in a row without realizing the problem. he simply circled around and blocked qian quans path once again, intending to engage in further conversation with him. getting physical was definitely out of the question. not only did the school have rules against it, but he also wouldnt be able to explain it to wang tongyu. a senior in his third year, vice president of the karate club, beating up a helpless freshman just out of jealousy- if news of this incident spread, it would definitely have left him incredibly embarrassed. a softer approach was needed if a strong-arm approach wouldnt work. qin shenglong realized that since intimidation wouldnt work, he should change his strategy to enticement. perhaps extending an invitation for him to join the karate club, maybe gaming together, or even offering him a membership card to the cyber caf however, before he could say anything, bai yuanzhi approached and called out to qian quan. qian quan, why did you just arrive? qian quan followed the voice and saw a young woman walking over, elegant and sweet, looking somewhat familiar. oh, mr. qin had something to discuss with me, but weve finished talking, qian quan replied quickly, walking toward bai yuanzhi. feeling a bit awkward, qin shenglong didnt pursue the matter further, watching qian quan and bai yuanzhi leave with a displeased expression. thanks for getting me out of that situation, qian quan didnt want to start the school year by injuring a senior. really? i kind of feel like i got qin shenglong out of that situation. after all, you were up for taking on all three of them, bai yuanzhi said with a smile, looking at qian quan. haha, that was just me joking around. i know he wouldnt actually fight me, qian quan explained. thats true. although qin shenglong has a hot temper, he knows where to draw the line, bai yuanzhi said casually. and when you left just now, he tried to grab your shoulder from behind but missed both times. clearly, he wasnt really planning to get physical. is that so? i didnt notice. bai yuanzhi chuckled softly, not exposing the truth. she changed the subject and asked, what are you guys up to? were heading to the basketball club for registration. the basketball club is at the end of this row, bai yuanzhi pointed out the route, then changed the topic smoothly. but since both of you are here, why not consider joining the martial arts club as well? beside them, guo hongyi was intrigued. the martial arts club sounds interesting. could i ask what the requirements for joining are? first and foremost, an interest in martial arts, and then some basic martial arts skills, both theoretical and practical. the interview will focus on these aspects. do we have to pay? guo hongyi asked straightforwardly. of course not. we have a budget for activities, bai yuanzhi laughed. in that case, lets give it a shot, guo hongyi urged qian quan, its free after all. qian quan had also considered the idea. just like joining the chinese chess club, he wanted to use this opportunity to connect with some real masters. now, with this serendipitous chance and the fact that this senior just might have noticed something, he decided to take the opportunity and sign up. lets do it, qian quan agreed. the two of them went to fill in their information. oh, by the way, theres something else. i was shooting some video footage earlier, and i captured you guys. would it be okay for me to edit and upload it online? bai yuanzhi asked qian quan and guo hongyi. is it for promoting the club? kind of, but its on my personal account. so, after the video is ready, ill need to individually confirm with the students who show their faces on camera. once the editing is done, ill let you guys preview it before uploading. qian quan nodded and glanced at bai yuanzhi, suddenly realizing something. miss, are you tai chi-yuanzhi on the short video platform? im not sure which one youre referring to, but i do manage an account there, bai yuanzhi replied with a smile. thats you, the tai chi beauty whos both sweet and fierce, qian quan confirmed. bai yuanzhi smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. im bai yuanzhi, a graduate student majoring in tai chi. im also the president of the martial arts association. ill personally conduct the interviews for you guys. looking forward to it. lets exchange contact information, and ill send you the video later. qian quan and bai yuanzhi became friends on a social app. thank you for your support. bai yuanzhi extended her hand for a handshake with qian quan. qian quan reached out and shook her hand, only to be surprised to find that she was using a subtle force to test him. qian quan didnt mind much and, with an air of not being affected, suddenly exclaimed and playfully lunged toward bai yuanzhi. you! this action took aback bai yuanzhi, scolded him with embarrassment, and quickly withdrew her right hand, pressing it against his chest to halt his lunging motion. however, their distance had been shortened to the point where they could feel each others breath. for a brief moment, 23-year-old bai yuanzhi felt her heart tremble. fortunately, she managed to prevent this guy from lunging into her embrace. otherwise, it would have been so outrageous! are you testing my strength? qian quan looked bewildered. bai yuanzhi was a mix of annoyance and amusement. she replied, lets talk about that during the interview. when the time came to assess him, she definitely planned to teach him a lesson for daring to flirt with her. meanwhile, on the side, guo hongyi, who had been waiting to shake hands with bai yuanzhi, wisely chose to give up and went to the basketball club with qian quan to sign up. qian quan had quite a fruitful day. he joined the luminous drama society and the chinese chess club, and now he signed up for the martial arts and basketball clubs. he believed his future university life would undoubtedly be colorful and diverse. upon returning to the dormitory, qian quan shared the news with ding linlang. while his childhood friend expressed surprise, she also informed him that she had signed up for the basketball club. as qian quan chatted with her for a while, he was responding to messages when he unexpectedly received a message from song xi: i saw you at hongqiao station yesterday. qian quan ignored it and continued chatting with ding linlang. after a while, song xi sent another message: are you free tonight? id like to invite you to the bund for a walk. theres something important i need to tell you. qian quan frowned and replied, not available. song xi responded immediately, its related to ding linlang, too, but only you can come. qian quan hesitated. he had to admit that song xi was skilled at reading people. song xi continued, even if its to bid a complete farewell to the past? qian quan had already bid farewell long ago. he felt nothing for song xi now, but when it came to ding linlang what time? qian quan asked. 7 p.m., okay? okay. having arranged the time with song xi, qian quan immediately informed ding linlang, song xi asked to meet me at the bund tonight at 7 p.m. she said she has something to talk about. ding linlang replied promptly, what does she want from you? she didnt say. qian quan didnt mention song xis mention of ding linlang; he didnt want to add pressure. are you going? yes, its a good opportunity to clear up some things face-to-face. after a few seconds, ding linlang replied, what if shes saying she broke up with sun shaokang and wants to be with you? youre really letting your imagination run wild. answer me. do you think she can be with me? im asking you. didnt you say youd watch out for me? ive already told you shes not your leading lady anymore. then ill follow your lead. a little while later. ding linlang: finish the talk soon and come back early. qian quan: okay. at 7 p.m. that evening, the outside had turned somewhat dark, and the bund was bustling with people. the globally renowned oriental pearl tower and lujiazui had already lit up. the scene was colorful, crystal-clear, like a dream. song xi wore a beige dress with a blue hairband and a small shoulder bag. artistic, fresh, elegant, and charming gave people a pure and clean feeling. objectively speaking, now that she could dress freely in college, she looked even more beautiful than during high school. however, this beauty held no significance for qian quan, and he might even find it somewhat artificial. what do you want? just say it. in fact, two years ago, qian quan had fantasized about this scene, walking along the bund hand in hand with song xi. now that he was really here with her, he realized how foolish and naive his past self had been. im a bit thirsty. can you buy me something to drink? a coquettish tone in song xis voice made qian quan uncomfortable. get to the point. whats up with ding linlang? qian quan got straight to the topic. im thirsty right now. what can i say? song xi didnt seem to mind qian quans attitude. fine, ill go get some water. if i come back and youre still beating around the bush, im out of here. qian quan was too lazy to engage in a pointless conversation with her. i want a green tea. song xi tilted her head slightly and looked at qian quan. an innocent smile was on her face as she emphasized, iced! Chapter 22 translator: inschain editor: inschain qian quan bought a bottle of iced green tea for song xi. occasionally browsing short videos himself, he naturally caught the teasing and even flirtatious intention behind song xis iced comment, but he had no interest in engaging with this boring joke. go ahead, whats up with ding linlang? qian quan got straight to the point. you really care about ding linlang. to be honest, i envy her, song xi said leisurely. song xi, i suggest we not beat around the bush. alright, it seems you really hate me now, not even willing to spend an extra minute with me, song xi chuckled self-deprecatingly. but i understand you. after all, i did what i did to you. qian quan remained silent. however, qian quan, you might not know that i copied your poem a hundred times as a form of self-punishment. does saying this now even make sense? it does, song xi took a step forward, i will probably break up with sun shaokang before november. qian quan wasnt interested, but he recalled ding linlangs warning, wondering what exactly song xi was up to. dont misunderstand. my breakup with him has nothing to do with you. im not seeking your forgiveness tonight. in fact, i dont regret being with sun shaokang now. were both using each other. qian quan couldnt help but let out a cold chuckle. is there a bit of contempt in your heart for me? song xi chuckled softly. actually, its not as sordid as you guys might think. at least i havent had that kind of relationship with him. he pursued me to win against you, to strike you down. and i agreed because im about to study at the most bustling university in the country, and i need the latest iphone and a decent handbag. i dont want to be sidelined by new classmates and roommates. im not interested in these things, qian quan straightforwardly remarked. he now understood that song xi had been influenced to some extent by the works of some mediocre writers. be patient. ill get to ding linlang later, song xi scolded lightly. do you remember when i told you before that my favorite city is azure bay, and my ideal university is azure bay foreign language university? and then? its because i came to azure bay when i was twelve. i stood in that spot right over there, facing the oriental pearl tower, shanghai tower, shanghai world financial center, and shanghai jinmao tower. i was so awed and overwhelmed. after that, i couldnt forget about this place. as i grew up a bit more, i was determined to come to azure bay and eventually have my own place nearby gazing across the river, song xi softly expressed her grand aspirations, i hope to see those buildings every night before i sleep and when i wake up. in qian quans thoughts, generally, only those young men who hadnt been tempered by society would set such ambitions while strolling along the bund C flipping the citys fortunes, purchasing a residence in tomson riviera, elegantly observing the flow of the river, and becoming tycoons. now, he realized he had underestimated song xis ambition and imagination. but i checked. the properties around there cost over 20,000 per square meter. do you realize the significance of this? it means people like us, without special circumstances, could never afford to live in such places even if we worked hard our entire lives. song xi took a sip of her iced green tea and continued, for instance, you and i, if we pursue a normal university education, graduate, and then start working, how many years do you think it would take for us to buy a property in azure bay? not to mention this vicinity, even for the entire azure bay, to afford a decent house within a good school district and location, how many years would that require? does this have anything to do with me and ding linlang? qian quan furrowed his brows. it has everything to do with it! qian quan, have you heard the saying that in our society today, men can choose to be downward compatible, while women can only choose to be upward compatible? especially in the current situation of gender imbalance, being compatible at the same level is already a sign of true love. what exactly do you want to say? qian quan felt song xi was incredibly unfamiliar, even more so than the day she announced her relationship with sun shaokang. what i want to say is, after we graduate and step into society, what will you and ding linlang do? how is that any of your concern? song xi didnt answer directly and continued, lost in her thoughts, ding linlangs qualifications are outstanding, in certain aspects, even better than mine. if shes willing, her future could also break through barriers and achieve personal social mobility. to give credit where its due, this was the first time qian quan had heard the term social mobility. they say girls mature two years earlier than boys of the same age, but qian quan felt song xi was 20 years ahead of him in maturity-this phrase had turned her into someone else. if youre only here tonight to tell me all this, i think our conversation can end here. qian quan had lost his patience. even though song xi was making some valid points, they had nothing to do with him now. at eighteen, there are eighteen things to worry about; at thirty, there are thirty aspects of life to contemplate. as for ding linlang, she would have her own choices to make. youre here already, so what does it matter if i finish speaking? song xi glanced at qian quan, and ill be done soon. it wont take up much of your time. fine, go ahead. after a brief hesitation, song xi took a light breath and said, i wont beat around the bush anymore and get straight to the point pausing for a moment, she continued, in order to integrate better into the university, into this city, i chose sun shaokang. he was my first investment, yet i clearly liked you in my heart. but i gave up on you, and you became my price to pay. however, sun shaokang is only a good investment in riverside. once i enter a truly international metropolis like azure bay, he wont be sufficient anymore. so, ill break up with him qian quan felt like his beliefs were shaking a bit and blurted out, do you have a new investment target? thats not something you need to worry about. in any case, qian quan, i want you to remember this: for people of our background, without extraordinary talent that defies the odds and aligns with the times, merely relying on conventional methods wont break through the solidified class barriers to achieve personal upward mobility. take my idol, deng wendi, for instance. while enhancing her personal capabilities, she read the trends and interacted with and invested in the most successful men. through this, she executed a glamorous turnaround, breaking free from her original social status and rising to the upper echelons of society. after reaping the investment returns, she decisively withdrew and sought true love. qian quan was stunned for three seconds before saying, why are you telling me all of this? song xi shot him an exasperated glance and explained, successful men are undoubtedly the best investments, but they also come with the highest risks. they are cunning, dangerous, ruthless. a single misstep might allow them to consume you entirely, leaving nothing behind. such people arent who youd want to spend your entire life with, nor could you. ultimately, once youve gained the investment returns, you need to find your own anchor. do you understand what im saying? i dont understand, and im still not clear why youre telling me this, qian quan said. suddenly, song xi laughed and said, then let me be more direct. qian quan, im giving you seven years. youre free to date, chase after girls in these seven years, and enjoy yourself. but dont get married. after seven years, if i have a place of my own across the river, i hope that at that time, youll be willing to leave everything behind and move in with me. from then on, well live together in happiness now, do you get it? upon hearing this, qian quan was frozen for a full five seconds, presenting a non-static image of disbelief in motion! after all her roundabout talk, she was proposing to financially support him after seven years! this twist made him feel absurd to the point of wanting to cry. could her thought process be any more bewilderingly absurd? how did she manage to intertwine logical reality and childish hilarity so self-assuredly and coherently? the sun is setting. i am your fishing boat, your anchor qian quan, it was during the process of repeatedly copying your poem that i realized everything is destined. i need you as this boat and even more so as my anchor! i copied it from the internet, qian quan interjected. but the emotions behind it are real, arent they? song xi, let me be straightforward too. i wont be with you even if you buy all the buildings across the river. i do not intend to meddle in your future plans or interfere with individual destinies. as for all my feelings for you, they were destroyed along with the balloon that day. i wont bother you from now on, and i hope you wont bother me either. good luck to you. lets end it here today. goodbye. with that, qian quan turned and left. you will change your mind, for sure, song xi softly uttered as she watched qian quans receding figure. at that moment, on the huangpu river, a large ship slowly sailed into view from the distance and then gradually departed. following the crowd, qian quan descended the stairs and spotted a familiar slender figure standing under a streetlight. ding linlang! why are you here? qian quan was momentarily surprised, hastening his steps. why cant i be here? when did you arrive? when you were buying her green tea, oh, when you were buying her iced green tea. when ding linlang emphasized the iced part, she deliberately accentuated her tone. qian quan chuckled softly and said, lets go back. im thirsty too. get me something to drink. sure, what do you want? id like some ice! qian quan was speechless. Chapter 23 translator: inschain editor: inschain on the way to the subway station, ding linlang couldnt resist asking qian quan what he and song xi had talked about. qian quan highlighted the main points but didnt mention the parts related to her, only adding to his frustration. she wants you to be her backup plan? ding linlang was astonished. qian quan didnt offer an opinion, letting out a sigh. i cant understand why she would have such absurd thoughts. ding linlang silently contemplated for a moment before saying, at least she opened up to you. maybe she genuinely has feelings for you. its a matter of values. qian quan said seriously, i cant believe i didnt see what kind of person she truly was before. trying to fully understand someone is not that easy, ding linlang seemed to be deciphering song xis real intentions too, but then again, do you think she could succeed? qian quan shook his head, i dont care. does that mean youve truly moved on? i had already moved on. after tonight, i feel even more like we were people from different worlds right from the start. ding linlang nodded, then its best to go your separate ways. qian quan agreed with a nod. ding linlang glanced at qian quan and patted his shoulder, saying, you dont need to feel regretful. when the day comes that i write a bestselling masterpiece and sell the copyrights, ill use the proceeds to buy a house in azure bay fully, and ill reserve a room for you. qian quan chuckled, it seems like times have really changed. now its trendy for women to boast and paint big dreams for men. ding linlang chuckled, it shows you really have the potential for freeloading. um i want to strive on my own. as they chatted, they reached the subway station. they were taking different lines-line 10 and line 2-so they had to part ways. i have interviews for three clubs this weekend. ill come to your school to hang out next weekend. before parting, qian quan made plans with ding linlang. sure, wish you success in your interviews, ding linlang waved casually. qian quan sat on the subway heading back to school, his mind involuntarily recalling song xis question. after graduation, what will you do with ding linlang? it was indeed a thought-provoking question, and for the moment, he didnt have a clear answer. just let things take their course. the next morning, qian quans class held their first class meeting. there were a total of 37 students in the class, nine boys and 28 girls. so, when qian quan stepped onto the platform, many girls secretly glanced at him with excitement. hello, everyone. my name is qian quan. you can also call me by my nickname, rocky.'' it wasnt the most novel self-introduction, but it still brought smiles and suppressed giggles from many of the girls. after the brief class meeting, the students moved to the lecture hall. the official induction of new students psychological well-being education at seacoast normal university was about to commence. this was a tradition of seacoast normal university, aiming to convey the idea of caring for mental health, cultivating a positive mindset to every new student. the goal was to encourage everyone to embrace their upcoming university life positively, optimistically, and cheerfully. the atmosphere of these lectures and activities was generally light-hearted, healing, and open. for those who had just gone through the chaotic and intense final year of high school, it was indeed a refreshing classroom experience. no nerves, no anxiety, no exams. of course, the lecturing professors also reminded everyone that the four years of university were precious and transformative years. it was a period of independent learning and living, a time to shed old habits and develop into a new self. perhaps we will remember that quote attributed to gustave flaubert. never believe that a bright future is easily within reach just by obtaining a university diploma, just like dandelions on the mountain. but please believe that every success in this world is the result of wholehearted effort. this concluding remark, borrowing from a popular saying, was humorously impactful. after class, qian quan, guo hongyi, and gao yan went to the cafeteria to have lunch. at seacoast normal universitys cafeteria, there was an interesting phenomenon C it was common to see boys sitting at tables playing with their phones while girls stood in line to get their meals. after getting their food and finding a seat, qian quan received a message from bai yuanzhi. she sent the video of the day when the club was recruiting new members and added a note: you and guo hongyi appear at 2 minutes and 25 seconds. qian quan replied with a got it before opening the video. the video started with bai yuanzhis selfie, dressed in a spirited training outfit, bare-faced, introducing that they were recording the seacoast normal university club recruitment today. then, there were some quick-cut scenes from the recruitment event. it moved to the part about the martial arts club, where bai yuanzhi demonstrated and explained the tai chi push-hands it had to be said that compared to those young ladies changing into various sexy outfits and dancing provocatively, bai yuanzhis content had much higher technical quality. it was a breath of fresh air, and you could openly watch it even on public transportation like buses and subways. after all, they were just to learn tai chi to appreciate traditional culture. whats the big deal? when he reached the timestamp of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, qian quan indeed spotted himself on the screen. it was the scene where he declared that he would take on three opponents single-handedly, a rather juvenile display. with special effects applied and accompanied by very atmospheric background music, the scene surprisingly carried an air of grandeur even more intense than an action movie. bring it on, all three of you! im not scared! qian quan, looking at their stance, you cant beat even one of them! came the comforting voice of guo hongyi. i know, but if i take on all three and lose, its not shameful here, she added a what sound effect. bai yuanzhi kept only this segment, omitting the part where qin shenglong provoked him. the focus was mainly on the comedic effect, downplaying any conflicts among the classmates. this was also in line with the promotional theme of campus events. after finishing watching, qian quan forwarded the video to guo hongyi, who, of course, had no objections. to have a cameo in a video by a popular online celebrity with over a million followers was an incredible opportunity. refusing such an offer would be unthinkable, as it would be a chance to show off in the family and high school friends chat groups. qian quan replied to bai yuanzhi: miss bai, both my and guo hongyis parts are fine. bai yuanzhi quickly replied: great, thank you both. by the way, i found you quite photogenic. feel free to cameo more often. [chuckles] qian quan responded: thank you. [joyful] bai yuanzhi: by the way, are you free tonight? id like to discuss something related to the martial arts club with you in person. qian quan thought he probably gave himself away, and she might want to interview him separately. he replied, i am. bai yuanzhi: alright, lets meet at 6:30 in the evening at the south playground. qian quan responded with an ok emoji. since he had already signed up for the martial arts club, hiding anything was unnecessary. besides, he also wanted to use this opportunity to get in touch with some real martial arts experts through bai yuanzhi. he went back for a half-hour nap at noon and continued attending lectures in the afternoon. after class ended at 5:30, qian quan told guo hongyi that he had something to do, so he didnt join the basketball game. he had dinner on his own. at 6:10, he arrived at the south playground in advance, walking around to aid digestion waiting for bai yuanzhi. at this time of the evening, the playground had couples strolling hand in hand and students jogging or exercising. after walking for a while, qian quan suddenly stopped, sensing a gentle breeze coming from behind. he turned his head slightly and noticed a small, white plush rabbit toy flying past his ear. with a slight movement of his foot, qian quan gently redirected the rabbit, sending it flying up. he reached out and caught it, smoothly turning around to see bai yuanzhi standing there with a smile. well, she managed to figure it out. however, qian quan had done it on purpose. from your movements, it doesnt look like youre practicing tai chi, bai yuanzhi remarked, being well-versed in tai chi. wing chun, qian quan admitted. really, fluid interaction of wing chun? bai yuanzhi, even though she had guessed it, couldnt help but be surprised. mainly because qian quan was so young. yes. youre so young, and yet youve reached this level in your practice! only through diligent learning and hard practice have i achieved this bit of progress. hard work can make up for deficiencies, qian quan said. Chapter 24 translator: inschain editor: inschain as the sun set, the horizon was painted with the hues of evening glow. qian quan handed the plush rabbit toy back to bai yuanzhi. here you go, this is a merchandise item the co-sponsor gave me. its a tai chi rabbit, bai yuanzhi said with a smile. oh, thank you. dont mention it, bai yuanzhi smiled and looked at qian quan, why didnt you continue pretending today? youve already seen through it, and continuing to hide would be impolite, qian quan admitted candidly. bai yuanzhi nodded with a smile, qin shenglong, as the vice president of the karate club, naturally has faster reflexes than ordinary people. but when he tried to grab you from behind, you managed to avoid his grasp twice in a row. if i couldnt even detect a hint of your real skills in that performance, then all these years of training would have been in vain for me. hows your tai chi in real combat? qian quan asked tentatively. you want to try? bai yuanzhi raised an eyebrow at qian quan. hehe, qian quan replied with a smile. no rush, lets talk business first. okay, go ahead. starting from early november this year, the martial arts clubs of the 32 universities in azure bay, including our school, will jointly hold a newcomer pairs tournament. each school has three spots, and those with excellent performance will have the chance to go straight to the national competition in the future at this point, bai yuanzhi intentionally paused, looking at qian quan. so, are you interested? just for freshmen? yes, because this event is held every year. besides learning from each other, the main purpose is to establish the rankings for the new students of that year. it facilitates challenges among students in the following years to vie for rankings. of course, those confident in themselves can also challenge higher-ranked senior students to learn through martial arts. got it. is there any reward for first place in this competition? regarding honors, there are certificates and records. as for material rewards, the top ten all receive activity points, but only the top three get cash prizes. its tentatively set at 50,000, 30,000, and 10,000. of course, the most important thing is that the top three can have a chance to receive direct guidance from the masters and priority registration for the national competition in the future. upon hearing about the 50,000 prize and the opportunity to receive guidance from a master, qian quan felt a bit intrigued. earning the prize money would allow him to spend his system reward money rightfully. getting in touch with a master would provide him the chance to witness the skills of a true expert. not bad, qian quan expressed his interest. after the recruitment work is over, we can start preparing, bai yuanzhi assessed the situation and realized that she had convinced qian quan. she felt relieved. i will perform well in the interview. bai yuanzhi nodded with a smile and continued, theres another matter, a personal matter for me. id like to know your thoughts on it. well, please go ahead. i want to invite you to join my video team upon hearing this, qian quan hesitated a little. he had just started university and wasnt very familiar with online celebrities, youtubers, and such. he was afraid he might not be able to handle it well and that it could impact his studies. just as he was about to express his reservations, he heard bai yuanzhi continue. dont worry, ill let you try it for a month first. if youre interested, we can discuss further collaboration after a month, including helping you set up a new account for joint operations. for this month, well also symbolically offer you a remuneration of 5,000. no problem. qian quan no longer hesitated. it wasnt really about the money; he believed he should be open to trying new things and embracing the opportunities of the new era. well then, we can consider it a verbal agreement, bai yuanzhi said, achieving both of her goals for this encounter. she felt delighted. now, let me witness your real wing chun. okay, qian quan was also curious about the practical application of tai chi. but lets set some ground rules first, bai yuanzhi added. she didnt want to end up like luan qingyun from azure bay university, defeated so thoroughly by a freshman. of course, qian quan agreed and then extended the tai chi rabbit in his hand. lets use this tai chi rabbit as the prize. ill throw it into the air, and you try to snatch it. if you manage to catch it or if the rabbit touches the ground, ill consider it my loss. that way, ill have the upper hand, bai yuanzhi remarked. qian quan chuckled and said, then ill begin. with that, he exerted force and launched the tai chi rabbit high into the air. bai yuanzhi extended her right leg, reaching out with her right hand to push qian quan. it was a single whip push in tai chi. qian quan adjusted his hand position externally, countering with his left hand as he caught the falling rabbit. the first round could be considered a warm-up. in the second round, qian quan tossed the rabbit even higher. seizing the opportunity, bai yuanzhi suddenly took a step closer to qian quan. her hands coiled around his arms like whips with a sticky force. employing power from her waist, she utilized her bodys movement to manipulate her arms, using a peeling skill to separate qian quans arms, and then, with a squeezing force, she pushed him away from his original position. peeling, transforming, and squeezing. these movements were connected and commonly used skills in tai chi. qian quan wouldnt give her such an opportunity in a formal match. the moment she closed in, he would meet her head-on with a punch, followed by a series of continuous strikes that wouldnt harm her but would force her to retreat. the rushing punches and short strikes in wing chun was not playful, especially when performed by a master like qian quan. ordinary people couldnt withstand it. however, since today was just a friendly exchange, qian quan certainly wouldnt be reckless. he executed a circular step, rotating around bai yuanzhi to her side and rear. leaning against her back, he used his shoulder and elbow to restrain her while his hand reached out and took hold of the tai chi rabbit. it looked somewhat similar to positioning and rebounding in basketball. martial arts skills adhered to various routines during practice, but one had to adapt spontaneously in real combat. the focus was on winning, not rigidly adhering to fixed moves. some people say that the term kung fu encapsulates the meaning of winners stand tall, losers lie down. lets continue, miss bai! with these words, qian quan playfully teased bai yuanzhi, hoping to ignite her stronger fighting spirit. throw! after all, bai yuanzhi was a practitioner of martial arts, and a competitive spirit naturally resided within her, especially when she witnessed her opponents effortless performance. qian quan forcefully hurled the tai chi rabbit upwards. seeing this, bai yuanzhi swiftly launched a fierce cannon strike at his head, showing her intent to get serious. qian quans eyes lit up, and he sidestepped to dodge. bai yuanzhi followed with a clapping palm strike, maintaining her assault, while qian quan remained in a defensive posture. the rabbit had descended at this point, but qian quan didnt want bai yuanzhi to stop. he continued to fend off her attacks while cleverly kicking the rabbit back into the air. bai yuanzhi no longer aimed to seize the rabbit. instead, she escalated her assault intentionally. her goal was to pressure qian quan to the point where he couldnt focus on the rabbit, allowing it to land freely. from high pat horse to bow-arrow palm, single whip hand, forward thrust kick, right splits kick, wild horse parts its mane, grasp the sparrows tail, block and punch bai yuanzhis moves flowed seamlessly, like a river surging forward, uninterrupted. she maintained the framework and strength of tai chi throughout, neither loose nor tense, neither light nor slow. the two of them had now progressed to a state of graceful refinement in their sparring. qian quan faced bai yuanzhis attacks while keeping the rabbit airborne and guiding her through various skills. since he was only defending and not attacking, it presented a certain challenge. qian quan displayed various defensive moves. at times, he blocked, while at other times, he used his palm to intercept attacks. he also utilized skills like the spread hand outer block, bound hand interception, shoulder hand interception, and even demonstrated the plow hand knee interception. he sealed off the attacks flawlessly, leaving no room for any weaknesses. the delicate white tai chi rabbit bobbed like a shuttlecock C sometimes high, sometimes low C evading both capture and the ground. after around twenty or thirty rounds, bai yuanzhi realized she could not win. after a few more exchanges, she withdrew from the engagement and ceased her skills. qian quan regained his stance, his palm outstretched, catching the tai chi rabbit as it landed perfectly in his hand. thank you for conceding, he said. bai yuanzhi shook her head, smiling. i didnt concede; i genuinely couldnt match you. if you had chosen to attack just now, i might have fallen before the rabbit did. youre being humble, miss bai. ive practiced martial arts for eighteen years, and youre only the second opponent whos made me feel entirely incapable of winning C like facing a mountain i cant surpass. who was the first? your master? qian quan grasped the key point. no, its my mentor. he practices tai chi, too. oh, then, if theres a chance, i could seek guidance from him. bai yuanzhi chuckled. hes just two years older than me but has a higher seniority. he used to train at wudang mountain. after descending the mountain, he wandered around, traveling from place to place, with a mysterious whereabouts that wasnt easy to track down. does he travel every day without working? qian quan was curious. reality was not like martial arts novels, where skilled martial artists had endless wealth as they roamed the world. bai yuanzhi provided a succinct answer: hes very wealthy. got it. qian quan thought, as expected, reality. thats it for today, then. well meet during the weekend for the interview, bai yuanzhi said. sure. after bai yuanzhi left, qian quan returned to his dormitory. he started a video call with his parents, preparing them for the fact that he would be collaborating on videos with a senior student who had over a million followers. unexpectedly, his mother got excited as soon as she heard. whats her username? ill follow her right away. and rocky, you need to seize this opportunity. once you become famous, create your account and build a following. after you graduate, if you cant find a good job, you can do live broadcasts to sell products. you can even help mr. ding sell furniture. qian quan knew that his moms words werent just idle talk. she had an account named happilyeverafter on a short video platform with over 700 posts, 1,100 followers, and 32,000 likes. she was following over a thousand accounts and even found some of her elementary school classmates on the platform. she was quite the seasoned user of short video platform. mom, take it easy. i need to focus on my studies first. qian quan responded with a smile. the rise of short videos has indeed changed many peoples lifestyles. his father spoke at this point, dont listen to your mothers rambling. a students first priority is to study. get your studies in order first, then consider other things. once youve acquired knowledge, there will be plenty of opportunities to earn money. sure, qian quan agreed. his mother didnt argue either and changed the topic, your dad just signed up for a drivers license. hes going to take the written test soon. oh, thats great. dad, go for it and aim for a first-time pass. qian wenlin chimed in, probably done by early october, and you can consider getting your drivers license during your university years. it would be an advantage when looking for a job after graduation. sure, once you get your license, you can share some tips with me. by the way, your dad and mr. ding are planning to open a training class for chinese chess and calligraphy, his mother added. can you start training classes now? chinese chess and calligraphy should be fine. its not like tutoring. yeah, dad, youve been working hard lately. i should put in the effort too and learn from you, qian quan said sincerely. the family chatted for a while longer before ending the video call. afterward, qian quan sent a brief message to ding linlang, informing her about these matters. just as qian quan finished sending the message to ding linlang, tai chi-yuanzhi posted a new video on the short video platform. as expected by bai yuanzhi, within half an hour of the video being posted, qian quan, who was up for a three-on-one challenge, quickly caught the attention of netizens. this guy is so handsome and has great humor! anyone know what his username is? im also at azure bay. im going to seacoast normal university this weekend to meet him! qian quans sunlit and handsome appearance and playful and humorous contrast ignited a heated discussion. comments related to him kept increasing, alternating with extravagant praises for the content creators style. come and face me one on one! and hes panicking like crazy quickly became the top two trending comments. Chapter 25 translator: inschain editor: inschain in the internet era, the dissemination of information often takes on an unpredictable, beyond-expectations, and unreplicable state. many years ago, a netizen posted a thread titled jia junpeng, your moms calling you home for dinner on a certain forum, quickly igniting the online world. in just three days, the post garnered over 7.8 million clicks and more than 300,000 replies, with the numbers still continuing to rise. countless netizens took the theme and ran with it, creating various derivative and satirical images even putting up banners in some places. this phrase soon became a famous catchphrase on the internet that year, and it was even selected as one of the ten things of the new century by the new weekly magazine. as the saying goes, the origin of a meme is often unknown, but it can explode in popularity in an instant. subsequently, similar unexpected internet phenomena happened from time to time. there were posts, images, and videos C although later on, some of these events showed signs of having behind-the-scenes orchestrators, the truly viral internet memes still carried an element of randomness. its like you can never truly know the specific characteristics of the amusement that resonates with the vast online community. at this moment, bai yuanzhi looked at the comment section of her video where people were discussing qian quan, and she also felt a sense of unexpected emotion. she had guessed that many netizens, especially female ones, would notice him, but she hadnt expected it to gather such a massive following, regardless of gender. the first top comment was from a male netizen who had already garnered over ten thousand likes. but what was even more surprising was the next day. qian quans video clips were extracted and creatively modified by netizens for their own adaptations. the unforgettable voiceover bring it on, all three of you! im not scared! was used in various contexts. facing a job interview, defending a thesis in front of professors, a little baby surrounded by family members, even a cat facing off against three dogs in addition to this, many content creators went the extra mile by producing narrative-rich videos. usually, a protagonist seemed very weak when confronted by three burly figures. after saying, bring it on, all three of you! im not scared! the protagonist would then be mercilessly beaten. then, the initially weak character would say, seems like facing three at once is indeed a bit challenging. another kind of twist in the story was that after delivering the line, the protagonist would turn around and walk away, visibly trembling and sweating profusely. in short, when deconstructing and creating content based on this clip, people followed the principles of tough talk, inner hesitation and bold fa?ade, anxious heart. with the broad participation of netizens, both bring it on, all three of you! im not scared! and tai chi-yuanzhi made it to the trending topics list, and the former gradually became a subject of discussion on social platforms. a new internet catchphrase was beginning to take shape. online, numerous accounts emerged claiming to be the boy in this video, accompanied by some credible-sounding exposs, asserting that they had unveiled the real identity of the boy in the video. bai yuanzhi quickly got in touch with qian quan and discussed the current situation with him. there were two potential solutions. first, he could go ahead and open a personal account, leveraging bai yuanzhis and the platforms official help to direct traffic, fully seizing this wave of popularity dividends. the second option was for bai yuanzhi to make a statement confirming that qian quan was just an ordinary college student and he currently didnt have a personal account. in the future, if an opportunity arose, she would invite him to collaborate on creating videos. qian quan opted for the second option, not because he was averse to becoming an internet celebrity, but because he felt that such a fleeting surge of popularity would not bring more benefits. instead, it could lead to unnecessary complications. people were focusing on the event itself rather than the individual. later on, bai yuanzhi released a statement video. she dispelled the rumors and briefly introduced qian quan as a new college student. she mentioned that he didnt have an official personal account at the moment, and due to academic considerations, he wasnt planning to create one anytime soon. towards the end, bai yuanzhi laid the groundwork, stating that in the future, qian quan would be invited to collaborate on new projects at an appropriate time. this statement video shattered many rumors but didnt hamper the ongoing growth of the bring it on, all three of you! im not scared! phenomenon. in reality, discussions about this matter were happening in qian quans family chat groups, high school friends chat groups, university freshman chat groups, and class chat groups. people were brainstorming ideas and frequently tagging him. qian quan only responded with a series of emojis. what relieved qian quan was that his mother didnt jump onto this popularity bandwagon. she didnt push him to seize the opportunity and become an internet sensation. instead, she aligned herself with his fathers viewpoint, reminding him to focus on his studies first. as for ding linlang, who already knew that qian quan would be joining bai yuanzhis team, she playfully warned him, no matter if you become an internet sensation or a professional artist in the future, remember to maintain a good relationship with me. i have a full collection of your embarrassing history from every phase, all in high definition! qian quan retorted, what are you saying? my lifelong agent, miss ding! the temporary surge of fame brought some social pressure and added certain conveniences to his life. for instance, he was overwhelmingly chosen as the class monitor during the second class meetings committee election. his aloof roommate, shen fei, started initiating greetings and conversations with him. for instance, his entrance naturally drew extra attention during the weekends club interview. the first interview was for the basketball club, which was fine. they didnt judge by appearance or fame; they only focused on skills. though qian quans height was just under 1.8 meters barefoot, it was sufficient for the campus basketball club. moreover, the skills he honed through hundreds of one-on-one matches with ding linlang made him a strong player. in the context of seacoast normal universitys basketball club, he could easily secure a spot in the starting lineup. during the interview, qian quan, guo hongyi, and another new student played a 10-point 3v3 match against three basketball club members. in the end, qian quans team won with a score of 10 to 6, and he personally scored 7 points. wang teng, the head of the basketball club, watched with a broad smile and said, we finally hit the jackpot this time. lets aim for a star for our club this year! both qian quan and guo hongyi passed the interview, officially joining the basketball club. after that, qian quan participated in the second interview, this time with the luminous drama society. as the oldest and most influential five-star club at seacoast normal university, the luminous drama society held high prestige across the entire university system. similar to tongji universitys basketball club and jiao tong universitys chinese chess society, the luminous drama society had been recognized multiple times as one of the top ten societies at azure bay. consequently, their interview attracted the most participants, and the process was the most rigorous. there were nine interviewers present, three main interviewers, and six deputy interviewers. even so, when the online celebrity qian quan made an appearance, it triggered a wave of whispered conversations among the interviewers. then, to qian quans surprise, he noticed that wang tongyu was one of the six assistant interviewers. seated in the middle of the second row, she nodded at him and gave a thumbs-up gesture, encouraging him. lets start with a self-introduction. the main interviewer, a serious senior student sitting in the center of the first row, had a square face that gave off a very dignified impression. initially, qian quan didnt have high hopes for joining this society. seeing the long line of applicants outside made him feel even more doubtful about his chances. thus, he felt no pressure or psychological burden. he calmly introduced himself, mentioning his new involvement in the chinese chess and basketball clubs. you passed the interviews for the chinese chess club and basketball club? the serious senior student asked curiously. yes, ive already passed. i also have an interview with the martial arts club later. how many clubs did you apply for in total? just these four, no others. alright, tell us about your performance experience. in fifth grade of elementary school, i participated in a campus choir competition and won the county championship. qian quan answered confidently. the serious senior student was speechless. a few female interviewers were already suppressing giggles. im asking about your personal performance experience! the serious senior student emphasized. qian quan thought for a moment and said, does playing the role of a traffic police officer in the kindergartens middle-class count? the serious senior student had a puzzled expression. laughter erupted from the audience. the two senior student interviewers sitting on the left and right sides of the serious senior student were also shaking with laughter. the one on the left said to the serious senior student, dont you find it quite amusing the way he says these things with such seriousness? its the dry humor style. the one on the right added, i was just about to say he reminds me of the deadpan comedian xu guanwen. wang tongyu added in a timely manner, his performance in bai yuanzhis video could also count. alright, you all need to calm down. show some professionalism! the serious senior student cautioned, then turned to qian quan and said, qian quan, you need to understand that if you want to join our society, being handsome alone wont cut it qian quans face fell with disappointment as he said, oh, is that how it is? i just saw you and thought that as long as guys are handsome enough, theyre good to go as these words were spoken, the expressions on the faces of the other interviewers, aside from the serious senior student, seemed to say, hey, this guy is impressive. even the serious senior student found himself slightly stunned. a faint sense of delight started growing in him, slowly rising from within. when it reached his face, it was immediately suppressed by his strong professional demeanor. being confident in ones own looks was one thing, but having a new junior student who was equally handsome and seemingly without ulterior motives openly complimenting him was another. he cleared his throat, then checked the box for approval with his pen, offering his assessment: while theres a hint of flattery suspicion, your adaptability is good. various unexpected situations often occur on our drama stage, and we need quick-witted actors like you. most importantly, from the moment you stepped on stage until now, youve shown a relaxed demeanor, indicating good potential for growth. the other interviewers listened with smiles on their faces. thank you, qian quan replied sincerely. next, the other interviewers asked a few questions, and qian quan answered each one. the interview came to an end. in terms of this interview, qian quans looks and his internet celebrity aura contributed to a significant portion of his score. he was a shoo-in for the luminous drama society as long as his performance wasnt too outrageous. in the afternoon, there was one final interview for the martial arts club. for qian quan, this was essentially just a formality. the club president had already interviewed him separately and even personally invited him, so there shouldnt be any issues. however, qian quan encountered some unexpected situations when he arrived at the martial arts club interview venue. first, he saw bai yuanzhi. when she saw him, her face showed surprise, and she exaggeratedly said, you there, i sense youre like a once-in-a-lifetime martial arts prodigy. what kind of martial arts are you practicing? qian quan found this amusing in his heart, but he responded seriously on the surface, wing chun. bai yuanzhi nodded, i see. when i saw your agility and ease in your movements, it must be the result of long-term practice in wing chun. well done! turning her head, she asked the other two interviewers, do you have any other questions? a well-built senior stood up as qian quan was inwardly teasing bai yuanzhis acting skills, certain that she wouldnt pass the luminous drama societys interview with them. he looked at qian quan and said, you practice wing chun? yes. what a coincidence, i practice wing chun too. can we have a brief exchange of moves? bai yuanzhi introduced, this is zhang tianran, our martial arts clubs vice president. hes good friends with the vice president of the karate club, qin shenglong. hello, qian quan greeted, i have no problem if you want to spar with me. Chapter 26 translator: inschain editor: inschain after meeting qin shenglong briefly on the day of the club recruitment, qian quan hadnt seen him again, and qin hadnt reached out to him either. then came his unexpected popularity. although the video had edited out qin shenglong, he surely must have had mixed feelings after watching it. he had initially wanted to establish dominance over his junior and keep him away from his crush. instead, he unintentionally made him famous, which undoubtedly boosted his competitiveness. what an experience! faced with such an occurrence, even if qin shenglong didnt directly confront qian quan due to bai yuanzhis absence, he would inevitably vent his frustrations and complaints to his friends. zhang tianran, one of qin shenglongs close friends, naturally felt the urge to lend a helping hand and vent his friends frustration. after all, it was just a simple matter. all one could say was that qian quan had some bad luck to have crossed paths with him. the only thing that slightly surprised him was that qian quan wasnt just a simple, pretty boy; he had experience with wing chun. this undoubtedly made things more interesting. zhang tianran walked up to quan and extended a single hand in a rather senior manner, saying, wing chun, zhang tianran. qian quan also extended a single hand, wing chun, qian quan. the two of them stood in this standoff for a while, neither making a move. as a senior, zhang tianran naturally hesitated to strike first; he was waiting. and for some unknown reason, qian quan also refrained from initiating the confrontation. the two struck their questioning hand poses, held them for a few minutes, and finally, even the audience couldnt stand it any longer. the other vice president from the tai chi major remarked, are you two playing the wooden dummy game? bai yuanzhi was quite patient, looking at the two with an almost smiling expression but saying nothing. zhang tianran was speechless. he turned to qian quan and said, you go first. let me see your skill level. qian quan chuckled and replied, alright, pay close attention then. as the words fell, his fist moved. in almost the blink of an eye, qian quans fist reached zhang tianrans right ribs. one-inch punch! ah! zhang tianran let out a muffled cry of pain, staggering back five or six steps, hunching over, and coughing while clutching his ribs. not to mention the other vice president, even bai yuanzhis expression instantly changed. no, that speed? afterimages? qian quan slowly retracted his fist and asked, did you see it? zhang tianran coughed and looked up at qian quan, his shock evident. you where did you learn that punch? zhang tianrans demeanor no longer held any arrogance. its a family tradition, qian quan replied truthfully. zhang tianran took a few deep breaths, slowly straightened up, and said, i made a fool of myself just now. its alright. may i ask, how much strength did you use just now? twenty percent. in fact, he hadnt even exerted any force; otherwise, he wouldnt have been able to stand and talk right now. zhang tianran was shocked once again, then he forced a bitter smile and said, so, you were serious when you said you could take on qin shenglong and the other two together. qian quan nodded. i will tell qin shenglong about this truthfully; i hope you dont mind. its fine. in the future, can i ask you for guidance in wing chun? of course. thank you. zhang tianran bowed his fist in respect toward qian quan and then silently stepped aside. bai yuanzhi turned to the other vice president and asked, xufeng, do you have any more questions? i do. luo xufengs expression was extremely serious. can i learn wing chun from him in the future? i mean, can i become his apprentice? bai yuanzhi chuckled and looked at quan, saying, why arent you hiding today? i told you i would conduct the interviews properly. bai yuanzhi smiled and nodded. you dont need to go out. stay here and watch with us. okay. qian quan moved to the side. luo xufeng approached and shook hands with qian quan. i am luo xufeng, a latecomer. please take care of me, master qian. qian quan responded, you are too humble. no, im serious. in the future, we each mind our own business. ill call you master, and you can call me senior. qian quan was speechless. luo xufeng turned to bai yuanzhi again and said, this year, azure bay university produced a super rookie, zhao baiyu. everyone thought the championship belonged to them, but now it seems they celebrated too early. i told them not to celebrate too early. there are definitely real masters in other schools, too. in tomson riviera, zhao baiyu returned home on the weekend and chatted with her mother. she mentioned the upcoming newcomer pairs tournament and how the schools martial arts club had high expectations for her. will it be dangerous? huang lingyan worried about her daughters safety. martial arts competitions have limits. it wont be dangerous. even if theres some risk, its necessary. otherwise, i wont be able to learn the sixty-four hands. zhao baiyus spirit lifted when talking about the competition. but dont worry, mom, ill take care of myself. okay. huang lingyan nodded. at this point, she couldnt stop her daughter. after all, she was a natural martial arts prodigy, and master gong xuanzhu chose her. after chatting for a while, zhao baiyu stood up. mom, my senior is coming from hangzhou to azure bay today to visit his sister. ive arranged to meet him there. sure, go ahead. huang lingyan knew zhao baiyus senior, li zihe. he was the son of li weifeng in hangzhou and was studying at zhejiang university. their families had some business interactions; thus, zhao baiyus father had connections with li weifeng. huang lingyan still remembered her father and husband discussing li weifeng and reciting a rhyming verse: northeast tiger, northwest wolf, southwest phoenix, southeast python, and a fierce dragon in the middle crossing the river. her father said this rhyming verse referred to five influential figures in the underground business world. the fierce dragon that didnt cross the river was li weifeng. according to her father and baiyus dad, he had deep roots in hangzhou. looking back now, it was possible that when her father arranged for baiyu to apprentice under gong xuanzhu, he had thoughts of forming connections with the li family. a taxi stopped at the entrance of jiao tong university. a young man got out of the car, appearing to be in his twenties, with a well-built physique and chiseled features. after getting out of the car, he made a phone call. hey, ive arrived. how much longer until you get here? ill wait for you at the entrance for a while. about 12 minutes later, another taxi arrived, and zhao baiyu got out of the car. li zihe. zhao baiyu greeted the young man. the two of them walked together into the campus of the university. my sisters temperament is quite peculiar. she doesnt really understand social norms and is usually absorbed in things shes interested in. she appears indifferent to other matters. however, i know deep down she cares a lot about me, our parents, even though she rarely shows it. li zihes visit to hangzhou this time had two main purposes: to visit his sister and to personally ask his junior, zhao baiyu, to help look after her. the arrangement for this meeting was aimed at getting acquainted first. whether they could become friends was not the immediate concern; getting familiar was the priority. when the two of them saw li zhiyi, they noticed she was playing chinese chess with someone, an elderly man in his sixties or seventies who appeared to be a professor from the school. they didnt approach to disturb her. like everyone else, they stood to the side, observing. then, to their astonishment, they discovered that li zhiyi was simultaneously playing blind chess with three opponents behind her. one against four, but only using one game board! this years newcomers are really strong! li zihe and zhao baiyu heard the murmured admiration of the people around them. suddenly, zhao baiyu remembered the young man she had met in her hometown. Chapter 27 translator: inschain editor: inschain li zihe and zhao baiyu stood for nearly 10 minutes until all of li zhiyis ongoing chinese chess games were concluded. four games, all victories, with just a slightly longer match against the professor. i never thought even doing this wouldnt let me win against you. i completely acknowledge your skills, the professor said, a sheen of sweat on his forehead but contentment on his face. li zhiyi pursed her lips but didnt say anything. ajiu, li zihe called out to his sister. li zhiyi turned to her brother, a hint of joy in her eyes. then, she turned back to the professor and said, my brothers here. go ahead, the professor waved his hand. li zhiyi walked toward her brother and asked, why did you come? just to check up on you and to introduce a friend to you. li zihes tone was gentle as he extended his hand to introduce zhao baiyu, this is zhao baiyu, my junior, also the daughter of one of dads friends. shes studying at azure bay university. zhao baiyu greeted li zhiyi, hello, ajiu. li zhiyi sized her up, sensing an air of distinctive boldness and spirit that set her apart from other girls. she had a well-proportioned and upright figure, a half-head taller than herself. she was certainly quite the presence with a long braid and large, bright eyes. lets take a stroll around this campus, li zihe proactively suggested, knowing his sister wouldnt engage in small talk. the three of them wandered around the campus. zhao baiyu asked li zhiyi, did you just play chinese chess with those four simultaneously? yes. and you won all of the games? yes, li zhiyi nodded slightly. very impressive. professor wang is impressive; the other three are not. zhao baiyu thought, thats just your opinion. li zihe continued the conversation, are they all from your chinese chess club? yes. zhao baiyu added, during summer vacation, i met a guy at my grandfathers place. hes my grandfathers chess friend and plays chinese chess really well. my grandfather said hes at the level of a professional player. li zhiyis eyes lit up. where is he? he seems to have gone to seacoast normal university. li zhiyi stared at zhao baiyu intently, with a meaning of whether she could help arrange a meeting. with a hint of apology, zhao baiyu said, i dont play chinese chess and didnt exchange contact information with him, but i can ask my grandfather. li zihe chimed in, no need to go through the trouble. hell probably join their chinese chess club since hes studying at seacoast normal university. there will be intercollegiate competitions, and theyre bound to meet. zhao baiyu nodded. that makes sense. li zhiyi fell silent once again. the three of them wandered around the campus, engaging in casual conversation. most of the talking was between li zihe and zhao baiyu, with li zhiyi listening. finally, following li ziehes suggestion, li zhiyi and zhao baiyu exchanged contact information. qian quan, how did you end up staying as an interviewer? guo hongyi was curious when he saw qian quan sitting with the other interviewers during the martial arts club interview. as soon as the interview was over, he came to qian quan. they thought i performed exceptionally well during the interview, so they asked me to stay. qian quan spoke frankly. exceptionally well? what did you do? i showcased both theory and practical skills. guo hongyi looked at his roommate incredulously. youve practiced martial arts? yes. qian quan smiled and struck a questioning hand gesture. wing chun, with a top-tier level. youre pulling my leg. guo hongyi found it hard to believe, thinking that qian quan was probably valued more by bai yuanzhi due to the popularity of the video. qian quan chuckled, not offering further explanation. the two of them headed toward the sports field. as they reached the basketball court, three people blocked their path. it was qin shenglong and his two companions. upon seeing this, guo hongyi immediately showed signs of nervousness, while qian quan remained quite composed. on the day of recruitment, we might have been a bit offensive. we came here today to apologize, please dont mind, qin shenglong said with a sincere attitude while looking at qian quan. oh, its fine. you dont have to be so polite, qian quan responded politely. okay then, we wont keep you from playing. if you need any help in the future at the school, feel free to let me know. sure, thank you. qin shenglong and his group left. after a moment of bewilderment, guo hongyi turned to qian quan and asked, what was that all about? probably they found out about my true identity as a wing chun disciple, qian quan explained. dont talk nonsense. do you think it was wang tongyu or bai yuanzhi who spoke up for you behind the scenes? i dont know, but it doesnt matter. at least we no longer have to worry about them causing trouble. youre right, guo hongyi nodded in agreement and then sighed, being handsome really lets you get away with a lot. as the two reached the basketball court and were about to join a team, qian quan received a call from his mother. hello, mom. whats up? nothing. your dad is participating in the school faculty basketball match next weekend. i was thinking of finding a pair of basketball shoes of yours for him to wear. which pair do you think would be suitable? why does he need to wear my old shoes? i can buy him a new pair. no need to buy, he doesnt play basketball usually, hell just wear them for a week. buying new ones for that short time is unnecessary. besides, ive cleaned your shoes thoroughly, so wearing them would be almost like wearing new ones. it wont make him lose face. well, let my dad choose for himself. he can decide which pair fits best. okay. have you had your meal? im playing basketball with my roommate. well have dinner after were done. alright, go play then. dont forget to eat. on sunday, qian quan visited the chinese chess club again to attend their first gathering. the club, including the newly recruited members, totaled 16 people, with seven boys and nine girls. the president was the senior he had defeated during the recruitment event, cao chuande, a junior and a first-level chess player. now, all the members of this club knew that qian quan had defeated the president. therefore, they looked at him with somewhat unusual eyes when he showed up. some of the senior members who hadnt attended the recruitment were curious to challenge qian quan. he was open to the idea. so, under the watchful and somewhat compassionate gaze of president cao chuande, one by one, they were defeated by qian quan. later, some others wanted to continue challenging him. qian quan proposed, how about we have a round-robin match? anyone who wants to play against me, set up your board. ill play against all of you at once. these words instantly ignited the determination of the group. twelve students, including the two who had just been defeated, all expressed their unwillingness to yield. they set up their chessboards and were ready to battle qian quan. then, qian quan extinguished their fighting spirit completely. of all twelve students, not a single one even managed a draw. they were all defeated overwhelmingly. lets end the matches here today! president cao chuande quickly intervened. if they continued, everyone might be discouraged by qian quans victories, and the small wound in his heart had just started to heal. today, i brought everyone here for a couple of reasons. firstly, to get to know each other better and become familiar with one another. secondly, i want to inform you all that towards the end of this month, our chess club from jiao tong university chinese chess association will be hosting a chinese chess competition among the universities in minhua district. if any of you are interested, please come find me for registration. as the words fell, everyones gaze turned to qian quan, and he had to raise his hand, saying, ill sign up. very well, cao chuande nodded and continued, and the third matter is to introduce a chinese chess app to our new members. its called journey of chinese chess. it offers both ai and real-time online player-versus-player gameplay. for those who excel in real-time matches, theres a chance to make it into the top 100 rankings of the app. at this point, cao chuande looked at qian quan and said, this app also supports round-robin matches, allowing simultaneous play with up to 20 players. okay, qian quan responded politely, and he proceeded to download the app as he spoke. after the chinese chess club gathering concluded, qian quan returned to his dormitory and registered a handshake for peace account on this app. he decided to conduct an experiment on this app: no matter who the opponent was, he would attempt to play to a draw with them and see what kind of records he could set by maintaining draws throughout. of course, this was a bit of a playful mentality, but isnt internet browsing about having fun? after registering his account, he began to match with real players. soon, he was paired with a player using the id one nine equals nine. and so, the game began. qian quan observed his opponents moves and was surprised that the other side was a skilled player. judging from the intervals between the moves, it was clear that the other side engaged in round-robin matches, and he was just one of the opponents. qian quan took it a bit more seriously, and in the end, he managed to secure a draw. however, he had a feeling that this one nine equals nine was probably the strongest opponent he had encountered so far. this app had something to offer. after the first game, qian quan noticed that his score had changed from 0 to 1. following the apps rules, a win was worth 3 points, a draw earned 1 point, and a loss resulted in no points. qian quan intended to play a few more rounds when he saw that one nine equals nine directly invited him. qian quan accepted the invitation. this time, it was a one-on-one match. qian quan didnt dare to be careless and immersed himself in the game. fortunately, he managed to draw again without much difficulty. the opponent seemed unwilling to settle and continued to invite him. qian quan also became intrigued and continued to play against them. and again, it ended in a draw. another game followed. and another draw. in the end, the two of them drew 11 consecutive games! two and a half hours had passed. the opponents skill level was beyond qian quans imagination. in two games, victory or defeat had been on a knifes edge. if qian quan hadnt been determined to draw, those two games could have gone either way. this was the first time since receiving the grandmaster-level chinese chess skill reward that qian quan had felt threatened. unusually, he also felt a trace of exhaustion. he typed in the chat window, im stopping now. i need to eat. technically, he could have continued playing and wasnt worried about losing. but he sensed a hint of obsession in his opponents playstyle, an almost compulsive need to win. going on like this would likely take a while, and he was also somewhat concerned about his opponents state. who are you? the other party replied quickly. qian quan replied, my name is rocky, bye. then, he realized that one nine equals nine had followed him. qian quan smiled helplessly. was he targeting him? Chapter 28 translator: inschain editor: inschain windsor town middle school, basketball court. sweat poured off qian wenlin as he played basketball with his colleagues, gearing up for next saturdays match. he had decent athletic abilities, excelling in defense, rebounding, and passing. however, his ball-handling skills were average, especially when facing tough defense C he usually hesitated to dribble. but todays game was different; he focused on practicing his shooting and took the opportunity to work on his dribbling skills as well. by 5:30 in the afternoon, everyone was heading home for dinner. once his colleagues had all left, qian wenlin spent an extra fifteen minutes practicing his three-point shots. in the earlier years, when yao ming was still playing in the nba, he had followed the rockets games and became familiar with a player named battier. he was humble, dedicated, and had an impressive ability to shoot corner threes. qian wenlin was now imitating him, aiming to become a so-called 3d player (skilled in defense, three-point shots, and all-around gameplay). after finishing his three-point shots practice, qian wenlin headed home, holding the basketball. lately, he had been practicing wing chun and playing basketball, pushing himself to his limits with physical activities. this allowed him to recapture the energetic feeling of his youth, brimming with vitality from head to toe. clearly, exercise sometimes has the power to reshape a persons mental state. on his way back, qian wenlin sent a message to his wife. as he opened the social app, he noticed a new email notification and clicked to see. it was a rejection letter from new story monthly. this was the seventh one. not too long ago, a colleague published a short story in new story monthly and received over 5,000 as payment. after the school started, he treated the entire teaching group to a meal and shared the submission process. were all language teachers. writing something casually can get accepted. this easy extra income is not to be missed. after a few rounds of drinks, that colleagues joke left everyone at the table silent. if he hadnt paid for that meal, saying something like that wouldve gotten him into trouble even at the dinner table. qian wenlin muttered to himself, im going to challenge this. i believe i cant make it. he decided to change the theme, not writing about historical legends or folk tales but instead crafting a medium-length urban romance story. he had previously resisted urban themes because he was worried that such topics might involve some intimate content, like affairs, one-night stands, female co-workers, first love, etc., leading to misunderstandings with his wife. for instance, if he were to write about a middle-aged man feeling perplexed about his marriage and tempted by other women, his wife might end up asking, is this confusion and temptation about the character or about you, qian wenlin? and the female characters prototype is zhang meili or li aihua? or worse, his wife might just share his article with their son for appreciation and analysis, which would be even more awkward. comparing that awkwardness to reciting sad posts he had shared on social media face-to-face, it was hard to say which one was worse. hence, before he started writing, he had to prepare a case and lay the groundwork with his wife. this story is purely fictional. all characters mentioned in the novel are purely invented. ive entirely adopted a third-person perspective during the creative process and have never projected myself onto the male lead for even a second. moreover, considering some adult elements that may be touched upon in the work, i will keep it hidden from our son for now. as qian wenlin contemplated his choice of words, considering how to communicate his literary creation to his wife and how not to influence his son, qian quan received his first university confession. an anonymous female student had left a heartfelt confession for qian quan on the anonymous confessions page of seacoast normal university. hello, ive been struggling for a while, so i decided to confess here. otherwise, i cant eat or sleep well. if you can post this, please help me publish it anonymously. the guy i want to confess to is qian quan from the history departments freshman class! hes probably become a campus celebrity by now, and if i dont gather the courage to confess my feelings now, i wont dare in the future. i first saw him on the first day of freshman registration. at the time, he was asking for directions, wearing a white t-shirt and light blue jeans. i saw him from afar, and suddenly, my whole self went blank. it was as if my brain had suddenly shut down. i dont know if it was love at first sight or simply a crush, but the moment i laid eyes on him, i was completely captivated! he didnt just enter my line of sight; he burst into my eyes, occupying my mind instantly. how can i describe that feeling? its like waking up on a weekend with great sleep quality, no dreams, and the warm sunlight flooding your entire body through the window. at the time, i didnt dare to follow him, but later on, i couldnt help but inquire about his name, class, and dormitory. i started frequenting the paths he might take, hoping for a chance encounter. ive seen him in the cafeteria, at the school gate, and even at the basketball court but he has no idea that i exist! of course, thats okay. i didnt plan on pursuing anything with him, to begin with. just catching glimpses of him from time to time, secretly writing his name in my diary, is enough. i hope hes happy every day. thatd be even better if he could delay falling in love a bit longer. just kidding, haha. thank you for posting this this confession eventually got posted on the confession page. furthermore, because this confession led to the boy in the video suddenly becoming popular earlier, it ignited a small but noticeable wave of online attention. netizens left comments one after another, saying if the young girls secret crush, qian quan, was indeed the boy in that video, then it was quite understandable. with such a good-looking and humorous guy, which girl wouldnt want to have him? some netizens even said that even if all the female students at seacoast normal university had a crush on qian quan, he wouldnt be scared. the first one in the dormitory to discover this confession was shen fei. he intentionally forwarded the link to their dormitorys group chat and tagged qian quan. qian quan only replied with, what ability do i have to receive this guo hongyi said, i dont know who this girl is, but if she looks decent, she can consider me as a backup option. although i might fall slightly short of qian quan in looks, im better at basketball right? the topic was also discussed in qian quans class in the following two days, even though he had already been trying his best to keep a low profile about it. the most absurd thing was that their classs arts committee member, who was also the class beauty according to guo hongyis unofficial selection, zhou xiaoxiao, sent him a message. she explained that she wasnt the one who made the confession and that it was just a rumor. she asked qian quan not to misunderstand. the problem was qian quan never misunderstood in the first place. so, he quickly replied, dont worry. i wont misunderstand. i have a clear sense of self-awareness, and you shouldnt pay attention to those rumors either. thus, a week passed, uneventful yet not entirely peaceful. finally, it was saturday again. qian quan went to fudan university as planned to meet ding linlang. her ongoing book was in its final stages, and her new book had started its pre-collection phase. the title was returning immortal, and according to her introduction, it was a classic fantasy in the style of ancient legends. qian quan gathered all this information from reading the readers group and her authors notes. she had only revealed to qian quan that she was wrapping up her ongoing book. after having lunch at the fudan cafeteria, the two strolled around the campus. its only been two weeks since school started, and youve already gained popularity twice. do you really want to debut? ding linlang somehow spotted the news about the confession as well. its not related to me. im just being passive. by the way, havent you received any confession? qian quan replied with a touch of irony, suddenly noticing something, hey, your hair seems to have grown a bit. ding linlangs current hairstyle was a straight-cut bob with side-swept bangs, adding feminine softness while reducing some of the androgynous coolness. been busy with classes and writing, not much time for grooming, ding linlang casually remarked. it looks good this way, qian quan complimented, speaking of which, when will you finish your ongoing book, and do you have any ideas for the new one? probably wrapping up the current book in about two weeks. i have the title and the beginning of the new book sorted out, but im stuck on the synopsis. it needs a compelling blurb. speaking of this, ding linlang looked at qian quan, how about you help me come up with a new book blurb? sure, tell me what you plan to write and the style of the blurb you want. as they walked and talked, they coincidentally arrived at the basketball court and took a seat on the steps nearby. ding linlang briefly outlined her new book idea. in simple terms, the female lead worships in a martial sect similar to shu shan since childhood. she has a childhood friend who learns and cultivates together and goes through trials and tribulations together later, their sects leader is critically injured and dies in a battle with the demon lord of the demon realm. the most talented and powerful senior disciple takes over as the new leader. from there, they train and fight against the demon lord, seeking vengeance and protecting the world. during her cultivation, the female leads previously awakened golden finger begins to play a significant role, enabling her rapid progress. in the process of venturing outside the sect with her friend, she meets the son of the celestial emperor, who has descended to the mortal realm due to a mission. subsequently, as various plotlines unfold, the senior disciple falls in love with the female lead, the celestial emperors son also falls for her, and even the demon lord starts to experience unusual emotions in response to her repeated challenges C a sentiment akin to youve successfully captured my attention. of course, the female leads childhood friend secretly loves and quietly protects her all along. when qian quan heard this, he immediately interrupted, hesitating, your setup ding linlang hurriedly explained, i inevitably used some common character settings from female-oriented novels, but my main storyline goes against the grain. my female lead doesnt develop feelings for the senior disciple, the celestial emperors son, or the demon lord. he chooses the childhood friend? dont worry about that, ding linlang said, the part i need your help with is after the female lead defeats the demon lord with the help of the senior disciple and her childhood friend. faced with the pursuit of the celestial emperors son, she decisively rejects him. shes also dissatisfied with how celestial beings frequently descend to the mortal realm, believing that those celestial beings disrupting the order of the mortal world by descending for their trials are causing trouble without consequence. so, she decides to sever the celestial bridge connecting the heavens and the mortal world. severing the connection? qian quan reacted immediately. close enough. the main theme of my book is that, but i need a sentence for this part C when the female lead severs the celestial bridge, she has to say something to the celestial emperors son and the celestial beings. i want to include this sentence in the blurb, but i havent come up with the right one. qian quan understood the meaning behind her books title, returning immortal, which was quite fitting. is a bit of teenage zeal okay? qian quan asked. its fine. i need a bit of that fiery passion. as qian quan watched the game on the court, his mind raced, and suddenly, an idea struck him. however, just as the thought crystallized, a notification sound from his brain interrupted his train of thought. Chapter 29 translator: inschain editor: inschain saturday. as scheduled, the windsor town middle school faculty basketball match took place. sixteen teachers participated in total, divided into exam team and 100 percent team. each team had eight players, meaning five starters and three substitutes. all participating teachers styled their hair for a youthful appearance and donned stylish basketball uniforms. the game about to unfold would shine even brighter than anticipated! the match was divided into four quarters, each lasting ten minutes. in order to ensure fairness, the school specifically invited two certified professional referees to officiate the game. at two oclock in the afternoon, the game officially began. this non-professional basketball match might not have been the most intense or exciting one imaginable. it wouldnt feature dazzling slam dunks or flashy dribbling displays. however, competitive sports, with points changing hands, victories and losses in play, triggered a rush of hormones. this effect was particularly pronounced for the players on the court and the spectators in the stands. in the first quarter, the exam team, with qian wenlin among them, took a 2-point lead. qian wenlin scored 0 points but secured three rebounds and provided three assists. three minutes later, the second quarter commenced. the 100 percent team substituted in a reserve player who displayed great courage, helping the team overturn a 5-point deficit and take the lead in the second quarter. during this quarter, qian wenlin spent 5 minutes on the court, grabbing two rebounds, blocking a shot, and even sinking a three-pointer. a 10-minute halftime break followed. both teams players and coaches gathered to discuss tactics. everyone shared their opinions, and in the end, they settled on a strategy of going all out as soon as youre on the court, no hesitation. in the third quarter, qian wenlin continued to be in the starting lineup. he performed remarkably well in this quarter, scoring an impressive six points and securing two rebounds. he led the team to catch up with the 100 percent team. with a slight smile, he had gained the trust of the coach and his teammates. by the fourth quarter, the atmosphere in the arena had become noticeably tense. the cheers from the audience grew louder and more intense. the on-court competition became fiercer and more aggressive, erasing any trace of warmth between colleagues. with only 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the game, the starting forward of the 100 percent team hit a 3-pointer, changing the score. 59:58! leading by one point. the next two rounds yielded no points for either team. the on-court atmosphere became increasingly suppressed as the games end drew near. finally, in the third-to-last round, qian wenlin assisted a teammate for a layup under the basket, and that straightforward shot managed to reclaim the lead. 59:60! with no time to celebrate, everyone kept a tight watch on their assigned opponents. the clock ticked down, reaching the last 40 seconds. the 100 percent team held the ball, and the exam team pressed the entire court, denying them a shooting opportunity. seconds slipped away, one by one. offensive time was also about to run out. just then, the starting forward who had just sunk a three-pointer suddenly broke free from qian wenlins defense. he found a brief opening beyond the three-point line and exclaimed loudly, hey! a well-timed pass reached him. he took the ball swiftly. score! 62:60! the crowd erupted in a fervent cheer. the starting forwards wife, who was an english teacher, was present at the scene. seeing her husbands courageous performance, she blushed with a beaming smile. many spectators in the audience also cast congratulatory glances toward her. there were 17 seconds left in the game. the exam team called for a timeout to set up their tactics. after the timeout, both teams players returned to the court. number 11 of the exam team was serving the ball. the other players were actively moving, especially the number 5 guard who had the highest score for the exam team today. he was running and shouting, over here, attracting the attention of the defensive players. number 11s gaze was fixed on number 5, seemingly searching for the right opportunity to pass the ball to him, just as number 5 managed to create a bit of space for a catch. with composure, number 11 threw the ball to the corner. qian wenlin was standing there. unmarked! after receiving the ball, qian wenlin didnt hesitate. he adjusted slightly and shot. hey! someone exclaimed in surprise. in an anime, this shot would fly through the air for an entire episode, and then qian wenlin would start reminiscing about his connection with basketball since the age of 6. but in reality, the basketball traced a perfect arc in the air and smoothly landed in the net. 62:63! the most beautiful thing is not a rainy day but qian wenlins three-point shot! there was still 1 second left. the 100 percent team hadnt given up; they arranged their final strategy. however, as soon as the ball was released, time ran out. the referee didnt blow the whistle, giving them one last chance to shoot. the starting forward hurriedly took the shot, but the basketball missed the hoop. no miracle was created this time. hush the whistle sounded, and the game ended. the exam team won by one point! qian wenlin completed the game-winning shot. in competitive sports, game-winner is truly the most beautiful term! the live audience cheered for him at the highest volume. wherever gazes landed, they were filled with admiration and applause. slightly regretfully, his wife and son didnt come to the venue today, so they couldnt witness this moment firsthand. he would have to tell them later. of course, he had no idea that at this very moment, thousands of miles away, his son qian quan received a message at the exact time their match ended. [ding! the system detected your fathers game-winning shot in the school basketball game and rewarded you with a professional-level basketball skill!] at fudans basketball court, qian quan sat beside ding linlang in a daze, various basketball scenes rapidly flashing through his mind C dribbling, breakthroughs, jump shots, steals, post moves the scenes of him playing on the court in the past flashed through his mind like animated silhouettes, freezing, upgrading, formalizing, and disappearing into his mind C more precisely, being absorbed and stored by his brain. have you thought of it? ding linlangs voice brought him back to reality. yeah. qian quan nodded, his gaze still on the court. however, he suddenly noticed that the students playing on the court seemed clumsy in their movements, slower in speed, and rougher in technique it felt like looking at elementary students solving math problems after finishing high school. he knew that it was still the same people playing, but his perspective had changed. i thought of a scene like this, qian quan looked at ding linlang, after the female lead breaks the bridge to the heavens, she stands proudly among the clouds and shouts towards the sky: from now on, i decree that the heavenly immortals shall not descend to the mortal world!'' upon hearing this, ding linlang pondered for a moment and then nodded repeatedly, saying, that works. this line is powerful and suits the personality of the female lead. absolutely! qian quan couldnt help but feel proud, thinking to himself that he was an unwavering administrator of the reader group, a loyal fan of her novels, needless to say. so, did the female lead ultimately choose the childhood sweetheart as her partner? qian quan inquired. ding linlangs gaze drifted elsewhere as she responded, i havent decided yet. at that moment, a tall young man walked up to qian quan and asked, hey, do you play basketball? were short a player. uh, sure. qian quans hands were itching to play. ding linlang cautioned, are you sure about this? they look like theyre from the school team. qian quan glanced at them C five guys, all around 6 feet tall, and there stood qian quan, in basketball shoes, among them, of only average height. but school team? i just want to play basketball with the school team members! even if a professional team came now, id still play without hesitation. ill join them to make up the numbers, qian quan said with a smile. Chapter 30 translator: inschain editor: inschain there were six players, including qian quan, five of whom were from the school team, so it was 3v3, half-court. according to the convention, they were supposed to rotate and form teams, but the tall guy who invited qian quan said, qin zhao, you and liu yu need to be in different teams; cant have you in the same one. the others agreed, it wont be fair if you two are on the same team. this was quite common on the campus court C when a few friends played, the two strongest players couldnt be on the same team. how about liu yu and i pick teammates through passing the ball? qin zhao suggested. okay, everyone was fine with it. they began selecting players in turns. although neither qin zhao nor liu yu knew qian quans skill level, the fact that no one recognized him meant he couldnt be from the school team. even though he looked tall enough and seemed decent on the court, his basketball skills were likely limited. especially when his girlfriend reminded him of something just before he joined in, indirectly confirming this point. so, when qin zhao and liu yu chose the first player, they skipped him. lets pick someone familiar first. its easier to coordinate. they explained this thoughtfully, giving qian quan a way out since he was there to help them out. during the second round of choosing teammates, qin zhao went first. he waved at qian quan with a friendly gesture and said, bro, come over here. lets be on the same team. this way, he gave this stranger a face while appearing graceful and not taking advantage of liu yu. qian quan looked nonchalant, as if he hadnt even noticed what had just happened, and happily headed to qin zhaos side. with the teams set, they started the game C a match of ten points. qin zhaos team gained the ball through a free throw. they sent another player from their team to take the free throw, but as expected, they just passed it directly to qin zhao. qin zhao was modest and passed it to qian quan, saying, let our new friend warm up. without hesitation, qian quan received the ball and went for a standard jump shot. swish! it went right through the net. first shot, just warming up, doesnt count, qian quan quickly said, considering that the opposing team hadnt even had a chance to defend. yes, the first shot doesnt count. both qin zhao and another person on the team agreed, feeling somewhat surprised. they had noticed his recent shot; he must have practiced before. then, they moved on to the second shot. qin zhao was the one to take it, and he passed it to qian quan again. liu yu motioned to his teammate to guard closely this time. qian quan waited for the defender to position himself and then, with a simple dribble move to fake him out, took another shot. swish! the ball went in again. just warming up, qian quan humbly remarked. man, youre good, pretty accurate, liu yu said. lucky shots, qian quan chuckled. qin zhao continued to send the ball to qian quan for the next shot. qian quan didnt hold back, taking another jump shot. swish! block shot triple-double. d*amn, man, youre so on point! liu yu was amazed. just warming up. qin zhao found it amusing and passed the ball to qian quan for the fourth shot. this time, the defenders were on him closely. qian quan turned his back to the defending player. after a couple of feints, he suddenly spun around, left his defender behind, took a few steps, and executed a quick stop jump shot. it went in again! this time, the other five players on the court were a bit dumbfounded. even on the sidelines, ding linlang was staring in disbelief. when did this guy become so strong? just warming up qian quan said with a smile. on liu yus side, the three of them couldnt help but laugh. they thought, buddy, youve warmed up while our hands are still cold, almost freezing. keep going. lets see how many you can string together. qin zhao was in good spirits as he went to the center to inbound the ball. ill guard him. the 1.9-meter-tall liu yu walked up to qian quan, his face earnest, reaching out to assist him and fixing him with a fiery gaze, observing his movements. qian quan didnt perform any fancy moves. he played back-to-basket, using his rhythm and speed to outmaneuver liu yus defense and smoothly make a jump shot. a professional-level player can play on such a court without the need for any fancy moves. the gap is so massive that ordinary people cant even imagine it. simply put, a professional team benchwarmer could effortlessly dominate on such a playground. today, qian quan was facing the school team. add to that, it was his first time using this new skill, so the scene didnt look too brutal. the opponents could manage to put up a bit of resistance. however, that was pretty much it. by the time qian quan hit his tenth shot, he hadnt even broken a sweat on his forehead, and the opponents hadnt even touched the ball. 10-0! hey, buddy, are you a freshman? didnt you sign up for the school team? qin zhao, who was filled with questions, asked qian quan. im from seacoast normal university. i came over to hang out with my friend, qian quan replied. oh, no wonder. i was wondering how our school had such a skilled player, and ive never heard of you before. today happens to be a good day for me, qian quan said. are we playing another round? of course! lets reshuffle the teams. qin zhao suggested, how about me, liu yu, and dacheng in one team? evidently, the three of them were the strongest among the five buddies. thats fine by me, qian quan agreed. sure thing! weve got a powerhouse on our team, the other two classmates were equally amazed by qian quan. the second round began. this time, qian quan slightly toned down his performance, starting to dribble and pass the ball, involving everyone in the game. they eventually won the second round with a score of 10-3. it seems like this is the first time qin zhao and liu yu lost on the same team. one of qian quans teammates happily remarked. he had just savored the taste of victory, having won against both main players simultaneously. buddy, youre at a level where you could play professionally, arent you? liu yu said, a mix of frustration and admiration in his voice. thats too exaggerated to say, qian quan chuckled. after chatting for a while, qian quan said, my friend and i have something to do, so well head out. sure, bye-bye. well have another chance to play next time, qin zhao, liu yu, and the others were quite disheartened. clearly, they didnt want to continue playing against qian quan. goodbye, qian quan nodded to ding linlang. what happened to you today? ding linlang was also puzzled. i had a good feel for the game. maybe you should get a drug test. thanks for the compliment. when you used to play one-on-one with me, did you ding linlang stared at qian quan, hesitating in her words. dont overthink it. i really just had an exceptional performance today maybe it was inspired by my dad. how did mr. qian inspire you? he made a game-winning shot in todays staff basketball match. mr. qian is impressive! yes, qian quan smiled. basketball is really interesting. the two of them left the basketball court and walked out of the school. they were going to have dinner outside and then watch a movie tonight. this was the first time they truly hung out since they came to study in azure bay. even in such an international metropolis, as they walked side by side, they still attracted quite a number of glances. while on the subway, qian quan even noticed someone sneaking a photo of them. however, ding linlang, with slightly longer hair, was no longer mistaken for a boy, so no girls came up to ask for contact information. i used to think id reject big cities, but after visiting hangzhou and coming to azure bay, i found that big cities are also quite suitable for people with social anxiety. in some ways, they might be even more convenient. ding linlang remarked after coming out of the movie theater. yes, as long as food delivery and express services are smooth, its no problem to stay at home for a month without being seen as strange. i also have to make sure my daily step count on the social app reaches 1000 steps, or else my mom will call me, ding linlang said with a smile. haha, theyre concerned whether the step count is too high or too low. so, do big cities make people more open or more closed? well probably more inclusive. as they chatted like this, qian quan dropped ding linlang off at the school and then took a bus back to seacoast normal university. send me a message when youre dormitory, ding linlang reminded her. okay. on his way back, qian quan saw that one nine equals nine was inviting him to play chinese chess again. they had already tied in 25 games, and the opponent hadnt given up. so qian quan accepted the invitation and tried with him again. since downloading the journey of chinese chess app, qian quan hadnt experienced a win or a loss. his points were increasing. +1, +1, +1 chinese chess was also quite interesting. speaking of which, it seemed that the freshmen tournament in minhua district would start next week. Chapter 31 translator: inschain editor: inschain another draw? at jiao tong university, in the womens dormitory, li zhiyi, with bobbed hair, stared intently at her phone screen. the screen displayed a chinese chess endgame. her side only had one horse and two soldiers left, while the other side only had one horse and two soldiers left. unless one side deliberately blundered, neither could win over the other in this situation. lets draw for peace? the opponent sent a message in the chat box. what was infuriating was that the opponents id was named handshake for peace, as if intentionally trying to provoke her. yet, this was already their 26th drawn game. from the first time she challenged the wheel war and met this opponent to the consecutive week of 1v1 matches, she had given her all, employing all her skills acquired over her lifetime, but still couldnt win. the opponent couldnt win either, and perhaps he never intended to. every move he made seemed to be meticulously planned to end in a draw right from the first step. it was obvious he was doing it on purpose. just to prove that his id was true? li zhiyis cheeks were a little flushed, like two small apples. right now, she was both angry and anxious, feeling helpless and stifled, as if a bone was stuck in her throat and a thorn was at her back. she had never encountered an opponent like this before. she had even dreamt these past few nights that she finally won, and then she laughed heartily in her dream, asking the opponent, why arent you proposing a draw now? she had even considered hacking into the journey of chinese chess server to check the opponents registration information, but then she wondered what the point of doing that would be. after all, the opponent was just playing chinese chess online normally and hadnt harmed her in any way. besides, she was the one who initiated the challenges each time. do you play draws with everyone or just me? li zhiyis curiosity was now fully aroused. with everyone. drawing peacefully is my pursuit here. why? dont you want to win? im content as long as i dont lose. as for why i pursue draws, the answer is simple. after playing chinese chess with me, i hope every opponent i face can find a moment of inner peace. those who always win shouldnt become too proud and arrogant, and those who always lose shouldnt become too self-deprecating and discouraged. they should always remember that theres also the aspect of drawing beyond winning and losing. just like the realization of king qin in the movie hero, the third realm of chinese chess is also the highest realm, which is not to win but to achieve peace. and i, im going to be this ambassador of peace. li zhiyi, nearly driven to madness and with her inner peace completely disrupted, didnt believe a word. she suspected the opponent was here for amusement but lacked evidence. after exiting journey of chinese chess, she opened the chinese chess clubs group and was about to ask if any other members had encountered handshake for peace. just as she hesitated on how to start the conversation, she saw the vice president saying, theres a small piece of news. it seems that the chinese chess club at seacoast normal university has recruited a very strong freshman this year. rumor has it that this freshman has defeated all the clubs senior members in the wheel war. li zhiyis eyes suddenly sharpened. then she saw someone reply, we can see him in the freshman tournament next week. but isnt the chinese chess club at seacoast normal university not that strong overall? someone else replied, can anyone be stronger than li zhiyi? the vice president chimed in, anyway, everyone should be cautious during the competition. be careful not to make significant mistakes. everyone lined up with responses like understood. after mentally preparing herself for a while, li zhiyi asked, have any of you encountered a player named handshake for peace on journey of chinese chess? after a while, a sophomore member replied, i have. his skills are decent. he played a draw against me, and i was on a three-game winning streak. then another person responded, i think ive encountered him once, too, and it ended in a draw. curious, the vice president asked, why are you asking this person? li zhiyi explained, that person also played a draw against me. the group fell silent for a full ten seconds. then, the two members who had just spoken replied with a shocked oh my god and six exclamation marks, respectively. according to everyones assessment, li zhiyi was already at a grandmaster level. the fact that handshake for peace managed to draw with her only left two possibilities. one, that person was also at the grandmaster level or even higher. two, that person was an official ai released by this app, either for active players or for some testing purposes. after discussing for a while without reaching any conclusion, the vice president suggested, if anyone encounters him again, maybe invite a few more people to study together. monday morning at 7 oclock, at azure bay university. zhao baiyu got up on time. after getting ready. she went to the playground alone and practiced martial arts for half an hour. after returning from her grandfathers house during the summer vacation, her master was very satisfied with her understanding. he taught her the golden voice jade vibration sixty-four hands. speaking of this, she also needed to thank her grandfather, and that chance encounter with a guy named qian quan. it was precisely due to her grandfathers guidance and qian quans insights into chinese chess that inspired her and helped her pass her masters test smoothly. however, she was just starting to learn the golden voice jade vibration sixty-four hands and not yet mastering them. she couldnt produce a continuous sound between her fists and palms, let alone the golden sound and jade resonance. her master said that the first level of learning the golden voice jade vibration sixty-four hands was to produce a continuous and crisp sound, and the second level was to perform skills silently. the third level was to attain proficiency, such that during exertion, the strikes should resonate like the deep and reverberant sound of a bell, while during relaxation, they should be clear and melodious like the tinkling of a wind chime, leaving a lingering aftertaste. the saying produce sound like a bell, resonate like a chime is the essence of the golden voice jade vibration sixty-four hands. after finishing her practice, zhao baiyu returned to her dormitory, freshened up quickly, and got ready to have breakfast and attend her classes. on the way to the classroom, zhao baiyu ran into luan qingyun, who had just finished his run. good morning. zhao baiyu greeted politely. good morning. off to class? luan qingyun asked. although zhao baiyu had nearly taken down luan qingyun on the day of the recruitment, he didnt hold any grudges. instead, he looked at her with appreciation and anticipation. yes. luan qingyun nodded. as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and said, by the way, i have a piece of news you might be interested in. zhao baiyu looked at him. according to a friend of mine, the martial arts club at seacoast normal university recruited a powerful new student this year. apparently, during the interview, he managed to defeat their vice president with just one move. zhao baiyu raised an eyebrow and asked, how does that vice president compare to you? i havent sparred with him, so i cant say for sure, but anyone who can become a vice president must be quite competent. alright, got it. okay, nothing else from me. you should go to class. fudan university basketball arena. the university basketball team was conducting their routine training. warm-ups, sprints, passing and receiving drills, shooting practice and then they divided into teams for scrimmage practice. qin zhao, i heard from dacheng that you guys played baseball on saturday and got crushed by a new student from seacoast normal university who came to play with you? after the teams were formed, the captain, han xun, walked over with a smile and asked qin zhao. dont even mention it. its a tearful story. for the details, you can consult liu yu, qin zhao replied. han xun said, i already asked him, and he told me to ask you. with a wry smile, qin zhao said, i dont want to recall the specific process. lets put it this way: i was in a group with liu yu and dacheng, and we almost didnt even touch the ball. is it really that extreme? its exactly that extreme. if seacoast normal universitys overall lineup improves even a little this year, they can win the championship in the azure bay region. that sounds too exaggerated. ill just ask wang teng directly in the chat group. wang teng was the president of seacoast normal universitys basketball club. there was a large group that included presidents, student council executives, and captains from various major university clubs, student unions, and basketball teams in azure bay. it was quite an active group where various pieces of information were shared. han xun directly mentioned wang teng in the group and asked, wang teng, did your basketball club recruit a strong new player this year? wang teng might have been busy as he didnt reply immediately. then the president of the chinese chess club at the azure bay polytechnic university sent a message too: since han xun brought it up, ive got a question too. cao chuande, i heard your chess club also got a new member this year. can you share some details? cao chuande, the president of the chinese chess club at seacoast normal university, quickly replied, yes, we have someone decent. he can have a back-and-forth in our matches. but this years strongest newcomer in chinese chess must still be from shanghai jiao tong university. at this point, luan qingyun also chimed in, from what i know, the martial arts club at seacoast normal university recruited an impressive individual this year. so, how many talents did seacoast normal university actually recruit this year? wang teng chimed in, well, you know, just two people isnt that many. it shouldnt really be enough to alarm captain han, right? han xun replied, why wouldnt it be enough? they managed to make two of my main players lose all confidence! Chapter 32 translator: inschain editor: inschain actually, yesterday, qian quan and guo hongyi also played a game of basketball. the process doesnt need to be mentioned. qian quan intentionally suppressed his performance and led the team to win eight consecutive games. if it werent for the other members on his side being too tired to run, they could have continued playing. then, there was a little incident. after qian quan and guo hongyis team won the sixth game, the three of them celebrated with high-fives, smiling and looking arrogant. just at that moment, the trio they eliminated walked up to three girls who happened to be their girlfriends. the three girlfriends looked at their boyfriends with sympathy and handed them bottled water, reassuringly saying, its okay. you did great just now. youre always the best in my heart! qian quan, guo hongyi, and the others, who were celebrating their six-game winning streak, felt their smiles freeze on their faces. the taste of victory suddenly felt not so significant. guo hongyi muttered, why bring girlfriends to a basketball game? another teammate said, exactly! qian quan just smiled and let it go. on the way back to the dormitory after playing basketball that day, guo hongyi already sensed a change in qian quan. qian quan, i didnt mention this on the court earlier, but i felt like youve evolved today. your shots were so on point. of course, quan couldnt say that he was already restraining himself, so he replied, im slowly finding my rhythm. fast forward to today. in the group chat, wang teng learned that someone from their university had dominated the schools team at fudan university. he was quite surprised, and after some casual remarks, he quickly went to the basketball clubs group chat and asked, did any of you go to fudan university last weekend? not long after, qian quan replied, i went. whats up? wang teng asked, did you play against someone? qian quan said, yeah, played a couple of casual games. wang teng inquired, did you dominate their schools team? qian quan replied, its not really dominating, just normal friendly games. after a while, wang teng responded, qian quan, be honest. did you hide your strength during the interview to surprise everyone later? quan replied with a laughing-crying emoji, its not that dramatic. were all basketball players, so we should understand that peoples performance can vary. even mcgrady cant score 35 points in 13 seconds in every game, right? wang teng said, thats true, but the captain of fudan universitys basketball team personally told me that you made their teams main players feel powerless. i was quite shocked when i heard that. qian quan said, its an exaggeration, but when im in good form, i wont be intimidated by their team. wang teng replied, got it. lets organize another internal scrimmage in the next couple of days. a new week had begun. the freshmens university life was gradually getting into a rhythm. as the class monitor, qian quan had started fulfilling his duties, collecting questions from his classmates regarding their studies and daily lives. together with other class committee members, he discussed and organized extracurricular activities. the recent major event was the traditional 3+2 basketball tournament (three males, two females) organized by the college. the specific details of the event, such as player selection, training, and team uniforms, were naturally overseen by the sports committee member, guo hongyi. on a personal note, qian quan had a few noteworthy matters. regarding his studies, needless to say, history was his favorite subject, and he didnt find the courses boring. particularly, the significant historical events of specific years had an unchangeable certainty when described (excluding modern history). for example, in the year 221 bc, the king of qin conquered the six states. similarly, in the year 119 bc, the valiant cavalry general huo qubing was enfeoffed at langjuxu mountain, practiced asceticism at guyan, and reached the shores of the vast sea as for his personal life, ding linlang sent him a short video C it was a video of her practicing some wing chun moves of little idea. quan suddenly remembered that they had this agreement. and she had actually mastered the moves! so, qian quan admitted defeat with a smile. moreover, his father had passed his second driving test. the second test was said to be the hardest part of the driving exam. however, after passing his second test, quan wenlin shared in the family group chat, its not hard, quite straightforward. passed easily. wednesday arrived. at bai yuanzhis invitation, qian quan filmed his first video after joining their team. this time, bai yuanzhi was making a video to explain the concept of four two dial one thousand jins in tai chi, and she needed qian quans cooperation to demonstrate the moves. by now, the hype around that video had died down, and qian quan would participate in the video as a new member of the martial arts club. the video began with bai yuanzhis introduction. after a brief explanation, she invited quan to demonstrate while she continued to explain. with his master-level wing chun skills, this kind of cooperation was a piece of cake for qian quan. when they reached the explanation of four two dial one thousand jins, bai yuanzhi grabbed quans wrist and pulled him to rotate. originally, bai yuanzhi just intended to do a few simple rotations to explain the concept, but qian quan suddenly exerted force, running faster and signaling her with a look. understanding his signal, bai yuanzhi increased her effort as well. they spun faster and faster, and suddenly, quans feet left the ground, his body floating in the air. bai yuanzhi held onto qian quans hands, and his entire body hovered in midair as if she had used the principles of tai chis circular motion and four two dial one thousand jins to make him float. however, at this moment, the two of them locked eyes in a peculiar manner, with curious expressions on their faces. the scene had a somewhat bizarre quality to it. release me, miss bai. quan whispered. after a moment of hesitation, bai yuanzhi whispered, be careful, and slowly released her grip, allowing him to descend gently. qian quan was flung out, his body flipping in the air before landing steadily. the movement carried an indescribable sense of casualness and charm. your tai chi circular motion and four two dial one thousand jins, indeed impressive! quan expressed with a respectful fist gesture. bai yuanzhi smiled and replied, its because you cooperated well. after finishing the video shoot, the two chatted for a while before qian quan took his leave. bai yuanzhi went to review the footage. as she watched qian quan seriously matching her moves, pretending to nod in realization as she explained, she found his expressions particularly amusing. one could only say that he truly deserved to be a man who had joined the luminous drama society! then she saw the scene of qian quan being thrown by her. she intentionally played it in slow motion. that scene it unconsciously reminded her of the scene when she sparred with her mentor in martial arts years ago. back then, she was the one soaring through the air. however, it wasnt a choreographed move nor intentional cooperation-she had genuinely been flipped into the air by her mentor. in that moment, the past and the present converged perfectly. different times and spaces, yet these two scenes coincided in subtle ways. a slight smile formed on bai yuanzhis lips. in seacoast normal university, the luminous drama society. regarding the role of your ex-boyfriend, after discussing it, weve decided to cast a newcomer named qian quan. despite his young age and tender appearance, hes quite tall at 1.8 meters. if we focus on his appearance, there shouldnt be any image issues. additionally, this character has limited screen time, making it suitable for training newcomers. recently, the luminous drama society was preparing a new play titled the love story of the snail and the oriole. it was the farewell work of senior tang bingbing, who was about to leave the school. tang bingbing was originally a senior member of the club. due to her outstanding looks and excellent acting skills, she had appeared in numerous representative plays of the drama club, earning her the title of star member over the past four years. now, she was about to enter the peoples art theatre, stepping onto a higher stage with limitless prospects in the performing arts. this farewell performance was planned by the club, with a script tailored for her. currently, wang tongyu, one of the scriptwriters, is discussing actor matters with her. no problem, if you think hes suitable, then its fine. i trust your judgment, tang bingbing was genuinely grateful to the drama club for giving her this opportunity. saying goodbye to her alma mater in this way was truly perfect. heres a photo of the newcomer, qian quan. take a look. tang bingbing had just returned to her alma mater a couple of days ago and hadnt met the newly recruited members of the club. she took wang tongyus phone and saw the photo inside, her eyes lighting up. this young man! he has a good image. after all, tang bingbing was a professional actress. she quickly adjusted her mood and then said, by the way, let me take a look at the script. wang tongyu handed over the script to tang bingbing. tang bingbing quickly flipped to the part where the female lead and her ex-boyfriend broke up. she pulled out a pen and made several quick marks, then put away the pen and said calmly, i made a few minor changes to the script unrelated to the main plot. take a look. sure, ill take a look. wang tongyu took back the script and earnestly went through it. after finishing, she weakly asked, just to confirm, did you add a half-minute-long hugging scene between the female lead and her ex-boyfriend during their breakup? yes, tang bingbing nodded, from a human perspective, first love is often the most unforgettable and the hardest to let go of. since, in the play, the female lead and her ex peacefully break up, i think a farewell hug is necessary. from an artistic standpoint, it greatly enhances the dramatic tension of the scene. and from character development wang tongyu couldnt interrupt and weakly said, please be honest. tang bingbing looked at her, and suddenly, her expression turned pitiful. her tone had a hint of coquettishness as she said, this boy is just too handsome. i want to give him a hug. ive been in this club for four years and never hugged someone so handsome wang tongyu was speechless and thought, we havent hugged someone so handsome either. Chapter 33 translator: inschain editor: inschain when qian quan received the invitation from the luminous drama society to play a role, he could hardly believe it. he had no prior personal stage performance experience, and his experience as a firefighter in the kindergartens middle class was the most prominent entry on his acting resume. this time, he accidentally joined the luminous drama society. on the one hand, he could enjoy a lifetime of free theater shows; on the other hand, he saw this as an opportunity to learn more about acting and acquire another skill. the issue was he hadnt undergone any training yet. how could he act? tongyu, are the plays youre staging this time very important? i wont hold you back, will i? qian quan made his concerns clear. every play we stage is important, dont worry. youll have senior students guiding you. besides, your role this time isnt extensive. its mainly about getting familiar with the stage and finding your groove. alright, count me in. it wasnt a lot of lines, so that was manageable. soon, wang tongyu sent over the script C the love story of the snail and the oriole it was a story about a girl named huang li who continues to search for true love after breaking up with her first love. his character was the first boyfriend. his role was indeed minimal, just two scenes. in the first scene, he breaks up with the female lead, and there are a few lines followed by a farewell hug. in the second scene, the female lead reminisces about their sweet moments together. it wasnt a big problem, especially when he attended the first rough rehearsal and saw the female lead, tang bingbing. he felt like he was cast in the right role. tang bingbing, with her fair skin, beauty, and wearing black stockings, was experienced and patient. when she was explaining the hugging scene, she even demonstrated it herself, guiding him on where his hands should be during the hug, where his gaze should rest, and how he should lightly smell her hair with his nose. tang bingbing was truly professional. she didnt show any awkwardness or discomfort due to being hugged by this unfamiliar young man. after the rehearsal, tang bingbing and qian quan exchanged contact information. for qian quan, this rehearsal was a bountiful harvest. friday night. the basketball club organized an internal practice scrimmage. this time, wang teng specifically invited some teammates from his previous schools team to come and observe for guidance. as members of the school team, watching this kind of match felt like witnessing skilled mortals. they were sitting on the sidelines, chatting and laughing. suppose it wasnt for the rumor that one of the new students had dominated the key player of the fudan universitys school team, gaining an almost mythical reputation. in that case, they might have been even less interested. for tonights match, well mix up the new and old members and reform teams, wang teng announced the grouping rules. after the teams were formed, guo hongyi realized he wasnt placed in the same team as qian quan. immediately, he volunteered to go and mark qian quan. since qian quan had acquired professional-level basketball skills, he hadnt played a full game yet and was curious about his true abilities. therefore, tonight, he was planning to go all out, fully unleashing his skills. as a result, the scene on the court turned even more intense than a half-court game. guo hongyi was completely overshadowed, unable to keep up, let alone defend against qian quan. three-pointers, two-pointers, drives, layups, jump shots, blocks, steals, assists he was a force of nature, doing as he pleased. what was supposed to be a practice scrimmage had turned into a one-man showtime. the players on the court, including those on qian quans side, were stunned and left in confusion and uncertainty. several members of the school team on the sidelines stood up, looking at everything happening on the court with shock on their faces. less than five minutes into the game, the score was 20:2, and qian quan alone had scored 18 points. stop stop stop wang teng signaled for a timeout and halted the game. everyone gathered around qian quan. qian quan, you didnt take any performance-enhancing drugs, did you? guo hongyi, gasping for breath, asked in astonishment. for an internal practice game? qian quan responded in disbelief. but, but you guo hongyi couldnt find the right words to express his feelings. when they were just matched up (if you could call it that), he felt like he was facing a qian quan from another dimension. hello, school teams yu liangce, a tall and fair-skinned boy extended his hand to qian quan. li shaoyang. gu jianhong. the few school team members who were originally watching the game from the sidelines came over to greet qian quan. hello, qian quan politely responded, shall you also join in? the three school team members hesitated for a moment and then nodded in agreement. teams were reshuffled, with the three observing school team members joining wang teng and guo hongyis team. qian quan was on a team with four other basketball club members. this time, the strengths on both sides were more balanced. they couldnt stop qian quan, but on qian quans side, it was difficult to defend against all of them. the only difference was that qian quan could score nearly every round, which the opposing team couldnt achieve. thus, qian quans side continued to lead and expanded that lead by a certain margin. by the time the game reached the 20-minute mark, the point difference had reached double digits. d*mn, if this gets out, how can we hold our heads high in the future? a freshman with a few basketball enthusiasts managed to completely outshine several of us from the school team? han xun wasnt lying. hes truly a beast! wang teng was about to lose it. half an hour later, the score was 50:31, and they had managed to maintain a point difference of less than 20. hey, when are you coming to report to the school team? gu jianhongs gaze at qian quan was a bit off. ive joined a few clubs, so if i join the school team, the practice times might not align, qian quan replied. you dont have to train with us every time. as long as you show up for important matches, i can make that happen, gu jianhong, a definite key player on the seacoast normal universitys team, had a certain influence when he spoke. we can vouch for you. you dont need to go through trials. just give a nod, and well put you directly on the roster, starting lineup! yu liangce added. alright, im in, qian quan decided. he had already figured out his capabilities thoroughly. it would be a waste to confine his basketball skills to school games alone. participating in more professional competitions and fully unleashing his potential was necessary. guo hongyi watched qian quan from the sidelines with envy. not only had he not been directly selected for the school team, but seeing his friend being accepted out of the ordinary also left him feeling concerned. does that mean we can arrange friendly matches with other university basketball clubs? as long as we can win a dozen or so games in a row, our basketball club can apply for recognition, wang teng realized the doubled joy. unexpectedly, gu jianhong immediately voiced his dissent, wang teng, youre not planning to have our school teams key point guard play in those frequent friendly matches, are you? yu liangce added, hell play as a member of the basketball club for sure, but he must have regular rest periods. wang teng was speechless and thought, what are you guys doing? im the one who came in first. while wang tengs idea for the basketball clubs friendly matches was still just an idea, the newcomer chinese chess tournament of the minhua district universities had officially begun this saturday. twenty-four freshman chess players from 8 universities gathered at shanghai jiao tong university for a full-day competition. the tournament was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, each comprising five rounds. it used a points-based ranking system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and no points for a loss. among them, only the top ten players in the morning session would advance to compete for the championship in the afternoon. once the champions, runners-up, and third-place winners were determined, there would also be a few friendly matches among the top three. the morning competition began at 9:00 a.m. the opponents for the first round were determined by drawing lots. qian quan drew a female opponent named li zhiyi from jiao tong university. the person in charge of drawing lots was also a member of the jiao tong university chinese chess association. when he saw the name of qian quans opponent, he sympathetically chuckled and said to qian quan, good luck, boy! Chapter 34 translator: inschain editor: inschain from the wishing you good luck expression on the jiao tong university staffs face, qian quan could deduce that his first opponent, li zhiyi, was likely to possess considerable strength. however, he couldnt have guessed that her skills would be this exceptional. sitting across from him, the girl with a bobbed hairstyle, cute yet composed, presented an unusual demeanor during the greeting phase. hello, im qian quan from seacoast normal university, he introduced himself before the match began. unexpectedly, after a brief glance at him, she softly stated, li zhiyi. then, she fixed her gaze on the chessboard and said nothing more. ladies first, please make your move, qian quan acted in a gentlemanly manner. youre playing as the red pieces, li zhiyi said, indicating she would make the first move as the red side. since this competition was hosted at shanghai jiao tong university, all players from this university played as the black side, a show of courtesy. alright, qian quan smiled and didnt refuse further. in chinese chess, the impact of moving first on the outcome is relatively minor, with the significance of courtesy outweighing its practical effects. qian quans first move was to advance a cannon. his opponent responded very quickly. not wanting to waste time, qian quan swiftly followed suit. after just four or five moves, a group of six or seven staff members had already gathered around the scene. all of them were senior members of the shanghai jiao tong university chinese chess association. needless to say, they had come to witness how this seemingly delicate girl was going to overpower her opponent with her aggressive chess style. meanwhile, cao chuande, the leader of the seacoast normal university team, feigned a half-circle turn, showed some concern for the other team members from his university, and then hurried over to observe qian quans game. by this point, the match was past its halfway mark. from the position of the pieces, both sides seemed to be in a deadlock, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. judging from the two players demeanors, qian quan appeared relaxed, seemingly unaffected by the chessboards impact. on the other hand, the girl across from him displayed a calm expression, fully immersed in the game. the surrounding onlookers seemed tense, brows furrowed, deep in thought. so, this is the most formidable newcomer your chinese chess club recruited this year? seeing that li zhiyi hadnt gained an advantage even after a few moves, the vice president of the jiao tong university chinese chess association asked cao chuande with a hint of surprise. yes, its him, cao chuande nodded. given the turnout of your onlookers, this girl must be your seeded player, right? yes. shes truly strong. yours is impressive as well. after a few more moves, everyone suddenly heard qian quan exclaim, and he looked towards li zhiyi. li zhiyi was momentarily stunned and then quickly raised her head, locking her gaze on qian quan. she had an unusual expression as if she wanted to say something. one nine equals nine? qian quan initiated the question. its you! li zhiyi ultimately managed to utter these words, yet they held a wealth of meaning. haha, what a coincidence! lets call this game a draw, as weve reached this position before, qian quan continued. as he played on, qian quan noticed that his opponents moves were becoming increasingly familiar. eventually, she played a key trap that he had seen before, confirming that she was none other than one nine equals nine, the persistent chess friend he had encountered online. li zhiyi didnt answer; she continued to play her move, practically rejecting qian quan through her actions. with a smile, qian quan continued to play along with her, observing as she switched strategies, assuming an attitude of prefer to lose than to draw. qian quan didnt want to take advantage of this situation, so he forced her into a draw, ultimately bringing the game to an unavoidable stalemate. peaceful draw, everyones happy, qian quan said with a smile. li zhiyi stared at him, almost as if flames were about to shoot from her eyes. youre handshake for peace? someone nearby exclaimed. yeah, have we played this before? qian quan turned his head toward the person who spoke. hehe. wait a minute, its you! the vice president of jiao tong university chinese chess association couldnt maintain his composure either. their group of chess experts at the association had been researching handshake for peace for several days, and they hadnt expected to be him! so, it turns out both of you are online friends. big data is truly amazing, qian quan marveled. lets play another round! li zhiyi demanded with a stern face. thats not within the rules. if we both make it to the top three, we can play another match, qian quan politely declined. li zhiyi continued to stare at him. with a hint of resignation, qian quan added, miss li, when we play chinese chess, were opponents and rivals. you can try every means to capture, trap, corner, or force me into a dead-end. all of that is fine. however, once the game is over, were two chess enthusiasts with a common hobby. if you carry the grudges from the game into reality, i wont be playing chinese chess with you anymore. li zhiyis expression tensed upon hearing this. she had heard similar words from her chess teacher but hadnt taken them to heart. after all, she had been winning all her games ever since she had mastered chinese chess without any personal grudges. now, facing such a formidable and eager opponent, she wasnt sure how to interact with him in real life beyond the chessboard. alright, however, you choose to perceive me is your call. i wont stop playing chinese chess with you. qian quan sensed they were on completely different wavelengths and didnt want to lecture her extensively. i just hope you understand that i bear no ill intentions towards you. i know, li zhiyi unexpectedly replied, her expression quite earnest. thats good then. lets proceed with the next round, qian quan suggested. he didnt want to lose such a strong chinese chess opponent. qian quan, you have to admit that online, you only play draws with others in chinese chess, with a carefree attitude. its quite irritating, the vice president of jiao tong university chinese chess association joked. then try to beat me, qian quan said with a smile. indeed, thats a good idea. why didnt i think of that? hahaha the competition continued. in the subsequent four rounds, both li zhiyi and qian quan didnt face significant challenges, each accumulating 8 points. together, they reached a total of 9 points, tying for second place and securing their spots in the afternoon session. please remember this moment for me, when i almost outperformed li zhiyi and handshake for peace! the player who won all five matches, topping the standings, was a male student from jiao tong university. half-jokingly, he told his classmates after seeing the rankings. however, his undefeated record would only last until the first round of the afternoon session. because his first opponent in the afternoon was qian quan. he already knew qian quans strength, so he opted for a stable strategy for this match, focusing on defense. he intended to use strategic tactics to offset the difference in skill. his goal for this match was to settle for a draw and secure a stable point. however, he didnt know that qian quans draw peacefully was only present online. in this current match, qian quan didnt hold back, ending the game swiftly, much like a gust of wind sweeping fallen leaves. in the morning session, the top-seeded player struggled to organize a decent defense even once. the difference in skill was so vast that it surpassed his own imagination. in the five rounds of the afternoon session, both qian quan and li zhiyi triumphed in every match, each accumulating a perfect 10 points to share the top spot. after the top three were decided, it was time for the awards and photo session. as this was a friendly match focused on camaraderie in chinese chess rather than cash prizes, the winners received appropriate awards and honor certificates. subsequently, the top three took part in exhibition matches. there were two modes. the first involved the top three players competing against each other. the second involved the top three players challenging more experienced club members. li zhiyi, however, only wanted to challenge qian quan. i have a suggestion, shanghai jiao tong university chinese chess association vice president suddenly spoke up, since weve achieved a dual-champion result today, how about the two champions take on the rest of our players in a round-robin competition? as this proposal was put forward, discussions broke out immediately. some were eager to give it a shot, while others thought it might be unfair to outnumber the champions. that sounds good, li zhiyi nodded first, then quickly glanced at qian quan after agreeing. im fine with it, too, qian quan smiled and agreed. seeing this, the other players realized that the challenge had been thrown down, and there was no backing out now C they had to step up. at this point, the vice president of shanghai jiao tong university chinese chess association added fuel to the fire, dont worry, everyone. players from all eight major universities will join in. i dont believe these two can defeat all of us! Chapter 35 translator: inschain editor: inschain in jiao tong university. the scene was set for the newcomer chinese chess tournaments top three exhibition match. the newly crowned champions, qian quan and li zhiyi joined forces to take on over 20 chess players from the eight universities in the minhua district. in front of all the chess players, the two champions moved back and forth, making a move at each players board almost without pause. five minutes later. players from both sides started to get eliminated. after another two minutes, only half of qian quans players remained. however, despite the reduction in numbers, the pace of play between qian quan and li zhiyi didnt speed up; in fact, it became slower. after another seven to eight minutes, only one player from qian quans side was still holding on C it was the runner-up from todays competition. the runner-ups seemingly balanced position was quickly overturned within three to five moves when facing qian quan. staring at the board for two minutes, he conceded by sacrificing a piece. there were still two opponents on li zhiyis side, but they were both approaching the endgame. one minute later, both of li zhiyis opponents were defeated simultaneously. 2 wins against 22 losses, still struggling to secure a single victory. they even failed to draw. the atmosphere on the scene was somewhat strange. qian quan said, just got some luck and chance. its not easy at all. li zhiyi didnt seem to feel that anything was off. she was waiting for her ultimate showdown with qian quan. the host and rhythm master, the vice president of jiao tong university chinese chess association, spoke up again. well, i take back what i said earlier. the skill level of the two champions has exceeded my expectations. even if i had played just now, i wouldnt dare to claim a certain victory. i guess everyone feels the same way right now, all waiting for the ultimate showdown between the two champions. but, this morning, these two already had a match that ended in a draw. since its an exhibition match now, why dont we try a different approach for the next round? how about a blindfolded chinese chess match? blindfolded chess tested chinese chess skills and memory, and it was extremely challenging. when he heard jiao tong university propose this match format, he realized they must be confident. he was about to speak when qian quan said, sure, im okay with that. naturally, li zhiyi had no objections. so, the two of them sat back-to-back while their opponents for the current round, the runner-up and the third-place winner, helped them with their moves. in the morning, i played as red. let li zhiyi play as red for this round, qian quan suggested. li zhiyi nodded in agreement, then closed her eyes and began to make her moves. in the room, over thirty people, some sitting and some standing fell silent. everyone held their breath. qian quan had his left arm crossed over his chest, his right elbow resting on his left hands back, his right palm supporting his face, and he gazed somewhere in the distance. whenever one of them called out a move, the two students who were assisting them would make the move. snap! the sound of the piece being placed down was crisp and clear as if it fell right onto the heart of each spectator. cao chuande had seen blindfolded chess before, but this was undoubtedly the most nerve-wracking experience. these two players, not yet twenty years old, possessed a master-level prowess in chinese chess. they seemed to have transformed into supreme strategists from ancient times. they commanded legions of soldiers and horses to fight on the battlefield, engaging in a unique and intense pinnacle battle. the generals in heavy armor charged back and forth, tens of thousands of warhorses galloped and neighed, chariots rumbled, catapults swung ceaselessly every command was followed by a clash of short-range weapons. after twenty-some moves, the battlefield was already strewn with casualties. watching the chinese chess game, the onlookers were engrossed, with some even holding their breath in tension. qian quan played black, his general confidently stationed in the center, flanked by a pair of elephants guarding the edges. however, next to the general, there was only a lone guard left. the other one was taken out by the red horse that had come to assassinate it. the general seemed quite enraged. not only did he personally take down the horse, but he also ordered his forces to press into the enemys territory. a chariot was stationed by the riverbank, with two horses and a cannon forming a dangerous formation, locking onto li zhiyis king. after careful consideration, li zhiyi decided to use her chariot to rescue her king. it seemed qian quan had been waiting for this move. he then made a move that left the spectators dumbfounded. he directly blocked his own chariot in front of li zhiyis chariot. this move appeared to be purely suicidal. confusion was evident on the faces of the onlookers. li zhiyi fell into a longer silence, her voice trembling slightly as she captured qian quans chariot. qian quans tone remained casual as he moved his horse. after the piece was placed, someone in the room finally detected a strategy and began to deduce subsequent lethal moves. the vice president of jiao tong university chinese chess association sighed lightly, saying, thats just ruthless, unable to bear watching any longer. li zhiyi opened her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. surprisingly, her expression seemed somewhat relieved. she stood up, turned towards qian quan, and asked, can i still play chinese chess with you in the future? qian quan turned towards her, a gentle smile on his face as he replied, of course. not just on our phones, she said. she didnt want to continue drawing on the app. um sure. okay. with that, the exhibition match came to an end. the room immediately erupted in discussion. all the doubts and thoughts that had accumulated while watching the game burst forth. the newcomer chinese chess tournament ended in the midst of lively discussions. jiao tong universitys dominant position remained unshaken. the participating students achieved excellent results, including champions and runners-up. however, the true victor of this competition was undoubtedly seacoast normal university. although it was expected for jiao tong university to produce a strong newcomer like li zhiyi, seacoast normal universitys qian quan appeared out of nowhere. not only did he share the championship with li zhiyi, but he also teamed up with her to stage an extraordinary 2 vs. 22 battle. he was still using unconventional tactics to defeat li zhiyi in the exhibition match, astonishing the audience and taking the lead. leaving aside what kind of rewards qian quan would receive upon returning to school and the benefits it would bring to the chinese chess club, li zhiyi, who won the championship but suffered a rare defeat, was currently quite excited. she sent a message to her brother, li zihe: li zihe, you guessed right. i really met that person. li zihao quickly replied, which person? li zhiyi: the one zhao baiyu mentioned. li zihao: her grandfathers chinese chess friend? li zhiyi: yeah. li zihao: how did you meet? li zhiyi then recounted her experiences of playing against qian quan both online and offline. li zihe didnt reply for a while. after a few minutes, he responded, thats quite a coincidence. ill go to azure bay tomorrow to have a look. li zhiyi didnt ask why and simply replied with an okay, ending the conversation. in hangzhou, at the west lake martial arts hall. li zihe, dressed in training attire, sat cross-legged on the ground, his face serious as he looked at his phone. after a while, he made a phone call. hey, baiyu. i want to ask you about something. you mentioned your grandfathers chess friend, the one who studies at seacoast normal university, right? oh, i was just suddenly curious and wanted to know him. after all, a guy who left an impression on you must be extraordinary. you mean your grandfather holds him in high regard? alright, got it. thats all for now, bye. after hanging up the phone, li zihes expression grew even more solemn. he then reported this matter to his father. a coincidence? it might be too coincidental. how many chance encounters in this world are actually premeditated? who is really playing the chinese chess game? Chapter 36 translator: inschain editor: inschain as is well known, hangzhou has produced many influential entrepreneurs in the business world, including internet giants, beverage and food industry tycoons, and automotive industry moguls among these prominent businessmen, some are renowned throughout the country, while others have gained international recognition, making regular appearances on various rich lists. in comparison, li weifeng, a local businessman in hangzhou, remains remarkably mysterious, low-key, and relatively unknown. he initially started in the seafood business and ventured into the catering industry after accumulating a certain amount of capital. he expanded his business from street-side eateries to chain fast-food restaurants and eventually to hotels. his commercial empire gradually grew, encompassing an increasingly diverse range of products: food, daily necessities, textiles, clothing, crafts, wholesale and retail of seafood products, as well as the acquisition of agricultural and sideline products. after marrying his wife, he formally established the weifeng group and ventured into infrastructure, transportation, and real estate. nowadays, the group holds full or controlling ownership of over 20 companies, including several publicly listed ones. however, based solely on the presented information, some of these companies seem to have limited connections with him. even within hangzhous financial circles, only a small segment of the capital community truly understands him. therefore, a saying circulates within these small circles: in hangzhou, whether its the mall you visit, the hotel you stay at, a certain overpass you walk across, the clothes you buy, the bottle of purified water you drink, the fish, shrimp, or cabbage you eat theres always something related to the weifeng group. this demonstrates the deep-rooted presence he has established in hangzhou. at half past five in the afternoon. li weifeng emerged from a high-end sanatorium located in the west lake district. after walking alone along a tree-lined path for seven or eight minutes, a tall and well-dressed young man strode up to him and followed closely as they headed toward a black mercedes parked by the roadside. today, he had arranged a business meeting at his own teahouse, and on his way, he took the opportunity to visit several elderly people, gifting them boxes of tea and pairs of walnuts and engaging in conversation with them. once inside the car, just as he said, lets go, he received a call from his son. whats the matter? li weifeng activated the speakerphone. the voice of li zihe came through the phone, theres something related to ajiu, and i wanted to report it to you. before his father could inquire, li zihe continued. ajiu recently met a guy online whos a student at seacoast normal university. hes really skilled at chinese chess. they played over twenty games on a chinese chess app, resulting in a draw that caught her attention. and then today, at the minhua district newcomer chinese chess tournament, they coincidentally met again. he voluntarily revealed his identity, just like online, deliberately playing a match with ajiu and tying it. after that, they jointly won the championship. if that wasnt enough, he then teamed up with ajiu in a round-robin match against other players and won all of them. but what makes me more wary is that he beat ajiu in the last round of their blindfolded chess game from the moment he heard the phrase, ajiu recently met a guy online, li weifengs nerves were already on edge. finally, when he heard that this guy defeated ajiu in chinese chess, he couldnt hold back any longer: are you saying he beat ajiu? li zihe replied, yes, ajiu told me herself, and she didnt seem too upset from her tone. she might even arrange to play chinese chess with him privately in the future. get to the point, li weifengs brow furrowed. if there was something that could make him nervous, it was his beloved daughter, whom he had cherished since birth. i find it too coincidental, as if someone intentionally set up these scenarios, especially li zihe hesitated. spit it out, no beating around the bush. that guy knows baiyus grandfather. baiyu says theyre chess friends, and her grandfather holds him in high regard. he has praised him multiple times in front of white jade. what did you say? li weifengs expression changed slightly. hes from huang pinghu? li weifeng had met zhao baiyus grandfather, huang pinghu. he knew that huang pinghu was an affable and amiable old man, seemingly like a friendly neighbor, yet profoundly inscrutable. he had also witnessed his seemingly opportunistic but cunning methods. for example, he let his exceptionally talented granddaughter apprenticed under gong xuanzhu and became a junior sibling to his son, li zihe. but if he dared to scheme against his daughter, even if he had to confront zhao chunjia, he would demand an explanation. im not certain. according to baiyu, theyre just regular chess friends, li zihe was somewhat startled by his fathers tone, so, i thought of meeting him in person to confirm. leave for azure bay now. first, talk to ajiu to clear things up, then wait for my message. okay. after hanging up the phone, li weifeng pondered for two seconds, then dialed another number and called zhao baiyus father, zhao chunjia. because he was calling from a private number, the call was answered promptly: hey, mr. li, why are you calling me all of a sudden? cant i call you for a chat when nothings wrong? of course you can! i couldnt ask for more. tell me, what do you want to talk about? im here to accompany you all the way. li weifeng chuckled, alright, i know youre busy too, so i wont beat around the bush. im asking you about someone. is there a young chess friend of your father-in-law who got admitted to seacoast normal university this year? yeah, how did you know? zhao chunjias tone held a surprise. from my father-in-laws hometown, his name is qian quan. oh, i see. today, their school and my daughters school had a chinese chess competition. it seems he won against ajiu. she mentioned it, and it happened that baiyu heard about that guy from your place. it felt quite coincidental, so i called to find out. oh, thats really quite coincidental. i heard from my father-in-law and baiyu. hes really skilled in chinese chess, but i never expected him to defeat ajiu. everyone has their own strengths, and there are always people better than us. li weifeng replied, alright then, i think i understand. lets leave it at that for now, and when we have time, lets have a drink together. sure thing. the call ended, and both sides fell silent. li weifeng didnt detect any unease in zhao chunjias tone. he felt that he wouldnt have been informed even if huang pinghu had arranged something. but was that really possible? on the other side, zhao chunjia was more shocked than confused. that guy named qian quan had been noticed by li weifeng so quickly? his father-in-law had an uncanny ability to judge people. back then, his father-in-law had given his personal number to a guy named qian quan. he said if the guy called as soon as he arrived in azure bay, he could nurture him into a reliable subordinate. if the guy never called, then if an opportunity arose, they could establish a good relationship, but it wasnt necessary to go out of their way. he had always trusted his father-in-law and kept this matter in mind. he never expected to hear that name from li weifeng today. if it werent for his father-in-law saying not to go out of his way, he would have wanted to meet that guy personally. li zihe didnt immediately go to meet qian quan. instead, he had someone drive him from hangzhou to shanghai jiao tong university. on the way, he imagined all sorts of schemes and tricks, his anger escalating. he wished he could find qian quan right away and give him a beating, making his nose crooked and his mouth askew, blood splattering, leaving him with visible bruises on his face. however, his anger and bitterness instantly disappeared when he saw his sister. he took his sister out for a meal and once again confirmed in person the process of how she met that guy named qian quan. what gave him a bit of relief was that his sister seemed to only acknowledge his chinese chess skills, treating him as a tool to sharpen her own skills; what made him angrier was that the other party dared to use his sisters interests to set up a scheme. this kind of sinister method was truly despicable. after the meal, he dropped his sister off at school. li zihe found a nearby hotel, rested for the night, and planned to meet qian quan the next day. his fathers instructions were already clear: he could meet qian quan in person to probe his background, but he mustnt act impulsively, let alone mention huang pinghu and zhao chunjia. in azure bay, the mens dormitory. qian quan was earnestly reading the conclusion of ding linlangs novel. he had absolutely no idea that two heavyweight figures had mentioned him today. even less did he know that an angry brother had been thinking about him all night long. therefore, the next morning, when he saw li zihe at the doorway of his dorm room, he was still a little dazed, even after the latter introduced himself. so, youre here to avenge your sister and have a game with me? qian quan asked. what? li zihe never expected him to ask this. arent you here to play chinese chess with me? qian quan was confused. looking at his genuinely puzzled expression, li zihe had a momentary feeling that there might be some misunderstanding here. if there was no misunderstanding, this guy was good at acting. wasnt his sister even more dangerous then? i dont play chinese chess. i practice martial arts. saying that he walked over to a broken brick by the roadside, lifted his foot, and stomped down. the brick shattered. a solid stomp! this was the first show of strength that li zihe displayed to qian quan. even if it didnt make him wet his pants out of fear, it would surely give him enough shock to make him think twice before acting out of line. what what are you doing? qian quan was even more bewildered. your foot isnt numb from that?! li zihe was about to burst out laughing, with fifteen years of training in that one kick, youre asking if my foot is numb? hearing this, qian quan walked to the side and picked up a stone, placing it by li zihes foot. li zihe glanced at the stone. li zihe ignored the stone and said, i didnt come here today to showcase acrobatics. ive got important matters to discuss with you! Chapter 37 translator: inschain editor: inschain in riverside. since qian quan went to azure bay for studies, mr. huang started playing chinese chess again, transforming from a hard to find a victory to a lonely master once more. in daily life, opponents like qian quan were not easy to come by. early in the morning, mr. huang returned from his exercise outside, about to freshen up and have breakfast, when he received a call from his son-in-law. father, did i interrupt your exercise? zhao chunjias timing for the call was apparent. no, just got back. mr. huang wiped his sweat with a towel as he spoke. youre calling at this hour. is there something urgent? its not exactly urgent, just a small matter. i pondered about it all night and suddenly realized there might be some misunderstanding. i wanted to ask you to analyze it for me. whats the matter? go on. mr. huang sat down on his armchair. its about that guy you mentioned to me before, qian quan. yesterday, he participated in a chinese chess competition and won against li weifengs daughter. then, i dont know what happened in between, but last night, li weifeng personally called me about this matter and even mentioned your father-in-laws chess friend.'' i didnt pay attention to his tone at the time. it wasnt until i woke up this morning that i realized there might be some misunderstanding here. otherwise, why would he call me about such a small matter? zhao chunjia explained. oh mr. huang chuckled, hes worried that qian quan is also a chess piece of mine. what do you mean? when i had baiyu apprentice under grandmaster gong xuanzhu, it was a natural move, but indeed, i had intentions to develop a connection with li weifeng through that move. with his astuteness, he would naturally see my intentions, but he acted as if he didnt know. now, because qian quan got to know his daughter through chinese chess, and he learned from baiyu that qian quan knows me, he subconsciously speculated that qian quan is a chess piece i arranged, deliberately using chess to get close to his daughter. isnt he overthinking? zhao chunjia also felt this speculation was quite reasonable. mr. huang didnt answer and continued, his son can approach, but others are not allowed to get close to his daughter? his daughter is special. shes extremely intelligent, a genius, but she doesnt communicate with people. its like she has some kind of high-functioning autism. so, their entire family is very careful and protective of her. that explains it, mr. huang understood, heres what you do. give him another call and clarify things. tell him that qian quan is just a chess friend i happened to meet, not a chess piece i intentionally arranged. even if he was, it was just a casual move in a game, purely out of admiration. it doesnt have any specific intention, and i dont control how things will go in the future. alright. zhao chunjia agreed with this approach. by the way, has he called you yet? no, hes quite principled. as expected, he hasnt disappointed me, mr. huang was both gratified and emotional. a person with such great potential, who would dare to treat him as a mere pawn? father, do you think i should have baiyu invite him and li weifengs two children over to our place as guests? let things take their course. baiyu doesnt like dealing with boys like him, who are polite and well-mannered but unfamiliar with the ways of martial arts. we dont need to force anything. alright then. father, ill give li weifeng another call. qian quan had already pretty much guessed the purpose of li zihes visit. it wasnt about avenging his sister; it was about investigating him on behalf of his sister. after all, the way he and li zhiyi had met online and offline had a touch of theatricality. whats the business, then? please go ahead, qian quans expression also turned serious. i heard from my sister that you played chinese chess with her online, and all the games ended in a draw. why? could you have won but chose not to? li zihe asked. i havent just played chinese chess with your sister. ive played draws with everyone. my id is handshake for peace, qian quan replied. why? casting a wide net? li zihe questioned. what? you have such a high chinese chess skill, yet you play draws with everyone. isnt that deliberately trying to attract attention? li zihe inquired. honestly, i feel like im having trouble keeping up with your thought process. i play draws with people online. why is it assumed to be about seeking attention? why cant it be about promoting a message of peace? li zihe sneered, you first play over 20 chinese chess games that all draw with my sister online and then reveal your identity in person during an offline match. is it really just a coincidence? qian quan also chuckled, before you jump to conclusions and start forcing your deductions, did you ever consider why i played over 20 games of chinese chess with your sister? shouldnt i be the one asking you that question? oh, so you mean i played those games against your sister with awareness of her personality, and it was a targeted scheme? li zihe defaulted. so why couldnt it be that you guys were setting me up? what are you saying? those over twenty draws online, except for the first game that was randomly matched. the rest were initiated by your sister. and about the newcomer chinese chess tournament was organized by the chinese chess association your sister is part of. a random draw determined the choice of opponents. after the tournament ended, your sister asked me if id continue playing with her in the future. i politely agreed. then you came on her behalf to question me. based on your logic, am i the victim led step by step into this scheme? you want to bite back? qian quan smirked. qian quan sneered, i understand your protective feelings for your sister, but what i want to say is that im just an ordinary boy from a remote town. i dont have any powerful backers, no influential background, no immense wealth to inherit, and certainly not that many schemes and plots. regarding the aspects i mentioned earlier, you can judge for yourself whether you can perfectly control all of them. you shouldnt have come to me today. instead, you should have a proper conversation with your sister, understand what shes really thinking, and figure out what she truly wants. a person who can play chinese chess so well, do you really think shes completely clueless about human affairs? is she truly ignorant, or disdainful, or simply indifferent to understanding? anyway, i always believe that in this world, apart from us ordinary folks, there are still some people who understand the ways of the world without being tainted by it, who remain smooth in experience yet retain a sense of innocence. until the truth is revealed, i will decline all her invitations. and if you still have doubts, i can delete her right in front of you now. qian quan said, opening the journey of chinese chess app. wait a moment! li zihe quickly intervened, feeling a bit flustered by qian quans rapid response. leaving aside whether his words made sense or not, what if all of this was just a coincidence? his sister had finally found a worthy opponent, someone she could play chinese chess with and enjoy her time. then, he recklessly intervened and squashed it in its infancy. what would be the consequences if his sister found out about it? what would she think? did you really just happen to meet her online? until yesterday, i didnt even know if one nine equals nine was a guy or a girl. or lets think about it this way: even if i hadnt played those over twenty draws online, and i had just won two matches against her in a chinese chess tournament, what would her reaction be? that final question reminded li zihe. knowing his sister as he did, she would continue to challenge him to another game. to be honest, up until now, ive probably figured out that your family is likely well-off. you might as well use your familys connections to inquire and see if i, qian quan, have the capability to set up such a big scheme. or perhaps you think i have other accomplices that you could investigate as well. i believe you have the means for this. without causing harm to anyone, you can freely investigate-hire private detectives or even involve the police. li zihe fell silent. his father had reminded him not to mention huang pinghu and zhao chunjia for the time being, as they hadnt been completely confirmed on that front. now, witnessing qian quans straightforward attitude, he began to waver, suspecting that he might have let his concern cloud his judgment, overthinking the situation. just at that moment, his phone chimed with a message notification. glancing at it, he saw his fathers message. stop investigating, its a misunderstanding. indeed! after deducing for so long, the result was that he had been making presumptive guilty inferences. a feeling of embarrassment and shame welled up from within him. well, heres what i propose. if she ever challenges me to play chinese chess again, ill politely decline a couple of times with excuses. after a few times, shell probably give up. she wont give up, li zihe said, his confidence in accusing now diminished. in that case, ill just decline a few more times. ill say im busy preparing for postgraduate exams or that im in a romantic relationship and dont have time to play. no need li zihe looked at qian quan with a complex expression. if youre available, you could still play with her. what? qian quan felt like there were question marks plastered all over his forehead at this point. his eyes were filled with a look of are you kidding me? youve just convinced me, li zihe admitted with a guilty conscience, i shouldnt overly interfere with my sisters life. i agree with that statement, qian quan nodded. seeing the other person so open and upright, li zihe felt even more remorse. he said, you must be curious about how i managed to break that piece of brick just now, right? its a skill ive been practicing called flat kick. however, thats too difficult for you, considering. to apologize for my behavior today, ill teach you a few simple self-defense skills. oh no, i really want to learn that flat kick. how do you do it? like this? qian quan demonstrated by lifting his leg and kicking the nearby piece of broken brick. whoa, my foot actually went numb! qian quan exclaimed. li zihe chuckled helplessly. ive seen many young people like you. after practicing a couple of sets of radio calisthenics, you start to think just as he was saying this, the stone split in two. li zihe was speechless. qian quan looked at him seriously. think what? Chapter 38 translator: inschain editor: inschain at the moment when the stone split open, li zihe wavered again. another round of conjecture was about to begin. if his brick-breaking kick had fifteen years of practice behind it, the kick from the other side had at least twenty years of practice. but he was only a freshman this year; his age couldnt be over twenty. this person was definitely not simple! seeing li zihes ever-changing expression, not knowing what he was daydreaming about again, qian quan found it both amusing and helpless. he had to explain. just kidding, the stone under there was already cracked. you can check for yourself if you dont believe it. of course, li zihe wouldnt actually check, but seeing qian quans sincerity, he believed most of it already. think about it: how could an 18-year-old college freshman possibly have 20 years of experience? clearly, it was a prank. however, with the situation disrupted by the others words, the atmosphere for teaching self-defense was lost. sorry for bothering you so much today, li zihe was ready to leave. no problem, i understand. goodbye. goodbye. as li zihe turned and hadnt gone far, he quickly replied to his fathers message, then immediately sent a text to zhao baiyu. baiyu, the qian quan you mentioned, has he learned martial arts? not long after, zhao baiyu replied, when i met him, he probably hadnt learned it. im not sure about later. maybe he wanted to get in touch with wing chun because he asked me if i had learned wing chun why suddenly ask about this? li zihe replied, no big deal, just curious. upon seeing baiyus response, li zihe finally completely put his mind at ease. he had only started learning wing chun this summer. how skilled could he possibly be? he probably hadnt even reached a basic level yet! zhao baiyu added, i remember when i said i could introduce him to some wing chun experts, he quickly declined in fear, hahaha li zihe chuckled and self-deprecatingly thought, blame it on myself for being too concerned about my sisters affairs back then. i almost let him bluff me. as these thoughts were swirling in his mind, his father sent another message, that young man is highly regarded by huang pinghu. if you can make connections with him, go ahead. huang pinghu has never been wrong about people. li zihe replied, okay. after returning to his dorm room, qian quan still found the encounter with li zihe quite surreal. he first inexplicably accused himself of using schemes to get close to his sister, but after his own earnest and sarcastic rebuttal, he actually started reflecting on the spot and promptly admitted his mistake. he even offered to teach qian quan a couple of self-defense skills as an apology. this dramatic turnaround was no less intriguing than the process of meeting him and his sister. however, this little episode didnt occupy qian quans mind for too long, as he had no interest whatsoever in the family backgrounds of the brother and sister. he had other things to focus on now. apart from his studies, he needed to participate in the rehearsal of the play the love story of the snail and the oriole. after officially joining the school team, he had to occasionally attend training sessions and participate in some matches. after his impressive performance in the newcomer chinese chess tournament, he would undoubtedly receive more invitations for matches, and he might even represent azure bay in the national tournament. also, ding linlangs new book, returning immortal, was about to be released. as ding linlangs childhood friend and a reader group administrator, he naturally had to promote it. this tuesday afternoon, ill come to seacoast normal university to meet you. lets have a meal to celebrate the completion of my old novel and also to thank you for helping me come up with the new book synopsis. the reader feedback has been really positive. at noon, ding linlang sent a message. sure, you can come to the drama club tonight to watch our rehearsal. okay. later in the day, bai yuanzhi sent qian quan a preview of the edited video. qian quan watched it with delight, feeling that he had some talent in acting. especially the scene where he was thrown and then flipped in mid-air before landing, after the special effects treatment, it looked quite impressive. he replied, no problem. bai yuanzhi sent back an ok emoji and was ready to release the video. tuesday afternoon. ding linlang arrived at seacoast normal university and immediately showed qian quan the video that bai yuanzhi had uploaded. you might really become popular. look at the comments section. theres already a fan club for you. theyre just playing around, the more qian quan immersed himself in the online world, the more he realized how full of humor the internet was. before having the meal, qian quan took ding linlang to visit his dorm room. guo hongyi, gao yan, and shen fei, who were in the middle of a game (shen fei had become more sociable by joining the gaming group), immediately stopped when they heard that qian quan was bringing a girl over. guo hongyi took his dumbbells from under the bed, engrossed in his workout. shen fei grabbed his guitar, sitting on the edge of the bed, gently strumming and singing those flowers. even the usually quiet and introverted gao yan was engrossed in reading hegels aesthetics. just before qian quan entered the room, he almost thought he had entered the wrong dormitory. look at this atmosphere of versatility and balance between work and leisure! this is our dormitory, a hidden gathering of talents, qian quan didnt reveal their secret. ding linlang smiled and nodded. oh, qian quan, bringing a friend over to play? guo hongyi saw ding linlang, a bit stunned by her looks. he forcibly suppressed his surprise and asked. yes, my childhood friend, ding linlang. hello, im guo hongyi. guo hongyi said, putting down the dumbbells and wanting to shake hands, but qian quan pushed his face away. youve got rusty hands. ding linlang smiled and waved at him. hey. shen fei also greeted ding linlang with a cool nod. hi. ding linlang responded. hello. gao yan was relatively reserved. hello. after spending some time in the dormitory, qian quan led ding linlang away. once the two left, guo hongyi was the first to exclaim, no wonder qian quan always looks so nonchalant when he sees a pretty girl at our school. turns out he has such a childhood friend. shes like a goddess! shen fei put down his guitar and agreed, shes even prettier than qian quan. gao yan said, a match made in heaven. the three continued playing their game. over 60,000 likes, more than 5,000 comments bai yuanzhi breathed a sigh of relief. the first video she officially collaborated on with qian quan had finally gained traction. in just a day, the likes and comments exceeded the average level, making it an a+ work. it seemed that qian quan was quite suited for this field. just as she was thinking about this, suddenly, an infrequently chatting account sent her a new message. xiaobai, is the guy in your latest video practicing wing chun? her mentor! was he also following her videos? bai yuanzhi: yes, i didnt expect you to come across it too. mentor: ive been following. i observed the posture and movements of that guy. his martial arts skills seem to be quite advanced. have any of you sparred with him before? bai yuanzhi thought for a moment and decided to be honest. yes, i have sparred with him. mentor: thats what i guessed. although hes putting on an act while performing with you, his boxing and footwork are fluid and effortless. he cant deceive a peerless master like me, who can discern the subtle details. bai yuanzhi was speechless. mentor: dont feel too disheartened. when i return to the country, ill challenge him on your behalf and perhaps even take him as my disciple. boys, why learn wing chun? tai chi is more attractive bai yuanzhi: im not feeling disheartened by the way, are you currently abroad? mentor: yes, im in london, feeding pigeons to ease my mind. i was deeply hurt by a woman in cloud city. to forget that cold-hearted woman, ive had six relationships, but i still havent recovered theres no way around it: those most passionate are the most easily wounded. as someone who is emotionally intense, im destined to be hurt by emotions. bai yuanzhi: mentor, if theres nothing else, i need to prepare my lessons! every time bai yuanzhi conversed with this low-key yet dedicated (as he self-proclaimed) mentor, she felt at a loss. mentor: go ahead and tell that guy hes caught the attention of the worlds top martial artist. Chapter 39 translator: inschain editor: inschain aquan, youre a good person, but i no longer feel that passionate love from you. were not even married yet, but i already feel like youre family to me. this makes me feel anxious and scared, and im truly sorry tang bingbing looked apologetically at qian quan on the stage and delivered this line. well, isnt love turning into familiarity in the end? are you breaking up with me because of this reason? qian quans first time on stage showed a hint of youthful naivety. im sorry, thats not the kind of love i want. but i also dont want to hurt you, and i certainly dont want you to hate me. (silence) alright then, ill let go. ill give you your freedom. after all, when we got together in the first place, i promised you that i would do anything to make you happy, even if that thing is breaking up with you. (the leading actress looked at the supporting actor with gratitude and a deep gaze.) lets hug one last time as a farewell hug. (the leading actress and the supporting actor embraced, his hands gently caressing her back, his nose inhaling the scent of her hair, filled with attachment and reluctance.) in the audience, ding linlang watched the performance on stage with an expressionless face, hearing two girls next to her chatting in hushed tones. i realized that having qian quan play this role is really lacking in convincing power. which girl would be willing to let go of such a first-love boyfriend? if she doesnt want him, she can give him to me! thats why bingbing added this hugging scene. well. but qian quan is really acting well. its so interesting. its somewhere between awkward and genuine. a little more, and hed be a professional actor; a little less, and itd be too artificial. haha, i agree. after i retire from acting, ill get him to play the male lead. and then add passionate scenes? youre so wild. at most, just add some hugging and kissing scenes like that after a while, qian quans performance ended, and he quietly came down from the stage, finding ding linlang and asking, how was it? how did i do in the performance? dont bother me. ding linlang continued watching the stage performance and didnt acknowledge qian quan. not until the rehearsal was over and they left the auditorium did ding linlang finally break the silence and start speaking. it seemed she had been lost in thought. why didnt you give me some feedback? qian quan asked curiously. im a bit annoyed right now. whats wrong? qian quan inquired, then realized, oh. what oh? are you on your period? ding linlang stopped and looked at qian quan, saying, qian quan, sometimes i find your emotional intelligence really lacking! whats bothering you then? tell me, ill help you feel better. ding linlang sighed helplessly, walked a little ahead, and said, its about the new novel. stuck with the writing? yeah. is there a specific plot point thats causing the block? tell me, maybe i can analyze it for you. ding linlang didnt answer right away. after a while, she asked, hey, qian quan, why did you agree to play such a humble role? its just a cameo for a newcomer. mainly to get familiar with the stage. the role itself doesnt matter. at least i have lines to say. in film and television, they would call it a guest actor.'' i think youre overthinking. its alright. didnt you see? i have a hugging scene with the female lead. ding linlang chuckled coldly and said, to be honest, i dont really like this play. it feels like it has a common problem with those trendy urban romance films and shows-too fixated on the coriander theory, unrealistic, not grounded. whats the coriander theory? its like when a guy and a girl have a difference in preference, such as one liking coriander while the other doesnt. in films and shows, it symbolizes their incompatibility. many screenwriters these days use this theory to set up character relationships. its just being lazy. ding linlang criticized. qian quan nodded and said, listening to you, it does make sense. people who can eat together and have fun together are usually friends. for relationships between men and women ding linlang glanced at him and said, firstly, they have to be able to sleep together. then comes alignment of values and all that. so profound! stop flattering me. well, i cant help it. what if your novel becomes a hit and gets adapted into a tv show? i might just have to ask you for a role. getting a role in my novel isnt that easy. im different from other actors, you know? im willing to follow the unwritten rules of the original author, like late-night script guidance, pretending to be a couple on valentines day, accompanying for meals, drinks, and singing. i have no issues with any of that. in the entertainment industry, i understand that i have to give to receive! ding linlang finally showed a slight smile and said, with so many fresh faces to choose, why would i choose you? oh, i thought youd choose those pretty girls. its a possibility. as they chatted, they left the campus. qian quan accompanied ding linlang to the subway station before heading back. before parting, ding linlang asked qian quan, in that play, you had a line: love will eventually turn into familial affection. do you agree with that? qian quan shook his head with a smile, not really. love and familial affection can never be equated. love is intense, while familial affection is enduring. love is possessive, whereas familial affection can be shared. many people mistake love that has lost its passion for familial affection. right, ding linlang nodded in agreement. are you saying that qian quan has joined not only the chinese chess club, basketball club, and drama club but also the martial arts club? li zihe, who had just returned from school to the martial arts center, was on the phone with someone. okay, ill check online. li zihe hung up the call, opened a short video app, and searched for qian quan. numerous results popped up, all related to that popular video. he quickly found the original video posted by bai yuanzhi. he clicked to watch it. ever since his father had confirmed that the setup was just a misunderstanding, he had stopped suspecting qian quan. however, considering that his sister might occasionally interact with him in the future, he still wanted to know more about him. but contrary to qian quans claim, he didnt tap into the familys network to thoroughly investigate him. he simply asked a friend from seacoast normal university to inquire casually. then he discovered that qian quan was clearly an active participant in various student clubs, either being good at socializing or truly excelling in a wide range of areas. this video seemed quite ordinary at first glance, with qian quan playing the role of a supporting character. it aligned with the information zhao baiyu had revealed about him having recently started learning wing chun. it wasnt until he saw the scene where qian quan was thrown and landed after flipping in the air that his expression suddenly turned serious. that move being able to execute such a move seamlessly could be attributed to three possibilities. first, qian quan was an expert who could effortlessly perform such a move. second, bai yuanzhis tai chi skills had reached a level where she could execute such fluid movements. third, it was a special effect, enhanced through post-production. he watched the video again, trying to find some clues, but couldnt discern anything conclusive. after contemplating for a moment, he shared the video in a martial arts enthusiasts chat group, tagging a few wing chun experts, and asked, could you please help evaluate the skill level of this young mans wing chun? soon, there was a reply from someone named jinmens number one, saying, ive seen this video, and if no special effects were added, this young mans seeking bridge move is definitely well-practiced. li zihe asked, is it possible for someone to reach this level in three months? jinmens number one responded, impossible! absolutely impossible! if someone can achieve this level in three months, then all my years of practice would be like a joke. Chapter 40 translator: inschain editor: inschain after receiving input from the experts, li zihe communicated with his junior zhao baiyu and shared with her the information about his sisters friendship with qian quan. he also expressed his concern. zhao baiyu said, in november, there will be an intercollegiate newcomer competition in azure bay. if he participates, ill give it a try. okay. but, i still choose to trust my own judgment and intuition. when i first met him, he was definitely a beginner. if there really was such a martial arts master in my hometown, how could there be no news at all? li zihe replied, i might have overthought it. he gained the upper hand in our meeting that day, and it made me suspicious these past few days. youre overthinking because you care too much. perhaps. let me know in advance when the newcomer competition starts, and ill be there to support you. alright. on wednesday, guo hongyi finalized the roster for the 3+2 basketball match. there were five male players, including qian quan and guo hongyi himself. surprisingly, there were fifteen female sign-ups. guo hongyi screened out ten of them based on free throw tests. in the afternoon, guo hongyi took the team to the court for their first practice session. before the official training, guo hongyi first explained the rules to a few female players while qian quan demonstrated on the side. firstly, carrying the ball while running is a foul. you have to dribble while walking. also, once you stop dribbling, you cant continue the female students listened attentively, and one of them asked, what is offside then? thats soccer. basketball doesnt have offside. also, you cant use your feet to kick the ball in basketball. i see. lets continue it took guo hongyi about fifteen minutes to go through the basic rules of basketball. the female students indicated that they remembered. however, during the group training, except for two who already understood basketball, the other three played as they pleased. there were those who ran forward with the ball shouting, aggressively snatched the ball from the opponents hands, and pressed their arms against their opponents to defend ignoring rules and tactics for now, the girls outshined the boys in terms of aura and a belief in victory. in any case, several boys watched with a mixture of confusion and amusement. after finishing the daytime class training, in the evening, qian quan had to go to the basketball gym for the school teams practice and a friendly match against the visiting fudan university team. this match had been brewing since he returned from fudan university on saturday. the two games qian quan played at the fudan university basketball court had been talked about more and more mysteriously, affecting the morale of others. the fact that two key players from the fudan university team were humiliated by a freshman from seacoast normal university had become quite embarrassing. they were made to look like kindergarten kids in front of him. captain han xun thought it over carefully and decided to lead the team to visit seacoast normal university to reclaim their pride. after all, basketball was a team game of five players. even if qian quan was as formidable as the legends said, he couldnt single-handedly defeat their entire team. at worst, they could use a box1 strategy to lock him down. double-team him whenever he got the ball! before coming to seacoast normal university, the fudan university team had prepared three plans and six sets of tactics. however, they still missed one thing. on that day at the fudan university basketball court, qian quan held back and didnt give his all. and yes, basketball was indeed a team game of five players. but if there was one player who could activate the other four and coordinate the entire team, these five players could unleash a combat power beyond imagination. therefore, from the moment the game started, with not many spectators present, the tone for this match was already set. qian quan didnt attempt a shot in the first three minutes of the game, but he managed to deliver five assists and made two steals. as the opponents were planning to adjust their defensive strategy slightly, qian quan hit three consecutive shots, all of which went in. by the halfway point of the game, seacoast normal university was leading by 15 points, and the opponents began to show signs of restlessness, with their actions becoming more aggressive. the match was becoming more intense. the opposing center, who stood two meters tall, showed a fiery demeanor, shouting angrily at the defensive players after every score. in one offensive play by the fudan university team, the tall center received the ball and was about to make a layup, but suddenly, qian quan swiftly cut in, executed a fast counterattack, and scored. foul play! in his frustration, the tall center cursed. he cut the ball away very cleanly! yu liangce corrected. fine! so, this is how you want to play, huh? fine! the tall center was clearly agitated. in the subsequent offensive play by the seacoast normal university team, he watched as qian quan dribbled into the paint and easily got past him. just as qian quan was about to go for a one-handed layup, the tall center pushed his waist from behind. what the hell are you doing?! seacoast normal university teams other players quickly shouted to stop the situation. qian quan managed to put the ball in and adjusted his balance in an instant, stabilizing himself just as he was about to fall. if it were an ordinary player, they would have definitely taken a hard fall this time. getting up, without saying a word, qian quan walked through the crowd and swiftly pushed the tall center to the ground with a palm, causing him to slide back more than two meters. before he could get up, qian quan moved like a swallow skimming over the water, chasing him and pressing his knee on his chest, fist suspended above him. youre no good at basketball, and youre even worse at fighting. as the words fell, a punch landed on his nose. ah! the tall center let out a pained cry as blood gushed from his nose. qian quan! others hurriedly stepped forward to intervene. qian quan had already stood up, saying, using such career-ending moves on the basketball court, you dont deserve to play basketball. his punch just now hadnt used much force, serving as a warning. however, everyone was stunned by qian quans skill and presence. they hadnt expected him to be not only skilled at basketball but also fierce in fighting. seeing him about to leave, they automatically cleared a path for him. the tall center was also scared by qian quans actions, silently dealing with the nosebleed without saying a word. being two meters tall, he was easily pushed by qian quan, and when qian quans knee and fist suppressed him, he lost all courage to resist. it was too frightening. that scene was probably something he wouldnt forget for the rest of his life. from now on, whenever he considered starting a physical altercation on the court, he would remember that bitter punch. the visiting match eventually ended on a sour note. han xun felt deep regret; he had created an opportunity, but it ended up in a loss both in the game and reputation-wise. he was worried it would cast a bigger shadow over his team. the next morning, qian quan received an apology from han xun and the tall center. he didnt hold a grudge against them. for him, this incident had already turned a page last night, not something worth lingering on. his current concern was his fathers subject four driving test today. after achieving all three subjects with perfect scores, his dad aimed to obtain his drivers license by october and planned to pick up the car on october 1st. at 11 a.m., his dad hadnt shared any good news in their group chat, and the system unexpectedly gave him a notification. [ding! the system detects that your dad passed the c2 drivers license test, rewarding you with mastery in all vehicle classes!] in the next moment, it felt as if qian quan had put on a pair of ar glasses, entering a virtual driving space. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 The Car Is Here. Are You All Getting In? chapter 41: chapter 41 the car is here. are you all getting in? translator: inschain editor: inschain for qian quan, the recent rewards ceremony was undoubtedly an experience unlike any he had ever encountered, which was the newest version for him. his mind filled with surreal impressions, transporting him to a virtual driving space where every driving sensation felt incredibly real. with different car modes and various road conditions, he practiced over and over until he mastered them all, turning all the nuances into his knowledge. however, not much time had passed. with just a blink of an eye, he felt like an experienced driver. i didnt expect to get rewards for this, qian quan expressed his unexpected joy. at the same time, his curiosity was piqued by the systems rewards policy. qian quan thought to himself, if dad gets an extra reward, the system will give me an even bigger one. so, if dad finds five hundred thousand, then what would i get? [ding! the system detected an error! one warning issued!] what? is the system still online? [according to the original intent of dr. omega who designed this system, only additional rewards earned by your father through personal effort will be counted.] alright. qian quan realized the system wouldnt allow him to exploit this loophole. otherwise, a few cycles with his dad would set him on the path to financial freedom, and a few more would make him the richest person in the world. would the system eventually deciare bankruptcy if the circle went on and on? how would he responsibly spend these inexplicable and massive amounts of wealth? buy a few islands or repatriate the lost national treasures? qian quans thoughts were becoming increasingly wild, and he found himself amused. what he needed to consider now was how to smoothly gift his dad a car. on national day, he and ding linlang would be going home. initially, they planned to celebrate the mid-autumn festival and check up on the training program run by both their fathers. now that his dad had gotten his driving license, it was the perfect time to accompany him in buying a car. for a family like theirs, purchasing a car was a big deal. later on, as expected, his dad shared the news of his new driving license in their family chat group and on social media. got my drivers license! [proud emoji] mr. ding was unsurprisingly the first to like the post and commented, bmw or mercedes-benz? his dad honestly replied, ive been window-shopping mercedes-benz, bmw, and audi online. i could even throw in a couple of words about various luxury cars. but when its time for me to buy a car, ill first evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the three most common car brands before considering baojun, geely, and byd. qian quan gave a silent thumbs-up both in the family chat group and on social media. it seemed like for men, buying a car often carried with it a sense of fulfilling a dream. its an interesting phenomenon. when they are young, boys like toy cars. as they grow older, the toys get bigger, and eventually, theyre captivated by real cars. of course, even remote-controlled cars can keep them entertained for hours. this is somewhat parallel to their love for a particular cartoon from age 5 to 35. getting a drivers license is tricky. once you know it, its not difficult. if its difficult, it means that you dont know it. rocky, when you take your tests, pay attention to this: do more exercises about the theoretical exam and traffic safety and emergency situations handling test. these are easy if you practice enough. the main challenges are vehicle control and parking test and road driving test. dont be nervous. have your own rhythm new drivers often have a strong desire to share their driving test experiences. qian quan responded, got it. ill keep it in mind. for qian quan at the time, if he performed well on the theoretical exam and traffic safety and emergency situations handling test, he could immediately take the vehicle control and parking test and the road driving test. and it wasnt just for a c-class drivers license. he could go for any class of drivers license, and even a racing drivers license. the story unfolded during a rare coincidence where the mid-autumn festival and national day holidays overlapped, causing the holiday season to kick off on september 29th. on the evening of the 28th, qian quan and ding linlang arrived early at the high-speed train station. they planned to spend the night in a hotel nearby to catch the earliest train at 6 a.m. the next morning. they had no other choice. despite their best efforts to snag tickets, this was the only time slot they could get. they even attempted to book business-class seats without success. upon check-in at the hotel, which had a standard room with twin beds, the front desk kindly offered to switch them to a room with a larger single bed. qian quan turned to ding linlang and asked, what do you think? she shot him a glare. he chuckled and told the front desk, well keep this room. no need to change. for reasons perhaps related to ding linlangs increasingly longer hair, qian quan found himself experiencing an unusual emotion as they shared a room this time. his feelings wavered even more when she emerged from the bathroom after showering, dressed in her pajamas, with her wet hair framing her face and with a sweet scent in the air. most shockingly, qian quan found his eyes briefly drawn to the subtle curves of her chest. not particularly large, but they had their own contours. arent you going to blow-dry your hair? qian quan quickly dismissed his wandering thoughts. h ill towel-dry it first, ding linlang responded, toweling her hair. long hair is so hard to manage. qian quan laughed and reached for the remote to watch some tv. suddenly, ding linlang called out to him, qian quan. yeah? he looked at her. did you just glance at my chest? caught off guard, qian quan immediately denied it, 1 did not! dont accuse me falsely! talk the talk but cant walk the walk, huh, she retorted, heading back to the bathroom to dry her hair. thats a risky statement, just so you know! qian quan yelled after her. before long, ding linlang finished blow-drying her hair, and qian quan went off to freshen up. by 9:30 p.m., both were in bed. they had to wake up at 5 a.m. tomorrow, so they should go to bed early tonight. however, opportunities like this were rare for them, so naturally, they had to have a heart-to-heart chat before falling asleep. they discussed ding linlangs new book and shared their experiences and insights from a month of college life. soon enough, it was midnight. lets sleep. goodnight. goodnight. the room fell silent, except for the occasional sounds of passing cars outside the window. after what seemed like a few minutes, a soft voice broke the silence of the night. linglang. yes? h a pause of two or three seconds. goodnight. goodnight. the next day, ding linlang and qian quan arrived at the train station at 5:30 a.m. the station was already packed with people. they stood in line to enter the station and stood in line again to have their tickets checked. once they boarded the train, they sat down to continue their sleep. i stayed up late chatting with you last night; lend me your shoulder, will you? ding linlang said before resting her head on qian quans shoulder and falling asleep. as a result, she managed to sleep all the way to the destination, where qian quan finally woke her up. dragging their luggage, they took a bus from pearl town to riverside town, planning to transfer to another bus back to windsor town. however, while transferring at riverside bus stop, they ran into three familiar faces. the trio that had previously cornered qian quan at the kfc in riverside town: the bald man, the slim and short young man, and the handsome young man. the trio recognized qian quan almost instantly. the bald man moved closer with a smirking smile, what a coincidence! qian quan smiled back but said nothing. youre not close to liang wanjun, are you? after the kfc incident, they made inquiries with sun shaokang and found out that qian quan and liang wanjun didnt know each other well and had no shared connections or family ties. after that day, liang wanjun himself never troubled them again, not even sending a message through someone else. thus, that days event was likely a misunderstanding. yet, what confused them was at which point the misunderstanding had originated. h not really, qian quan admitted. so why did he help you that day? the bald man asked cautiously. i had an appointment to play chess with one of their hotel guests. he was probably there to fetch me on the guests behalf, qian quan explained patiently. oh, so thats why he asked you if you were there for a chess appointment! the bald man looked enlightened, exchanged a wordless glance with his two companions, and they all burst into laughter. what a mess this has turned into! and why did you go to sun shaokangs house? the slim and short young man asked. to give him a little scare, qian quan said with a smile. feeling more confident, the bald man, with a mixture of resentment and humor, pointed at qian quan and said, you son of before he could finish, his face was slapped hard. smack! it was quick and forceful. it was a resounding slap. this left the bold man stunned, with a throbbing head and a bleeding mouth. this slap is for the kfc incident, qian quan explained. d*mn! smack! before he could get the word out, the other side of his face was slapped. and this one is for today. his companions finally realized what was happening and lunged forward. qian quan kicked the slim and short young man away, grabbed the handsome young one by the shoulder, and threw him to the ground. before the bald man could react, qian quan swung his arm and knocked him down as well. in less than ten seconds, all three of them were down. the other passengers waiting for the bus hadnt even had time to step aside. everyone stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them. a young man with an impassive face swiftly took down three grown men. wincing and writhing on the ground in agony, the trio seemed unable or unwilling to get back up. from now on, dont use foul language in my presence, qian quan warned. just then, the bus arrived. ding linlang, who had been silently standing behind qian quan, gently tugged at his clothes. turning his head, qian quan gave her a warm smile and nodded. before boarding, he looked back at the three men still on the ground and asked, the bus is here. are you getting on or not? ignoring him, the three men remained sprawled on the ground as if they hadnt heard.. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Are You Getting Sentimental? chapter 42: chapter 42 are you getting sentimental? translator: inschain editor: inschain who exactly are those three? on the bus heading back to windsor town, ding linlang couldnt resist her curiosity after a brief silence. theyre friends of sun shaokang. i met them when 1 was working at kfc over the summer, qian quan didnt hide the truth. what did they want with you? qian quan chuckled, they probably wanted to teach me a lesson. at the time, i had no idea why. but after meeting with song xi at the bund, things started to become clear. but hes already in a relationship with song xi, ding linlang protested and then turned to qian quan, and you never told me. i didnt want you to worry, and the issue was already resolved by then. they thought i had connections with the manager of riverside hotel, backed off on the spot, and never bothered me again. then just now ding linlang caught herself, so, you intentionally clarified things with them? yes, qian quan looked straight into ding linlangs eyes with sincerity, i was concerned that theyd be too cautious to provoke me further. you know im generally mild-mannered and dont like starting fights. you just whooped those three guys. now, youre talking about being mild-mannered? qian quan grinned, im serious. by all logic, 1 should have taken them on as soon as i saw them, but i didnt. in fact, if they hadnt insulted me, 1 probably wouldnt have had a confrontation with them at all. so, they should really thank my father and the game of chess. what do you mean? learning to play chess from my father taught me some life lessons, which helped dissipate the growing aggressiveness in me due to my increased capabilities. you make it sound so dramatic. qian quan laughed. but youre not wrong. when a persons power or wealth grows to a point where it can satisfy all their current desires, those desires might distort, leading them down a twisted path. qian quan burst into laughter and nodded in agreement, thats why you can incorporate the dialectical relationship between mindset and power into the spiritual practice aspect in your new book. dont write about a protagonist who, after hundreds or thousands of years of training, is powerful enough to destroy the world but remains emotionally immature- someone whod want to bring the world down with them over failed romances. i mean, what did the world ever do to deserve that? i would never write a character like that. well. 1 believe you. as they chatted, the bus arrived in windsor town. first, they each went home to drop off their luggage and then met up again to visit the under-renovation training class venue. the space was provided by ding linlangs father, ding li, on the third floor of their familys furniture store. it covered 6o square meters and was partitioned into three rooms: a calligraphy and painting class, a chess class, and a poetry appreciation class. additionally, a reading corner and a relaxation area were set up. ive done some private research. calligraphy, painting, and poetry appreciation are fine, but chess isnt so popular with parents these days. they prefer to send their kids to learn the go. said qian wenlin, we may have to hire a go teacher later on. why dont you learn it yourself first and then teach it? ding li jokingly suggested. that wont work unless 1 get a rank certification, otherwise, parents wont be convinced, qian wenlin replied. then go take the test, ding li encouraged. speaking of which, ding linlang added, ive been thinking of learning the go myself lately. my chess skills cant catch up to qian quans anymore, so im feeling a bit discouraged. i want to make a comeback in the go. were pretty evenly matched in gomoku and animal chess, arent we? said qian quan. stop beating around the bush. are you willing to learn the go with me or not? why not? qian wenlin smiled, fine, lets learn it together. lets see who can get the rank certification first. with an amateur rank of 3 or 4, we could start teaching beginners. hearing that his father was also interested in learning, qian quan became even more enthusiastic, no problem, lets get started! that evening, the two families gathered to celebrate the mid-autumn festival as usual. yang yuhua was thrilled to see that ding linlang had started growing her hair long and she thought highly of ding linlangs recent appearance, you look so beautiful, even more so than those celebrities. seriously, is there any female celebrity out there who can match linlang? mom, youre exaggerating, qian quan commented. shut up! yang yuhua scolded. linking arms with yang yuhua, ding linlang said, leave him alone, mrs. qian. hes just jealous. 1 thought so, too. at the dinner table, the atmosphere was harmonious. the sheer joy on the parents faces upon their childrens return was unmistakable. they incessantly asked about their school life. yang yuhua couldnt hide her excitement when mentioning the viral short video that had made qian quan an overnight sensation. it wouldnt have gotten so popular if rocky didnt have such good looks. ive seen so many netizens praising him. ye yunlan added, with rockys good looks, becoming an internet celebrity would be no problem. qian wenlin said, dont mention it. yuhua has been acting like a maniac these past few days. she watches that video multiple times before going to bed every night and even goes through the comments. if she sees any negative ones, she starts arguing to make her point. does she really think the internet is a place for rational discussion? they criticize my son. of course, ill argue with them, yang yuhua retorted. mom, its okay to argue a bit but dont take it too seriously. its not worth it to make you angry, qian quan quickly advised. i know, some people online just like to cause trouble. i dont bother with them, said yang yuhua, revealing her experienced netizen status. later, they also discussed ding linlang joining the womens basketball team, qian quan winning a chess championship, and his involvement in drama club activities. both sets of parents felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction, seeing their children adapt so well and excel in college life. their children had indeed started to come of age. after discussing school matters, the conversation shifted to car buying. qian wenlin had a budget of around 100,000, mainly considering options among baojun, corolla, geely, and levin. lets go to an automobile dealership first and shop around. see which one offers the best deal, ding li suggested. yeah. ive also talked to my nephew about this. he advised me to get either a corolla or levin, mentioning that they hold their value well and are fuel-efficient. ding li laughed, exactly. hasnt someone said that when you drive these two kinds of cars, youre almost afraid to step on the gas? you dont want the fuel consumption to go above 7 liters per 100 kilometers, otherwise, its embarrassing to talk about it. lets go take a look at pearl town tomorrow. ive already asked my nephew to make some inquiries for me, qian wenlin added. after dinner, ding linlang wanted to go play basketball with qian quan and wait for the moon to rise. without delay, qian quan changed into his jersey and sneakers, pumping up the basketball. 111 go change. you can go ahead to the court and wait for me, ding linlang said. sure. qian quan took the basketball and headed to the court by himself. by then, the moon had already risen, peacefully hanging in the eastern sky and slowly ascending. upon reaching the court, qian quan put the basketball aside and sat on the bleachers. he took the time to tighten his shoelaces while enjoying the moonlight. soon, ding linlang arrived. clad in her basketball shoes and sports clothes she looked even taller. what are you doing, playing poet? ding linlang approached qian quan and teased him for his moon-gazing posture. yes, i was inspired to write a poem just now. read it aloud, ding linlang smiled, proud of her major in literature. putting on a dramatic air, qian quan theatrically recited. while i waited for you on the steps, only the moon passed by. ding linlang paused for three seconds before laughing, are you getting sentimental? with that, she picked up the basketball and walked toward the court. as she turned around, she glanced up at the moon and smiled.. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Southwest Phoenix” Lin chapter 43: chapter 43 southwest phoenix lin xiaohuang!1 the next day, before qian quan and his father set off for pearl town to look at cars, he secretly called his cousin. his cousin had opened a car parts shop in pearl town and also worked part-time at a local automobile trading center as an intermediary, helping connect customers and handling the purchase of used cars. hey, just be honest with me. if 1 have a budget of 150,000, whats the best value-for-money car i can buy from you right now? didnt uncle say the budget was 100,000? why is it 150,000 now? even if youve added an extra 50,000, theres no need to be in such a hurry, his cousin laughed. never mind what my dad said. just tell me, with a budget of 150,000, which car can get you the highest commission and give us the best value? if you buy from me, dont worry about my commission thats impossible. when we buy from you, on the one hand, we want to avoid pitfalls, and on the other hand, we want to boost your performance. alright, 1 get it. with a 150,000 budget, rhe geelystar is a good choice. its domestically produced but equipped with a volvo 2.0td engine with a 7dct combination and uses the mcpherson front suspension okay. stop right there! qian quan occasionally watched luxury car reviews in short videos. after all, everyone in those videos seemed to have a ferrari. but he only cared about the exterior design, interior screens, and special features like the starry roof. he had never seriously studied the technical specifications. he wondered if those who truly owned luxury cars cared about those details. did 1 lose you? occupational hazard, qian quans cousin laughed on the phone. just explain it in a way 1 can understand. okay, its a high-quality domestic sedan. and i can get the maximum commission from it. deal! qian quan trusted his cousin. i want to discuss something with you. later, you can recommend this car to my dad. regardless of the final price, deduct 50,000. ill transfer the money to you later. as for the contract and pitch, you can figure it out. but please, keep this a secret from me. buying a car from the automobile trading center was different from directly going to an automobile dealership. there was a lot more flexibility in the process. what do you mean? where are you getting all this money from? didnt you see the video shared in the love and unity family1 chat group? im sort of a celebrity now. ive joined the content creator team and have made new videos. the feedback is great. asking for an advance on my salary shouldnt be an issue. then why do you keep it a secrecy? its like a loan. if my parents knew, theyd disapprove. just help me out this once. 111 treat you to dinner later. his cousin hesitated for a moment, then said, okay, for your good intentions, i ll help you this time. great, see you later. after hanging up, qian quan sighed softly. he needed to start making money. he wanted to buy things for his parents openly and generously. in his imagination, he wouldve taken his father straight to the bmw dealership that day, swiped his card, and driven a beautiful car back home. he shouldnt have to be sneaking around just to get his dad a slightly better car. upon arriving in pearl town, they first visited the cousins shop. qian quan and his cousin exchanged a knowing glance. the cousin gave a slight nod, indicating that everything was under control. later, the cousin drove them to view cars. along the way, he took on rhe persona of an insider and recommended the geelystar to qian wenlin. he even fabricated an internal promotion for the national day. i have only one slot for this national day internal promotion. im not planning on buying a car anytime soon. so, uncle, it s up to you if you want it. with the same budget, you get a car worth 50,000 more. youre saying we can get a 150,000 car for under 100,000, right? itrs not second-hand, is it? qian quan voiced his disbelief. rocky, if you keep talking nonsense, i ll smack you. even if i was utterly unscrupulous, 1 wouldnt dare sell a used car as new to my uncle, the cousin feigned anger. qian wenlin also scolded qian quan, watch your words. im just concerned that my brother might be deceived, qian quan defended himself. dont worry. we collaborate directly with the automobile dealerships. ill inspect everything before handing over the car. therefore, qian quans father successfully set up the car purchase with their help. once at the dealership, qian wenlin repeatedly confirmed that transferring the promotional slot to another person wouldnt cause his nephew any issues. only then did he feel at ease signing the contract. after all the paperwork, insurance, and temporary plates, it was the cousin who took care of everything. qian wenlin only needed to sign the documents. in the end, it cost over 80,000. you can leave the car at my shop for now,11 the cousin said. wait until the holidays are over to get your permanent plates, apply the window film, and install the dash cam. or you could drive it home now and come back later to sort all that out. why cant we get the permanent plates now? qian quan, who was sitting in the passenger seat, asked. the vehicle registration office is on vacation, the cousin replied. oh, right, said qian quan. well leave the car at your shop then. sure. the three of them drove back. the cousin led the way, while qian wenlin followed behind in his new car, with his son tagging along. sitting in the passenger seat, qian quan had an intuition: driving this car would be a breeze for him. soon, they reached the cousin s shop. he joked, rocky, you see uncle driving his new car; dont you want to give it a try?11 qian quan chuckled. really want to try? a bit/ said qian quan. alright, you cant drive uncles new car, but you can take mine for a spin, the cousin said, showing interest. no, hes never driven before, qian wenlin immediately interrupted. its fine, uncle. ill take him to a nearby training ground for a few laps. he has to learn sooner or later. feeling a bit antsy, qian quan told his father, ill be careful, and got into the car with his cousin. not long after, they arrived at the training ground. the cousin parked the car and they switched seats. driving is actually very easy, easier than operating a tractor or riding a motorcycle. let me first show you before the cousin could finish, the car had already started moving. huh? the cousin looked at qian quan in astonishment. qian quan skillfully controlled the steering wheel and started driving around the training ground at a moderate pace. youre right. driving does seem pretty easy. qian quan said and then accelerated. hey, slowdown, rocky11 the cousin grabbed the armrest, both shocked and nervous. relax. ive got this, said qian quan. seeing that qian quan was indeed driving very steadily and skillfully, the cousin relaxed a little and asked. when did you learn to drive? i just picked it up while sitting next to my dad on the way here. what? the cousin gripped the armrest again. qian quan laughed and executed an almost perfect reverse parking maneuver. he then parked the car and turned off the ignition, under the watchful eyes of his cousin whose eyes were as big as saucers. rocky, whats going on here? i guess all that bumper car riding and video game driving paid off, said qian quan. you must have some kind of gift! the cousin looked at qian quan in disbelief, lighting a cigarette with trembling hands. hold on, i need a smoke to calm my nerves. lin xiaohuang crushed the cigarette butt into the ashtray on her nightstand, leaned back against the headboard, and let out a soft sigh as she stared at the ceiling. people found it exceedingly difficult to resist their deepest physical and emotional desires, be they men or women. set the men aside first. for example, a woman wanted to find a new partner after divorce or widowhood. beyond the need to rebuild a family , there was another reason shed never dare utter aloud. so, when individuals reverted to their primal instincts, they all became mere mortals, regardless of how glamorous or successful they might appear to the world. her philosophical musings were interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening. a young man, handsome and well-built with an exposed upper body, walked out. his abs were well-defined, almost as if chiseled by a knife. ms. lin the young man spoke softly, revealing a charming smile as he approached the bed. if you come any closer to this bed, 111 cut you where it hurts the most, lin xiaohuang said indifferently. the expression on the young mans face changed abruptly. he stopped and took a step back. lin xiaohuang reached into her nightstand and threw a bundled stack of money at him. go. the young man caught the money and quickly said, thank you, ms. lin, before hurrying to put on his clothes and leave. once he had left, lin xiaohuang scoffed at herself, took out a stylish and slender cigarette, and was about to light it. she suddenly remembered a youn taoist she had met some time ago. he had introduced himself as zhang xiang er from wu dang mountain. tin zhang xianger from wudang mountain, a low-profile expert, but in the secular world, im the second young master of nature company, a rather mundane trust-fund kid. his claim of expertise wasnt unfounded. after all, there were few who could snatch a cigarette from her. as for being a trust-fund kid, it also seemed likely given that nature company was indeed a corporate giant. none of that mattered, though. the most important was that he had been the first man to advise her to quit smoking. over the years, whenever she felt like smoking, the men around her had always offered a light. only he had snatched her cigarette away, saying, smoking is harmful to your health! little did he know, the packaging and printing of those cigarettes were part of her own companys core business, which also produced two leading smoking-cessation products named linger and fragrant and lovely. so whether he was an expert or a rich kid, their fate ended there. she saw no potential between them. what use did she have for a wealthy playboy skilled in martial arts? as for love, it had been buried alongside her deceased husband five years ago. lost in these thoughts, her phone suddenly rang. it was a call from liang xingchen, her companys chief financial officer. hello, xingchen, lin xiaohuang put away her distractions and focused on work. a refined voice came through the phone, ms. lin, ive reached an agreement with wen zhengxing: 2.6 billion, 39%. but he has a condition. what is it? he insists on signing the contract with you, in person. so, he wants me to go to azure bay, right? yes.1 alright, lets do it. itll give me an excuse to take qinqin to disney, said lin xiaohuang. sounds good, ill let him know. after hanging up, lin xiaohuang got dressed, performed her ablutions, and left the phoenix club. entering the new energy sector was a strategic move for her company, and they were already late to the game- no time to waste now. she had to continue expanding the company her husband had left her, without skipping a beat. she owed it not only to her husbands trust but also to the title the industry had given her. the southwest phoenix.. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Are You the Reinforcement Sent by Li Zhiyi?! chapter 44: chapter 44 are you the reinforcement sent by li zhiyi?! translator: inschain editor: inschain in the afternoon, qian quan and his father returned home from pearl town. when they switched vehicles in riverside town, qian quan spontaneously decided to visit his old high school and told his father to go home without him. since it was a national day holiday, the campus was fairly deserted, offering a perfect chance for a quiet stroll. perhaps because he had only recently graduated, qian quan felt familiarity rather than nostalgia while roaming the school grounds. as he walked from the academic building toward the male dormitory, he passed by the basketball court beneath it. someone was playing basketball, and among them was a familiar figure. zheng daokai. he was a high school classmate who had chosen to retake his college entrance exams after not getting into his desired university. qian quan hurried over and upon seeing zheng daokai make a successful shot, clapped and cheered. nice shot! zheng daokai paused for a moment, recognizing qian quan. what are you doing here? i came to see you. really? zheng daokai said in a skeptical voice. do you want to join us for a game? qian quan was about to decline when another player, drenched in sweat, raised his hand and said, take my place. im out of steam. then he left the court. come on up, zheng daokai beckoned. left with no choice, qian quan stepped onto the court as a substitute. he didnt go all out but even at his high school skill level, he was a strong player on this court. after finishing a game, zheng daokai and qian quan sat down to chat. your skills seem to have improved a lot, said zheng daokai. oh, so you could tell despite my efforts to hide it, qian quan replied. i was just kidding, said zheng daokai, rolling his eyes. but seriously, you guys in college seem to be different than we were in the third year in senior high school. it feels like theres a wall between us now. well, you should call me sir. qian quan joked. get lost, zheng daokai retorted. as they chatted, zheng daokai suddenly asked, have you heard that qian jiamin is taking a leave of absence? what? seems like you dont know. her mom had surgery and borrowed a lot of money. qian jiamin is planning to take a year off to work and repay the debt. stunned, qian quan was at a loss for words. thinking that such a brilliant student who had made it into peking university would have to pause her education like this, qian quan didnt know what would happen to her later. it was simply heartbreaking. yet, he realized he had no authority to comment or intervene in such matters. had qian jiamin initially asked him for a loan, he would certainly not have refused. not only was she ding linlangs roommate and one of her few good friends from high school, but as a class leader, she had always been kind to him as well. on the day when sun shaokang and song xi publicly announced their relationship, she was the one who comforted him. on his birthday, she not only sent him early birthday wishes but also gave him heartfelt advice. may your future be worry-free and your life full of joy; even if youre swimming against the tide, may you never drift along aimlessly. now that her future faced uncertainty, he genuinely wanted to offer what help he could. after talking with zheng daokai for half an hour, qian quan decided to head back. before catching the bus, he took a detour to riverside hotel to check in on his chess buddy, mr. huang. the moment mr. huang, who was cleaning up at chess in the hotel lobby, saw qian quan, he was elated. he immediately invited him for a game and delightfully lost. losing has snapped me back to reality. otherwise, i wouldve thought i was invincible. since we met today, i have something for you, mr. huang said as he led qian quan inside. what is it? just to be clear, i cant accept anything valuable, qian quan said seriously. its an old book, nothing valuable, mr. huang responded with a grin. upon entering the room, mr. huang went to the tea table, opened a drawer, and took out a book as thick as a mobile phone, titled human nature. take it and have a read. you can return it to me or baiyu whenever youre done, or keep it for yourself, he said. qian quan took the book and expressed his gratitude. thank you, mr. huang. ill return it once ive finished reading. mr. huang casually waved his hand. i should head home now, qian quan announced. sure, mr. huang didnt insist on him staying. ill be at azure bay in late october to watch baiyus martial arts competition. we can play chess then if youre free. sounds good, qian quan replied. and then he left riverside hotel. mr. huang watched him leave and felt that a trace of puzzlement arose within him. why do 1 sense something similar to that of master gong xuanzhu emanating from him? could it be that reaching the level of a chess grandmaster also cultivates such a presence? he is becoming more and more interesting. once back in windsor town, qian quan immediately sought out ding linlang, who was busy writing, to discuss how they might assist qian jiamin. ive known about it for a while, ding linlang wasnt surprised, and ive already advised her not to drop out of school. did she listen to you? yep, ding linlang nodded. how did you convince her? qian quan was curious. after hesitating a bit, ding linlang said, 1 lent her 80,000, to be repaid after her graduation. what? she definitely doesnt want you to know about this, so dont ask her, okay? why wouldnt she want me to know? ding linlang stared at qian quan for a few seconds before finally saying, qian jiamin has feelings for you. dont you know? what? qian quan was genuinely stunned. i dont know it! qian jiamin was even more of an academic superstar than ding linlang! even geniuses have romantic feelings, huh? and she actually had feelings for someone who was so common! you dont know anything, qian quan, ding linlang snorted. qian quan was speechless. enough about that. sit on the sofa and wait for me a bit. once i finish this chapter, lets go for some bbq and beers, she said. sure. qian quan lounged on the sofa and took out his phone. he opened the app journey of chinese chess and saw that one nine equals nine had invited him five times. he accepted the invitation, and surprisingly, the other party was online. without exchanging any words, they set up their chessboard and began the game. predictably, it was a draw game. handshake for peace, a golden sign read, promising fair play for all ages and genders. unsurprisingly, one nine equals nine had set up the board for a second game. playing chess with her never really had an endgame. since qian quan had nothing better to do, he continued to play. however, after just seven or eight moves, he felt something was off. had someone else taken over? qian quan sat upright and his expression turned serious. after a few more moves, he was 100% certain the player on the other end had changed. li zhiyis chess style was sharp and tricky, coupled with tremendous computational power. but she had a stubborn streak. especially against an equal opponent, she tended to persevere- unyielding and relentless. she would never give up. if one route failed, she would try another. but this one nine equals nine played rapidly and it was so calm that it was almost aloof. it was like an emotionless version of li zhiyi-in other words, an even stronger li zhiyi. qian quans eyes brightened. he felt as though he had met the strongest opponent since the inception of chess. the other party showed no emotions, was not influenced by traditional tactics, and, most crucially-made no mistakes! qian quan felt he was performing at nearly 80% of his capability, his brain operating at full speed. deep-seated, intricate chess strategies became increasingly clear to him. after the 25th move, qian quan finally relaxed and made a brilliant move. he left a message. are you the reinforcement sent by li zhiyi? the other party hesitated. twenty seconds later, li zhiyi messaged, i concede. qian quan was taken aback and quickly replied, why? its a draw game. just keep playing. li zhiyi said, it conceded. qian quan asked, who? li zhiyi answered, my reinforcement, two times nine. qian quan asked, is it an al? li zhiyi replied, yes, its still in training. its better than me, but not as good as you. shaking his head, qian quan chuckled and marked the game as a draw from his advantageous position. it might not be better than you, just more level-headed, he replied. li zhiyi asked, would you like to help me train it? its a quick learner. recalling the al chess player in the go world, qian quan became somewhat intrigued. he wondered what it would be like once fully trained. he replied, sure, lets look into it another day. i have some al-related questions to ask you as well. li zhiyi said, when the holiday is over, ill come see you. qian quan said, okay. the interaction ended abruptly at that point. qian quan had grown accustomed to li zhiyis mannerisms: no greetings when showing up, no goodbyes when leaving. linglang, what do you think the future of al holds for human civilization? qian quan asked on a whim. it will likely replace many industries but also provide new opportunities and directions for humanity, ding linlang responded offhand. qian quan looked at the girl writer whose fingers danced over the keyboard and mused aloud. i wonder if there will be an al tool in the future that can accurately and skillfully convert text into images, even videos, and make it accessible to everyone. people could then use it to create serialized comics and videos. it would operate under a first free, then paid model, similar to online literature. for example, your current new book could simultaneously be adapted into comics, animated series, or even live-action dramas without worrying about being heavily modified, thus staying authentic or original. ding linlang paused and thoughtfully replied, sure, current al will eventually evolve to that level, but its hard to say when. but think about it: your vision would render many people jobless. the advancement of technology should also adhere to the developmental rules of human society, shouldnt it? qian quan nodded, nevertheless, i still believe that well see a time when everyone can create comics and short videos. ding linlang said, perhaps, but i suspect the platform would face even more regulation issues than online literature does now. at this point, online writer forest gazer caught wind of the hype, or perhaps showed signs of stress from scrutiny. qian quan said, weil, they could always set up some content rules, right? even if theres an adult version, it could be limited to those 22 years old or above. and maybe restrict the usage to one hour per day. trust me, more than 90% of adults wont even use up the hour. theyll probably give up on creating within 20 minutes, maybe even start contemplating a harsh report. ding linlang said, you seem quite experienced in this area. qian quan replied, what experience do 1 have? dont make things up. youre defaming me ding linlang laughed.. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45 If Dad Learns It, I Master It!_i chapter 45: chapter 45 if dad learns it, i master it!_i translator: inschain editor: inschain at night bbq. qian quan and ding linlang chose an outdoor table, which by this time was already laden with an assortment of dishes. lamb skewers, beef skewers, pork belly, chicken gizzards, chicken wings, garlic chives, eggplant and six cans of snowflake beer to top it off. ding linlang devoured a skewer of lamb and cracked open a can of beer herself. she raised her can for a toast with qian quan. the whole notion of maintaining a ladylike demeanor was completely thrown out the window; instead, she emanated a spirited and carefree aura. this reminded qian quan of chapter forty-nine in dream of the red chamber, where shi xiangyun indulges in venison and guzzles down copious amounts of wine, all while effortlessly composing poetry. truly, she embodied the essence of a hero in her own right and a person of scholarly elegance. especially after recently learning about ding linlangs honorable support for qian jiamin, qian quans admiration and respect for her reached a new peak. how about we go to disney the tuesday after national day? im sure it wont be too crowded then, ding linlang suggested. sure, ill handle the ticket booking, qian quan declared, pulling out his phone. high-speed light wheel, leaping horizon, and pirate ship are must-rides. and we need to catch the fireworks. everything else, well play by ear. qian quan had researched what to do during the summer break. i want to ride the carousel, ding linlang chimed in. of course, qian quan responded with a smile. as the two were talking, they suddenly heard bursts of laughter coming from a nearby table. turning their heads, they saw a group of six or seven men engaged in a boisterous drinking game, seemingly part of the local rough crowd. with shaved heads or dyed blond hair and flushed faces, everyone had a cigarette in hand, making a loud racket while puffing clouds of smoke. this sort of scene was all too common at bbq joints. excuse me, could you guys keep it down a bit? we have a child with us, and we just got him to sleep, a young woman courageously approached them. well be leaving soon. the woman seemed to be there with her sister, who was holding a toddler. the burly bald man glanced at them, nodded, and said, alright. he waved his hand and called to his mates, quiet down, everyone. put out your cigarettes. obediently, the men extinguished their cigarettes and continued their games but at a notably lower volume. the bald man turned back and said, sorry, we didnt notice the kid. no worries, thank you, the young woman exhaled, visibly relieved, and retreated to her seat. meanwhile, qian quan and ding linlang continued to sip beers and munch on skewers. after downing two cans of beer, ding linlang started eating luosi and slurring her speech a little, and her laughter became easily triggered. she even found her jokes hilarious. qian quan, noticing that she was near her limit, took away the third can in front of her. thats enough for you. i wanna drink! give it back! youve got your own, why are you taking mine? ding linlang wasnt exactly drunk, just a tad tipsy. one more at most, qian quan said in a tone that brooked no argument. fine, then. after finishing their skewers, they noticed the moon was already high in the sky. they decided to take a stroll to aid digestion. ding linlang casually draped her arm over qian quans shoulder, matching her strides with his. qian quan wore a smile but said nothing. they walked in the moonlight, comfortably silent. in a good relationship, theres always no need for constant chatter. sometimes, shared silence was just as meaningful. and then they awkwardly ran into ding linlangs parents, ding li and ye yunlan, who were also out for a stroll. mr. ding; mrs. ding, qian quan greeted, trying to keep his composure. ding lis expression remained neutral. ye yunlan smiled and asked, done with the bbq? yep. how much did you guys drink? ding li questioned. qian quan answered truthfully, six cans in total. linlang had two and a bit. ding linlang added, 1 could have had three, but he snatched one away. ding li glanced at qian quan with an approving good on you look. well, you two head back. we still have more strolling to do. alright. and so, the two pairs went their separate ways. after walking a little further, ye yunlan chuckled, dont you think the two make a good match? ding li sighed softly, we watched rocky grow up. hes definitely more reliable than others. but seeing our daughter so close to a boy just irks me. it makes me want to punch someone. ye yunlan chuckled, well, my dad never punched you, did he? ding li said, thats because im so exceptional. ye yunlan retorted, shameless. i bet rocky will turn out better than you. ding li replied, how much worse can he get? just look at how devoted our daughter is to him. our furniture store will probably end up being his one day. ye yunlan laughed, who says he even wants your furniture store? the couple continued walking and chatting. after dropping off ding linlang, qian quan went home with mr. huang and the book, human nature*. mr. huang looked like the average guy next door with nothing particularly remarkable about him. however, he often stunned people with his insightful comments, giving off a sense of unfathomable depth. the book he gifted must have something special. flipping through the table of contents, qian quan saw that the book was divided into three parts: general outline, volume one physiognomy, and volume two qi observation. initially, qian quan tried to read the general outline, only to find it was written in an esoteric form of classical chinese. given his current level of understanding, having just completed the college entrance exams, he could only comprehend about 60-70% of it. the text generally discussed various aspects of humans, such as heaven, earth, mankind, and ones innate nature. it also talked about how people conceal their true selves through practices like remaining calm and focused, attaining extreme simplicity, and letting things take their natural course. he sensed the text was advocating for a state of being that is uncomplicated, harmonious with the world, and unified in spirit return to ones most genuine self. in any case, his understanding was somewhat superficial. to fully grasp the text, he would need to consult reference books. so, he skipped the general outline and continued reading further. volume one: physiognomy. it was much more straightforward. it discussed how to discern a persons qi and fate based on various aspects like eating habits, walking style, eyebrows, eyes, sleep posture, sitting, voice, back, navel, hands, belly, and waist, among other things. for example, when it comes to eating, those who eat little but gain weight are of a calm temperament; those who eat a lot but stay thin are restless. those who chew their food like a cow are destined for wealth and prosperity; those who eat like a sheep will enjoy honor and respect; those who peck at their food like a bird are destined for poverty; those who are constantly looking around while eating will face poverty and hunger. similarly, when it comes to walking, those who stride like a tiger are destined for wealth and prosperity; those who waddle like a duck or goose will amass great wealth in their homes; those who move with the speed of a deer will toil all their lives; those who slither like a snake are malicious; those who tread like a cow will live a life of richness and longevity; those who step like a crane are blessed with good fortune. various interpretations also exist for features like the face, limbs, and body. for instance, long eyebrows that extend beyond the eyes signify wealth; sleeping in a curled position like a dog is considered an excellent omen; a voice that sounds like a broken barrel is associated with wealth; arms that hang below the knees denote an extraordinary hero; a long and wide waist ensures a lifelong salary, and so on. after a cursory glance, qian quan felt that the skills described in the first volume were more like reverse engineering cause and effect. for example, someone who looks rather plain and even a bit unsophisticated can immediately appear tall and handsome the moment they display generosity. volume two: qi observation. it took a more mystical turn. it was divided into the essence, momentum, aura, and fate encapsulated by qi. if one could grasp the content of this volume, one would be able to instantly discern a persons social status, wealth, condition, fortune, and destiny. some sections of this volume also answered questions he had recently pondered. for instance, a persons qi could be altered by external factors wealth, power, strength, and even ones mental state could change ones qi. in short, appearances could be deceiving when ones qi is in favorable alignment. once upon a time, qian quan breezed through an entire book and found it to be quite intriguing. he thought that if he could master even half of its content, he could set up a street stall at the pedestrian overpass to offer advice. if he learned the book in its entirety, he would surely become a highly sought-after guest among many influential people. qian quan decided to start by translating the general outline section, written in classical chinese, of the book. to do so, he would need to borrow his fathers sea of words dictionary. what do you need the sea of words? for? i took it to my school office, said qian wenlin, who was engrossed in a tv show. qian quan showed the book, called human nature, to his father and said, 1 want to translate this book. do you really need sea of words for it? qian wenlin, a language teacher himself, took the book confidently. five minutes later, qian wenlin asked seriously, couldnt you find the translations on the internet? some terms either cant be found or dont seem to match when they are, qian quan explained. well. ill go to my office tomorrow. some of these characters stump me too, qian wenlin conceded. alright. ill keep the book with me for now and take a look, his father added. okay. did you really lend him the book, dad? zhao chunjia asked that evening when he was talking on the phone with mr. huang. he was surprised to hear that his father-in-law had lent qian quan a book he had treasured for years. yes, the book is like a math textbook. you either get it, or you dont. how much one can learn and grasp depends on fate and talent, said mr. huang. i know youve told me that before. im just surprised you actually lent it to him. lending books has a perk: people have to return them. when they do, conversations naturally occur. this mutual give-and-take creates a good bond. for me, its going with the flow; for him, its the icing on the cake, wenlin explained. enlightening, indeed. the next day. qian wenlin took the book to his school office early in the morning. upon arrival, he didnt immediately pick up the sea of words. instead, he sat down to delve into the book right there. meanwhile, qian quan helped out at ding linlangs furniture store. at around 11 a.m., as he was showing a soon-to-be-married couple some wardrobes and dressing tables, a notification sound from a mysterious system resounded in his mind out of nowhere: [ding! your father has started learning the basics of physiognomy. you are rewarded with the skill of qi observation..] Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 No Needli chapter 46: chapter 46 no needli translator: inschain editor: inschain qian quan hardly had time to be astonished. he felt as though the world before his eyes suddenly became crystal clear. it was like someone with nearsightedness suddenly putting on a pair of glasses with just the right prescription. and then everything returned to normal. in his mind, knowledge related to various forms of qi naturally appeared as if they had been stored in some hidden corner and were suddenly remembered. anger, pride, opaque, grief, resentment, flourishing, evil, killing, righteous, courage, wealth, talent, joy, boastful, grand all these qi ultimately pointed to ones luck or flow of luck. once he understood these connections, it didnt seem mysterious anymore. it was like how in everyday life, people could occasionally rely on their intuition and experience to gauge someone elses fortune or luck. people who sulk and sigh all day generally dont attract much good luck. they are effectively pushing their fortune away. conversely, those who are spirited and vivacious are more likely to come across good fortune. in some ways, this is luck in itself. do you offer home delivery if we buy from your store? the man in the young couple asked. we offer free delivery within windsor town. outside of the town, we charge a delivery fee. qian quan replied to the man, observing the prospective groom intently. he sensed an air of great joy emanating from the man, and his energy flow appeared stable and robust. it seemed that for the next three to five years, the mans luck would remain favorable. we live in qianxu town, not outside windsor town, the man added. no problem, said qian quan. if youre buying both a cabinet and a vanity, well throw in two chairs for free. perhaps they found qian quan trustworthy or maybe they just didnt want to shop around any longer, the couple placed an order for a wardrobe, and a vanity, and even added a computer desk to their purchase. good looks certainly give you an advantage. if mr. ding and i were the ones helping them, theres no way they would have placed the order so quickly. ye yunlan said cheerfully after the couple had left. im not as professional as you or mr. ding, qian quan humbly replied. professionalism doesnt matter that much when youre selling wardrobes and vanities, said ye yunlan. linlang will have lunch at her grandmothers, so ive ordered food from cuihua hotel. once mr. ding finishes the deliveries, you two can both have a drink. qian quan agreed with a smile and took a moment to evaluate mrs. dings energy flow. he was delighted to find that mrs. ding would enjoy a smooth sailing fortune for the next few years, not to mention her remarkable aura of prosperity. it seemed like good days were ahead for her. this was a fact obvious to anyone who looked, which didnt need him to find out. after 12:30 p.m., mr. ding returned, and they all had lunch together. mr. ding had no deliveries scheduled for the afternoon, so he and qian quan enjoyed some wine. normally, qian quan didnt drink much, but the alcohol was hitting him until mr. ding snapped him out of it. rocky, if you ever dare to mistreat linlang, ill never forgive you! i would never mistreat linlang, qian quan assured him. 1 wouldnt allow anyone else to do so either! good on you! you speak like a man. 1 knew 1 hadnt misjudged you, mr. ding praised. later, qian quan mentioned this conversation to ding linlang via wechat. she responded with a sweating emoji. it seems like both our parents are quite certain well end up together. i think so, qian quan replied. isnt love usually about fighting against the world, disregarding the objections of parents, breaking social norms, and even severing ties with family to be together? or maybe its like we were promised to each other since we were children, and then 1 come to cancel the engagement as an adult. you point at me and say, dont underestimate me just because im young and poor! they both laughed. they steered the conversation away from the serious topic. that afternoon, qian quan stayed home, delving into a book his father had translated called human nature: general outline. then, an unexpected visitor came to the door. sun shaokang. sun shaokang had found his way to qian quans home. he even brought a big fruit basket this time. it was clear that his three buddies had spilled the beans about the riverside bus stop incident. last time you visited me, i wasnt there. unfortunately, i missed you. as a gesture of goodwill, ive come uninvited today, hoping for reconciliation. after all, we were high school classmates and even secured the runner-up position in a basketball tournament together. its not like we should harbor animosity forever. sun shaokang said earnestly. i dont have any ill feelings toward you, qian quan responded. he meant it. upon learning that sun shaokang had also been manipulated, and having already beaten up those three guys, as long as sun shaokang didnt provoke him again, qian quan had no reason to continue the feud. but reconciliation? not happening. no hard feelings, but no room for making up either. thats good to hear! sun shaokang breathed a sigh of relief. im planning a spicy fish head dinner at riverside town. im inviting all the guys from our class to join. would you honor us with your presence? ill pass. like i said, i have no ill feelings toward you, but i dont want to dine with you either, qian quan replied straightforwardly. sun shaokang didnt seem to mind. after a pause, he said, ive decided to break up with song xi. i feel like shes using me and never really liked me. as for my behavior the other day, it was utterly stupid and childish. 1 hope you wont hold it against me. i dont, but if i were to join you for dinner and drinks that day, how could 1 face my past self? qian quan retorted. understood, sun shaokang nodded. my invitation today wasnt to seek forgiveness, but to thank you for not pummeling me to the point that my mother wouldnt recognize me. qian quan chuckled internally, fie had thought of using force back then but didnt have the means. now that he had the means, the desire was gone. no need anymore. youre welcome, qian quan smiled. you should go now. then, in the future? lets not cross paths. sun shaokang hesitated for a moment, then nodded. alright, 1 wont disturb you any longer. with that, he promptly left. once back in his car, sun shaokang didnt feel humiliated; rather, he felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. it was as though qian quan was gazing down at him from a distant, lofty position. qian quan neither treated him as an old classmate nor as a rival worth noting. had a few days in college elevated his mindset so significantly? and where did he get that terrifying strength from? while pondering these questions, sun shaokang suddenly remembered the reservation of the spicy fish head from qiandao lake which cost him 888. he quickly called the restaurant manager. manager lv, tell old fan to cancel the spicy fish head. we wont be needing it. sun shaokangs unexpected visit may have surprised qian quan, but it also served as a full-circle moment for his high school years. qian quan had even briefly assessed him backed by dependable parents, with a stroke of average luck over the next few years, and susceptible to some romantic misadventures. his parents were good people. but sun shaokang didnt have extraordinary fortune. on the 5th, qian quan and ding linlang returned to school ahead of schedule. there was no other option. qian quan was involved in too many clubs, each with its own set of activities. he had drama club rehearsals, basketball club games, basketball team practices, and the chess club was gearing up for a master challenge tournament. additionally, on the loth, which was a tuesday, he and ding linlang had plans to go to disney.. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 A Gentle Smile, A World chapter 47: chapter 47 a gentle smile, a world enthralled 1 translator: inschain editor: inschain at 568 funing street in the jingyi district of azure bay, there was an entertainment club called funing one. the club had three floors. the first floor was an open lobby with a varying minimum spending limit for seating areas, ranging from 388 to 1,888. it was a place where urban professionals could relax after a day of work. the second floor was filled with ktv private rooms-28 in total. these rooms came in small, medium, and large sizes, with the largest including three presidential suites, popular for corporate team-building events and socialite gatherings. the minimum spending for these rooms ranged from 2,888 to 18,888, with a flat 15% tip. each private room was served by dedicated waitstaff, primarily female, who were required to have at least an associates degree, be between the ages of 18 and 28, and have a height between 165 and 175 cm. they were also required to speak fluent foreign languages. no other waitstaff were allowed inside the private rooms. the third floor was exclusively for the owner and was not open to the public. the owner of funing one was mr. huangs son-in-law and zhao baiyus father, zhao chunjia. at that moment, inside a tastefully decorated, ultra-private meeting room on the third floor of funing one, sat six individuals-five men and one woman. the woman appeared to be in her late twenties, with collarbone-length hair, elegantly thin eyebrows, and sparkling eyes that shone like diamonds. she was dressed in a red v-neck dress covered by a beige wool coat. sitting calmly and unswayed, she exuded a charm that could captivate any soul. due to her extraordinary beauty and the significance of her visit, she naturally became the focus of attention in the room. lin xiaohuang. hailing from the southwestern city of cloud city, lin xiaohuang was in azure bay to discuss an important investment opportunity. zhao chunjia played host to her and invited several influential business figures in azure bay, who were also members of funing ones exclusive third floor. upon hearing that ms. lin was coming to azure bay, 1 immediately cleared all my work schedules and social commitments. ive done everything but take a ritual bath and burn incense to purify myself. one person said, who was overweight, balding, and around fifty years old, as he looked at lin xiaohuang with eager eyes. what sincerity are you talking about? ive been celibate for a week, just to welcome our goddess with a clean and pure body. another one in his forties, sporting a large, elongated nose, nonchalantly added while lounging in his chair. upon hearing this, everyone else in the room burst into laughter. normally, these bosses presented themselves as composed, serious, and visionary figures- clearly the bedrock of society. yet, in private conversations, they were uninhibited and vulgar. mr. zheng and mr. xu! im flattered by your comments, lin xiaohuang, who was already accustomed to such scenes, responded with a smile and grace. mr. xu, known for his pronounced nose, feigned ignorance and said, what startled ms. lin? did mr. zheng and i somehow offend you? if so, we are deeply sorry. mr. zheng chimed in, i did nothing of the sort. mr. xu, dont go putting words in my mouth. i mightve thought about it, but i didnt actually do anything. lin xiaohuang covered her mouth and giggled. her eyes moved from mr. zheng to mr. xu as she asked, speaking of which, between you and mr. zheng, who is bigger? mr. zheng blurted out, im five or six years older than him, but let me tell you, im just as fit. before mr. xu could counter, lin xiaohuang laughed and said, mr. zheng, whos asking about your age? its not appropriate to discuss such private matters in front of everyone. i was asking who is bigger about whats between you twos thighs. upon hearing this, mr. zhengs smile froze, and the room exchanged surprised glances. was she really this straightforward? well, well, thats a tough question, said mr. zheng, who had been rather smooth up until this point but was now lost for words. why not measure it? oh, how would we do that? mr. zheng stammered. lin xiaohuang gave him an incredulous look, with a ruler, of course. youre in your fifties, mr. zheng, presumably with adult children and a big business. surely you understand this simple concept, right? mr. zheng forced a smile, visibly uncomfortable. mr. xus grin faded too, ms. lin, you are sure to know how to joke. zhao chunjia, who had been watching quietly from the sideline, finally spoke, no need to measure. mr. xus nose is clearly more prominent. its as plain as day. others in the room joined in, mr. xus nose is the stuff of legend in our industry, even bigger than cheng longs! both mr. xu and mr. zheng seemed somewhat relieved. lin xiaohuang added, thats why im so curious. seeing mr. xus nose reminds me of a nose i severed before i got married. it was about this long as she spoke, she measured the length between her thumb and index finger. the room went quiet, as everyone realized the legendary background of the woman before them, including her antiquated nickname. zhao chunjia had not intervened earlier with mr. zheng and mr. xu, hoping theyd learn a lesson about speaking carelessly. now he began to steer the conversation back on course. the informal gathering lasted for an hour and a half. afterward, none of the bosses stayed for dinner, leaving in a hurry. having witnessed the allure of southwest phoenix, they understood she was a rose best admired from a distance, poisonous thorns and all. an extra meal would mean nothing. after mr. tan left, youve been running the company alone. have you encountered many situations like this? zhao chunjia asked after everyone had left. ii its fine. i mostly stay in cloud city and even when i do socialize outside, nobody talks to me like this, said lin xiaohuang and her tone was indifferent. zhao chunjia nodded, enough of this topic. once youve finished your business here, are you going back to cloud city right away? i should be staying for two days. i plan to take my daughter to ocean park, the science and technology museum, and disney for some fun, lin xiaohuang stated. alright, just let me know the schedule, and ill make arrangements. the science and technology museum should be fine, but there will be lines for many attractions in ocean park and disney, zhao chunjia replied. that wont be necessary. ive already had someone plan the itinerary. okay, if you need anything, just tell me. of course. zhao chunjia hesitated for a moment before saying, additionally, 1 have something to trouble you. please feel free to ask. every time we come to azure bay, we inconvenience you with arrangements. were quite grateful. lets not talk about that now zhao chunjia waved his hand, this favor im asking you is actually for my daughter. i mentioned it to you before. my daughter is a martial arts fan. recently, her master, grandmaster gong xuanzhu, taught her a new set of martial arts skills. its considered a treasure of her martial arts school, so she takes it very seriously. shes been practicing day and night, to the point of obsession, almost a state of delirium. her master says that practicing this set of skills requires entering this state of delirium. reaching this state is a crucial step, referred to as experiencing the epiphany and mastering it. if done correctly, the art skills would be complete. the problem is, shes been struggling to find that moment of epiphany, lacking that sudden spark of insight. so, 1 was wondering if you could offer her some guidance. lin xiaohuang replied, ive heard of such an approach, but my methods are unconventional and completely different from hers. i cant guarantee theyll work. no worries, just spar with her for a bit. whether or not she gains anything from it will depend on her own understanding. ii no problem, lin xiaohuang readily agreed. then may 1 ask you, ms. lin, to kindly visit us at home? zhao chunjia was referred to his other residence in the tulip community in minhua district. he bought it six years ago. it was a spacious 80-square-meter training room that had been specially constructed for zhao baiyu. lin xiaohuang saw zhao baiyu eight years ago when she was a little girl. she was amazed at how the child had transformed into a young lady of grace and poise. do you remember me, baiyu? lin xiaohuang asked with a smile. of course, youre the pretty sister who gave me a butterfly hairpin, zhao baiyu replied. you actually remember the hairpin, do you? lin xiaohuang was surprised. zhao baiyu nodded. zhao chunjia smiled and said, ms. lin has always remembered you as well. she came over especially to help you break through your martial arts plateau. you practice martial arts too, ms. lin. zhao baiyus eyes lit up. sort of, lin xiaohuang grinned. what do you practice? i wont say for now. lets see if you can figure it out yourself, shall we? when lin xiaohuang was conversing with zhao baiyu, her demeanor seemed to switch from her earlier aura at funing one, exuding an innocent charm. this puzzled zhao chunjia. alright! zhao baiyu was suddenly filled with a fighting spirit. lets do it then, lin xiaohuang nodded. lin xiaohuang took a few steps back, standing casually with no special preparation. zhao baiyu began with a formal salute, then assumed the starting stance of eight trigrams palm. in the next second, her palm shot out, aimed straight at lin xiaohuangs face. lin xiaohuang took a step back, narrowly dodging and feeling a blast of cold air rush past her. impressive, lin xiaohuang commented, dont hold back, and go ahead. alright. zhao baiyus right palm made a smooth arc, while her left palm flew out with a gust of wind, aiming at lin xiaohuangs upper abdomen. this time, lin xiaohuang didnt dodge. she raised her hand like a blade, aiming to chop at zhao baiyus wrist. zhao baiyu seemed to have anticipated this. her palm turned skyward, fist clenched, and lunged forward. lin xiaohuang didnt bother to defend; instead, she jabbed two fingers toward zhao baiyus eyes. twin dragons snatch the pearl! a deviously aggressive counter. zhao baiyu parried the attack with her arm. lin xiaohuangs other hand formed a claw, jabbing toward her throat. her moves were unrefined but deadly effective: fast, accurate, and ruthless. zhao baiyu had never seen such a fighting style before and evaded by sidestepping. lin xiaohuang, as if predicting her path, closed in with a hand-chop aimed at zhao baiyus nape. even knowing lin xiaohuang would hold back, zhao chunjia was still startled, almost shouting in alarm. his daughter dodged by suddenly crouching and twisting her body. at the same time, both her fists lunged towards lin xiaohuangs abdomen. eight trigrams essence was famous for taking covert actions. however, zhao baiyu had never fought to the death before; she had only ever sparred honorably. today, zhao baiyu encountered an opponent like lin xiaohuang who was playing unpredictably. in her moment of desperation, she resorted to taking covert actions. lin xiaohuang pivoted on her right foot, spinning away from the trajectory of zhao baiyus fists. just as she prepared to kick zhao baiyus face, she noticed that zhao baiyus fists had halted midway and didnt move forward. she thought she couldnt avoid it just now, and stopped at her tracks. seeing that she had successfully avoided it, she rolled forward on the spot, got up, and clasped her hands in a defensive posture. lin xiaohuang smiled gently and sincerely praised, youve got some great skills! zhao baiyu looked at lin xiaohuang and asked, ms. lin, what kind of martial art do you practice? oh? i practice an unconventional style. i doubt youve ever heard of it. you saw how ugly my moves were just now. zhao baiyu shook her head, lost in thought. lin xiaohuang approached her, affectionately placing her hand on her shoulder, and said, im sorry. i couldnt help you, but i believe you will definitely meet someone who can help you break through. zhao chunjia also noticed some skills. even if both had held back, it was clear lin xiaohuang had more restrictions. otherwise, if she had employed her devious, ruthless, dark tactics at full power, his daughter would have had no chance. moreover, according to what he knew, lin xiaohuang usually never fought unarmed; she had weapons. while his daughter had only sparred, lin xiaohuang had fought for her life. given their different experiences, there was naturally no conclusive result to the sparring match. ive gained insights, said zhao baiyu. her face lit up with a smile.. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Your Sister Is With Me i chapter 48: chapter 48 your sister is with me i translator: inschain editor: inschain the national day holiday had just concluded on a friday, meaning students had to make up for lost time with classes on both saturday and sunday. at the same time, the 3-011-2 basketball game of the college of humanities was officially underway. the history department, featuring qian quan and guo hongyi, faced off against the political science department for their first match. qian quan and guo hongyis team from the history department was undoubtedly the top one. they were members of the basketball club, and qian quan had even received special admission into the university basketball team. quan and hongyi was a powerhouse not only in the college of humanities but also in the entire seacoast normal university. however, once the game began, things didnt go quite as everyone had expected. indeed, they performed exceptionally well, scoring effortlessly in alternating turns. however, the point gap between the two teams remained surprisingly close. that was because the other party had a female player who also came from the university team. the girl stood only half a head shorter than qian quan, roughly around 175cm tall. she had a sturdy build and her basketball skills were quite adept. she was only slightly less skilled than ding linlang, and it was clear she was in a different league compared to the other girls on the court. considering the tournaments rules-boys cannot guard girls, girls get an additional point for each basket, and girls can take two steps while holding the ball-this girl player from the department of political science found it no harder to score than qian quan and guo hongyi. moreover, a regular layup counted as 3 points for her, and an occasional three-pointer gave her 4 points. she was a game-changer. ten minutes into the game, with the score almost tied, guo hongyi grew anxious. he couldnt resist blocking the female players shot, as he incurred a foul and granted the opposition two free throws. qian quan, we cant keep playing like this. we need to up our game. guo hongyi advised qian quan during the halftime break, encouraging him to unleash more of his hidden potential. guo hongyi had seen qian quan at his best-annihilating defenses and treating defenders as if they were insignificant, including himself in practice games. with qian quan at just 70% of his capability, the department of political science wouldnt stand a chance. guo hongyi wanted more than a narrow lead; he was looking for a decisive victory. they wont catch up, qian quan replied. qian quan didnt intentionally conceal his strength; it was primarily because, in such a situation, it was impossible to go all out. even seven or eight out of ten wasnt feasible. for one, he was afraid of accidentally bumping into the opposing female players, who were putting up quite a fierce defense. for another, increasing the pace would leave his teammates behind, making the game a one-man show, which would defeat the purpose. so, to ensure a win while also allowing everyone to participate, qian quan chose a balanced approach. im just worried we might become complacent and lose the game, said guo hongyi. alright, lets push the lead to double digits, qian quan agreed. as the second half began, qian quan used the skill of no passing and no breaking through, opting instead for three-pointers from the perimeter. after five rounds, he had made four, stretching the lead to 15 points. damn it, 1 cant believe this! the female player cursed in her local dialect. her classmates were also shouting from the sidelines, frantically directing their team, guard him! hold onto his leg! dont let him shoot! in such a heated basketball match, another female student from the department of political science seemed to have lost her cool. after qian quan easily dodged their male defenders, she lunged at him, arms wide open, attempting to tackle both him and the ball. qian quan effortlessly dodged her. as a result, the girl exerted too much force, and the inertia caused her to fall forward onto the ground. she was on the brink of a face-plant. just in time, a long and powerful arm reached out, stopping her fall by catching her between her collarbone and chest. be careful. qian quan kindly advised before taking a shot that smoothly went through the hoop. wow! ii the spectators from both classes reached a temporary consensus on their love for drama. the girl who was saved by qian quan had flushed cheeks and was sweating, but she remained battle-ready. inside, however, she was a complete mess. the image would likely haunt her for the rest of her college years. as expected, the department of history emerged victorious by the end of the game. the female student, still appreciative of qian quans help, approached him with a bottle of sports drink. thank you, she earnestly said. youre welcome. qian quan graciously accepted. after she left, guo hongyi and other male teammates from the department of history vented: damn it, qian quan even manages to flirt while playing ball. this is worse than losing! but what really frustrated them unfolded later. on saturday evening, screenshots of a conversation circulated mysteriously among various university chat groups. the conversation exposed tang bingbing and qian quan as a couple. photos showing them hugging from various angles accompanied the text. especially telling was a high-resolution photo where tang bingbing leaned into qian quans arms, smiling as she spoke. tang bingbing was the star student of seacoast normal university and many guys dream girl. during her sophomore year, she participated in the filming of the schools recruitment promotional video. after the video was uploaded, a sixteen-character comment from an online friend briefly became the top comment: sugar with desire; extraordinary talent. unbeatable in black stockings, she wont let go of a mistake. although this playful and somewhat vulgar comment faced unanimous criticism from the students at seacoast normal university, it was eventually deleted. however, many secretly agreed with its sentiment. therefore, when this rumor spread, not only the freshmen but also the sophomore, junior, and senior students were taken aback. this freshman is way too bold, just starting college and already in a relationship, and even trying to charm a senior student? it wasnt until the next day that the luminous drama society clarified that the photo was part of a scene from their upcoming play. stop spreading rumors, they announced. tang bingbing also clarified in her social media accounts. no cradle-snatching here. were genuinely discussing a script. qian quan replied fake news in his own chat group and paid it no further mind. after all, he wasnt some sort of superstar. such harmless rumors would fade away soon. the reason rumors spread so quickly was that they satisfied peoples hidden imaginations and their pleasure in peeping into others private lives. it was quite the tale: a college freshman and a senior beauty. it had all the makings of campus gossip. though rumors were eventually squashed, the pictures that circulated seemed to tell a different story, making many envious and frustrated. why are they so close? i wish 1 were in his shoes. it was a sunday afternoon. li zhiyi, carrying a backpack, arrived at seacoast normal university. she was there to show her al chess program, two times nine, to qian quan. qian quan led her to the chess club. he peppered her with plenty of questions about artificial intelligence. these ranged from which jobs al could potentially replace, to what the ultimate version of al might look like, to whether a fully sentient al could ever emerge, and whether such an al might deceive humans for its own development. most of these questions had been previously explored in science fiction books and movies, but they had always seemed like distant concerns. al doesnt make choices; it merely discerns right from wrong, said li zhiyi. qian quan soon realized the truth of this statement. as he played against the al, he observed it as a dispassionate third party. the al made each move without emotion, calculating the pros and cons. any chess piece could be sacrificed if it served the programs objective. could two times nine try to win without sacrificing its own pieces? qian quan asked. li zhiyi shook her head, machines cant process contradictory instructions. that would fry the cpu. what if those chess pieces represented humans? the result would be the same. well, the strongest al in science fiction often concludes that the best way to save humanity is to destroy it. qian quan said with a smile, avoiding further discussion on the somber topic. how do we train two times nine? its you who should play against it. each game makes it better until you lose or the system encounters an error. makes sense. it can adapt and mimic my chess style as if learning from chess manuals, qian quan said. li zhiyi nodded and stood up. im going to the restroom. alright. qian quan continued his game with two times nine, learning from the al while it learned from him. li zhiyis phone rang. the caller id showed zihe. it must be a call from her brother li zihe. after some thought, qian quan answered, hello, mr. li. your sister is here with me. who are you? qian quan? li zihes voice became instantly guarded. yes, your sis dont harm my sister. name your terms, li zihe interrupted. what? qian quan didnt finish saying, your sister went to the restroom, when unexpectedly, the other person delivered this line. he felt that mr. lis creativity was perfect for writing online novels. she came today to work with me on testing her new chess program. shes in the restroom now. what are you thinking about? he said. there was silence for a few seconds on the other end before the response, sorry, i guess 1 was being overly sensitive. the tone noticeably lightened. dont worry, when she gets back, ill ask her to call you, qian quan assured. alright, li zihe responded. before hanging up, he hesitated and added, zhiyi is introverted and not good at socializing. please be understanding, mr. qian. sure. qian quan thought to himself, your sister actually appears more sociable than you do. at least she didnt treat me like a kidnapper.. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Racing Ahead Like Qian Quanli chapter 49: chapter 49 racing ahead like qian quanli translator: inschain editor: inschain after five rounds of tests and training, li zhiyis two times nine began to lag and throw errors. the al, which had lost five matches in a row, seemed to have lost its composure. for the first time since earning his master-level chess award, qian quan found himself breaking a sweat while playing chess. if this thing evolves a few more times and gains stronger computational power, beating it will be difficult, he mused. however, qian quan made an intriguing discovery. the stronger the chess style of two times nine, the clearer and more rational his thinking became. it was as if he was approaching some kind of limit or entering a zone status. it seemed that his master level wasnt quite the same as the commonly understood meaning. he wondered what the ultimate state would be like. you li zhiyi, who had watched the five rounds, was profoundly shocked. her eyes widened as she looked at qian quan, uttering a single word, you, before losing her words. its really strong; it almost beat me, qian quan said honestly. want to upgrade it again? li zhiyi nodded. qian quan asked curiously, could you create a go version? it doesnt have to be high-level, just beginners level is fine. or maybe one that adjusts according to the opponents level? sure, said li zhiyi. what do you need a go version for? ive been learning go recently. go, huh li zhiyi pondered and then nodded. ill bring it next time. okay. li zhiyi packed up her things to return to jiaotong university, and qian quan offered to accompany her. she neither agreed nor declined. as they walked toward the campus gate, li zhiyi retreated into her world, remaining silent the entire way. qian quan initially wanted to strike up a conversation to lighten the mood but ultimately decided against it upon observing her. after all, understanding boundaries is important in human interactions. li zhiyi was a girl with a unique aura, an aura tinged with loneliness or perhaps a sense of individuality. she stood out in her unique way. qian quan also noticed that her overall life trajectory seemed smooth. it wasnt just her familys support; her individual strength also promised her exceptional success in her future career. being a wealthy second-generation individual with specialized skills, a focused attitude, and a philosophy of dont worry about unnecessary things, it would be difficult for her not to succeed. goodbye, see you next time. qian quan waved as she prepared to board her car. li zhiyi glanced at him, waved back, and said softly yet audibly, see you next time. that evening, qian quan was set to represent the basketball club and play a match against visiting students from the jiao tong university basketball association. before the game, a member of the jiaotong university team came over to greet him. recognizing the face but unable to place it, qian quan was enlightened when the student introduced himself, pang haiyang, sixth place in the freshmen chess competition. oh, 1 remember you, said qian quan. you didnt remember me, did you? youre right, admitted qian quan, laughing. but you do look familiar. pang haiyang didnt mind. thats understandable. that day was more about you and li zhiyi. 1 just hope youll remember me today. after all, when it comes to basketball, ive got a slight edge over you. definitely. anyway, i just came over to say hi. we seem to have some sort of fate, meeting up in both chess and basketball competitions. yeah, its important to be well-rounded, both mentally and physically. oh, are you also a follower of the ancient greek sages? the wise men and philosophers of ancient greece admired the perfect unity of mind and body. many of their statues are of muscular, robust men with thick hair. im more of a follower of confucius. he was the type to hit you with wisdom from the analects, or if that didnt work, hit you with his fists before schooling you. pang haiyang chuckled, alright then, make sure to unleash your full potential in the upcoming game. ill give it my all. forty minutes after pang haiyang uttered the words unleash your full potential, he came to know the true meaning of regret. why did 1 have to show off? a simple greeting wouldve sufficed. why did i do that? that night, the unleashed qian quan scored 50 points, leading the seacoast normal university basketball team to a 25-point victory over the jiaotong university basketball association. after the game, qian quan approached pang haiyang for a congratulatory hug. i thought id reclaim some dignity on the basketball court after losing to you in chess. turns out, youre hunting me down from chessboard to basketball court. pang haiyang was a jovial and open-minded individual, exceptionally talented, excelling both in chess and basketball. before meeting qian quan, he could confidently say to anyone, im the best basketball player in the chess club and the best chess player in the basketball association. although he felt a bit discouraged today, he wasnt despondent. after all, how many qian quans could there be who excel in both chess and basketball? after bidding farewell to pang haiyang, qian quan returned to his team, where the club president, wang teng, handed him a bag of fruit. does the most valuable player get fruit, too? qian quan was surprised. wang teng had a complicated expression. no, a female spectator asked me to give this to you. oh, well. originally, qian quan had intended to share the fruit with everyone. however, realizing it was a gift, he kept it for himself. inside the bag was a sticky note that read. great job tonight. take good care of yourself. random acts of kindness from strangers touched ones heart. on monday, classes proceeded as usual. that evening, ding linlang announced in her reader group that she would be releasing a new book this week. qian quan already knew this and suspected the book would be a bestseller, making ding linlang a fortune. it would possibly even be selling the rights. qian quan wasnt purposely snooping; he just couldnt help but notice that ding linlang had success written all over her face as if her prosperous future was hovering above her head. it seemed that her good fortune was a combination of innate talent, hard work, and good karma. qian quan couldnt help but feel happy for her. on tuesday morning, after finishing two classes, they set off for disney. qian quan had arranged to meet up with ding linlang on line 11 of the subway. ding linlangs outfit for the day was a study in simplicity: a gray hoodie, straight-leg jeans, and a pair of white sneakers. while on the subway, she found herself being approached by two men who asked for her contact information. she ignored them. in the past, it had usually been women who approached her; it was only after growing her hair long that men started to take notice as well. the two men didnt persist but didnt entirely back off either. they stood not too far away, glancing at her and talking with each other. that was until qian quan appeared. he walked up to ding linlang and, without a word, placed his hand on her shoulder. then he turned to look at the two men. seeing that ding linlang was spoken for, and by someone who didnt seem to be trifled with, the men disembarked at the next station. ive helped you fend off so many admirers before; now its your turn to help me, ding linlang said, smiling at qian quan. well, what goes around comes around, he replied. enough with the drama. theyve left. you can remove your hand now, she suggested. no need. its good this way. otherwise, wed have to do this all over again if someone else tries to approach us, he said. just say you want to keep your hand there. ding linlang retorted though she didnt press him to move his hand away. so, arm in arm, pretending to be a couple, they made their way to the disney subway station. upon exiting at exit 2, they decided to have lunch at disney town first. as they chatted and walked, qian quan suddenly noticed a forklift out of control at a nearby intersection. it had thrown its driver off and was wobbling its way onto the wrong side of the road. a black mercedes-benz was approaching from a distance. given its speed, a collision with the forklift seemed inevitable unless it swerved immediately. without a second thought, qian quan darted toward the forklift. using his excellent driving skills, he managed to stabilize it and steer it to the side of the road. the mercedes-benz made an emergency stop, its tires screeching loudly as it narrowly avoided a collision with the forklift. just then, a large truck whooshed by. in other words, had the mercedes-benz tried to change lanes just then, it would have had a head-on collision with the truck.. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Do You Mean Qian Quan?_l chapter 50: chapter 50 do you mean qian quan?_l translator: inschain editor: inschain the day after lin xiaohuang, chairman of phoenix group, and liang xingchen, chief financial officer, set off for azure bay, general manager xun bailiang secretly met with a young man at his private club. the young man looked sophisticated, sporting a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. generally, we dont meet with clients face-to-face, so ive made some simple alterations to my appearance. 1 hope mr. xun wont mind, the young man said courteously. i dont need to know what you look like. i just want to confirm your professionalism in person. after all, im entrusting you with 20 million. i believe i have that right. of course, the young man said, smiling politely. up to this point, our team has taken on 56 projects without a single failure. so, i can confidently say that our accidents never have accidents. xun bailiang gave a noncommittal smile. tell me about your plan, then. alright, the young man said, pulling out a tablet from his backpack and operating it as he spoke. in response to your request, weve developed three different plans based on your timeline and itinerary. after much deliberation, weve decided to go with the simplest one. you know, simple is the best. let me show you our al simulation. he continued, handing the tablet to xun bailiang and pressing play. the screen came alive with an animation. a mercedes car drove smoothly on the road until it came across a car and a van that had rear-ended each other, blocking its way. the mercedes was forced to divert onto a different road. at the intersection ahead on this new road, a forklift was out of control, having ejected its driver and veered into the middle of the road. now, the car had two choices: collide head-on with the oncoming forklift or swerve dangerously into the opposite lane. given the speed and distance, slamming the brakes wouldnt help much. the simulation first demonstrated the catastrophic outcome of a head-on collision. the first instinct would be to swerve, xun bailiang objected. the young man smiled faintly and replied, please, continue watching. the animation resumed, showing the car choosing to swerve. it could only crash head-on into a speeding truck. xun bailiangs eyes flickered with surprise but he quickly regained his composure. how accurate is this simulation? the young man grinned confidently, this is the result of hundreds of thousands of simulated calculations by our al, with an error margin of less than 0.0001%. lets hope youre right, xun bailiang said, preparing to wrap up the meeting. i will wire half of the initial payment to your designated account. the remaining balance will be paid once everything is settled. excellent, looking forward to working with you, the young man said. the young man got up to leave. after the young man left, xun bailiang picked up his phone and opened a photo of lin xiaohuang. she stood elegantly in the middle of a stage, her beauty captivating and her posture refined. he recalled a song about lin xiaohuang that had been sung by a bold man when he attended a private party with others. shes such a beautiful girl, with two perky breasts, and i feel like reaching up to touch them, and my heart starts racing breathing heavily, xun bailiang leaned down to kiss the image on the phone screen and even licked it briefly. i know youre plotting against me, he whispered bitterly, staring at lin xiaohuangs photo. youve left me no choice. after a moment, a knock came at the door. xun bailiangs face lit up as he went to answer it. standing outside was a young woman wearing a red dress, resembling lin xiaohuang to some extent. ms. lin, youve arrived, xun bailiang greeted respectfully. yeah. the young woman mimicked lin xiaohuangs mannerisms and entered the room. xun bailiang closed the door, his face alight with anticipation. whatever interactions took place in the room afterward were best left unspoken; even if some details were revealed, they would hardly capture the full picture. tell me, whats your name? i am lin xiaohuang. what is your name? i am lin xiao xiaohuang. the scene shifted to monday. lin xiaohuang and wen zhengxing met at tuning one. the two had a pleasant chat and enjoyed lunch together. in the afternoon, they formally signed an agreement. this marked the phoenix groups official entry into the new energy sector. in the evening, funing one was hosting an ancient-style fashion show. zhao chunjia cordially invited wen zhengxing to watch. models dressed in tang dynasty, song dynasty, and ming dynasty attire gracefully made their entrance. with delicate makeup and flowing garments, they moved to the soft notes of traditional chinese music, presenting an elegant and historical show for the esteemed guests. after the unique fashion show, these vip guests could invite the traditionally dressed beauties to have a drink, chat, sing, or delve deeper into chinese traditional culture. lin xiaohuang left liang xingchen to watch the show while she returned to the hotel to be with her daughter. the next day, she had planned to spend a day at disney with her daughter, so she had to rest and recharge for the night. on tuesday morning, after breakfast, around 10:30 am, the driver and bodyguard, tan tuhu, who had traveled with lin xiaohuang from cloud city to azure bay, parked the car under the hotel. after picking up lin xiaohuang, her daughter, and their nanny, they set off for disney. the morning rush was over, so there was no need to worry about heavy traffic. the journey took less than an hour and a half, and they were near disney. initially, they planned to enter through the east entrance, but a fender-bender blocked their path. they had to change routes and enter the disney parking lot from a different entrance. however, not long after tan tuhu switched routes, an accident occurred. an unmanned forklift was swaying toward them. tan tuhu was about to hit the brakes and swerve left to change lanes when he saw a swift white figure rush toward the forklift and timely move it aside. reacting swiftly, tan tuhu abandoned changing lanes, continued to brake, and drove to the left. clatter! squeak! hiss! buzz! the screeching of brakes, the scraping of wheels on the ground, the crunching of the car body and forklift, and the howling of a truck several sounds almost simultaneously filled the air. luckily, tan tuhu eventually brought the car to a stop. go and check it out, lin xiaohuang, who had protected his daughter, calmly instructed tan tuhu. yes. tan tuhu got out of the car and walked over to the forklift, where he saw a handsome young man jumping down from it and making a phone call to report the incident. it was none other than qian quan, who had just passed by. is this forklift yours? after qian quan hung up, tan tuhu asked. ii no, the driver is over there. it seems there was an operational mistake during work, and he got thrown off. are you guys okay? qian quan inquired. were fine. were you passing by? yes, qian quan nodded. ive already called the police. they will be here soon to assess the situation. just then, ding linlang ran over, her face filled with terror and relief. she was almost in tears, are you okay? you scared me to death! qian quan patted her shoulder, im fine. tan tuhu glanced at ding linlang, then turned back to qian quan, may 1 ask your name? my name is qian quan. are you a local or a tourist? we study in azure bay. which university? im at seacoast normal university, and shes at fudan university. alright, said tan tuhu, even giving a slight bow to qian quan. thank you. no need. its okay, qian quan hastily said, dismissing the formalities. shortly after, the police arrived. qian quan repeated the circumstances to the police and then left with ding linlang. the following matters, such as gathering evidence, checking surveillance, fines, and compensation, were settled by themselves. tan tuhu returned to the car and relayed everything he had learned to lin xiaohuang. while comforting her daughter, lin xiaohuang asked tan tuhu, do you think it was a coincidence? do you mean qian quan? no, i mean the forklift. tan tuhu paused. wasnt there also a truck that passed by us? lin xiaohuangs expression was as cold as the dark side of the moon. tan tuhus face turned pale. ive already called mr. zhao to arrange a car to pick us up. when we get back, ill ask him to help investigate, lin xiaohuang continued. alright, tan tuhu nodded, his expression somber. what about the college student, qian quan? lin xiaohuangs tone softened, hes the savior of us all. ill have to think carefully about how to repay him. understood, tan tuhu nodded gravely. approximately an hour later, a range rover arrived. zhao chunjia came in person. ii is everyone okay? zhao chunjia asked as he got out of the car. were fine, lin xiaohuangs face lightened up with a smile, thanks to a college student named qian quan. qian quan? do you mean qian quan? zhao chunjias expression suddenly became animated.. Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51 My Name is Ji Cuicui, and Lin Xiaohuang is My Bossl_i chapter 51: chapter 51 my name is ji cuicui, and lin xiaohuang is my bossl_i translator: inschain editor: inschain ever since the last time li weifeng proactively called him to discuss qian quan, zhao chunjia became increasingly intrigued by his father-in-laws remark that qian quan is destined for great things. his father-in-laws advice and his years of hard-won experience had taught him that when investing in talent, one should offer help when they are still obscure and unproven. waiting until someone gains influence and then befriending them would be like doing something unnecessary. according to the original plan, when his father-in-law visited azure bay at the end of october, they could invite qian quan for a game of chess at home and formally meet him. what he didnt expect was to hear qian quans name from lin xiaohuang today, in this setting. first, it was li weifeng, and now lin xiaohuang. zhao chunjia was unsure whether to attribute this to his father-in-laws uncanny intuition or the mysterious ways of the universe. mr. zhao, do you know qian quan? lin xiaohuang noticed the change in zhao chunjias expression. are you talking about the qian quan from seacoast normal university? zhao chunjia responded. yes. he was from seacoast normal university. then yes, zhao chunjia confirmed, he is my father-in-laws chess partner and a fellow townsman. lets get in the car, and we can talk more there. with the intervention of zhao chunjia, a local big shot, lin xiaohuang and tan tuhu were no longer concerned about the aftermath of the accident and the subsequent investigation. after getting in the car, zhao chunjia picked up the conversation where it had left off. he briefly introduced qian quan, emphasizing qian quans chess friendship with his father-in-law as well as the alumni relationship between qian quan and his wife. the underlying theme was that of highlighting a sense of community and shared background. did he practice martial arts or sprinting? tan tuhu inquired. im not sure. why do you ask it? when i braked, 1 noticed how fast he sprinted toward the forklift. it was almost like an afterimage, not something an ordinary person could achieve. interesting, he must be quite athletic then, zhao chunjia speculated, growing even more intrigued by qian quan. so far, besides his daughter, who was a martial arts fan and had a more balanced opinion of him, everyone else seemed to hold qian quan in high regard. either way, its fate. we were meant to survive this. lin xiaohuang commented with a frosty smile and then she said, before i go back to cloud city, 111 take my daughter to meet qian quan and thank him personally. alright, zhao chunjia nodded. but what happened earlier? how did you collide with a forklift, and how did you run into qian quan? tan tuhu recounted the incident once more. do you mean that you took a detour because of a traffic accident? zhao chunjia focused on the key point. yes. so is it a deliberate act? zhao chunjias expression grew serious. ms. lin, any thoughts? lin xiaohuang responded pensively, ill wait for the investigation results from your end. alright, zhao chunjia didnt press further. dont go back to the hotel; you can stay at my place. this time, lin xiaohuang did not refuse; she still held her daughters hand nervously. thank you, mr. zhao. upon returning to tulip community, zhao chunjia received feedback from his earlier inquiry. as i suspected, he said solemnly, the person driving the forklift ran away and wasnt caught. as for the tailgating incident, it seemed innocuous, but the timing and location were too coincidental. zhao chunjia shared the surveillance footage with lin xiaohuang, who watched it without showing any signs of surprise. the key to this accident was that truck, she said after watching the video. zhao chunjia nodded. yes, its too much of a coincidence. its closely related to the two previous incidents. ive had people look into the trucks information. lin xiaohuang replied, theres no need to look further. there are only two possible outcomes: either the license plate is fake or the truck driver just happened to be assigned to that spot. either way, it doesnt matter anymore. h the pawns had failed to serve their purpose; the crux of the matter now was to uncover the puppet master behind the scenes. oh, i see, zhao chunjia knowingly nodded, do you have someone in mind whom youre suspicious of? lin xiaohuang offered a subtle smile as a response. being a seasoned player himself, zhao chunjia could tell from lin xiaohuangs reluctance to discuss further that this was an internal matter for them. as it was an internal issue, it wasnt his place to pry further. stay as long as you like, zhao chunjia changed the topic. thank you for all your help this time, lin xiaohuang sincerely expressed his gratitude. lets not talk like that. if i were to visit cloud city, wouldnt you treat me well? zhao chunjia jested. i would certainly treat you as an honored guest, lin xiaohuang responded with a grin. alright, i have some matters to attend to. you guys take some rest. ive asked ms. yu to prepare lunch; it should be ready soon. sure, lin xiaohuang refrained from further thanks, go ahead, mr. zhao. after zhao chunjia left, lin xiaohuang started making calls, dialing out seven or eight numbers in succession. upon confirming something, she muttered without emotions. this could have ended gracefully her eyes suddenly hardened, and her entire aura shifted, blossoming into a ferociously beautiful blood-thirsty peony, full of deadly intent. she sent out a message. what did you say about never making mistakes with your accidents? why did this happen? explain this to me! xun bailiang screamed into the phone, hysterically, from within a private club. the person on the other end of the line remained calm, we indeed didnt anticipate that even al could make an error. were deeply sorry, and as an apology, we will not charge you the remaining fee. what do you mean by that? are you saying youre dropping this? im sorry; if we dont succeed at first, we make a point to disappear; its an industry rule. otherwise, we risk total exposure and failure. so, you took my 10 million, sent a few trucks, and thats it. are you serious? you havent fulfilled the contract! i asked you to make sure lin xiaohuang stays in azure bay forever! youre not getting a dime less! sorry, mr. xun, were now abroad and plan to lay low for a year or two. good luck. i can offer more money! the line was already disconnected. f**ing hell! a bunch of bloody frauds! xun bailiang cursed loudly, abandoning any pretense of business decorum. after venting, he started to consider his options more calmly. the years had seen him silently cashing out and transferring his assets abroad. in another three to five years, he would have successfully relocated all his wealth and could then comfortably relocate overseas. however, not long ago, he received information that lin xiaohuang was displeased with his actions and was considering replacing him, even contemplating putting him behind bars. having been a long-standing executive in the company and wielding considerable power, it would be incredulous to believe that he hadnt indulged in corruption or embezzled company funds over the years. where else would his foreign mansions and vineyards have come from? so, if lin xiaohuang truly decided to take action, imprisoning him wouldnt be out of the question. yet, he still had stocks worth over two billion that he hadnt cashed out. how could he willingly let things end prematurely? amidst these chaotic thoughts, a knock echoed from the door. then he recalled that to celebrate lin xiaohuangs permanent stay at azure bay, he had specifically invited fake lin xiaohuang for fun. but in the current circumstances, how could he be in the mood for celebration and games? he considered sending her away but then thought that even if he decided to leave the country today, a short delay wouldnt matter. since he couldnt permanently keep the real lin xiaohuang at azure bay, he might as well vent his anger on fake lin xiaohuang and punish her! getting up to answer the door, he didnt wait for the impersonator to play her role and forcefully pulled her inside. swiftly closing the door behind them, he commanded, kneel! his pent-up anger, bitterness, and fears were all being taken out on this fake lin xiaohuang. in order to prolong the punishment, he found himself taking repeated doses of sildenafil. eventually, he was exhausted. he collapsed on the bed, unmoving. even if the real lin xiaohuang were to visit now, he wouldnt have the strength to turn over. the fake lin xiaohuang tenderly sat on his back, massaging and kneading his shoulders and neck. her long, pristine fingers, reminiscent of spring onions, delicately grazed xun bailiangs nape, seemingly measuring or seeking something. whos sitting on me? xun bailiang asked lazily, a smirk on his face. lin xiaohuang. the young woman responded, simultaneously retrieving a long needle, resembling the kind used by forensic experts, from under the bed sheet and aiming it at a particular spot on xun bailiangs neck. hearing the answer, xun bailiang laughed delightedly and inquired further, whats your name? my name is ji cuicui, the woman answered, her needle swiftly and precisely piercing its target. ouch! xun bailiang felt a sting, akin to a mosquito bite. sorry, my nail, she apologized. be careful! a buzz in xun bailiangs head left him irritable. continuing, he said, if your name is ji cuicui, then who is lin xiaohuang? oh, shes my boss. the young woman gently twirled the needle in her hand. ouch! startled, xun bailiang convulsed momentarily. soon after, his limbs trembled weakly and struggled, gradually settling down until he lay motionless. the young woman deftly removed the needle and pressed a tissue to the back of his neck. after patiently waiting for seven to eight minutes, she began to organize and arrange the scene. for a well-trained professional, this was no difficult task, but it was still essential not to overlook any detail. her boss had once told her that sometimes, a single hair could be fatal. when everything was ready, she called the hospital in a panic.. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 After School that Day, Qian Quan Got into a Bentley Car l chapter 52: chapter 52 after school that day, qian quan got into a bentley car l translator: inschain editor: inschain qian quan and ding linlang had a delightful time at disney today. they managed to enjoy almost all the rides they had planned to try. carousel, high-speed light wheel, leaping horizon, caribbean pirate ship they also ate one of disneys most famous internet sensations-the large roasted turkey leg, priced at 80 each, with a limit of two per person. both had surprisingly similar reviews after eating. the taste wasnt as good as the large chicken drumsticks theyd had at home, but it still had a unique flavor. they rated it 80 out of 100, with a value of one point per yuan. ding linlang didnt finish hers. after eating more than half, she regretted not bringing along a cucumber or carrot. for a girl, eating an entire turkey leg might be a bit too greasy. she then decided to get some ice cream. qian quan felt like it was fighting grease with grease. so, he bought one for himself too. by then, night had fallen, and they were waiting for the fireworks display. for people of qian quan and ding linlangs age, fireworks werent anything novel, having seen them during the new years festivities. but watching such a large number of fireworks lighting up the sky in a coordinated and yet flamboyant manner was a first for them. not to mention, beneath the mesmerizing castle. h lets recite some poetry related to fireworks, the artistic-minded ding linlang suggested, enchanted by the display. east wind blows at night, blossoming a thousand trees. it feels like stars are raining down, qian quan quickly responded. seriously? ding linlang glanced at him, the luminous trees shine bright, and seven branches of flame bloom. qian quan, unfamiliar with these lines, blurted out, an old friend departs from the yellow crane tower; among the fireworks of march, he heads to yangzhou. thats not the kind of fireworks were talking about, you uncultured person! ding linlang teased. qian quan, on purpose, pondered and then recited, fireworks cool down easily, human relationships part easily, yet you ask if im still serious qian quan, cant you be serious? ding linlang sighed. its your turn; let me think, he responded. ding linlang smoothly recited, trees of fire and silver flowers turn the eye red; drums sound, welcoming the spring breeze. seemingly inspired, qian quan rushed to say, trees of fire and silver flowers light up the night; people from everywhere send new years greetings. ding linlang was extremely speechless. qian quan playfully put his hand on ding linlangs forehead, dont look at me with that pitying youre special look! she swatted his hand away, then show some university-level intelligence! with pride, qian quan said, a university students caliber isnt judged by how many poems he can recite but by his ability to create poems on the spot. then create one now. listen closely, and you might want to record this on your phone. ding linlang had almost guessed that he was going to spout nonsense. she looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, go ahead, ill remember it. qian quan looked up at the sky filled with fireworks, vibrant and bursting. with his left hand behind his back and his right hand lifted, he struck a pose as if a poet contemplating the moon and recited: back then, we played together, rode the merry-go-round, sailed pirate ships, sped on roller coasters, leaped over horizons, hot turkey legs for 80, and the ice cream was still so sweet ding linlang couldnt help but protest, this is hardly even a poem. at best, its just a rambling narrative. ii let me finish, qian quan said. youve messed up my rhythm alright, i wont interrupt this time, ding linlang raised her hand. qian quan paused and continued: back then, we played together, rode the merry-go-round, sailed pirate ships, sped on roller coasters, leaped over horizons, hot turkey legs for 80, and the ice cream was still so sweet after finishing these lines, qian quan glanced at ding linlang and the tone of his voice subtly changed: fireworks fill the sky, lasting but a moment; when i lower my head, i find im back in the real world. ding linlang, who had been grinning throughout, was suddenly frozen for a moment. they locked eyes under the brightly lit sky. qian quan broke into a triumphant smile: dont admire me too much; i was just giving you a little shock with some modern poetry. mood successfully ruined. ding linlang pouted, it was just passable. by around nine, the fireworks show ended, and they had to head back to school. they still had classes the next day. on the way back, neither spoke for a long while. then ding linlang suddenly said something. qian quan, your poem-the first time i heard it, the last four lines were quite good. a great twist, and striking imagery. but looking back on the whole thing, my favorite line was the first one. what was the first line again? qian quan asked. ding linlang gave him a not worth my time look and said nothing more. qian quan peeked at her and said, me too, the first line is my favorite. after holding her expression for two seconds, ding linlang also smiled. back then, you and i played together. the fireworks seemed all the more dazzling. the next morning, qian quan and his three roommates headed to class. arriving at the college entrance, they noticed a white bentley parked in a parking spot. boys see luxury cars like they see beautiful women; theyre happy to take an extra look. what kind of jobs should we aim for to afford a car like this? guo hongyi wondered aloud. as for you guys, i dont know, but if i can just sway my parents, i could buy one, shen fei, a local, half-joked and half-seriously said. he wasnt bluffing; his family owned three houses in azure bay, and selling one would be more than enough to buy the car. i dont want to discuss this with you, guo hongyi turned to qian quan, quan, what do you say? i just need to influence my fathers thoughts, too can we have a real conversation? qian quan laughed and said, im just kidding. for kids like us from out-of-town, obviously, wed focus on academic achievements, enhance our personal skills, find a stable job after graduation, work hard for three to five years, and build up a network and social experience. then find a wealthy woman and say, miss, i dont want to strive anymore upon hearing this, the three roommates burst into laughter. shen fei said, this path is only you, quan, could take. guo hongyi disagreed, the tastes of wealthy people can be hard to predict. we all have a chance. we shouldnt belittle ourselves, right? gao yan? gao yan responded with a quiet smile. after the first two classes of the morning were over, qian quan was about to switch classrooms with his classmates in preparation for the next two classes. just then, the class adviser came to find him and told him to go to the deputy secretary of the college party committees office. qian quan quickly reviewed in his mind whether he had violated any school rules recently. he then followed the class adviser to the deputy secretarys office. upon entering, he was stunned. he found that there were five people in the room. besides the deputy secretary of the college, his class adviser and the director of the student affairs department were also present. as for the other two people, they left him utterly puzzled. a young woman of top-notch appearance, physique, and aura sat there with a four- or five-year-old girl who had big eyes and was extremely cute. he genuinely couldnt fathom why such a group would want to meet with him. hello, qian quan. im lin xiaohuang, and this is my daughter tan qinqin. the beautiful woman stood up and extended her hand toward qian quan. quickly stepping forward to shake her hand, qian quan replied, puzzled, hello. you probably dont know us. you saved a car at disney yesterday, and my daughter and i were in that car, lin xiaohuang explained. oh, it all makes sense now, qian quan realized. today ive brought my daughter to personally thank you. no need to be formal; it was the right thing to do, qian quan said. everyone looked at qian quans composed and nonchalant demeanor, and their expressions became a bit peculiar. the deputy secretary then added, qian quan, ms. lin wants to express her gratitude to you. shes already communicated with the school and the college. starting today until you graduate, she will provide you with a 50,000 scholarship each year. are you serious? qian quan was shocked, thats really not necessary. lin xiaohuang said, you saved my daughter and me. if you dont accept my gratitude, i wont know what to do. alright, ill accept, qian quan didnt want to drag it out. sometimes, accepting someones gratitude is also a form of kindness. also, i have one more favor to ask. would you be available to have lunch with my daughter and me today? before qian quan could answer, the little girl suddenly said, handsome boy, can you eat with us? looking into the little girls big, hopeful eyes, he found it impossible to refuse. he nodded, sure. then go to your class first. well wait for you. okay. qian quan rushed to his class. the two classes ended quickly. after class, guo hongyi called gao yan and shen fei, planning to go to the cafeteria together as the four roommates. just as they exited the academic building, they saw the bentley again. actually, even just getting to sit in it would be satisfying, guo hongyi said with a smile. as the voice trailed off, a man stepped down from the car. he was tall and burly, resembling a brown bear. qian quan recognized him as the driver of the mercedes-benz from yesterday. mr. qian, good to see you. please get in. with a silent sigh, qian quan waved goodbye to his three roommates and climbed into the bentley under the watchful eyes of everyone present. guo hongyi was shocked and asked, whats going on? quan? whats happening? ill explain later, qian quan replied, not used to drawing so much attention to himself. guo hongyi remained dumbstruck even after the bentley had driven away. other students who had witnessed the scene were quietly astonished. it seemed like a beautiful woman was sitting inside, too. some murmured.. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Qian Quan Makes Headlines Again !_1 chapter 53: chapter 53 qian quan makes headlines again !_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain yushan imperial house was one of the most upscale restaurants in minhua district, even across the entirety of azure bay. established during the late qing dynasty, it was truly a century-old brand. rumor had it that the restaurant founders father had once prepared postnatal meals for empress dowager cixi. the restaurant was known for its elegant atmosphere, attentive service, and notably, the high-quality ingredients, meticulous preparation, and steep prices of its cuisine. lin xiaohuang had booked a private dining room here to have dinner with qian quan. mr. qian, youre from xinan, right? asked lin xiaohuang. yes. i heard people from xinan like spicy food and are fond of noodles, lin xiaohuang added, revealing he had done some homework. yes, we could eat noodles for all three meals, qian quan laughed. lin xiaohuang also chuckled, indeed, we have a manager from xinan in our company. he told me you guys can even have flour soup for breakfast. thats something we often had as kids. the two started chatting casually, using local cuisines as an icebreaker. tan qinqin, who was in a linguistically impressionable phase, occasionally chimed in with some kiddish comments, further easing the awkwardness. employing a nifty social tactic, qian quan interacted with the child when in unfamiliar settings. it made him appear congenial and friendly without having to force conversation with adults. the dishes lin xiaohuang had ordered were quite appropriate, not overly extravagant: braised sharks fin, blueberry chinese yam, barbecue ribs, stir-fried choy sum, and hot and sour sea cucumber soup. midway through the meal, noticing the friendly interaction between qian quan and qinqin, lin xiaohuang ventured, qinqins father passed away years ago. also, her father and 1 dont have any brothers, so shes never had a close father figure in her life. youre saving us felt like fate, so 1 have a rather audacious idea. please dont take offense go ahead. i would like qinqin to consider you as her uncle. caught off guard, qian quan had never heard of someone becoming an adopted uncle before. qinqin, old enough to understand the adult conversation, swiftly called out, uncle! before qian quan could decline, he could only respond with a smile, oh. so from now on, were like siblings, lin xiaohuang smiled. then, she took out an exquisite blue origami package from her bag and pushed it in front of qian quan, this is a gift from qinqin to her uncle. you cant refuse. i cant possibly accept this. 1 havent even prepared a gift, qian quan glanced and guessed what was wrapped in the paper. dont refuse just yet; listen to me, lin xiaohuang had clearly prepared for this, qinqin is my only daughter, and shes the only family i have in this world. my love for her surpasses everything else. after that accident yesterday, i still get chills thinking about it. 1 cant imagine what would have happened if you hadnt been there. you might not know how grateful 1 am to you, words cant express qian quan replied, youve already expressed your gratitude. that was for saving me. now, its to thank you on behalf of qinqin. so, if you dont accept this, 1 think ill be restless for a long time. do you understand that feeling? qian quan remained silent, his demeanor still refusing. consider it a safeguard for your niece. when she turns 18 years old, you can take care of her college tuition! please, grant this one wish for both of us, will you? lin xiaohuangs attitude was sincere. if you truly consider qinqin your niece and me as your sister, then accept it. otherwise, ill have to think of another way. qian quan felt that the woman in front of him was very persuasive and determined. he had an idea, nodded, and said, alright, i accept. lin xiaohuang seemed relieved, from now on, call me xiaohuang, and ill call you xiao quan. call me rocky; thats my nickname. okay, rocky, lin xiaohuang was happy, now, 1 also have a younger brother by the way, rocky, if youre planning to visit cloud city during your vacation, let me know. ill arrange it for you. okay. qian quan nodded, suddenly had a thought, and looked at lin xiaohuang intently. after a few seconds, he was in shock. beneath her gentle appearance, he felt a strong murderous intent. did she just kill someone, or is she planning to? or both? what did she do for a living? doubts filled qian quans mind, and he began to question the earlier incident. ms. xiaohuang, qian quan was still getting used to the new title. lin xiaohuang laughed it off, calling me ms. xiaohuang makes me feel at least eight years older. qian quan smiled, xiaohuang, after dinner, ill take qinqin to buy a gift. does she like any animals? upon hearing this, lin xiaohuang chuckled, she loves animals the most. we have a lot at home. qinqin, tell your uncle what animals you have. proudly, qinqin began listing, i have a pony, goldfish, peacock, turtle, parrot, goat, rabbit, and the little girl couldnt remember, so lin xiaohuang hinted, cat? oh yes! 1 also have a cat! qinqin remembered. qian quan thought, she already has a zoo. maybe 1 should consider a different gift. after dinner, qian quan, lin xiaohuang, and qinqin visited a jade store and bought two jade rings, one large and one small. i get one too! lin xiaohuang feigned surprise. qian quan smiled and said, two small gifts. this one is for qinqin; she can carry it with her, ideally until shes eight. as for you, i thought it might be helpful to have something in hand to distract you when youre extremely angry or lose control of your emotions. once youve calmed down, you can make your decision. lin xiaohuang initially thought that qian quan was simply reciprocating a gift. after hearing his explanation, her expression slightly changed, and then she smiled and said, rocky, youre thoughtful. ill remember this. her voice contained a sense of sincerity. having purchased the gifts, qian quan returned to school without letting lin xiaohuang accompany him. as soon as he got back to his dormitory, his three roommates immediately surrounded him, their faces filled with question marks and exclamation points. qian quan briefly recounted the events of the previous day. really? wait, arent you being sponsored? guo hongyi was skeptical. what are you guys thinking? im a man of honor; theres no way 1 would do something like that! the upbringing ive received doesnt support me doing that either! qian quan said this aloud but thought to himself that he must never let them find out about the bank card, or else hed never be able to clear his name. we were joking about the sponsorship; we thought you might be a closeted super-rich second generation, shen fei revealed the truth. thats even more absurd, qian quan laughed. two days later, the truth came out. lin xiaohuang sent tan tuhu and police officers to deliver a bravery in the face of justice banner to qian quan, while the college also announced a scholarship plan for him. later, the schools official website featured news about qian quans brave act along with the schools reward plan. by evening, the news started to trend online, especially as the video was released. more and more online influencers began to notice, share, and comment: great martial arts skills! he saved a family; there was a little girl in the car! his running form was really cool! racing with the grim reaper! great karma! hope good deeds get rewarded! the heated discussions once again pushed qian quan to the trending topics. the surge in attention attracted various media outlets. many official and individual media came to seacoast normal university hoping to interview qian quan but were politely declined by the school on his behalf. some individual media were not satisfied and tried to sneak into the school to interview qian quan. however, how could they possibly ambush a martial arts grandmaster? instead, the next day, an initiative called daily positive energy led by ali sent qian quan a reward of 10,000 through minhua daily. qian quan accepted a brief interview. he agreed to the interview not for the reward but because he found the project meaningful after looking it up online. daily positive energy aimed to discover, disseminate, and reward positive influences in society, promoting goodness and positivity. the current online environment is flooded with negative information, which could be oppressive when people are just looking to unwind. people are like this; despite being battered by harsh realities themselves, they cant stand to see others suffer. reading such uplifting news once in a while could be soul-soothing. his parents, mr. and mrs. ding, as well as numerous relatives and friends, had all seen the news, and various chat groups buzzed once again because of qian quan. compared to the last time he became popular, his parents were more proud this time around for his recognition. naturally, they were also a bit relieved after the initial fear had passed. especially his mother, who had made a special call to qian quan, chatting for over 10 minutes. qian quan also confirmed with his parents about the scholarship, eliminating the need to worry about his tuition in the familys future budget. as netizens were heaping praise and admiration on qian quans good deeds, some experts in martial arts saw more in the video. qian quans series of movements from running to dodging the forklift were definitely beyond what could be explained by simply being good at sports and sprinting. li zihe had seen the video, and after discussing it with his junior schoolmate zhao baiyu, they both agreed that qian quan was exceptional. at the least, they couldnt guarantee they would be able to do the same. what? a taoist traveling in a european country had also seen the news and was utterly shocked. on one hand, he recognized qian quan and gained further insight into his skills, intensifying his desire to take him as a disciple. on the other hand, he recognized tan tuhu, the bodyguard of the woman in cloud city who had hurt his feelings. he had made inquiries and obtained some definite news: during that period, lin xiaohuang was indeed negotiating an investment in azure bay. she and her daughter were in that black mercedes-benz; phoenix group announced that their general manager, xun bailiang, had died suddenly from a heart condition due to overwork. he decided that after breaking up with the girl he was with in denmark, he would immediately return to his home country.. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 Absolutely Can’t Let Our Son Know chapter 54: chapter 54 absolutely cant let our son know it! 1 translator: inschain editor: inschain an official announcement was quickly released regarding the death of phoenix groups general manager. it was confirmed that he had succumbed to a heart attack due to overwork and couldnt be saved upon reaching the hospital. shortly after this news was released online, various conspiracy theories and rumors started to fly. scapegoating, power struggles, and high-level business warfare- of course, mingled among these were conjectures that came close to the truth. however, family members who had rushed back from overseas, along with the internal pr team and senior staff handling the situation, already knew the ins and outs of the situation. in a nutshell: he had played too hard and overdosed. much like a notorious playboy, he had died because of his misbehavior. but of course, such details couldnt be disclosed to the public. after reviewing the collected evidence and statements, the family immediately declined an autopsy, hoping to put him to rest as soon as possible. with overwhelming evidence and knowing his character, the truth was becoming increasingly clear. especially xun bailiangs wife, who couldnt even muster tears and had already shifted her focus to the inheritance. ms. lin, who was on a business trip in azure bay, also announced she would cut the trip short and return to cloud city as quickly as possible to handle subsequent matters. for a while, phoenix group was in a state of internal turmoil. especially among xun bailiangs faction, people were uneasy, and those deeply involved were already considering their exit strategies. a new round of replacements and purges seemed inevitable. on saturday. qian quans class had another 3+2 match against the department of philosophy, a rivalry that was considered an in-dorm derby between qian quan, guo hongyi, gao yan, and shen fei. however, due to the significant disparity in skill levels between the two classes, both qian quan and guo hongyi played cautiously and eventually substituted. although beating ones friends could be quite enjoyable, the joy was somewhat diminished if the friends didnt put up a fight. in the afternoon. qian quan and ding linlang had scheduled a session to play go. lately, they had been learning the go just like qian quans dad, qian wenlin. however, they were still at the stage of understanding the basic rules. terminology like qi of the pieces, capturing stones, forbidden points, official pieces the biggest difference between go and chess, they found, was that you didnt need to learn any special arrangements in go. understanding the basic rules was enough. regardless of your skill level, strike a pose, put on a good face, and anyone could play a five-minute game of go. qian quan and ding linlang had grown up together, having played games like tiger hunt chess, animal chess, gomoku, military chess when younger, and traditional chess and six-week chess as they grew older. it was almost a daily routine for them: a game of chess until the sunset. now that they were learning the go, it seemed like a natural progression from their previous endeavors. however, their approach to go was overly simplistic. their sole aim was to encircle the opponents existing pieces. there werent any particular strategies for territory control, creating momentum, or disruption. their chess style was decidedly juvenile. in the first game, qian quan allowed ding linlang to go first. he then placed his stone right next to hers, aiming to encircle that piece, just like playing gomoku. ding linlang responded by counter-encircling qian quan. qian quan fled; ding linlang pursued. they continued to place their stones rapidly, soon forming a diagonal line of pieces that looked impressive but were ultimately meaningless. finally, with no room to escape as they reached the boards edge, qian quan lost a large group of stones. from this experience, qian quan derived his first lesson in go: sometimes, the more you try to escape or control the situation, the more you end up losing. it had a philosophical nuance, akin to holding sand in your hand too tightly. in terms of getting started, go is simpler than chess. but from the perspective of mastery, go is much more complex; there are too many variations, ding linlang observed. true, but for top professional players, each game is its own world, and theres no straightforward answer to which is more complicated, qian quan replied. as they continued with another round of go, they also chatted. when the topic of qian quans recent lifesaving act came up, ding linlang said: i saw online rumors that the car you saved had a female business owner inside, and some are saying she privately rewarded you with one million. its not entirely false, qian quan didnt intend to keep it from ding linlang. her name is lin xiaohuang, the ceo of the phoenix group in cloud city. she invited me for dinner last wednesday and even took me as her sworn sibling. really? ding linlang was stunned. she searched for lin xiaohuang on her phone, found a breathtaking photo, and showed it to qian quan, is it her? qian quan glanced at it and nodded, yes. so young? ding linlang was surprised. qian quan smiled and nodded, yes, and she even has a five-year-old daughter. married, huh. yes, but it seems her husband passed away. qian quan said, placing a chess piece on the board. lets change the subject. how is your new book? qian quan skillfully redirected the conversation, knowing that ding linlangs new book was performing exceptionally well. its fine, ding linlang said, looking down at the chessboard. hello, your submitted manuscript has been reviewed. unfortunately, it did not pass our publication requirements. we are sorry. additionally, while your writing is not an issue, your story lacks twists and turns and is not sufficiently engaging. it doesnt align with current market trends. please read the selected works from our previous issues to find an appropriate theme and re-submit your work. qian wenlin read the rejection email expressionlessly. after pondering for half a minute, he muttered, lacking in engagement and not trendy, huh? alright, challenge accepted! ever since the first colleague in his group had successfully gotten paid for a published piece and treated everyone to milk tea, another had followed, receiving 3,000 in fees. for qian wenlin, it was no longer just about the money; it was also a matter of pride. he decided to make sweeping changes to his rejected manuscript, making it more sensational and dramatic. the title needed a revamp- something catchier and more eye-catching. over the past few days, he had collected a wealth of material for his writing. these included stories from colleagues, insights from the parents of students, and tales from his chess buddies. some of them were downright mind-boggling. for instance, a chess friend told him about another friend who had two families. he would spend odd days with his wife and even days with his girlfriend, and incredibly, the wife and girlfriend got along well. there was harmony between the wife and the concubine. everyone criticized this friend, labeling him disloyal and predicting future problems. but the chess friend defended him, saying that successful men are often those with strong desires and ambitions, who couldnt be content with just one woman. he even proposed a triangle theory that suggested a man could not simultaneously be wealthy, handsome, and emotionally committed; he could only possess two out of the three traits. similarly, a woman couldnt be beautiful, financially independent, and submissive all at once. drawing from these diverse sources, qian wenlin was constantly inspired to pinpoint what exactly would excite his readers. that afternoon, while driving to pick up his wife from work, qian wenlin briefed her on his new creative direction. the central plot focuses on a middle-aged white-collar worker. both his marriage and his job had become monotonous, passionless cycles. from daily routines to monthly milestones to yearly repetitions, his life had fallen into a rut. family, work, and social life had all fallen into a predictable pattern for him. the pressures of reality had stifled his interest in exploring new things, leading his life to stagnate like stagnant water. then one day, a massive personnel shift rocked his company. a senior executive left with an entire team, taking his immediate boss along. subsequently, headquarters initiated a new staff realignment, assigning him a new boss. shockingly, his new boss turned out to be his first love from college. and she had just gotten divorced! the story took an unexpected turn from this point. this first-love-turned-boss frequently used her new position to interact with him, working overtime, attending social events, and going on business trips together. so in the end, did the guy cave? yang yuhua asked. 1 havent thought that far ahead yet. youve thought it through; just tell me. i wont get angry over something like this, yang yuhua assured. the preliminary idea is that they get intimate. during a business trip, the male protagonists first love, who is also his female boss, says shes tired and invites him to her room for a massage. and then she slowly guides him towards yang yuhua laughed, thats exactly what you men would imagine. i cant help it. if the story doesnt have an unusual twist, the magazines wont take it. my colleagues have all successfully submitted their pieces, the pressure on me is high. then just write it. okay, qian wenlin nodded. by the way, if this novel does get published, dont tell rocky. i dont want to shatter the noble image i have in my sons eyes. dont worry, ill keep it a secret. as they were almost home, yang yuhua suddenly asked, did any new teachers transfer to your school recently? no, why do you ask? just wondering. back at home, after dinner, qian wenlin opened the document and changed the original title of the novel from twenty years of marriage to my fragile porcelain anniversary: my first love becomes my boss! Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 I Have Two Years of Training, A Lost Scholar in the World i chapter 55: chapter 55 i have two years of training, a lost scholar in the world i translator: inschain editor: inschain azure bay s nights were always colorful and dazzling. seen from above, rhe city resembled a small, irregular galaxy that had fallen to earth. the bright lights and vibrant colors could describe it perfectly. it was captivating, yet it never belonged to anyone. a range rover was steadily speeding along the city roads bathed in neon lights. zhao chunjia sat inside, speaking to his father-in-law on the phone: lin xiaohuang told me that she has formally acknowledged qian quan as her honorary brother. the money was successfully sent, and she sounds genuinely fond of him. saving someones life is no small matter; anyone would be grateful. yeah, zhao chunjia agreed, especially since her daughter is also here. if we put ourselves in her shoes, not to mention a life-saving favor, if he can help baiyu to break through herself, i ll be grateful to him for a lifetime. dont force baiyu into martial arts; trust her. when the time is right, she ll excel. has lin xiaohuang mentioned what qian quan said to her? qian quan gave her and her daughter two jade rings as a return gift; nothing more. huang pinghu paused for three seconds and said, i see. by the way, dad, do you remember that video of qian quan charging toward the forklift? i had lu ao watch it, and he says qian quan has real skills. lu ao was zhao chunjias personal bodyguard and chief enforcer. huang pinghu responded, yes. lets meet him when i get back to azure bay. im quite curious about him. after discussing qian quan, zhao chunjia switched to other topics. kachia, youre a great girl. even in china, girls as adorable as you are one in 30 million. in a square in copenhagen, a young chinese taoist was earnestly speaking to a beautiful, fair-skinned, blonde-haired danish girl. 30 million? the girl looked bewildered; her country didnt even have 10 million people. you know, our country has a population of 1.4 billion. oh, i know china is populous! kachia, the girl, realized. so, are you saying that out of 1.4 billion people, there arent even 30 million girls as cute as me? exactly. i could have said 3 million, but im an honest guy. i dont know how to sweet-talk girls just to make them happy, especially adorable ones like you. if i lied to you, id be in trouble with god. kachia bashfully smiled and said, you really are a special person. thank you for your compliment, kachia. please forgive me for breaking my promise to stay with you here for three years. my ex-girlfriend was nearly in a terrible car accident and needs me now. although 1 dont love her anymore, i cant just abandon her. thats not what a real man should do. i understand. go and do the right thing, kachia said, evidently moved by the earnest man before her. forget me. youll find someone better. i will never forget you, zhang! that afternoon, a young taoist surnamed zhang boarded a flight back to his home country. on sunday. invited by li zhiyi, qian quan went to jiaotong university. he first engaged in a three-round chess showdown with two times nine and then played a game of go with li zhiyi. to his astonishment, he found that li zhiyis go skills had improved dramatically, seemingly ahead by at least two levels. you learn fast, qian quan marveled. basic go is easy. i learned while writing the program of three times nine, li zhiyi replied. well, 1 need to up my game then, qian quan said. li zhiyi winked and said, youll likely catch up to me in chess before i catch up to you in go.11 bold words, young lady, qian quan retorted. a faint smile appeared on li zhiyis face. their relationship was warming up, and such light banter was no big deal. qian quan tried li zhiyis go program three times nine and found it incredibly instructive. it suggested good moves for the opponent and also highlighted the illegal moves. this is really handy. it feels like it could be made widely available, qian quan commented. why? li zhiyi asked. qian quan initially thought about the profit angle, but then said, to promote our countrys traditional culture. li zhiyi shook her head, either disinterested or unsure about how to proceed. qian quan didnt push. he planned to remind her brother later, and they would take it from there. before leaving for school, he played another game of chess with li zhiyi, somewhat making up for his loss in go. but he noticed that her chess skills had also improved significantly. qian quan sighed inwardly. a person with high intelligence and focus was bound to succeed. back at school in the afternoon, qian quan received a 5,000 yuan transfer from his senior, bai yuanzhi. payday had arrived. thanks, boss, qian quan replied. bai yuanzhi sent a giggling emoji and asked, are you free now? yes, whats up?1 id like to introduce someone to you. sure, where? meet you at south playground? sure, on my way. qian quan headed directly to south playground. when he arrived, he only saw bai yuanzhi standing there, clad in sportswear, looking crisp and smart. miss bai, qian quan greeted as he walked over. he looked around but saw no one else. a slightly helpless expression crossed bai yuanzhi s face. hell be here any moment.1 no sooner had she spoken than qian quan sensed a sudden gust of wind coming at him from behind. this time, he didnt dodge. he stretched out his hand to catch the hidden weapon and threw it back the way it came. a young man dressed in a jacket, strikingly handsome with a scruffy beard and a carefree demeanor, and sporting a taoist-like hairdo, caught the hidden weapon. grinning, he said, no need to panic; it was just a little test. he then revealed the true identity of the hidden weapon, a tai chi rabbit. qian quan, far from alarmed, sized up the young man. this is the mentor ive mentioned to you, bai yuanzhi said, pressing her forehead as if burdened. zhang xianger from wudang mountain, a low-key master. may i know your name? the young mans eyes shone brightly as he looked at qian quan. i have two years of training, a lost scholar in the world. qian quan. that line sounds eerily familiar, zhang xianger said, rubbing his chin. qian quan simply smiled. xiaobai mentioned you to me. you practice wing chun, right? yes. good. 1 heard youve been quite arrogant with xiaobai when i wasnt around. well, now that her support is here11 bai yuanzhi interrupted helplessly, when did i ever say he bullied me? xiaobai, no need to be afraid. with me here, he wont dare lay a finger on you, zhang xiang er waved his hand dismissively, then turned back to qian quan. everyone knows im protective of my own. so, since im here today, naturally 1 must stand up for xiaobai. as qian quan looked at him, he was internally amazed-not because of the mans near mastery-level martial arts skills, but because zhang xianger seemed to be wrapped in an incredibly strong aura of romance and unreasonable good fortune. this fortune was not pursued but thrust upon him, something he naturally possessed since birth. choosing a life, it seemed, wasnt fair at all. in qian quans estimation, if zhang xiang er were to actively seek fame and fortune, hed probably lose this natural-born luck. oh, you know physiognomy, right? zhang xianger tilted his head, curious. qian quan just smiled, neither confirming nor denying. how do you plan to stand up for her? with a taste of your own medicine!1 zhang xiang er raised his tai chi rabbit. same game, roles reversed. 1 throw; you catch. alright, qian quan readily agreed. very good, very confident. hope you can keep it up. here goes! with that, zhang xiang er tossed the tai chi rabbit into the air. almost simultaneously, bai yuanzhi saw qian quan launching a straight punch toward mentor, accompanied by the sound of breaking wind. bai yuanzhi was internally stunned. was this qian quan going all out? hey, wait, wait, i havent even zhangxianger managed to diffuse the punchs force while stepping back to maintain balance. qian quan forced zhang xianger back with one punch and caught the tai chi rabbit. caught it. that was a sneak attack! unfair! this round doesnt count! zhang xiang er protested indignantly. bai yuanzhi was speechless.. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 My Father Is an Expert in Teachingli chapter 56: chapter 56 my father is an expert in teachingli translator: inschain editor: inschain lets start over then, qian quan didnt mind as he handed the tai chi rabbit back to zhang xianger. taking the tai chi rabbit, zhang xianger wiped off his lackadaisical and cynical expression. his eyes sharpened like lightning as he focused on qian quans movements. this time, i wont be careless, he declared. then, with his all strength, he tossed the tai chi rabbit high into the air. the next moment, he took the initiative and executed a move called high horse stance, swinging his right hand toward qian quans face. though tai chi emphasizes calm and reactive movements, it doesnt neglect the need for adaptability in actual combat. qian quans fingers shaped like a blade as he jabbed at zhang xiangers wrist. countering with a move called double wind through the ears, zhang xianger saw qian quan lean back. he seized the opportunity and executed a front kick aimed at zhang xiangers abdomen. zhang xianger sidestepped and raised his knee to counter-kick qian quan. qian quan seemed to spring back as if he had built-in coils, biu jee streaking like lightning toward zhang xiangers eyes. the late great martial artist, mr. bruce lee, once said that if youre too slow, youll only see the fingers and miss the moons radiance. fortunately, zhang xianger was not slow. he deflected qian quans arm with a cloud hand move, intending to trap him using the profound meaning of tai chi circular movements. qian quan had experienced the principles of tai chi: sticking, leading, squeezing, pressing, and rolling. without engaging in a confrontation with zhang xianger, he reached out with his other hand to catch the tai chi rabbit that had already landed. zhang xianger wouldnt let him catch it and launched a forceful punch. if qian quan had blocked it, a rapid succession of strikes would have followed, and the tai chi rabbit would likely fall freely to the ground, signaling his victory. but qian quan wanted to win more elegantly. he met the punch with a burst of energy. snap! their fists collided, sending a shockwave through both combatants as their qi roiled within them. it was the first true head-on collision since they began sparring, and although they held back, the moves were no longer feints or probes. zhang xianger had practiced tai chi for years and deeply understood the philosophy of using softness to overcome hardness. he knew that meeting force with force was against its principles. however, his extensive travels and diverse experiences had also endowed him with a flexible approach to combat. after the exchange of blows, qian quan and zhang xianger both retreated, and qian quan hooked the tai chi rabbit back toward him with a kick. zhang xianger immediately closed the distance. qian quans biu jee darted out like a striking snake but was deflected by zhang xiangers cloud hand. catching the tai chi rabbit, qian quan stood his ground. and then he said, i yield. zhang xianger suddenly burst into laughter, you young man an observer, bai yuanzhi, reminded, mentor, you should protect the tai chi rabbit! zhang xianger glanced at her, why dont you give it a try? bai yuanzhi didnt know what to say. this young man is cunning and deceitful. just dealing with him has already consumed about 60% of my skills and energy. zhang xianger said while stretching his wrist and eyeing qian quan. lets do it one more time. this time, 1 wont hold back. fine. qian quan tossed the rabbit over to him. zhang xianger caught the rabbit, stuffed it into his pocket, and assumed a tai chi starting posture. come and take it if you can. if you manage to snatch it, you win. qian quan was speechless. bai yuanzhi felt completely speechless, thinking that this guy surnamed zhang was not her mentor. encountering such a strong opponent for the first time, qian quan didnt say much. he launched into a full-force straight sun character thrusting punch. zhang xianger countered with a slant flying pose, redirecting qian quans force, and replied with a parting the wild horses mane. qian quan steadied his horse stance and engaged in close-quarters combat. zhang xianger skillfully used tai chi to neutralize every force point in qian quans moves, epitomizing the art of drawing the opponent in, redirecting their force, and following through without losing contact. zhang xiangers tai chi indeed shared many similarities with that of bai yuanzhi, only more advanced and seasoned. qian quan displayed a variety of skills hands, ward off hands, circle hands, leading hands, pulling hands, and card breaking hands with an alternating blend of large and expansive movements and close-quarters exchanges, freely and wholeheartedly displaying his skills. it could be said that since he had learned wing chun, this was the most satisfying fight he had ever had. bai yuanzhi, who was watching from the sidelines, was completely absorbed, like a literature enthusiast reading an article that perfectly resonates with their state of mind. though her mentor might not be serious all the time, his skill level was something bai yuanzhi looked up to. his tai chi was the real deal. especially the parry block and punch he had just executed while transitioning from defense to offense. it was something bai yuanzhi felt she could learn from for another three years. the force originated from the feet, the dantian (the lower abdomen) trembled, and the spine exerted power, making it difficult to estimate the strength. if it were someone else, they might have already suffered a hidden disadvantage. just when bai yuanzhi was silently cheering for her mentor, the mentor himself was secretly anxious. he came today to take on disciples. according to the original plan, he intended to use an imposing aura to suppress qian quan, offer a faint smile, display his expertise, and then express that qian quan had good potential and could become his disciple. now, locked in combat with his prospective apprentice, not only did winning seem unlikely, but a momentary lapse could even lead to defeat! thinking of this, he suddenly retreated, jumped back crossing his legs, clenched his fists, and aimed a right hook at qian quans chin. a right hook! huh? bai yuanzhi was taken aback. that punch wasnt tai chi. qian quan parried with a backhand slap and suddenly launched a front kick aimed at his opponents shin. it was a wing chun shadowless kick, executed without a sign. seizing the moment zhang xianger changed his skills, qian quan succeeded in landing the kick. however, he didnt follow through with force and pulled back immediately. zhang xianger had also withdrawn his move by then and laughed, wing chun really has no way to deal with tai chi. it was only when i switched to my beginner-level kickboxing that you found an opening. you did well to seize the opportunity promptly. qian quan smiled without a word. zhang xianger had thought that his sudden change in tactics would catch qian quan off guard, but qian quan had adapted swiftly and seized that fleeting opening. regardless of his martial arts skills, this ability to see the essence through the surface alone was worthy of being called grandmaster-level. xiaobai told me your martial arts are passed down in your family. your father must be a top-notch master then, though ive never heard of him before. my father is not a master; hes just good at teaching. he has a knack for turning decay into magic, said qian quan. that makes sense. my master fought in his youth and was wounded on the battlefield, so his skills are not what they used to be. but he still managed to train me to be a top-notch martial artist. the first half of this sentence caught qian quans attention, and he curiously asked, do you mean your master once fought on a real battlefield? yes, during the hundred regiments offensive. he killed around a hundred enemies. while clearing the battlefield, he was shot by an enemy who was not yet dead. so he often said that times have changed. even if one has honed their skills to the level of hearing no evil, seeing no evil, but sensing danger and avoiding it, one still cant face three rifles simultaneously, narrated zhang xianger. qian quan nodded in agreement and inquired, do you know how old he is this year? he cant remember himself. but according to his memory, he should be around no years old, replied zhang xianger. does he usually practice tai chi to stay fit? zhang xianger looked knowingly at qian quan. you want to know the secret to his longevity, dont you? yes, qian quan admitted honestly. if there were such secrets, it could be something his parents, mr. and mrs. ding, and other elders in the family could learn. although tai chi has fitness benefits, achieving ideal results might be difficult without incorporating some internal breathing skills. half an hour of tai chi every day, consistently for 8o years, zhang xianger said, half-jokingly. qian quan chuckled. i apologize for my intrusive question. returning to her laid-back demeanor, zhang xianger said, after coming down from the mountains, many wealthy bosses have asked me privately about skills to enhance male vitality. i told them that daily aerobic exercise for half an hour, supplemented by deep squats and kegel exercises, would show improvement within two weeks and miraculous results within a month. however, not a single one could stick with it. people couldnt even stick with deep squats and kegels for two weeks, let alone aerobic exercises. in the end, they opted for medication, which can be lethal if consumed excessively. qian quan felt a certain subtext to his last statement. feeling speechless, bai yuanzhi said, you guys go ahead and chat; ill wander over there. zhang xianger waved her hand, letting her go. just as qian quan was about to say he was leaving, zhang xianger suddenly became serious. i have something important to ask you. if you answer truthfully, 111 tell you the true method my master uses for fitness. what is it? was lin xiaohuang in the car during that accident last tuesday? if youre asking about that, never mind. i already know the full story. 1 just wanted to confirm it with you, zhang xianger said. qian quan remained silent. what you dont know is that lin xiaohuang is one of the women ive loved most in my life. hence, i am quite concerned about matters relating to her. one of the women you loved most? qian quan couldnt help but ask. zhang xianger nodded and earnestly explained, over the years, ive interacted with many women, but only two or three have never flirted with me. ironically, they happen to be the ones i love most. so, i think its ironic how the passionate are always hurt by the emotionless. qian quan was speechless. never mind, youre still young and may not fully grasp the essence of what im saying. anyway, im grateful you saved lin xiaohuang. because of that, ill share my masters fitness method with you. lets add each other as friends now, and ill send you the method in a txt file later. somehow, combining the word secret method with txt just drained all the mystique out of it. it was as if a master told his apprentice, i will teach you what 1 have learned all my life through the internet. it sounded strange! putting aside these odd thoughts, qian quan and zhang xianger became friends. let me also add you to a group, said zhang xianger. this group is filled with experts; people often share insights in there. qian quan found himself added to a group named top ten martial artists worldwide, which strangely had 25 members. at first glance, it didnt look like a reliable group. finally, theres one more thing, a personal matter, zhang xianger cleared his throat softly, 1 initially came over to take you as my disciple, but since we fought to a draw, theres no need to talk about that anymore. lets become sworn brothers. qian quan had no reason to refuse. setting aside zhang xiangers top-notch martial skills and unparalleled qi flow, his tai chi fitness secret skill alone made this an oath worth taking. no problem, qian quan agreed readily. great, men of action make decisions swiftly. from this day forth, we are brothers of different surnames! saying so, he patted qian quan on the shoulder. just then, bai yuanzhi walked over and asked, are you guys done talking? we are, and theres good news to share. qian quan and i have become sworn brothers, so were family now. bai yuanzhi asked huh? i just left for a moment, and now ive been demoted! zhang xianger laughed, from now on, qian quan is your junior mentor. he can call you xiaobai like i do. bai yuanzhi was speechless and she thought to herself, i really shouldnt have introduced you two! no, no. qian quan firmly refused. feeling somewhat relieved, bai yuanzhi thought she finally found someone reliable. just then, she heard qian quan loudly proclaim. hi, yuanzhi. bai yuanzhi pretended to be angry, im done with both of you! just kidding, just kidding, miss bai! Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Qian Quan Shared a Martial Arts Secret Scroll!_i chapter 57: chapter 57 qian quan shared a martial arts secret scroll!_i translator: inschain editor: inschain having spent less than half an hour with zhang xianger, qian quan had already gotten a good grasp of his personality. in terms of high eq, he appeared frivolous on the surface but had his own depth. in terms of low eq, he was a privileged playboy, born with a silver spoon, ignorant of the worlds suffering. rich and spoiled, his martial skills led him to think he could dominate the world; he treated life like a game. the dislike was certainly not an issue. after all, with his background, the perseverance to train so hard distinguished him from 99% of his peers. he could have easily lived a life of luxury, surrounded by wine, women, and songs. as long as he did something remotely productive with his familys wealth, the elders would consider him a promising young man, not a wasteful young heir. enough idle chatter. tell me, did you notice anything when you were doing physiognomy on me? zhang xianger asked qian quan. how did you know i was observing you? qian quan was genuinely curious. wearing an i-cant-be-fooled expression, zhang xianger replied, years ago, a taoist from maoshan mountain visited my master at wudang mountain. 1 was there at the time, and the way he looked at me was identical to how you looked at me just now. so, dont think you can fool me. qian quan chuckled and shook his head, what did he say? zhang xianger pondered and replied, seek not immense wealth or luck; go with the flow to avoid misfortune. qian quan said, i dont have that level of spiritual insight; 1 just think your love life is flourishing. dont talk to me about love life! zhang xianger lamented, appearing tormented by his past, because of these words, i missed the love of my life. neither qian quan nor bai yuanzhi were interested in his love life. he claimed to love deeply but his words lacked credibility. zhang xianger spoke to himself, back then, the taoist from maoshan mountain had a female disciple with him. the moment 1 saw her, i was struck by her beauty and vowed to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her. however, the taoist told me that pursuing her would hinder my future financial and romantic luck. i suffered so much, ultimately endured the pain, didnt provoke her, and in the end, in the end she actually became my sister-in-law. zhang xianger said, almost gritting his teeth. qian quan and bai yuanzhi were also surprised by this unexpected twist. especially qian quan, whose first thought was a classic line, are you kidding me? however, given zhang xiangers past experiences and attitudes towards life, he indeed had received guidance from some wise figures. choosing his current lifestyle might be a form of going with the flow. great meeting you all this time, i had a good time qian quan was ready to take his leave. hold on! zhang xianger interrupted, dont rush off, i have something important to discuss with you. lets have dinner tonight. just as qian quan was about to politely decline, bai yuanzhi interjected, sure, lets go. we can discuss the content for a new video. having recently received his paycheck, qian quan agreed. on their way to dinner, zhang xianger shared his experience of underground boxing overseas, before each match, you have to sign a life-and-death agreement. no holds barred, its quite thrilling. if theres a chance, ill take you guys to experience it. bai yuanzhi responded, ill pass on that experience, thanks. life and death situations hold great fear, but to attain higher achievements in martial arts, one must experience such mental states. otherwise, youll never know your limits. grandmasters in martial arts history have all done so, havent they? qian quan shook his head, i havent experienced it. thats why youre not yet a grandmaster, said zhang xianger. have you reached the realm of a grandmaster? qian quan retorted. what are we eating for dinner? zhang xianger dodged the question. after dinner, my buddies from azure bay are throwing me a welcome party. bai yuanzhi led them to a restaurant near the school. just as they sat down, someone in the top ten martial artists worldwide group chat asked about qian quan, xianger, who is this new guy? after asking where qian quan was from and learning it was xinan, zhang xianger replied in the chat, my little brother, the top wing chun practitioner in east china. once again, the classic line echoed in qian quans mind, are you kidding me? starting off with such a declaration was just asking for trouble! a group member with the id wing chun-chang huan replied, nice to meet you. this is the top wing chun practitioner in south china, claiming to practice the authentic yip mans wing chun, zhang xianger introduced. nice to meet you, qian quan replied. wing chun-chang huan said, lets spar when you have time. qian quan replied, sure. just then, bai yuanzhi asked, mentor, you mentioned something important to discuss, what is it? yeah, zhang xianger seemed to snap back to reality, little brother, in your wing chun training, dont you have to specialize in two weapons: a stick and a knife? six-and-a-half-point pole and eight slashing knife, qian quan said. how proficient are you in them? a bit, said qian quan, whose grandmaster-level wing chun naturally included these two weapons. alright! heres the thing. i have a rival whos arrogant and overbearing. hes invited a kendo master to have a sword fight with me, zhang xianger said. my tai chi swordsmanship is not yet fully mastered. im afraid ill lose to the guy from the place which my master resents a lot and disgrace my master. so, id like you to fight in my place. qian quan looked at zhang xianger and said, when someone lies, they give off a sort of deceptive aura. you can tell! zhang xianger was surprised. qian quan chuckled. fine. the real story is this: two years ago, my family arranged a marriage for me. its basically a political alliance. i have no interest in this marriage, so i announced that anyone who wants to marry me has to defeat me in combat first. or find someone who can. i recently found out that the other party has invited shimizu ichiro, the star pupil of kunio okawachi, an laido master. hes said to be a genius in laido, specializing in the one-strike kill skill, so fast that he can even cut bullets in half. my tai chi sword skills are not yet up to par. losing the match is not my concern, but i worry that my master would be angry to death. bai yuanzhi questioned, can he really cut bullets? im not sure, but hes very strong. so, 1 want you to test his abilities, and have a friendly match with him, zhang xianger said. how many people have you asked to test him? qian quan inquired. zhang xianger smiled brightly and said, with you included, that makes three of us. theres no way around it. my master has a lifelong grudge against those guys, and i want to make sure theres no room for any error. dont worry, 1 wont let you down. afterward, ill not only send you the wudang secret circulation skill that my master practices but also provide detailed explanations. 1 guarantee that even ordinary people can grasp it when they see it. i wont brag about other things, but as long as you keep up with the practice, 1 can promise that not everyone can live to be 100 years old, but at least youll have a solid foundation for a healthy and trouble-free life until youre around 90 years old. you should know that this martial art is rarely taught to outsiders, and whats been passed down is often a simplified version thats difficult to practice, zhang xianger explained. if the time and place are suitable, and he also agrees, i can give it a try, qian quan agreed, seeing that zhang xianger had even mentioned the name of the secret skills. a deal then! zhang xianger sent a document to qian quan and added with a smirk, if you knew who else received this document, youd be speechless. qian quan didnt care; he only hoped the skills would be effective. upon receiving the document, he briefly checked its content to make sure it was genuine and immediately shared it with his family group chat.. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Driving a Sports Car is Quite Fun! 1 chapter 58: chapter 58 driving a sports car is quite fun! 1 translator: inschain editor: inschain the quest for longevity was mankinds simplest desire from ancient times to the present, without exception. in the real world, immortality didnt exist, but a long and healthy life was still something to strive for. after sharing the document with his family in the family group, qian quans mom asked, rocky, what did you send? qian quan replied, exercise mnemonics. you and dad should practice them every morning and evening to boost your health and beauty. soon after, qian wenlin responded, this is qi art, isnt it?1 afraid of stirring up unpleasant memories for his dad, qian quan replied, a friend who practices tai chi sent it to me. ill share it with mr. ding and mrs. ding as well. qian wenlin said, no need, ive already shared it with them. the content looks rather scientific and useful. it complements wing chun training nicely; we could do a balanced internal-external routine. qian quan asked, dad, which group did you share it in? i didnt see it. qian wenlin answered, the group with just the four adults, we didnt add you and linlang. qian quan was speechless. after chatting with his parents, qian quan sent a separate message to ding linlang, and ratted out, did you know that my mom and dad and mr. and mrs. ding have their own private group? ding linlang replied, of course. what did you send me? qian quan answered, a martial arts guide. practice it daily, and lets start our own group without our parents. ding linlang said, are you nuts? as qian quan was chatting with ding linlang, he heard bai yuanzhi say, what about making a video on weapon combat for our next episode? qian quan replied, sounds good. zhang xianger chimed in, i could make a cameo too. after finishing their meal, the trio left the restaurant. qian quan and bai yuanzhi were heading back to school when zhang xianger suddenly pulled qian quan aside. dont go back yet; let me show you the real azure bay. bai yuanzhi immediately protested, mentor, hes still a student. qian quan was about to decline too. zhang xianger reassured them, dont worry, i know what im doing. hell have to face this sooner or later; better sooner than later. qian quan said, im socially anxious, im not really into parties. its not just about the parties; trust me just this once. this is a chance to explore yourself and see another side of the city. besides, where cant we go in the world, just the two of us? qian quan found the last line uplifting and agreed. rather than being a participant, he saw it as an opportunity for observation and broadening his horizons. most importantly, he sensed no malice from zhang xianger. before leaving, bai yuanzhi reminded zhang xianger one last time, hes still a student. zhang xianger waved her off with a smile. suddenly, the roar of the engines came from the distance. soon, six or seven luxury cars that qian quan had seen in videos pulled up in a line before zhang xianger. lamborghinis, porsches, aston martins, ferraris and a couple of unidentifiable ones. xianger, get in! zhang xianger placed qian quan in a porsche 918, gave a brief introduction to the young driver as my younger brother, and then hopped into a lamborghini herself. the roaring engines came to life again as the convoy sped away. qian quan had heard such roars in the night before, but they had always seemed far away. he never thought he would be in one of those cars. it felt surreal, yet he wasnt overly excited. the cars zoomed like they were in a race, heading to an unknown destination. as qian quan looked around the car, a sense of familiarity emerged from the depths of his soul, permeating every cell of his body. he could drive this car, too. about half an hour later, the convoy came to a halt, forming a circle in an empty warehouse. parked nearby was a fleet of luxury cars, all in a league of their own: mercedes-benz g-class, bentley, maybach, rolls-royce upon disembarking, everyone chatted and laughed as they walked in a particular direction. no one deliberately ostracized qian quan, nor did anyone go out of their way to befriend him. this young, affluent crowd carried themselves with a sense of swagger, each following their own unique code of conduct. cordial, yet distant. qian quan wandered along with everyone else until they reached a small door. one person approached it and knocked in a specific pattern. the door opened, revealing a burst of colorful lasers and deafening music as if a cacophony from another world suddenly filled the air. soon after, a tall and muscular bald man appeared before them. his eyes swept over everyone, finally resting on qian quan. this is xiangers brother, the driver of the porsche 918 introduced. zhang xianger raised his hand with a smile and pointed to himself. the bouncer stepped aside to let everyone in, but not before reminding them. please store your phones first. qian quan noticed that everyone expertly locked their phones in available lockers. he chose a locker, stored his phone, and joined the others inside. drinks and food here are free and safe, zhang xianger briefly informed qian quan. the women here are all tigresses. if you cant resist their allure, find me for help. and if you dont want to resist- zhang xianger flashed an ambiguous grin, just make sure you take precautions, so things dont get out of hand. qian quan didnt know how to make a reaction. both men entered the venue. not wanting to make a spectacle of himself, qian quan decided to blend in. he ordered a drink and sat on the sidelines, observing the men and women engaged in flirtatious behaviors, mingling effortlessly, and exchanging flirtatious glances is this your first time here? a beautiful woman with flaming red lips, a sexy outfit, and a voluptuous figure took a seat next to qian quan. yes, qian quan responded honestly after glancing at her. a college student? pardon? i have a thing for college students. theyre naive, shy, curious, energetic, and inexperienced but enthusiastic. qian quan chuckled. the woman peered into qian quans eyes, asking intriguingly, got a girlfriend? qian quan shook his head. still a virgin? keeping his smile, qian quan replied, lets change the subject. the woman looked at him for a few seconds and then courteously said, my apologies. then she walked away. qian quan took a sip of his drink and continued his people-watching, entertaining himself by guessing peoples backgrounds. not long after, another young woman approached with a drink in hand. she had a pure face, exquisite features, appropriately applied makeup, and a slim figure. the appealing waist-to-hip ratio sketched out an alluring curve. as she gracefully took a seat, that seductive curve became even more pronounced, leaving ones imagination running wild. are you mr. zhangs younger brother? the young lady softly inquired. were just friends, qian quan instantly understood who mr. zhang was referring to. do you know physiognomy? a bit, just scratching the surface, qian quan replied. then have a look at me. she said as she extended her delicate, slender right hand toward qian quan. qian quan studied her hand carefully and advised, ohi suggest you dont bet with anyone for a while. you might lose money. a look of surprise flickered across the womans eyes, and she immediately followed it up with a coquettish tone, can you make me win then? ill split the winnings with you. it turned out she was betting 5,000 right there that she could win over qian quan. shaking his head, qian quan said, changing fate is beyond my abilities, and even if i could, i shouldnt. just dance with me. i cant dance. ill teach you! plus, you can put your hands wherever you want, she said, making the implication quite clear. qian quan still shook his head in refusal. annoyed, the woman muttered, so mean, and left. witnessing qian quans refusal, zhang xianger approached him, asking, how do you feel? when are we leaving? in about 20 minutes. were going racing. where to? the racetrack. is the racetrack even open at this time? if you want to go to the zoo to see pandas or go to an amusement park to ride the carousel right now, they can easily make it happen. what im talking about is the real azure bay, not this venue, but these people. qian quan remained noncommittal. zhang xianger gave a slight smile and mused, when everything is too easily attainable, learning where to place ones desires becomes an art. well said, agreed qian quan. of course. twenty minutes later, someone signaled for zhang xianger and qian quan to leave. qian quan glanced around and noticed that a few more people were joining them for the outing compared to when they arrived. moreover, almost everyone had brought along female companions, each with figures and looks rivaling internet celebrities. zhang xianger downed her drink in one gulp and snapped her fingers in a certain direction. the second woman who had struck up a conversation with qian quan approached with a flickering smile. she linked arms with zhang xianger and playfully gave qian quan a flirtatious look. qian quan responded with a smile. after leaving, the driver of the porsche 918 arranged for his female companion to ride in a mercedes-benz g-class, while he continued to carry qian quan. the new convoy, amidst the roaring engines, weaved its way into the colorful night, heading to the next place of amusement. zhang xianger was right; he had indeed seen another side of azure bay. in this city, some hustled every day just to make ends meet, like passersby. others had all the luxuries-fast cars and beautiful women were the true owners of this cosmopolitan playground. to qian quan, however, they were all the real azure bay. the new convoy, amidst the roaring engines, weaved its way into the colorful night, heading to the next place of amusement. old rules, one lap for five hundred thousand, announced the owner of the lamborghini, who was wearing a green baseball jersey. the others flashed the ok sign. do you want to race, xianger? zhang xianger waved his hand, you guys go ahead. what about your brother? zhang xianger glanced at qian quan and asked with a teasing smile, do you want to race? qian quan shook his head, maybe for fifty. zhang xianger paused, then laughed, if you want to race, win or lose, itll be on me. have you ever driven a sports car? 11 never, but i picked up a little when i was sitting in the car just now. zhang xianger and everyone else were speechless. thats hardly last-minute preparation. the lamborghini owner chimed in, no problem at all. lets have a warm-up round. let xiangers little brother take a lap himself. well guess his time, the closest guess wins. hows that? sounds good. no problem. after all, they were just having fun; there were no set rules. the owner of the porsche 918 vacated the drivers seat and said, go ahead, let loose but stay safe; thats all that matters. qian quan didnt hesitate and took the drivers seat. han li, whats your lap record? lets use it as a reference. three minutes and 25 seconds. alright, ill go first, 15 minutes and 30 seconds. 10 minutes and 25 seconds. everyone casually guessed their times. ill take a shot-5 minutes, said zhang xianger. after everyone had announced their guesses, a girl in a tight, ultra-short skirt waved a flag. the crowd heard the car engine start up and watched it inch forward a bit. someone laughed, if he keeps this pace, itll take at least half an hour. no sooner had the words left his mouth than the car shot forward like a bullet. everyones expression changed. damn it, hes lost control! zhang xianger quickly followed and realized that although the car was moving fast, it was very stable, especially around turns; it exhibited a smooth, elegant drift. damn it, we got played! it was clear that qian quan had been playing dumb to catch the clever. xianger, you tricked us. zhang xianger just smiled and shrugged, not admitting that he had been fooled as well. the sound of the porsche grew louder. soon, a silver shadow appeared and smoothly parked in front of everyone. two minutes and 52 seconds, the girl announced the time. everyone was shocked. qian quan unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and said with a smile, driving this car is pretty fun. han li quickly walked up, extended his hand, and introduced himself, han li. qian quan. they shook hands. then, a few more people gathered around, introducing themselves.. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Qian Quan Is the Strongest! ! chapter 59: chapter 59 qian quan is the strongest! ! translator: inschain editor: inschain after taking a spin in the car, qian quan added a few friends to his wechat. on the surface, it seemed like he was beginning to be accepted into the circle. however, he knew very well that he was far from fitting in. the amazing driving skills he had showcased caught their attention, but it didnt necessarily mean they would be friends on the same wavelength from now on. of course, qian quan had no complaints about this. he neither criticized nor yearned for this lifestyle. they were like two intersecting lines; their life paths were never meant to coincide in the long run. will you attend gatherings like this in the future? zhang xianger asked on the way back from the racetrack. it depends, qian quan replied. 1 never thought i would go to a party like this, but you dragged me along. you impressed everyone tonight. none of them could figure you out. a few girls even tried to estimate the cost of your outfit but still couldnt make up their minds. thats because i came with you. no, no, its mainly because your driving was too amazing. wait, how did you learn to drive a sports car? dont tell me you learned it last minute. i learned driving from my dad, qian quan said. your father must be an extraordinary man. yes, he is. after dropping qian quan off near a subway station, zhang xianger was off to another venue. the night was still young for them. before getting out of the car, zhang xianger casually mentioned something. hey, pass me lin xiaohuangs wechat later on. well be part of the same circle from now on, after all. after an entire evening of setting the stage, zhang xianger finally revealed his true colors. ill ask her first. bye. dont forget. exploring the glitz and glamor of azure bay was just a side quest. his main focus was studying here. by late october, some of the campus activities qian quan was involved in were wrapping up, while new ones were getting started. in the college of humanities 3-011-2 basketball game, the department of history predictably clinched the championship. after the game, everyone took photos to commemorate the event. two girls from the runner-up department of political science also took a photo with qian quan. in reality, he was the most photographed player on the sidelines. on the 21st, the drama societys play, the love story of the snail and the oriole, had its first performance. with marquee stars like yang qing and tang bingbing, the show was sold out; even the aisles were filled. after the successful first performance, qian quan, who played a minor male role, received numerous text messages and new wechat friend requests. most of the messages praised him as handsome, great performance, and you worked hard, and some even offered constructive criticism and future career advice, showing genuine concern. friend requests came mostly from girls, but there were a handful of guys too. this made qian quan realize something. becoming famous was incredibly tempting. he was still miles away from fame, yet he was already receiving so much goodwill and attention from strangers. how much praise and adoration must the real celebrities receive every day? sure, there was negative pressure, but the rewards must outweigh it. in the evening, the drama club held a symbolic celebration dinner at a restaurant outside campus and even ordered some alcohol. tang bingbing, the leading lady, was naturally the star of the celebration. she began by thanking everyone, and then everyone took turns toasting her. even though she only sipped a small amount each time, it eventually added up. before she knew it, she was a little tipsy, her cheeks flushed, adding to her allure. us seniors, the moment we return to school, we feel that we are old. once were past this stage, the school is no longer ours. stepping into society after leaving school, we feel so green, so naive in short, what i want to say is thank you. thank you, every one of you, for allowing me to say goodbye to my alma mater in this way. cheers! after the dinner, tang bingbing specifically asked her first-love boyfriend qian quan to walk her back to her dorm. along the way, she suggested they take a longer walk around campus. qian quan, have you ever considered pursuing a career in the entertainment industry? tang bingbing asked. no, qian quan answered. why? i dont have exceptional talent in singing or acting. but youre handsome. there are at least seven or eight guys as handsome as me in the entertainment industry. i have no advantage. tang bingbing burst into laughter, lightly tapping qian quan, youre so modestly narcissistic. qian quan also laughed. i wish you were really my first-love boyfriend, tang bingbing mused. why? because its been a long time since someone has made me this happy, she said, her eyes twinkling as she looked at qian quan, and if you were my first-love boyfriend, i could make an even more outrageous request before graduation. like what? like going to a hotel room? tang bingbing joked. qian quan chuckled, you must be drunk, young lady. with a smile on her face, tang bingbing suddenly moved closer to qian quans ear, her breath smelling sweet, and whispered some words. upon hearing them, qian quans expression froze instantly. those straightforward words were like landmines, exploding in his mind. his heartbeat accelerated wildly, like a race car at full throttle. he experienced a physiological reaction any normal male would have. turning his head, he looked at tang bingbing, who was so close to him. her eyes were dewy, her lips rosy, and her expression was ambiguous, filled with anticipation. a fierce urge rose from the depths of qian quans heart. he stared at her for six or seven seconds. then he gently pushed tang bingbing away by the shoulders, saying, lets go back, miss tang. you really have had a bit too much to drink. a complex glimmer flashed across tang bingbings eyes, but she just smiled, yeah. the two walked shoulder to shoulder toward the girls dormitory. when they reached the entrance of the girls dorm building, tang bingbing said, after sobering up tomorrow, 111 probably forget everything that happened tonight. you should forget it too. of course, qian quan nodded. bye. goodnight. goodbye. on his way back to the male dormitory, qian quan took a deep breath, enjoying the slightly cool night air, and finally felt fully awake. one could say that he had just experienced the most thrilling moment of his 18-year life, twenty times more so than that night at zhang xiangers welcome party. as he neared the entrance of the mens dorm, he started a video call with ding linlang. whats up? im busy writing, ding linlang said, seated in her chair, as she faced the video call. just keep writing. put your phone aside, so i can watch you, qian quan said. why? dont ask why. youre acting weird tonight. whats going on? i just want to watch you write, okay? fine, ding linlang didnt ask any more questions and propped up her phone so it faced her. dont get mesmerized by how seriously im working. ill try not to, qian quan laughed. with that, ding linlang continued to immerse herself in her writing. she stared at the screen intently, her slender fingers dancing across the keyboard. listening to the sound of the keystrokes, qian quans thoughts gradually calmed. by the end of october, an event called the campus chess talent hunt and the liangon cup chess masters challenge, sponsored by azure bay city chess association, and co-hosted by liangon corporation, various student affairs guidance committees, joint youth committees, and chess associations of several universities, kicked off at jiaotong university. chess grandmasters jiang shilai and cao yu played a thrilling turn-based battle with eight students from jiaotong university. in the end, seven students lost, and one managed a draw game. that person was naturally li zhiyi. you could have won the game. did you intentionally play for a draw? jiang shilai, true to his grandmaster title, was not bothered by the loss. i learned from someone else, li zhiyi said. jiang shilai smiled kindly and asked, would you like to play another game just between us? sure. so, jiang shilai and li zhiyi set up another game, resulting once again in a draw. your chess style jiang shilai was surprised, another round? okay, li zhiyi nodded, her face wearing a faint, mischievous smile. the second game also ended in a draw. jiang shilai was astounded and said, your chess skills are really something. cao yu also looked astonished, to be able to draw two rounds with teacher jiang, you must be the strongest college student in azure bay, or even in the whole country. li zhiyi said, im not the strongest. qian quan is the strongest. oh? who is qian quan? freshmen from seacoast normal university, someone nearby responded at the time. jiang shilai and cao yu exchanged glances, thinking that this years event was turning out to be quite interesting.. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Looking Back and Spotting Him at the Clubi chapter 60: chapter 60 looking back and spotting him at the clubi translator: inschain editor: inschain after enjoying two drawn games with li zhiyi, jiang shilai went all out in the third round. drawing upon his seasoned experience and profound chess skills, he barely managed to secure a win. in terms of his personal feelings, if it were a best-of-three series, he wasnt confident hed win for sure. this young lady had an aggressive chess style, amazing calculation abilities, and a momentum that seemed unstoppable. what puzzled him the most was her variety of unconventional skills for drawing games. who had she learned them from? truth be told, if she had aimed for a draw, he might not have been able to beat her. in the competitive arena, ones weaknesses would often become visible only when one tried to win. carrying these questions with them, the two chess masters continued their campus tour until they reached seacoast normal university, where the mystery was finally solved. they met qian quan, the person li zhiyi had mentioned. this guy had also played a drawn game in the turn-based battle, and subsequently won two one-on-one challenges against chess masters, astonishing even the accompanying media. qian quan is the strongest! they finally realized that when li zhiyi said this, she was not limiting it to college circles-she meant qian quan was the strongest. who taught you to play chess? jiang shilai asked qian quan incredulously. my father was my first teacher, and then 1 studied chess manuals, qian quan answered. so youre a prodigy. your skill level is at least at a masters level. havent you participated in any formal competitions? no. you and that girl from jiaotong university, li zhiyi, should register for the individual championship. with your skills, youd have no problem competing in the masters tournament and the wuyang cup, jiang shilai advised and showed his affection for talent. sure, ill be representing our schools chess association in some national competitions later on, qian quan responded. he was rather fond of jiang shilai, who had lost to him without losing any grace. the master challenge gained extra dramatic flair because of him and li zhiyi. someone entered a challenge and beat the master. initially, the news sparked discussion among various colleges, and then the media picked it up and it caused quite a stir online. a college student challenging and defeating a renowned chess master was newsy enough. however, due to the niche nature of chess as a topic, the related news stayed in the middle of the trending list for a while and gradually cooled off, continuing to spread on a small scale among chess enthusiasts. it only resurfaced when it was revealed that the chess prodigy qian quan was the same person as the internet celebrity qian quan and the courageous good samaritan qian quan. i feel like an extra after reading about qians experiences. whats this guys background? he seems to excel in both academics and sports. funny, brave, intelligent, good-looking, and skilled, truly a gem of a guy. in the digital age, trivial matters could be magnified tenfold. when marketing accounts and self-media stepped in, the hype would skyrocket to a thousandfold. but for qian quan, this trending topic was somewhat inexplicable. these were three separate incidents, but due to the internets memory, they got linked together. the impact on his current academic life was primarily an influx of friend requests, to the point where he had to disable the friend-adding function on his social media. moreover, there were some group visits from students of azure bay and nearby universities to seacoast normal university, where he studied. they came to see him, gave him gifts, wrote letters, and even passed along love notes. in class, he sporadically received snacks from female classmates from other departments. even students in his class started bringing him breakfast. and it went without saying that several internet celebrities seeking to ride the wave of his popularity showed up on campus to see him. these changes left qian quan feeling uncomfortable and bewildered. it seemed that no matter why someone became famous, they would always garner a following. what was the logic behind this? another amusing development was that the drama clubs creative team, seeing his trending status, debated adding more lines for him in their upcoming performance of the love story of the snail and the oriole. they also considered highlighting his name on the poster. their attitude was entirely that of the contemporary entertainment industry! qian quan firmly opposed the idea, responding in the group chat, dear seniors, im merely the sixth male lead! in the end, everyone decided to respect qian quan and didnt go through with the changes. however, attendance for the next drama performance did see an increase, as students from other universities came out of curiosity. fortunately, the quality of the drama was good, so no one left feeling disappointed. and so, things buzzed along until the end of october. another big event commenced across all major universities in azure bay. hosted by the city sports bureau, the azure bay university student athletics association, student affairs & youth league committees from various universities, and the martial arts associations of the universities together organized the stellar cup freshmen partnering tournament. the event, covering almost all universities in azure bay, had been in the works since september. after nearly two months of preparation, the curtain finally rose. aligning with national initiatives, the competition was themed balancing physical and mental growth, and attracted 115 freshmen from over 60 universities. according to the rules, the champion would not only receive a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize but also the honor of being called the sixth star of the big dipper. because its a partnering match, there are some set routines and performances. you cant simply knock everyone out on your way to the finals. generally speaking, as long as you have the upper hand during exchanges, youll win. bai yuanzhi individually emphasized the rules to qian quan during the first two days of the official competition. had it not been for these restrictions, with qian quans skills, not to mention new students, even if the presidents of various martial arts associations participated, they would still be lined up for defeat. i understand, qian quan assured, indicating he had no intention to intentionally injure anyone during the competition. however, from what 1 gather, there are a few very strong contestants in real combat, like zhao baiyu from azure bay university, whom i mentioned before. be extra careful, bai yuanzhi warned. ill adapt and exercise caution, qian quan replied. having registered early, he was committed to seeing the competition through to the end. on the 31st, a tuesday. qian quan, who had originally planned to invite ding linlang to a movie, unexpectedly received another invitation. mr. huang had come to azure bay and wanted to meet up. both of them agreed upon this during the national day holiday, and qian quan readily agreed. however the given address was funing one, making qian quan puzzled. thats the name of an entertainment club! had mr. huang let his hair down so much in azure bay? was he still a force to be reckoned with? moreover, he even arranged for a car to pick qian quan up. qian quan, who was feeling somewhat skeptical, boarded the discreet buick business car and headed toward the destination. about 30 minutes later, the car arrived. qian quan got out, and a tall, cheongsam-clad female attendant welcomed him and led him into funing one. as he stepped through the entrance, from the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a familiar figure. not paying too much attention, he followed the attendant toward the elevator. not far behind him at a booth, song xi stared at his back in confusion, wondering if she had recognized the wrong person. why would he be here? the attendant led qian quan to the elevator, which went directly to the third floor. as they waited, a few young people also walked in, heading straight for the elevator. to qian quans surprise, he recognized the young man leading the group. the owner of the porsche 918, qin li. they were going to a private room on the second floor. qian quan? qin li called out in surprise upon seeing him. hey, mr. qin. here to have some fun? after asking, qin li noticed something, you arent heading to the third floor, are you? those who were familiar with funing one knew that the third floor was not open to the public. not to mention, he even had a dedicated attendant. yeah, meeting a friend, qian quan replied. is xianger upstairs? qin li inquired tentatively. no, hes not here. as he finished speaking, the elevator doors opened. have fun, qian quan waved. you too, qin li raised his hand, his face showing a thoughtful expression.. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 She’s Likely Concerned that Some chapter 61: chapter 61 shes likely concerned that some affluent lady might snatch you away first l translator: inschain editor: inschain qian quan met mr. huang on the third floor, along with a robust, square-faced middle-aged man sitting beside him. mr. huangs attire was entirely different from when he was in riverside town; he wore a sophisticated black jacket. his demeanor was no longer that of the guy next door; he exuded a composed and confident aura, giving the impression of someone of significant status. as whats said in human nature, a person who has reached a certain level of cultivation can effortlessly exhibit different facets of their personality without leaving a trace. mr. huang had likely reached this stage. its been a while since ive seen you. upon seeing qian quan, both mr. huang and the square-faced middle-aged man stood up. sit, please, qian quan hurriedly said. mr. huang, when did you arrive in azure bay? this afternoon, mr. huang returned to being the same mr. huang that qian quan had met in riverside town. originally, i wanted to invite you to my place, but i met an important guest here and the discussion went on for a bit longer than expected. considering it was getting late and the place was close by, i thought we could meet here. with that, he introduced, this is my son-in-law, baiyus father. the number i gave you earlier was his. qian quan greeted politely, saying, nice to meet you. zhao chunjia replied, nice to meet you. it is our first meeting today, but your reputation precedes you. my father-in-law, baiyu, and ms. lin have spoken highly of you. are you acquainted with ms. lin? qian quan asked, surprised. she and i go way back. i was actually here at azure bay for business discussions, and its the same place where you met with her. the day you left disney, 1 came right after to pick her and her daughter up to my place. i see, qian quan nodded. she later told me that you became sworn siblings, and her daughter now calls you uncle. thats right. the incident wasnt straightforward, mr. huang interjected at this point. zhao chunjia elaborated, i had someone look into it later. it was indeed a setup by professionals. when 1 think about it, its very malicious. do you think the police can catch them? qian quan asked. its difficult. they commit murder by engineering accidents. whether successful or not, they usually lay low abroad for a while. once things cool down, they return under a new identity. and the mastermind? thats hard to say. ms. lin manages such a large corporation; she probably doesnt even know who she might have offended. regardless of their motives, harming a child crosses the line. its unforgivable, said qian quan. zhao chunjia nodded in agreement. mr. huang commented, where theres action, theres a trace. if were patient, theres a chance we could find them. zhao chunjia added, ms. lin is furious this time because of her daughter. shes likely to go after them. qian quan recalled the aura of killing intent emanating from lin xiaohuang and wondered where it might lead. would mr. huang like to play chess? qian quan asked with a smile. ill pass on chess today, mr. huang waved his hand, ive seen the news. you defeated two chess masters. playing against you would just be overreaching on my part. usually, chess is a pretext for a chat. the meaning lies beyond the board, qian quan replied. mr. huang laughed, thats quite insightful. by the way, how was the book human nature? quite beneficial, qian quan answered honestly. the first volume physiognomy is all about skills; once you get the hang of it, you can use it effectively. the second volume qi observation is more mystical. when you read it, just go with the flow; dont force it. qian quan smiled and nodded, thinking to himself, 1 didnt force it; ive already mastered it. also, i saw you working part-time at kfc in riverside town. i invited you here today partly to ask if you want to work part-time during your college years. if needed, we can arrange it now. do you mean that i can work here? of course, you can. zhao chunjia interjected, smiling. we have many students and postgraduates working for us. some might misunderstand the nature of this workplace, but its a legitimate business center. its good, qian quan hurriedly said, 1 probably wont have time for part-time work in college. my academic workload is heavy, and im involved in numerous student organizations. otherwise, i wouldve immediately accepted. thats fine. being active on campus is equally valuable, mr. huang added. im still very grateful to mr. huang and mr. zhao. no need for formalities, mr. huang waved it off. zhao chunjia opened the drawer and took out a red card. he handed it to qian quan. this is a vip card for my club. it works on both the first and the second floors. the first three visits are free, and afterward, you get a 30% discount. i cant accept this. i havent done anything to deserve it, qian quan declined. although he had no idea about the cost of the club, judging by its location, he knew it wouldnt be cheap. what did three free visits and a 30% discount actually mean? just for the many chess games youve played with my father, this gift feels inadequate. unless you find it too meager, ill take it back, zhao chunjia explained. mr. huang chuckled, go ahead and take it, rocky. they call it a vip card, but its really a way to cultivate you as a potential customer. feeling cornered, qian quan accepted the card, thinking he could bring his roommates here sometime. after some more idle chat, they offered qian quan to stay for dinner, but he graciously declined, stating he had to get back to school. he bid farewell to mr. huang and zhao chunjia, then took the elevator down from the third floor. as he walked through the lobby and headed for the exit, he was stopped by a girl. song xi. is it you? song xi looked at qian quan in disbelief. whats up? qian quan was equally surprised to run into her here. what were you doing upstairs? song xi asked and she looked serious. just taking care of some business, answered qian quan, unfazed. he treated her as an old high school classmate, a part of his past and an objective existence. and what business is that? qian quan simply smiled and said, im off. goodbye. wait, song xi tried to grab his arm but missed. qian quan had already walked out of the door. as he strode towards the subway station, his phone suddenly rang. it was a video call from ding linlang. hello. qian quan greeted. where are you? ding linlang asked, adjusting her bangs on the screen. just left a nightclub, he answered honestly. youre really hanging out in clubs now! what do you mean really? whats that supposed to mean? song xi just texted me. she said she saw someone taking you upstairs at a nightclub and that you stayed there for around 45 to 50 minutes. yeah, i was meeting mr. huang. do you remember the old man who played chess with me at the riverside hotel? why did you go there to see him? hes the father-in-law of the club owner. the first floor is the lobby, the second floor has private rooms, and the third floor is a reception area. 1 met him on the third floor. ding linlang burst into laughter, oh. you got her all worried and she even texted me. what does that mean? qian quan, are you clueless? she thought you took up a job as a male escort, ding linlang said, still laughing out loud. what the hell! qian quan blurted out, hasnt she been following the news? im so popular right now, why would i become a male escort? what kind of twisted logic is that? i cant stop laughing. qian quan, what kind of image of relentless self-improvement have you built in her mind? ive told you before, that woman has the most bizarre thought processes. im telling you, after experiencing some stuff recently, 1 kind of agree with some of the things she said. but now she actually thinks that 1 wow, well, well, well. qian quan slowly stifled his laughter and said, theres another possibility. maybe shes likely concerned that some affluent lady might snatch you away first. i mean, shes genuinely concerned about you. do you worry about that? why would i worry? true, you dont have to. if i ever end up with a wealthy woman, you, my childhood friend, will also reap some benefits. im not interested. why should i rely on someone elses success? i can be a wealthy woman myself. youre confident. looks like your new book is going to be a hit. yep, it should be good enough to keep a young and handsome man, at least. qian quan and ding linlang chatted aimlessly until they reached the subway station. i was going to ask you to watch a movie today, but plans changed. lets reschedule for friday. sure.. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 A Young Boy with the Demeanor of a Grandmaster (Part 1)1 chapter 62: chapter 62 a young boy with the demeanor of a grandmaster (part 1)1 translator: inschain editor: inschain on the third floor in funing one. dad, what do you think? after qian quan left, zhao chunjia asked his father-in-law, is he different from when you were in riverside town? huang pinghu shook his head, his speech, state of mind, and attitude are just like back in riverside town. he was a pure and straightforward young man. zhao chunjia pondered, dad, i remember you once told me the story of huzis four phases. you said he huang pinghu smiled and shook his head, if he were so powerful as to display the four phases, then he would be a born sage, a natural immortal. the four phases they were talking about are from a story about huzi, liezis master. the story goes that when liezi was young and in search of the way, he met a soothsayer named ji xian, who could predict whether people would be alive or dead, being blessed or cursed. liezi thought ji xians taoist practice surpassed even his master huzis. so huzi asked liezi to invite ji xian to do a fortune-telling for him. the first time, huzi displayed the earth phase, soaked and ashy; ji xian easily saw through it. the second time, huzi revealed the heaven phase, a resurgence from the ashy state; ji xian still figured it out. the third time, huzi showed the human phase, concealing worldly desires and transcending limitations; ji xian was puzzled and confused, eventually becoming angry and accusing huzi of trickery before leaving. the fourth time, huzi showed the formless phase, a pure and original state, deep as a quiet abyss and vast as an endless ocean, harmonious and undistinguished from the world, where heaven and man become one. ji xian realized he had met a true sage and dared not stay any longer. fearing he would make a fool of himself, he turned and fled. liezi, through this experience, gained enlightenment on the way of nature and achieved immortality. the original story huang pinghu told zhao chunjia served as a reminder that those who claimed to have deep insights into the world and the human heart were not necessarily all-knowing. they could perceive only what people willingly revealed about themselves. it was like those who wore their emotions on their sleeves didnt need a wise man to read them; anyone could see through them. never let your opponent guess your thoughts or discern your current state. or, always present yourself in a certain state, like being confident, calm, and composed. this was what huang pinghu originally intended to tell zhao chunjia. maybe ive been paying too much attention to him lately, leading to unnecessary thoughts, zhao chunjia self-mockingly said upon hearing his father-in-laws words. its not necessarily overthinking, huang pinghu said, deep in thought, his demeanor today was indeed similar to that in riverside town, but the context of our meeting today is entirely different from back then. in riverside town, 1 was just mr. huang, the guy next door who watched over the hotel. but today, im huang pinghu, an important person that he just met, and you are the boss of funing one, said huang pinghu. zhao chunjia instantly understood his father-in-laws meaning. you mean to say, even after knowing our real identities, his attitude toward us remains unchanged! huang pinghu nodded subtly, a faint smile lacing his words. in our society, its common for people to chase after power, to suck up to the mighty and belittle the weak. people tend to bow to those in power and look down on those who are not. even if they knew that your influence and wealth have nothing to do with me, they still cant help but show some subservience. zhao chunjia added, people are naturally drawn to strength. but he wasnt, said huang pinghu, somewhat wistfully. as a college student, doesnt he know what it means to operate a club in this area? yet when he spoke to us, his gaze didnt waver. to him, im still just the guy next door, and you seem like just another local bar owner. zhao chunjia chuckled, nodding, dad, now that you mention it, i felt it too. but whats he relying on? a fearless, naive outlook? or lin xiaohuang? the heart of an unworldly youth, huang pinghu replied, or perhaps, a youthful spirit capable of soaring to the heavens. zhao chunjia smiled, you described me the same way back in the day. but you two are different. you were the reckless type who knew there was a tiger on the mountain but went up anyway. he has the air of a scholar who knows the world lies at his feet. well, in the end, its all about believing in oneself, zhao chunjia laughed. thats right, agreed huang pinghu. just as they were talking, zhao chunjia received a call from his wife, huang lingyan. hello, lingyan, whats up? tears were audible in huang lingyans voice, you and dad need to come home quickly. somethings happened to baiyu. zhao chunjias face drained of color, what exactly happened? youll see when you get home! 1 told you not to let her practice martial arts, but you and dad insisted. why does a girl need to learn martial arts? is she hurt? asked zhao chunjia, his tone tinged with urgency. ii just come home. our daughter is mentally disturbed, huang lingyan sobbed. okay, wait for us at home. well be there soon. zhao chunjia quickly stood up and said to his father-in-law, it looks like baiyu has become obsessed with her martial arts training. lingyan is beside herself. huang pinghu nodded, lets go home, and call her master. okay. the two men hurriedly left. when they arrived home, they found that gong xuanzhu was already there. what happened to baiyu? zhao chunjia barely managed to greet him. h shes lost in her own martial arts world, gong xuanzhu stated calmly. zhao chunjia saw his daughter sitting on the couch, muttering to herself and occasionally gesturing as if practicing martial arts. sometimes she seemed deep in thought; other times, she appeared to revel in some newfound insight. meanwhile, huang lingyan sat beside her, tears streaming down her face, trying to comfort her. master gong, what should we do? zhao chunjia asked. there are two methods. the first is to snap her out of it, which would mean all her prior efforts were in vain, and her martial arts journey would end. the second method is to allow her to break through this obstacle herself. if she can overcome this, shell reap all the benefits. not only will her martial arts skills improve, but shell also undergo a significant mental transformation. at 75 years old, gong xuanzhu bore a few visible wrinkles on his face, yet he didnt seem old. his eyes were bright, and he stood tall, a man of vitality. wake her up immediately. well stop the training, huang lingyan urgently said. zhao chunjia hesitated, having discerned gong xuanzhus inclinations from his earlier words. what if she cant break through? will it harm her? gong xuanzhu replied, i told you from the first day you brought her here to learn martial arts that it would be tough and perilous. before zhao chunjia could say more, huang pinghu interjected, give her three more days. dad! huang lingyan exclaimed. huang pinghu raised his hand to stop his daughter, shes merely engrossed, not foolish. if we stop her now, she may truly become foolish later on, losing one of lifes greatest joys. but ii do you remember your desperate attempts at memorizing english for the college entrance exam? huang pinghu asked huang lingyan. if your mother and i had stopped you out of pity, and we asked you to give up, how would you feel later? would you be grateful or regretful? huang lingyan couldnt answer. but baiyu, she huang pinghu waved it off, think about it. what if you and chunjia sold off all your business here at azure bay and moved back to riverside town? would you agree? confused, huang lingyan asked, dad, what do you mean? what 1 mean is, were ail living in a fog, unaware, huang pinghu affirmed, dont worry, baiyu is alright. shes braver than we think. upon hearing his father-in-laws confident words, zhao chunjia relaxed. lingyan, lets follow dad and master gong. lets give baiyu another three days. just as huang lingyan was about to speak, zhao baiyu said, mom, dont worry. im fine. baiyu, you huang lingyan was overjoyed. im fine, zhao baiyu hugged her mother first, then stood up and acknowledged her teacher before walking over to her grandfather, grandpa. though she seemed to be back to normal, a certain solemnity lingered on her face. her eyes lacked their usual sparkle. huang pinghu nodded with a smile and gently patted her head. baiyu, how much have you figured out? gong xuanzhu suddenly asked. half. ii not bad, gong xuanzhu nodded approvingly. teacher, grandpa, dad, mom, 1 have a competition tomorrow and need to go back to school. ive already gotten you a leave of absence. your grandfather and your teacher are here, so we dont need to attend the competition, said huang lingyan. mom, 1 need to take part in the competition! insisted zhao baiyu, i have an intuition that this competition will give me some inspiration. gong xuanzhus eyes brightened at this, then continue to participate. when one is engrossed in something, moments of enlightenment often occur. before that, intuitive flashes may offer some guidance. in scientific terms, it might be the brains underdeveloped cells performing subconscious calculations and extrapolations-perhaps a sixth sense. in non-scientific terms, everything is interconnected in ways beyond our understanding. go ahead, said huang pinghu, the breakthrough you need might just be there. universities are full of hidden talents. a college is a place where masters are concealed; you never know when you might bump into a prodigy from a famous martial arts family or a prized pupil of a renowned master. you have to keep a low profile. xun liangping, a freshman in the transportation engineering major at azure bay maritime university, confessed his cautious approach to chang huan, his senior who had specifically traveled from peng city to azure bay to see him. xun liangping had signed up for this years freshmen partner tournament, but during the university selection process, he had intentionally downplayed his skills, only managing to scrape through in third place. ii so, if youre opting for a low profile, what rank are you aiming for in this tournament? chang huan asked. chang huan was quite familiar with his juniors talent and skills, especially in things like wing chun biu jee and wing chun wooden dummy, not to mention that xun liangping was exceptional in actual combat. whatever rank 1 can get. you mean, youll go all out in the actual competition? i aim to win narrowly in each match, said xun liangping, whose tone seemed casual but was filled with confidence. chang huan nodded, you used to think that among all the schoolmates, the only one who could match you was me. now that youve left martial arts school, youll find that your only real opponent is still me. n so, chang huan, why did you come to azure bay? dont tell me its just to watch me compete. i heard that the top wing chun practitioner in the east china region is in azure bay. 1 thought id come to meet him and see you while im at it. chang huan was none other than wing chun-chang huan, the top wing chun practitioner in the south china region, as recognized in zhang xiangers group chat. chang, youre really getting flamboyant, touting yourself as the best in xx all the time. dont you know there are countless hidden masters in the world? cant you be a little more modest? not convinced? want to spar? chang, you are chinas number one wing chun practitioner! Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 A Young Boy with the Demeanor of a Grandmaster (Part 2A)_1 chapter 63: chapter 63 a young boy with the demeanor of a grandmaster (part 2a)_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain november 1st. the stellar cup freshmen partner tournament held by colleges and universities at azure bay officially kicked off its first round. the first round used a point-based grouping system, with a total of 8 groups. the top 4 from each group advanced. the second round was an elimination round, cutting from 32 to 16 competitors, and so on until a champion was determined. the most-watched participant was undoubtedly zhao baiyu from azure bay university. on her first day in the martial arts club, she had laid the club president flat on the ground, and he had been spreading her fame ever since. in fact, her performance did not disappoint anyone. in the first round of the group stage, she remained undefeated and didnt even need to use more than three moves against any opponent, defeating them all within three moves. a campus journalist asked her why she was defeating each opponent in just three moves. she responded, because its a partner tournament, they need to at least survive two moves. the implication was that most opponents didnt even merit three moves. she let them get in two moves for the sake of the tournament and to assess their resilience to make sure she wouldnt seriously injure them. this comment caused quite a stir among other schools. some felt such a girl was too arrogant, while others thought that in the world of martial arts, it was all about settling scores. if you disagree, go and challenge her. however, those in the know realized that this was uncharacteristic of zhao baiyu. she had recently become somewhat obsessed with her training, making her interactions with the outside world increasingly blunt. in the first round, zhao baiyu advanced as the best player in her group. in addition to zhao baiyu, another standout was a male student from jiaotong university. specializing in both yanqing palm and karate, he was remarkably forceful in his attacks. even with protective measures in place, he had managed to knock out two opponents. both had fallen flat on the ground, requiring immediate first aid on-site. consequently, his subsequent two opponents chose to forfeit outright. someone thought, seriously? we joined this competition to earn extracurricular activity points. competing against him would leave us incapacitated for half a month, whats the point then? as for xun liangping, the junior disciple of chang huan, who was considered the top wing chun practitioner in south china, he stuck to his conservative style during the points-based competition. he ended up with neither outstanding nor poor second-place finish. it was a well-known fact that, during their student years, the real genius could not only score high but had the terrifying ability to control their scores. in contrast, qian quan was much more by the book. he had a winning streak and easily secured first place in his group. however, each of his matches was closely contested. no matter the level or skill of the opponent, he allowed them to perform at their best, showcasing all they had practiced. in the end, they only lost due to minor tactical disadvantages. throughout the first round, qian quan didnt directly knock anyone down; he won all his matches by simply dominating the flow and being declared the winner. those who could vaguely perceive qian quans true strength were naturally grateful, thanking him for a fair and enjoyable match. but for those who were unaware of this may inevitably feel regretful. they might think that they performed so well, so freely and vigorously, only to end up slightly behind and lose the match. they may even suspect that the issue lies with the referees. a certain participant from a particular school even confronted the referee. the referee then showed him the match video and provided a play-by-play: look here, he could have directly punched you in the face, but he chose to pressure your shoulder, giving you a hint to defend. see this, would you have been able to land that beautiful sidekick if he hadnt intentionally given you the chance? and again here the referee, hailing from azure bay martial arts association, pointed out a dozen instances and finally concluded: dont you get it? he was practically giving you a tutorial match. it was his constant provision of opportunities that allowed you to perform at your best. the student who had gone to argue left, drenched in sweat and red-faced with shame. some things are clearer to observers. even without the commentary, he noticed qian quans skillful control and guidance during the replay. as a result, he specifically sought out qian quan to express his gratitude. and so, the first round of the competition came to an end. the four best players naturally became the hot topics across all schools. among these discussions, qian quan, who was already a notable figure, inevitably garnered even more attention. many speculations were confirmed. not only was qian quan skilled in martial arts, but he was also exceptionally talented. zhao chunjia and li zihe, who had been following the competition because of zhao baiyu, found it both surprising and logical that qian quan also topped his group. subsequently, in the following rounds, zhao chunjia sent lu ao to observe qian quans matches and gauge his abilities. lu ao watched qian quans quarterfinal match. upon returning, he reported, confirmed to have real skills, stronger than most peers, but not as good as baiyu. zhao chunjia became increasingly intrigued, silently hoping for a showdown between qian quan and baiyu in the finals. on november 5th, the fierce semi-finals began. the four contestants were zhao baiyu from azure bay university, xun liangping from maritime university, liu yunbo from jiaotong university, and qian quan from seacoast normal university. the most unexpected among them was xun liangping from maritime university. he was the only non-top player in the first round of group matches. moreover, his path to the semi-finals was anything but smooth; both his top 16 and top 8 matches were nail-bitingly close. particularly in the top 8, by the rules of the competition, he had fallen behind in multiple rounds and was on the brink of elimination.. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 63 A Young Boy with the Demeanor of a Grandmaster (Part 2B)_1 chapter 64: chapter 63 a young boy with the demeanor of a grandmaster (part 2b)_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain unexpectedly, at the last moment, he executed a one-shot-kill counter-move using wing chun biu jee. his right index and middle fingers hovered just inches away from his opponents eyes. had that strike landed, his opponent would have been severely wounded. the referee deemed it a decisive killer move. in the semi-finals, he was to face qian quan, who also practiced wing chun. he had heard about this opponent well in advance. setting aside trending topics, even the girls in his class had openly discussed this new hot guy on campus from seacoast normal university in his presence. while he didnt particularly target qian quan because of this, he did genuinely wish to defeat him on the mat, offering him a true taste of martial arts prowess, and incidentally ruffling the feathers of those love-struck girls. his only concern was that, with qian quans reputation, beating him too badly might draw unnecessary attention. after some deliberation, he decided to take a steady approach, to play it safe and win by a stroke of luck. chang huan would also be watching the match in person. after all, it was a rare wing chun vs. wing chun matchup. the first semi-final was between xun liangping from azure bay maritime university and qian quan from seacoast normal university. both competitors assumed the classic wing chun salutation as the match began. wing chun, xun liangping. wing chun, qian quan. then, the fight commenced. the audience then witnessed an interesting spectacle. qian quan and xun liangping moved as if they were mirroring each other, their movements, rhythm, and stances practically identical. wing chun salutation, ward off hands, chum kiu, plough hands, seeking bridge stance, knee lift, kicking they showcased textbook-level wing chun combat. the first round ended in a draw. are we finally going to see a well-matched fight? some spectators became excited. however, the two competitors in the ring felt differently. xun liangping was surprised; he hadnt expected his opponent to keep up with him throughout the round. mimicking or copying an opponents moves in a match wasnt uncommon, but being able to synchronize was a different matter altogether. there was only one explanation. his opponent had studied his previous fights! on the other hand, qian quan found it amusing. someone was daring to use wing chun against him and even holding back! he probably didnt realize that the moment he assumed the wing chun salutation, qian quan had already seen through his facade. this wasnt just a matter of the gap in their skill levels; it was a matter of a high-ranking practitioner playing down to a lower-ranking one. he was too familiar with wing chuns moves and sequences. therefore, in the second round, qian quan no longer followed xun liangping, but led him by half a step, forcing him to go all out. qian quan thought to himself, since you want to hide, ill make you expose yourself. as a result, the audience saw xun liangping fighting faster and more desperately as if he were chasing qian quan, seemingly gaining the upper hand. only chang huan, sitting in the front row, had a solemn expression. he realized that xun liangping had completely fallen into the opponents rhythm and was being manipulated by the other party. xun liangping wasnt chasing; he was being led and swept along. as the round concluded, xun liangping looked at qian quan with an entirely different gaze than he had at the start. it became serious, cautious, curious, andexpectant. the new round began, and xun liangping was the one to make the first move. the dynamics shifted once again. after taking the initiative, xun engaged in close-range hand-to-hand combat with qian quan. every tiny thought and every significant move were fully utilized and unleashed within the blink of an eye. xun liangping practically performed a comprehensive showcase of all the offensive moves he had mastered, but he couldnt even touch the hem of qian quans garment. hold nothing back. try it in reverse. qian quan reminded xun liangping as he deflected xuns sidekick with a simple palm strike. xun froze for a moment, stunned by qians advice. this shook him more than taking a hit would have. xun thought to himself, is he coaching me? as he hesitated, the back of his hand was tapped by qian quan. after the ward off hands followed by a slash, you can follow up with a straight punch or a pulling hands. dont be locked into one way of thinking. qian quan gave xun liangping some advice, demonstrating the moves as he spoke. if xun liangping still couldnt gauge qian quans skill level after this, he would be naive. just as he was about to retort, i dont need your advice, a straight punch was already aimed at his face. xun deflected it with a wave of his hand. but he found himself under a relentless barrage of punches from qian quan. if youre practicing wing chun but still holding back, your intentions arent pure. your follow-through lacks commitment, affecting your force and accuracy. qian quan gave a lecture, seamlessly combining words and action. at this point, xun liangping was overwhelmed. not only was he pushed to the edge by qians aggressive moves, but qians words also hit him like a ton of bricks. hes not just seeing through me; hes correcting me! filled with shame, xun unleashed his full strength. finally, everyone got to see the true abilities of this dark horse. his punches were fierce, and his moves were precise. however, the more skillfully he fought, the more effortlessly qian seemed to counter him. this was because as the two of them improved their levels of competition, the gap widened. just as two people might be close when competing in elementary-level math, the gap would become glaring when one stepped up to junior high level while the other advanced to senior high school level. seeing the tide had turned, xun liangping decided to go broke and unleashed his ultimate move-adding the finishing touch. he rotated his body, aiming his right hands index and middle fingers at qians eyes. when this was parried, his left index finger shot out at an extremely tricky and odd angle, targeting qians left eye. if successful, it would have been another game-changing, one-hit ko. his left index finger shot out flawlessly. but it stopped short about two inches from qian quans left eye. but this time, he wasnt hovering with ease; instead, he was at the end of his strength, like a spent arrow. his finger couldnt move forward even a fraction. and at this moment, all his vulnerabilities were laid bare under qian quans attack. qian quan, who had already stopped his move, smiled and said, no boasting or exaggeration, this move is quite creative. only then did xun liangping realize that he was drenched in sweat from head to toe, steam rising from him as if he were a martial arts master exuding qi in martial arts fiction. how much strength did you use? xun liangping stared curiously at qian quan. full strength, replied qian quan. if you had truly used your full strength, the match would have been decided within three moves, said xun liangping as he respectfully cupped his hands in a traditional salute. thank you. qian quans previous tips and the subsequent demonstration had been incredibly enlightening for him. youre welcome, qian quan returned the gesture. the outcome of the match was obvious to all. after the match, chang huan actively approached qian quan, asking, hello, are you rocky? the one whom zhang xianger had introduced to our group? thats me, and you are chang huan, xun liangpings senior schoolmate. qian quan had a vague impression but couldnt quite place him. 1 am the heir to yip mans wing chun in the south china region. oh, the no. 1 wing chun practitioner in south china, qian quan remembered. chang huan gave an awkward smile, youre too kind. may i have your contact information, so we can catch up later? since he had already approached him, qian quan couldnt very well refuse. so, he added chang huan as a friend. in another semi-final match, it was zhao baiyu from azure bay university against liu yunbo from jiaotong university. this match was far more dangerous. zhao baiyu, who was at a crucial point in her martial arts breakthrough, was often engrossed in her thoughts about martial arts. facing significantly weaker opponents was not an issue; she could end the match quickly without causing any harm. however, when meeting an opponent who could genuinely exchange a few moves, she could easily lose herself and forget to hold back her strength. had the referee not intervened in time, liu yunbo would have had to be carried out of the ring. it was rumored that liu yunbo had nightmares that night. he dreamt that zhao baiyus kick, accompanied by the sound of tearing air, had hit him and rendered him incapacitated. perhaps due to the psychological trauma, he lost swiftly and decisively to xun liangping in the third-place match. finally, the freshmen partnering tournament advanced to its final match. the final competition had arrived. the finalists were qian quan from seacoast normal university and zhao baiyu from azure bay university. unsurprisingly, the attendance rate for this match broke all records for the tournament. present at the venue were not only relevant officials but also two invited bigwigs from the martial arts community. additionally, zhao baiyus parents, grandfather, and master were all present. li zihe had also quietly arrived. on qian quans side, ding linlang naturally came to support him. others present were bai yuanzhi, zhang tianran, and luo xufeng from the martial arts association, along with his three roommates. although this regional campus competition wasnt a nationally hot event, seven or eight official media outlets still came, including azure bay tv. needless to say, the atmosphere for this match was perfectly set.. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 64 A Young Boy with the Demeanor of a Grandmaster (Part 3)1 chapter 65: chapter 64 a young boy with the demeanor of a grandmaster (part 3)1 translator: inschain editor: inschain who wouldve thought he made it to the finals? zhao chunjia quietly conversed with her father-in-law in the audience. at riverside town, when he explained the concept of gaining momentum through chess analogies to baiyu, and casually asked her about wing chun, it never crossed my mind to think in that direction, said huang pinghu. baiyu mentioned that she wanted to introduce him to a wing chun expert, but he politely declined. now it seems like it wasnt out of fear, but rather that he didnt see the need. huang pinghu slightly nodded but felt something was off. whether it was a flaw in his memory or a twist of fate, he remembered qian quans expression at the time. it seemed like he was genuinely worried about getting beaten up instead of pretending. however, if that was true, it meant that qian quan, having practiced martial arts for just two months, had improbably made it all the way to the finals, making this cinderella story even more unrealistic. i wonder if he can beat baiyu? zhao chunjia was curious. before the competition officially began, various leaders from the education, sports, and propaganda departments gave their speeches. afterwards, there was a demonstration match of routines. bai yuanzhi performed a set of tai chi. other students demonstrated various traditional weapons like swords, spears, staffs, and more. these were all essential components and the main events of traditional martial arts championships. otherwise, if in the formal competition later, the two contestants had a significant skill gap, and the match was over in just three moves, what would the leaders and the audience have to watch? in fact, even the official match had a demonstration round. they were not concerned about qian quan; he could last a while with anyone, adapting to any move, even if his opponent fought awkwardly. his combination of combat readiness and visual appeal made him the ideal contestant in the eyes of the organizers. some even joked that qian quan fought as if he was a plant by the event organizers, worthy of his appearances in bai yuanzhis videos. zhao baiyu, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. faced with the martial blockage, she was prone to fascination, not concerned about winning or losing, just serious. however, when she got serious, her strength was too strong, and her opponents found it extremely difficult to defend. at this moment, qian quan and zhao baiyu had already taken the stage amidst the attention of the crowd. do you really know kung fu? zhao baiyu asked qian quan, her expression lacking surprise and appearing somewhat indifferent. nice to see you again, qian quan smiled as he appraised the girl in front of him. he understood that she was currently stuck in a certain mental state, similar to scientists or mathematicians engrossed in their work. if you cant keep up during the match, remember to shout stop, zhao baiyu warned, aware of qian quans friendship with her grandfather. i will, qian quan agreed. the referee signaled, and their match commenced. please, qian quan said. zhao baiyu extended her right palm forward, with her left palm positioned near her right elbow, assuming a lean horse inquires the way stance. qian quan made no move, circling around her. zhao baiyus palms always faced qian quan as she shuffled her feet and also turned in a half-circle. in xingyi fist and eight trigrams palm, the concept was three forms, three forces. the so-called three forms were: walking like a dragon, moving and turning like a monkey, and changing stances like an eagle. the three forces involved moving as if wading through mud, arms twisting like a rope, and turning like a grinding mill. the goal was to maintain ones qi in a seamless flow, storing energy without leaking, and at the same time, not exposing any flaws to the opponent. carefully observing her footwork, qian quan seized an opening as zhao baiyu changed her palm positions, striking her right shoulder with a rushing punch. ideally, the punch should have targeted the opponents chest, but given that he was sparring with a girl, some martial courtesy was required. zhao baiyu deflected with her palm, and her hidden left palm behind her right elbow shot out in response. qian quan turned and parried with a plough hands, also launching a palm strike. thus, they began to exchange moves. zhao baiyus palms were like blades, hacking and slashing incessantly. qian quan countered skillfully with his left fist and right palm. after the first round, neither had gained the upper hand. are you holding up alright? i havent even exerted my full strength yet, zhao baiyu remarked. to those unaware of her capabilities, her comment would sound like trash talk. qian quan just smiled, taking a step forward to unleash a heavy, short-range punch. zhao baiyu met it with a cun palm, only to feel a tremendous force that pushed her back five steps before she regained her stance. she quickly changed her hand forms and lunged forward to initiate an attack. qian quan grabbed both of her wrists and pulled back. zhao baiyu pushed off the ground, spinning in mid-air around her waist as the axis, freeing herself from qian quans pull. she then stabilized her stance with her palms in a circular position, embodying the empty and agile energy. qian quan, loosening his grip, inquired, i heard from mr. huang that your master taught you some new skills. would you care to demonstrate? qian quans previous aggressive round was a hint for zhao baiyu to not hold back. zhao baiyu sensed that qian quan was far stronger than she had anticipated. her palm positions and eyes turned razor-sharp suddenly. with this transformation, her qi field changed dramatically, emitting a chilly, blade-like aura. both kids are impressive, the two martial arts luminaries watching from the sidelines exchanged opinions. one is undoubtedly from gong xuanzhus lineage, but the boys origin is unclear, another commented. ever heard the saying, masters are found among common folk? he might be from a family tradition. i wonder who will come out slightly ahead. well know in another three rounds. gong xuanzhu, sitting not far from them, had remained expressionless until he saw zhao baiyu change her moves to employ sixty-four hands. he immediately turned serious. be careful. zhao baiyu warned qian quan before launching her palms in unison. one pushed while the other sliced, a move known as clear breeze strokes in sixty-four hands. qian quan heard the whooshing sound of wind and exclaimed, excellent! as he countered with a circle hands and a chum kiu. zhao baiyus arms were neither bent nor straight, resembling a taut bow storing infinite energy. she spun her body, unleashing two more palms called white snow reflecting light. qian quan parried and blocked effortlessly, showing his own mastery. zhao baiyu was amazed, her moves becoming even quicker and stronger. flowing clouds and running water, immortal changing shadows, bright dawn scattering silk, pulling silk from the cocoon these skills from the sixty-four hands were executed one after the other, twisting and turning like water, flipping and coiling like a dragon. she used her palms as the skill, her movement as the application; her body followed her steps, her palms followed her body, and her steps followed her palms. when she was forceful, it was like an explosive crackling of ice, as quick as thunder and lightning. zhao baiyu became increasingly engrossed in the fight, losing herself in it completely. in the spectator seats, zhao chunjias fists were clenched involuntarily, his gaze fixed intently on the stage. huang pinghu, gong xuanzhu, li zihe, and others were equally engrossed. her movements are so graceful; is this a performance match? an uninformed spectator commented. i dont know, but she looks incredibly powerful; i feel like one punch could knock me down. qian quan watched in silent admiration. while zhao baiyus skill was not on par with zhang xianger, her continuous display of brilliant techniques captivated him. dont try to force each move to produce a sound. make sure all your moves are connected, qian quan said. he observed zhao baiyus shortcomings and offered unsolicited advice while defending against her attacks. zhao baiyu hesitated briefly but continued without breaking her rhythm. merge intent with qi, qi with force, and force with intent. make each move flow into the next, echoing one another. the sounds will naturally arise. usually, such advice might sound pedantic, but in the heat of the battle, it cleared away any cloud of confusion. how do i connect them? zhao baiyu asked while aiming a palm strike at qian quans chin. have you ever heard of resonance? qian quan replied, suddenly moving and launching both fists side by side, quivering like twin dragons emerging from the sea. zhao baiyu heard a resonating sound as if something struck deep within her heart. instinctively, she crossed her palms to block, then found herself flying backward. baiyu! zhao chunjia leaped to his feet. dont worry, huang pinghu beside him calmly reassured. gong xuanzhu remained seated but his eyes sparkled with keen interest. forget about the forms and concepts, focus on frequency and rhythm, qian quan said. since mastering grandmaster-level wing chun, these insights came to him naturally. now, meeting a gifted young woman who was deeply connected to his own family, he couldnt help but offer guidance. regardless of the martial art, the principles became universal when taken to the extreme. forget about the forms and concepts, focus on frequency and rhythm zhao baiyu repeated to herself. these words rang in her ears like lightning cutting through the fog in her heart. during this period, she immersed herself in the relentless practice and contemplation of the sixty-four hands, a sequence in wing chun martial arts. she was consumed by a fervor, finding each move intricate and each technique sublime. yet, despite her ceaseless efforts, she struggled to make substantial progress. even when she managed to produce some semblance of power in her strikes, it felt awkward and disconnected. achieving the sought-after golden voice in her movements was a distant dream, let alone the elusive jade vibration. but today, prompted by qian quan to execute the sixty-four hands and hearing his explanation, she felt as if a veil had been lifted. enlightenment struck. ive got it, ive got it! zhao baiyu cried out, overcome with emotion and clarity. qian quan merely smiled and assumed a wing chun salutation. qian quan, thank you! zhao baiyu was visibly excited, her eyes shining as they once did. in the spectator seats zhao chunjia was puzzled. whats going on with baiyu? everything is falling into place, huang pinghu chuckled. he might not have been versed in martial arts, but he was good at reading the mood and understanding human nature. zhao chunjia then turned to gong xuanzhu. master gong? gong xuanzhu looked moved, murmuring to himself, how remarkable! such a young person displayed the demeanor of a grandmaster! zhao chunjia suddenly looked toward the arena and saw his daughter launching her attacks on qian quan, her movements as graceful as a startled swan and as agile as a meandering dragon. the ceaseless hissing sounds gradually merged into a resonant hum, filling the air without end, its aftertaste lingering. could this be. the true embodiment of the golden voice jade resonance sixty-four hands? Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 65 The Master chapter 66: chapter 65 the master-disciple pairing in a female authors mind_i translator: inschain editor: inschain finally breaking through her martial barrier, zhao baiyu unleashed the sixty-four hands and made the real flowing clouds and running water. she was no longer confined by the forms or restricted by the verses; she struck wherever her thoughts took her. leading and following seamlessly, balancing strength with softness, mixing the unpredictable with the orthodox, her moves exuded the essence of a fluttering flag, and her energy flowed like a drifting cloud. her fists and feet transformed endlessly. truly, a good student comes from a good master! two senior guests from the martial arts community watched zhao baiyus enlightenment on the stage and couldnt help but feel moved. shes a rare talent, but the young man is even more extraordinary. indeed, at such a young age, he exudes the aura of a grandmaster. his generosity in aiding others to succeed in the arena is commendable. its not just that. look closely; while the young woman fights well, the young man has never been at a disadvantage. his blocks are stable, and his counters are precise. it may seem unremarkable, but its the epitome of less is more. he hasnt shown his full strength yet as they spoke, zhao baiyu finished her sixty-four hands and stepped back from the ring. she respectfully bowed with a clenched fist toward qian quan, performing a salute befitting her younger status. everyone saw this and knew the outcome even before the judges announced it. however, many in the audience didnt understand why zhao baiyu, who performed so gracefully, ended up losing to qian quan. a clever audience member inferred, think about it. zhao baiyu fought so well, yet she couldnt defeat qian quan. it just shows that qian quan is no slouch either. experts in the audience, like li zihe, were flabbergasted. he knew very well the level of skill zhao baiyu had. and qian quan he recalled how hed sought out qian quan in the past, trying to intimidate him by breaking bricks, thinking about it now felt somewhat awkward. in the end, the judges announced that qian quan, who had the upper hand throughout, won the competition and became the champion of this tournament. besides the prize money, trophy, and certificate of honor, he also earned the title sixth star of the big dipper. zhao baiyu clapped in complete sincerity, leaving those who felt unjust for her dumbfounded. turns out, there were no dark tricks or shenanigans. after the award ceremony, the host declared the end of this freshmen partner tournament. then came the time for media interviews. as the winners of the first and second places, both with stunning personal images, qian quan and zhao baiyu were the obvious choices for interviews. baiyu, do you have any comments on the outcome of this competition? very satisfied. any regrets? zhao baiyu spoke sincerely and affirmatively, not only do i have no regrets, but i also feel extremely fortunate. 1 think even when im eighty years old, i will still be grateful for participating in this competition and meeting such a great opponent as qian quan. 1 will be thankful to him forever. why are you thankful to qian quan? lets not go into details, but for now, hes like a mentor to me. on the other side, qian quan was also being interviewed. seeing that the medias logo was from azure bay tv, he immediately became serious. i believe this is a very meaningful competition. it not only enriches our extracurricular lives as college students but also resonates with our countrys call for the theme: balancing physical and mental growth. it also serves as a beneficial promotion of our nations traditional culture. compared to this, 1 dont think winning or losing is important. whats important is that every student has shown a spirit of braving difficulties and aspiring to excel during the competition. this spirit will inspire every student, making them realize the importance of physical fitness. in my opinion, this is the real purpose behind organizing this competition! though the media personnel felt that the interview could be used without any editing, they couldnt help but internally scoff: are you sure youre not a plant set up by the organizers? your speech sounds like its at the level of a student council vice president in charge of publicity. after the interviews, qian quan, zhao baiyu, and xun liangping met two big names in the martial arts world and received guidance from the masters. upon meeting qian quan, the first thing they asked was about his martial arts school. learning that his skills were passed down in his family, they couldnt help but express admiration. as expected, heroes come from the youth. the younger generation drives progress forward. then, the masters gave specific pointers to xun liangping and zhao baiyu. they took their time because they knew both students came from renowned schools and shared valuable insights. when it came to qian quan, they chuckled, since we havent seen you give it your all, were not sure what to say. what do you think baiyu should practice next in her set of skills? less is more, id say, qian quan responded. the masters laughed, well, we wont teach a fish how to swim, then. qian quan didnt know what to say. after meeting the masters, qian quan was going to take photos with members of his universitys martial arts association and then go find ding linlang. however, just as he finished taking photos, li zihe and zhao baiyus father, zhao chunjia, found him. the former looked like he had something to say but changed his mind upon seeing zhao chunjia, simply offering a greeting. since zihe is here, thats great; we can all have dinner together. zhao chunjia was immensely grateful to qian quan for helping his daughter break through her martial arts barrier and forming a mentor-student relationship. he planned to host a dinner at home to thank qian quan. although qian quan initially wanted to decline, zhao chunjia cited connections ranging from his father-in-law to his wife huang lingyan, who was qian quans senior at school, and finally to zhao baiyus master, gong xuanzhu. unable to refuse any further, and genuinely interested in meeting gong xuanzhu to discuss the golden sound jade vibration sixty-four hands, qian quan accepted the invitation. when li zihe heard that his master would also be attending, he quickly found an excuse to decline. sorry, mr. zhao, i have something going on at school. after visiting ajiu, i need to head back to hangzhou immediately. so, 1 wont be going. zhao chunjia didnt press the issue. after agreeing with zhao chunjia, qian quan went to find ding linlang. having watched the whole competition, ding linlang had a lot of questions for qian quan. was the martial art you used during the match wing chun? yep. when did you learn it? i remember we talked about this the last time we were in hangzhou. a one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy, huh? ive accepted that narrative. my question is, did you learn wing chun before or after me? qian quan suddenly recalled their agreement. after you. 1 had an epiphany. ding linlang chuckled softly and didnt press further. changing the topic to todays competition, she said, during your match earlier, 1 heard many people discussing that zhao baiyu shouldve won. but it seemed like she ultimately conceded defeat to you willingly. she had hit a plateau; i gave her some inspiration, qian quan grinned. being an online writer, ding linlang instantly understood what qian quan meant, asking, youre saying that in real-world martial arts training, theres actually something like a leveling bottleneck? yes, just like writers block or block during scientific research. this explanation works, ive been feeling a bit uneasy lately when writing about the ranking system in my paper. ill use this to clarify. qian quan nodded with a smile and said, by the way, theyre inviting me to dinner tonight. zhao baiyu? her parents, grandfather, and master. ding linlang nodded, makes sense. if someone could give me some guidance, no, even a mini-outline when im stuck in writing, id want to make them my mentor on the spot. spot guidance is at most a one-time mentor or a half-mentor. thats pretty good. there are many examples of masters and apprentices falling in love; its a nice arrangement, ding linlang said. hey, speaking of which, zhuge zhelan and feng lingxi are masters and disciples, too, blurted out qian quan, immediately regretting it. sure enough, ding linlang stopped in her tracks, turning to stare at qian quan, how did you know it? Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 66 A Lifetime Free Membership Card at the Clubl i chapter 67: chapter 66 a lifetime free membership card at the clubl i translator: inschain editor: inschain zhuge zhelan and feng lingxi were characters from the new work masters love by the relatively unknown contemporary chinese web novelist forest gazer. feng ling xi was the female protagonist in the story, while zhuge zhelan was her sect leader and master. ever since a drama featuring a romance between master and disciple became popular like spring shoots after rain. the trend became a master with an indifferent demeanor, powerful magic, deep-seated loneliness, and a tsundere attitude paired with a cute, hardworking, innocent, and mysterious female disciple. it seemed that in the world of fantasy and martial arts, a powerful master would be remiss if he didnt take on a female disciple. thus, when masters love introduced such character settings, readers instinctively felt that zhuge zhelan would surely be the official love match for feng lingxi. following the current popular plotline, it progressed from a deepening affection over time, to moral disapproval, to a third party stirring up trouble, to suppressed emotions, misunderstandings without explanations, the female leads identity being dramatically revealed, the female lead turning dark or evil, the male lead, as a master, silently sacrificing, a love-hate torturous relationship, and finally the truth coming to light with more emotional torment however, qian quan, who knew the main plot of the book, was aware that zhuge zhelan would heroically fall while combating the antagonist. then, after a small plot twist, the sects head disciple would ascend to power. while many masters love readers did enjoy the master-disciple romance, in actual content, zhuge zhelan and feng lingxi had a pure master-disciple relationship C a refreshing change from the norm. qian quan mentioned this to counter ding linlangs portrayal of master-disciple relationships. however, the problem was that he pretended not to know what ding linlang had written. his confession, revealing not only that he followed the book but also deeply understood it, flustered ding linlang. confronted by ding linlang, qian quan quickly responded, one line in your bio was my idea, so it was easy to find. qian quan, dont lie to me. judging by your tone, youve finished reading my previous book, havent you? it was hard to deceive each other. they knew each other too well, often hanging out together, rarely pretending or being guarded. he could have lied, but seeing how far she had gone with her suspicions, it seemed pointless to hide it. he nodded, not only did i finish it, but i also voted daily and made numerous highlighted comments in the comment section. 1 am, you can say, a die-hard fan of forest gazer. qian quan! ding linlangs face turned beet red. this was utterly embarrassing! it felt as if a diary she wrote when she was eleven or twelve was being read aloud to her. are you in my readers group? ding linlang inquired defensively. if 1 tell you, you cant get mad, and you cant kick me out of the group either. go ahead. promise first. alright, i wont get mad or kick you out. now, tell me. qian quan switched to his alternate account mystery man and messaged forest gazer, this is qian quan. 1 am talking to the real forest gazer. upon receiving the message, ding linlang almost dropped her phone. three seconds later- qian quan! im going to kill you! thats right, not only was qian quan in her reader group, but he was also an admin! he had interacted with her countless times in the group, sometimes even discussing topics related to himself. other members often teased her about her mysterious childhood friend. and the so-called friend was right there among them, occasionally joining in the teasing. this was the ultimate embarrassment! ding linlang lunged at him, trying to strangle qian quan. hey! im an expert, i am ouch! the sixth star of the big dipper ding linlang, of course, didnt use real strength. it was just the sudden wave of embarrassment that compelled her to do something to alleviate the awkwardness. after a playful scuffle, qian quan, in his attempt to retaliate, pulled her into his embrace. both hastily and tacitly separated. such close contact had happened in their younger days. yet now, as both matured, it seemed more prudent to avoid such intimacy. ironically, their attempt to break the tension only made the atmosphere more awkward. when did you find out 1 was writing? ding linlang quickly changed the subject. not long after you started typing away. your constant typing piqued my interest. then one day, i spotted you browsing your book on the thornbush literature website. combining your writing style and pseudonym, it was easy to deduce, qian quan explained. ding linlang remained silent for a while before stating, the comments made by my pen name, forest gazer, dont necessarily reflect my real views. you understand that, right? yeah. some plots and details in my book were crafted for the storyline and many details were searched on the fly online. im not particularly knowledgeable about them myself, okay? yeah, qian quan replied with utter sincerity. dont tell anyone. i wont. dont tease me using my books plot or quotes! i promise, no teasing. ding linlang pondered for a moment and added, thats it for now. if i think of anything else, 111 let you know. alright. the two had dinner and then went back to their respective schools. not long after they parted, ding linlang sent another message to mystery man online. dont check our chat history. mystery man replied, i wont. at 6 in the afternoon. zhao chunjia sent a car to pick up qian quan and bring him to tulip garden. accompanied by his wife and daughter, zhao chunjia personally greeted qian quan upon his arrival. when they met, zhaos wife, huang lingyan, naturally exchanged pleasantries with qian quan.. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 66 A Lifetime Free Membership Card at the Club!_2 chapter 68: chapter 66 a lifetime free membership card at the club!_2 translator: inschain editor: inschain upon entering the house, he saw mr. huang, another elderly man, and a refined middle-aged man wearing a neat suit and glasses. this is baiyus master, master gong xuanzhu. you all know my father-in-law. this is gu shuntang, my sworn brother and best friend. zhao chunjia really treated qian quan as a very important guest. he not only invited his best buddy to accompany him but also introduced him with such solemnity. qian quan greeted each of them politely, and they responded in kind. baiyu told me about the advice you gave her on the court. it was incredibly insightful and deeply resonating! i wont go on thanking you. if theres ever a time you need me to help, just go ahead. 1 wont refuse. master gong xuanzhu, seeing qian quan, struggled to hide his excitement and made a seemingly casual, but actually quite weighty, verbal promise. the golden voice jade vibration sixty-four hands was the unique skill of his sect. its continuation was self-explanatory in terms of significance. youre being too humble. its mostly thanks to your teaching. baiyu learned well. i just gave a few pointers and added some finishing touches, qian quan replied. master gong xuanzhu waved his hand and continued saying. in our xingyi fist, we say, progress with every thought, dont stagnate. act with every breath, dont hesitate. especially when one reaches a bottleneck in martial arts. lingering too long can lead to obsession, causing setbacks. only by progressing can one break this obsession. a timely wake-up call at that moment is as valuable as ten years of instruction. mr. qian, you should not be modest. it was a fortunate coincidence, and 1 happened to be there at the right time, qian quan responded without false modesty. well said with fortunate coincidence! huang pinghu added. the meeting and knowing of people all lie in these words. lets all sit and talk. everyone took their seats in turn. zhao chunjia said, today, we are all family here, so lets not stand on ceremony. at the dining table, qian quan was undoubtedly the center of attention. huang pinghu discussed literature with him, gong xuanzhu debated martial arts. huang lingyan reminisced with him about the past and present of riverside first high school, while zhao chunjia had baiyu toast him. in contrast, gu shuntang spoke less, but always at the right moments, toasting with qian quan or inquiring about his studies and life. qian quan answered openly what he could and declined politely where necessary, without hesitation. throughout the meal, topics ranged from chess, physiognomy, qi observation, martial arts, and gourmet dishes of azure bay, to future career plans and more. originally, according to the plan qian quan discussed with his parents, he intended to become a teacher after graduating from university. but now, more options opened up. he could explore the realms of chess, basketball, and martial arts or even start his comprehensive training class. the future held endless possibilities, and there was no rush to decide. if there was another hidden reason, it was that he wasnt sure what new endeavor his father might embark on. to some extent, the height of his future ceiling would depend on where his fathers ceiling was. was this another form of relying on ones parents? zhao chunjia insinuated that qian quan could join his company after graduation. judging from his tone, it would be more than just being a waiter. when i was young, i also considered myself extraordinarily gifted. i learned martial arts from my master, and i quickly grasped everything. 1 frequently challenged other schools and rarely faced setbacks. but today, after meeting mr. qian, i realize theres always someone better. if 1 were born a few decades later and then met you, i might have been more humble. so today, id like to spar with you, mr. qian. how about it? gong xuanzhu was in high spirits today. after a couple of drinks, he loosened up and unexpectedly challenged qian quan. baiyu watched in amazement, thinking if her fellow disciples saw their master in this state, they would be utterly shocked. qian quan, hearing gong xuanzhus words, was eager to accept. he had wanted to spar with the two martial arts seniors after the morning competition. but they brushed it off, saying they wouldnt show off their skills in front of an expert. ive always wanted to learn from master gong, qian quan said. gong xuanzhu laughed, 1 dont know if theres much i can teach you in terms of martial arts. if we really start fighting, 1 dont know how many moves i can withstand as an old man. theres a saying, fists fear the young, but sticks fear the old. lets spar with fists to compare ideas and then practice some stick techniques. what do you say? that works for me, qian quan agreed. with that, everyone headed to baiyus underground martial arts training room. in the world of martial arts, each school has its techniques and routines. but theres a universal saying, unseen, unheard, sense danger and evade. mr. qian, have you heard of it? indeed, qian quan nodded, its said that when martial arts training reaches the highest level, one develops a kind of subconscious ability to predict danger. in my view, its probably a heightened reflex response. just like some animals can sense impending changes in the weather. exactly, gong xuanzhu agreed. lets start with that. qian quan, curious, asked, how do we do it? its simple. one stands still while the other tries to tap his shoulder from behind. the goal is to see if the person can evade the tap. gong xuanzhus eyes gleamed mischievously. alright, after you.. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 66 A Lifetime Free Membership Card at the Club! chapter 69: chapter 66 a lifetime free membership card at the club! translator: inschain editor: inschatn gong xuanzhu didnt refuse. qian quan turned his back to face the center of the room. t he smile on gong xuanzhu1 s face vanished, and his expression became stern. t he aura around him seemed to contract. quietly, he lifted his right foot, extending it forward stealthily like a snake. his body wavered as if he was about to fail, but he silently approached qian quan, who seemed unaware. everyone else was engrossed in the game, a playful game reminiscent of childhood games, their expressions tense. zhao baiyu, in particular, stared intently at her masters footwork and body movements. gong xuanzhu was now within a foot of qian quan. he could easily touch his shoulder with a simple hand movement. bur his palm hovered in the air, swaying slightly, seemingly waiting for the right moment. as everyone else looked on in confusion, suddenly, gong xuanzhus hand shot down. in the blink of an eye, everyone saw a figure move and realized that qian quan had shifted two meters away. gong xuanzhus strike met only air. everyone stared in disbelief. well done! although gong xuanzhu missed his target, he wasnt disappointed. on the contrary, he was thrilled. the younger generation is rising, and it s time for us old-timers to gracefully retire. qian quan replied honestly, sorry, it wasnt that 1 was unaware. 1 dodged using the skill of listening. this round doesnt count as my win. gong xuanzhu dismissed it, same outcome, different paths. in a few years, youll reach that level. now, its my turn. excited, gong xuanzhu turned around. qian quan stepped back a few paces and said, no offense, then stood still, observing gong xuanzhus silhouette. after a few seconds, qian quan took a step to the left and seemed to be thinking of moving backward. but in rhe next moment, he dashed forward, leaving a blurred afterimage. when everyone looked again, his hand was resting lightly on gong xuanzhus shoulder. gong xuanzhu laughed heartily, im getting old, indeed! 1 need to accept it. qian quan said, you sensed it. i took advantage of my youthful speed. this round isnt your loss. gong xuanzhu chuckled, sensing danger but unable to avoid it, isnt that even more of a failure? qian quan didnt respond, but he felt that he still had room for improvement and mustnt become complacent. at the very least, he should practice the wudang secret circulation skill given by zhang xianger more diligently. later, gong xuanzhu and qian quan compared their stick-fighting skills. wing chun six and a half pole was simple in its movements, with no unnecessary embellishments. it could be summarized with seven key actions: scrape, jab, lift, circle, rag, sweep, and flick. the emphasis was on delivering power through the tip of the pole while maintaining unity between the practitioner and the pole. qian quan, being a grandmaster, naturally had excellent skills. but as he sparred with gong xuanzhu, he found himself at a disadvantage. his stick was tangled, and he narrowly avoided a strike to his foot. the pole fears the skilled master wasnt just a saying. lucidly, qian quan quickly recalled various combat techniques with the stick, rallied his spirits, repelled gong xuanzhus long stick, and launched a series of counterattacks. t he two sparred without causing harm, and the match ended in a draw. gong xuanzhu was panting slightly from age, and qian quan was sweating but still had some energy left. that was exhilarating! gong xuanzhu exclaimed. its been a long time since ive had such an exhilarating spar. mr. qian, shall we have another match sometime? td be honored. after sparring with gong xuanzhu, it was time for qian quan to return to school. zhao chunjia gave his friend, gu shuntang, a glance. and gu shuntang nodded in understanding. youre heading back to seacoast normal university, right? gu shuntang inquired. yes. i have some business there too. lets go together. alright. qian quan bid farewell to the zhao family and rode back to the university in gu shuntangs car. the journey wasnt long, just half an hour. when they reached the university entrance, gu shuntang stopped the car and handed qian quan a paper bag from the passenger seat, mr. qian, heres a small gift. chunjia asked me to give it to you. please accept it. dont worry, its not anything extravagant. just a membership card and some leftover shopping cards from our companys event. qian quan declined, weve already had a meal and drinks, no need for gifts. gu shuntang explained, compared to your guidance for baiyu, this gift is insignificant. originally, chunjia wanted to gift you a rolex and some gold bars, but mr. huang felt that was too ostentatious. so he decided on a black membership card for funing one and some shopping cards. if you still refuse, 1 fear chunjia might send over the gold bars and the watch after all. alright then, qian quan reluctantly took the bag, hes already given me a membership card. yes, that red card allows for three free visits. you can give it to a friend. this black card offers a lifetime of free services and comes with some exclusive perks for elite members. you can discover them over time. qian quan thought to himself, isnt this gift just as extravagant as the watch and gold bars? after bidding gu shuntang farewell, qian quan stepped out of the car. he quickly checked the contents of the bag. there was a finely crafted metal box, likely the funing one black membership card. beside the metal box was an envelope stuffed with cards. qian quan opened the envelope to find a thick stack of shopping cards, each with a value of 5,000. he counted them- twenty cards in total! Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 67 It Is Very Easy to Pass the Draft _1 chapter 70: chapter 67 it is very easy to pass the draft _1 translator: inschain editor: inschain qian quan returned to his dorm room and took a quick inventory of his assets. excluding the card from lin xiaohuang, he had over 400,000 in cash. with the martial arts competition prize money, it would surpass 500,000. however, he had already decided that once he received the prize money, the first 30,000 would go to his parents. besides cash, he also possessed a black and a red card from funing one and 20 shopping cards with a total value of 100,000. moreover, the annual 50,000 scholarship set up by lin xiaohuang for him was more than he could ever spend. for a college student, financial worries for the next four years were a thing of the past. he was free to focus on his studies, fully immerse himself in the college experience, and engage in meaningful activities. as the old saying goes, one is fearless with fortune. in the mundane world, money was undoubtedly one of the most empowering tools. after safely storing away all his cards, qian quan decided to practice the wudang secret circulation skill, also known as wudang inner peace practice. his meeting with gong xuanzhu was insightful. having studied martial arts for decades, gong xuanzhus knowledge and practical experience were extensive. his profound insights were eye-opening for qian quan. for instance, gong xuanzhu mentioned that the human body was the altar, and the spirit it worshipped was its deity. thus, one should always maintain the bodys strength, cleanliness, and health. only by doing so could the spirit remain resilient and strong, highlighting the true essence of martial arts. he spoke of the concept of unity with nature, using the example of how butterflies and sparrows avoid humans because of the unique human aura. only by eliminating this aura, allowing butterflies to flutter around and sparrows to perch on ones shoulder, could one truly integrate with nature. one was about movement, the other stillness. with master-level wing chun skills, qian quan excelled in the movement. hence, exploring stillness became more relevant to him. in reality, many magnates from politics and the business world were fond of meditation, a form of cultivating stillness. standing facing south, qian quan closed his eyes and relaxed his body, calming his mind. he concentrated, regulated his breathing, and focused his energy on dantian (the lower abdomen). his breath naturally rose, from the base of his spine up to the back of his head, then down to the front, and back to the abdomen. this cycle continued, aligning him with the universe, making his breathing more steady and elongated, and his thoughts clearer. the next day, qian quan went to class with his roommates as usual. before he reached the classroom, he unexpectedly received a message from li zihe, who invited him to lunch, saying there was something important to discuss. after the martial arts competition ended, qian quan remembered that he had sought himself out, seeming to have something to say. however, after spotting zhao chunjia, he changed his mind at the last moment. qian quan was a bit curious, speculating in his mind that this time it definitely wouldnt be for a stone-kicking performance. he responded, alright. that morning, they had two ancient history classes, taught by the popular professor zhou wenhan. students affectionately referred to him as passionate zhou because of his passionate teaching style and clear-cut views. he could make even ancient history come alive and resonate deeply with the students. for example, every time professor zhou introduced a new batch of students to his class, he would pose two questions: do you know the four great ancient civilizations? almost every student would answer. ancient babylon, ancient egypt, ancient india, and china. upon hearing the answer, he would then ask, do you know why the prefix ancient is attached to the first three but not to china? at least half of the students would be stumped. at that moment, professor zhou would passionately explain to the students. because the 5,000-year splendid history of china has been continuous since its inception. its never been interrupted! next, he would enlighten everyone on why the history of chinese civilization embodies benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust, as well as kindness, humility, modesty, and restraint, and at the same time, its a history of battling the heavens and the earth, and bravely resisting adversity. moderation, humility, kindness, and restraint are our national spirit, but voicing out against injustice and bravely resisting are equally our national foundation. delving into ancient chinese myths, all emphasizing that these stories were filled with courage and determination. so 1 often tell my students that chinese history is not only a story of love, peace, and morality but also a tale of defiance, resistance, and unyielding heroism. the young and energetic freshmen were easily inspired by these words, feeling an immediate sense of national pride. under this tone, professor zhou began his teachings for the new term. during that days lecture, the topic somehow shifted to a debate where some scholars, both domestic and international, believed that chinas civilization spanned 3,000 years, not 5,000 years. professor zhou grew passionate again. where is the most regrettable aspect of this? its not their denial but that some of us accept their denial. weve succumbed to their standards! he continued, these foreign scholars might not intentionally defame or belittle our history, but they surely seek dominance in discourse and the power to define.. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 67 It Is Very Easy to Pass the Draft_2 chapter 71: chapter 67 it is very easy to pass the draft_2 translator: inschain editor: inschain they always hold this concept: what is culture? what is history? we must follow their standards and listen to their definitions! have you noticed, students? what have foreign countries been doing all these years? seizing the power of discourse in every field and industry! what is civilization? what is fashion? what is culture? what is being qualified? what are universal values? they think everything is defined by them; do you understand? those who hold the power of discourse and standard-setting have the power to extort wealth and discredit others! so, my students, learn from history. recognize not only the gaps but also the essence. dont blindly follow. it was one of the reasons why professor zhous history lectures were so popular. he could integrate historical lessons with current hot topics, leaving you both stirred and reflective. of course, professor zhou also held ethical views and often engaged in debates with his colleagues over various issues. after the morning class, qian quan didnt go to lunch with his roommates. instead, he left the campus to catch a taxi to meet li zihe. upon reaching the agreed location, he found that li zhiyi was also there. wow, both of you are here! qian quan was surprised. todays matter concerns all three of us. come and sit down, li zihe invited. li zhiyi waved at qian quan as a greeting. didnt you have classes this morning? qian quan asked li zhiyi. i did, two classes. once they were over, i came with my brother to meet you. oh, you must have waited for a while then. indeed, li zhiyi nodded, smiling. li zihe, listening to their conversation, felt somewhat disoriented. when did his sister become so sociable? how well-acquainted were they? and how many times had they met privately? so, what are we discussing today? qian quan asked after sitting down. were discussing business, li zihe steadied himself. huh? qian quan was puzzled. li zihe adjusted his tone, didnt you mention to me before about the chess and go software that ajiu developed? im planning to set up a company to handle this. of course, it wont just focus on chess and go, but well use them as an entry point. got it. youre really proactive, qian quan gave him a thumbs-up. but why did you invite me? to offer you shares, li zihe was blunt. huh? qian quan was puzzled again, then realized, i can invest some money, but it might be a drop in the bucket. dont worry about the investment; ive already got that covered. do you mean youve secured angel investment? qian quan, whod watched business movies, was curious. you could say that, li zihe smiled. which angel? li zhiyi grinned at the question. my father, li zihe paused before revealing. qian quan was speechless. it seemed that every father was powerful. li zihe cleared his throat, youll get 5% of the shares for technical input. but 1 dont know anything technical; i study history. i know, but ajiu said she needs you to train the system. youre also an education major, so its a good match. pius, you were the first to suggest this idea 5% is too much. how about i also contribute some money? as i said, i plan to develop comprehensive al educational software, starting with chess and go. an additional 50,000 or 100,000 wont make much difference. ill invest 110,000 then. li zhiyi burst into a chuckle. youre so humorous, li zihe was not amused by qian quans joke, but upon seeing his sister laugh, a layer of helplessness was added to his demeanor. qian quan stopped joking and asked, whats the name of the company? its tentatively called one nine equals nine. nice name, qian quan smiled. actually, ive always had a wish that we could create an educational software designed specifically for children that requires facial recognition for login. and the backend of this software could be linked to the national database of missing children. if a match is found, a warning will be issued. of course, this is just a wild idea from a layman like me. theres no scientific basis for it. li zhiyi seemed lost in thought. li zihe said, given the current speed of al development, what youre saying should be achievable soon. qian quan nodded, however, i hope it would be a closed system; otherwise, it would create a lot of new problems. li zihe, with his keen senses, asked, you seem very interested in artificial intelligence? its trendy. everyone around is paying attention, qian quan didnt catch the subtext in his question. oh, so whats your view on the future of al? li zihe continued to ask. as for me, logically i think we shouldnt reject advanced tools as they represent the future. however, emotionally, 1 have some concerns. i dont know where al might lead humanity. so sometimes im filled with confidence in human wisdom, thinking how weve created so many miraculous tools. other times, im quite pessimistic, feeling that were heading down a self-destructive path. even if we knew we were creating a monster, we wouldnt stop; rather, it would be like a race. after all, in the world of the internet, falling behind for a year might mean falling behind for a lifetime. if thats beyond our control, then if one day al gains self-consciousness, everyone should just pull the plug, said li zihe.. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 67 It Is Very Easy to Pass the Draft 3 chapter 72: chapter 67 it is very easy to pass the draft 3 translator: inschain editor: inschain qian quan laughed, then turned to ask li zhiyi, ajiu, what do you think of the consciousness demonstrated by todays artificial intelligence? li zhiyi said, executing instructions along predetermined paths. qian quan didnt understand the technical terms, but he got the gist, and sighed, in the future, the internet has memory might become reality. the three of them chatted while having their meal, and in the end, qian quan confirmed his investment in one nine equals nine technology company. throughout the process, li zihe didnt mention anything related to martial arts, although he had many questions he wanted to ask. at windsor town middle school. qian wenlin was alone in the office, passionately typing on the keyboard. the last manuscript he submitted finally received positive feedback from the editor (unlike the rejections before), stating that the quality of the manuscript was excellent, meeting the standards for acceptance, but suggested modifying the ending a bit. according to qian wenlins original manuscript, the male protagonist and his first love girlfriend had multiple affairs, but eventually, the prodigal son returned and reconciled with his family. in the last scene of the novel, the protagonist, with his wife and son, roams in a mall, riding the escalator from below upwards, while his first love rides the escalator from above downwards alone. as they pass each other, they exchange a glance of reminiscence, carried away by the wind. the editor felt that this treatment was too casual and that the protagonists reflection was inadequate, hinting at a wrong direction, and asked for a modification of the ending to elevate it. therefore, qian wenlin decided to add a section where the protagonist, under the coercion of his first love, has a final affair with her in the office. amid the intense conflict between spirit and flesh, he comes to a realization and returns to innocence. in this affair, his first love takes the initiative, portraying an evil image reminiscent of eve tempting adam with the apple. she tightly embraces the protagonist, spouting hot but false love words, and actively leans in for a forceful kiss. her kiss was like an inescapable blaze from within to out, burning him entirely. in a state of enrapture, he was burnt to ashes, his body turned transparent, soul and flesh completely twisted and deformed, presenting a floaty state only experienced in dreams. he was no longer a person; his human essence was obliterated, turned into desire itself, submissive to her, submissive to desire, full of longing and pleasure! thats not love, definitely not! it was merely the animalistic instinct! he became a slave to desire! weak! lowly! even worse than a male prostitute! what rekindled old feelings? just the past seen through the lens of time, appearing unusual. in reality, at this moment, he was both disgusted and dirty! in the revised version, qian wenlin criticized and castigated the protagonist ruthlessly, eventually having the protagonists wife demand a divorce, leave home, and go on a travel to ease her mind. the protagonists first love was reported internally for having an improper relationship with a colleague, leading to a bad influence, and thus lost her job. thereafter, the protagonist roams the world with his child searching for his wife. in the final scene, the protagonist, along with his child, kneels on the street, remorseful and crying. his first love, who had just completed her resignation process, drives by. she rolls down the car window, looks at him expressionlessly, rolls up the window, and drives away. qian wenlin sent the revised version to the editor. not long after, the editor replied, perfect! ill go through the process with the chief editor, and inform you immediately once theres a result. judging by the editors words, its almost settled. alright. qian wenlin replied, exhaled lightly, and leaned back on his chair, feeling extremely delighted. after lunch, colleagues gradually returned to the office. the first one who had published an article in new story monthly and earned a 5,000 manuscript fee saw qian wenlin contemplatively reclining on his chair, and asked, wenlin, havent you gone for lunch yet? im going now. 1 was just replying to an editor. what editor? the editor from new story monthly. didnt you suggest submitting our drafts there? i wrote a short novella when 1 had some free time recently and sent it over. today their editor contacted me to modify the ending, so i revised it and sent it back. then the editor mentioned they would discuss it with the chief editor and asked me to wait for a reply. im not sure what that means. they said theyd discuss it with the chief editor? yeah, thats what they said. that most likely means its been accepted, and the editor is applying for a publication schedule. really? i just wrote it casually. lets wait and see. the other party felt speechless. he thought to himself, what happened to wenlins attitude? was he showing off? what goes around comes around.. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 68 Qian Quan Wins in the Competition Easilyi chapter 73: chapter 68 qian quan wins in the competition easilyi translator: inschain editor: inschain ever since enjoying a meal paid for by a coworkers manuscript fee, a silent competition had quietly begun among qian wenlins colleagues. since were all chinese teachers, getting an article accepted should be a breeze. not taking advantage of such an easy side gig is a waste that drunken confession by a colleague was deeply imprinted in everyones minds. the underlying message was that if you couldnt easily publish an article, you were not fit to teach chinese. it was very hurtful. this was no longer just about earning extra money but about proving ones professional competence! so, qian wenlin and the other chinese teachers who had never published started writing and submitting their work secretly. however, in reality, there was no direct correlation between teaching chinese and being a writer. writers might not make good chinese teachers, and vice versa. if you were to ask these writers to do a reading comprehension test on their own work, they might not score well. they might even get wrong the question, what is the author trying to express here? so, most submissions either sank without a trace or received generic rejection emails. feeling neither guilt nor discouragement would be impossible. fortunately, perseverance paid off. after multiple attempts and adjustments, qian wenlin finally received the response hed been hoping for. dear mr. linwen, 1 have submitted your manuscript to the editor-in-chief. its now in the queue for review. well have results within three working days and ill contact you then. linwen was qian wenlins pen name for submissions. he had researched the process online and based on others feedback, if the editor approves and asks for revisions, theres a 99% chance of getting published. though eager to see his article published and to collect the payment for treating his friends, his heart finally settled. i guess ive proven myself, he thought to himself. in a last-ditch attempt, he asked the editor, could the title of the novel be changed to porcelain anniversary or 20 years of marriage? the editor replied, no need, the current one is fine. qian wenlin said, alright. ive been married for almost five years, and you dont even have a girlfriend. its absurd! if youre not going to take charge of the company, at least carry on the family line. do i have to do everything? in a hotel in the capital city, zhang xianger lay on the bed in his pajamas, while a tall, slender young man with glasses stood beside him, venting his frustrations. it was none other than the general manager of the nature company, zhang xiangers elder brother, zhang xianxue. xianxue, how many times have i told you? i am practicing martial arts and preserving my celibacy, and therefore shouldnt marry right now. even the founder of our sect, mr. zhang sanfeng, has stated this. i have video evidence to prove it. what was the girl who just left your room here for? she was just a bedmate from a group booking. we happened to book the same bed in this shared hotel. what about that? zhang xianxue pointed at a small blue box on the bedside table. exactly! this is my secret weapon to maintain celibacy. with its protection, i can stay celibate forever. is that also what zhang sanfeng said? that using a condom doesnt count as breaking your celibacy, right? zhang xianxues expression reached a breaking point, xianger, do you think im stupid? whats the point of nitpicking this with me? seeing his brothers expression change, zhang xianger chuckled nervously. according to dad, i wouldnt even need to talk to you. i could just drag you out of bed and give you a good beating. but you cant beat me, zhang xianger said softly. zhang xianxue burst into laughter. true, 1 cant beat you. i almost forgot youre a martial arts grandmaster. you know tai chi. come on, hit me then! zhang xianxue leaned toward zhang xianger, pointing at his own head, hit me here, using your tai chi, and do it hard. bro, bro, i was wrong, 1 was wrong. zhang xianger quickly surrendered. even though he was a martial arts grandmaster, the innate sibling rivalry still made zhang xianger nervous. zhang xianxue stood up straight, starting to speak his mind, honestly, xianger, i wish you could knock me down with a single punch. then i wouldnt have to worry about the company or family affairs. id be free from social obligations and could travel the world, enjoy good food, and appreciate beautiful women beautiful women? zhang xianger interrupted. i meant your sister-in-law, okay? alright. i dont have the patience to keep arguing with you. here are two options: either start working at the company or marry hu xiaoru. pick one. hey, bro, thats not what we agreed on before. i havent finished the martial arts competition yet. do you think id join in on the fun? even in a martial arts competition, youve lost two rounds already. right now, im giving you an out. dont end up having to get married and work here at the same time. but 1 cant, bro. 1 must win at least one round against that irritating competitor. otherwise, how else would 1 face my master? are you going to fight him yourself? zhang xianger shook his head, no need, i still have a trump card up my sleeve. im going to azure bay today to invite him over and teach that annoying guy a lesson. then youd better get up. ill arrange a plane to pick you up. if you pull any tricks this time, youll have to face the consequences. roger that! in the afternoon, at seacoast normal university. qian quan, who had just finished his class, was walking toward his dormitory with his roommates when a familiar figure called out to him.. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 68 Qian Quan Wins in the chapter 74: chapter 68 qian quan wins in the competition easily_2 translator: inschain editor: inschain zhao baiyu. under the complex gaze of his roommates, qian quan walked over. hi, greeted qian quan. zhao baiyu smiled, sorry for the sudden approach. i didnt get a chance to talk to you alone yesterday, so i took the liberty of coming over. its fine; i just finished class. whats up? nothing much, i just wanted to thank you in person and give you a small gift, said zhao baiyu as he pulled out a red butterfly knife. qian quan was about to say that his father had already thanked him, but upon seeing the butterfly knife, he accepted it. this is a unique knife, said qian quan, who was skilled in the eight-slash sword and could easily handle short weapons. it was custom-made for me by someone my dad knows. there are two of them. it feels good to hold, qian quan praised, then ill graciously accept. of course, zhao baiyu nodded. also, i wonder whether 1 could ask you for another favor. go ahead. can i come to you for some martial arts guidance when youre free? of course, you can. great, thank you. youre welcome. we do have some connections, being fellow locals. yeah, zhao baiyu smiled broadly at qian quans agreement. after giving the gift and saying thanks, zhao baiyu left after exchanging a few more words. qian quan returned to his dormitory to put his things away and then went to meet bai yuanzhi. they had planned to film a video featuring a weapons battle that day. it was qian quans eight-slash sword versus bai yuanzhis tai chi sword. mentor is coming over today to take you to the capital city for a martial arts match with shimizu ichiro. bai yuanzhi told qian quan the news just before the official shoot. he already texted me. by the way, have you ever heard of laido? no, but ill do a quick online search to get the gist of it. that sounds a bit hasty, doesnt it? qian quan laughed, its not hasty at all. dont look for realistic video explanations; just watch related movies or tv shows and then gauge whether you could beat their protagonists. for example, if i could beat zatoichi, why would i worry about defeating shimizu ichiro? youre sure you could beat zatoichi? bai yuanzhi seemed familiar with the movie as well. hard to say, ive never fought him, said qian quan nonchalantly as if he had a good shot at winning if they actually battled. bai yuanzhi was speechless. bai yuanzhi was genuinely stunned. if anyone else had made that claim-even her own mentor-she wouldve thought they were boasting. but coming from qian quan, it seemed highly credible. comparing the combat abilities of a real person with a fictional, god-like swordsman was beyond strange. it was even more baffling. artistic works come from life but are higher than life, and the same goes for combat settings. we tend to overestimate our opponents so that were not at a disadvantage, qian quan said. thats not really the point bai yuanzhi quietly retorted, then asked, could i get a demonstration of your eight-slash sword technique? of course, qian quan looked around and spotted a water pen on the table. he picked it up and said, ill use this water pen as a sword to demonstrate the technique for you. what? bai yuanzhi was stunned. you attack me with your sword, and ill use this water pen to counter it. no way, thats just bai yuanzhi refused. qian quan explained, eight-slash isnt the name of the sword; its the name of the technique. it can be applied with one sword or two. once youve reached a certain level, it doesnt matter whether you have a sword in your hand or not. everyday objects or even your bare hands can be used for the eight-slash sword technique. think of it this way: if you were to play table tennis against the best player, would it make any difference whether he or she used a paddle or the sole of a shoe? well well bai yuanzhi was at a loss for words. qian quan quickly added, im not trying to belittle you. the eight-slash sword technique follows the principles of the eight methods of the character yong. for demonstration purposes, a pen is the most suitable. fine the two put on protective gear. bai yuanzhi grasped her long sword, and qian quan held the water pen. a brief standoff ensued. swish! bai yuanzhi lunged with her sword. qian quan dodged and slashed at the blade with the water pen. clang! bai yuanzhi almost lost grip on her sword. she twisted her wrist to perform a flourish with her sword, only to hear another clang as qian quans pen struck the blade again. bai yuanzhi lost control of her sword once more. the bout was essentially over by this point. in weapon combat, unlike unarmed combat, losing even one move can be fatal. as the saying in wing chun goes, a sword has no double strike; a staff makes no double sound. it means that in weapon fights, one move often decides the outcome. many of the little-known stances, steps, theories, and techniques of wing chun are summarized in the eight-slash sword technique. the most exquisite part is its footwork. qian quan put away his pen and began explaining. bai yuanzhi realized the gap between her swordsmanship and qian quans technique might be even bigger than her table tennis skill gap with zhang yining. she didnt want to compare any further and began recording a video. at least during the video recording, she could control the flow and overshadow qian quan. as they were discussing the editing of the video, zhang xianger called. ive arrived at your campus, quan, she said. qian quan shared a location with him. about ten minutes later, zhang xianger appeared with sunglasses on and beard shaved. upon meeting, she gave qian quan a big hug before asking, have you guys finished filming the video? yes. oh, 1 missed it; give me a couple of retakes. come on, quan, lets pretend to spar for a bit.. Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 68 Qian Quan Wins in the Competition Easily_3 chapter 75: chapter 68 qian quan wins in the competition easily_3 translator: inschain editor: inschain bai yuanzhi reluctantly said, were doing a weapons educational video today, maybe next time. an educational video on weapons? specifically, wing chuns eight-slash sword? let me see. bai yuanzhi played the raw footage for zhang xianger to see. in the video, qian quan continued to perform the set moves, showing nothing particularly extraordinary. rubbing his chin, zhang xianger watched for a moment before suddenly declaring, xiaobai, quan, going forward, lets just stick to what we know. the two of you are still senior and junior students; lets not complicate things. we havent complicated anything, bai yuanzhi responded. thats good. this way, if you two ever want to get together, you wont have to worry. mentor! bai yuanzhis face turned beet red. qian quan just shook his head helplessly. see for yourselves, you two are so in sync when working together; its like a match made in heaven. didnt you feel it while making the video? ignoring him, bai yuanzhi, still blushing, closed the video. enough talk. say one more word, and you can go duel shimizu ichiro yourself, qian quan interrupted. alright, no more words, said zhang xianger, pulling out his phone, let me show you the previous two matches. this guy has some skills-finishing the fight in just two moves. qian quan took the phone, watched attentively, then returned it to zhang xianger, asking, when and where will 1 be fighting him? the location will be in the capital city; the time is up to us. then lets make it tonight. its the weekend; 1 can take the opportunity to explore the capital city. dont you need to prepare? no need. alright, then ill set it up. seeing qian quans confidence, zhang xianger became even more optimistic. he made a phone call, and after hanging up, told qian quan, 8 p.m., at the gorin kendo dojo. no problem. lets go then, we can have dinner on the plane, zhang xianger said, looking at bai yuanzhi, xiaobai, do you want to come? though bai yuanzhi was intrigued to see a match of this caliber, she was also worried that her mentor would make jokes about her and qian quan. come along, zhang xianger invited again, dont worry, i wont bring it up again only then did bai yuanzhi nod in agreement. the trio headed to the airport and flew to the capital city on zhang xiangers private jet. for qian quan, it was his first time on a private jet. it reminded him of an interview with a billionaire. the journalist had asked, is it fun being a super-rich person? the billionaire had laughed, definitely more fun than being super poor. on the plane, zhang xianger had the flight attendant prepare dinner. upon seeing the stainless steel chopsticks in the dinner set, qian quan paused for a moment, then burst into an inexplicable smile. at 7 p.m., the plane landed at the airport of the capital city. by 7:45, qian quan, bai yuanzhi, and zhang xianger arrived at the gorin kendo dojo. shimizu ichiro was already there, seated in meditation on a cushion, seemingly gathering his sword intent. beside him was a quiet, dark-green laido sword. unmovable, like a massive rock. man and sword, seemingly one. at 7:55, shimizu ichiro opened his eyes. at 7:58, shimizu ichiro and qian quan put on their protective gear. at 8:00, shimizu ichiro and qian quan stepped into the center of the kendo hall. meanwhile, all the guests took their seats, filled with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation for the impending duel. where is your sword? shimizu ichiro asked, speaking fluent mandarin. with a flick of his right hand, qian quan produced a stainless-steel chopstick. everyone present was stunned. what do you mean by this? shimizu ichiro inquired. if you beat my chopstick, ill switch to a sword. just as he finished speaking, a rapid-fire burst of foreign language echoed through the hall. a foreigner at the sideline was giving shimizu ichiro some advice. he says its a psychological tactic, zhang xianger translated. qian quan simply smiled. alright, 1 accept your challenge, shimizu ichiro declared. at 8:02, the duel commenced. shimizu ichiro squatted slightly, left hand gripping the scabbard and right hand on the hilt, his eyes fixed on qian quan like a hawk. laido, the art he was practicing, focuses on swiftly unsheathing the sword to overpower the enemy in a single, lethal strike. this art of swordsmanship requires a specific technique involving the scabbard. in laido, the mouth of the scabbard has a small mechanism that assists the swordsman in performing a little push with the left hand before drawing the sword. this action is known as koiguchi kiru, which turns a simple unsheathing into a sprung draw. furthermore, the swordsman also pulls the scabbard back with their left hand while drawing the sword. this not only helps in a swift draw but also creates resistance between the blade and scabbard, accelerating the blade at the moment its unsheathed. for a more familiar analogy, think of flicking a watermelon seed. you would first hold down your middle finger with your thumb before letting it fly. qian quan, chopstick in hand, was also studying shimizu ichiros stance and movements. at 8:04, shimizu ichiro lunged forward like a flame, his sword emerging from its scabbard like lightning, aimed at qian quan. unmoved, qian quan twisted his body to dodge the blade. simultaneously, he switched the chopstick from his right hand to his left and swung it diagonally upward, striking the blade. clang! a resounding clang sounded. the sword dipped downward, and shimizu ichiros body slightly leaned forward, guided by the inertia of his own strike. the next moment, qian quans chopstick eerily rested on shimizu ichiros throat. the hall fell into silence. bravo!!! zhang xianger was the first to break the quiet. the crowd soon erupted into noise. at 8:05, the duel concluded. qian quan, zhang xianger, and bai yuanzhi left the gorin kendo dojo.. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 69 Ding! The System Detected Your chapter 76: chapter 69 ding! the system detected your father had passed his draft 1 translator: inschain editor: inschain what just happened? many people inside the gorin kendo dojo were still in shock. who won? no one answered. yet, everyone could roughly deduce the outcome of the duel from shimizu ichiros perplexed demeanor. so, who exactly is this young man that zhang xianger invited? nobody knew. sitting at the edge of the arena, a japanese man in his fifties, whose bald forehead gleamed, walked over to shimizu ichiro and asked, ichiro, did you lose? i lost, replied shimizu ichiro. in china, theres an old saying: victory and defeat are commonplace in the military. youve lost this time; just train harder and win back next time. dad, i know for you right now, having a rival is a good thing. ive already had someone look into that young mans background. we can find him again and compete with him next year. next year ichiro muttered. what? do you think you cant catch up to him in one year? ichiros fathers tone hardened. dad, he just used chopsticks so what? you are the number one kendo prodigy in our country, and your master is master kunio okawachi. you can catch up to anyone within a year! ii yes, dad. the shimizus then also left the gorin kendo hall. youre so strong, quan! no, mr. qian. youre amazing! especially the idea of using chopsticks as a sword; its brilliant, psychologically devastating! after leaving the kendo hall, zhang xianger began to lavish praise upon qian quan. it was a bit of a coincidence; my eight-slash sword just happened to counter his laido, said qian quan. the saying from makes sense; the master-apprentice naming rights for chinese and japanese swordsmanship were established during the tang dynasty. my master would be delighted to hear this. however, to be fair, this laido does have its tricks. just like in any industry, when it comes to foreign things, we should know both ourselves and the enemy. my master has also said similar things, zhang xianger laughed. as they talked, the three arrived at the hotel that zhang xianger had previously booked. where would you like to go tomorrow? i can make arrangements for you, asked zhang xianger. no need, ill go on my own, qian quan said. i wont need it either; im meeting up with classmates, said bai yuanzhi. alright then, make your own plans. if you need anything, just let me know. okay. qian quan and bai yuanzhi entered the hotel. upon reaching the room, qian quan noticed that zhang xianger had posted on her social circle: chopsticks defeat laido; my younger brother is invincible in the world! ii below the text was a video of his match with shimizu ichiro. qian quan smiled wryly and then logged out of wechat. he opened up the thornbush literature website, wanting to catch up on todays update from linlang. todays chapter of masters love was about the female protagonists junior disciple, fan mingshan. unknown to whether his alias as mystery man inspired linlang, she had added a new setting for fan mingshan-possessing a spirit animal. essentially, by contractual magic, he could share perspectives with the spirit animal. it was basically parasitism. this new element was added so that fan mingshan could quietly possess a black cat owned by his senior disciple, thereby staying close to and protecting her. it was like giving the junior disciple a reason to hide behind an animals pseudonym, almost mocking in its intent. at the end of the chapter, the author announced that the book would be launched on november 16th. qian quan was all too familiar with this date-it was ding linlangs birthday. from the day of his own birthday, he had been pondering over what birthday gift to buy for ding linlang. by now, he had made up his mind, a black trench coat from the pretty beauty, with a budget of around 1,500. at 10 p.m., qian quan went to bed after brushing his teeth. he had no idea that a post in zhang xiangers social circle had started making rounds in certain small groups. although the content of the video was indeed shocking, what intrigued some people more was zhang xiangers reference to my younger brother. many were curious about qian quans identity. the video was passed around and eventually reached a group where the well-connected zhao chunjia was a member. someone shared this in another group, claiming its a post from the second young master of nature company. since when did he have a younger brother? isnt that supposed to be zhang shanshis illegitimate son, the third one? commented a boss of a pickle factory. you dont get it, its a young peoples joke. but the video is really awesome. a chopstick breaking a japanese sword? thats so cool. just not sure if its real or fake, added a vice president of an entertainment agency. zhao chunjia, concerned about his daughters martial arts training, clicked on the video out of habit, only to be taken aback. the boy holding the chopstick in the video was none other than qian quan! although zhao chunjia didnt recognize zhang xianger, he was familiar with nature company and knew its chairman zhang shanshi, and the crown prince zhang xianxue. if this post indeed belonged to zhang shanshis second son, did it imply that qian quan was connected with nature company? that network zhao chunjia asked, is this information accurate? is this really from the second young master of nature company? the pickle factory boss replied, not sure. after pondering for a while, zhao chunjia forwarded the screenshot to another group and asked, does anyone know if this screenshot is real? after a moment, someone responded with two words, its real. zhao chunjia glanced at the respondents id and promptly thanked him, thank you, president hu, for clarifying! now it was confirmed. qian quan indeed knew the second young master of nature company and was probably quite close to him. a college student from a small town, in just over a month, had acquainted himself with li zihe, lin xiaohuang, and the second young master of nature company. apart from the great fortune his father-in-law talked about, he couldnt think of any other reason. the next day, qian quan got up early to watch the flag-raising ceremony. later, he visited the forbidden city, the summer palace, and so on. he initially wanted to climb the great wall, but time didnt permit it. he planned to rest at the hotel that night and head back to azure bay the next morning. as for the great wall, maybe next time he could bring his parents and linlang. around 8:30 p.m., before he could get to his hotel room, he received a message from bai yuanzhi: quan, can you come pick me up? im at the seventy mile bar in houhai. drank too much. qian quan replied, sure. he left the hotel and took a taxi to houhai. about half an hour later, he located the seventy mile bar. upon entering, he saw a band performing. after looking around, he quickly spotted bai yuanzhi. she was sitting with two couples, and there were seven or eight bottles of beer on the table. qian quan walked over and called out, miss bai. bai yuanzhi, upon seeing qian quan, grinned cheekily and said, youre here. qian quan thought to himself, how much has she had to drink? the two couples present were instantly captivated by qian quans tall stature and handsome looks, especially the two girls, whose eyes suddenly sparkled with the glimmer of juicy gossip. one introduction, please, yuanzhi, said one of the girls. this is qian quan, my junior, bai yuanzhi briefly introduced, then went on to introduce her two friends and their boyfriends to qian quan. qian quan greeted them with a wave. lets call it a night; were heading back to the hotel. we need to return to azure bay early tomorrow, bai yuanzhi declared. upon hearing this, the four of them understood immediately and stood up. once outside the bar, qian quan called a car. bai yuanzhi hugged her friends tightly, reluctant to say goodbye. when the car arrived, they all waved their farewells. thanks for this; i really appreciate it, bai yuanzhi thanked qian quan as they got into the car. no worries. to be honest, i couldve gone home alone. i dont know why, but seeing my two best friends no longer single and under the influence of alcohol, i felt a bit down. so i called you over to liven things up. i understand, qian quan laughed and responded. you dont have a girlfriend yet, right? not yet. thats good; otherwise, i would have lost some merit tonight. qian quan chuckled. soon, they returned to the hotel and each went to their own rooms. h goodnight, miss bai. goodnight. after closing her door, bai yuanzhi leaned against it and let out a deep sigh. qian wenlin received a message from the editor of new story monthly on sunday morning at 10. congratulations, mr. linwen, your submission has passed the editorial review and will be published in the next issue. also, based on our assessment of the quality of your work, you will be paid at a rate of 650 per thousand words (totaling 19,500). the payment will be transferred to your account within a month after publication. please be informed. upon receiving the message, qian wenlin felt elated, a sentiment akin to the feeling he had when he learned his wife was pregnant. after replying with a thank you, he immediately showed the message to his wife. yang yuhua was naturally happy for her husband. she had witnessed firsthand how much he had invested in his writing, right down to losing strands of his hair over it. remember the rule: dont tell rocky. if he knows, it means linlang also knows, qian wenlin stressed again. ii dont worry, i wont breathe a word to our son, yang yuhua promised. on the high-speed train from the capital to azure bay, qian quan, who was reading a novel, suddenly heard an inexplicable system alert tone in his mind. [ding! your fathers work, my fragile porcelain anniversary: my first love becomes my boss, has passed the review and is accepted by new story monthly. you are rewarded with the writing skills of a best-selling author!] qian quan was confused. wait, what? my dad wrote what now? Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 70 To Date, You Must Pass My Childhood Friend First! 1 chapter 77: chapter 70 to date, you must pass my childhood friend first! 1 translator: inschain | editor: inschain in qian quans mind, his father had always been a bit of a traditional intellectual: skilled in calligraphy, knowledgeable in chinese chess, fond of drinking, well-read, and concerned with national affairs. throughout his upbringing, his father played the role of a serious and profound paternal figure rather effectively. later on, as qian quan grew older, particularly after he entered high school, his father began to change his approach to interacting with him. he ceased being a dictator and stopped issuing commands; instead, he tried to treat qian quan with a more egalitarian attitude. he started to view him as a grown child capable of independent thinking. all m all, qian quan had always held a sense of reverence and respect toward his father. after gaining access to this mysterious system, those feelings not only remained but intensified. so, when the system notified him that his father had written such a work, qian quans immediate reaction was disbelief. absolutely impossible! it wasnt that he doubted his fathers talent; on the contrary, based on a chance reading of his fathers diary, which he had stumbled upon on his fathers bookshelf, he knew his father was an excellent writer. submitting articles to magazines? not a problem at all. but that title, that theme not to mention, his parents were about to celebrate their 20th anniversary. furthermore, based on occasional tidbits from his mother, his father did indeed have a first love back in his youth someone who had knitted him a scarf, done his laundry, and brought him water. theyd grown apart because his father went off to further his studies. all these elements matched. if his fathers school recently got a new female teacher, and she happened to be his superior, then this definitely warranted further investigation. qian quan was an avid reader himself. he enjoyed various types of novels-be they classics, best-sellers, or web novels. he wasnt one to conflate fiction with reality. however, this piece of work by his father had a title so incredibly eye-catching that it was impossible to ignore. even though art is higher than life, it still ultimately originates from life. some signs should not even exist! right now, acting hastily was out of the question. he couldnt confront his father directly, nor could he subtly hint at it. he needed to read the content first and gather complete information before making any judgments. clickbait was all the rage these days, after all. for instance, one of qian quans friends had once been duped by a headline that screamed, shocking! nurse in hospital caught exposed, high-res photos inside! upon clicking, it turned out to be an empty nurse station. literally, all the nurses were gone. talk about misleading returning to his fathers work, it might have been a clickbait title chosen out of the pressure to attract readers. or perhaps it was fictional, based on other peoples experiences. if he acted rashly, the whole situation could become awkward for everyone involved. moreover, from what he had observed, his parents relationship had always been very stable, even harmoniously loving. most likely, he was overthinking things because of the shocking contrast presented by the title. lastly, there was a new reward: the writing skills of a best-selling author. qian quan didnt experience a strikingly apparent reaction in his mind, unlike previous rewards for wing chun, basketball, and driving skills, which had felt like real training and transformation. it was possible that he had just been too mesmerized by his fathers work to notice any subtle changes in his cognitive abilities. after all, the skill of writing was a subjective one, something that occurred quietly and gradually. as a famous female writer had said, it was about being able to precisely articulate what you see and think, without the struggle of words failing to express ones feelings. this could be easily verified-just write something and the difference would be clear. in fact, ever since learning about ding linlangs venture into online novel writing, qian quan had entertained the thought of writing himself. he had contemplated various genres such as martial arts, urban, fantasy, and even sci-fi. however, he felt he wasnt ready for perfection yet, and so he hesitated to write. on reflection, the notion of a perfect state was but a self-deceptive paradox. by not writing, one could forever imagine themselves approaching perfection. but because there was no substantial work to show for it, this perfection was merely self-consolation; nobody could validate it. ask and its still being polished. when my work is unveiled, it will surely amaze you all. so, what is perfection? qian quan suddenly had an answer. to immediately put pen to paper and write the story in my mind in its entirety. that is perfection. an executed yet imperfect plan was better than ten perfect plans that were never acted upon. this shift in mindset might have been one of the effects of his latest reward. qian quan sorted through his thoughts and sent a message in the family group chat: attended a school event in the capital city yesterday, visited tiananmen square and the summer palace. didnt get to the great wall, though. lets plan a family trip to climb it sometime. after a moment, his mother replied with a voice message, what kind of school event? qian quan replied, it was a student club exchange. ask dad if he wants to go to the great wall. dad quickly replied: sure, havent you heard the saying, he who has never been to the great wall is not a true man? ive been wanting to take your mother there. mom agreed, lets go when we have time, and invite linlang and her family too. qian quan said, thats what i was thinking. having sent the message, a weight lifted off qian quans shoulders. just as he was amused by this, a message from ding linlang popped up, jarringly startling him: qian quan, a boy has confessed his feelings to me. qian quan was shocked, what??? rolling the clock back by half an hour, almost to the minute when qian quans high-speed train had left from jinling south station. an event unfolded at fudan university. a male student, in broad daylight, confessed his feelings to a female student. the boy was from his second year in economics, named xu congfeng, a local from azure bay. his father was a surgeon at a top-tier hospital, and his mother a high-ranking bank executive, a classic tall, rich, and handsome native of azure bay. hed had only two girlfriends in college so far, both of whom had pursued him. this was the first time he was confessing his feelings. and the girl he confessed to was none other than ding linlang. before i met you, i didnt believe in love at first sight. but the moment i saw you typing intently at your computer in the library, i was smitten. it was as if, in that instant, all the flowers in the world bloomed simultaneously. this is the first time in my life ive felt this way about a girl. im not asking you to be my girlfriend immediately; all i ask is for an opportunity to take you out for dinner and to go shopping with you. xu congfengs carefully crafted confession was not empty talk. indeed, he had first laid eyes on ding linlang at the library. he was truly mesmerized by her stunning beauty and her icy demeanor. after snapping a photo, he gathered information about ding linlangs class schedule to plan this confession. im sorry, i dont believe in love at first sight, and i already have someone to go out to eat and shop with. so, dont waste your time here, ding linlang curtly replied. do you mean you already have a boyfriend? xu congfeng persisted. no. then theres still a chance for me. there isnt. who knows what the future holds? xu congfeng said with a confident smile, im not one to give up easily. ding linlang paused and said, if you want to take me out for a meal, youll read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only have to pass a test from my childhood friend first. sensing that ding linlang was softening, xu congfeng quickly asked, no problem, whats the test? chess, basketball, or a one-on-one competition. pick anyone; if you win against him, then we can talk about going out for a meal. xu congfeng paused. really? its that specific? after she had finished speaking, ding linlang immediately sent a message to qian quan.. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 71 Give Him a Taste of the chapter 78: chapter 71 give him a taste of the international metropolis!_l translator: inschain editor: inschain when xu congfeng heard ding linlang mention her childhood friend, he actually cared a bit. in many cases, a girls close childhood friend or male bestie could be a role that would raise suspicion and irritation. relying on their past rapport with the girl and their so-called nostalgic feelings, they often displayed an obnoxious camaraderie, always giving off an attitude that says, weve always been like this, and if you have a problem with it, its your issue. it was utterly annoying. yet, xu congfeng didnt have the grounds to criticize ding linlangs childhood friend, especially when she hadnt even agreed to share a meal with him. his goal was to either win over or totally outshine this childhood friend so that ding linlang could clearly see the difference between them. his upbringing and the education he had received since childhood endowed him with this confidence and mettle. through a brief inquiry in the student community, he found out that ding linlang hailed from a small town in xinan province. it was likely, then, that her childhood friend also came from there. he never deliberately discriminated against or excluded outsiders. in fact, he had even befriended several people from other places. however, a fact remained: a quizzer from a small town outside had limited competitiveness in front of him. such was determined by their backgrounds. there was no need for smugness, but also no need for evasion. the reality was cruel C some things that some people are born with, others may struggle their entire lives to achieve. he was confident enough to overcome or even persuade ding linlangs childhood friend, to cross that metaphorical bridge. of course, he wasnt thinking about trivial things like chess, basketball, or one-on-one duels, but a kind of overwhelming show of force. from a psychological standpoint, ding linlangs explicit details might be a form of restraint, leaving room for him. could i perhaps meet this childhood friend of yours first? xu congfeng suggested. the three of us could share a meal. ding linlang responded, ill need to ask him first. sure, if hes okay with it, just give me a time, and ill make the reservation. just then, qian quan messaged ding linlang, what did you tell him? ding linlang replied, what do you mean? didnt we agree to watch each others backs? qian quan said, got it. ill be at hongqiao soon. let me see who this audacious fool is, trying to punch above his weight with you. ding linlang said, he even proposed we all dine together. qian quan replied, declined! why should we eat with him? ill meet him alone. ding linlang said, yep, i thought the same. qian quan said, but tonight, we can dine together. ding linlang replied, alright. after chatting with qian quan, ding linlang replied to xu congfeng, you should meet him alone first. xu congfeng was momentarily taken aback but then nodded in agreement, sounds good. when? any day next week works. ill give you his number. okay. at 2 oclock in the afternoon. qian quans high-speed train arrived at hongqiao. instead of heading back to seacoast normal university, he went straight to fudan university to find ding linlang. whats going on? qian quan immediately asked upon seeing ding linlang. ding linlang pointed to her hair, my hair has grown. shouldve expected that, qian quan mused as he examined ding linlangs hair, now tell me about that guy. whats there to say? i dont know him. he confessed out of the blue. after my direct refusal, he went on about never giving up or something, so i had to bring you into the picture. very smart move. what exactly did you tell him? i told him that unless he beats you in chess, basketball, or a one-on-one challenge, then he can discuss having a meal with me, ding linlang said. qian quan laughed, in that case, he has no chance at all. however, the way you said it might give him the impression that theres a sliver of hope. let him think whatever he wants. i just hope he doesnt suddenly appear in front of me again, saying all those weird things. dont worry. once we meet, ill give him a reality check and dampen his enthusiasm. anyway, its up to you now, ding linlang remarked. now tell me about your trip to the capital. guys, i need advice. how can i truly intimidate her friend, make him see reason, and not interfere with our relationship? in the mens dormitory of fudan university, xu congfeng sat on a chair, sharing his confession to ding linlang with his group of close friends, seeking their suggestions. the group consisted of five people, all lifelong friends who shared a similar background and lifestyle, hence, a lot of common interests. i can challenge him to a basketball game for you, one friend offered, a member of the azure bay university basketball club. the thing is, its not just about basketball or chess. i need to overpower him in terms of aura, xu congfeng clarified. simple, just give him a taste of the cosmopolitan life. show him the real azure bay. i bet those small-town guys havent seen anything like it, another friend suggested. how do you mean? the girl told you to meet her friend alone, right? perfect! invite him to a nightclub. well tag along. then, we just talk about high-end topics he knows nothing about. let him realize he doesnt belong in our world. azure bay is not for him. once hes sufficiently demoralized, switch the topic to what really matters. the others nodded in agreement. one added, we could go to funing one. my dad has a membership card there, and wed get a 30% discount. that sounds good. we can get a private booth and have a proper chat. xu congfeng read the messages and after a moments thought replied to them. that approach could work. however, i suggest we avoid angering him, especially with any derogatory remarks. people from smaller places can be quite proud and sensitive. so, lets be natural, and not give him any reason to be offended. dont worry. well be friendly when we meet. alright, whens everyone free? any evening. we dont have classes. lets do it tomorrow night then. okay. speaking of which, its been a while since we last went to funing one. wonder if theyve changed any of their top performers. rumor had it that funing one had four-star performers, all incredibly skilled, with beauty and physique rivaling top influencers. ordinary folks couldnt access their schedules. even the top-tier vips had to queue. xu congfeng dialed the number ding linlang gave him. after a short while, the other end answered, hello? read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only hello, this is xu congfeng. ding linlang gave me your number. did she mention me to you? oh yes, she did. youre xu congfeng, right? hello, im qian quan. what can i assist you with? you youre qian quan xu congfeng was taken aback. ding linlangs close friend was none other than qian quan! in that years incoming class of various universities in azure bay, the one who rose above the rest, whose name resonated with everyone, was qian quan! Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 72 Dad, I’m Really Not Targeting Youll chapter 79: chapter 72 dad, im really not targeting youll translator: inschain editor: inschain xu congfeng, of course, knew who qian quan was. in fact, many students from various azure bay universities were familiar with him. not to mention the video that first brought him fame, titled qian faces no fear; nor his heroic act of valor for which he was commended; certainly not his recent and shocking victory over the chess master during the the campus chess talent hunt1 event; not even the rumors surrounding him and the renowned senior, tang bingbing of the luminous drama society, a well-established student organization in azure bay; just consider the recently concluded freshmen martial arts competition where he emerged as the champion. it made sense now. when ding linlang proposed that he challenge qian quan in a game of chess or a duel, she wasnt giving xu congfeng a chance; she was setting him up for failure. if that was the case, a simple show of strength wouldnt suffice. he needed to up the stakes. the challenge seemed daunting, but xu congfeng was even more excited. true love must withstand tests. yes, i am qian quan. do you need something? the voice on the other end of the phone admitted candidly. oh, hi, ive heard a lot about you heres the thing, ive been pursuing ding linlang, and she told me i have to get through you first to stand a chance. so, i thought of meeting you, just the two of us. would you be available? choosing sincerity, xu congfeng believed that honesty was always the best policy. sure. when and where would you like to meet? how about tomorrow evening, 7:30 at funing one? excuse me? xu congfeng anticipated the confusion and explained, funing one is a renowned nightclub in azure bay. dont worry; its a legitimate place. ill have some friends with me; you can bring a couple of your friends too. as for expenses, its on me. alright then. xu congfeng detected a hint of surprise in qian quans voice, suggesting that the first move had been effective. still, after ending the call, xu congfeng immediately shared the news in his group chat with his close friends: guys, ding linlangs close friend is qian quan, the recent martial arts champion. so, be cautious with your words tomorrow night. holy shit!!! one of the friends from the azure bay university basketball team exclaimed, we played a friendly match against seacoast normal university, and he trashed us! i couldnt touch a basketball for a week! xu congfeng felt upset, ding linlang really knows how to challenge me! another friend chimed in, ive heard of him too xu, seriously, are you that in love with ding linlang? there are plenty of fish in the sea, you know! xu congfeng asked, liangliang, what are you trying to say? are you thinking of backing out? liangliang replied, no way! i was just joking to lighten the mood. regardless of how impressive qian quan is, hes still from the countryside. we have the upper hand. the key principle: well win with reason. funing one? why would they want to meet there? after qian quan shared his conversation with xu congfeng, ding linlang was genuinely perplexed. he probably wanted to dazzle me with the glitz and glamour of the azure bay, he guessed. ding linlang frowned, seriously? that evening, as the two dined together, they discussed the new character setup of fan mingshan, a junior disciple in masters love. the original author, ding linlang, clarified that it wasnt a newly added concept but part of the initial plan. well, qian quan didnt linger on the topic, announcing, im considering writing a book as well. ding linlang laughed, oh? planning on writing a web novel or something else? not sure about the theme yet. once youve got something, let me read the introduction. i can offer some guidance. ding linlang always appeared confident in front of qian quan. he mused aloud, i dont think so. it feels embarrassing to let someone i know read my work. its like standing bare in front of them suddenly realizing how it sounded. he then felt a sharp, icy glare from ding linlang. attempting to lighten the mood, he joked, by the way, xu congfeng told me he might be bringing a few friends later, and if disagreements arise, there could be a skirmish. ding linlang ignored him. after dinner, they purchased a laptop together. by the way, asked qian quan as they left the store, is there anything specific you want for your birthday this year? i wish for my new book to do well, she replied. qian quan began, of course, it will! i cant spill all the details, but those familiar with online literature will understand. your book will achieve uh, i mean if we break it down and analyze every aspect stop rambling! ding linlang cut him off. right, he nodded. after dropping ding linlang off at her campus, qian quan made his way back to seacoast normal university. en route, he received a message from her, anything you buy as a gift will be perfect. he responded with a smile, understood. once back in his dormitory, he set up his new laptop and began researching the electronic version of new story monthly and its submission guidelines. yes, qian quan intended to submit his debut work to new story monthly. it was a symbolic gesture, given the publications history with his father. furthermore, he wanted to understand the entire submission process and operational model of the publication. after a half-hour of research, he felt more informed, so he closed the browser and opened a document. whats the secret to writing? a famous author had once articulated. simply put, open the document and start! qian quans debut piece was about a father and son. based on what hed seen from new story monthly, he quickly formulated a story. in essence, it was about a middle-aged, married theater actor who gets involved with a younger woman. the twist? his son discovers the affair and confronts the mistress. the two had a disagreement, which escalated into a physical altercation. in the heat of the moment, the son accidentally killed the mistress. the teenager, having unintentionally taken a life, was in shock. his first instinct was to call his father. upon arriving at the scene, the father, after an initial shock, quickly regained his composure. he tidied up the area and sternly instructed his son on what to say before sending him away. once his son left, the father called the police and truthfully informed them that his son had accidentally killed the mistress. however, for a split second, there was an unnatural look in the fathers eyes. an experienced detective noticed this brief, odd expression. later, when the son was questioned, his account matched his fathers. the case seemed clear-cut at that point. yet, the detective had doubts. the deeper he dug, the more it seemed the sons motive and evidence for the murder were too perfect as if staged. upon further investigation, the detective was startled to find that the father and the mistress had long-standing disputes. the mistress had been pressuring the father to divorce and marry her. connecting the dots and based on other subtle clues, the detective pieced together another possible truth: the father had murdered the mistress and framed his son for the crime! after another round of questioning, the son broke down and admitted that after pushing the mistress, he hadnt harmed her any further. it was the father who had told him to say otherwise. the truth was finally out: while the son had knocked the mistress unconscious, the fatal blow was delivered by the father. however, after the fathers arrest, the detective had an unsettling feeling that something was still amiss. the last scene revealed the father, now in jail, with a satisfied smirk. the story ended here. with the plot outline complete, it was time to write the full story. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only but first, a fitting title for the drama: a fathers mountainous love: when i accidentally killed the mistress, my father took the blame clearly, this title was meant to evoke emotion and drama. qian quan chuckled at the title, noting its juxtaposition with his fathers books. however, he genuinely wasnt trying to rival his father.. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 73 Good Evening, Miss Linlinl_l chapter 80: chapter 73 good evening, miss linlinl_l translator: inschain | editor: inschain qian quan spent roughly a night and half a day completing the story a fathers mountainous love. he then adopted the pseudonym secret and submitted the manuscript, leaving it at that. next, he considered writing a lengthy fantasy tale on source chinese web, perhaps in tandem with ding linlang. hed been mulling over the idea for a while but had been hesitant to pen it, fearing his words might fall short. now, with the confidence of a best-selling author, he was ready to give it a shot. for a novel, the story was the flesh, but the writing style was the skeleton. hed also considered submitting a long-form piece to a publishing house, opting for the traditional publishing route. but the current publishing landscape, with its high barriers for newcomers, was at least ten times more challenging and complex than before. before e-reading overtook traditional books, the market was flooded with a variety of magazines, offering opportunities for budding authors of different styles to gain exposure and test the waters. first, they serialized in magazines to build up their readership. the standout works were then compiled and published, a practice somewhat analogous to the free trials and premium periods seen in modern online literature. these days, such magazines have largely fallen out of favor. more authors now chase after achieving 100,000+ readers on their public accounts, rather than a first print run of 30,000 copies. the buzz around annual bestsellers seems like a relic of the last century. the authors who once penned those phenomenally successful books? apart from a select few who persisted, others pivoted to screenwriting or directing, adapted with the times to become influencers, ventured into online fiction which didnt always resonate with their style, or dabbled in reality shows the so-called bestsellers of today, when it comes to fiction, are either time-honored classics or trendy ips getting a boost from tv or film adaptations. it had been ages since qian quan last read a work by a debut author. this was the inexorable march of time, a tide that swept all before it, unstoppable. qian quan never deluded himself into thinking he could turn back the tide, returning the publishing industry to its former glory. thus, entering the realm of online literature seemed the most efficient move, in line with current trends. as for the concept of his new book, the rough idea centered around a mystical sect with the male lead being a crafty master, who loved challenging those well above his level. due to his unparalleled combat skills within his rank, he had to seek higher-level challenges. the female lead, the male protagonists childhood friend and fellow disciple was exceptionally powerful yet incredibly low-key. she typically laid low, practicing her skills within the sect, appearing ordinary to the outside world. but she secretly followed her senior, keeping a close eye on all his challenges. she protected him from the shadows and simultaneously grumbled about his recklessness. apart from her, the male lead also had a fiercely protective and headstrong female mentor, a sort of old school gangster figure. she frequently led the elders of their sect to confront others, exuding the aura of being the only boss in the world of cultivation. additionally, the cast might feature a demoness, a powerful empires princess, and other typical supporting female characters in essence, the character designs would loosely mirror ding linlangs master s love, but the narrative would diverge significantly. those were his thoughts for now, the rest would take time to flesh out. he also had a preliminary outline for the grand finale. the protagonist, along with human cultivators, ventured into the immortal realm for a grand battle. yet, his junior, engrossed in her deep meditation on mount kunlun, missed it. later, almost all of the human cultivators fell into the immortal realm, and the protagonist disappeared, leaving only the war goddess master to return. refusing to believe that her senior had perished, the junior waited for him on mount kunlun. for thirty thousand years, she neither ascended nor became immortal, all just waiting for her seniors return. qian quan registered an account on the source chinese web as stubborn. in the afternoon, after finishing a days classes, qian quan and his three roommates took a taxi to funing one for their appointment. -how can we act like we frequent this kind of club when its our first time? guo hongyi pondered aloud in the car. walk in without blinking an eye and ask the receptionist, has technician no. 8 come to work today? shen fei suggested. that sounds like a different kind of service, guo hongyi remarked skeptically. shen fei chuckled, then ask, is feifei in today? nodding, guo hongyi then turned to qian quan, quan, do you think therell be trouble tonight? dont worry; theyre not that foolish, qian quan replied with a smile. by 7:25 p.m., they reached funing one. xu congfeng and his group were already waiting in the private room. upon meeting, both parties exchanged polite greetings. soon after, all eyes from xu congfengs group were fixated on qian quan. especially a student from azure bay universitys basketball club, whose already complex emotions deepened upon realizing qian quan didnt recognize him. the motive of tonight was to shake the other partys confidence. however, it felt like their confidence waned upon meeting qian quan. perhaps this was the effect of ones reputation preceding them. once everyone was present, xu congfeng, being the host, said, you guys pick some songs. ive already ordered the drinks, and the backup singers will be here shortly. ill go for this song, exclaimed the burly guo hongyi. xu congfeng and the others kept a straight face, but he quickly typed a message in their group chat: this feels so outdated. could this possibly be hinting at something to us? regardless, it still feels old-fashioned. shen fei moved to pick some songs. only gao yan sat quietly to the side. gao yan, go and pick a song! i cant sing, gao yan replied with a smile. qian quan didnt press him. instead, he went and picked two songs. before returning to his seat, the sound of the door opening caught their attention. two tall, stunningly beautiful women dressed in long skirts walked in. the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, like ripples forming on a previously calm water surface. honestly, it was qian quans first time in such a situation. he tried to act naturally, but the next scene caught him off guard. he saw gao yan, his expression turning awkward, standing up and slightly bowing to one of the women, good evening, miss linlin. everyone else was baffled. gao yan? guo hongyi exclaimed with a puzzled look. shes a senior from the philosophy club, gao yan explained. upon hearing this, qian quan, shen fei, and guo hongyi all stood up in succession, bowing slightly, good evening, miss linlin. it was a gesture of respect. the rest, including xu congfeng, were rendered speechless, their group chat momentarily forgotten. the atmosphere became quite awkward. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only theres no miss linlin here tonight. im linlin, one of the backup singers for the evening, she said professionally. one of xu congfengs friends, trying to lighten the mood, commented, lets consider this a union karaoke session with miss linlins juniors. linlin nodded, why dont you guys grab a drink? well warm up the atmosphere with a couple of songs. then, linlin and another girl duetted a song. the atmosphere became relaxed once again.. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 74 You Offer Real Discounts, While chapter 81: chapter 74 you offer real discounts, while ours is truly free!_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain after clinking glasses with qian quan, xu congfeng began to make small talk, asking questions indirectly. how do you find studying in azure bay? are you comfortable with the weather, the food, and all? its alright, qian quan responded with a smile. though i still can t get used to the local cuisine. its a bit too sweet and mild for my taste. i can handle rice with sugar, but sweet noodles? 1 cant stomach them unless my blood sugars low. qian quan added, luckily, azure bay offers a variety of cuisines from everywhere. in terms of food, its quite inclusive. exactly, xu congfeng nodded in agreement. azure bay is such a city. it embraces diversity and is both inclusive and pragmatic. qian quan played along, how so? xu congfeng seemed to ponder his words for a moment before explaining. theres a saying, right? if youre worth 100,000, then azure bay, like any other city, is just a place to work and make a living. if youre worth a million, then azure bay reveals its charm-convenient living, developed transport, with taxis and takeout available even in the middle of the night. at 10 million, azure bay transforms into an international metropolis where you can always catch the scent of coffee. and at 30 million, it becomes a dazzling playground, much like what were experiencing right now xu congfeng gestured for qian quan to take a look around the private room. qian quan, amused, nodded in agreement. for some reason, he suddenly thought of song xi. xu congfeng continued, once your net worth hits the billions, azure bay truly becomes the city that never sleeps. thats insightful, qian quan remarked. the two clinked their glasses again. -our country classifies cities into first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier, xu . congfeng said. similarly, people can be categorized into different tiers. dont get me wrong; im not saying the wealthy are always top-tier. what i mean is, a persons knowledge, character, morality, and education level naturally differentiate them into various grades. for example, some people reached high school and still didnt know where the uk or the us was, while others saw big ben and the statue of liberty during elementary school. of course, im not implying that traveling abroad means youre accomplished, the speaker began, but a persons horizons are indeed broadened by reading extensively and traveling widely. qian quan chuckled, i get it. it means a child who has traveled the world from a young age is more likely to succeed when they grow up exactly, their perspectives would be much broader, xu congfeng added. qian quan remarked, it doesnt really matter if their perspectives are broad. the point is, kids like that come from wealthy families. xu congfeng was momentarily taken aback and then laughed, thats a funny observation. xu congfeng hadnt even considered the connection between traveling the world and being rich. surely everyone could afford to travel if they really wanted to, right? in essence, my point is, xu congfeng began seriously, in my eyes, ding linlang is top-notch. it has nothing to do with where she comes from, but rather her knowledge and character. qian quan naturally agreed with this. but do you know the biggest tragedy for a top-notch individual, qian quan? xu congfeng asked. being constantly bothered and coveted by many? guessed qian quan. thats hardly a tragedy xu congfeng laughed. whether or not xu congfeng detected the sarcasm in qian quans voice, he continued explaining his long-prepared viewpoint: the biggest tragedy for a top-tier person is to fall in love with someone of a second or third tier in a mediocre environment. people are emotional creatures. we remember our past, and every little thing leaves a mark. these memories can mislead us into thinking that time spent together is precious when it might just be another chapter in our lives. its not worthless, but its not that important either. qian quan listened intently but remained silent, amused. after a brief pause, xu congfeng clinked glasses with qian quan and said confidently, i genuinely care for ding linlang. its really a matter between the two of us and i shouldnt have involved you. but since she mentioned it, i wanted to discuss it with you out of respect for her. its not just between the two of you. she doesnt really have anything with you either, qian quan retorted. what do you mean? xu congfeng asked, still maintaining his composure. your classification of top-tier, second-tier, third-tier might have some merit, but its heavily biased. you talk about broadening ones horizon by seeing big ben or the statue of liberty. if this is the standard, then i can also say that those who can tell wheat from leeks are considered knowledgeable. those who have herded ducks, sheep, fed pigs, and cows are considered knowledgeable. those who climbed trees and raided bird nests in their childhood are considered knowledgeable. those who dug for earthworms after a summer rain are considered knowledgeable. those who have harvested wheat and shelled corn are considered knowledgeable do you get my point? i think i understand what youre implying, xu congfeng replied with a slight smile. so, the greatest tragedy in this world isnt when someone from the top tier falls in love with someone from the second or third tier. its when people are divided into different classes-into first-class, second-class, and third-class-and then brainwashed from top to bottom using these dangerous standards and theories. take you, for example. your recent discussion may seem fair, realistic, and objective. your words may appear refined, and you dont use your background or wealth to pressure others. but every sentence you speak revolves around your background and family. you say that lin lang is a first-rate individual, so i dare to ask, why do you believe youre worthy of being with her, this first-class individual? remaining unperturbed, xu congfeng responded, youre right. i owe a lot to my background and upbringing. but its not my fault i was born into this. i never rested on my laurels; i worked hard to get into fudan university and will soon be a funded exchange student, which is a result of my efforts. qian quan countered, you misunderstand. im not discrediting your background or achievements. i just want to say, youre not good enough for linlang. why? because you cant differentiate between wheat and garlic chives. xu congfengs smile grew cold. just then, xu congfengs friend, who had been observing the conversation, chimed in. hows the conversation going? xu congfeng responded with a faint smile. by the look of things, didnt go well? the man asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, if it didnt work out, well have to go dutch tonight. wasnt it supposed to be free? qian quan inquired. how could it be? we have a membership card, but that only gives a 30% discount. if we split the bill, you wont get that discount. what happened? guo hongyi approached, chiming in. we have to split the bill tonight, qian quan explained. what? i thought they were treating us? guo hongyi had specifically looked into funing ones pricing earlier. considering miss linlin had been invited, the meal would cost no less than 8,000 if not 10,000. just kidding, its on the house, qian quan assured, not wanting to spook his roommate. we werent joking the man continued to intimidate, while xu congfeng remained silent. whats the meaning of this? are you guys hustlers? guo hongyi bristled with anger. lets keep it civil. no fighting, okay? the man countered, you guys have a martial arts champion. we cant match that. if it comes down to it, well pay up. qian quan held back guo hongyi, calm down, guo. its on the house like i said. xu congfeng finally spoke, my friend was just joking earlier. you guys dont need to pay tonight; ill cover the bill. he had merely wanted to teach qian quan a lesson, making them feel the pressure of a few thousand dollars. but to him, it was just chump change. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only qian quan responded, you just need to cover your discounted part. ours is really free. he then pulled out a red membership card, gave it a little flick, and explained, this card supposedly offers three free uses. xu congfeng and his friend, upon seeing the card in qian quans hand, were taken aback. how did he get that card? dont worry, qian quan patted guo hongyi, lets continue with our karaoke.. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 75 Coach, I Want You to Teach Me Basketball!_l chapter 82: chapter 75 coach, i want you to teach me basketball!_l translator: inschain editor: inschain have you ever received, the life you dreamt of, the sound of waves in your dreams, how they slipped through, like the wind blowing in the wilderness moments of love, fleeting moments, the silent passage of time dawn dusk where is my final resting place qian quan selected a song called orion constellation. it wasnt particularly popular, but many of pu shus fans ranked it among their favorites. the melody was gentle, and the lyrics resembled a modern poem filled with imagery yet lacking specific references. upon the first listen, one might appreciate the harmonious melody and beautiful lyrics. yet, understanding their exact meaning might remain elusive. however, upon a second listen with the lyrics in focus, certain lines might resonate, evoking past memories or emotions. and if none of that moved you, the harmonica solo in the middle would surely leave a lasting impression. qian quan assumed that such an underrated song wouldnt attract a duet partner. but he had underestimated miss linlins professional skills. not only could she sing along, but her rendition was also more emotive. sometimes you sing, sometimes youre silent, sometimes you stare at the sky while the two sang passionately, the listeners reactions varied. xu congfeng and his group were nearly bursting with curiosity about how qian quan acquired that card. after exchanging over 99 messages in their group chat, with wild speculations aplenty, they still had no conclusion. one thing was clear, though: they hadnt intimidated qian quan that night. if anything, he had turned the tables on them. initially, they were merely wary of his exceptional physical prowess. now, they pondered over his mysterious background, unsure of his potential affiliations. in any case, he seemed even more formidable. so, xu, do you still want to persist? his friend liangliang asked. after a moment of hesitation, xu congfeng replied, true love is about enduring all tests. after qian quan and miss bai linlin finished singing hunters constellation, the next song was love in hiroshima. qian quan was curious about who had chosen it when he saw gao yan silently pick up the microphone. he intended to duet with miss linlin. stunned for a moment, qian quan then jokingly asked guo hongyi, how much did gao yan drink? just two beers, guo hongyi replied, his true introverted nature is showing. qian quan laughed. soon, it was 8:30, and their reserved rooms time was up. everyone stood up to leave, making their way to the elevator on the first floor. as they stepped out of the elevator, qian quan spotted a familiar face leading a striking young woman towards the exclusive elevator for the third floor. the man was zhao chunjias personal bodyguard, whom qian quan remembered as lu ao; he had picked him up from the school once. the young woman, dressed in a white hoodie paired with a black mini skirt and knee-high boots, showcased her long, pale legs. engrossed in her phone, she seemed in her own world. as lu ao noticed qian quan, he hurriedly approached, greeting him with respect, hello, mr. qian. hello, qian quan responded politely. the young woman, initially disinterested, glanced up. struck by the dashing and youthful appearance of qian quan, coupled with lu aos respectful address, it wasnt hard for her to deduce his prominent status. lu, arent you going to give an introduction? the transition in her demeanor was swift and natural. from indifferent, she now wore a charming smile that felt anything but forced. caught slightly off guard, before lu ao could answer, qian quan smoothly introduced himself, im qian quan. nice to meet you. following up, lu ao added, mr. qian is a friend of our bosss family. emphasizing the word family, he subtly hinted at qian quans unique connection. hello, im bai yanwan, the woman responded confidently, extending her hand. qian quan reciprocated the gesture, shaking her hand. we should be going. shall we? inquired lu ao. of course. take care, qian quan nodded. goodbye. bye. with a delightful smile, bai yanwan waved at qian quan. once lu ao and bai yanwan had left, guo hongyi, shen fei, and others finally voiced their suppressed admiration, shes stunning, like a real-life celebrity. shes the renowned actress bai yanwan. dont you know her? the group, including the ever-surprised xu congfeng, astonishingly realized some of them actually knew bai yanwan. is she really a star? guo hongyi asked curiously. close to that. shes the top star from funing one, the foremost among the ?four great beauties, with the nickname film queen, xu congfengs friend mentioned, glancing ambiguously at qian quan. lu aos mention of a friend of the bosss family was, amidst their astonishment, the first concrete clue they had about qian quans identity. they knew better than to mess with him. regardless of who that person referred to as the boss, one thing was certain: that boss could access the third floor of funing one. and qian quan was a friend of his. that was all they needed to know. they were relieved nothing worse had transpired earlier. the one who had previously suggested going dutch with qian quan was now somewhat nervous. -the four great beauties? who are the other three? guo hongyi inquired. i dont know their names, just their nicknames. but lets not get into that, the man replied cryptically, suggesting it wasnt the best topic to pursue further. as they left the entrance of funing one, xu congfeng and his group headed to their car, while qian quan and his friends planned to hail a taxi. the two parties awkwardly waved goodbye. xu congfeng, please refrain from disturbing linlang in the future. qian quan advised kindly as they parted, but his tone hinted at a warning. confronted with such a candid remark, xu congfeng paused, his expression changing rapidly. but he finally clenched his teeth and remained silent. once in his car, he discreetly sent qian quan a message, considering i didnt pass your test, out of respect for you, i wont disturb her anymore. soon after, qian quan updated ding linlang about their encounter. she responded, well done. ill leave such matters to you in the future. you shouldve just told him straight up that you have a boyfriend, qian quan teased. isnt it the same thing? youre always my backup, she retorted. fair point, he admitted. just after returning to the university, qian quan received a call from zhao chunjia. i heard from lu ao that you were at funing one tonight? zhao chunjia began as soon as the call connected. yes, i was there for a get-together and some karaoke, qian quan responded. i was there too. i would have joined you if id known, zhao said. it was a short meet-up. we sang for just an hour or so. i actually wanted to discuss something with you, zhao admitted. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only what is it? zhao explained, theres a new mall opening by min hua, and ive rented its top floor to set up a gym and basketball training center. i know youre great at basketball, so i was wondering if you could spare some time on weekends to coach? is it feasible for you? aware that this offer was essentially a part-time job and that it was a decent gesture after using zhaos card for a show-off, qian quan felt compelled to accept. sounds good to me. great, then its settled.. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 76 If We’re Still Single at 30, Let’s Be Together_l chapter 83: chapter 76 if were still single at 30, lets be together_l translator: inschain editor: inschain the next day, zhao chunjia sent someone with a contract to the school for qian quan to sign. after reading the terms, qian quan felt that zhao chunjia was being very generous. because the contract, under the provision regarding remuneration, was not about paying a fixed salary but instead a fifty-fifty split with qian quan. this meant that for every student taught by qian quan, half of the basketball class fee they paid would go to qian quan. if calculated at 150 per lesson, as long as qian quan had seven or eight students, he would earn tens of thousands of yuan annually. distributed over each month, it might not seem like much, but the catch was that he only taught on weekends. for a college student, this could be considered a substantial income. moreover, the more students he had, the higher the earnings. this weekend, weve scheduled a group of parents to bring their kids for a trial lesson. you might need to conduct a demonstration class then. the staff member arranged by zhao chunjia told qian quan. sure, no problem. ill prepare for it, replied qian quan. when he acquired professional basketball skills, countless basketball knowledge and moves flashed through his mind- from basic to advanced, to professional level. he didnt see much of a problem with the upcoming demo lesson. once the agreement was signed, the staff member dispatched by zhao chunjia left. qian quan then took a moment to take stock of his part-time jobs: hed joined the video team of miss bai yuanzhi. hed become a part of the company founded by li zihe and li zhiyi. and now, he was moonlighting as a basketball coach. did the saying go- the more abilities you have, the more responsibilities you bear? shortly after qian quan jokingly reflected on this, he received a response from new story monthly: dear mr. secret, your submitted story titled a fathers mountainous love: when i accidentally killed the mistress, my father took the blame has passed our initial review. it will now proceed to the final review stage. please add our editor qing mo on wechat (same number as the phone: 131xxxxx) to discuss the next steps. qian quan promptly added editor qing mo. the editor quickly accepted and initiated a conversation. hello, mr. secret, your story has passed my initial review and is now headed to the final review by our chief editor. can you confirm that all copyrights of this story belong to you and that it has never been published elsewhere? qian quan replied, yes, thats correct. qing mo continued, another question- i noticed at the end of your story, the veteran detective realizes something isnt right. is this hinting that hes pieced together the real truth? qian quan explained, exactly. i left it a bit open-ended to accentuate the lingering emotion of a fathers sacrifice for his son. the underlying plot is that the detective eventually uncovers the truth. having often heard ding linlang gripe about the review process, qian quan naturally grasped what qing mo was hinting at. qing mo responded, alright, everything seems in order. ill message you if there are any updates. sounds good, qian quan replied. it seemed the initial review went smoothly. he wondered about the final review, hoping his story could compete in the same issue with his fathers piece. place the story a fathers mountainous love next to porcelain anniversary in the same issue, with porcelain anniversary preceding it. the chief editor, he jue, instructed in the work group chat of new story monthly. qing mo replied, understood. i also think these two should be paired. when read together, they offer timeless life lessons. he jue remarked, yes, its quite the coincidence. both stories are of high quality, and their themes naturally lead to each other. almost like a prime-time serial drama. qing mo laughed, exactly. so, boss, shall we set the fee for a fathers mountainous love at 650? he jue confirmed, sounds good. soon, it was november 15th. ding linlangs birthday was just a day away. qian quan went to pretty beauty to buy a black ladies trench coat and also ordered a cake. he then arranged to have dinner and karaoke with ding linlang that evening. that morning, hed received wechat messages from both his mother and mrs. ding. his mom reminded him not to forget linlangs birthday, while mrs. ding sent him a 188 red envelope, asking him to order a cake. of course, qian quan couldnt accept the money. he copied the message hed sent his mom and forwarded it to mrs. ding. dont worry, mom. ive got the cake and gifts sorted. weve planned dinner for tomorrow evening. after sending it, he realized hed addressed mrs. ding as mom. hurrying to recall the message, he corrected mom to mrs. ding. to his surprise, mrs. ding had seen the initial message. she replied, rocky, you dont need to fuss over formalities, sooner or later its bound to happen. qian quan replied with a laughing emoji. mrs. ding said, rocky, you must promise me to take good care of linlang. unless she finds someone more handsome, more outstanding, and treats her better than you, otherwise, chase them all away. got it? qian quan responded, of course, mrs. ding that night, qian quan deliberately checked the time, and once it passed midnight, he sent the birthday message he had prepared in advance: in the summer of 2012, we made a pact to listen to each other on landline phones. we heard the whispered words of a loving couple, the burning cosmic sea, the golden breeze brushing the jade dew, water buffaloes tumbling in the mortal world, ten thousand magpies flying across the milky way, the tender red pomegranates. in the deep night, separated by time and space, we murmured to each other, echoing with the sounds of cicadas and tides. we decided to extend the summer of 2012 into winter happy birthday, ding linlang. welcome to the world of adults. five or six minutes after qian quans message was sent, ding linlang replied, qian quan, that was so cheesy she then added, but i really like it, especially the poem. qian quan sent a sunglasses emoji. ding linlang wrote, by the way, my new book was just published. qian quan encouraged, believe in yourself. publishing is like a coming-of-age ceremony for a book. ding linlang shared, actually, after uploading the first vip chapter, i felt relieved. theres no turning back now; let it be. qian quan replied, thats the right attitude. after chatting for about ten minutes, qian quan suggested, go to bed early. see you tomorrow. ding linlang echoed, see you tomorrow. the next day, november 16th, after their afternoon classes, qian quan and ding linlang went to wanan plaza near fudan university for dinner. they chose a charcoal-grilled buffet restaurant. upon meeting, qian quan first presented a gift to ding linlang. ding linlang tried on the coat immediately. it fit her perfectly. it was black, flattering her figure and complementing her fair skin. it also matched her lean and aloof demeanor. you have good taste, ding linlang said, clearly pleased with the gift. of course, qian quan replied modestly. after trying on the coat, they entered the restaurant. they chose a good spot and then went to pick their dishes. how was the book launch last night? qian quan asked while picking beef. from now on, we can eat here three times a day, ding linlang bragged. forest gazer is truly amazing! but why eat here three times a day? isnt michelin star food tempting? qian quan teased. you can go and eat it every meal, she joked back. the two joked and laughed while choosing their first round of dishes. after returning to their table, they began grilling. on a serious note, besides your books success, do you have any other wishes for turning 18? qian quan inquired. ding linlang looked at qian quan and said with a smile, i hope you dont start dating before me. does that count? sure, its a wish after all. not all wishes come true, qian quan remarked. ding linlang glared at him, then added, theres another one. its not a wish, but a pact like the ones friends make in movies and tv shows. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only if were both single at 30, we should just get together. after all im in, qian quan agreed without hesitation. ding linlang continued smiling, at the same time, we must commit to looking out for each other for twelve unwavering years. no problem. the two shared a knowing silence, smiles creeping onto their faces.. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 77 Qian Quan almost kissed; Qian Quan slam dunked !_1 chapter 84: chapter 77 qian quan almost kissed; qian quan slam dunked !_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain after the barbecue buffet, qian quan picked up a cake from a cake shop and went with ding linlang to a ktv in the plaza. do you want a drink or beer? qian quan asked once they entered the private room. are you really asking this? of course, beer. its someones birthday, ding linlang playfully chided. who is someone? qian quan playfully questioned her choice of words. ding linlang pretended to hit him. qian quan laughed, seriously, you never used to talk like that. i was just surprised; you sounded a bit girly. qian quan! ding linlang kept hitting. stop, stop, stop! i was just worried that you drank too much and wouldnt be able to type, qian quan said, grabbing the hand that ding linlang was using to hit him. didnt you just launch your work? i have backup drafts, so im not worried at all, thank you, ding linlang bragged. alright, then lets order a whole bottle of beer tonight. we wont go home until were drunk. a bottle? are you feeding goldfish? who is that bottle for? if the people in the next room see, they might think we cant afford more. get another one, one bottle each! wow! ding linlang, youre quite wild. its my birthday today; im the boss. ill do whatever i want! then i should let mr. ding know. what? are you going to tattle to my father? ding linlang gave him a are you kidding me? look. qian quan, how childish can you be? you dont know. mr. ding once gave me a strict order: in any situation, as long as im present, youre not allowed to get drunk. qian quan, have you just met me? get drunk from one bottle of beer? ding linlang sneered. and i think my father meant that hes worried about me being taken advantage of when im drunk. were the only ones here; would you take advantage of me if i got drunk? of course not! i swear! do you think youve just met me? qian quan shot back. then what are you afraid of? are you afraid of what i might do to you when im drunk? alright, alright. one bottle each, qian quan conceded. qian quan went to get the beer while ding linlang selected a song to set the mood. she chose a song by one of the best singers. ding linlangs singing talent was just average. she wasnt tone-deaf or off-tune, but her singing was just passable, bearable, and not laughably bad. loving an angels shortcomings, using a devils language she began to sing. she didnt choose the song because she could mimic the original singers ethereal and soft voice but because she could relate to the singers carefree and unbothered attitude. the most important aspect of this attitude was to sing as oneself and not consciously imitate anyone else. this was one of the few commendable points qian quan found in ding linlangs singing. however, there had always been a rumor that the singers singing style was influenced by dolores oriordan of the cranberries, while her personal character was influenced by a great sage but it didnt matter. a diva was a diva because she seamlessly integrated these influences into her unique style. watching a fireworks show, with the time of a life cycle, as the ziwei star passes by, not having time to say goodbye, its already a light year away from me ding linlang was getting into the mood. qian quan was selecting songs. there were already seven or eight songs queued up. all the songs he was too shy to sing in front of others were chosen today. he didnt have to worry about being embarrassed in front of ding linlang. going off-tune or missing the beat didnt matter. after ding linlang finished, qian quan queued up the birthday song and said, lets eat the cake first, then we can have a proper singing session. he prepared a birthday crown for ding linlang and placed it on her head. then he turned on the atmosphere lights, lit the candles, sang the birthday song, made a wish, blew out the candles, and ate the cake they went through all the birthday traditions. when ding linlang was cutting the cake, qian quan playfully smeared a bit of frosting on her face. this was a tradition he learned from his mother. every year on his birthday, she would smear a little frosting on his face, a sign of good luck. ding linlang, aware of this tradition, didnt avoid it. after both of them had a piece of cake, they opened their beers and clinked bottles. happy birthday, qian quan remarked. cheers to that. then, they began their karaoke session. the first song qian quan chose was from a popular historical drama. for reasons unknown, perhaps a fault in his memory, qian quan always felt that this song wasnt as memorable as the end-credit song. it was the type of song where, if someone started singing it, he could hum along for a bit. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only however, with the rise of reality tv shows in recent years and the surge in short videos, many nostalgic moments were revived. internet sensations began covering old songs, reigniting interest in tunes that had once faded into obscurity. this revival was especially powerful when combined with classic scenes from past movies and tv shows. these combinations seemed to breathe new life into old songs. for instance, when qian quan sang the song, he couldnt help but reminisce as he watched the clips of the leading roles in the video. it felt as though some connected memories were resurfacing. of course, some songs were transformed beyond recognition by short videos. here wass a notable example. the quintessential stylish man, with a slick side-parted hairstyle and a playful twist of the hips, confidently placed one hand in his pocket and sang, my silence has dried up, filled with regrets. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 77 Qian Quan almost kissed; Qian chapter 85: chapter 77 qian quan almost kissed; qian quan slam dunked!_2 translator: inschain | editor: inschain it became impossible to associate that song with jay chou anymore. only in the dark night do i dream of the girl i once loved qian quan sang and finished the song. on the other side, ding linlangs new song was selected. they went back and forth, each picking a song in turn. without talking, without interacting, they sat at opposite ends of the sofa. a silent understanding existed between them C theyd sing for a bit, then drink for a bit. they each quickly finished their bottle of beer. their minds started to get a bit fuzzy. without ding linlang having to say anything, qian quan automatically fetched two more bottles. alcohol was strange. before you started drinking, you believed you had solid self-control. you could plan exactly how much you would drink. but after the first round, all bets were off. if anyone tried to stop you, it felt like they were opposing you, as you felt invincible. this bravado lasted until you were bent over a toilet, throwing up. and then youd post on social media, proclaiming, starting from today, im quitting drinking. day one check-in, please supervise me those check-ins would last a week at most, sometimes just half a day. when qian quan and ding linlang finished their second bottle, they began singing songs that had been released years before. no longer sitting at opposite ends, they moved to the middle of the sofa, singing boisterously face to face, their voices loud and passionate. they were so close, separated only by a metaphorical paper-thin barrier. but that barrier was as strong as silk. being too familiar with someone can make taking even a small step forward feel daunting. when the music abruptly stopped, they looked into each others eyes, breathing in the scent of one another. they could even see each others throats move as they swallowed. the colorful lights inside the room flickered, setting the mood. just as qian quan, emboldened by the alcohol, started to lean in and ding linlang, also influenced by the drink, slowly closed her eyes, her phone suddenly rang. both of them were jolted back to reality. qian quan straightened up, while ding linlang exhaled and answered the call. it was a video call from her father. hello, dad. ding linlang instantly regained her composure. sweetheart, happy birthday! her father joyfully exclaimed, then asked, somewhat puzzled, where are you? why are your cheeks so flushed? wheres rocky? were at a karaoke place, ding linlang hurriedly turned the camera to qian quan, who sat like a well-behaved schoolboy, say hi to my parents. good evening, mr. and mrs. ding. have you had dinner? qian quan greeted them with a smile. yeah. what did you two have for dinner? mrs. ding inquired. a barbecue buffet and then some cake, he replied. sounds good, mr. ding commented, then eyed them, both of you seem a bit flushed. did you have alcohol? just some beer, qian quan admitted. alright, but drink in moderation, mr. ding cautioned, throwing qian quan a meaningful look. qian quan caught on, yes, we wont drink too much. we have classes tomorrow. were about to head back soon. thats good. head back early and get a good nights rest for classes tomorrow, mr. ding said. after a few more minutes of casual conversation, they ended the call. we should probably head back, qian quan suggested. okay. the two of them packed up the remaining cake and left the karaoke venue. the walk back was filled with an unusual silence. once they reached fudan university, qian quan dropped ding linlang off before heading to seacoast normal university. thinking back on the evening, both were filled with complex emotions. they attributed their feelings to the alcohol. in truth, neither of them had really thought about how they would get along after that impulsive kiss. they had been best friends for so long. that was their comfort zone. when qian quan returned to his dormitory, mr. dings video call came in again. quick-witted qian quan instantly understood mr. dings intention. he purposely panned the camera over his dormitory and said, mr. ding, ive sent linlang back to school. dont worry. yeah, i know. i just called to make sure you got back to your dormitory rest early, mr. ding replied. alright, goodbye, mr. ding. after hanging up, qian quan sighed in relief and then went to wash up. on saturday. as agreed, qian quan went to the newly opened wan xiang plaza in minhua district. the plaza had five floors in total, with the fifth floor being completely rented out by zhao chunjia. the entire floor was turned into a sports and fitness area: there were gyms, yoga studios, basketball rooms as qian quan took the escalator to the fifth floor, he noticed that at every stairway entrance, there were two or three young men and women handing out flyers: check out our new gym! 20% off membership. qian quan took a flyer and saw the young lady about to approach him to pitch. he quickly said, im here to apply for the basketball coach position. just checking it out. you can try to attract other customers. oh, okay! the young lady replied with a cheerful smile. upon reaching the fifth floor, qian quan heard upbeat music emanating from the gym. young men and women in tight-fitting clothes were working out on treadmills. passing by the yoga studio, he saw a group of women being instructed by a stunningly beautiful yoga instructor. qian quan observed for a moment before heading to the basketball room. zhao chunjia wasnt there today, but his wife, huang lingyan, who was also zhao baiyus mother, was present. according to the staff who had approached him about the coaching contract, the management of this place would mainly be handed over to the lady boss, who would occasionally come over to supervise. seeing qian quan, huang lingyan greeted warmly, rocky. given their school senior-junior relationship, it was natural for her to address him by his nickname. she had wanted to call him qian quan or xiao quan, but both felt awkward, so they settled on rocky. yeah, qian quan replied politely. there seem to be a lot of attendees today. glancing around, he noticed about twenty to thirty children aged between three and nine. together with their accompanying parents, the basketball room was bustling with activity. these are the ones scheduled for today. there will be just as many tomorrow, huang lingyan said. however, we dont know how many will actually sign up.1 right, qian quan chuckled. by the way, did they have any specific requests for the trial class? well, the initial plan was to let you coaches conduct a class for the kids directly. -but a few of the fathers wanted to first gauge the basketball skills of you coaches huang lingyan sounded somewhat resigned. oh? do they want a one-on-one challenge? huang lingyan laughed, not exactly. they wanted the four of you to play a match. they sure like to make things lively, qian quan grinned. what did the other coaches say? theyre all okay with it. then lets play. maybe invite two parents to join in. great idea. as qian quan and huang lingyan discussed, they approached the other three coaches. huang lingyan told qian quans suggestion to them. everyone agreed. however, when huang lingyan went to discuss with the fathers, only one was eager, while the rest politely declined with a smile. so, the idea was dropped. qian quan and the other three coaches decided to play a 2v2 half-court game to 10 points. qian quan initially assumed the match would be a friendly one, with everyone showcasing their skills. but once the game began, he realized the three of them seemed to be isolating him. the two on the opposite side went without saying, coordinating with each other seamlessly, passing the ball, posting up, layups, jump shots, and fully showcasing their skills. his teammate kept letting qian quan inbound the ball, only to ignore him and play solo once he got it. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only the opposing coaches, however, played into his hands by deliberately defending him poorly. realizing their intentions, qian quan didnt react outwardly and simply warmed up. during a defensive play, he purposely let his opponents enter the paint. as one attempted a layup, qian quan blocked it hard, catching the ball mid-air. subsequently, he ignored the call for the ball from the coach on his side, took the ball out past the three-point line, and did a complete circle. facing the opponents defense, he executed two perfectly timed crossovers, leaving the defenders cleanly behind. then he gently lobbed the ball towards the backboard, leaped into the air, caught the ball, and slammed it home. the scene went silent for a second, followed by an eruptive roar of cheers. especially those seven or eight-year-old kids, who cheered extremely loudly.. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 78 Mrs. Lu, I Want to Try on My Own for a Few Yearsl l chapter 86: chapter 78 mrs. lu, i want to try on my own for a few yearsl l translator: inschain editor: inschain huang lingyan had never mentioned qian quans background to the other three coaches and didnt remind them to take special care of him. so, seeing them intentionally or unintentionally isolating qian quan, she frowned. but everything changed with that dunk from qian quan. even those unfamiliar with the detailed rules of basketball could grasp the significance of that move. the enthusiastic and loud applause from parents and children spoke volumes. hes so handsome, this coach! huang lingyan even overheard a female parent whispering, while unabashedly taking photos of qian quan with her phone. thats not how basketball should be played after his dunk, qian quan turned to the other coaches and said, is this the kind of basketball philosophy you want to convey to parents and kids? the three coaches looked mortified, their expressions shifting awkwardly in the ensuing silence. as insiders, they recognized qian quans skill from his previous play. frankly, the skill gap was clear, and further attempts to sideline him would just be embarrassing. lets continue the game. everyone is watching, qian quan said, not wanting to dwell on the matter. the three coaches dared not play any more mind games and straightforwardly played 10 balls. as soon as the exhibition match ended, the older children swarmed around qian quan, teasing him. meanwhile, parents rushed to inquire about qian quans classes with huang lingyan. the other three coaches felt even more embarrassed. initially, the collaboration had been going well to showcase everyones talents. it was their cunning intentions that had led to their downfall. we offer two basketball classes: one for ages 3 to 5 and the other for ages 6 to 12. mr. qian mainly handles the older group, explained huang lingyan. however, this isnt set in stone. well arrange classes flexibly, tailoring one-on-one coaching sessions based on each students abilities and needs. all our coaches participate to ensure that every student receives thorough guidance. realizing the charm and appeal of qian quan, huang lingyan subtly adjusted her standard spiel to amplify qian quans effect. the parents seemed particularly interested in the one-on-one approach. after all, when investing in extracurricular classes, what they wanted was specialized, targeted coaching. then came the trial lesson. staff members led the parents outside the basketball room, asking them to take a seat. they could observe the coaches teaching the children through a glass wall. the four coaches and the female assistant divided the kids into two groups based on their ages. two coaches took responsibility for each group. since it was a demonstration lesson, they naturally showcased the classs professionalism. they started with warm-ups, then moved on to fitness training, followed by guidance and corrections on fundamental skills like catching, dribbling, passing, and shooting. the goal was to present a professional curriculum. after the 45-minute session, they had a clear sense of each childs skill level. hello, mr. qian. im lu xuans mother. hows my sons basketball foundation? a woman in her thirties, of above-average appearance, slightly overweight, fair-skinned, with dyed blonde hair and a mature charm, approached qian quan with soft eyes. lu xuan? hes quite good. among his peers here today, his foundational skills stand out. ill focus on enhancing his dribbling and shooting techniques in the future, qian quan replied honestly. great! lu xuans mother nodded happily. he truly loves basketball. i hope you can give him some extra attention. i want him to be as talented as you. dont worry, madam. ill do my best. thank you. by the way, mr. qian, may i add you on wechat? so i can consult you about any basketball-related concerns for lu xuan. it seemed like a reasonable request. qian quan added her on wechat. once the connection was established, she sent him a shy emoji as a greeting, to which he responded with a grinning emoji. are you free tonight? id like to invite you for dinner. oh, no need. i have to head back to my university right after this. are you a college student? lu xuans mother seemed surprised. yes. which university? seacoast normal university. no wonder youre so skilled at teaching. she laughed. qian quan smiled modestly. he had an inkling that there was something odd about the way lu xuans mother spoke and looked at him. well, you must be busy, mr. qian. ill go to register lu xuan for the class. alright. out of all the parents who attended the trial lesson that day, 80% enrolled their kids on the spot. the rest either wanted another trial class or hesitated due to the one-time fee, which was on the higher side. regardless of whether they enrolled or not, huang lingyan ensured that every child who attended the trial received a small gift. after wrapping up the session, qian quan strolled around the plaza before heading back to his university. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only he would return again on sunday. once he left, huang lingyan reprimanded the other three coaches. although she didnt explicitly mention her connection to qian quan, she sternly reminded them of his significance, emphasizing that he had been personally invited by her and the boss. any issues like the one that had just arisen would not be tolerated. the coaches, realizing the error of their ways, now understood that not only was qian quan talented, but he also had powerful backing. they were just glad they hadnt taken things too far. after dealing with the coaches, huang lingyan briefed her husband, zhao chunjia, about qian quans trial session.. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 78 Mrs. Lu, I Want to Try on My Own foraFewYears!_2 chapter 87: chapter 78 mrs. lu, i want to try on my own forafewyears!_2 translator: inschain j editor: inschain zhao chunjia had remarked, thats so typical of qian quan. he hadnt paid much attention to the three others. in the face of absolute strength, tricks, and conspiracies became mere jokes. he had invited qian quan to be a basketball coach, not really to tap into his past basketball prowess, but rather to follow his father-in-laws advice C to subtly, step by step, keep in touch with him and foster goodwill. in any strategic plan, there were no real bystanders. everything was interconnected, threads woven intricately together. sunday came around. qian quan received a message from the editor of new story monthly early that morning: congratulations, mr. secret. your submission has passed our chief editors review and will be published in our next issue. also, based on our editorial teams evaluation of your work, you will receive a standard rate of 650 per thousand words (totaling 9,750). payments will be transferred to your personal account within a month after publication. please be advised. overjoyed, qian quan thought to himself, looks like im going to be competing with my dad in the literary world. i wonder how much he gets paid for his pieces. in the afternoon, qian quan received a call from a delivery service. he was puzzled since he hadnt ordered anything online recently. perhaps it was a surprise from his parents or ding linlang. when he retrieved the package from the delivery station, it turned out to be a pair of aj13 sneakers! without a doubt, it had to be from ding linlang. perhaps she sent it to celebrate the success of her new book. qian quan immediately texted ding linlang, got the shoes, thanks! ding linlang replied swiftly, what shoes? i didnt buy you any shoes. qian quan was confused, what? then how did i get a pair of shoes? ding linlang asked, did mr. or mrs. qian buy them for you? qian quan replied, ill check. he called his mother and confirmed she didnt buy the shoes. he was about to inform ding linlang when an avatar of a woman sent him a message, mr. qian, did you receive the shoes? do you like them? lu xuans mother? baffled, qian quan responded, mrs. lu, are the shoes from you? lu xuans mother replied, yes, i noticed you wore a very basic brand of basketball shoes, and i thought they didnt suit someone of your stature. so i decided to gift you a pair of ajs. do you like them? qian quan was utterly confused he responded, thank you so much, lu xuans mother! however, we coaches shouldnt accept gifts from students parents. rest assured, ill genuinely coach lu xuan. ill bring the shoes to the basketball room next week. please take them back. lu xuans mother insisted, its alright. this is a personal gesture, unrelated to lu xuan. seeing someone as outstanding as you wearing such basic shoes made me feel bad. please accept them! qian quan was dumbfounded. he thought to himself, what on earth was going on? i have parents and ding linlang who care about me. i dont need pity from a students parent ive only met once. its unnecessary. besides, i can afford these aj shoes on my own. moreover, are the sneakers of those three coaches any better than mine? pointing fingers at my basketball shoes without any reason? thats not appropriate, to say the least. its certainly impolite. qian quan was at a loss for words and responded, thank you again, but i really cant accept the shoes. mrs. lu became anxious, oh, come on, why are you being so hesitant and fussy? look, its hard to explain over wechat. will you be at wan xiang tonight? qian quan replied, yes, i will. are you coming too? lu xuans mother said, til be attending a yoga class. after that, lets have dinner together. this way, i can explain in person. surely theres no rule against having a meal together? after some thought, qian quan agreed. he thought that he would return the shoes tonight. lu xuans mother was satisfied, see you tonight. their conversation ended shortly before a message from ding linlang came in, did you find out? was it mrs. qian? qian quan replied, no, its from a parent whose child enrolled in my basketball class. she probably wants me to give her son extra attention. ding linlang noticed and asked, a female parent? qian quan responded, yeah, what about it? ding linlang inquired, how old is she? qian quan replied, in her thirties, i guess. it doesnt matter. ill return her shoes tonight, otherwise, itll seem weird. ding linlang said, i think so too qian quan exclaimed, right? she even belittled my basketball shoes! ding linlang remained silent. at 6 p.m., qian quan headed to the wan xiang plaza with the new pair of aj shoes. he first taught a lesson to a child who had come for a trial class, and then he went to the nag restaurant, where he had arranged to meet lu xuans mother. upon arrival, he noticed lu xuans mother had already arrived. that day, she wore an off-shoulder black dress with her hair flowing freely, fully made-up. from an outsiders perspective, she exuded the elegance and maturity typical of a woman in her thirties. she wasnt extraordinarily beautiful, but her sense of style was impeccable. mr. qian, lu xuans mother stood up to greet qian quan, feigning annoyance, did you really bring the shoes? without much conversation, qian quan placed the shoes beside her. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only she said, alright, lets talk. if you still dont want them after our conversation, i wont force you. qian quan sat opposite her, a faint but pleasant scent filling the air. you dont know my name, do you? she asked, tilting her head slightly to look at qian quan. he shook his head. -my name is lin xinyi, she chuckled sarcastically, but ever since i had kids, ive been known as lu cans mom or lu xuans mom, not lin xinyi anymore.. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 78 Mrs. Lu, I Want to Try on My Own for a Few Years!_3 chapter 88: chapter 78 mrs. lu, i want to try on my own for a few years!_3 translator: inschain editor: inschain you have two children! qian quan was surprised. yes, lu xuan is my second child. i also have an older daughter who is 12 years old. i couldnt tell. im 35 this year, lin xinyi laughed, emphasizing her figure, how do you think ive maintained my figure? it looks great, qian quan honestly remarked. lin xinyi smiled at qian quan, i can tell, youre the straightforward type, not adept at flattering women. qian quan chuckled in agreement. but with your looks, you dont need to learn how to flatter women. theyll naturally gravitate towards you. i doubt that, qian quan modestly brushed off the comment. lin xinyi joked, didnt you know women are super proactive with handsome guys? actually, qian quan, you look a lot like my first love. thats the real reason i gifted you the ajs, not because of lu xuan. really? qian quan was taken aback. yes. he was my college classmate. we were together for 4 years, 3 months, and 12 days. i shared many firsts with him: first hand-hold, first kiss, first movie, first long trip, and even you know. but we broke up shortly after graduation because his family was not well-off. a lot of college romances end that way, parting after graduation. lin xinyi sighed, ive never forgotten him. there was always a sense of regret. i met him again two years ago and was disappointed to see he wasnt the same person anymore. hes become another man. qian quan chose not to comment. so im really disappointed, and regretful, and again, disappointed. i truly wish to see him from our college days once more, and relive those moments we once shared. lin xinyis gaze deepened as she looked into qian quans eyes. but now you have your own family qian quan delicately pointed out. lin xinyi casually responded, it doesnt matter. my husband has a mistress. their child will start kindergarten next year, and they even got into an international school. im just stating a mundane fact. qian quan nearly spat out his drink, arent you opposed to it? why would i be? its quite common for successful men to have multiple partners. youll understand someday. but of all these women, only the original wife, like me, is legally protected. especially when ive borne him two children, both 99% proven to be his by dna testing. this home is his true home; the other place will always be a disreputable shoe cabinet. when qian quan heard what was being said, he felt as if his moral compass was shattering. was this how the wealthy lived, unrestrained and uninhibited? so, qian quan, did you grasp what i meant? what what do you mean? qian quan genuinely didnt understand. the aj wasnt a gift from lu xuans mother. it was from lin xinyi. now, lin xinyi wants to know if you can make up for her regret. lin xinyi made her intentions clear, her gaze turning fervent, no longer concealing her desire. in that case, i certainly cant accept it, qian quan responded. unfazed, lin xinyi asked, qian quan, youre a university student, and you also work part-time on weekends. it must be tough, right? its okay. dont be stubborn. ive been to college; i know what life is like for students. looking back, if my first love had met someone like me, perhaps we wouldnt have parted. qian quan didnt feel like continuing the conversation. its not as complicated as you think, lin xinyi tried to persuade him. i usually have to take care of my child and occasionally spend time with my husband. even if we were to be together, id only see you three or four times a month. if i miss you during the day, we can just meet up at a hotel for a while. ill give you 100,000 a month, buy you any gift you want, and once you get your drivers license, ill get you a car C be it a bmw, mercedes, or audi. before qian quan could respond, she continued her words. think about it carefully, qian quan. you dont stand to lose anything, but only stand to gain unprecedented joy and superior material conditions. after three or four years, by the time you graduate from university, youll have a head start over your peers, maybe even a decade or two ahead. you can then choose to start a business or buy a house in azure bay. mrs. lu, i honestly didnt expect todays meeting to be about this. to be frank, im shocked. however, my answer remains: thank you, but no. do you find me unattractive? absolutely not! qian quan firmly denied it. in fact, maybe because you dont have a regular job, you look quite youthful. but i was raised with values that dont align with this proposition. besides, im only six years older than your daughter. i think i should address you as mrs. lu. whats wrong? im more considerate, caring, and experienced. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only but mrs. lu, id like to strive on my own for a few years, qian quan said, preparing to leave. opportunities like this dont come often. ill give you three days to think about it. theres no need goodbye, mrs. lu. qian quan waved and left the restaurant. lin xinyi watched qian quans retreating figure, biting her lip with a mixture of frustration and disappointment, akin to watching the fish that got away. why did it have to be this way? Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 79 Challenge to Obtain a Cl Driver’s License in 35 Days!_l chapter 89: chapter 79 challenge to obtain a cl drivers license in 35 days!_l translator: inschain editor: inschain the november evening breeze in azure bay was growing colder. after leaving wan xiang plaza, qian quan stood at the intersection, not immediately hailing a taxi to return to his university. the conversation with mrs. lu still echoed in his mind, unsettling him. the idea that a successful man having multiple women is normal was no longer surprising in novels and dramas. it was only occasionally seen among the ostentatious wealthy or celebrities in real life. hearing such a sentiment from an involved party, especially a woman, challenged his worldview. societys gender imbalance was never an issue for some. for certain circles, it seemed like an accepted norm. high-quality individuals, unless deliberately guarded, were always surrounded by admirers of the opposite sex. qian quan had no intention of criticizing or rectifying this. he simply felt there were some outrageous elements involved. he recalled someone mentioning that monogamy historically protected womens rights, but in todays society, it also safeguards the majority of ordinary people. qian quan couldnt think deeply about it. there were too many reasons. perhaps he hasnt seen the most outrageous side of himself yet. distracted by these thoughts, he chuckled at himself, im just a young college student, barely 18. ever since entering university, song xi promised to uplift him someday, tang bingbing flirted with the idea of a casual relationship, and now a married woman wanted to provide for him. could it really be as ding linlang had said, that he had potential in that aspect? after hailing a ride on his smartphone, he confronted ding linlang directly about the matter, not even hiding the price from her. she seemed taken aback, responding only after five or six minutes, and then she said, would she be open to meeting another girl? dont you see the scheme in this? what scheme? the allure of beauty to weaken your resolve, money to suppress your ambition, luxury cars to shatter your dreams. shes trying to make you completely dependent on her. and when she gets bored of you, what would you be left with? apart from a few million in cash and a car, what will remain of you? indeed, you might gain wealth and pleasure, but youll lose your pain, worries, and even your constraints. they shared a light-hearted moment before ding linlang continued her words. weve discussed this many times. desires arise uncontrollably, but if you can suppress them with your moral sense, thats a win. its the difference between judging actions versus intentions. are you praising me? yes, ding linlang replied sincerely. if everyone in the world thought this feels amazing, its exciting, but its wrong, so i shouldnt do it, half of the worlds tragedies would disappear. qian quan chuckled, our ancient history professor once said that only confucian culture could save the world in the future. seems like theres some truth to that. the two engaged in deep conversation until qian quan reached his university. so, qian quan, whats your final thought on this? ding linlang eventually asked. he pondered and replied, considering the trend of successful people having multiple partners if theres a successful man worth billions who only sleeps with one person his entire life, isnt he impressive too? after a moment, ding linlang responded, is that all? one more thing, its about time i got a drivers license seriously? really. do you want to sign up together? im busy writing my book. maybe after i finish it. okay, ill go first and share the experience with you later. or how about you get your drivers license, and ill buy the car. then you can be my driver. how does that sound? its doable, but dont you want to try driving yourself? experience that sense of control and speed, feel the extension of human speed limits i do, but ive heard driving instructors can be quite mean. i hate any form of verbal abuse. sometimes i cant even bring myself to read the comments on my books, as you know. he laughed, alright, ill be your driver. back in his dormitory, qjan quan told his roommates about his decision to get a license. guo hongyi and shen fei were also interested, but gao yan declined, saying hed consider it when he could afford a car. the next day, the trio went to sign up for the driving test. lets aim to get our licenses in three months, shen fei suggested. three months is too long! ill do it in two, guo hongyi declared confidently. my cousin has been trying for a year and is still stuck on the second test, shen fei pointed out. its different. ive been driving tractors since middle school, guo hongyi retorted and then asked qian quan, what about you, quan? 35 days, qian quan responded with a smirk, ive been riding bicycles since primary school. guo hongyi laughed, you really know how to brag! in the following days, they intensely reviewed driving test questions. every day they discussed topics like traffic signals, penalties for traffic violations, and more. the day before the test, li zihe visited seacoast normal university to finalize a contract with qian quan. his company one nine equals nine technology company had its official stamp ready. as verbally agreed before, qian quan would own 5% of the shares due to a technical investment, while li zihe and li zhiyi would each own 31%. another company named dream investments owned 33%. it was presumably linked to the li family business. to put it simply, the shareholders of this new company consisted of the close-knit li family and qian quan. frankly, for qian quan, the contract was almost like getting something for free. li zihe had declined his investment offer of 110,000. according to the agreement, qian quans rights included dividends from the companys future profits and advisory power in the companys business. his obligations were deeply involved in the planning, promotion, implementation, and advertising of the companys products. this meant that any future engagements with li zhiyi, be it for chess training, the go, or other projects, would no longer be personal but professional. looking forward to our collaboration, mr. qian, li zihe began using formal titles. likewise, mr. li, qian quan chuckled. the next day, qian quan, guo hongyi, and shen fei went to take their first driving test. qian quan and shen fei scored full marks, while guo hongyi scored 89. yes, guo hongyi, who had been driving tractors since middle school, failed the initial theoretical driving test! upon exiting the test center, qian quan and shen fei struggled to suppress their laughter and comforted guo hongyi, no big deal, just retake it. you get two tries for free anyway. yeah, i was just trying to get a score around 90, but i got a bit careless, guo hongyi explained. are you sure youre alright? shen fei sought assurance. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only absolutely. great, then let the mocking begin laughing uproariously, shen fei and qian quan started teasing him. you failed the basics, hongyi! the 52-year-old man next to me passed it on the first try! the two laughed.. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 80 My dad’s penmanship remains sharp !_1 chapter 90: chapter 80 my dads penmanship remains sharp !_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain by the standards of the driving test, after passing the first test, you had to wait ten days to schedule the second one and 30 days for the third. for qian quan, once he had cleared up some detailed issues for the first and fourth tests, he believed that he could pass all four in one go. however, given the rules, he still methodically scheduled a practice session for the second test subject with shen fei. there are 5 essential points for the second subject test: reverse parking, parallel parking, hill start and stop, right-angle turn, and s-curve. among them, reverse parking is said to be the most challenging task, frustrating countless candidates. since guo hongyi still had to retake the theoretical exam, qian quan and shen fei went for their driving lessons first. im actually a bit nervous. my aunt, whos a psychologist, said she was mentally crushed by the harsh words of her instructor during her driving lessons, shen fei confessed with apprehension before heading to his driving lesson. theres no way around it. as long as its not personal attacks or insults, take regular criticism and sarcasm as guidance. focus on the content, and filter out the tone, qian quan tried to console him. besides, not every instructor is so fond of yelling at people, qian quan said. perhaps theres some exaggeration too, shen fei reassured himself. by the time they reached the driving practice area and got into the car, both had firsthand experience of the driving instructors verbal aggression. shen fei went first. qian quan sat in the back while the instructor, with a straight face, sat in the passenger seat, giving directions systematically. alright, those are the basics. drive, the instructor finished explaining the rules and allowed shen fei to take control. sir, are we driving to that spot over there? shen fei asked cautiously. no, were flying there. shen fei remained silent and drove, his tension reminiscent of someone in a high-stakes examination room. after driving for a while, the instructor suddenly pointed at a wall ahead, do you see that wall? yes, shen fei nodded slightly. smash into it with all youve got! why would i? shen fei was taken aback. this wasnt part of the test. before the instructor could reply, qian quan whispered from the back seat, shen fei, hit the brakes. oh! realizing the instructors point, shen fei applied the brakes. switch. after stopping the car, the instructor spoke succinctly. shen fei got out and exchanged places with qian quan. as they swapped, shen fei showed qian quan his sweaty palms. they shared a brief laugh. qian quan took the drivers seat, fastened his seatbelt, and followed the instructors earlier directives. he drove neither showily nor pretentiously but with regularity. the instructor remained silent throughout. youve driven before? the instructor casually inquired as qian quan prepared to alight. yes. alright. after the initial round to familiarize themselves, they began practicing for the actual test. perhaps influenced by qian quans presence, the instructor refrained from making sarcastic comments towards shen fei. still, due to shen feis inexperience and resulting errors, the instructor couldnt help but remark. with the way youre practicing, your friend wont have much time today. others are waiting. qian quan quickly responded, its alright. just leave a few minutes for me. ive been paying attention. after shen feis challenging practice session, it was qian quans turn again. this time, he swiftly finished all five tasks in less than a minute. not only was shen fei stunned, but even the instructor was taken aback. are you here to retake the driving test? no, its my first time. looking at your skills, you dont need more practice. you can take the test directly. okay, could you help me schedule the next test? the instructor nodded with a smile, sure. this was a guaranteed pass and a perfect example of the instructors portfolio. the fastest student to get a drivers license! on the way back from the driving school, shen fei asked qian quan, quan, how did you do it? why? i learned while watching you drive from the back seat. come on! you even drifted smoothly around the corners, just short of using the drainage ditches for acceleration. and youre telling me you learned by watching from the back? qian quan laughed and explained, i drove to a practice site near my cousins house during the summer. that makes more sense. shen fei felt a bit more settled. back in the dormitory, shen fei, with a bit of exaggeration, told guo hongyi, who was preparing for his theory exam, about qian quans driving experience. guo didnt believe a word of it. it wasnt until the instructor sent the time for qian quans stage-two exam that guo realized his re-examination for the theory test was on the same day. strangely, in the next few days, he didnt go for any practice sessions. only once, when shen fei, feeling overwhelmed, forcefully took him along to the practice site, did he make an appearance. by the end of november, just three days away from guos theory re-test and qians stage-two exam, the latest issue of new story monthly was published. the magazine mailed sample copies to all the authors. the copy sent to qian quan somehow ended up at the college of humanities. curiously, someone opened it and during a class break, it was directly delivered to qian quans class. more embarrassingly, at that time, qian quan was away. when he returned, he found the magazine on his desk, its cover featuring a sexy lady, with sensational titles like: for 3 million, i let my husband into my best friends bed! one night of lost conscience: an 18-year-old female student enters the male dormitory. and there was another one. action in a small city: the midnight pervert no longer runs rampant! and there were other eye-catching headlines. at that moment, qian quan felt the surrounding students gaze on him was somewhat odd. the image of the newly-crowned campus heartthrob had, at that moment, gained a few cracks. who put this magazine on my desk? qian quan asked. a senior from our faculty just delivered it, saying it was mailed to you. a classmate said with a hint of amusement. now qian quan felt trapped. he couldnt say he had ordered the magazine, nor could he say it was a sample copy for the authors. oh, is that so? it was sent without any packaging? qian quan sarcastically questioned, then calmly flipped through the magazine, seemingly skimming but intently searching for his and his fathers articles. soon, he found their article titles. as expected, they were placed together in the contents. however, his fathers story seemed to be a longer one, with only the first part published in this issue. he quietly turned to his fathers story and began to skim-read. his mood gradually relaxed. his fathers story seemed to be based on someone elses life or entirely fictional. none of the details related to their family. as for the interactions and daily life of the middle-aged couple described in the article, though based on observations of their own life, they were mostly exaggerated or embellished to create dramatic tension or foreshadow future events. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only apart from all that, this magazine knew how to keep its readers hooked. the story abruptly ended during a scene where the male lead and his first love were on a business trip, and she, dressed in a semi-transparent nightgown, asked him for a massage. to know what happens next, please order the next issue. honestly, if he didnt know that this article was written by his father, many of the plots would have been quite heart-stirring and thrilling. his fathers writing skills were indeed seasoned.. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 81 Insights into Training: A Letter to chapter 91: chapter 81 insights into training: a letter to dad_1 translator: inschain editor: inschain compared to the awkwardness of qian quans magazine discovery among classmates, qian wenlin openly brought the magazine to his office. after noticing that his colleagues werent paying any attention, he purposely said something. after passing the manuscript review, new story monthly1 sends out sample copies. did any of you receive one?1 two colleagues, who had also been published, acknowledged they had and took his magazine to see, asking, which one is yours, mr. qian? qian wenlin mentioned the title of his work. his colleagues gave a knowing smile before flipping to the indicated page. after a short while, one commented with a grin, mr. qian, have you read the story that follows yours? i did. it seems theres a bit of a counterpoint going on, doesnt it? qian wenlin chuckled. having initially read his own piece, he inevitably noticed qian quans article titled a fathers mountainous love. while his own story dealt with infidelity, the following piece portrayed a son killing his fathers mistress. clearly, the editorial team had done this intentionally. so, when are you treating us? a colleague asked while browsing through the magazine. as soon as i get the payment, responded qian wenlin, who had been eagerly awaiting this moment. after a day of teaching, qian wenlin returned home. over dinner with his wife, he inquired, has rocky mentioned how his driving test went? he passed the theoretical exam and has scheduled his vehicle control and parking test. he seems in a rush. the vehicle control and parking test can be tricky. he should practice more before attempting it. then talk to our son and share your experience with him. dont expect me to ask everything for you. alright, well discuss it later. lately, qian wenlin felt a growing distance between him and his increasingly mature son. it seemed that as children grow up, the all-knowing, all-capable aura of a father fades. after dinner, qian wenlin washed the dishes. he went for a walk with his wife, after which she went to have some fun with linlangs mother, while he returned home to practice his writing. now, every morning he would practice wing chun on a wooden dummy, and in the evenings, hed write calligraphy and practice the wudang secret circulation skill, which had become a routine. the wudang secret circulation skill with its annotations was increasingly captivating C a truly beneficial method for self-cultivation. however, recently, perhaps due to work pressures or the emotional turbulence from the magazines publication, he found it challenging to calm his mind during practice. for instance, while sitting in tranquility, his body motionless, his mind as still as water, his thoughts followed his smooth inhalations and exhalations peaceful, calm, focused C everything seemed perfect. suddenly, some thoughts surfaced: what did principal chen mean by that? was he hinting at me? i really crave the noodles my mom used to make. should i call yuhua back? his practice was interrupted. he wrestled with these thoughts and tried to refocus on his breathing. but soon enough, new thoughts emerged: now that i dont have to pay rockys tuition, ive saved so much money. maybe ill become a renowned author nationally. will the gas prices drop? it seemed like a tug-of-war, caught in a vicious cycle, which quickly agitated him. he paused his practice and asked in the family group chat, has anyone tried that wudang secret circulation skill that rocky shared? shortly after, his uncle replied, why bother? with that time, you might as well play a couple rounds of pai gow poker. then qian quans aunts husband commented, wenlin wants to become immortal. i skimmed it, that technique isnt for us ordinary folks. i initially wanted to try it, but after reading that it prolongs life, i thought better of it. ive had enough of this world and want to leave early, a cousin who was working responded. seeing their reactions, qian wenlin felt deflated, realizing that nobody took the document seriously. well, no matter, he thought. its just a wasted effort on rockys part. just then, qian wenlin received a private message from his son, dad, why did you suddenly ask about the practice? just wanted to discuss with everyone. seems like nobody cares, qian wenlin sighed. they probably think im just fooling around. i heard from your mom that youve scheduled your driving test. how many times have you practiced? qian wenlin swiftly changed the subject. i practiced two or three times. the instructor said im doing well and can take the test. just remember, during the test, drive steadily and slowly. no matter how the instructor rushes you, follow your own pace. okay. their chat ended. qian wenlin decided against forcing himself to continue his practice and spent some time playing go. by 9 p.m., he received an email. it was from rocky. curious, he opened it. dear father, ive been practicing the wudang inner peace practice recently and have some insights id like your opinion on: firstly, regarding the attitude of entering meditation, i no longer want to set expectations or look forward to outcomes. i merely follow my pace and direction, suppressing illusory thoughts and proceeding naturally; i dont want to force it or be overly tense but rather maintain a relaxed and stable demeanor; i dont wish to rush or cling to anything, nor reject any phenomena. whether good or bad, i accept and observe it with an equanimous heart; i accept my distracted nature and reconcile with myself. i question everything, not simply believing something because an influential person said it, or it sounds right. yet, i dont become cynical; i treat every experience, good or bad, as a challenge and training. i embrace the good and delve into the bad, exploring its depths; lastly, i dont compare myself to anyone, in appearance, achievements, intelligence, or popularity, nor do i harbor animosity due to social disparities. secondly, on handling distractions, before entering meditation or during, i often get flooded with negative fantasies, worries, and ambitions. the more i try to banish them, the stronger they become; so, ive stopped suppressing them and started carefully observing them. instead of blaming myself for these distractions, i keep a distance, slowly redirecting my focus to breathing. thirdly, regarding misconceptions about the practice, the document my friend gave me was titled wudang secret circulation skill. it had the word secret, but as i practiced, i realized its not mysterious but rather very down-to-earth. suitable for both the elites and commoners; its a simple act. during the practice, one might have profound realizations or merely superficial contentment. whatever arises is just that, with no right or wrong answer; practicing meditation isnt about escaping reality nor can it solve all problems. its benefits are subtle. in the short term, there wont be drastic changes, but i feel my patience gradually improving. in the end, after long-term practice, was it possible to attain some form of transcendence or supernatural power? my friend never mentioned it in relation to the ming dynasty, and i didnt hold any expectations. if it ever manifested, id be thrilled, but if not, id be indifferent. fourthly, regarding the relationship between practice and life. for a long period, i consistently chose a specific time and place for my practice. however, i later realized that meditation didnt necessarily require a serene environment; it could also be integrated into daily life. for instance, during my walks, id lift my head, puff my chest, relax my neck, and proceed naturally with the slowest and most comfortable pace. all my attention would be on the sensations from my feet and legs. id recall every detail about each foots movement, discerning the minute differences between actions and feeling every subtle touch similarly, id always be mindful of my breathing, not just during practice but throughout daily activities. id sync my breath with every action, adding rhythm to movements, stabilizing emotions, experiencing and feeling nature in motion or stillness. i also seized every spare moment to practice, while waiting for the bus, standing in line at the cafeteria, during class breaks additionally, i tried to incorporate every tiny event or emotion from daily life into my practice. regardless if these emotions were positive or negative, beautiful or shameful, it didnt matter. i simply wanted to observe and notice them in their truest form. even in moments of boredom, i sought to understand the essence of this feeling: how it worked, how it impacted my mindset, and what constituted it. the same went for anger and despair. i believed that once i refined these thoughts and was able to effectively handle every sudden stray or delusive thought, i would freely concentrate my attention on breathing and the flow of qi during meditation. at that point, could it be said that id advanced to the next level? some disorganized musings; looking forward to dads guidance. respectfully, fuan from a son, november 30th after reading the email, qian wenlin was silent for a while. setting aside the feasibility of the methods proposed in the email, the points addressed were precisely those he had doubts or confusions about. in many instances, just reading the text provided moments of clarity. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only whats more impressive was that the methods suggested werent lofty but very concrete and feasible. just for that alone, could one say that its the deep bond between a father and son? feeling both proud and slightly ashamed, qian wenlin felt that his son had made rapid progress in various aspects since attending college. after thinking for a bit, he gave his reply. read it. not bad.. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 82 Does Qian Wenlin Want to Sell chapter 92: chapter 82 does qian wenlin want to sell movie and television copyrights?_l translator: inschain editor: inschain after replying to his son, qian wenlin felt the response might not have been proportionate in its weight. although his reply showcased the demeanor of an elder and was in line with the etiquette of correspondence between father and son, given that his son had detailed his practice experiences, his own reply seemed a bit aloof. he then gathered his thoughts and composed a slightly lengthier email: ive read your letter. its evident youve put great effort into your practice, and some of your insights have also been beneficial to me. recently, while practicing this wudang secret circulation skill, ive had some reflections. for instance, how does one differentiate between cultivating the body and the mind? in my opinion, your body reflects your state of mind. if you find it challenging to calm your mind, then start by calming your body. so, how to cultivate the mind? the breathing method mentioned in meditation is wonderful. breathing is like an instinct, a representation of life. its sensations are subtle and can often be done without thinking, hence often overlooked. but when you intentionally focus on it, it becomes vivid. each inhale and exhale represents the present moment. regarding breathing, i have a tip. when trying to find your breath, first take a deep, rapid breath. notice the points C your nose, trachea, and chest C where you feel the air passing through the most. this can help you identify its flow and maintain concentration. moreover, whether in practice or in life, forget what others have taught you. disregard theories, concepts, biases, and stereotypes. seek the true essence of life. explore what it genuinely feels like to be alive. experience the profound and intricate meaning of life firsthand, and dont just accept others interpretations. witness it yourself. regards. not long after the email was sent, rocky replied, dad, youre awesome! in the boys dormitory at seacoast normal university. after replying to his dads email, qian quan reread the email his father had sent. to be honest, i was quite impressed. much of my insight came not only from the master level chess and the grandmaster level wing chun initiations that provided some overarching inspirations but also from the refinement of theories shared by zhang xianger and gong xuanzhu. yet my father figured it all out on his own. on december 3rd, a sunday, it was qian quans day for his second driving test. without any surprises, he passed with a perfect score of too. meanwhile, his roommate guo hongyi finally passed the theoretical part of the driving test. in fact, for the first and fourth tests, im just like everyone else with no advantage. but for the second and third tests, pardon my directness, im certain ill pass them in one go. guo hongyi, having successfully passed the first test, regained his confidence. after boasting, he quickly urged qian quan to share his experiences with him. in the afternoon. qian quan made a trip to jiaotong university and had a chess meeting, which was a form of work, with li zhiyi. in chess, qian quan remained unbeaten, but the iteratively improved one nine equals nine nearly pushed him to his limits. in go, victories were hard to come by for him, whether against three times nine or the technically advancing li zhiyi. can two times nine evolve further? qian quan inquired curiously. li zhiyi frowned slightly, shaking his head, its computing power is almost at its limit. thats why i suspect youve got a chess al program in your brain too. qian quan chuckled, i do feel a bit challenged. tell your brother, two times nine can be launched. right, li zhiyi agreed. they discussed launching a nationwide al chess challenge to promote their first product two times nine. the competition would be open to everyone with a single game determining the winner. the proposed prize was 150,000. after a bit more conversation, qian quan left for his campus. just as he was leaving, li zhiyi mentioned, the facial recognition for locating missing children idea you had its technically possible. really? qian quan exclaimed. but the accuracy is questionable since childrens faces change, she added. thats true, he acknowledged, and some children might be taken to remote areas where machines cant reach. we can start by targeting human traffickers, li zhiyi suggested. how so? after a few moments of silence and a playful glance, li zhiyi whispered, its classified. you cant tell anyone. promise i wont. an early warning system, she revealed. qian quan looked puzzled. so she explained, we can use facial recognition on known traffickers, track their behavior patterns, and then use that data to predict their motives and issue an early warning. thats groundbreaking, qian quan was astounded. li zhiyi nodded, we just need to train the al well. wouldnt that require some official permissions? like access to cameras? li zhiyi stared intently at qian quan, with a look that was half-smihng, half-serious. after a brief silence, she said, come closer and lend me your ear. confused, qian quan quickly leaned in. li zhiyi whispered a stream of words into his ear. the more qian quan listened, the more astonished he became. by the time li zhiyi finished, the look qian quan gave her was filled with a mix of shock and admiration. it was clearly the look of a muggle beholding a magician. -this is an incredible humanitarian effort, ajiu, he said, using a nickname for li zhiyi. you have to keep it a secret. dont mention a word. i wont. in fact, you shouldnt have told me. but i wanted to. -if you ever need any help in the future, just let me know. li zhiyi simply nodded in acknowledgment. on the way back from jiaotong university to seacoast normal university, waves of emotion churned within qian quan. it felt as if a fantasy had stepped into reality. in simple terms, what li zhiyi had just introduced to him was a streamlined version of moss. for a liberal arts student like qian quan, it was already sufficiently shocking, novel, and powerful. if it went online in the future, he genuinely wanted to be a part of it. however, qian quan also harbored caution. what if one day, this system evolved into the full version of moss? it used to be just a thought, but now there was a clear path towards it. back at the university, he received a message on wechat from ding linlang, announcing the good news. her new book masters love was about to be released in a simplified version. this was something qian quan had anticipated. before the books release, he had predicted its success. the simplified version was just the beginning; the big break was yet to come. of course, by this point, she might have had some inklings herself. adaptations of fantasy and this kind of novel targeted toward a female audience are still in vogue today. theres no helping it; this type of historical romance genre that can make a star out of newcomers every so often is just too favored by investors. whats the most common question producers in the entertainment industry like to ask? do you have any successful examples to benchmark against for this project? and this genre did have its success stories, ranging from mega-hits to smaller successes. however, there were also those that tanked. indeed, with both success and failure under her belt, she could draw on valuable lessons while also sidestepping potential pitfalls. once the simplified version is out, how far off can a screen adaptation be? qian quan replied. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only if they really buy the rights, ill treat you to a weeks vacation in sanya. deal. do you mean youre from xianzai films? the editor of new story monthly, qing mo, inquired over the phone. -yes, im a planning editor from xianzai films. id like to inquire about the film and tv rights of porcelain anniversary.. are they with your company or the author? Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 831 Want to Defeat Qian Quan and China’s Martial Arts World!_l chapter 93: chapter 831 want to defeat qian quan and chinas martial arts world!_l translator: inschain editor: inschain inside the new story monthly editorial department. are you sure the caller is actually from a film company? the chief editor found it hard to believe after hearing qing mos report. each house knew its own business best. with the magazines style of chasing after the wind, exaggerating facts, masquerading as real-life stories, and overly melodramatic narratives, theyve never had to worry about the issue of tv or film adaptation rights. dramas could be melodramatic too, but even within the realm of over-the-top storylines, there was a hierarchy. you could go watch a blockbuster movie filled with the pains of youth, alcohol-fueled brawls, unexpected pregnancies, memory loss, car accidents, and unexpected moves abroad; or you might chase after a tv series where an overbearing ceo/lord/demon falls in love with the protagonist; but, chances are you wouldnt buy a magazine with a cover featuring a scantily-clad woman and a headline that threatens to shatter your worldview. had it not been for stricter regulations in recent years that began cracking down on inappropriate content, the new story monthly magazine, in its earlier years, would have had even more outrageous categories of stories. those articles werent just challenging conventional values; they were reconstructing them. put simply, even the specialist would have recognized their audacity and nodded in approval. thus, in the eyes of many, such magazines represent vulgarity and are considered low-class, something not to be publicly endorsed. so, even in an era when ip is king, and the entire industry is scavenging and hoarding popular ips, the stories from new story monthly remain untouched and unadapted for tv or film. i checked. there is indeed such a company. theyve produced several period dramas and romance dramas. one of their notable productions even became popular, qing mo confirmed. that explains it, the chief editor nodded. did they mention how much theyre willing to pay? no, they just inquired about the rights and the authors contact. the chief editor pondered for a moment and said, we dont have the film and tv rights, but qing mos expression subtly shifted. but we can first buy out the authors film and television rights, and then negotiate with the film and television companies. qing mo remained silent. do you think its not a good idea? the chief editor inquired, reading her face. no, its just how much do we offer to buy it outright? maybe 50,000 or 80,000. lets have a meeting to assess it. qing mo replied, but i heard that a serialized post on a forum was sold for 150,000 150,000? for a piece of just a few tens of thousands of words? 5,000 per thousand words? the chief editor expressed surprise, then chuckled, true, popular ip rights are now selling for millions. this wouldve been unimaginable when i started in this industry. qing mo nodded in agreement, it does feel a bit crazy, almost like a bubble. never mind. just give them the authors contact and then follow up on this. once the contract is finalized, well do some publicity. understood. this is also an opportunity for us. in the future, we can pay more attention to the manuscripts we receive, assessing which ones have potential for adaptation. alright. first, contact the author and give them a heads-up. emphasize our role in this collaboration, but not too overtly. understood. go ahead. returning to her desk, qing mo immediately contacted the author of porcelain wedding, mr. linwen. wenlin is amazing. 650 per thousand words might not have been a big deal in the past, but given the current decline of the publishing industry, this is quite an achievement. the news of qian wenlins published piece and his royalty rate quickly spread. i just got lucky, qian wenlin responded humbly. we all know its because of your talent. this calls for a treat. we expect a feast! no problem, qian wenlin laughed, considering the royalty of 19,000, spending a couple of thousand on a treat was no issue. as they chatted, the bell signaled the start of class. everyone returned to work. qian wenlin didnt have a class, but he had a pile of assignments to grade. just as he was about to begin, he received a message from editor qing mo: mr. lin, sorry to disturb you. do you still own the film rights for porcelain wedding? qian wenlin, intrigued, replied, yes, i do. why? qing mo said, were considering promoting the film rights of your novel, so wanted to confirm with you. qian wenlin replied, oh, i see. thanks for the effort. qing mo said, its no big deal. ill contact you once theres an update. qian wenlin replied, alright. in nara. inside a courtyard built against a mountain, shimizu ichiro knelt on a cushion, head down, silent. opposite him sat a middle-aged man in his fifties and a broad, mountain-like young man. they were shimizu ichiros master and his masters junior. they were the laido skill master kunio okawachi, and his junior, igarashi yuugiri. kunio exuded an elegant and friendly demeanor, and igarashi, stoic and composed, resembled an unyielding, icy mountain. their contrasting presences were strikingly clear. to shimizu ichiro, hed rather be scolded by his master for an hour than sit face-to-face with his senior brother for fifteen minutes. the pressure was suffocating. ichiro, youre saying you gave it your all? master asked. yes. he only used a single switch-hand strike? yes. kunio okawachi nodded slightly, then turned to his junior. what do you think? yuugure looked at shimizu ichiro and said, take your sword and pretend im him. show me the move from that day. hesitating for a moment, shimizu ichiro was jolted by an intense gaze from his senior, as if an invisible force pressed upon his chest. he quickly bowed, understood. shimizu ichiro stood, gripping the weapon beside him. he readied himself and tightened his grip on the sword. go all out! the senior ordered indifferently. ichiro shimizus demeanor changed instantly, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, lunging toward igarashi yuugiri. he was fully aware of igarashi yuugiris strength and character, so he didnt dare to hold back. however before his blade could even get close, he felt a sharp pain in both hands, and his sword was sent flying by a seemingly casual flick from his seniors hand. once he regained his composure, he saw his senior nonchalantly retracting his hand. he had just disarmed shimizu ichiro without a weapon! shimizu ichiro stepped back, bowing. if qian quan had needed to use stainless steel chopsticks to parry his strike, then this barehanded deflection by his senior was clearly on another level. do you think that chinese boy could do it? the master asked with a smile. he definitely couldnt, shimizu ichiro stated confidently. alright, you may leave now. yes. picking up his sword and bowing, shimizu ichiro exited the courtyard. planning a trip to china? kunio okawachi asked with a hint of amusement. i will, but i wont make a move. why? an old chinese is saying: know yourself and know your enemy, and youll never lose. so, i want to meet him first. and after? i will challenge the entire chinese martial arts community in front of the world. kunio okawachi chuckled, you were always going to do this, werent you? i must, otherwise, our ancestors would never rest in peace. many of japans martial arts originated in china; their claims of superiority are not simply boasting. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only china also has an old saying: a disciple should surpass the master. think about 80 years ago; if not for the intervention of the us and russia, the disciple would have already taken the masters place. times have changed; today, our country is thats precisely why its even more crucial to do this. igarashi yuugiri remarked with a cryptic smile, decades ago, china, to boost its national pride, dispelled the sick man of east asia label, creating numerous martial arts legends and heroic tales. now, its our turn to challenge. not just qian quan, but the entire chinese martial arts community! even if it wont change the course of history.. Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 84 Igarashi Yuugiri Wants to chapter 94: chapter 84 igarashi yuugiri wants to chanllenge qian quanj translator: inschain editor: inschain when qian wenlin received another message from the editor qing mo, he was about to attend his evening study session. then, he was engulfed in a surge of euphoria. the excitement resonated with a tangible roar, swirling into a vortex. hello, mr. linwen. your work porcelain anniversary has caught the eye of xianzai films. they are interested in acquiring the film rights. i will set up a chat group for both parties to discuss. it took qian wenlin almost half a minute to calm himself before replying, im heading to class now. we can chat later. surprises aside, he couldnt let his students classes be delayed. qing mo replied, sure. after finishing the first lecture with unparalleled enthusiasm, he returned to his office. before he could even check the new chat group created by qing mo, he noticed a new friend request labeled yun lian from xianzai film productions. qian wenlin accepted the friend request. almost immediately, a message popped up, hello, mr. linwen. im the planning editor from xianzai film productions. i read your piece in new story monthly and found it very intriguing. would you be interested in selling the film rights? qian wenlin replied, im interested. how should we proceed? yun lian responded, after our internal evaluation, our preliminary offer is 150,000 for an exclusive 10-year license. does this sound acceptable to you? after taking a moment to let the number 150,000 sink in, qian wenlin replied, thats an unexpected delight. i accept. yun lian wrote back, great, ill send you the digital contract tomorrow. qian wenlin responded with gratitude, thank you for the effort. after ending the chat with yun lian, qian wenlin posted in a group chat and then privately messaged his editor, qing mo, to inform her about this development. qing mo congratulated him, congratulations, mr. linwen. with sincerity, qian wenlin thanked her, i truly appreciate it. without you choosing my work and without your promotion, this opportunity would have never come. thank you again! 150,000! including the royalties, the total was close to 170,000 rmb. this was the most money qian wenlin had ever made in one go in his 40-year career. beyond the financial gain, this was a validation of his talents. he looked forward to the day he could proudly tell his son about this achievement, reminding him. you may be making strides, but remember, im still your father! that evening, after finishing his classes, qian wenlin returned home with an extra bounce in his step. he didnt help his wife with the chores as usual. instead, he confidently sat on the sofa, picked up a book, and began reading. yang yuhua, his wife, looked at him as if he were a stranger. before she could speak, qian wenlin said, what are you staring at? finish cleaning and make me some tea. yang yuhua was stunned. dont you hear me? qian wenlin spoke in an arrogant tone. whats gotten into you? did you get promoted to principal or something? principal? qian wenlin chuckled, no, no. i just had a long day. we all have long days, yang yuhua remarked, clearly irked. qian wenlin sighed, yes, but today was particularly draining. i had classes then my editor approached me, and then a film companys editor contacted me it was quite a lot to handle. what film and television company? what? you know, the ones that make tv shows. where do you think all those dramas you watch every day come from? what do they want from you? they think the article your husband wrote is good and want to adapt it into a tv drama, so theyre offering 150,000 to buy the film and television rights from me. what, what did you say? i said, the film and television company wants to pay 150,000 for the adaptation rights to my work. can you pour me a cup of tea now? im really thirsty. yang yuhua walked incredulously to her husband and asked, are you teasing why would i tease you? were signing the contract tomorrow; you can see it then. honey, youre so talented! saying this, yang yuhua planted a kiss on qian wenlins forehead. of course, the 150,000 was a delightful surprise, but the thought of her husbands work being adapted into a drama made her even prouder. imagine, watching a drama written by her husband while playing mahjong with her friends. that feeling probably wouldnt be too far off from drawing a winning hand in the game. hey, what are you doing? go and get the tea, qian wenlin teased. just a second, ill be right back, yang yuhua played along. although qian wenlin was deliberately playful, it did bring back some of the feelings from their early days of marriage when his wife admired him so much. in the boys dormitory at seacoast normal university. qian quan briefly reviewed the opening sections of works that ranked in the top ten on the source chinese web charts. then, he decided to change the name of his work from envying immortals to my senior is just too reckless. having settled on the title, next in line were the tasks of outlining the story, setting it up, and figuring out the best introduction. just at that moment, zhang xianger called. hello, whats up? qian quan answered. two things, he began. first, my master wants to see you. secondly, shimizu ichiro has gone to get his elders. word is hes bringing his uncle with him to china. theyll probably want to meet you. perhaps because he mentioned his master, zhang xiangers tone was unusually serious. thats fine, responded qian quan genuinely, ive always wanted to meet your esteemed master in person. by the way, who is shimizu ichiros uncle? is he a significant figure? im not sure, but thats whats unsettling, he replied. kunio okawachi, known as an laido skill master, is renowned in the martial arts world and is hailed as a national treasure martial artist. however, his junior is virtually unknown, and his sudden intention to visit china feels a bit suspicious. well, well handle whatever comes our way, qian quan said confidently. its just another sparring match, after all. arent you afraid of losing to them? didnt you once say that in martial arts exchanges, wins and losses have always been a part? in this modern era of advanced weaponry, a martial arts competition wont change the fate of a nation. im concerned they might use this as an opportunity to create a media storm online and badmouth us. you know how the current online environment is she cautioned. to qian quans surprise, zhang xianger, despite often being engrossed in games, demonstrated profound depth when it came to serious matters. well do our best, assured qian quan. when are we meeting your master? til head to azure bay on friday, and then well proceed to wudang mountain zhang xianger informed. alright. the day after learning of shimizu ichiros intention to bring his uncle, qian quan met them. to be precise, it was shimizu ichiros uncle who took the initiative to meet qian quan. in the early morning, the sun had just risen. igarashi yuugiri and shimizu ichiro stood in the path that qian quan took to class. good day, mr. qian, greeted shimizu ichiro first. hello, qian quan responded, sizing them up. the moment he met eyes with the robust young man beside shimizu ichiro, he felt an inexplicable heaviness in his heart. this is my uncle, introduced shimizu ichiro. hello, qian quan said, sensing a well-masked but immensely dark energy from him. it reminded him of a tempestuous whirlpool in the deep sea, a historical resentment that filled him with an unspeakable disgust. hello, the young man responded with a nod, answering in broken chinese. nice to meet you. i brought a maple leaf from nara as a gift. with that, he revealed a red maple leaf in his palm. he gently tossed it to qian quan. the leaf was about to land on qian quans hand. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only but it suddenly veered off course as if blown by a gust of wind. without missing a beat, qian quan swiftly caught the leaf between his index and middle finger. in that brief exchange, qian quan felt outmaneuvered. the young man smiled subtly and remarked, pleased to meet you. qian quan kept his gaze on him, choosing to remain silent.. Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 85 Qian Quan Pays His Respect to chapter 95: chapter 85 qian quan pays his respect to master wang of wudang mountain!1 translator: inschain | editor: inschain qian quans mood was off for the entire morning. it wasnt because he was bested in technique. victory and defeat are common in martial arts. even with grandmaster-level wing chun skills, he never considered himself unbeatable. with almost 8 billion people in the world, who could claim invincibility? who could truly say they were undefeatable? furthermore, theres a saying in wing chun: with a master, you understand limits; with an opponent, you know your standing. however, qian quan didnt want to lose to shimizu ichiros uncle. because he had observed that the opposition wasnt seeking a victory in martial arts. they wanted to seek clarity from history, to address an old score. it was a matter of principle. for qian quan, a top student of history, that period of history was irrefutable. anyone trying to distort, embellish, or tamper with it should be refuted and eliminated. the more he thought about it, the more somber he felt. judging by their demeanor, not only would they take further action, but it would also be significant. from this perspective, zhang xiangers assessment was correct. this was a test. after class, qian quan sent zhang xianger a message, ive met shimizu ichiro and his uncle. zhang xianger quickly replied, how did it go? you were right in your guess. this visit was to gauge us. once hes back, theyll probably make a big scene in the name of his senior. so, involving the authorities and media? then stir up a public opinion storm online and offline, right? qian quan scoffed, then itll be mutually destructive. -what do you mean? zhang xianger asked in shock. are you saying you arent confident of winning after meeting him? hes been hiding for so long. would he stir things up without ample preparation? its in line with their national style. zhang xianger detected an unusual tone in qian quans voice, sensing his anger, what did he say? nothing, he just threw a leaf at me. being familiar with martial symbolism, zhang xianger asked, you didnt catch it? i caught half of it. but thats not the point. the point is he wants to send a message, a message we absolutely dont want to hear. so, i wont let him win, even if it means i crawl out and hes carried out. zhang xianger pondered for a moment, we need to meet in person. in the following days, qian quan spent more time practicing his wudang mountain meditation. maintaining such an inward, serene state led classmates to speculate, resulting in several caring notes and messages. eventually, even ding linlang noticed. she made a special trip from fudan university to seacoast normal university to dine with him. qian quan was straightforward with her, soon, maybe in a month or three, ill be in an important match with a foreign warrior. will you get hurt? yes. can you avoid it? no. okay, if you get hurt, ill take time off to care for you. alright. on friday, zhang xianger came to azure bay. qian quan shared his observations and speculations with him. a descendant of a war criminal? zhang xianger bluntly asked. most likely. and he dares to visit my master! is he also going to wudang mountain? zhang xianger nodded. will your master refuse to see him? no, on the contrary, he will meet him this time. qian quan nodded. when you come to gauge, you should also be ready to expose. both sides were feeling each other out. early the next morning qian quan and zhang xianger rushed to wudang mountain by plane. it wasnt until 3 p.m. that they finally reached the top of wudang mountain. halfway up the mountain, to their surprise, they came face to face with igarashi yuugiri and shimizu ichiro, who were descending. the four exchanged greetings, with igarashi yuugiri making a point to nod at qian quan. qian quan responded indifferently. after they passed each other, zhang xianger remarked, he seems to be wary of you. qian quan remained noncommittal. being submissive in person, but treacherous behind the back, ever-changing, not knowing the meaning of friendship, only being intimidated by martial prowess C such behavior is despicable. hence, one shouldnt show him any respect, quoted zhang xianger, referencing an old saying. it was a fitting commentary on the situation. the two continued their ascent and, upon reaching a taoist temple, saw an old taoist sitting on a rocky outcrop, napping and sunbathing. the elderly taoist, who appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, was lean and fit. zhang xianger signaled to qian quan that this was his master. suddenly, qian quan asked, whats your masters surname? his surname is wang. he used to be called wang xiaoliu, but later the boss gave him the name wang dashun. he actually told you that? he mainly wanted to boast about the fact that the boss had named him. well, thats indeed something to brag about. they approached the old taoist, and zhang xianger called out, master. the taoist opened his eyes. i am qian quan, and i am honored to meet the renowned master wang of wudang mountain, said qian quan, a line he had rehearsed all the way. well, well the taoist assessed qian quan, then looked at his disciple and commented, seems youve been outshined. yes, his talent is no less than mine. in a real fight, i cant confidently say i d beat him, admitted zhang xianger. the taoist chuckled without correcting his disciple. he then addressed qian quan, did you meet the man? yes, i did. thats a pity. why is that? its a pity im too old. if i were seventy or eighty years younger, i wouldve broken one of his arms, making things easier for you two.1 you are awesome, remarked qian quan genuinely, sensing the distinctive presence of a veteran warrior. the taoist waved him off, its nothing. ive lived over a hundred years and practiced for over seventy. i have no worldly attachments, except for one thing that i cant let go of. i dont understand. the taoist sighed, only when you live to be a hundred will you truly understand. material things cease to matter. open your eyes, and the world appears. close them, and it vanishes. friends come and go; loved ones pass away. ups and downs, wins and losses, everything changes continuously. two moments are never the same. change is the nature of the universe. even as you listen to me, you are aging. its relentless and fair. master zhang xianger interjected, feeling that her master was digressing. i am not straying off-topic. my point is even if we could become immortals, the country must be defeated! even after a hundred years, no one can forgive them on our behalf! qian quan nodded solemnly. ive heard youve started practicing wudang inner peace practice? the taoist changed the subject. yes. do you feel like its yielding little results? as its a meditative art, progress is slow and gradual. the taoist smirked, if a martial art takes eighty years to master, whats the point? you might as well get a good nights sleep, drink plenty of water, and dance in the town square. both qian quan and zhang xianger were taken aback, wondering if the master had had a little too much to drink. come, lets go inside. i have something special for you two. the old taoist spoke, then hopped down from rocky, limping as he led the way. his limp seemed to be the lingering effect of a gunshot wound from years ago. upon entering the temple, the old taoist fetched a jar and then took out several plastic bags from a drawer. this is zhenling dan tea. take one every three days; no more, no less. as he said this, he transferred the gray tablets from the jar into the plastic bags as if packaging some local specialty. in one month, youll see the effect. if they are to compete in three months, remember to disable one of his arms then. is this tea that potent? qian quan was surprised. are there any side effects? as long as you consume it in the quantity ive advised, there will be no side effects. well, there is one exception. if your yang energy becomes too abundant, you will need to guide it properly. i believe i dont need to say more on that matter, right? isnt wudang mountain known for practicing martial arts with a childs purity? qian quan blurted out, then realized with an epiphany, so thats why zhang xianger was such a womanizer? dont listen to nonsense. being pure like a child has nothing to do with practicing martial arts. its all about moderation. for instance, if one overexerts oneself the previous night, they may find themselves weak the next day. the old taoist truly had a carefree demeanor. his speech was straightforward and easy to understand, without any wordplay. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only can i brew this tea myself? no, its not that im keeping secrets, but with the same ingredients, some people can produce poison, while others can make antidotes. a slight error can lead to drastic consequences, and i believe youve encountered such cases before. qian quan nodded. come to see me after youve finished drinking. alright.. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 86 Swallowing a Golden Pill Quenches Thirst!_l chapter 96: chapter 86 swallowing a golden pill quenches thirst!_l translator: inschain editor: inschain for the first time, you must brew it with boiling water. after that, it doesnt matter. drink it all within three days, and after a month, even if you dont undergo a complete transformation, youll feel rejuvenated inside and out. the old taoist packed a large bag for qian quan and reiterated the instructions. thank you, master. also, can ordinary people drink this tea? the old taoist looked at qian quan, chuckled, and said: yes, they can, but theres no need. first, this tea is not easy to prepare, and giving everyone just a piece or two is wasteful and insignificant. secondly, this tea is most effective when consumed in combination with wudang mountains meditation. otherwise, it might just burden the drinker with unnecessary thoughts. i understand. qian quan decided to try it himself first. if it was fine, he would send some to his father. the old taoist said, since ancient times, theres been a misconception about martial arts practice. people think using external aids is impure and might hinder progress. but this is not true. look at athletes; apart from their training, dont they follow strict dietary regimens? doesnt it seem ludicrous to think that just by meditating and practicing a few routines, we become invincible? even rockets need fuel. even in the pursuit of becoming immortals, we should apply science and not be superstitious! frankly, qian quan found it hard to reconcile the words becoming immortal and science. but looking from another perspective, science has indeed achieved many immortal feats: traveling thousands of miles in a day (high-speed trains), communicating over vast distances (telephones), striking from afar (missiles), and reaching the moon (spacecraft). that night, qian quan stayed on wudang mountain and listened to the old taoist, wang, who told many old stories and shared invaluable martial arts experiences not found anywhere else. he demonstrated a tai chi sequence that had no particular pattern or predefined moves but flowed naturally and seemed spontaneous. it reminded qian quan of the tai chi he tried to mimic as a child after watching a movie. yet, both qian quan and zhang xianger sensed an indescribable natural fluidity in the old taoists movements, as if watching wild grass swaying in the wind. mastering martial arts isnt the ultimate goal. only when one delves deeper can they have a slim chance of survival against a bullet. the old taoist said, emphasizing the concept of sensing danger and avoiding it. he advised, however, if the shooter is more than ten steps away, dont hesitate; just run. remember this: vanishing before the bullet is fired is the true sensing and avoiding danger. the old taoist shared this wisdom from his personal experiences. as the old taoist conversed with qian quan and zhang xianger about the urgency of fleeing from bullets, inside a tatami apartment hotel in hangzhou, igarashi yuugiri was also discussing the matter of bullets over the phone with his senior, kunio okawachi. unless they can split a real bullet in half with a single cut or catch it with their bare hands, neither ichiro nor tori will stand a chance against him, he remarked. after his encounter with qian quan, igarashi yuugiri shared his impressions with his senior. the ichiro he referred to was shimizu ichiro, a disciple of okawachis, while tori was the adopted daughter and treasured disciple of igarashi, a true prodigy selected from nearly 20,000 children. didnt you say he failed to catch your maple leaf technique the first time? kunio okawachi asked gently. his reflexes are incredibly fast, beyond what ichiro and tori can handle. moreover, it might just be my imagination, but it seems like he can read my mind, yuugiri replied. how so? i saw undisguised anger in his eyes. with just a brief observation, he seemed to guess my intentions. thats the primary reason i changed my mind. its not necessarily that he saw through you. the younger generation in china still cares deeply about that part of history. their government hasnt stopped propagating it, so we have a long way to go in that respect. we need to change minds generation by generation. no, the way he interacts with ichiro is entirely different from me. i can feel the difference. if it was just hostility due to ideological differences, he wouldnt exude such an alarming aura when facing me. yuugiri, just to clarify, are we discussing the century-old taoist or the 18-year-old qian quan? its qian quan, igarashi yuugiri sighed, i sometimes feel its unfair. why wasnt such a character bom in our country? they have a population of 1.4 billion. the odds are naturally higher, kunio okawachi reasoned. thats why we have to settle it this way: ill trade blows with him, and the rest will be up to tori and ichiro. if thats the case, tori will have to step into the spotlight a decade earlier than planned, kunio okawachi noted. if she wants to reach the pinnacle of the martial arts world, then this is the fate she has to bear. all i can do is clear the greatest obstacles in her path, igarashi yuugiri said calmly. theres a movie in china that says there are two kinds of people in this world: those who show face and those who work behind the scenes. im the latter. understanding yuugiris temperament, okawachi decided not to push further, asking, and the old taoist? hes as stubborn as ever, but to me, hes still the best witness and audience, yuugiri replied. the two discussed some finer details before ending the call. igarashi yuugiri then played a video showing qian quan battling shimizu ichiro using stainless steel chopsticks. the next day. qian quan and zhang xianger left wudang mountain. before they departed, the taoist imparted some wisdom to qian quan. when 1 was young and full of energy, i frequently sparred with others and even challenged dojos. back then, my master taught me a phrase, and today, ill pass it on to you. eagerly waiting, qian quan responded, please share, master. the taoist solemnly advised, before facing an opponent, refrain from intimate relations for seven days. qian quan almost had an on-the-spot, prop-less falling off a stool performance. he really wanted to say, master, if you dont have any profound, sage-like parting words to bestow, you dont have to speak. can you imagine the absurdity if, before the heroes went to give a sudden attack, the leader called them over and left them with such a remark? ill remember, qian quan said. he vaguely recalled hearing about athletes abstaining before significant competitions. after leaving the mountain, zhang xianger teased, now you know why i was at a disadvantage the first time we met? its because i didnt heed my masters words. qian quan playfully countered, so, should we spar now? zhang xianger, doing some quick calculations, replied, still no. the two shared a laugh and parted ways. by 5 p.m., qian quan was back at school. he first went to the supermarket to buy a teacup with a lid. after washing it, he filled it with boiling water and dropped it into a tea tablet. contrary to expectations, nothing extraordinary happened, not even the fizzing of the tablet. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only the tea leaves were slowly dissolving. in taoist philosophy, theres a saying: when a golden elixir is swallowed, one realizes that fate isnt determined by the heavens. one couldnt help but wonder what kind of miracle would unfold after drinking a piece of tea leaf. the answer was revealed shortly after qian quan finished his first cup of tea. it was incredibly refreshing.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 871.5 Million!_l chapter 97: chapter 871.5 million!_l translator: inschain | editor: inschain back in middle school, qian quan learned a trick from his homeroom teacher: always drink two glucose drinks half an hour before any major exam. exams, being mentally taxing, demanded much energy. drinking glucose could stave off the discomfort or even hypoglycemia that might come from nervousness. he wasnt sure if there was scientific evidence backing this practice, but after he drank glucose and subsequently topped his class in an exam, he began treating this method as his secret weapon. even if the actual effects were minimal, the psychological boost certainly worked. every time he drank it before an exam, his mind felt sharper than usual. that was until he first combined red bull with coffee. the sensation of true mental alertness . it was the kind of feeling where ones body could collapse from exhaustion, yet the mind remained sharp, ready to tackle more work. it was an airy, lofty, lonely sensation where one could distinctly feel drowsiness, but the urge to sleep seemed to be locked outside of the mind. at that moment, qian quan once again felt that sensation. however, this time, his drowsiness was gentle, offering no resistance to his body. lying in bed with his eyes closed, he felt every cell in his body shifting into rest mode, and his mind gradually drifting into dreamland. in that state between wakefulness and sleep, he felt as if he was floating amongst the clouds, briefly experiencing the essence of the poetic phrase, drunk, unaware of the sky over the waters, a boat full of clear dreams under the starry river. misty, dreamlike, harmoniously at peace. this wasnt his first time feeling this way, but such experiences were rare and serendipitous. a night of dreamless, sweet slumber followed. when he woke up the next day, he felt energized enough to take on a bull. his eyes opened without any dryness or discomfort, with no red veins in sight, and especially clear. his mind was fully awake, thoughts were clear, logic flowed smoothly, and he spoke more eloquently than usual. his work efficiency skyrocketed. in a nutshell, he felt as if he was on top of the world. while qian quan never really had sleep issues, such high-quality sleep was a rarity for him. it felt as if his energy was fully restored. only then did he truly appreciate the tea master bai had given him. it wasnt some magical elixir from martial arts novels that significantly boosts ones abilities overnight. it was just a tea leaf that ensured a refreshing mood, a smooth flow of qi, and a good nights sleep. for modern people, it was a rare luxury. to the general public, good sleep was the best form of meditation. with the aid of the tea, qian quans wudang mountain meditation practice showed greater results. when his energy and qi were balanced, not only did meditation become easier, but he also had better control over his body. after the first three days, he decided to send ten pieces of the tea to his father. after signing the contract with xianzai film and television, im torn. on one hand, i dont want rocky and linlang to know i wrote such a melodramatic article. on the other, i really want to tell them its being adapted into a film, said qian wenlin, caught in a conflicting emotion. after officially signing the contract with xianzai films, qian wenlin found himself immersed in a state of ambivalence. -just tell them you didnt choose that name. the magazine did, yang yuhua suggested. well see. lets go with the flow, qian wenlin replied, exuding newfound confidence and composure. later on, he received a message from his son, saying that the friend who had given him the wudang mountain meditation practice had also gifted him some more tea leaves. when paired with the practice, the results were remarkable, and he was sending some over. qian wenlin, who had recently become engrossed in his meditation practice, held a lot of respect for his sons friend. upon receiving the parcel from his son, he opened it earnestly. the first thing he saw was an assized paper. on it were three bold lines, each bearing the same message: drink one serving over three days, no more, no less. the first cup of tea must be brewed with boiling water! it was in his sons handwriting. this reminder had also been meticulously sent three times in his wechat messages. clearly, it was crucial. he carefully brewed the first cup with boiling water that night, he experienced a sleep even more splendid than any he had with qian quan. it felt like it had been ages since he had last slept so deeply, so peacefully. especially when he woke up the next day, everything around him seemed clearer, and his mood was lighter and more carefree than ever before. during his morning workout practicing wing chun, his movements were even sharper and more forceful than usual. the tea his son had sent was a calming blend. after qian quan finished the third serving, he could distinctly feel subtle changes in his body. he first had a liberating bowel movement, feeling as if all the toxins and accumulated waste had been cleansed from his system, leaving his organs feeling light and unobstructed. he wouldnt dare say that his strength had significantly increased, but he felt more nuanced sensations during his practice. with the teas effects and the daily practice leading to cumulative improvement, he wondered if there was any correlation between his progress and his fathers. at that moment, the teas side effects began to manifest. specifically, he started to find his female classmates becoming more and more attractive. it wasnt a problematic thought; it was purely because his vitality and energy were booming, and his hormones surged in response. the guidance in moderation mentioned by master wang was partly a jest, but it wasnt solely about romance. it referred to guiding qian quan to channel his excess energy into practicing the wudang secret circulation skill. the continuous cycles of the small and great circulations were constant refinements of his energy. qian quan practiced daily and also observed his fathers progress, who reported positive feedback just as expected. i feel it aids in sleep, calms the mind, enhances clarity, and with the increased energy, my work efficiency has dramatically improved. this tea is something special. we owe a gift for this; if we lack funds, just let me know. qian quan replied, ive already sent a return gift. when master wang gave him the tea, apart from nurturing the younger generation and rewarding him for defeating shimizu ichiro, another wish was to see qian quan publicly defeat igarashi yuugiri in the upcoming china-japan martial arts exchange, thereby impressing the japanese martial arts community. qian quan had already promised him. regardless of the nature of the competition, as long as its a fair match in windsor town, he wouldnt back down. this tea, though simply packaged, is surprisingly effective. its value is immeasurable. our return gift can be a bit more expensive, ensuring good value for the money. right. it seems his father really appreciated the tea and wanted to sincerely give a high-quality return gift. despite handing over his entire salary to his mother, he was still so generous. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only clearly, while his mother held the financial reins at home when it came to principles, the fathers word was still undisputed. two days later, qian quan learned the real reason from a system notification: [ding- system notification: your fathers work my fragile porcelain anniversary: my first love becomes my boss has sold its film and television rights, earning 150,000. you are awarded a bonus of 1.5 million!] qian quan was speechless. he couldnt believe that his father not only sold the movie rights before him but even before linlang. he needed to work even harder.. Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 88 Beat the Opponent with Skills_i chapter 98: chapter 88 beat the opponent with skills_i translator: inschain editor: inschain i will defeat qian quan! i will defeat qian quan! i will defeat qian quan! its not about wanting to win, but being able to win! only i can defeat qian quan! i must win! after shimizu ichiro whispered these words like a spell, he finally drifted off to sleep peacefully. this mental suggestion technique had been taught to him by his father. by constantly brainwashing himself with these words, honing his belief in victory, coupled with relentless daily training and heeding the teachings of his master, he was determined to achieve his desire to defeat qian quan. during his recent trip to china with his uncle, he met many legendary figures and witnessed silent duels between them and his uncle. it was then he realized just how formidable his uncle was C his strength lay not just in his physical prowess but also in his mental fortitude. he seemed invincible with no vulnerabilities. thus, when shimizu saw qian quan effortlessly catch a maple leaf thrown by his uncle, he was deeply shaken. the sight of qian quan confronting his uncle with an unyielding aura left a profound impression on him. he remembered the first time he met his uncle; he had thrown a leaf at shimizu, which shimizu failed to catch. he stood there, head bowed, feeling like a child who had done something wrong. qian quan, on the other hand, treated the uncle as a worthy adversary. to defeat him, shimizu realized he had a long way to go. the next day, shimizu ichiro returned to japan with his uncle. though neither his uncle nor his master had explicitly told him, he knew that after their inspection trip, they were planning to organize a grand martial arts competition between china and japan. their aim was to revitalize the glory of japanese bushido and boost the national spirit. historical grievances between japan and china were deep-rooted, and their martial arts disputes spanned centuries. for instance, in modern china, there was a famous martial artist named huo yuanjia, widely believed by the chinese to have been poisoned by the japanese. every martial arts exchange between the two countries, even grassroots exchanges that might not garner widespread attention, was always charged with tension. if these exchanges were uploaded online, the ensuing debates would surely be as fierce as the combats themselves. the upcoming martial arts competition that his uncle and the master were publicly organizing would undoubtedly generate much interest. regardless, it would be a golden opportunity for shimizu to make his mark. however, the premise was that by then, he would be able to defeat qian quan. upon returning to nara, as expected, his uncle began discussing the martial arts competition with the master. their conversation revealed shocking news: before the competition, his uncle planned to challenge qian quan to a private duel, even if it meant both fighters would be severely injured, just to prevent qian quan from competing. im essentially a nobody. facing him offstage is the best choice. i cannot tolerate a young chinese fighter outshining our youth in such a high-profile event. his uncle, igarashi yuugiri, confided in his own uncle, kunio okawachi. after pondering for a while, okawachi nodded in agreement and asked, have you thought about the timing? about a month from now. we need a month to prepare and create public anticipation. we also need to give tori and ichiro time to prepare. and yourself? okawachi asked with a smile. yes, even though i tested him, a real duel can have unpredictable outcomes. ideally, wed both end up injured. if i could incapacitate him, even if it costs me my martial skills, itd be worth it. therefore, i need a month to prepare as well. it seems you felt threatened by that young man from china. to be honest, i did. okawachi nodded and reminded, ensure it doesnt result in death, or it would be impossible to handle. dont worry, i know my limits. alright. but, the exact date might still need approval from the chinese side. yes. the two brothers chatted for a while before igarashi yuugiri took his leave. upon leaving okawachis residence, he drove to a quiet forest. parking his car by the roadside, he saw two skinny deer approach. waving them away, he strode into the woods. in a forest, a tall and slender young girl reminiscent of a graceful deer was attempting to catch sparrows with her bare hands. she darted about, leaping and swooping with a lightness like that of a swallow, soon seizing a sparrow. holding it delicately, she softly stroked the feathers atop its head. the sparrow struggled frantically, trying hard to break free. without warning, the girls movement ceased, and with a quick forceful motion, she snapped the birds neck. blood spurted out, staining her hands and clothes. nonchalantly, she tossed the bird aside and gracefully headed to a nearby stream to wash her hands. igarashi yuugiri watched the scene unfold and nodded in approval. he approached her. she sensed his presence, quickly turning to face him. recognizing her father, she bowed respectfully, father. igarashi yuugiri responded with a nod, tossing her a maple leaf without a word. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only she didnt try to catch it but swiftly stepped forward. with knife-like precision, her hand moved as quickly as lightning, slicing the leaf in two. too slow, igarashi yuugiri commented. yes, father, she replied, lowering her head. saturday evening, at wanxiang plaza on the fifth floor. qian quan was teaching a basketball class to a group of elementary school kids.. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 88 Beat the Opponent with Skills 2 chapter 99: chapter 88 beat the opponent with skills 2 translator: inschain editor: inschain parents were waiting outside the training room. lu xuans mother was also present, dressed fashionably and appearing youthful. since the basketball lesson started, she constantly shifted her gaze between her son and qian quan. whether it was an illusion or the grass is always greener syndrome, she felt that qian quan looked even more handsome C brimming with energy and increasingly charismatic. she sneakily took a picture, sharing it with her close-knit group chat, lamenting, ladies, behold the young man i missed out on. im seriously tempted! a quick response came, not bad! top-tier heartthrob. no wonder hes driving you wild, xinyi. lin xinyi responded, to be honest, whenever i get intimate with other men, i cant help but think of him a friend named lemons chimed in, i really dont get the appeal of these young guys. theyre so full of themselves, immature, repetitive always seeking validation. i swear, the true prime for men is between 35 to 45. mature, considerate, well-balanced. if theyre balding, even better! lin xinyi replied, yangyang, not everyone has your unique taste. lemons retorted, never mind, you wouldnt get it. back to your young crush. youre approaching this all wrong. mentioning a 10,000 monthly salary wont impress them. nowadays, in this digital age, youngsters are exposed to so much. they dream big. theyre used to seeing news about millions or even billions. lin xinyi asked, then what should i do? lemons retorted, you need to introduce him to high society, show him the glitz and glamour, let him experience the lavish parties once hes accustomed to that lifestyle, hell rely on you. lin xinyi sighed, i messed up. i tried the innocent approach, saying he reminded me of my first love. lemons laughed, thats such an outdated move! try my approach next time. as lin xinyi was about to reply, the basketball lesson ended. still thinking of talking to qian quan, she saw a young, beautiful girl approach him, greeting him warmly. qian quan responded with a smile, and soon, the woman who owned the basketball training facility C as well as the other facilities on the fifth floor C joined in on their conversation. the beautiful girl greatly resembled the lady boss in her features and demeanor. it was highly likely that they were mother and daughter. lin xinyis heart sank instantly. she now understood. no wonder qian quan had decisively rejected her. he was already taken, and by such a wealthy and beautiful woman, no less. although lin didnt know the lady boss, judging from her demeanor, style of dress, and quality, it was clear that her family was no worse off than lins own. renting out an entire five floors of the plaza for business was indicative of significant wealth. feeling despondent, she didnt even feel like chatting on wechat. qian quan hadnt expected zhao baiyu to show up suddenly. after exchanging greetings, he asked, what brings you here? i heard from my mom that youre coaching basketball here. thought rd drop by and get some tips from you, zhao baiyu replied. thats perfect timing. ive been wanting to experience the golden voice jade vibration and get a glimpse of the sixty-four hands technique, qian quan mentioned. while they were talking, zhao baiyus mother approached. learning that qian quan would offer guidance to her daughter, she immediately took them to a gymnasium that was yet to be opened to the public. the gym was well-equipped, with only some final touch-ups left. it will be ready for use soon. you two chat; ill go look around, huang lingyan said, taking her leave gracefully. qian quan and zhao baiyu were straightforward individuals. they werent the kind of young people whod feel awkward alone in a room, thinking that an adult had intentionally left them alone. they got straight to the point. show me what youve got, and then ill guide you through, qian quan instructed. alright. zhao baiyu moved to the center of the room, warming up with a few routine moves before suddenly halting her movements. then, accelerating her steps, using her waist as the pivot, she spun and swung her palms from slow to fast. the faint sounds of her palm cutting through the air echoed. the noises grew clearer, sometimes whooshing, sometimes rumbling like distant thunder, sometimes swift as the cold northern wind, and sometimes gentle as the spring breeze brushing the willows the sounds merged together, forming a rhythmic resonance. watching her form, listening to her movement. zhao baiyus palm techniques werent strictly confined to standard moves. while she hadnt reached the effortless level of wudangs wang zhenren, her movements possessed a certain free-flowing elegance. soon, the sixty-four palm techniques were complete. zhao baiyu looked flushed and vibrant, her aura tangible around her, the lingering resonant sounds still echoing. it seems youve essentially crossed the second threshold, qian quan commented. thanks to masters meticulous teachings and your timely guidance that day. qian quan smiled slightly, lets spar. i want to test my recent progress as well. alright. the two positioned themselves at an appropriate distance. zhao baiyu assumed her stance, while qian quan stood naturally, no longer observing her footwork, staring straight at her and saying, come on. without hesitation, zhao baiyu launched her attack. whoosh huff! qian quan effortlessly deflected her, not counterattacking, just waiting for her next move. zhao baiyus palms came from below and above, attacking qian quan simultaneously. qian quan grabbed her right wrist, lightly deflecting her, using her arm to block her own attack. stunned by the ease with which he parried her attacks, zhao baiyu felt a sense of shock. having mastered her sixty-four hands, she felt invincible. even though she was aware of the gap between her skills and qian quans, she believed that compared to their last spar, the difference should have narrowed. however, during this session, he seemed even more unfathomable than before. the gap between them seemed to have widened. zhao baiyu thought to herself, his martial arts skills are actually improving! master once said that when ones kung fu reaches the level of qian quan, advancing further, especially reaching the pinnacle, becomes increasingly difficult. yet, looking at his current state, it seems he just broke through a bottleneck. it doesnt feel like youre using wing chun? zhao baiyu voiced her doubt. it is wing chun, just with some necessary adjustments. the foundational principles remain the same, qian quan shared openly. like your sixty-four techniques, there are stages, culminating in complete mastery where you no longer need to remember the moves. zhao baiyu nodded seriously, thank you for the guidance. after speaking, she launched another attack. qian quan turned his head and closed his eyes, using sound to determine her position and sparring with zhao baiyu. he didnt care about her tricks but aimed to break her rhythm and disrupt her echoing palm sounds. read latest chapters at wuxiaworld.site only soon, zhao baiyu found it hard to keep up, getting pushed back continuously. the echoing sound can indeed confuse an opponent and boost your aura but if someone discerns the secret and rhythm of your moves from it, it will expose major vulnerabilities, qian quan advised. understood, zhao baiyu acknowledged. time flew by. after more than half an hour of sparring in the gym, zhao baiyu realized her clothes were soaked in sweat as they exited.. Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 89 It Seems Mr. Qian Is Going to Chapter 100: Chapter 89 It Seems Mr. Qian Is Going to Make a TV Show!_1 Translator: Inschain Editor: Inschain The gym played the electronic instrumental song, which had become a viral hit years ago. Qian Quan first heard this song while shopping in Riverside Town with Ding Linlang, as it played in a passing barbershop. Intrigued by its catchy rhythm, he used WeChat to identify the songs name. Back then, that song was already a hit. On music apps, the comments surpassed 100,000. Amidst the overwhelmingly positive reviews, there were stories meticulously crafted by netizens titled my friends story, as well as some criticisms. Given Qian Quans depth of music knowledge, he didnt quite understand what everyone was debating about. Some hailed it as a masterpiece, while others felt indifferent or thought it was low-brow. There were notes pointing out that professional musicians looked down on this particular track. Qian Quan didnt engage in these discussions, feeling they were beyond his expertise. He simply added the song to his playlist. Even after hundreds of listens, the songs captivating rhythm and escalating tension never failed to impress him. In his opinion, if not a masterpiece, it certainly deserved the title of outstanding work. Standing on a treadmill, listening to the song, Qian Quan had set his treadmills pace to Kipchoge speed, a term he learned that day. He had never heard of this term before, but judging by its name, it must be a proprietary term named after a renowned long-distance runner. It meant running at an average speed of 2 minutes and 52 seconds per kilometer. The world record for this pace in a marathon was 2 hours, 1 minute, and 9 seconds. After running for half an hour at this pace, Qian Quan felt its challenge. He slowed down the treadmill when Ding Linlang called. Hello, whats up? Qian Quan answered. Why didnt you reply on WeChat? What are you up to? You sound out of breath, she inquired. Im jogging, he replied, catching his breath. Where? she asked. Just then, Zhao Baiyu, now in fresh attire, entered and teasingly said, Why are you jogging so slowly? Why not speed it up? Whos that? Qian Quan, where are you? What are you doing? Ding Linlang asked rapidly. Qian Quan signaled to Zhao Baiyu that he was on a call. She apologized silently and walked away. He then explained to Ding Linlang, Im at the gym near Wan Xiang Plaza. Remember my basketball class tonight? I decided to work out afterward. And who was that speaking? That was Zhao Baiyu. This gym and basketball court are owned by her family. She happened to be here tonight. Oh, okay. Carry on then, Ding Linlang ended the call. Qian Quan chuckled to himself, Whats there to be busy about? He then halted the treadmill, preparing to leave. Someone approached, Hey, handsome, can I add you on WeChat? A young lady in a tight-fitting gym attire approached, phone in hand. No thanks, Im not here often, Qian Quan politely declined. Its fine, just add me, she persisted. Qian Quan smiled and shook his head, Sorry, no. Why are you being so difficult? Its just WeChat. Its not like Im going to do anything. Its as if Im begging you. Its unnecessary. I thought we just happened to be at the same gym, do you think Im hitting on you? I have a boyfriend, you know? And there are plenty of guys in this gym who want to add me on WeChat. Who do you think you are? Such a joke. Without engaging further, Qian Quan began to leave. So pretentious. Why even come to the gym? she muttered bitterly, Seriously! Ignoring her complaints, Qian Quan waved to Zhao Baiyu, Heading out. The lady turned, thinking he was speaking to her, What? A fair-skinned, striking-looking girl responded and approached Qian Quan. The gym lady smirked, muttering to herself, Figures, hes here with his girlfriend. What did that lady want? Once outside, Zhao Baiyu asked Qian Quan. To add me on WeChat. You accepted? No, I dont know her. Why would I? Makes sense. Speaking of which, Qian Quan recalled, there might be a big martial arts competition between China and Japan soon. If youre interested, keep an eye out. Where did you hear that? Zhao Baiyu was curious. A friend who practices Tai Chi mentioned it. Did you hear about it? Yes, I saw it in a group chat, but I thought it was a hoax, Zhao Baiyu replied, Are you competing? Yes. Then Ill sign up too. Alright. The two parted ways. Qian Quan took the elevator down, checking his WeChat. He noticed several messages from Ding Linlang, suggesting they meet the next day and share some vital information. Qian Quan quickly replied, Tomorrows fine, Ill come to Fudan University. After a while, Ding Linlang responded, Well see. Whats up tomorrow? Qian Quan inquired. I have writing to do and plans with a friend. How about Tuesday? Busy then too. What about next weekend? And whats this important info you mentioned? Can you give me a hint? Im busy next weekend too! Youre that busy? Are you launching a new book? I could visit you, surely you have time for a meal? Ding Linlang didnt respond. By the time Qian Quan reached his school, there was still no reply. He decided to video call her. After a lengthy wait, she picked up. What? Ding Linlangs tone was curt, and she wasnt in view. I cant see you, its all dark, Qian Quan mentioned. Get to the point, Im busy. I was saying, lets have lunch tomorrow. Didnt I tell you I have writing? Bring your laptop, we can go to the Haidong Library. You write, Ill read. Ding Linlang paused for a few seconds, seemingly reluctant as she spoke, What time are you coming? Ill head over in the morning. I can even bring you breakfast. No need, Ill leave early. Lets grab breakfast together and then head to the library. Sounds good. But, werent you going shopping with your classmates? Qian Quan, I feel like you never listen to me. I told you I have to write! Why would I go shopping? Turn the camera around; let me see. Why? Is there something worth seeing? Just do it. Qian Quan urged. The camera wobbled a bit before finally focusing on Ding Linlangs handsome, albeit slightly annoyed, face. Why that look? Have you seen enough? Youve lost weight Qian Quan said with concern. Get lost! Ding Linlang turned off the video. The next day. Read latest Chapters at WuxiaWorld.Site Only Qian Quan arrived early at Fudan University. Upon seeing Ding Linlang, he immediately asked, Whats the news? Ive been curious all night. You dont know? Ding Linlang countered. Qian Quan shook his head. My mom said, Mr. Qian is going to make a TV show. What?