Super Rich by Doing as You Please

He said comfortingly, "It’s alright. We’re just passing the time, playing for fun. Don’t feel any pressure."

"Well, alright then."

Just as the two had set up the board and arranged the pieces, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Xi Huai’an frowned.

"Dad, can I come in?"

Outside the door, Xino said, "Mom cut up some fruit for you. She asked me and my brother to bring it in!"

...Xi Wei.

’Sis, you only have one good hand. Couldn’t you have come up with a more believable excuse?’

Xi Wei expected to get an earful along with her, but to his surprise, his father’s voice came from inside: "Mm, come in."

"Okay."

Hearing this, Xino happily turned the doorknob with one hand and headed inside. She even looked back and called to him, "Brother, bring the fruit platter and come on in."

...Xi Wei.

The brother and sister entered the room, one after the other.

Seeing the two men drinking tea and playing chess, Xino subconsciously went to Xu Yun’s side and asked with a smile, "Dad, you’re playing Chinese chess?"

"That’s right. What’s up?"

Xi Huai’an looked at his daughter and chuckled. "What, you couldn’t wait to rush in? Afraid I’d bully your friend?"

"Weren’t you about to do just that?"

Xino pouted. "Everyone knows you’re a great chess player. Xu Yun, you shouldn’t play against my dad."

"It’s fine."

Xu Yun smiled. "I’m sure Uncle will go easy on me later. He won’t let me lose too badly."

"Then I want to watch."

Xino said, "I’ll be your referee, too!"

"Alright." The two men nodded in agreement.

Xi Wei put down the fruit platter and walked over, preparing to watch the game quietly.

But as soon as he approached, Xi Huai’an looked up at him and asked, "You’ve delivered the fruit. Aren’t you leaving?"

...Xi Wei.

Xino gave her brother a pitying look and pleaded with her father, "Dad, why don’t you let my brother stay?"

"Fine."

Xi Huai’an said, "Then you can be in charge of pouring our tea."

Xi Wei was speechless.

’Dad, your double standards are unbelievable!’

’Most families favor sons over daughters. Here, it’s the exact opposite!’

Watching this "harmonious" family dynamic from the side, Xu Yun was somewhat touched.

Even though Xi Huai’an’s blatant favoritism toward Xino left Xi Wei looking disgruntled, Xu Yun knew that as her older brother, Xi Wei didn’t actually hold it against him. In fact, he doted on Xino just as much as his father did.

After the siblings’ brief interruption, Xi Huai’an and Xu Yun finally began their match.

Xino didn’t understand Chinese chess; she was just there for the spectacle.

Xi Wei, on the other hand, did understand, so he was the most engrossed.

He knew his father’s skill at chess was nearly on par with that of a professional player.

But to his surprise, Xu Yun’s skill was also impressive. He and his father were evenly matched, and the game was at a stalemate.

However, Xu Yun would always seem to lose steam in the mid to late game, ultimately suffering a narrow defeat.

They played three games in a row, and every one ended the same way!

Watching from the side, Xino felt it was a great pity. "Ah, how do you lose by just a little bit every time?" she said.

"I can’t help it. Uncle is just too good."

Xu Yun replied with a smile, "It’s already a struggle for me to last this long in each game without losing."

"That’s true. You’re already amazing."

Xino comforted him, "With my dad’s skill level, there’s no shame in losing to him. My brother has never beaten him either."

Xi Wei: "???"

Just then, a maid came upstairs, knocked on the door, and called out, "Master, Miss, Madam has finished preparing dinner. She sent me to call you down to eat."

"Okay, we know."

Xino answered, then said to Xu Yun, "Come on, let’s stop playing and go eat."

With that, she ignored her father and brother, took Xu Yun by the hand right in front of them, and walked out the door.

"Dad!" Xi Wei cried out.

Xi Huai’an stared at the chessboard and suddenly asked, "What do you think of Xu Yun’s chess skills compared to yours?"

"He’s very good. To be able to counter your moves for so long before losing each time is impressive."

Xi Wei thought for a moment and said, "I’m not confident I could beat him."

"Hmph!"

Xi Huai’an shot him a scornful look and said with a sudden burst of anger, "If I have to rely on you to support this family in the future, I might as well rely on an outsider!"

With that, he got up and left.

...Xi Wei.

The reason Xi Huai’an was angry wasn’t that Xi Wei couldn’t beat Xu Yun, but that his son had watched three games and failed to see the "truth" of the match.

’A narrow defeat?’

’It was obvious that Xu Yun had thrown the games just to please me!’

’Earlier, I had been the one telling him not to feel any pressure.’

’But in the end, all the pressure had landed on me!’

’Fortunately, the boy had the sense not to embarrass me in front of my own children!’

’On the surface, I, Xi Huai’an, had won all three games. But in reality, from start to finish, I had been caught in his calculations and strategies.’

’That Xu Yun had controlled the flow of the entire game from the very beginning!’

’The outcome of each game—victory or defeat—had rested entirely on his whim!’

The thought made Xi Huai’an a little uneasy.

Whether it was his knowledge of tea or his skill in chess, both hinted at the young man’s extraordinary nature.

And crucially, he was so young!

Normally, this would be a good thing. But when someone was this "outstanding," it actually gave him pause.

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