After leaving, Li Xunwen immediately contacted Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei, asking them to inform Gu Zhaoping that he was ready to challenge her to a game of chess.
The two of them were somewhat uneasy, unsure of Gu Zhaoping’s current whereabouts, so they relayed the message that Li Xunwen was prepared.
Gu Zhaoping was in the middle of a conversation in the teahouse when she glanced at the message, paying it little mind. Only after seeing the others off did she reply:
"You all haven’t returned to the country yet?"
She sent a location: "Tell him to come here."
Gu Zhaosi, who had been sitting nearby, was nearly dozing off. Finally, when the old master and the others finished their discussion and left, he noticed his sister still seated, replying to messages. He jolted awake and asked, "Sis, do you know Ni Tiansong?"
Gu Zhaoping glanced at him. "No."
She doesn’t know Ni Tiansong? Gu Zhaosi was stunned. No wonder she agreed to meet him.
He didn’t think Ni Tiansong was his sister’s type. He vaguely recalled that she used to prefer men who were sweet-talkers, the kind who knew how to flatter her…
Had she changed her preferences?
He couldn’t even imagine her interacting with Ni Tiansong—the man didn’t seem like the type to engage in much conversation with anyone.
Still, among the potential suitors, Gu Zhaosi suddenly and resolutely concluded that, compared to that foreigner or even Chu Yanze, Ni Tiansong wasn’t a bad choice.
He then remembered something else and asked, "By the way, sis, how did you learn that move where you flipped down the stairs? That was insane. Do you do parkour or something?"
Gu Zhaoping didn’t confirm or deny it. As she gathered her things to leave, she simply said, "A female bodyguard taught me a long time ago. I don’t usually do things like that."
Gu Zhaosi was baffled. What kind of female bodyguard could be that impressive?
Meanwhile, Master Qi returned home and eagerly contacted Ni Tiansong, only to be told that he had a prior engagement—helping someone with a match—and couldn’t accompany him to meet someone.
Master Qi was taken aback. Hadn’t Ni Tiansong stayed away from chess for years? Why the sudden interest now? Was he just making excuses?
Frowning, Master Qi felt a deep sense of regret. He was certain Ni Tiansong had misunderstood and failed to grasp the significance of this meeting—or the caliber of the person he was missing out on.
Turn this down now, and you’ll regret it later.
He quickly called Ni Tiansong again. "Tiansong, are you there? I sent someone to fetch you earlier, but I heard you’re off to play chess!"
Master Qi added politely, "Who could possibly be so compelling as to draw you back to the board?"
"It’s nothing major. I promised to help someone, so I’m just observing for them. I won’t be playing myself."
Master Qi understood—he must have agreed to assist someone who asked. Still, it was odd. In the past, Ni Tiansong had rarely accepted invitations to spectate matches. Why the sudden interest now?
"Tiansong, you’re really missing out on the person I wanted to introduce you to. She’s also an excellent player. The two of you would hit it off immediately—you’d have so much to discuss!"
Ni Tiansong’s tone was calm, almost as if he had anticipated this. "Thank you for your kindness, Master Qi. Let’s discuss it another time when I’m free."
Master Qi couldn’t press further—after all, nothing was set in stone yet. With a sigh, he hung up.
On the road, however, Ni Tiansong’s expression shifted slightly. His brows furrowed as a thought occurred to him.
Wait… Master Qi mentioned something earlier…
The person who had broken his record was a young lady Master Qi had introduced.
The coincidences surrounding this condition had been piling up lately, and Ni Tiansong found it increasingly peculiar.
Could it really be… her?
Just as he was pondering this, he arrived at the designated location.
Li Xunwen hadn’t arrived yet, but he called Ni Tiansong. "Tiansong-ge, ah, sorry! I got into a minor accident on the way and I’m stuck in traffic!"
Ni Tiansong remained unfazed. "You’re not planning to bail, are you?"
Li Xunwen’s voice was sheepish yet defensive. "Of course not! Tiansong-ge, do you really think I’d do that? I’ll be there—just give me a bit more time to sort this out. Oh, by the way, there might be a film crew there to greet you. Just follow them inside first!"
Ni Tiansong looked up to see a group of people stepping out of vehicles ahead, some carrying cameras and equipment.
He paused, listening as Li Xunwen explained over the phone, "Sorry, Tiansong-ge. We’re filming a show, and I made a bet with someone on it."
He chuckled awkwardly. "If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be in such a rush. If you don’t want to be on camera, I can tell them not to film you, okay?"
Ni Tiansong hadn’t paid much attention to Li Xunwen’s activities and only now learned he was filming a program.
He closed his eyes, neither agreeing nor objecting.
It was only because he knew Ni Tiansong was easygoing that Li Xunwen dared to drag him into this mess. He held his breath, hoping his scheme would pay off.
This time, he needed absolute certainty—he couldn’t afford to underestimate Gu Zhaoping again, nor could he risk another loss.
Ni Tiansong waited for a while before Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei arrived.
Seeing Li Xunwen absent and a stranger in his place, they were momentarily confused.
The man exuded an unusual aura—refined yet understated—as he sat quietly to the side.
The two of them glanced around before asking, "Where’s Li Xunwen?"
A crew member answered, "Teacher Li was in a minor accident and is stuck in traffic. He might be a while."
Chu Yanze let out an "Oh" and sat down cross-legged, facing the unfamiliar man.
For some reason, the moment he settled in, his gaze kept drifting back to him, inexplicably drawn.
Chu Yanze stared for a long time, an uneasy feeling creeping over him. Liang Zhiwei snapped him out of it, saying, "Sister Zhaoping is almost here. Is he still not coming?"
The crew shook their heads awkwardly.
Just as Ni Tiansong was about to speak, the teahouse door swung open, cutting off all conversation. Everyone turned to look.
A young woman walked in.
The moment she entered, the room fell silent.
The woman had strikingly pronounced and well-defined facial features—a tall, straight nose bridge, long brows that tapered into her temples, and sharply outlined cheekbones, all set in an expression of calm composure. Her attire was equally understated: her hair was pulled back sleekly, revealing a bold, striking hairline.
She wore a sharply tailored black overcoat, hands tucked into pockets as she entered. With one fluid motion, she shrugged it off, and someone behind her quickly stepped forward to take it and hang it on a nearby rack.
Amidst the eager attentiveness of the others, Gu Zhaoping took her seat across the chessboard and lifted her gaze to ask, "Where is he?"
Ni Tiansong was momentarily stunned. He realized he had been watching her from the moment she walked in, unable to tear his eyes away.
Only when she sat down and her gaze settled on him did Ni Tiansong snap out of it.
Suddenly self-aware, he lowered his eyes, breaking contact. In that instant, he became acutely aware of a flicker of unease within himself.
"Ah, Professor Gu, our sincerest apologies—Li Xunwen was delayed due to a car accident and hasn’t arrived yet."
Gu Zhaoping gave a slight nod, her expression unreadable. "How long must I wait?"
Though it was a simple question to confirm the timing, the sheer force of her presence and demeanor made it sound almost like a challenge, sending a ripple of nervous tension through the production team.
"Terribly sorry, Professor Gu! We’re already pressing him—doing everything we can!"
Their attitude toward Gu Zhaoping had shifted entirely from what it had been at the start.
The crew turned away, muttering in distress as they tried reaching Li Xunwen again—only to find his phone completely unreachable this time. They froze in dismay.
Now, their collective gaze fell upon the person Li Xunwen had supposedly brought along for support.
Ni Tiansong noticed, glancing sidelong at them before saying coolly, "I’m only here to back him up."
Gu Zhaoping checked her watch. She had intended to make this quick—she had an important lecture in the afternoon and no time to waste.
Her eyes flicked to Ni Tiansong. "Can Li Xunwen get here within 15 minutes?"
Ni Tiansong blinked, realizing she was addressing him. After a pause, he shook his head slowly. "I don’t know."
Gu Zhaoping studied him for another moment. Her gaze wasn’t intrusive—it was polite, devoid of scrutiny—but something about the intensity of it made Ni Tiansong inexplicably self-conscious.
He didn’t meet her eyes. Yet, just as he looked away, Gu Zhaoping said, "No matter. You’ll do."
Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei exchanged startled glances. What? Just swapping players like that—was this even allowed?
Ni Tiansong was speechless.
Gu Zhaoping had already begun setting up the board. "I don’t have much time. We’ll finish this match within 90 minutes. Acceptable?"
Ni Tiansong held her gaze for a long moment, as if he had something to say—but in the end, he simply replied, "Fine."
His voice was quiet, devoid of any competitive fire. But anyone who knew him well would recognize the undercurrent of focus—he was taking this seriously.
Under normal circumstances, Ni Tiansong would never agree to something like this. Yet, the moment Gu Zhaoping extended the invitation, he found himself unable to refuse.
He stood, then took the seat opposite her, separated only by the small chessboard.
"White moves first." Gu Zhaoping’s eyes remained fixed on the board as she decisively removed one of her own rooks and placed it on Ni Tiansong’s side. "I’ll concede a piece."
Her hand lingered close to his. Ni Tiansong’s gaze followed as she set the black rook down, then paused. She was really giving him a handicap?
Against him?
And not just any piece—a rook. That gave him pause. He looked up, studying her expression.
Sacrificing a rook had major implications—weakening offense, complicating defense. And if she planned to castle later, she’d lose a crucial opportunity to turn the game around.
He watched her, completely unfamiliar with her skill level, yet stunned by the boldness of her move.
Sitting this close, he could observe her features more clearly. She didn’t look up at him, nor did she question his presence with so much as a glance—her focus remained entirely on the game.
Ni Tiansong glanced at the black rook now at his side, then at the empty space on a8 where it had been.
After a beat, he said, "Understood."
"Begin."
Gu Zhaoping pressed the timer at her right.
The red digits began counting down.
They opened with the Ruy Lopez—a classic, with the real battle yet to come.
Both played in silence, minds fully immersed. For a while, the only sound in the teahouse was the soft click of pieces meeting the board.
Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei held their breaths, their curious eyes darting repeatedly to Ni Tiansong’s face.
He kept his head lowered, his profile serene and composed, attention locked onto the game.
Something about the man sitting across from Gu Zhaoping unsettled Chu Yanze—an inexplicable discomfort, a sense of unease. Was it because his skill seemed unfathomable?
The opening played out normally—until Gu Zhaoping moved her pawn to a6, and Ni Tiansong pushed his bishop to a4.
Ni Tiansong handled his pieces with quiet confidence. Gu Zhaoping’s next move wasn’t to defend with f6—instead, she advanced to d5.
A gambit. Aggressive play.
Ni Tiansong responded naturally.
Li Xunwen’s worries had been justified—this woman’s skill far surpassed his. From the start, Ni Tiansong had given this game his utmost focus. Even with her handicap and moving second, underestimating her would be a mistake.
Ni Tiansong took her knight.
Gu Zhaoping recaptured with her queen.
When his knight chased her queen, she suddenly repositioned to a5, simultaneously threatening his bishop and the pawn on e5.
Ni Tiansong’s hand hesitated slightly, his next consideration taking just a fraction longer.
As the match grew increasingly tense, footsteps echoed through the manor’s hallway.
Gu Zhaosi stretched his arms overhead with a long yawn. Waking up to find his grandfather gone—likely off drinking tea with someone again—he headed downstairs in search of his sister.
Just as he reached the lower floor, he overheard someone mention that she was currently locked in a chess match.
Gu Zhaosi froze for a moment. A chess match? He suddenly remembered that the old man had mentioned introducing her to Ni Tiansong yesterday. He couldn’t help but wonder—had his sister now even mastered chess? A person’s time and energy were limited. Was his sister living two lifetimes or something?
Brimming with questions, Gu Zhaosi stretched his arms and walked downstairs. A few people were still standing guard outside the tearoom, and they paused when they saw him approaching. Gu Zhaosi rolled his shoulders and asked, "What are you all doing here?"
One of them blinked in surprise at his appearance. "Third Young Master, the eldest miss is inside playing chess with someone."
Gu Zhaosi nodded and peeked through the door crack. There seemed to be quite a few people inside—which meant he could probably slip in too.
Not wanting to knock and disrupt his sister’s focus, Gu Zhaosi quietly pushed the door open just enough to slide in, then closed it behind him, waving goodbye to the guards.
The moment he turned around, however, his expression twisted into shock.
He nearly stumbled!
Who was that? Who was that?! Wasn’t that Ni Tiansong?!
Damn, you people work fast! Just yesterday, they mentioned setting them up, and today he’s already here playing chess with her? What kind of—
They called him some celestial being descended to earth, but the moment he’s set up with my sister for a blind date, he can’t even wait a second before rushing over?
Gu Zhaosi’s heart skipped a beat before he finally snapped out of his daze, creeping over to sit quietly behind his sister.
Chu Yanze and Liang Zhiwei, who had been staring in awe, finally noticed him. They recognized him as Gu Zhaoping’s younger brother and wanted to greet him, but fearing they might distract her, they simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Gu Zhaosi hastily nodded back before pushing them down, only to suddenly realize—wait, Chu Yanze?! What the hell are you doing here?!
His head whipped back and forth between Chu Yanze and Ni Tiansong like a malfunctioning robot.
Chu Yanze, who had been about to greet him, was now baffled by his reaction. Unable to speak without disturbing the game, he pointed at himself in confusion, as if asking, What’s your problem?
Gu Zhaosi gaped at him before clamping his mouth shut.
His mind was reeling.
Chu Yanze, you little—aren’t you trying to pursue my sister?! How the hell did you even get here? You’re crashing her blind date?!
He glanced at Liang Zhiwei. Was this guy brought along just to make it seem less obvious, like he wasn’t being a scheming snake?
Chu Yanze, do you even know who Ni Tiansong is? He’s the one Grandpa personally picked as her suitor! Even with all the other guys orbiting my sister, in the eyes of the elders—and by status—he’s the top contender!
Chu Yanze, still confused by Gu Zhaosi’s stare, managed a polite smile. He wasn’t particularly close to this classmate—he’d even struggled to recall his name when seeing him beside Gu Zhaoping earlier. But since he was her brother, Chu Yanze treated him warmly.
His expression remained clueless, as if asking, What’s wrong?
Wow.
What a schemer.
Playing innocent.
Gu Zhaosi turned away with a heavy sigh and shook his head.
No idea how you found out about today’s setup—or if my sister told you herself—but good luck crying in front of Ni Tiansong.
Sacrifice the knight to launch the attack.
Ni Tiansong’s hand hovered over the board, hesitating.
Though he’d taken time to think before, he’d never paused this long. He suddenly realized he couldn’t read her strategy.
Her moves were erratic—sometimes swift, sometimes deliberate. He couldn’t tell if she was calculating traps or genuinely stuck.
He didn’t know her at all, and her playstyle didn’t match any known chess theory in the world.
For the first time, Ni Tiansong was on the defensive. Should he take the knight?
Chess was a high-intensity mental battle. It required foresight—predicting moves dozens steps ahead—while simultaneously evaluating multiple branching possibilities and discarding useless paths.
But she seemed to calculate too fast. Every time he adjusted, he felt as though she’d already rebuilt her entire framework, incorporating his new tactics into her plans.
What stunned him more was her unnervingly calm demeanor. Whether conceding pieces, playing defensively, or falling behind, she never showed impatience. Her expression remained serene, eyes fixed solely on the board.
After what felt like the hundredth hesitation, he finally looked up at her—then took the black knight.
The black queen suddenly struck at h4.
The white king was one move from checkmate.
White moved g3, blocking the queen.
Two moves later, Ni Tiansong’s hand froze.
Both players fell silent, while the spectators exchanged bewildered glances.
Though none of them fully understood chess, the tension was palpable. The two players remained composed, betraying no sign of the fierce battle unfolding—yet everyone felt the pressure.
Even Gu Zhaosi grew restless. How intense is this game?! Aren’t you two supposed to be on a blind date? Are you seriously spending the whole day playing chess?!
Noticing Ni Tiansong’s pause, Gu Zhaoping finally lifted her gaze, studying his face for the first time.
Before this, she’d seen him only as a stand-in Li Xunwen had brought—no one worth noting. She’d guessed Li Xunwen’s plan immediately: cheating under the guise of a "car accident," letting this man take his place.
She didn’t mind. She had no time for Li Xunwen’s games. She’d wanted to see how skilled this silent replacement was.
Now, she acknowledged his strength.
But…
No matter.
He’d stumbled right into her specialty.
The board still held plenty of pieces, and the game didn’t look dire—yet Ni Tiansong had been frozen for a long time. Finally, he asked, "Shall we continue?"
The outcome was clear.
Gu Zhaoping’s brow relaxed slightly. If he was willing to save her time, all the better.
She nodded, about to say, "Let's end it here," when suddenly the door was pushed open—Li Xunwen, who had supposedly been stuck in traffic, finally appeared!
The moment he stepped in, he saw Ni Tiansong sitting in his seat, engaged in a chess match with Gu Zhaoping. His face immediately lit up with delight!
Ah, he knew this move of his had been the right one! Ni Tiansong had indeed stepped in for him! He had always known Tiansong-ge wouldn’t be so heartless—when it really mattered, he would still help him out!
Under the gaze of everyone present, he walked forward and stood beside Ni Tiansong, glancing at the board with a pleased expression. "Tiansong-ge, why’d you stop? Keep going!"
Gu Zhaosi nearly jumped out of his seat. Li Xunwen? What the hell are you doing here? Even my sister’s blind date you have to interfere with? Have you no shame? What’s going on?
Li Xunwen happily studied the board. Ni Tiansong could still take one of Gu Zhaoping’s pieces—he was clearly in a dominant position.
Ah, as expected of Tiansong-ge. He had Gu Zhaoping right where he wanted her. Still, the fact that they had been playing for so long—long enough for him to arrive late and the game still not be over—was unexpected.
It seemed Gu Zhaoping really had some skills up her sleeve. Maybe she had actually put effort into studying chess.
Li Xunwen even spared a glance at the timer. Damn, the time taken was almost as long as his own matches. Good thing he had asked Tiansong-ge to step in—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so confident in securing a win.
Beaming, he watched as the two players across the board lifted their heads to look at him, neither saying a word. Li Xunwen froze.
The silence grew awkward. He lowered his eyes back to the board and urged, "Why stop now? Take her bishop..."
Ni Tiansong gave him a faint look, as if asking, Are you sure?
Seeing the others still waiting for the game to continue, Ni Tiansong had no choice but to comply, capturing Gu Zhaoping’s bishop.
There, that’s more like it...
But Gu Zhaoping’s next move made Li Xunwen’s pupils constrict violently!
Gu Zhaoping played g3, forcing the black queen to retreat to f1—where it now formed a crossfire with the rook!
From then on, their moves came swiftly, almost without hesitation, as if they had already calculated the next few steps during that earlier silence and were now merely replaying them for the audience.
Gu Zhaoping advanced to f5, sacrificing a pawn to open a line.
The black knight leaped to g5, threatening checkmate.
And with the final move, the queen and black bishop cornered the white king—checkmate!
Only when the game reached this point did Li Xunwen’s eyes widen in shock, his mind still struggling to process what he had just witnessed!
He snapped his head up, looking between Gu Zhaoping and Ni Tiansong, but their expressions remained calm, as if the last few moves had been nothing more than a formality—the true outcome had already been decided in their minds long before.
Gu Zhaoping picked up the white king and set it aside. "Good game."
Ni Tiansong finally relaxed, offering her a small smile.
"No concessions. I lost."
"You played well."
Gu Zhaoping nodded. "So did you."
Ni Tiansong’s expression softened slightly, as if caught off guard by her praise.
Throughout the match, the board had been a battlefield of unseen tension and ruthless strategy, yet both players had remained as composed as meditating monks. Only now, with the game over, did Ni Tiansong’s face show any trace of liveliness.
His gaze followed Gu Zhaoping as she stood up. After the match, she turned to put on her coat and said simply, "It’s over."
"I have matters to attend to. Excuse me."
Only then did Li Xunwen gape at Ni Tiansong, letting out a strangled cry. "Lost? How could you lose?!"
Disbelief and horror twisted his features as he grabbed Ni Tiansong’s arm. "Tiansong-ge, you didn’t go easy on her, did you? You didn’t let her win just because I wasn’t here, right? Tiansong-ge!"
Ni Tiansong pulled his arm free with a firm tug and said calmly, "I’m not as invincible as you think."
Losing meant nothing more than being outplayed—simple as that.
Li Xunwen stood there dumbly, his brain still failing to catch up. He barely registered Ni Tiansong’s next words: "Your worries before challenging her were justified. She is indeed far more skilled than you."
Gu Zhaoping finally glanced back. She had no interest in further engaging with Li Xunwen, but she noticed Gu Zhaosi had also shown up at some point. Well aware of her brother’s sharp tongue, she said to him:
"Li Xunwen and I made a bet. If he lost, he’d have to write a thousand-word essay every day praising my virtues—to be shared with everyone. Make sure he follows through."
With that, she left, confident that Gu Zhaosi’s merciless taunting would ensure Li Xunwen didn’t dare slack off.
Gu Zhaosi blinked. Wait, so my sister was actually gambling with Li Xunwen?!
He whipped his head around to glare at the shell-shocked Li Xunwen.
No way, Li Xunwen. You actually brought in a ringer to fight your battles? And Ni Tiansong—what the hell, man? Aren’t you here on a blind date with my sister? Yet you went and helped someone else take her on? What kind of logic is that? Do you even want this date to go well?
Wait, no—Gu Zhaosi’s thoughts screeched to a halt as another realization struck him.
His sister had beaten Ni Tiansong!!
Holy hell, that’s Ni Tiansong we’re talking about!
Gu Zhaosi’s jaw dropped as he slowly turned back to the chessboard he hadn’t fully understood earlier. A shiver ran down his spine.
Sis, I will forever bow to you!
You’re the true Chess Queen!!
Before Li Xunwen could recover, Gu Zhaosi rolled up his sleeves.
Pointing an accusing finger, he launched into a tirade: "Oh, so you had a bet with my sister, huh? And you tried to cheat by bringing in Ni Tiansong? Have you no shame? Knew you were so far beneath her you couldn’t even touch her toes, so you had to call for backup? Well, guess what?"
"Even with backup, you still lost to her! Go on, try finding someone else to bail you out—who’s left after Ni Tiansong? Still not giving up?"
"Li Xunwen, I’ve never seen anyone so eager to serve themselves up for my sister to humiliate. Thanks for the entertainment! Looks like we’ll have a steady supply of compliments from you for a while—saves me the trouble!"
With a grand flourish, Gu Zhaosi declared: "Alright, get to it! First essay due in an hour—publish it immediately!"
Li Xunwen’s face twisted in fury. He couldn’t even process his disbelief anymore—how could Ni Tiansong have lost to Gu Zhaoping? And she had beaten him in even less time than Ni Tiansong usually took?
"Gu Zhaosi, what are you so smug about—"
“Huh? So what if I’m proud? So what? Wouldn’t you be proud if you had a sister like mine? Oh, I forgot—your sister is that, what’s her name, Li Xunxi? Yeah, she’s nowhere near as amazing as mine. Oops, my bad, didn’t mean to hit a nerve. Why do I keep flaunting things others don’t have? So rude of me. Ah, well, what can I say? When you’ve got a sister this incredible, you’d brag too—if you had one!”
“You—!”
“Are you writing or not? You’ve got 59 minutes left!”
“Gu Zhaosi, don’t push your luck! This chess match hasn’t even been evaluated by a professional yet—”
“58 minutes!” Gu Zhaosi outright started counting down with a smirk. “Pfft, calling in the professionals? Even I, someone who doesn’t even play chess, can see who won. Li Xunwen, did your brain get squished in a door? Still clinging to hope? Believe me, when the experts show up, you’ll only look worse.”
Without blinking, Gu Zhaosi added, “Master Qi’s right here. Go ahead, ask him!”
The two kept arguing, but Ni Tiansong’s gaze lingered on Gu Zhaosi’s face for just a moment before shifting. Seeing Gu Zhaoping leave, he stood up, intending to follow and say something—but then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and answered. “I’m here.”
A pause. Then he froze.
His sudden silence made the two arguing stop and turn to him. Ni Tiansong slowly lifted his head, staring at Gu Zhaoping’s retreating figure and the door left slightly ajar, his expression blank.
The voice on the other end of the call kept speaking, but it took him forever to process the words.
“You… what?”
“Young Master, the Chess Association just released the records—she even broke a Guinness World Record!”
The butler’s voice was frantic, shocked, nearly cracking with disbelief. “It’s… it’s the Gu family’s Gu Zhaoping!”
The volume was so loud that everyone nearby heard. The room fell dead silent, all eyes fixed on Ni Tiansong.
When the words finally registered, Ni Tiansong’s pupils shrank violently.
Every piece of news he’d heard over the past two days suddenly connected in his mind, weaving into a clear, undeniable web.
The record-breaker. The opponent Li Xunwen had begged him to face. Even the person Master Qi had wanted to introduce him to.
Ni Tiansong’s entire body tensed. Without another word, he bolted out the door.
Li Xunwen barely dodged as Ni Tiansong brushed past him, stunned. What the hell? In all the years he’d known him, he’d never seen Tiansong-ge this frantic!
Then it hit him. “Record? What record?”
Gu Zhaosi was also frozen, but he recovered faster. After a brief daze, he yanked out his phone and frantically searched online.
Everyone else abandoned their argument, craning their necks to watch.
Gu Zhaosi’s heart pounded wildly. He’d vaguely caught the words “Guinness Record,” but he didn’t dare believe it. What if he misheard? What if it wasn’t what he hoped? What if he couldn’t find anything?
His hands trembled as his mind raced with wild, impossible guesses. No way, sis. You couldn’t have actually done something this insane, right?
He tapped the screen.
A flood of notifications exploded across it.
Everyone crowding around him gasped in unison.
Gu Zhaosi’s eyes widened.
His fingers shook as he stared at the words on the screen, lips quivering, reading them over and over like he’d forgotten how to comprehend basic language.
After what felt like a dozen rereads—
Gu Zhaosi finally blinked, clarity returning to his expression.
And with it, utter disbelief.
The others were just as shell-shocked.
—It’s true!
IT’S TRUE!!
Gu Zhaosi’s hands shook violently, a silent scream tearing through him.
The entire internet had erupted!!
Like a nuclear blast, it sent tidal waves surging from the depths, flipping the digital world on its head!!
It really was a Guinness World Record!
About chess!
The record was broken—his sister broke the record!!!
