The third match between Huo Rui and Li Ke began.
Huo Rui was the strongest in their opposing camp. While he might not necessarily win against the Liang brothers, he was clearly more than a match for Li Ke.
If Li Ke had faced other members of the Huo Family, he might have had a chance of winning. But now it seemed this match would be a loss for the Liang side.
“Five to two! Huo Rui wins!”
Huo Ze and the others cheered happily: “The boss is indeed amazing!”
Liang Chumo glanced at them disdainfully and said, “It’s just one win. We’ve already won two matches. One more win and we’ll have three victories.”
“Then we’ll wait and see!” Huo Rui laughed.
Liang Chumo asked, “We’re sending Zhao Meng next. Who are you sending?”
Rarely infected by Huo Ze’s never-say-die attitude today, and of course with Huo Rui’s promise of a Rubik’s Cube, Huo Yu shed his usual bookworm image. He stretched lazily, twisted his tired body, and stepped forward like a warrior heading to battle. “I’ll go!”
As Huo Yu and Zhao Meng took their positions behind their respective teams, the match officially began.
Zhao Meng had sparred with Huo Yu several times before. This guy had no competitive drive at all, just wanting to finish quickly. During their usual play, he would often slump aside reading a book, which earned him the nickname “bookworm.” But now it seemed like the first time they’d seen him with a serious expression.
Noticing Zhao Meng’s slight daze, Liang Chuxun worriedly reminded him: “Zhao Meng, don’t underestimate your opponent!”
Zhao Meng nodded, adopting a fully focused defensive stance.
But when they witnessed Huo Yu’s opening serve, not just Zhao Meng but even the Liang brothers were stunned.
Huo Yu’s serve was incredibly fast. Zhao Meng had no time to react before the ball already hit the ground.
“You…” Zhao Meng’s face was full of disbelief.
Huo Yu shook his head and sighed as if disappointed: “Ah! Zhao Meng, can’t you focus? You’re making my victory feel unearned!”
Nothing could be more soul-crushing than this!
One point! Two points! Three points!
By the third point, Zhao Meng’s racket hadn’t even managed to touch any ball Huo Yu served.
“Three to zero!”
The atmosphere on court froze momentarily.
The Huo Family children erupted in excited cheers.
“Huo Yu, well done!”
“Huo Yu, you’ve been hiding your skills!”
Liang Chuxun frowned. He could tell it wasn’t that Zhao Meng was unfocused or underestimating his opponent – Zhao Meng simply wasn’t Huo Yu’s match.
It seemed Huo Yu had been intentionally losing to Zhao Meng during their usual sparring sessions. They had lost this match. And there was no doubt they would lose the final match too!
No wonder Huo Rui had arranged for Huo Ze, their weakest member, to face his cousin. Clearly, Huo Rui had planned this all along – he obviously knew about Huo Yu’s skills when he admitted their team was full of bookworms, just to create confusion.
Now they only had Zhou Yuan left, who was the weakest on their team. Against the Huo Family’s second-weakest player, he stood no chance.
“Five to zero! Huo Yu wins!”
“Whoo!”
“We won!”
Huo Ze and the others cheered joyfully.
Huo Rui looked at Liang Chuxun and smiled: “There’s still one match left. Want to continue?”
“Why wouldn’t we continue?”Liang Chumo shouted angrily at him.”
Huo Yu snickered: “Liang Chumo, you should spend more time reading books instead of relying on brute force all day.” Ignoring the hysterical fury in Liang Chumo’s eyes, he raised an eyebrow at Huo Rui, reminding him to keep his promise.
Huo Rui gritted his teeth and said, “Understood. I’ll bring it to you at the academy tomorrow.”
Liang Chumo watched them exchanging flirtatious glances, completely ignoring his words and even daring to mock him. Just as he was about to lose his temper, his cousin told him they had lost.
“We lost! Zhou Yuan couldn’t beat Huo Shun from their side.” Liang Chuxun patted his younger cousin’s shoulder, then turned to Huo Rui with a serious expression. “We lost this time, and I accept it wholeheartedly!” Whether it was due to skill or strategy, a loss was a loss.
“No! Cousin, didn’t you say we shouldn’t give up until the very last moment?” Liang Chumo argued.
Huo Rui, standing nearby, smiled and said, “Fine, then I’ll make sure you lose with complete conviction.”
He glanced at Huo Shun behind him.
Huo Shun nodded solemnly and stepped onto the field.
On the Liang family’s side, Zhou Yuan walked onto the field trembling slightly. He was short, the smallest among the children, and also the weakest at ball games. He sighed inwardly, hoping only that after this match, Boss Liang would go easy on him and not scold him too harshly.
The fifth match officially began.
Meanwhile, among the female spectators watching the excitement, the Liang family’s eldest branch daughters-in-law, Madam Shen and Madam Xu, arrived with a girl who appeared aloof, elegant, and strikingly beautiful.
They paid their respects to the elders present with dignified grace.
Luo Chaoyan felt as if she had stepped into a fairy sanctuary today, surrounded by one exquisite beauty after another. If Gu Xinyu was a charming begonia that attracted admiration and pity, this girl was like an unattainable snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains.
Fengli noticed her staring at the girl and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong, Young Madam?”
Luo Chaoyan pointed at the snow lotus-like girl and asked, “Fengli, is that girl the renowned Miss Shi, known for her purity and talent?”
Fengli nodded. “Rumors say Miss Shi is the niece of the Liang family’s Madam Liang. Given her appearance and presence here, it’s almost certainly her.”
“She is indeed Shi Menglian!” Su Qian walked over to them and said.
Shi Menglian? The name suited her perfectly—it was incredibly fitting. One had to admit, although people in Jingdu loved to boast empty reputations, their judgment was indeed sharp. At least the two talented ladies and scholars were truly outstanding in both appearance and ability.
Luo Chaoyan looked at Su Qian and asked, “You are…?” She had noticed Su Qian frequently glancing at her in the banquet hall earlier.
“I am Su Qian, daughter of Su Shangshu,” Su Qian replied with an open and confident demeanor.
Su Shangshu? Could she be Su Yi’s sister? No wonder her features looked somewhat familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
“Young Madam, my elder brother is acquainted with Lord Huo, so I’ve heard about you from him!” Su Qian said with a bright smile.
Luo Chaoyan was taken aback. She had only met that peacock-like man once, and though she had teased him a few times, he actually had the nerve to mention her to his sister.
“A woman’s lack of talent is a virtue—Young Madam, I think what you said is absolutely right.”
Su Qian continued indignantly, “I can’t stand Gu Xinyu and Shi Menglian always flaunting their pretentious poetry. It’s neither edible nor drinkable, and it just makes life harder for the rest of us normal people.”
Luo Chaoyan and Fengli exchanged glances, looking at her with confusion as she vented her frustrations. Had this girl mistaken them for her confidantes? They weren’t really acquainted!
“Just because they excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting and are highly praised, we innocent girls are forced to strive to match them, confined at home day after day, enduring such torment. Now you’ve finally spoken justly on our behalf.”
She looked earnestly at the two of them. “Young Madam Huo, can we be friends?” She truly had very few close, like-minded confidantes in her daily life. It was rare to meet someone whose temperament aligned so well with hers.
Seeing their silence, Su Qian grew anxious and said, “Young Madam, I genuinely like you both.”
Her sincere expression was almost as if she were swearing an oath to the heavens.
Luo Chaoyan couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing. This must be the archetype of someone who resents other people’s outstanding children. With her clear gaze, frank and guileless, she seemed like a girl who loved fun and excitement.
She smiled and nodded. “Of course!”
Seeing her nod, Su Qian immediately beamed with joy.