Yang Hu asked doubtfully from the side, "What a coincidence?"

Coincidence, my ass!

Chen Yang cursed inwardly. He could clearly see that Zhou Yufei was deliberately waiting for him here. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have revealed his travel plans yesterday.

Chen Yang walked up to Zhou Yufei and said in a low voice, "Look, Fairy, I already agreed to go to the movies with you. Can you stop following me?"

"What movie? Who cares about going to the movies with you?" Zhou Yufei asked with a puzzled expression.

Chen Yang was speechless.

"And don't talk nonsense! Who's following you? Does the great Tianque City belong to you, forbidding anyone else from going?"

Chen Yang was speechless again.

"You're insane!"

After glancing at the train ticket in Chen Yang's hand, Zhou Yufei stalked off, dragging her suitcase behind her.

Chen Yang's expression was as dark as night. She really knew how to play the victim.

Yang Hu sidled over, grinning. "Boss, what's going on here?"

"Scram!"

Yang Hu shrank back and didn't dare ask any more questions.

They boarded the train.

When Chen Yang found his seat, he froze.

There was Zhou Yufei, sitting right across from him.

This…

Facing Chen Yang's stunned silence, Zhou Yufei had to suppress a laugh, feigning annoyance as she said, "What's wrong with you? Why did you follow me all the way here?"

In the blink of an eye, I've become the one stalking her?

Chen Yang could guarantee with one hundred percent certainty, even swearing on his own two feet, that this woman had seen the seat number on his ticket and arranged to swap with the person originally sitting here.

Chen Yang said nothing and simply took his seat.

How could Yang Hu not realize what was going on? He discreetly went to the vestibule between cars, leaving them some space.

Zhou Yufei also remained silent, supporting her chin with one hand as she gazed out the window.

And so, the atmosphere sank into a profound silence.

After quite a while, Zhou Yufei couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first. "Alright, you win! I admit it, I followed you. I just thought, since I'm free for the weekend anyway, I might as well tag along!"

Seeing Chen Yang's expression remained unchanged, Zhou Yufei pursed her lips. "I'll get off at the next station."

"The next station is Tianque City!" Chen Yang said speechlessly.

Zhou Yufei was dumbfounded.

After a brief daze, her delicate face filled with delighted mischief. She stuck out her tongue and said, "H-How can that be? Is Lingjin City really that close to Tianque City?"

"Stop pretending. Don't let this happen again," Chen Yang said with a sigh of resignation. He knew perfectly well why Zhou Yufei was following him; she just wanted to be with him, and their destination was irrelevant.

His heart had softened; otherwise, with his usual temperament, he wouldn't have even sat down in the first place.

Sigh…

What sins did I commit in a past life to deserve this? Chen Yang lamented internally.

However, Zhou Yufei really had changed quite a bit. When she first joined the sales department, she was so proud. Although she often joked around, she always gave off an unapproachable air.

But now…

Chen Yang glanced at Zhou Yufei. What was left of her former self? She was acting just like a naive young girl.

Perhaps she only acts this way in front of me?

At this thought, Chen Yang couldn't help but sigh again.

Zhou Yufei explained, "I only followed you because I saw you were going to Tianque City! If you were staying in Lingjin City, I definitely wouldn't have done this!"

"Just like I said that night, no matter what, I won't interfere with your normal life."

Chen Yang waved his hands dismissively. "Enough. Let's get ready to get off the train."

"Oh," Zhou Yufei nodded obediently.

...

「Tianque City.」

It was a small city. Although it was less than two hundred kilometers from Lingjin City, the temperature here was noticeably several degrees lower.

Fortunately, the sun was shining brightly, and the wind was calm.

After doing some shopping, Chen Yang and Yang Hu took Zhou Yufei to the Shanyuan Residential Complex.

This was an old residential complex with a thirty-year history, originally built as a retirement community for the Martial Department. Even after so many years, most of the residents were still Martial Guards.

The few outsiders who managed to buy a house here all had ulterior motives. They hoped to benefit from the area's excellent feng shui or to network with the Martial Guards, hoping the connections would help their businesses.

In short, the residents of the Shanyuan Residential Complex were either rich or powerful.

Just as he stepped through the gates of the complex, Chen Yang heard a deep, thunderous voice.

"You shameless old cur, you actually called the President of the Chess Association for help? Why don't you just die? What's the point of a shameless old hide like you still being alive?"

Not far off was a small square, perfectly bathed in sunlight. People were practicing boxing, playing with diabolos, and playing chess.

At that moment, under a large camphor tree, a burly old man playing chess shot to his feet. He thrust a finger as thick as a carrot at a thin, brocade-clad elder across the board and bellowed, "If I were you, I'd have smashed my head against a wall and died long ago! How can you still have the face to live in this world?"

The frightened onlookers backed away, their hearts pounding.

The brocade-clad elder, however, seemed entirely unfazed and retorted, "Old Ghost Ren, who was it that boasted yesterday about his unparalleled chess skills? Weren't you the one claiming to be unrivaled in all of Tianque City, telling me to find anyone I wanted as a backup?"

"What, can't take a loss?" the brocade-clad elder sneered. "If you can't, then just admit defeat!"

"Make me admit defeat? Are you worthy? No one has ever made me, Ren Tong, admit defeat!"

Waving his thick arms, the stout elder glared with his big, bell-like eyes and sat down again. "Come on! Another game!"

A flicker of respect showed in the brocade-clad elder's eyes, but business was business. He had to win today's game of chess.

Standing beside him was a middle-aged man, the backup he had found: Hu Qing, the President of the Tianque City Chess Association.

Hu Qing smiled without a word. He had been paid, so naturally, he would see the job done.

With that, the next game began.

Hu Qing controlled the entire board, leaving the brocade-clad elder to simply follow his instructions and move the pieces.

In less than fifteen moves, Ren Tong was steadily forced back. He had no room to launch an attack, and even his defense was crumbling.

The surrounding onlookers shook their heads; the outcome was nearly decided.

Ren Tong's old face flushed red with anger and resentment. He was angry that his opponent had found such a powerful expert, but he was resentful of himself. Why did he have to be so arrogant and boastful after winning just two games yesterday? Now he was eating his words.

But just then, a voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Move the chariot from the second file to the third."

Huh?

Ren Tong was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly made the move. He was out of options; he'd take any advice he could get.

Hu Qing curled his lip, unconcerned, and easily countered the move.

"Move the cannon from the second file to the fifth!"

"Take his elephant!"

The onlookers frowned. Trading a cannon for an elephant was clearly a bad move!

Ren Tong gritted his teeth and made the move anyway.

This time, the usually unperturbed Hu Qing fell silent, unsure of how to proceed.

"No need to look any further. You've already lost!"

Hu Qing: "..."

The surrounding crowd: "..."

...

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