Xu Qingqing pursed her lips and deliberately said, "This is something that I'm not supposed to tell outsiders. But since today is Teacher Cui's birthday, I'll make an exception and tell it to the birthday star."
Xu Qingqing was sweet - looking and good at speaking. Her words made Cui Mingliang very happy.
"Thank you then."
Xu Qingqing told Cui Mingliang all the interesting things that happened during the archaeological work, which made Cui Mingliang and his friends burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Lu Fenglin, who was constrained and at a loss, felt extremely embarrassed at this moment, like a stranger who couldn't fit in.
Lu Fenglin left before the party was over, finding an excuse. Before leaving, he took a deep look at Xu Qingqing, who was chatting and laughing merrily with Cui Mingliang.
He closed his eyes tightly, hiding the self - mockery in his eyes, then turned around and left. In this relationship, Xu Qingqing had never intended to treat him well. All his self - indulgent actions in the past meant nothing.
After Lu Fenglin left, those present didn't pay much attention. Instead, the atmosphere became even more harmonious.
Finally, when the dinner was over, Cui Mingliang expressed his sincere fondness for Xu Qingqing.
Cui Mingliang shook hands with Lu Chuanbai, speaking politely, "Mr. Lu, as long as Qingqing is your wife, I'm willing to take on the hotel design project for the Lu Group."
"Thank you, Teacher Cui."
Hearing this, Lu Chuanbai was happy but still remained steady as he shook hands with Cui Mingliang.
After seeing the guests off, Lu Chuanbai excitedly picked up Xu Qingqing and spun her around, then gave her two hard kisses on the face.
"Qingqing, you're my lucky star!"
"With you around, everything becomes easy!"
Not only did they counterattack Lu Fenglin severely, making him lose face and a good impression in front of Cui Mingliang.
Xu Qingqing was also genuinely happy for Lu Chuanbai.
"That's great. You don't have to worry about the design drafts anymore!"
"Yes."
Lu Chuanbai put his arm around Xu Qingqing and walked out, feeling much more relaxed.
"I've already arranged the plane tickets and asked for leave from the kindergarten for the two kids. We'll head to the three northeastern provinces this afternoon."
"While accompanying Mr. Smith to visit Yang Tianfu, we can also let the two kids have a good rest and have fun."
"Okay," Xu Qingqing nodded repeatedly.
"I discovered many delicious and interesting places in Dongchuan Province a few days ago. I'll take you there then."
"Good."
The two went their separate ways. Xu Qingqing went to pick up the two kids from school, while Lu Chuanbai went to pick up Mr. Smith, who was already ready. They would finally meet at the airport.
The filming crew, who had been informed in advance and would go to Dongchuan Province with Xu Qingqing and the others, also boarded the plane.
On the plane, the two little rascals were naughty and made funny faces at the camera.
To kill the boring journey, Mr. Smith took out a set of Chinese chess, set it up, and confidently asked Lu Chuanbai to play chess with him.
Lu Chuanbai had received elite education since childhood. Influenced by his father's love for chess, he had been learning chess until he was 18, and his skills were unfathomable.
Facing Mr. Smith's slightly provocative smile, Lu Chuanbai asked helplessly, "Are you sure?"
"Of course."
Mr. Smith nodded confidently.
"I've done in - depth research on chess. No one who has played against me has ever won."
Hearing Mr. Smith's bold claim, Lu Chuanbai didn't hold back either. He picked up a chess piece with a smile and calmly placed it on the chessboard.
At first, Mr. Smith was still at ease. He laughed at Lu Chuanbai in his heart, thinking that Lu Chuanbai's chess skills were even worse than his as a foreigner.
Every time Lu Chuanbai made a move, he just kept dodging, and Mr. Smith had captured almost half of Lu Chuanbai's chess pieces.
Mr. Smith couldn't help celebrating in advance, "Lu Chuanbai, you're definitely going to lose."
Lu Chuanbai just smiled without saying a word. He picked up a chess piece and heavily slapped it on the chessboard, then gracefully folded his hands.
"Mr. Smith, how about now?"
When Mr. Smith looked at the situation on the chessboard again, the smile on his face instantly froze. He murmured in disbelief, "How is this possible?"
He was about to win, but after Lu Chuanbai made a crucial move, the situation reversed. Most of Mr. Smith's chess pieces were captured by Lu Chuanbai.
The situation reversed. Mr. Smith, who had hoped to win a great victory, was gradually defeated.
From barely maintaining a smile at first to not being able to smile at all later, he lost the game dejectedly.
"Mr. Smith, do you want to play another round?"
Lu Chuanbai looked at Mr. Smith with a smile.
Although he lost the game, Mr. Smith was happy to find a worthy opponent and regained his fighting spirit.
"Of course I do. I must beat you this time!"
After saying that, Mr. Smith quickly set up the chessboard and started the game again.
Xu Qingqing lay on the armrest of the chair and watched the game between the two. Although her chess skills were not very profound, they were not bad either.
After 10 minutes of the game, Xu Qingqing gradually realized that Lu Chuanbai was setting a trap again, step by step trapping Mr. Smith's chess pieces.
In the end, Lu Chuanbai won the game again while Mr. Smith was still in a daze.
"What? Why?"
Mr. Smith felt that he had lost the game inexplicably. He was so anxious that his native language blurted out. He looked at Lu Chuanbai in disbelief.
"What did you do? Why did you win again?"
Mr. Smith really couldn't figure out how Lu Chuanbai had won the game.
Lu Chuanbai curled his lips, shrugged his shoulders, crossed his legs, and said coolly, "I just won effortlessly."
Mr. Smith was not convinced. He restored the chess pieces on the chessboard to their original positions again.
"One more round. I don't believe I can't beat you today!"
In the third round, Mr. Smith lost just as inexplicably.
Mr. Smith was frustrated after being defeated one after another. He dejectedly held his head, but still couldn't help but give Lu Chuanbai a thumbs - up in admiration.
"You win. Your skills make me suspect that those who lost to me before were just letting me win."
"No."
Lu Chuanbai patted Mr. Smith on the shoulder to comfort him, "Mr. Smith, you're already very good."
"Ordinary people would be surrounded by me within three moves, but you managed to hold on until the end. That's really good!"
Hearing Lu Chuanbai's comfort, Mr. Smith didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He felt that Lu Chuanbai seemed to be praising him but also seemed to be teasing him.
Mr. Smith glanced at Xu Qingqing standing beside them, then smiled and handed the chessboard between Xu Qingqing and Lu Chuanbai.
"You two should play a round too."
"What?"
Xu Qingqing was stunned and quickly declined, "I can't. My skills are not as good as yours."
"No, you definitely can!"
Mr. Smith grinned wickedly and set up the chess pieces. He insisted that the two play a round while he sat in his seat to watch the fun.
Xu Qingqing looked at the chess pieces on the chessboard helplessly, feeling that she would definitely be badly beaten by Lu Chuanbai.
Lu Chuanbai massaged Xu Qingqing's stiff shoulders to help her relax, and then the two started playing chess.
The process was not as nerve - wracking as when Xu Qingqing watched Mr. Smith and Lu Chuanbai play. Instead, she won very easily.
"Did I win so quickly?"
Xu Qingqing felt that Mr. Smith had lost inexplicably, and she had won just as inexplicably.