126: Invitation from the "Chess Player"

Old John nodded, half understanding, then returned to the side of the training ground.

Sophie stood by, silently recording everything.

Her pen moved quickly across her notebook, but her thoughts drifted far away.

"Are you alright?" Lin Feng suddenly asked.

Sophie looked up, meeting Lin Feng's gaze: "I'm fine, just thinking about how to write this report."

"Just be realistic," Lin Feng said, "no need for too much interpretation."

Sophie smiled slightly: "As a journalist, my duty is to discover the truth behind appearances."

Lin Feng looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Then I look forward to your report."

He turned and left, returning to his office.

Sophie watched his retreating figure, a mix of emotions in her heart.

That night, Sophie sat on the sofa in her apartment, the screen of her laptop glowing, but her fingers hovered over the keyboard, not typing a single word.

She repeatedly listened to the interview recording, especially the part where Keira mentioned "chessboard."

Each time she re-listened, she discovered new details, information hidden beneath the surface.

"She wasn't just here to visit," Sophie murmured to herself, "she was here to... test."

Sophie realized that she was facing not just a potential rival in love, but an extremely powerful woman who was engaging in an intellectual game with Lin Feng on another dimension.

This gave her an unprecedented sense of crisis and determination.

She closed her laptop and walked to the window.

It was late, and the streets of Hartlepool were sparsely populated.

In the distance, the outline of the Phoenix Stadium was faintly visible in the night, like a sleeping giant.

Sophie took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and sent Lin Feng a text message: "Do you have time after the game tomorrow? I think I need a 'chess player' to teach me how to play chess."

After sending the message, her heart suddenly raced.

This was a bold move, a clear signal.

She didn't know how Lin Feng would respond, but she knew she couldn't wait passively anymore.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng was in his office, studying Brighton's match footage.

A game of Chinese chess was laid out on the table, a few pieces gleaming with an ancient luster under the light.

His phone vibrated, and the screen lit up.

When he saw Sophie's text message, the corner of his mouth curved slightly upwards.

He didn't reply immediately, but picked up a "chariot" and gently placed it on the board, making a crisp sound.

"Checkmate," he whispered, as if declaring to some unseen opponent in the air.

Outside the window, the night was deep, and stars twinkled.

Tomorrow's game, tomorrow's conversation, tomorrow's game of wits, had not yet begun.

But the chessboard was already set.

---

After reading Sophie's text message, Lin Feng's expression relaxed, and the tight corners of his mouth curved slightly upwards.

The office was so quiet that only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.

He tapped the screen a few times and replied: "Gladly. But first, let's win today's game."

The moment he pressed the send button, he felt a subtle sense of control.

This reply both accepted Sophie's invitation and cleverly brought the focus back to the upcoming match.

He put down his phone and turned his attention back to the Brighton tactical analysis report spread out on the table.

But Sophie's intelligent eyes kept appearing in his mind.

On match day at Victoria Park, the atmosphere was even more vibrant than usual.

Keira Knightley's visit had turned Hartlepool, a small football town, into the center of a media storm overnight.

The small town of Hartlepool had never received such high-level attention.

In the parking area outside the stadium, in addition to local fans' cars, there were several luxury sedans with London license plates.

Clearly, Keira's visit had attracted more neutral fans and media attention to the area.

Sky Sports' broadcast van was already in place early, with twice as much camera equipment as usual.

Martin Tyler sat in the commentary box, his voice filled with obvious excitement: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Victoria Park!

Today's League One Round 7 match, Hartlepool United at home against Brighton, is destined to attract more attention."

"It seems Hartlepool United is not only attracting attention on the pitch, but also off the pitch.

Let's see if they can continue their winning streak today."

Alan Hansen took the microphone and added: "Keira Knightley's visit yesterday indeed caused quite a stir.

However, today's focus should still be on football itself.

Brighton is an opponent not to be underestimated."

The fans in the stands were buzzing, most of their conversations revolving around the unexpected appearance of the Hollywood star yesterday.

Sophie Green sat in the second row of the press box, her notebook already turned to a new page.

She had specifically chosen a light blue business suit today, and her hair was impeccably styled.

She lowered her head to write in her notebook, but her pen hovered over the paper several times, betraying her distraction.

"Let's look at the starting lineups for both teams," Martin Tyler's voice drew everyone's attention back to the match.

"The away team, Brighton, has fielded a relatively stable 4-5-1 formation, clearly aiming to contend with Hartlepool United in midfield."

"Their core is midfielder Dean Cox, a 28-year-old veteran with rich experience and excellent organizational skills.

The lone striker is Bas Savage, a 1.88-meter tall Dutch center forward with strong heading ability."

"For the home team, Hartlepool United, Lin Feng and Old John have once again chosen to trust, with no changes to the starting lineup."

"It's still that troublesome 4-3-3 attacking formation.

Goalkeeper Schmeichel; defensive line Walker, Shawcross, Nelson, Robson; midfield Henderson, Sigurdsson, Tinkler; forward Maloney, Vardy, Snodgrass."

In the VIP box, Lin Feng held a cup of coffee, his expression focused as he watched the players warm up before the match.

Richard Arnold sat beside him, holding a thick business report.

"Boss, Keira Knightley's visit has had an even better effect than we anticipated," Arnold reported in a low voice.

"The club's official website traffic has surged by 300% in 24 hours, and discussions about Hartlepool United on social media have reached an all-time high."

Lin Feng nodded, but his eyes never left the pitch.

"An increase in commercial value is a good thing, but don't let these external factors affect the players' form."