Chapter 53 It was the child who broke the deadlock.
Some busybodies even secretly set up betting schemes.
"Of course we're betting on Miss Xie to win. She's maintained her title as the number one talented woman for the past few years, which shows she's really skilled. She can't lose," one person said, waving his hand.
"With Miss Lin around, things might be different," the man whispered. "If she can't figure it out herself, she can use divination to calculate the solution, and then they'll win, won't they?"
"Isn't that dishonorable?"
"Get out of the way. If she wins on her own merit, it's perfectly fair. You idiot, I'm betting my entire fortune on Miss Lin to win." The man was confident that Lin Ruoxue would win.
Lin Ruoxue looked at Xie Mingyi provocatively, "Just comparing wins and losses is too monotonous, let's make a bet."
Xie Mingyi raised her eyelids and glanced at her, saying indifferently, "Okay."
Lin Ruoxue glanced at a woman without making it obvious.
The woman jumped out and said, "If Miss Xie loses, she will naturally no longer be the number one person in the capital. Don't you all agree?"
"Yeah, it looks like the number one spot is going to change hands." One person chimed in, fantasizing that after pulling Xie Mingyi down, they could take her place.
Everyone echoed this sentiment.
The woman continued, "If Miss Lin wins against Xie Er, then Miss Lin should sit in the first place."
Everyone agreed that it was correct and that it should be done that way.
Among them were some people who wanted to speak up for Xie Mingyi, but their voices were too soft and were drowned out by the loud voices of busybodies.
Knowing that she was the popular choice, Lin Ruoxue smiled and looked at Xie Mingyi.
Xie Mingyi remained engrossed in her own thoughts, seemingly oblivious to the jubilation on the field, displaying an indifferent and detached demeanor that infuriated Lin Ruoxue.
The truth is, Xie Mingyi never knew who bestowed upon her the title of "the most talented woman in the capital." It was only after a banquet that the name spread like wildfire throughout the city.
She had no interest in this empty title. "Very well, if I win, please don't speak to me again, Miss Lin. Thank you."
Lin Ruoxue felt a surge of heat rush to her head, making her dizzy with anger. How dare she embarrass her in public and make her feel so awkward? Did she really think she wanted to cling to her forever? How outrageous!
Xie Mingyi thought this title was unimportant?! But it was precisely because of this title that the people of the capital admired and envied her, which allowed her fortune to steadily rise.
Lin Ruoxue clenched her fist tightly; this was why she was determined to take it away.
She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm as she said, "Alright, let's begin then."
Lin Ruoxue pretended to be carefully pondering the endgame, but in reality, she had acquired the endgame herself and then spent two whole months racking her brains, even resorting to divination, before finally managing to solve it.
Thinking of this, Lin Ruoxue's mood improved again.
“I’ve got an idea, so let’s begin. Miss Xie, you don’t mind, do you?”
Xie Mingyi raised her chin and said, "Please."
Lin Ruoxue gritted her teeth. So now they're not even talking to her anymore? Let's see how long you can keep up this arrogance.
Lin Ruoxue picked up the chess pieces in the endgame and moved them a few times.
When everyone looked again, the game had already changed dramatically, and the endgame was broken.
"Hahaha, I won! I told you Miss Lin was amazing!" The person who bet on Lin Ruoxue to win was laughing wildly.
Everyone stared at Xie Mingyi, wanting to see what kind of distraught expression this woman would have.
Xie Mingyi remained calm and composed, much to everyone's disappointment.
Seeing the pieces Lin Ruoxue moved, Xie Mingyi first felt enlightened, then a hint of disapproval appeared between her brows, feeling that the solution was still insufficient and could be better.
Just then, a leaf blew in through the window and accidentally landed on the chessboard.
Seeing her second sister so focused, Xie Mianmian tiptoed and reached out to try and reach the leaf.
Bad leaves, don't disturb Second Sister's attempt to break the deadlock.
"Ouch!" Someone pushed the child, and her little hand accidentally knocked some chess pieces askew.
Xie Mianmian looked back angrily, only to find that the wicked woman was sneering at her.
The child glared at Lin Ruoxue with what he thought was a fierce look, then turned around and tried to move the chess piece back to its original position.
The moment his hand touched a chess piece, his second sister grabbed it, and her delighted voice rang out, "That's it! That's it!"
After saying that, Xie Mingyi hugged the child tightly and then kissed her little face twice. "Mianmian is really my lucky star!"
Xie Mianmian was confused and was kissed by her second sister in front of everyone. She was so embarrassed.
Xie Mingyi put the child down, made a small adjustment to the chess piece that Xie Mianmian had bent, then dusted off her hands and gestured for everyone to come and look.
Lin Ruoxue went over and looked at her incredulously.
Everyone fell silent.
Only Kongming exclaimed in admiration, "Wonderful! You've trapped your opponent with just two small pieces. Miss Xie's wisdom truly impresses me."
"You say so, that's it! Miss Lin clearly won first!" The man shouted at Kongming, realizing that he might lose all his bets.
The people nearby quickly covered the hothead, saying, "This is the last disciple of the abbot of Fohua Temple. Even my father has to show him some respect. How dare you shout nonsense like that?"
The others crowded around to observe closely.
"As expected of the number one person in the capital, your reputation is well-deserved. I am truly impressed." The man bowed to Xie Mingyi.
"I didn't expect Miss Lin to be so useless," one person remarked. Noticing Lin Ruoxue suddenly staring at him, he quickly shut his mouth and fled.
Lin Ruoxue's face turned ashen. She felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had cracked. The chess game that she had painstakingly studied for so long had been solved so easily by her, and even better than her!
Lin Ruoxue was momentarily dazed and almost fell backward. The woman next to her quickly helped her to a chair.
She refused to admit that Xie Mingyi was better than her, but the rock in her heart was beginning to crumble.
Despite the praise from the crowd, Xie Mingyi remained unfazed. "As you all can see, this solution was devised by my younger sister. I merely made a minor modification. I will not participate in the remaining matches. I hope you all have a great time."
After saying that, he took Xie Mianmian's hand and led her to sit down by the window, pouring the child a cup of tea.
"It is we who are narrow-minded." The man was originally afraid that Xie Mingyi would steal the limelight at the Flower Banquet and leave him no place, so he had been watching coldly from the sidelines. Little did he know that she didn't care at all.
"Miss Xie is so wonderful." A little girl who had always silently supported Xie Mingyi looked at the person with shining eyes, and a small seed sprouted in her heart.
As for Lin Ruoxue, who sat gloomily to the side? Everyone completely ignored her and continued with the competition.
Xie Mingyi rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the lush green grass swaying in the breeze on the opposite bank of the river and the shimmering water, feeling extremely happy.
Just then, a little girl handed her a small note and immediately ran away.
Xie Mingyi opened the paper with a puzzled look. The paper had very familiar, delicate handwriting, but unfortunately, she couldn't remember who it was.
The sign read: "This concerns your younger brother. Meet me on the south deck on the second floor."
What trouble has Xie Huaijin gotten into this time?
Or did I really mess with this good girl, that she ended up being approached by someone?
No, Xie Mingyi didn't believe it.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
