Chapter 52
851 Words
Martin let out a piercing scream, "Ah!"
The scene on the stage stunned everyone.
Ethan said coldly, "You know Sophia is my wife, yet you dared to confess to her in front of ten thousand people. Luckily, dueling is outlawed now, or I'd make you pay with your life! Breaking five of your fingers should be enough of a lesson!"
Several figures rushed onto the stage. Martin's friend, Herbert Sloan, said angrily, "Sir, one should be forgiving. You've already won. Why do you need to be so ruthless?"
Ethan looked at the three men with interest. "Ruthless? When this so-called 'Piano Prince' confessed to my wife in front of everyone, why didn't you call him out?"
He continued, "When Martin repeatedly called me a loser in front of everyone, why didn't any of you ask him to be forgiving?"
Herbert's face turned grim. "Young man, it's best not to be too arrogant! You might have some talent in piano, but there are many better than you!"
Ethan responded calmly, "Those who bluff without skill are the truly arrogant ones. If you're not convinced, feel free to challenge me!"
Herbert scoffed, "Hmph! You might have some skills, but you're extremely arrogant! However, I only play chess. I don't know piano!"
Ethan's eyes twinkled. "Chess? Perfect. I happen to know a bit about chess too!"
Herbert's eyes flashed with surprise. 'Earlier, Ethan said he knew a bit about piano, and now he claims to know a bit about chess. Can he really play?'
But then Herbert snorted disdainfully, mocking, "Young man, I admit you're not as useless as you seem, but one must know their limits. Chess requires meticulous calculations and extraordinary wisdom. Don't boast, especially in front of me!"
A smile played at the corners of Ethan's mouth. "You seem very confident."
Herbert's face turned proud. "Confidence isn't the word, but in America, the number of people who can beat me in chess is very few!"
Ethan smiled. "In that case, let's have a good match!"
Herbert's eyes turned cold. "Young man, aren't you scared of humiliation?"
Ethan said calmly, "Enough talk. Let's find out on the board!"
Herbert suddenly laughed, full of ridicule. "Haha! Since you lack humility, I'll indulge you! Set up the board!"
Soon, a brand-new chessboard was brought up. All the cameras focused on the two players, and the board was displayed on a high-definition screen for thousands to see.
The audience buzzed with excitement.
"This guy played that piece well earlier, but isn't he a bit too full of himself?"
"Exactly. Mr. Sloan is a student of Master Derrida. He has been playing chess for over twenty years. How can this young upstart compare?"
"Right, he probably doesn't even know how to play!"
Hardly anyone believed Ethan would win. Tiffany, who had just been humiliated, perked up immediately and grabbed Sophia, mocking her mercilessly. "Sophia, look at the fool you married! He's just an arrogant i***t!"
Tiffany laughed. "He thinks that just because he beat Martin at the piano, he can do anything! Does he think he's fit to play chess, which is so profound and complex? I advise you to make him apologize and step down, or else he'll embarrass himself in front of all these people!"
Sophia gave her a cold look. "Tiffany, save your petty thoughts. Ethan is my beloved, and no matter what, I will never look down on him!"
Tiffany glared at Sophia, her eyes flashing with malice. "You're truly unreasonable! Don't blame me if he ends up humiliated!"
Meanwhile, on stage, Herbert and Ethan had already taken their seats on either side of the chessboard.
Ethan glanced at the board in front of him and asked, "How shall we compete?"
Herbert responded arrogantly, "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. We'll play a best-of-three elimination match. The first to win two out of three games wins. Do you accept it?"
Ethan smiled slightly. "In that case, let's not waste any time. Let's play all three games simultaneously."
Herbert was taken aback. He looked at Ethan's calm demeanor and felt a growing sense of caution. 'Does this loser really know how to play chess?'
Soon, three chessboards were set up, but Ethan didn't sit down at any of them. Instead, he smiled and called Sophia onto the stage, seating her in the middle.
Sophia panicked. "Ethan, I don't know how to play chess."
Ethan reassured her with a smile. "Don't worry, just follow my instructions."
He patted his wife's shoulder. "For all three boards, move the pawn to E4."
Sophia nodded and moved the pawns to E4 on all three boards.
Herbert sneered and made different moves on each of the three boards in response.
Ethan stood with his hands behind his back, not looking at the boards. He began to instruct, "Left board, knight to F3. Middle board, knight to C6. Right board, knight to C3."
Sophia, nervous but trusting, placed the pieces as directed.
The audience was in an uproar.
No one expected Ethan to be able to play three simultaneous chess games without even looking at the boards.
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