"Why didn't you win earlier? Why play like this?"
Mr. Huang, with his sharp eyes and chess skills, naturally noticed something unusual in Qian Quan's moves.
"Sorry, Mr. Huang. I'm not feeling quite myself today," Qian Quan's recent moves were actually somewhat impolite.
"Can you talk about it?"
"Just some small matters. I'll 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 didn't immediately respond. He gazed at Qian Quan. After a moment, he nodded and said, "Yes, in everyone, there's a tendency to be overbearing and oppress others. We shouldn't underestimate people's malicious intentions."
As Mr. Huang spoke these words, his expression held a sense of detachment that had experienced life's vicissitudes and understood the world's 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, let's end here for today. Shall we continue tomorrow?"
"Yes. I'll have other guests soon."
Qian Quan bid farewell and was about to leave when Mr. Huang called him again, "Young man, what's 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, "It's been many years since I've encountered an opponent who could utterly defeat me in Chinese chess without me letting them."
"You didn't let him win?"
"No."
"That's truly remarkable. After all, you've even beaten professional chess players."
"Youth can surpass the older generation," Mr. Huang picked up his cup and took a sip of tea, "I've just carefully observed his demeanor. I sense he's 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?"
"It's 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 hadn't 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 shouldn't underestimate anyone, and besides..."
The young man hesitated.
"Besides what?" the bald man inquired.
"Besides, even if Liang Wanjun hadn't 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 Quan's 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 wasn't 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 didn't want to face such situations anymore.
He wanted to be the winner!
Just because he couldn't use the knife to silence the bald man's mouth today didn't 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 Shaokang's house.
...
"Liang Wanjun? I don't 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 doesn't matter anymore. Liang Wanjun personally mediated the situation and even handed us his business card. We can't deny this gesture. I think it's best to let it rest here," the bald man who hadn't 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 didn't 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 weren't at home, so he left. He's quite polite-brought a fruit basket when he came."
"Did he say why he came to find me?"
"He didn't 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 Shaokang's 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 didn't expect him to make a special trip for that. I'll message him later."
Looking at the fruit basket, Sun Shaokang thought, "This isn't a fruit basket; it's 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 wouldn't 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 didn't 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.
"You're doing well in this game," Qian Quan couldn't 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. I'll watch the game without commenting." Qian Quan remained neutral.
Qian Wenlin smiled with satisfaction. "You're 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 didn't make a mistake buying that chess manual." Qian Wenlin's victory in this game wasn't easy.
Ding Linlang frowned slightly, still trying to figure out where she went wrong in the game.
"Don't think about it. I'll 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.
