Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism
Chapter 107 Visiting Central Park

Hattie's gaze brightened. "Does this information hold true?"

Zelena responded, "It ought to be. Mr. Howell lives near that area, and the sole nearby park is Central Park. Even if we're wrong, it's alright. You and Benson haven't had the opportunity to fully discover Quinston, so it's a splendid suggestion for us to venture to the park together this weekend. I've heard it's impeccably kept."

Hattie agreed, "Indeed. Let's arrange to visit the park this upcoming weekend."

Witnessing Hattie's consent, Zelena's lips formed a slight smile.

In truth, she possessed additional knowledge beyond that. She had unearthed that Wade takes pleasure in playing chess.

In order to accommodate his interest, Zelena had been honing her chess skills in secret for some time, anticipating the opportune moment to dazzle Wade and leave a memorable mark on him. Nonetheless, to forge a closer bond with Wade, she required a connection, and Hattie served as the ideal link.

Soon enough, the weekend rolled around.

Wade requested Nolan to extend an invitation to Violeta, and they anticipated her arrival at the gazebo.

Violeta showed up at the park with Tuna.

Simultaneously, at the park's west gate, Zelena, accompanied by Hattie and Benson, reached Central Park.

Devoid of a set meeting spot, despite being in the park, they could only roam aimlessly, hoping to encounter Wade by chance.

However, Zelena didn't want to come empty-handed, thus she began snapping photos upon their park arrival.

Recently, she has been managing her own Facebook account.

She had posted numerous meticulously edited captivating photos on Facebook, amassing a modest following.

This deviated slightly from her initial intentions, as she had aimed to promote herself as Toland University's campus belle on Facebook.

However, with Violeta claiming the title of this year's campus belle of Toland University, that strategy was no longer feasible, intensifying Zelena's animosity towards her even further.

She was resolute in making her debut before Violeta.

She aspired to attain a higher status in the social circle than Violeta in the times ahead!

Upon locating the gazebo, Violeta strolled over with Tuna.

Nolan was accompanied by Cutie, and as Violeta approached, Cutie wagged her tail eagerly and sniffed Tuna.

However, Tuna simply lay down on the ground, her ears unmoving, ignoring Cutie's advances.

"Mr. Howell, have you been waiting for a while?"

Wade and Nolan were deeply absorbed in their chess match. Upon hearing Violeta's voice, Wade glanced up and grinned. "Violeta, you've arrived. We only just got here. There's a chess tournament happening at the chess club this afternoon, and I invited Nolan to play a few matches with me."

Violeta approached and cast a glance at the chessboard. "Well, you two carry on."

Wade inquired, "Do you know how to play?"

Violeta responded, "I know some basics."

Then, Violeta calmly took a seat beside them and watched as they played.

Even though Nolan was still in his youth, his expertise in chess was remarkably developed and refined.

Violeta, too, had a background in chess. In her earlier years, while on breaks during filming, there was a chess stand nearby in Hori Studio.

During breaks from filming, Violeta found pleasure in spectating chess matches. Gradually, she honed her skills and transitioned from a beginner to a proficient player, engaging in numerous games throughout the years.

Whether actively participating or merely watching, she maintained a tendency to communicate sparingly while executing her moves with certainty.

Over time, she became quite famous in the Hori Studio area.

Due to her frequent involvement in filming historical dramas, she often found herself in ancient costumes even when she took breaks to play chess. Hence, she earned the nickname "Chess Fairy". They engaged in both chess and conversation simultaneously.

"Night On the River" is set to commence filming in the upcoming month, with a provisional shooting timeline spanning three months.

Essentially, Nolan will be joining the crew following the conclusion of his final exams.

Following the conclusion of the second chess match, Wade glanced at the time and proposed, "Shall we make our way to the chess hall? Violeta, would you care to join us?"

Nolan began to gather the chess pieces, saying, "If you manage to win today's game, you're eligible to become a member of the Quinston Chess Association. If it piques your interest, you can enrol."

"The Chess Association?"

Violeta lapsed into silence, a memory resurfacing from her past life, where she recalled Zelena's affiliation with the Chess Association.

Upon achieving fame, it came to light that Zelena had been scouted by the Chess Association president due to her remarkable chess prowess during her first year, leading to her membership in the association Is it possible that Zelena seized this chance to secure her membership in the Chess Association?

At first, Violeta had no plans to partake in the competition, but upon hearing Nolan's proposal, her interest was piqued.

"Of course, I'll join you at the chess hall. Are pets allowed to come along?"

"That wasn't permitted initially."

Nolan grinned. "But you can bring them along with me to the second floor."

It seemed that Nolan was a regular visitor to the chess hall, often engaging in matches with Wade Howell. Consequently, the members recognised him, and Cutie was stationed on the second floor, patiently awaiting Nolan's conclusion of the game before being retrieved.

Violeta consented, "Very well, let's proceed."

The trio departed from the park together, heading towards the west gate.

While journeying in the same direction, they serendipitously encountered Zelena and her two companions approaching from the opposite direction.

Before much time had passed, the two groups came face to face.