Chapter 393 Game Theory

Gu Yuxin and Gu Yuhe did not join Gu Shuyan and the others because they had homework to attend.

"Does Cousin Meng like playing chess?"

Gu Shuyan led Meng Wei out of Yunxiang Courtyard. After wandering around the mansion for a while, seeing that there was nothing to do, she asked Meng Wei.

"I know a little bit. Cousin, do you want to play a game with me?"

Meng Wei is very frank and open in her speech. Although Gu Shuyan knew that Meng Wei's grandmother, that is, her cousin's wife, was not a good person, she still couldn't help but feel more favorably towards Meng Wei.

"If Cousin Meng doesn't mind, how about we play a game?"

Gu Shuyan wasn't particularly enthusiastic about chess, but since everyone had nothing else to do, playing a game or two wasn't out of the question.

After sitting down in a pavilion in the Marquis's residence, Gu Shuyan asked her maid to bring out the chess set. The two guessed who would go first, and then Meng Wei took the first move.

Gu Shuyan's chess skills were not bad. In her previous life, in order to gain Lu Youming's favor, she even hired a master to teach her chess.

I thought this game of chess with Meng Wei would just be a casual game, something to pass the time.

Unexpectedly, after only twenty or thirty moves, Gu Shuyan went from playing casually to taking it seriously.

Meng Wei's face remained calm, and she moved forward steadily with each step. As Gu Shuyan's gaze swept across her face, she gradually got into the zone as well.

Black's momentum was strong; every move she made was steady and progressive, demonstrating comprehensive consideration. Facing the traps set by Gu Shuyan, Black made occasional mistakes, but overall the two were evenly matched.

The two players played so intently that they gradually forgot everything around them and became completely absorbed in the game.

Meanwhile, two people had appeared on one side.

One was dressed in alluring purple, the other in pristine white. They stood behind Gu Shuyan and Meng Wei, their eyes completely captivated by the game of chess.

After a long while, a piece was placed, and Meng Wei and Gu Shuyan breathed a sigh of relief and raised their heads at the same time.

"A draw, it's a draw."

Ji Wenxuan, with the loudest voice, immediately exclaimed in surprise, clapping his folding fan in his hand.

Upon hearing this, Meng Wei looked up and saw Ji Wenxuan standing behind Gu Shuyan.

Upon seeing a man in someone else's house, even though Meng Wei didn't know his identity, she still instinctively wanted to get up and greet him.

However, it would have been better if she hadn't stayed still, because the moment she stood up, she bumped into Gu Renjie, who was standing behind her.

"Ouch!" Meng Wei cried out in pain.

Turning around, they saw an incredibly handsome man standing behind them with a serious expression. The two were startled by the sudden collision, and their eyes met involuntarily.

In just a short while, as if an eternity had passed, Meng Wei's cheeks flushed imperceptibly.

Realizing her lapse in composure, Meng Wei quickly looked away and took a step back, apologizing, "I'm sorry."

Gu Renjie seemed not to hear her words, and turned his head to focus his gaze on the game of chess.

Looking at Gu Renjie's serious expression, Meng Wei suddenly felt a strange sensation in her heart.

"Would it be my honor to play a game with you, Miss?"

Gu Renjie suddenly spoke, and Meng Wei looked up sharply, just in time to see Gu Renjie looking at her.

Her heart was racing, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

"Cousin, you're scaring a girl by asking her that question."

Seeing that Meng Wei was somewhat dazed, Ji Wenxuan quickly stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting. "I am Ji Wenxuan from the Ji family. I just saw that you, young lady, have excellent chess skills. I wonder if you would be willing to play a game with your cousin, as a friendly exchange?"

Ji Wenxuan's smooth-talking skills have become increasingly impressive, and his words made Meng Wei feel a little embarrassed.

"Meng Wei didn't react for a moment. Thank you for your kindness, young master. Please."

Meng Wei generously gestured for Gu Renjie to enter, and Gu Renjie was still apologizing for his earlier rudeness.

Seeing that the other person was such a clear-headed and generous young lady, he felt a bit more favorably disposed towards her. "Please, Miss."

As he spoke, Gu Renjie sat down in the seat that Gu Shuyan had been sitting in, and politely let Meng Wei play black first.

Seeing that the two of them started playing chess without needing to be introduced, Gu Shuyan found it somewhat amusing.

Her gaze swept back and forth between the two faces. Seeing them locked in a fierce battle, Gu Shuyan suddenly felt that their chess skills were somewhat complementary.

"Shu'er, who do you think will win?"

Ji Wenxuan doesn't know much about chess; he mostly learned by watching others play. Although he's much better than those who play poorly, he's still far behind the real masters.

"Don't speak."

Gu Shuyan was engrossed in the game when Ji Wenxuan spoke up, and she couldn't help but find him a bit noisy. Especially when the two sides were fiercely competing, his words seemed even more abrupt.

The game lasted a full hour, and all three of them breathed a sigh of relief as Gu Renjie won by one and a half pieces.

"The young lady's chess skills are truly exceptional and rare in the world."

Gu Renjie loved playing chess, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he knew almost everything about the people in the capital who played chess well or poorly.

He had never heard of someone like Meng Wei before.

Seeing Gu Renjie's curiosity about Meng Wei, Gu Shuyan stepped forward and pulled Meng Wei over with amusement, "Brother, do you want to know which family this young lady comes from? And who her teacher is?"

Gu Shuyan's eyes crinkled into a seductive smile, her expression clearly malicious.

Gu Renjie was indeed somewhat curious about Meng Wei, but he wasn't really curious about which family she came from.

"Speak, what do you want this time?"

Gu Renjie knew Gu Shuyan very well. As soon as she said those words, she must have her eye on something and wanted his help.

Gu Shuyan liked Gu Renjie's straightforward manner, and without thinking, she stepped forward and asked, "I heard that you acquired a rare book, brother. I wonder if I could read it?"

That rare book was written by a master from the previous dynasty. Gu Shuyan had people search for it for a long time but they couldn't find it. Gu Renjie beat her to it.

Originally, she could have just asked Gu Renjie for whatever she wanted, but that rare book was very precious, and in addition, Gu Shuyan had damaged Gu Renjie's collection of paintings last time, so Gu Renjie now forbids Gu Shuyan from touching his collection.

Looking into Gu Shuyan's bright eyes, Gu Renjie glanced at Meng Wei, then at the chessboard, and finally nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, brother." Gu Shuyan was overjoyed; she hadn't expected to gain so much from playing chess today.

Gu Shuyan glanced at Meng Wei, who seemed a little confused, and introduced her, "Actually, this is Meng's cousin. She came with her great-aunt today."