The Master's Mask Unveiled Again

Chapter 107: Chapter 106: The Special Invited Player is…

Su Qinghe looked mysterious and smiled without saying a word.

Su Jue, growing impatient with listening any further, meandered to the entrance of the hall for some air.

He pulled out his phone once again to check the stock trading group, but there was still no news.

Thinking about how a group of people were all waiting for him to show off his skills, he clenched his teeth so hard that his phone was nearly crushed.

If he couldn’t rely on the group, he would just do his own research. After all, he wasn’t without a foundation in stock trading; he refused to believe that he couldn’t outdo that expert!

While he was grimly determined, Su Jue looked up and saw two familiar faces approaching the entrance of the chess institute.

“Are you… Lu Mian’s classmates?” he sized up the plump and thin brothers in front of him. He had some recollections, “Where’s Lu Mian?”

Shou Hao and the thin friend exchanged glances.

“Mianmian said the earlier matches were too tedious, he’ll come over during the finals.”

“Humph,” Su Jue was almost amused to anger, “This is how she treats the opportunity I secured for her? Who does she think she is, coming and going as she pleases?!”

Shou Hao and the thin friend exchanged glances, looking somewhat bewildered.

Shou Hao spread his hands and retorted, “But isn’t Mianmian an invited player? Mr. Su allowed her to come over during the match…”

“…”

An invited player?

Arranged by grandfather?

Only then realizing the situation, Su Jue felt as if slapped in the face. Rendered speechless with frustration, he arranged seats for Shou Hao and the thin friend and sullenly went to welcome other guests and players.

Once Shou Hao and his thin friend had taken their seats and looked around, they saw Lu Xinnuan and a middle-aged woman.

The two were sitting in the back, whispering to each other.

“Is that lady Mianmian’s mother?”

“It must be, she’s sitting with Lu Xinnuan.”

Although they spoke in hushed tones, the distance between the seats was so short that those in front could easily hear them.

Fu Man and Lu Xinnuan turned around uncomfortably.

“Are you Mianmian’s classmates?” Fu Man asked.

“Yes, Auntie.”

Shou Hao and the thin friend promptly sat up straight and introduced themselves to each other.

Fu Man nodded; at least these two were more polite than Su Jue, managing to smile and call her ‘Auntie’.

But Lu Xinnuan really didn’t care for such people, lacking both in looks and ordinary in dress; they were only fit to hang out with someone like Lu Mian.

Turning their heads back around, they no longer paid any attention to those in the rear.

Shou Hao extended his hand, “I bet a hundred bucks that Mianmian will definitely win the championship.”

“You’re going too far, Shou Hao. How am I supposed to bet?” the thin friend replied in a competitive tone, “Well, I bet that Mianmian will definitely take home twenty million!”

The two looked at each other and smiled, striking a confident high five.

Lu Xinnuan lowered her eyes and scoffed.

Many Go masters had come to this major competition, including a professional sixth dan player.

Now Lu Mian was too shy to show her face; how could she possibly win twenty million?

Perhaps she was huddled somewhere, frantically memorizing Go strategies!

At that moment, Lu Mian was not cramming any strategies.

She had just woken up from her sleep, getting out of bed methodically as usual, taking care of some matters. Taking advantage of the good weather, she donned her sportswear and went for a couple of laps outside.

After coming back and taking a bath, she meandered downstairs and made her way to the chess institute, stopping by a bookstore en route to pick out a couple of leisure books.

By the time she arrived at the chess institute, her timing was spot on.

It was just her turn to play in the final match as an invited player.

Many in the audience recognized Liu Baiyu, conceding that losing to such a sixth dan player was no disgrace.

But there was a sense of regret concerning the other invited player who had never shown a face.

“Who is this invited player? They must be pretty good…”

“Of course, can’t you trust Mr. Su’s judgment!”

“Without a detailed introduction or a dan rank, it’s uncertain how many moves they could match against Mr. Liu…”

Lu Xinnuan shook Fu Man’s arm.

“Mom, shall we leave? I don’t think Mianmian will come. It’s almost the end of the tournament.”

Just as Fu Man was about to say something, the plump and thin brothers in the back suddenly got excited.

“Mianmian’s here!”

“Mianmian has arrived!”

They took out their support signs, which they had prepared in advance, and held them high above their heads, welcoming Lu Mian with great enthusiasm.

Lu Xinnuan and Fu Man froze in their actions to stand up.

The special invited player… was Lu Mian?