After accompanying the old man by the lake for a while longer to fish, Uncle Yue came over to inform them that dinner was ready.
Everyone headed to the main hall to eat.
The meal proceeded much like the last one, with only Sang Lu and the old man's voices echoing around the table.
After dinner, the old man suggested that Feng Yan play a game of chess with him.
Soon, the chessboard was set up.
Feng Yi and Feng Bai, not having received any signal from their eldest brother, didn’t dare leave early and obediently stayed nearby.
They had little interest in the game.
Whenever the old man played against their eldest brother, he rarely won—maybe one out of ten games—so the outcome was hardly in doubt.
Pretending to pay attention for a while, the two eventually lowered their heads to fiddle with their phones.
Feng Yi sat on the sofa beside the old man, legs crossed casually.
Feng Bai, meanwhile, curled up in a single-seater, his hoodie pulled up, head bowed so that only the glow from his phone screen reflected on his face.
Naturally, Sang Lu sat on the same side as Feng Yan.
Of the three spectators, she was the only one truly focused on the game—at least for a little while.
But soon, the constant chime of WeChat notifications distracted her.
Feng Yi and Feng Bai’s phones kept buzzing, almost rhythmically—one stopping just as the other started.
Sang Lu glanced up at them and caught Feng Yi staring at his screen, a rare softness flickering across his usually arrogant face as he smirked.
Suddenly, Sang Lu froze.
It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her mind.
She had stumbled upon something huge!
Were these two… both texting Qiao Xi?
At this point in time, both of them had already met her.
Feng Yi had probably stayed in touch with Qiao Xi ever since that incident with the cello.
As for Feng Bai, he likely didn’t even know what she looked like yet, chatting with her purely as an online friend.
Right now, two brothers were texting the same girl at the same time.
The realization sent Sang Lu’s gossip-loving heart racing with excitement.
Unconsciously, she lowered her gaze and let out a sigh so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Ah, what are they going to do…?"
What would happen to these two in the future?
Her whisper was so quiet that only Feng Yan, sitting beside her, heard it.
At that moment, Feng Yan had just captured one of the old man’s pieces and set it aside.
Hearing her sigh, he tilted his head slightly.
Sang Lu’s expression was tinged with pity, her eyes distant as she stared at the board.
A flicker of confusion passed over his brow.
Following her gaze, he studied the chessboard as well.
The old man’s side had only his "general," two "guards," and two "elephants" stubbornly defending their territory.
Meanwhile, Feng Yan still had both his "chariots," a "cannon," and a "horse" in strong offensive positions.
Victory was practically assured.
It was his turn to move.
Strangely, the man who usually made his moves swiftly fell into a long silence, deep in thought.
After a while, he lowered his lashes and reached out.
The white jade chess piece gleamed coldly in his slender fingers as he lifted it and made his move.
The piece tapped lightly against the board as it landed.
The moment it settled, the old man’s previously troubled expression brightened.
Quick as lightning, he slid an "elephant" across and captured Feng Yan’s newly placed "chariot."
The old man clapped his hands and laughed heartily.
"Ha—no takebacks! Never thought I’d see the day you’d slip up, A-Yan…"
Finally, he had a chance to turn the tables!
Squinting in concentration, the old man carefully plotted his next move.
Across the board, Feng Yan’s eyelids lowered slightly.
He didn’t seem the least bit surprised by his own mistake and continued playing in silence.
About five minutes later, the old man boomed triumphantly:
"I win! I actually won!"
His booming voice startled the two on their phones.
Feng Yi arched a brow, skepticism written all over his face.
"Old man, did big brother let you win?"
Feng Bai didn’t speak, but his expression said it all.
He shot Feng Yan a look that seemed to ask: Bro, it’s not even Grandpa’s birthday. Why go easy on him?
"What’s with those looks, you brats?" The old man rapped his cane twice in warning. "A-Yan never goes easy on me. I won fair and square!"
Feng Yi lazily humored him. "Sure, sure. Your skills have improved, old man."
Feng Bai added flatly, "Grandpa’s amazing."
Sang Lu, snapped out of her thoughts by the old man’s triumphant shout, took in the scene.
So… the old man had won?
But why was everyone only praising him?
Of course, she was happy for Grandpa, but shouldn’t someone spare a thought for the one who lost?
Feng Yan might seem cold and unapproachable, not the type who needed comforting, but that didn’t mean he should be ignored.
It wasn’t fair.
With that in mind…
Sang Lu—champion of fairness, self-appointed justice-bringer—turned to the stoic man beside her.
In a voice only he could hear, she murmured:
"Chess is all about wins and losses. I think you handled it really well~"
Truthfully, she’d been too busy mentally dissecting the brothers’ texting drama to pay attention to the latter half of the game.
By the time she tuned back in, Feng Yan had already lost.
But she distinctly remembered him dominating earlier, every move precise and calculated.
Her compliment carried no hint of insincerity—just pure, earnest admiration.
Feng Yan stared at her, momentarily stunned.
He didn’t understand.
First, she’d sighed sadly when the old man was losing.
Now, she wasn’t even that thrilled about the old man’s victory.
What exactly was going through her mind?
Sang Lu had no idea what Feng Yan was thinking, only noticing the faint crease between his brows as he studied her.
Sang Lu: ?
She blinked, meeting his gaze head-on.
Her expression was adorably clueless, her clear eyes locking with his dark ones.
Then, suddenly—
Feng Yan averted his gaze and let out a low chuckle.
His handsome face relaxed into a lazy, mesmerizing smile.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Sang Lu, ever the sucker for good looks, felt her eyes blessed by the sight.
Though she didn’t know why he was laughing, his amusement was contagious, and she found herself smiling back.
From a short distance away, Feng Yi and Feng Bai witnessed this exchange and blanked for several seconds.
???
What in the world was happening here?
Their eldest brother never showed any reaction when he won—so why was he smiling after losing?
