Chapter 267 - Shen Mengting Is Madam X’s Niece
On the second day, a newspaper and magazine publishing company reported on the relationship between Shen Mengting and Ning Shuqian.
On the papers was a gigantic photo of a disguised Ning Shuqian coming out of the police center. The report beside it read: “Seeing that a certain wealthy Madam X went to the police, I thought there was some big news. After both public and private investigations, it was found out that Shen Mengting is Madam X’s niece.”
“Shen Mengting’s mother, Madam Zhang, was a former acquaintance of Madam X. Madam Zhang’s elder brother was also Madam X’s old lover, and the two of them had given birth to a daughter—everyone should know who is it!”
“As Madam Zhang has depression, she’s currently rehabilitating in a sanitarium. According to investigations, Madam Zhang’s husband passed away at a young age. She had raised her daughter up on her own, sustaining their lifestyles through working at a hotel. Shen Mengting had excellent results in school, but due to her mother’s sudden depression, she had dropped out of school and stayed at home before finishing her Secondary Three studies!”
“The question is, how did Shen Mengting manage to get into Lan Feng Institute, such a high-end school with expensive school fees?”
“How can Madam Zhang stay in such a sanitarium with acceptable conditions and substantial fees?”
“Where did Shen Mengting get the money to go to bars and take drugs?”
Upon the rare sight of her being speechless, Old Mr. Mo’s eyes glimmered slightly as he smiled and said, “You’ll start with the black pieces, I’ll give you an advantage of five moves—let’s see if your chess skill has improved over this period of time.”
As if afraid that Grampy would go back on his words, Wen Xinya quickly took the chess pieces and placed them on the chessboard.
Just like this, one after another, more than thirty moves passed. Wen Xinya’s speed of placing her pieces slowed down, needing to think for a while before her each move more often than not.
On the other hand, Old Mr. Mo was still handling it with ease. However, in his heart, he was shocked at Xinya’s improvement. She had already formed her very own chess style—nimble, dynamic, mingling the true with the false, employing military tactics, and catching one unaware.
Slowly, some of Wen Xinya’s secret moves were forced out. From time to time, she fondled with the dangling earring on her ear, and often, before placing her next step, stole glances at Grampy’s expressions and demeanor.
The smile in Old Mr. Mo’s eyes deepened as he purposely looked down and retrieved the teacup beside his hand. “Indeed, you haven’t been skiving in this period of time—your chess skill improved quite a bit.”
“An accomplished disciple owes his accomplishment to his great teacher—it’s all because Grampy has taught well!” Receiving a rare compliment, Wen Xinya’s eyes twinkled as the smile on her lips became even sweeter.
“Are you praising me or yourself?” Old Mr. Mo’s glance landed on a corner of the chessboard—indeed, a chess piece was missing over there. She thought that she had acted so secretively that even the spirits didn’t know about it, yet she didn’t know that chess players had each chess piece under them at their fingertips—the strategic placement of every chess piece could affect the big picture, how could one not know that a chess piece was missing.
Wen Xinya was still unaware that Grampy had already seen through her trick as she placed a chess piece in a corner of the chessboard, instantly reversing the decadent situation. She became even more smiley. “Of course, while praising Grampy, I’m praising myself at the same time.”
Old Mr. Mo, looking at his granddaughter’s pair of flickering, exceptionally bright eyes after doing something bad, placed a white chess piece at the spot where a chess piece had gone missing previously.
Wen Xinya instantly widened her eyes. Looking at the severely defeated black chess pieces on the chessboard, she understood that Grampy had already long seen through her secret move, purposely didn’t declare it, in actual fact intentionally making her suffer from her own scheme, plumped out her cheeks, and said, “Grampy, you’re playing dirty—you purposely baited me.”
At this ripe old age, Old Mr. Mo’s expression was unaffected by her saying that he played dirty. “You’re not playing dirty by stealing chess pieces?”
Wen Xinya was speechless for a moment.
Old Mr. Mo said slowly, “Furthermore, all is fair in war. I’m not playing dirty!”
Wen Xinya plumped out her cheeks and said, “Grampy, you’re really scheming. Even if you don’t play any tricks, I can’t win against you.”
Old Mr. Mo looked at her seriously and said, “Without using any tricks, you won’t be so convinced that you lost. It’s already game over long ago, and you just had to give dying kicks, struggling till your very last breath—this is not a good character trait!”
Wen Xinya hung her head, speechless for a moment. In her previous lifetime, it was precisely because of this character trait that she had ended up like that.
Old Mr. Mo said solemnly, “A moment’s victory or loss doesn’t count as anything, the key is who can have the last laugh. During the Chu-Han war in the Han dynasty, after Xiang Yu overthrew the tyrant Qin dynasty on his own, the third party who enjoyed the benefits was instead Liu Bang. Compared to Xiang Yu, Liu Bang was inferior in terms of military, talent, and more so, character—in fact, he had the character flaw of being despicable. But so what—instead, he’d had the last laugh.”
Each of Grampy’s words was sonorous, his every phrase a gem, making Wen Xinya feel a sense of enlightenment. “I got it, Grampy.”
Seeing that she really absorbed it, Old Mr. Mo couldn’t help but be relieved. “That’s good!”
Looking at Grampy, Wen Xinya giggled out loud. “Grampy, why don’t I dye your hair for you! I saw a Traditional Chinese Medicine hair dye formula, from one of Grandpa Du’s medical books, using polygonum root which not only helps to condition hair but also has the qualities of darkening hair.”
Old Mr. Mo frowned and said, “Why dye hair for no reason.”
Shaking Old Mr. Mo’s arm, Wen Xinya said disagreeably, “It’s good to dye hair—it’ll make Grampy look even younger and more energetic.”
Old Mr. Mo’s frown could almost snap a fly. “Graying hair is a natural occurrence, why hide it.”
“Grampy, Grampy, Grampy, just agree with me!” Wen Xinya stuck herself to Grampy’s body and whined.
And Uncle Zhang outside covered his mouth as he laughed uncontrollably. Indeed, there was always one thing to conquer another—no one had dared to go against Old Master’s authority all along. Now, Young Mistress was finally his counter.