Before the entire internet exploded.
At first, no one expected this to happen.
The internet was still buzzing with heated discussions about Liang Zhiwei’s disappearance.
Since no news had come back from the ski resort, no one knew whether Liang Zhiwei was safe, or even what was going on.
But at that moment, someone suddenly discovered something shocking.
After seeing the news, she froze for a moment, then immediately posted online in disbelief.
“Holy crap, has anyone seen this? What’s going on? Is this real?!”
Other netizens took a closer look, momentarily stunned.
Once they understood the words, their eyes widened instantly.
What does this mean?
Wait, did they understand correctly?
Huh?
A Guinness World Record?
A certification from some international chess federation stating that someone broke a record in chess?
Who is this person?
What’s their name?
Gu Zhaoping?!
Originally, no one cared about some chess record, but the appearance of this name was like dropping a bomb in deep water, blowing everyone away.
[Is it just someone with the same name?? How could it be so coincidental that another Gu Zhaoping is this good at chess?]
[That name isn’t exactly common; how could such a coincidence happen?]
[Is this reasonable?]
At first, the discussions were filled with confusion.
Then, someone suddenly realized something.
They quickly went back to check the episode with the self-introductions!
Wait, no way, could it really be…
Someone remembered that Gu Zhaoping had mentioned in that episode that she was skilled at chess!
But she listed so many skills back then that no one took it seriously; it was even treated as a joke and spread around, with people thinking she was just showing off.
It wasn’t until she later demonstrated her jiu-jitsu skills that those who were slapped in the face quieted down a bit, though they still couldn’t believe she was proficient in all her other claimed skills too.
But as the show progressed, with more and more leaks and revelations about the program, and Gu Zhaoping’s image appearing more frequently before them…
The things she said suddenly seemed credible.
Could it really be true…?
Some people muttered, their scalps tingling.
To be honest, if this news hadn’t come from such an outrageous source, they might have believed it.
For example, if Gu Zhaoping had shown extraordinary chess skills in a match, with talent that didn’t lose to professional players, they could accept that—even accept it well.
But this?
You’re playing way too big right from the start!
A Guinness World Record?
Is that something a normal person should be able to break?
Do you have to be so exaggerated, so sudden?!
Everyone who got the news was stunned, collectively dumbfounded!
But the developments didn’t care about their mental capacity to accept it.
Soon, the chess federation released video footage, including reviews of the recordings and a breakdown of the entire outcome, with explanations and analyses from many professionals about its significance.
Though most didn’t fully understand, they could tell it was incredibly impressive!
Then the camera in the footage shifted, focusing on the face of the chess player.
Everyone’s pupils shrank.
Gu Zhaoping!!
Who wouldn’t recognize her?
It’s Gu Zhaoping, the one who’s been all over screens and the internet lately!
The heiress who threw around a burly jiu-jitsu coach with her incredible jiu-jitsu skills and slapped her CEO brother Gu Zhaoye in the face during a show!
How could it be her?
It’s really her??
In the footage, she solved the endgame, picked up the opponent’s black king, set it aside, and looked up.
Even though they weren’t truly meeting her gaze, that look made people’s hearts skip a beat.
It’s really her!
Everyone was floored—it’s really her!
Holy crap, no way, is Gu Zhaoping actually a chess master?
This can’t be fake, right??
It’s certified by the international chess federation.
You can’t deny it even if you want to!
No way, everything you said was true!
You’re really that amazing?
Come on, sis, what else can you do?
Could it be that all the skills you mentioned have been mastered to perfection?
This isn’t just a hobby anymore!
Everyone was shocked, stunned, completely dumbfounded!
They couldn’t believe it!
Those who didn’t believe her before now felt their faces sting, slapped harder than Gu Zhaoye’s face!
Some bloggers who had claimed Gu Zhaoping couldn’t be that skilled suddenly found their old posts being shared everywhere, with people frantically asking,
“Still doubting her? What did you say back then? Why were you so confident?”
Even the show’s official account was flooded, with netizens demanding,
“Is it true? Is it really true? Say something!”
Then someone suddenly remembered—oh crap!
Didn’t Gu Zhaoping take leave for the second episode?
What was she doing?
Did she really go break this record?
Sis, your leave wasn’t because you were scared of extreme sports—you actually had something to do!?
This goes back to earlier.
After Gu Zhaoping said she’d take leave for the extreme sports episode, some entertainment bloggers confidently analyzed online that she probably wasn’t good at sports, especially high-difficulty extreme sports.
Of course, many people refuted this, as Gu Zhaoping’s skills were so impressive that she didn’t seem like someone who’d be bad at sports.
But that blogger was stubborn, insisting she was just making excuses.
So when this news broke, the first reaction of many was to track him down and confront him.
“Didn’t you say Gu Zhaoping was making excuses? What’s she doing here? She really had something to do!”
“You thought everyone’s like you, assuming the worst. You’re judging others with your narrow mind, but it’s you who’s fully exposed!”
“Still doubting her? Huh?”
That blogger was so overwhelmed by the backlash he didn’t dare show his face!
And at this point, even Tan Li, the jiu-jitsu gym owner who’d been humiliated by Gu Zhaoping before, was dragged back into the spotlight.
Netizens didn’t care if this had anything to do with him; they just hounded him again.
[Didn’t you say Gu Zhaoping wasn’t good enough, that she couldn’t compare to professionals? Say something!]
[Did you see? She broke a world record!!]
[Wasn’t it you who said she wasn’t capable?]
Tan Li was dumbfounded.
His business was already struggling, he was swamped with lawsuits, and every day felt like a living hell—how did this involve him again?
He never questioned her chess skills!
He wanted to cry but had no tears!
All he wanted was to be left alone!
Many incredulous professionals were dumbfounded upon hearing the news.
What?
Broken?
And by someone they’d never heard of…well, not exactly never heard of—
Gu Zhaoping had been quite the topic online recently, but that had nothing to do with chess!
Such a person, and she’s actually, actually a chess master?
Breaking a record just like that, without a peep?
Some were unwilling to accept it, others suspected foul play, and for a moment, many rushed to rewatch the video.
But the more they watched, the more shocking it became…this…this seems real, doesn’t it?
It seems flawless?
Professionals who went in with doubts fell silent after watching.
One came out quietly, and others, still in disbelief, asked,
“Teacher, what kind of level is this? Is Gu Zhaoping’s record-breaking claim legit? Does this record hold any weight? If you played, could you do it faster?”
The professional looked embarrassed.
Finally, he just said,
“Don’t ask.”
How could I compare to her!
Then he waved his sleeve and left, refusing to answer any more doubts.
This was too humiliating.
To think that an unknown, even amateur player broke the record!
Many chess players, hearing about this, eagerly sought out the game footage for reference, asking who it was—was it this master from that country or that master from another?
But when they heard it was Gu Zhaoping, a name no one recognized, they thought she must be low-key.
Yet, upon checking, she had no rating, no match history, no titles—she seemed like a pure amateur!
Her only connection to chess was mentioning on a variety show that she was good at it!
Countless professional players began analyzing the game, frantically searching for flaws, but…there were none!
No issues to be found at all!
Shock!
The entire online world was plunged into deep shock by this brief piece of news!
Now, everyone had one common question:
Where is Gu Zhaoping?
They wanted to find her, ask her how she did it!
Can you tell us how you did it?!
Ni Tiansong’s shock was no less than anyone else’s.
He hurriedly chased after her, catching the door before it fully closed, then took a few steps forward.
He saw Gu Zhaoping quickly descending the stairs, about to get into a car.
He hesitated for a moment, wondering if chasing her now would interrupt something urgent.
But then he thought, a quick word wouldn’t hurt, so he called out,
“Miss Gu.”
As she got into the car, Gu Zhaoping paused, her gaze turning to him.
It was indeed Miss Gu.
Ni Tiansong let out a slow breath.
He had never met Gu Zhaoping before and wasn’t interested in the affairs or relationships of high society, only vaguely familiar with her name.
Just moments ago, after hearing the butler’s phone call, he suddenly realized something.
Gu Zhaoping.
Yes, it’s her.
Ni Tiansong quickly descended the steps, approaching her car but keeping a polite distance, slightly out of breath, nodding courteously to her.
In the end, all he said was,
“I’m Ni Tiansong. Nice to meet you.”
Gu Zhaoping didn’t understand his intentions, but she didn’t need to.
Plenty of people rushed to meet her, so she wasn’t surprised.
She simply extended her hand, giving him a light handshake, and said,
“Pleased to meet you.”
Then, in a flash, she suddenly recalled the name—it sounded so familiar.
Hadn’t Gu Zhaosi mentioned it to her just yesterday?
Oh, this must be the young man Master Qi and Grandpa wanted to introduce her to, right?
This piqued Gu Zhaoping’s curiosity.
What a coincidence.
She hadn’t expected such a chance encounter.
She thought he was just a helper Li Xunwen had brought, skilled at chess, but she didn’t expect him to be connected to Master Qi.
What a fateful meeting.
After a moment’s thought, she added,
“Grandpa and Uncle Qi mentioned you to me.”
But Master Qi had said he invited him, and Ni Tiansong hadn’t planned to come, so Gu Zhaoping figured this meeting wouldn’t happen.
Ni Tiansong’s hand had just let go when he froze.
What?
Uncle Qi had already introduced him to Miss Gu?
She already knew of his existence?
Or even knew something about him?
In that moment, Ni Tiansong couldn’t name the emotion flashing through his heart.
He only knew he had more to say to Miss Gu, but seeing she was in a hurry, he swallowed his words.
He’d say them later.
There’d be another chance, there’d be time.
He nodded and said slowly,
“Sorry, I couldn’t join Uncle Qi because I promised Li Xunwen I’d help with this.”
He felt a bit awkward and nervous saying this.
After all, Li Xunwen clearly had a tense relationship with her, and Ni Tiansong had somehow ended up agreeing to help Li Xunwen against her.
No matter who it was, their impression of him probably wouldn’t be great.
Not wanting to delay her further, he lifted his eyes, made up his mind, and said,
“But I’m sorry, I wasn’t helping Li Xunwen cheat to beat you.”
“It’s because I want to play a game with you.”
Gu Zhaoping nodded, unconcerned.
“It’s fine, it’s already over.”
“I don’t want…”
Ni Tiansong blurted out, then paused, seeming to firm his resolve.
Lowering his eyes, he said, “…it to be over.”
As if regretting his outburst, yet saying it with unusual determination.
Gu Zhaoping paused, glancing at him.
In a rare moment of tension for Ni Tiansong, her next words caught him completely off guard, unexpected, almost like she was letting him off the hook.
“I have a speech at the venue later.”
She tilted her head calmly, as if gesturing for him to leave.
“Want to come?”
Ni Tiansong was stunned.
If you were close, you’d see his pupils tremble slightly.
He hadn’t expected things to progress so quickly, and all you could see was his heartstrings being plucked, caught off guard.
After blinking twice, he said,
“I brought my car.”
Gu Zhaoping told him the location.
Ni Tiansong opened his car door and got in.
The two cars drove off, one after the other.
He didn’t know why he made such a sudden decision—he wasn’t usually so impulsive.
But when Gu Zhaoping suggested it, he didn’t refuse.
Maybe because this was a chance to overturn the outcome of that game.
Maybe it shouldn’t end with that match.
He found it absurd.
But his curiosity was far from settled.
And he had a premonition: if he didn’t seize this moment, he might never get another chance.
Gu Zhaoping didn’t seem like someone who gave second chances.
By the time the people in the tea room reacted, Li Xunwen jerked his head up, wanting to chase after them, only to find that both cars parked outside had already left, with no clue where they were headed.
Li Xunwen searched around in disbelief.
Brother Tiansong?
How did Brother Tiansong leave so quickly?
Was he angry?
Was Brother Tiansong upset because he hadn’t been told he’d be facing such an opponent?
His voice trembled as he turned to Gu Zhaosi,
“What’s Gu Zhaoping rushing off to do?”
Gu Zhaosi sneered, not engaging with him at all.
“Sorry, you don’t get to ask about my sister’s plans right now. Your priority is figuring out how to churn out a 1,000-word rainbow-fart apology and post it within 45 minutes!”
Li Xunwen panicked.
“Gu Zhaosi, are you trying to force me into this?!”
“Yes, I’m forcing you!”
Li Xunwen’s face turned ashen!
The car stopped outside the venue, and security approached to open the door for Gu Zhaoping.
As she stepped out, before putting on her glasses, she said to the security,
“The car behind is with me, let them in.”
She strode forward without looking back to greet or arrange anything further with Ni Tiansong.
The security nodded, quickly turning to gesture for Ni Tiansong’s car to proceed into the parking lot.
Only then, as Ni Tiansong took in the venue’s surroundings and the gleaming signs, did he realize where Gu Zhaoping had brought him.
This was the Energy Industry Leaders Summit, held right in his city.
He was well aware of it.
When the summit was being planned, his family had even considered taking on some related projects.
The summit was a gathering of big names, a prime networking opportunity.
Even though Ni Tiansong usually kept a low profile and wasn’t fond of socializing, he’d still been dragged into a few conversations.
Miss Gu…was she giving a speech here today?
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