Chapter 42: People you can't afford to mess with.
Qingxuan Chess Club!
In a tastefully decorated outdoor room by the lakeside, two elderly men sat around a chessboard, deeply engrossed in their game. The battle on the board was fierce, with each move met with intense concentration.
Outside the chessboard, the two elders were equally animated, exchanging glares and puffs of indignation, neither willing to back down.
Finally, the elder playing with the white pieces made a decisive move and claimed a narrow victory."Old Norman, what do you say? Are you convinced yet?" the white player, Leonard, let out a long breath and burst into laughter.
"Leonard, don't get too cocky; you've only won a few games! What's there to brag about?" replied Old Norman, dressed in a traditional Tang suit, glaring at Leonard Fields with defiance.
"Even if we played ten more games, you'd still be the one losing!" Leonard chuckled heartily.
In the past, he had often been on the losing side, but today he had managed to win three games in a row, albeit with some difficulty.
"That's not a given," Norman shot him a glare, but then his expression turned to one ofannoyance. "How did your skills suddenly improve so much? Even your style has changed!"
"I'm just naturally gifted, good at reflecting on my mistakes," Leonard replied, looking like a child as he beamed at Norman Sims, his excitement palpable.
Today was finally a day to feel proud.
However, Leonard Fields knew that his victory over Norman Sims in three consecutive games wasn't due to a significant improvement in his chess skills, but rather a shift in his mindset.
After learning new strategies from Chasel Mills, he had incorporated some changes, such as reducing excessive aggression, into hisgame. In the past, Leonard was known for his offensive tactics on the board but struggled with defense, which often left him vulnerable to Norman's counterattacks. If he couldn't maintain his momentum and strike decisively, he usually ended up losing, sometimes even completely.
"Come on, let's go again! I refuse to believe I can't beat you!" Norman huffed, glaring as he began to set up the board for another round.
"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!" Leonard replied, his competitive spirit soaring.
Just as they were clearing the board, a tall figure rushed in, interrupting their match.
"Grandpa, Mr. Shen!" Tyra called out as she entered, immediately greeting the two elderly men with respect.
"Tyra! It's been a while since I last saw you. You've become even more beautiful! So, have you started dating anyone?" Norman Sims chuckled as he noticed Tyra walk in.
"Mr. Shen, you always know how to tease me," Tyra replied, stamping her foot playfully, a hint of a pout on her face.
Usually seen as an ice queen, Tyra only showed this softer side in front of the elders she respected.
Upon hearing this, Norman Sims burst into laughter.
"Tyra, you chat with your grandpa for a bit. I need to use the restroom."
After sharing a laugh, Norman stood up and walked out, leaving the space for Leonard Fields and Tyra to talk privately.
With Norman gone, Leonard turned to Tyra and asked with a smile, "Tyra, you rushed over to find me. What's going on? Have you set your sights on some young talent and want Grandpa to vet him for you?"
As he spoke, Leonard picked up a nearby teacup, teasing her. He figured that if there was a serious issue at home, someone from the Fields family would have come to him long before now.
"Grandpa, if you keep saying things like that, Iwon't talk to you anymore," Tyra huffed.
"Alright, alright, I won't say it again," Leonard chuckled. "Now, tell me, what's so urgent that you came to find me?"
Tyra moved closer to Leonard and whispered, "Chasel Mills, as in Aurelian Mills!"
At that moment, Leonard, who was about to take a sip of his tea, froze. He set the cup down, his smile fading as he looked at Tyra seriously. "This is not something to joke about."
"I heard it with my own ears," Tyra replied, and then she recounted everything that had happened that day.
The more she spoke, the more serious Leonard's expression became.At the same time, Leonard Fields became increasingly certain that Tyra was telling the truth—there was no doubt about it!
He had used his resources to investigate Chasel Mills and knew about the feud between Chasel and Charlotte Walker from five years ago. He also knew that Chasel had been imprisoned.
However, when he tried to dig deeper into Chasel's past five years in prison, he found nothing. It was this lack of information that made Leonard convinced that Chasel Mills was definitely not an ordinary person!
"So, Mr. Mills is that legendary figure of our time!"
A spark of brilliance lit up in Leonard's eyes. He realized he had underestimated Chasel Mills' true identity!
"Tyra, go back and inform the family. From now on, treat Mr. Mills as if he were me. No one is allowed to offend him; otherwise, whoever it is will be expelled from the Fields family."
Leonard made his decision right away.Now, he and Tyra had a connection with Chasel Mills, and this relationship had to be well-maintained. It was a once-in-a-century opportunity for the Fields family.
"But what about Clark Sims? He offended Mr. Mills. What will we do about the Shen family?" Tyra asked.
"I'll have a word with Old Norman about it," Leonard replied seriously.
With that, Tyra felt reassured and turned to leave, preparing to return to the Fields family to convey Leonard's message.
Norman Sims had been waiting in the lobby for a while. Once he saw Tyra leave, he stepped back inside.However, he wisely chose not to ask why Tyra was in such a hurry.
But Norman Sims was taken aback when Leonard Fields spoke up, "Old Norman, your Shen family is in big trouble."
"What trouble?" Norman asked, surprised.
Given the Shen family's status in Verdant City, it was hard to believe they would face any significant issues. If there were, the younger members of the family would have come to consult him long ago.
"Today, your son Clark Sims offended someone at the press conference for signing a spokesperson for Qingshui Mountain City. He got hurt by that person," Leonard said in aserious tone.
"Getting taught a lesson isn't a bad thing," Norman's expression darkened.
While Clark wasn't a complete spoiled brat, he certainly had his share of bad habits. His parents were too lenient with him, so maybe a little tough love from outsiders would do him good.
Still, Norman was puzzled.
The one in trouble should be the person who hit Clark, right?
"Old Norman, as a friend, I must seriously warn you. Clark Sims was in the wrong today. He shouldn't have meddled in someone else's affairs. It's a miracle he got away with his life.You need to inform your family members to avoid any retaliation against the other party. Otherwise, your Shen family will face serious trouble," Leonard said, his tone unusually grave.
"Who was the other party?"
Norman Sims noticed Leonard Fields' serious demeanor and immediately realized he couldn't afford to take this lightly. If Leonard wasn't connected to someone powerful, someone even the Shen family couldn't provoke, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to warn him.
Leonard simply said, "The person we're dealing with is someone we can't afford to cross. If you still trust the old man, listen to me.Not only should we avoid retaliation, but it would be best to take Clark Sims with you and apologize. That's the safest approach."
Chasel Mills was none other than Aurelian Mills! If he revealed his identity and returned to Verdant City, it would undoubtedly cause a huge stir!
Although Leonard couldn't understand why Chasel had chosen to return to Verdant City so quietly, he knew that Chasel had only mentioned his origins from the Northern region without revealing that he was Aurelian Mills. He hadn't even informed the Verdant City officials and had returned home without a sound.
Leonard knew he couldn't risk exposing Chasel Mills' identity.