Very soon, a middle-aged woman in casual home attire opened the door. Seeing Qin Ruojing, she was momentarily stunned, but quickly turned her gaze to Chu Ge on the side.
"Xiaojing, didn't you say you were coming back tomorrow? And this is..."
Just as Chu Ge was about to introduce himself, Qin Ruojing spoke first, blushing and somewhat shyly said, "Mom, didn't I tell you on the phone? This is my boyfriend, Chu Ge."
Seeing Qin Ruojing's coy demeanor, typical of a young daughter, Chu Ge was truly impressed.
Isn't this the elegant Qin Chairman? How quickly she got into character! With acting skills like these, she would definitely be an instant hit in movies!
While admiring Qin Ruojing's acting in his heart, Chu Ge respectfully greeted Qin's mother, "Hello, Auntie."
"Oh, Xiao Chu, come in, come in. Xiaojing, get Xiao Chu a pair of slippers. I have to say, you really should have called ahead. Look at me, I wasn't prepared at all for this sudden return."
While enthusiastically yet chattily greeting them, Qin's mother was secretly scrutinizing Chu Ge and then called into the inner room, "Old Qin, your eldest daughter brought someone back. Come out quickly."
A middle-aged man with short hair and a square face, solid and imposing without anger, walked into the living room, nodded slightly, and said blandly, "You're back," while scrutinizing Chu Ge with a piercing gaze.
Seeing her father come out with a stern face, Qin Ruojing felt the air grow heavy, her heart pounding faster and bringing an involuntary sense of oppression and nervousness. She thought she was prepared, but only now realized she had overestimated herself.
Even though she had grown up and become the CEO of a company, she still held a deep respect and awe for her strict father. Especially given the situation of bringing home a fake boyfriend, she was genuinely afraid that her father, who had worked as a police officer for decades, would immediately see through the façade between her and Chu Ge.
As Qin Yan examined Chu Ge, Chu Ge also discreetly studied Qin Yan.
It was evident from Qin Yan's restrained and sharp gaze that this was a man of resolute character who tolerated no nonsense. As Chu Ge slipped on the slippers, his mind raced, and instead of bowing slightly like he did with Qin's mother, he stood upright, his voice clear and confident, "Hello, Uncle."
Qin Yan was slightly taken aback, staring into Chu Ge's eyes for a few seconds, and the expression on his stern face softened a little, "Hmm, come in and sit."
Seeing her father slightly raise a corner of his mouth, Qin Ruojing was momentarily dumbfounded. Since she could remember, she'd almost never seen her father smile. This Chu Ge must really have a knack; a simple greeting actually earned her father's good graces?
"Xiaojing, go downstairs to buy some groceries."
Qin Ruojing, still stunned, was snapped back when Qin Yan, sitting on the couch, glanced at her and said.
"Dad, I just got back, let me rest a bit first?" Qin Ruojing hadn't even had time to relax before her heart leaped again, knowing her father clearly intended to send her off so he could have a chat with Chu Ge alone.
"Go if I said so. Since when did my daughter, Qin Yan's daughter, become so pampered? And don't buy from the market under our building, go to Carrefour, the vegetables there are fresh."
Qin Ruojing bitterly smiled in her heart. Clearly, they wanted her gone for a while, sending her further away. She turned her gaze to her mother, pouted, and said, "Mom, look at Dad, he bullies me as soon as I come home."
Qin's mother looked at Qin Ruojing, then at Chu Ge, hesitated slightly, and said, "You naughty girl, who asked you not to call home in advance? There's nothing in the house. What am I supposed to use to host Xiao Chu?"
Seeing Qin Ruojing still wanting to say something, Qin's mother continued, "Hurry and go. You might not be hungry, but Xiao Chu surely is."
With her mother saying so, Qin Ruojing had no choice but to comply, turning to Chu Ge and saying, "Come with me."
Chu Ge found it amusing, as Qin Ruojing was clearly making a futile effort. Her parents' intentions were so obvious; how could they possibly let him leave?
Sure enough, Qin's mother immediately chimed in, "It's Xiao Chu's first visit to our home, and you're bossing him around like that? Since when did you become so clingy, unable to be apart even for a moment?"
This time, Qin Ruojing was truly out of moves, casting an implied glance at Chu Ge, signifying "Handle it yourself," and reluctantly heading out the door.
"You two have a chat, I'll go wash some fruits." With that, and after Qin Ruojing closed the door, Qin's mother smiled and headed to the kitchen.
In the living room, only Chu Ge and Qin's father remained.
"Young man, do you play chess?"
"A little." Chu Ge nodded.
"Come, since we're free, let's play a few games."
Seeing Chu Ge nod, Qin Yan took a chess set out of a cabinet, setting up the board on a table against the east wall, and leisurely sat down in a chair by the table.
Sitting upright opposite Qin Yan, Chu Ge arranged the chess pieces one by one, smiled confidently without being arrogant, and said, "Uncle, you're the elder, please make the first move."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Qin Yan didn't hesitate, nodded, and began to move the pieces, while Chu Ge sat upright, engaging in the game with him.
Both had aggressive playing styles, direct and decisive, and after just a few moves, the board's situation became intense.
Yet just at the moment when Chu Ge was to make a critical move, Qin Yan suddenly spoke.
"Young man, your name?"
"Chu Ge, as in the Chu from Chu Overlord, Ge as in victorious song!"
Qin Yan's interrogation was something Chu Ge had anticipated, and it was evident that Qin Yan had a significant reason for choosing this moment to start.
The chessboard situation was one of careful maneuvering, combined with Qin Yan's previous silence, leaving only the sound of decisive moves being made, naturally created a tense and serious atmosphere.
Suddenly asking questions at such a time would surely exert great psychological pressure on anyone. If there were any hidden intentions in one's heart, they would undoubtedly falter, their expressions would be hesitant, eyes shifty, exposing flaws more easily than usual.
There's no denying that Qin Yan's strategy wasn't wrong. Even a trained military or police officer might slip up in front of a veteran detective like him, let alone ordinary people.
Unfortunately for him, he encountered Chu Ge. If Chu Ge couldn't even pass this test, he would not deserve the "Overlord" title that strikes fear into any enemy within his former organization.
With a composed expression, Chu Ge answered casually. As Qin Yan fixed him with a sharp gaze, Chu Ge suddenly smiled slightly, said "Knight move," and picked up a piece to take one of Qin Yan's "Cannons" with a firm clack.
Qin Yan was taken aback, realizing he had missed a move. Momentarily losing his focus, he blurted out, "Gender?"
Upon hearing this question, Chu Ge recognized it as an occupational quirk of an old detective, stifling the urge to laugh, he replied with an unchanged demeanor: "Male!"
Chu Ge's expression remained unchanged, while Qin Yan blushed slightly, embarrassed to have lost face in front of a youngster after a lifetime as a detective.
Despite the embarrassment, Qin Yan found Chu Ge more and more agreeable. This young man's gaze was clear, his demeanor confident, and his chess style steady—it didn't seem like someone Qin Yan's daughter brought to fool him and his wife.
After making a blunder, Qin Yan fell silent for a long time, frowning in deep thought, focusing all his attention back on the chessboard.
It had been a long time since Qin Yan had met a worthy opponent, and Chu Ge's chess skills were evidently high—finally, he could thoroughly enjoy a battle of wits on the board.
Sadly, despite Qin Yan's full effort, under Chu Ge's unstoppable onslaught, he quickly succumbed, the first game ending in a complete defeat.
"Little Chu, well played, how about another round?"
Though he had beaten Qin Yan, Chu Ge showed no sign of nervousness, his demeanor remained calm and confident, as he promptly nodded.
The second game, the third, the fourth... Without realizing it, they had played five games in a row, each ending with Chu Ge's complete victory.
As they started the sixth game, the sound of the door opening came from the entrance, and Qin Ruojing walked in with a bag of groceries.
Looking inside, she saw her father's face was somber, his brows furrowed, and his eyes exuding an air of aggression, making her heart skip a beat.
"Dad, I'm back."
She called out to Qin Yan, but received no response; he didn't even glance at her, and she felt a chill in her heart.
"What is this Chu Ge doing? Didn't he say he was good at adapting on the spot before coming? How did he let the situation get to this point?"
Putting down the groceries, Qin Ruojing hesitantly approached the two, and upon seeing the state of the board, her head buzzed.
"Chu Ge, knight move, you ought to make a knight move."
Forcing a smile, Qin Ruojing deliberately suggested a bad move, giving Chu Ge a furtive signal not to take it so seriously, to ease up and let her father win this game.
However, to her almost fainting surprise, Chu Ge didn't even look at her, executing a sharp bishop move, and said out loud: "Check!"
Qin Yan studied the board, sighed, and shook his head, "Lost, lost again."
Qin Ruojing also stared at the board, her expression somewhat dazed, her heart filled with bitterness. It seemed to her that Chu Ge had completely offended her father, and it was likely their charade had reached its end.
While Qin Ruojing was feeling as bitter as if she'd swallowed a bitter herb, Chu Ge gave her a slight smile, showing no hint of having botched things up.
Just then, something Qin Ruojing never expected happened.
Qin Yan's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, the harshness in his eyes slowly faded, and a smile emerged on his stern face.
First, he smiled at Chu Ge, then, when he turned to look at Qin Ruojing, his smile became a hearty laugh!
"Hahaha, Xiao Jing, you sure have good taste. Little Chu dares to play with me so straightforwardly, beating me across six rounds without holding back. Good, good! This is what a real man is!"
Qin Yan laughed heartily, not realizing that Chu Ge had already been holding back; it was just that with his skill level, he couldn't see it.
Qin Ruojing laughed along, but it was a dry, confused laugh, utterly baffled, unable to comprehend the situation at all.
Even with her excellent upbringing, she couldn't help but internally curse, "Damn! Can you believe this?"