As the words fell, a demure-looking girl stood up, instantly becoming the focus of all eyes.
Fan Tingyun glanced at his daughter but did not stop her, instead nodding encouragingly.
Everyone possessed a desire to win, which was even more pronounced in the path of chess.
A chess player without a competitive spirit could never become a good one.
His daughter, having inherited his legacy, was already a professional third dan at fourteen, his pride.
He looked forward to his daughter achieving greatness in chess and naturally would not dampen her competitive spirit.
Chen Fan glared at Chen Xing'er, a hint of warning in his eyes.
The situation at hand was undoubtedly orchestrated by Chen Xing'er.
Knowing her brother's fondness for chess, she had invited Fan Tingyun, a national master, precisely to test and confirm, making it impossible for Chen Fan to maintain his pretense.
Chen Fan had not deliberately hidden himself from Chen Xing'er.
It was just that, for certain reasons, he would not openly acknowledge her.
But this girl, harboring resentment, was intent on causing trouble.
She seemed like the same little girl from years past, throwing a tantrum in front of her older brother.
"I have no dan rank," Chen Fan said with a smile, facing Fan Sisi's challenge. "But you are probably not my opponent. Since you want to play a game, please let the national master Fan guide me!"
Fan Sisi was taken aback, her face flushing slightly. She said irritably, "How can you know I'm not your opponent if you don't play? I'm a professional third dan, and my chess skill is not much inferior to my father's."
"I'm afraid I'll make you cry," Chen Fan said with a smile.
Fan Sisi's face reddened further, and she angrily retorted, "You're too arrogant. There's always a winner and a loser in a game. How could I possibly cry?"
Chen Fan was somewhat helpless.
He spoke the truth; a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, with her strong sense of self-esteem, might genuinely cry if she lost to him.
"Chen Fan, you're too boastful. She's a professional player, where do you get the confidence to speak such wild words?" Yuan Liangping couldn't help but exclaim, "You're going to make someone cry by playing chess? Are you bragging to the heavens?"
"No matter how important a match is, it's still just a game!"
Chen Fan glanced at Yuan Liangping, too lazy to bother.
Those who did not genuinely love the path of chess would never understand.
In many matches, players often shed tears after losing.
Was it simply because those matches were too important?
In reality, outsiders could hardly comprehend the pain brought on by that intense competitive spirit and the powerlessness felt after striving to the very last moment only to fail.
Those who achieve anything in a particular field have mostly experienced such failures, which drives them to strive with all their might, unwilling to taste that pain again.
"Please, Mr. Chen, give me your guidance!"
Fan Sisi stood there, slightly bowing, her expression stubborn and resolute.
Xu Shengqing watched the unfolding scene, his expression becoming rather peculiar.
He knew his cousin all too well.
Chen Xing'er's words just now did not seem like she was showing favor to Chen Fan, but were clearly intentional, with a hint of malice.
She appeared amiable on the surface, but was inwardly extremely proud.
When she deliberately praised someone, that person was often in for trouble.
Could it be that Miss Chen actually disliked Chen Fan all along?
Therefore, she deliberately put Chen Fan on the spot, making him a target?
Chen Fan's chess skills were actually insignificant; she intentionally provoked him into making a fool of himself in a game?
He didn't quite grasp Chen Xing'er's intentions, but based on his understanding of her, he could still make guesses and judgments.
With anticipation, he quietly explained his thoughts to Yuan Liangping beside him.
Yuan Liangping, who had initially been envious and jealous of Chen Fan, suddenly felt overjoyed after a moment of thought.
Miss Chen's acting earlier was a bit over the top, and after he considered it, he agreed with Xu Shengqing.
"Miss Chen invited a national Go master to the banquet precisely to have Chen Fan play against him."
"The ultimate goal is unclear, but Miss Chen probably doesn't really like Chen Fan!"
He mused inwardly, his conviction growing.
Ultimately, Chen Fan's only reliance was the mysterious Mr. Long.
With this in the background, Miss Chen's attitude towards Chen Fan could be understood.
Miss Chen must want to suppress Chen Fan, but out of consideration for Mr. Long, she couldn't suppress him too much, hence her current attitude.
Perhaps her intention was to draw out that mysterious Mr. Long?
Believing he had grasped Miss Chen's intentions, Yuan Liangping slammed his hand on the table.
"Chen Fan, besides bragging, you probably have no other skills, right? Look, the young lady herself isn't afraid of crying, why don't you agree to play her!"
Chen Fan dismissed this with disdain, not even deigning to look at such a clown.
Yuan Liangping said with a cold sneer, "I think you're simply too afraid to truly play a game against her, aren't you? Or perhaps you don't even know the rules of Go?"
"Heh heh, the young lady, though young, is a professional master. What are you?"
"Presumptuous! Do you understand the way of chess? Do you even know what a professional player means?"
"Stop the nonsense. If you have the guts, just show it. A move made cannot be taken back. The result will be clear after the game!"
Yuan Liangping babbled on, and his supporters also stood up, jeering at Chen Fan.
"Chen Fan, if you admit you can't beat her, then apologize to the young lady."
"What kind of man are you, bullying a little girl?"
"..."
Chen Xing'er held her wine glass, watching Yuan Liangping and his group's performance, and cast an approving glance.
Yuan Liangping, catching a glimpse of Chen Xing'er nodding, felt a surge of excitement, thinking that he had hit the mark with his flattery this time.
Chen Fan, too lazy to argue, simply stood up and said, "Since that's the case, then I shall teach the child a lesson!"
Fan Sisi straightened up, somewhat astonished.
She had been learning chess since childhood and possessed considerable talent. Thanks to her father's connections, she had even played against top masters in the chess world.
But she had never encountered anyone as arrogant as Chen Fan.
A child?
The path of chess did not primarily measure skill by age, but rather by talent and effort.
Many genius chess players could become national masters by the age of fifteen or sixteen!
"What the heck, Chen Fan, can you even play chess?"
Wang Tingting, who was happily eating, couldn't help but ask when Chen Fan stood up to accept the challenge.
Chen Fan glanced at her and said, "You eat slowly."
Wang Tingting looked at the delicious food before her, feeling conflicted.
These dishes, if eaten at a hotel, would cost several hundred each. She truly felt reluctant to leave.
However, loyalty demanded she stick with Chen Fan, as they had come together. She had to stand by him.
So, with lingering regret, she also stood up.
Seeing Chen Fan accept the challenge, Yuan Liangping's heart leaped with joy. He also stood up and said, "I don't know where your mysterious confidence comes from, but I'm eager to see you make a fool of yourself."
The other guests also rose, filled with anticipation for the outcome of this match.
After all, Miss Chen had said that if one could defeat the national master, there was a chance of going on a date with her.
It was clear that Miss Chen also had a keen interest in chess. If one performed exceptionally well, perhaps it would leave a deep impression on Miss Chen.
"Please, everyone, move to the entertainment room!"
Shi Wenyan announced, "It's all prepared. Please refrain from making noise while watching the game!"
There was no doubt that Chen Xing'er had made preparations for this long in advance.
Thus, everyone, including Chen Xing'er, led by Shi Wenyan, headed towards the entertainment room.