Chapter 535

Outside Qin Fan’s luxurious villa, the crowd of internet celebrities snapping selfies and livestreaming had finally disappeared. Things had quieted down, just the way he liked it.

At least now he doesn’t have to sneak around each time he goes out. He can walk straight through the front gate like a normal person again.

Inside the villa, Qin Fan lounged on the sofa, casually scrolling through short videos. After swiping through dozens of them, he confirmed it—his infamous “craftsmanship” clip was nowhere to be seen anymore.

The video’s heat had finally died down.

That brought him some relief… but also a strange sense of melancholy.

The good part was obvious—no more strangers drooling over his “skills.” But the downside? His name was already out there. Even with the video gone, walking openly down the street still got him recognized instantly.

So if he really wanted to go outside, he’ll still need a hat, sunglasses, and something to mask his face.

This half-hiding, half-living existence was seriously frustrating.

But looking at how things stood, there was no way around it.

With a slightly annoyed mood, Qin Fan kept swiping, hoping to ease his thoughts with a few seductive beauties dancing on Douyin. But after scrolling for a while, he didn’t see many beauties—instead, the algorithm tossed him a trending video titled: “Top Youth Chess Duel Between Yan Nation and South Korea….”

Both players were eighteen, hailed as geniuses in their homelands with no rivals in their age group.

The only difference? Yan Nation’s champion was a young man, while Korea’s was a girl.

The short clip included photos of both.

The moment Qin Fan laid eyes on the Korean girl’s picture, something in his heart skipped. Her refined beauty gave him a jolt of instant attraction.

But that spark didn’t last long—because the next moment, the image of Yan Nation’s player popped up, and Qin Fan froze.

That face… looked way too familiar.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Mr. Qin, someone’s here to see you,” the butler announced from the doorway.

Qin Fan set his phone down. “Did he say his name?”

“Says he’s called Jing Lu,” the butler replied.

Qin Fan’s smile widened. “Let him in.”

The butler nodded and soon returned with a bespectacled teenage boy by his side.

“Master!”

Jing Lu’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Qin Fan. He rushed forward, brimming with excitement.

Qin Fan smiled calmly. “How’d you know I was here?”

The moment he asked, he regretted it.

Jing Lu gave him a strange look. “I saw the news about you online…”

The room fell into awkward silence.

Qin Fan’s face twitched slightly. Damn it. Why’d he ask something so dumb?

Ever since that “handiwork” video blew up, even his address had been leaked. No wonder those influencers swarmed the villa before.

Naturally, Jing Lu found his location online.

In a way, Qin Fan had become a “public figure” known across the country.

It wouldn’t be surprising if his other disciples started showing up one by one soon, each coming to pay their respects.

The thought brought a strange mix of satisfaction and bitterness.

Soon, the butler brought over two cups of tea and quietly excused himself.

Qin Fan and Jing Lu sat down, but the latter looked slightly distracted.

“You’re not just here to catch up, are you?” Qin Fan asked after taking a sip of tea, his tone calm and to the point.

“Heh, nothing escapes Master,” Jing Lu chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head. “In a few days, I’ll be playing against a chess prodigy from Korea. She’s really strong… and I’m not confident at all. When I heard news of you, I couldn’t help coming here. I was hoping to get some guidance.”

“Is the match that important?” Qin Fan asked.

“Definitely,” Jing Lu nodded solemnly. “The outcome affects national pride. Win or lose—it’s not just personal. If I lose, it’s Yan Nation’s face that gets hit.”

Qin Fan nodded. “You’ve got recordings of her matches, right?”

He wasn’t going to promise anything without at least seeing what the girl was capable of.

“Of course.” Jing Lu pulled out his laptop and opened a folder filled with saved footage of the Gaoli girl’s past matches.

Know your enemy, know yourself—that was basic strategy. Jing Lu had clearly done his homework.

There were at least a few hundred replays stored on that computer.

Qin Fan quickly skimmed through ten of them on fast-forward. That was all he needed.

In that short time, he already understood her playstyle thoroughly.

If he were the one facing her, he’d have a near 100% chance of winning.

“Master, you’re done watching?” Jing Lu asked.

“No need to watch more,” Qin Fan said, closing the laptop.

Jing Lu’s face brightened. “So you’ve already figured her out! How much of a chance do I have then?”

Qin Fan didn’t answer right away. “Have you improved at all since leaving the mountain?”

Jing Lu scratched his cheek awkwardly. “A bit… but not by much.”

“In that case, your chances are slim,” Qin Fan said plainly.

He taught Jing Lu himself. He knew his level, strengths, and weaknesses.

That alone was enough to judge the match outcome.

And to be honest, he was already sugarcoating it.

If he wanted to be blunt, it was a 90-10 matchup in her favor.

Jing Lu’s odds of winning? A measly ten percent.

Hearing this, Jing Lu’s expression dropped.

But deep down, he already knew it. That’s why he rushed over to beg for help in the first place.

“Master… is there any way?” he asked earnestly.

“There is,” Qin Fan said. “But in an actual match, the situation shifts constantly. You won’t master it overnight. I’ll teach you as much as I can. How much you learn depends on you.”

“Thank you, Master.” Jing Lu bowed respectfully, though his mood remained somewhat deflated.

Qin Fan patted his shoulder. “Don’t lose heart. Chess isn’t just about talent. It’s about accumulation. You’ve got the talent. What you’re lacking is time.”

“I’m guessing that girl has been playing since she was old enough to understand the pieces. Her experience must span over a decade.”

“But you’ve barely been at it five years. To be where you are now is already something to be proud of. Even if you lose—it’ll still be an honorable defeat.”

Qin Fan’s words were calm, but carried weight.

In his view, even if Jing Lu lost, it wasn’t the end of the world.

The whole idea of “national honor” was exaggerated.

Even if the Korean girl won, it didn’t mean she had surpassed all Yan Nation players.

After all, what about him, Qin Fan?

As he thought of this, Qin Fan had already begun planning what to do after Jing Lu loses.

The corners of his lips curled slightly, forming a subtle and confident grin.