Chapter 1750: Side Story (23): Softie, Please, So Flirtatious and Touching

"Grandpa, Uncle Yan." Jiang Ruan handed things over. Since she was family with Si Yushan, there was less need for formality, and she deliberately poured a cup of tea for Yan Chi.

"Thank you."

Yan Chi accepted the tea and thanked her. The cup was small, and their fingertips unintentionally brushed against each other. Yan Chi’s expression didn’t change at all, but Jiang Ruan’s breath hitched a little, the place he touched felt tingly.

She retracted her hand and casually rubbed the spot he’d touched.

"Ruan Ruan, who do you think will win this round?" Si Yushan was focused on the chessboard as the two played, not noticing his granddaughter’s odd behavior.

Though Jiang Ruan was not an expert at chess, she grew up around it and was certainly better than the novice Yan Chi.

She could immediately see that despite Yan Chi seemingly having the upper hand, Si Yushan was well-prepared with a strategy. In ten more moves, the winner would be clear.

She looked at Yan Chi with a bit of sympathy.

It was his turn to play, and when Jiang Ruan saw him push the pawn forward, she knew he’d fallen into her grandpa’s trap. Perhaps it was because he was too close to the situation, she saw it clearly, but Yan Chi seemed oblivious, so she couldn’t help but cough slightly...

Thanks to her hint, Yan Chi seemed to realize the mistake in his move, paused, and then returned the piece to its original spot.

"Why aren’t you moving?" Si Yushan chuckled, "Alright, take your time to think it over. I’ll go stretch my arms outside, getting old makes it stiff to sit for too long."

Si Yushan was giving Yan Chi a chance to rethink his strategy.

After he left, Si Qingxiao also followed him out. You Yunzhi had been in poor health in recent years and made a habit of taking afternoon naps, still drowsy in the spring and fall. The living room was left with only Yan Chi and Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan leaned close to the chessboard, observing the entire game.

Actually, Si Yushan had left him many chances, but with his rare experience, Yan Chi seemed completely blind to them.

Jiang Ruan found it amusing; she always thought people like Yan Chi should be good at everything, yet there were things he wasn’t adept at.

"You don’t know how?" She rested her chin on her hand, smiling at him.

Smiling like a clever little fox.

"I don’t know." Yan Chi replied bluntly.

He’s not a genius, he can’t be good at everything.

"Do you want to win?"

"Yes." Everyone has a competitive streak, Yan Chi was no exception.

"Then beg me." Jiang Ruan said playfully.

The autumn afternoon sun streamed in, as she tilted her chin up to look at him, eyes curved into crescents.

Outside, sunlight shifted rapidly; inside, shadows of flowers moved across the seats. At that moment, Yan Chi felt, with tea in hand and her by his side...

The warmth of her presence could last a lifetime.

Jiang Ruan wasn’t usually this relaxed around him; probably because she was at home, her whole demeanor was much more at ease. Plus, seeing the almighty Senior Yan Chi stumped for the first time made her livelier.

Yet Yan Chi merely watched her without speaking, which suddenly made Jiang Ruan’s heart skip a beat; perhaps...

Had she been too bold just now?

As she cleared her throat and prepared to say she was only joking, Yan Chi suddenly leaned closer...

The warm autumn sunlight stretched between their gaze, but couldn’t quite carry the intense, fiery gaze he bore within.

Stepping closer, she seemed to catch a faint scent of tea in his breath...

Refreshing and intoxicating.

She instinctively tightened her grip on her sleeves, feeling nervous.

"Ruan Ruan..."

His voice was low, perhaps cautious not to be overheard, tender and gentle like a mist, yet seeming to emanate from his chest, slightly muffled but knocking softly at her ears...

"Tap, tap—" twice.

Just a simple call, but it made her knees, already bent, nearly give way.

She was so nervous her palms were heating up; her voice wavered slightly as she replied softly, "Hmm," as if to answer him.

She watched him draw closer, seemingly erasing the space between them completely.

The air was pulled away, oxygen thinning to the point she felt breathless.

His gaze was deep, his breath was warm and intense, as he hoarsely murmured:

"Ruan Ruan, please—"

These simple words made Jiang Ruan’s heart race as if it could barely pump blood; her throat itched, and she felt a bit out of her senses.

Is this how you ask for help?

Clearly, he wants to beguile her completely.

She crouched halfway over the chessboard, still resting her chin, with warm palms pressed to her face, feeling as if a gentle fire roasted her cheek, its flame spreading throughout her body.

A cool autumn breeze blew in from outside...

A dissipating heat that can’t be blown away, lingering warmth.

"I’m begging you, can you teach me?" Yan Chi smiled.

Jiang Ruan was only joking with him, not expecting Yan Chi would really plead. You imagine, a well-bred person who usually doesn’t talk or smile suddenly asking you, today he’s even dressed in a simple three-piece suit, looking like an elite. That contrast really...

Very alluring and striking.

Anyway, Jiang Ruan felt dizzy, lowered her head, and randomly stuffed a piece of snack into her mouth, deliberately chewing loudly as if that could dispel the panic in her heart.

"Is this a cookie?" Yan Chi asked.

"Yeah, my mom made them, they’re pretty tasty."

"Let me try."

Yan Chi picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. After a few seconds, he said in a low voice:

"Quite sweet."

Jiang Ruan inexplicably felt her ears burning. Clearly, it was a normal sentence, yet she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed hearing it.

Jiang Ruan, are you overthinking...

You’ve got a dirty mind, you’re done for!

"Here, don’t make this move, you should use the [cannon]. If you use the [pawn], you’ll be passive later." Jiang Ruan pointed at the chessboard, and Yan Chi listened attentively.

...

In this game, Si Yushan was already going easy, coupled with Jiang Ruan’s guidance. Despite some struggles, Yan Chi won.

"Finally won." Si Yushan laughed.

"You let me win, and thanks to..." Yan Chi glanced at Jiang Ruan, "her help."

"You little girl, selling yourself out so fast, how long have you known him, helping him fight against your grandpa?" Si Yushan joked lightly, but Jiang Ruan’s face was burning.

"By the way, besides liking chess, do you enjoy watching Go?" Yan Chi asked Si Yushan.

"Go? I’m a layman in that area, pretty clueless, not really interested." Si Yushan replied candidly, "Why, do you study Go?"

"No, I just know a chess player who specializes in Go. There’s a competition during National Day, and I can get tickets. I was thinking, if you’re interested, I can give you tickets to join the fun."

"The Go player you mentioned wouldn’t happen to be Chen Wang, right?" Si Yushan seemed to recall something, "That kid’s really amazing, young and already has an unlimited future."

"Chen Wang? I know him too." Recently there hasn’t been a shortage of news about him, famous at a young age, handsome, a genius Go player, naturally attracting attention.

"But I’m really not interested in Go." Si Yushan laughed. If you don’t understand a thing about chess, you’d find it dull even if you go. He noticed Jiang Ruan was quite excited upon hearing this Go player’s name, so he said, "Ruan, if you want to go, you can join your Uncle Yan to catch the excitement."

"Me?" Jiang Ruan only knew Go had black and white pieces, nothing else. She knew Chen Wang merely because someone in the news picture looked too handsome. Some girls in her dorm were star-struck.

"I’ll get two tickets later." Yan Chi said straightforwardly, blocking Jiang Ruan’s words of refusal.

**

Yan Chi didn’t stay long at the Si Family, leaving in a hurry. Si Yushan personally escorted him to the door, inviting him to come play whenever he’s free, while Jiang Ruan stood obediently on the side, watching his car depart.

"Yan Chi is truly a good kid, he knows when to advance and retreat, he’s quite tall, seems taller than your dad." Si Yushan laughed.

Jiang Chengsi belongs to the tall category, in his youth, clad in racing car gear, motorcycle wear, he was strikingly handsome.

"Old Yan is blessed to have such a son."

"This kid used to love swimming, don’t know why he stopped, later I found out it was because he cared for his aging parents, and his sister was married far away, so he had to take on the family responsibilities, forsaking his hobby. He’s very thoughtful." Si Yushan sighed.

Jiang Ruan heard the reason for his quitting swimming for the first time and instantly felt sorry.

Being born in a good family doesn’t necessarily mean you can do whatever you want, it all depends on personal choice.

Like his father, there is a second uncle, third uncle, and an impressive younger uncle.

His father was said to be quite free-spirited in his youth, before marriage, he pursued speed and passion, lived life more freely. The Jiang Family brothers have a harmonious relationship, which is a rarity in many big families, so his father is considered fortunate.

There’s no pressure or burden, people above and below to rely on, as his great-grandmother used to say:

"Your dad was quite carefree in his youth."

Actually, the elderly lady was lamenting someone’s dangerous car racing, disregarding family feelings.

Jiang Ruan only remembered: her dad was carefree.

Comparing to Yan Chi...

So young yet so mature, Jiang Ruan felt sympathy.

Yan Chi didn’t consider abandoning so-called hobbies as a sacrifice. In life, there are gains and losses. Being born in the Yan Family, he had already gained a lot.

At this moment, he returned to his sister’s home, placing the Go match tickets on the table.

Go isn’t particularly a mainstream competition, Chen Wang gave out quite a few tickets, Yan Chi smirked, speaking of which, this fellow was quite diligent.

There were a lot of tickets, even if a few were missing, no one would notice, so Yan Chi conveniently took two.

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