During the chess match that followed, Bai Hongde was completely crushed by AlphaGo.
Despite being a provincial-level Chinese chess player, he was thoroughly overwhelmed.
Su Chen, on the other hand, acted like a tool—wherever the system pointed, he played.
After all, he didn’t know how to play chess at all, so this was the only way he could manage.
But once it started…
He won twelve games in a row.
Originally, Su Chen had planned to play a little casually, maybe let him win a round or two, but every move AlphaGo made was designed to kill—absolutely ruthless.
So how was he supposed to throw the match?
And Su Chen didn’t know how to play chess. If he tried to go easy, it might look like those obviously fake throws in national ping-pong matches…
Too fake.
That would feel like an insult to Bai Hongde.
So, he didn’t dare go easy—and that led to a clean twelve-win streak.
Meanwhile, Bai Hongde got more and more excited. What was supposed to be a casual introduction turned into a full-blown chess marathon.
At his level, it was rare to find someone who could match him—no, someone who could completely surpass him.
This was a rare opportunity, so he eagerly pulled Su Chen to keep playing.
“Youth is to be feared!”
“You truly are to be feared!” Bai Hongde praised excitedly.
Su Chen’s chess skills had genuinely shocked him.
He was utterly blown away.
“Not bad… I’m barely getting by,” Su Chen said with a couple of coughs, continuing the match.
After all, he didn’t even know Bai Hongde was provincial-level—he thought the man was just a regular hobbyist.
In the original plot, unless the character was involved with the protagonist, the author never gave side characters this much detail. Their hobbies or skills were rarely described.
Unless the author loved filler content.
What?
You want to know what a filler-writing author is like?
“Look at this bowl, it’s big and round, just like these noodles, long and wide.”
“Look at this author—tall and handsome. Just like the reader—handsome and tall.”
“Look at the one posting comments—charming and cool. Just like the one giving five-star reviews—dashing and gallant.”
See? That’s filler writing.
But Return to the City: Rise of the Dragon King didn’t have much filler.
And every time they reached a complex endgame, Bai Hongde would snap a photo with his phone and share it with his old chess buddies.
Then, after Su Chen’s so-called “deep thinking,” every move he made would end up stunning Bai Hongde.
Even if one move wasn’t impressive, within three moves, a reversal would always appear.
It was like answering every question with full marks—or even extra credit.
Such a rare talent, it was a waste not to have him practice more.
Except for using the bathroom, Bai Hongde didn’t let Su Chen out of his sight.
Even when Bai Zihang tried to interrupt and change the topic, trying to drag Su Chen away—
He ended up getting smacked around by his old man and told to go play somewhere else.
“Stop bothering us—we’re playing chess!”
Bai Gucheng simply sat on the side quietly, watching the game unfold.
Every time Su Chen won, she was secretly overjoyed.
Her precious confidant had betrayed her loyalty…
And honestly, from her point of view, Su Chen’s side profile was very attractive.
Especially when a man was focused on something—he looked the most handsome…
In reality, Su Chen was just “fake thinking.” He didn’t need to use his brain at all—AlphaGo told him what to do.
Effortless and relaxed.
Every time he won, Bai Gucheng had a thought flash through her mind:
That’s my man!
Eventually, after too many rounds, Su Chen was fried like a Qin Shihuang sticking his finger in an electric socket—“Ying’d” until he was numb.
Bai Hongde, too, began doubting his existence…
As a provincial-level player, even if he couldn’t beat someone outright, he should have gotten a win or two at least, right?
Sure, chess isn’t a game of luck—not like flipping a card and winning instantly…
But still, he should’ve had at least one advantageous position?
But the result? Not a single win!
In many rounds, Su Chen practically crushed him while having nearly all his pieces intact.
In the end, Bai Hongde shook his head with a wry smile and finally gave up. “Youth is to be feared. I admit defeat.”
He felt like Chen Rui chewing on Sichuan pepper—numb from losing.
Bai Gucheng also gained a completely new perspective on Su Chen. She never expected her little man to have such incredible chess skills.
“See? I told you he’s amazing!” Bai Gucheng giggled, sitting beside him and intentionally rubbing her arm against his.
“I told you, but you wouldn’t believe me!”
The little white bunny rubbed right up against Su Chen’s arm!
[Holy crap!]
[What is this woman doing?!]
[She’s losing her mind… and in front of her dad, no less!]
[Don’t turn this into a barbershop scene!!]
After the match, Su Chen was fully acknowledged by Bai Hongde.
He felt his son was incredibly lucky to have a follower like Su Chen—it must be the blessing of ten lifetimes.
Afterward, Bai Zihang, Su Chen, and Bai Gucheng went for a walk through the mountains.
Su Chen pushed Bai Zihang’s wheelchair, faithfully playing the role of a little follower.
Meanwhile, Bai Gucheng got bolder and bolder.
She stayed very close to Su Chen—so close she might as well have been clinging to his arm, walking like a couple.
Her behavior left Bai Zihang completely dumbfounded. In the past, this kind of thing was utterly unthinkable.
His sister… was she in heat or something?!
Just thinking that made him almost blurt it out.
If he did, she might really push him off the mountain.
At some point, while they were walking, Bai Gucheng had someone wheel Bai Zihang away…
And she and Su Chen were left alone.
With her foxlike seductive beauty, she asked, “So… want to go take another look at big sis’s bedroom?”
[Damn seductress, evil fairy!]
(?????)!!
Su Chen was about to refuse, but she already had him by the arm.
Then she led him into her bedroom and—locked the door from the inside.
“Uhm… Miss Bai, what are you doing?”
(?????)!!
Su Chen asked nervously…
What the hell was she trying to do? He was just a follower!
“Have you ever had imported candy?” Bai Gucheng twisted her flawless waist, walking over as she unwrapped a piece of candy—a living Absolute Goddess.
“Huh? Imported candy?”
Su Chen thought about it. He probably hadn’t, so he answered honestly, “No… but I’ve had Ferrero Rocher. That’s imported, right?”
“You haven’t?” Bai Gucheng said softly. “Well then, now you get to taste it.”
She popped the candy into her red lips, then leaned close to Su Chen…
And in that moment, Su Chen truly experienced—what real imported candy tasted like!