Meng Yan's Transformation

Zhang Xincheng gently lifted the curtain and entered the main room. Yunqing was about to greet him when Zhang Xincheng put his index finger to his lips. Yunqing understood and remained silent.

Zhang Xincheng tiptoed up behind Zhan Zixun and saw the two of them locked in a fierce battle. Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun were so engrossed in the chessboard that they didn't even notice Zhang Xincheng's arrival.

Seeing that Zhan Zixun had taken over most of the chessboard, Zhan Mengyan was about to lose, and she was so anxious that she scratched her head and cheeks.

Zhan Mengyan stared at the chessboard with a worried expression, her fingers tapping the table surface absentmindedly.

Zhan Mengyan muttered to herself, "How can I break through with this move?" Suddenly, Zhan Zixun leaned forward, a sly glint in his eyes, and pointed to a corner of the chessboard with his finger: "Try a 'feint attack' and attack this side first!"

Zhan Mengyan's eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh: "How could I have forgotten this move!"

Zhan Mengyan took a deep breath and steadily placed the chess piece.

Seeing this, Zhan Zixun raised an eyebrow, his eyes fixed on the chessboard, his fingers unconsciously stroking the pieces, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down from time to time. Suddenly, a smile appeared on his lips: "Hmm, 'feint to the east while attacking in the west,' building a bridge! Zhan Mengyan, you've 'dug your own grave'!"

Zhan Zixun launched a counterattack, casually crossing his legs and humming a tune as he placed his pieces with incredible speed and precision.

Zhan Zixun felt confident of victory, and kept raising his eyebrows at Zhan Mengyan, his eyes seeming to say, "Zhan Mengyan, look at you! You lousy chess player, today I'll show you what I'm capable of!"

Zhan Mengyan didn't dare to be careless. She remained calm and composed, and as the game progressed, the situation gradually changed. Zhan Mengyan's pieces began to advance deep into Zhan Zixun's 'home base'.

Zhan Zixun's expression began to darken. He frowned, stopped humming a tune, and sat up straight. He carefully considered each move, carefully considering every single piece he placed. By the middle game, Zhan Mengyan's advantage was becoming increasingly apparent, and fine beads of sweat began to appear on Zhan Zixun's forehead. He began wiping his sweat and muttering, "Oops, I made a mistake. The piece is placed but won't leave my hand; I keep lifting it up and putting it down."

In the end, despite several attempts to fight back, Zhan Zixun still lost the game.

Zhang Xincheng watched from afar, finding Zhan Zixun's smug expression amusing. He also felt anxious for Zhan Mengyan, and several times he wanted to help, but he restrained himself. When Zhan Zixun lost and looked somewhat annoyed and comical, Zhang Xincheng almost burst out laughing.

Zhan Mengyan won! She couldn't stop smiling; her mouth was practically stretched to her ears. Her eyebrows were raised high, and her eyes, like crescent moons, sparkled with excitement. She raised her hands high above her head: "Yay! I finally won! I'm so awesome!"

Zhan Mengyan felt like a victorious general, the feeling of victory was like eating honey, like finally reaching the summit after climbing for a long time and seeing the beautiful scenery... Zhang Xincheng also smiled knowingly along with Zhan Mengyan's joy.

"Today, I'm letting you win this first game. Come on, let's continue. But be careful this time, I won't let you win again. Let's play 'rock, paper, scissors' and see who goes first!"

When Zhan Zixun spoke, he had a defiant look on his face.

The chessboard was rearranged.

Zhan Mengyan played 'paper', and Zhan Zixun played 'scissors'. Zhan Zixun won and went first.

"You took back three moves last time. We agreed beforehand that I won't let you take back any more moves this time. I'm leaving now!"

When Zhan Zixun spoke, he moved a chess piece first.

Zhan Mengyan's eyes shone brightly, as if to say, "I'll beat you again in the next round. I'm going to show off my skills, no matter what techniques I use."

Zhan Mengyan sat in front of the chessboard, behaving properly like a young lady, her eyes fixed intently on each piece, as if pondering every possible move. Her fingers lightly traced the pieces, as if searching for the best placement.

"Zhan Mengyan, hurry up and make your move! Let me tell you, once you make a move, you can't take it back! Once your hand leaves the piece, you can't change it."

As Zhan Zixun spoke, he watched the chess piece in Zhan Mengyan's hand hovering back and forth in the air above the chessboard, hesitant and indecisive. He was extremely anxious.

"Zhan Zixun, please stop rushing me!? You shouldn't talk while playing chess. You keep urging me, which is disrupting my train of thought. You're deliberately trying to distract me and make me make mistakes. Using this kind of psychological warfare is not a fair way to win!"

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she was still holding the chess piece, unsure of where to place it. Just as she was about to put it down, she raised her hand again.

"Zhan Mengyan, with this kind of chess-playing style, you're so indecisive! When am I supposed to wait?! Do you want to wait until midnight to welcome the God of Wealth with firecrackers?!"

Zhan Zixun's words revealed a strong sense of impatience.

Zhang Xincheng sometimes shook his head and sighed, sometimes smiled, his brows furrowed, his eyes fixed on the chessboard, his small, squinty eyes widened, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he lightly bit his lower lip.

Just as Zhan Mengyan's fingers were holding the chess piece in mid-air, her knuckles turning white, and she was struggling internally, the chess piece "snap" fell down, and her hand slightly left the piece.

Zhang Xincheng saw through the move and pointed it out to Zhan Mengyan. Zhan Mengyan cleverly raised her hand and placed her piece again, turning defeat into victory.

At this moment, Zhan Mengyan and Zhan Zixun looked up and saw Zhang Xincheng.

"Zhang Xincheng, when did you arrive? Don't you know the principle of 'not speaking while observing a game of chess'?"

As Zhan Zixun spoke, his eyes widened, he breathed heavily, pointed at Zhang Xincheng with a trembling finger, trying to suppress his anger. His cheeks were flushed red, the veins on his neck bulged, and his face was full of anger and disdain, as if he wanted to prove his authority with an angry tone.

"I didn't say anything, I just pointed. 'Observing chess without speaking' comes from the story in 'Mingxian Ji' that says, 'A true gentleman observes chess without speaking, a great man makes no regrets after making a move.' It emphasizes that one should remain silent while observing chess and respect the players' decisions. 'Observing chess without speaking' is considered an extension of the Confucian principle of 'being cautious in speech,' emphasizing self-restraint and empathy. 'Xianqing Ouji' points out that if an observer forces comments, it may cause dissatisfaction among both parties due to inappropriate suggestions, or even lead to an awkward situation. I didn't say a word, nor did I comment on your chess skills, so I haven't lost the demeanor of a 'true gentleman.' Zhan Mengyan's hand didn't leave the chess piece, so it doesn't count as making a move. Besides, Zhan Mengyan is a young girl, not a 'great man' in the story. Even if she took back a move, it wouldn't be a big deal. You and Zhan Mengyan aren't competing, it's just for fun. Zhan Zixun, you don't need to take it so seriously! You're being too serious!"

When Zhang Xincheng spoke, he appeared nonchalant and indifferent.