Xu Ziqin's Secret

Yu Shao glanced at Teacher Chen and then nodded.

"Principal, if there's nothing else, I'll be going then?" Yu Shao asked.

"Go ahead."

The principal waved his hand and said.

Soon, Yu Shao and the others turned and left the office one after another. The principal watched until the last person had left, then closed the office door and couldn't help but stand up from his seat.

No longer hiding the excitement and pride on his face, he asked Chen Jiaming, "Teacher Chen, I really didn't expect that the first-year high school students in our cohort would be so full of hidden talent!"

The principal continued with a beaming smile, "Our school's Go league performance has always been poor. Last year, we were almost at the very bottom, which made those people from other key high schools laugh at us a lot."

"But now, with these two children, Yu Shao and Xu Ziqin, when we get to the Go league, we'll definitely shock them! We'll get our revenge!"

"Hahahaha, just thinking about it makes me happy!"

During this period, the matter that troubled him the most was the upcoming high school Go league. It was already embarrassing enough to be at the bottom when it wasn't our home turf, but if we were to be at the bottom again this year as the home team, it would be a complete loss of face!

If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have invited Wu Shuheng to the school to hold this Go lecture.

But now, the situation had suddenly turned around. The first-year students had produced two incredibly strong newcomers, and the second-year student, although he didn't win the round-robin match, was also not weak, considered an unexpected find.

However, upon seeing Chen Jiaming's expression at this moment, the principal couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Chen Jiaming's face didn't show any signs of joy; in fact, he even looked subtly worried.

"Teacher Chen, what's wrong?"

The principal asked with some confusion, "Didn't you also really want to achieve good results in the upcoming high school Go league?"

Chen Jiaming smiled and shook his head, saying, "Although that's true, Wang Rui and the other two have also prepared a lot and worked very hard to prepare for this league."

"Now that they've been replaced so suddenly, they must be feeling quite upset, right?"

The smile on the principal's face gradually disappeared. He actually knew this.

After a moment of silence, the principal finally sighed and said, "Teacher Chen, I know you've been coaching them for two years."

"But, many things are like this, survival of the fittest, only the strong survive, without any regard for sentiment."

Yu Shao and the other two left the principal's office and were about to head back to their respective classrooms. Just then, the three students who had been replaced suddenly walked over and blocked their path.

Zhong Yufei felt that the newcomers were hostile and suspected they were resentful because they had been replaced, intending to cause trouble for the three of them. He asked warily, "What do you want?"

Xu Ziqin didn't speak, merely looking at Wang Rui and the other two with a cool gaze.

"My name is Wang Rui."

The tallest of the three boys looked at Yu Shao and the other two with a complex expression and spoke.

"And then?"

Zhong Yufei frowned and asked.

Wang Rui was silent for a moment before continuing, "Last year, it was the three of us who represented our school in the Go league."

"We... lost miserably in that match."

"We made up our minds then that we would wash away the shame in the next league. To achieve this, we practiced and studied game records whenever we had free time, constantly playing against each other, wanting to improve our Go skills."

"From that previous round-robin match, it's clear that you are indeed stronger than us, even... much stronger."

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Wang Rui's face.

"But..."

"I'm not reconciled."

"Even though we know you might truly be stronger than us, we are not reconciled."

Wang Rui took a deep breath, stared intently at Yu Shao and the other two, and said, "After school, in the activity room, play a game with us."

Hearing this, Yu Shao and the other two were all somewhat surprised.

Xu Ziqin looked at Wang Rui, her gaze seeming to penetrate people's hearts.

After a moment, she was the first to nod gently, her voice clear as she said, "Okay."

Yu Shao looked at Wang Rui's fervent gaze, fell silent for a moment, and then finally nodded.

As for Zhong Yufei, seeing that the other two had agreed, he also agreed.

"Alright, then it's settled. See you in the activity room after school."

With that, Wang Rui gave Yu Shao and the other two one last deep look before turning and leaving quickly with the other two.

After Wang Rui and his group left, Zhong Yufei also quickly parted ways with Yu Shao and the other, walking alone towards the second-year teaching building.

Yu Shao and Xu Ziqin were both first-year students, and their classrooms were on the same floor, so they walked upstairs together, preparing to return to their respective classrooms.

It was already lunchtime, so there were only Yu Shao and Xu Ziqin on the staircase.

The distance between them wasn't far. For some reason, Yu Shao suddenly remembered Zhou De's earlier outrageous theory – that since Xu Ziqin was so beautiful, she must have a natural body scent.

Unexpectedly, this theory wasn't bad. The moment he thought of it, Yu Shao actually seemed to catch a faint scent wafting from Xu Ziqin's direction.

It smelled a bit like shampoo, but not entirely. It was like the scent of shampoo mixed with something else, very faint, but very pleasant, making one feel clean and fresh.

"Holy crap?"

Yu Shao was a little startled. So, what Chen Jiaming said was true? Beautiful women really did have a natural body scent?

"You don't seem very eager to play Go, do you?"

Just then, Xu Ziqin suddenly spoke.

Yu Shao froze for a moment, looking at Xu Ziqin with some confusion.

"I can tell."

Xu Ziqin looked at Yu Shao, her eyes clear and bright, and asked, "Why?"

"Uh..."

This question stumped Yu Shao.

He had simply played Go his entire life in his previous existence, so in this life, he wanted to properly enjoy these beautiful youthful years. But he definitely couldn't say that.

He could have easily made up a lie, but looking at Xu Ziqin like this, Yu Shao felt that if he lied, he would immediately be overwhelmed by immense guilt.

Did Xu Ziqin also have a truth serum attribute?

Yu Shao thought for a moment and finally said, "It's a secret."

Xu Ziqin's expression faltered for a moment, seemingly not expecting Yu Shao to give that answer.

Generally, if she asked someone a question, she would almost always get an answer; she had almost gotten used to it herself.

This was the first time she had actively asked a boy a question, and he had replied with "it's a secret."

"A secret needs to be exchanged for another secret,"

Yu Shao said with a smile. "So, unless you tell me one of your secrets, I won't tell you mine."

Based on his understanding of Xu Ziqin, given her personality, this topic should have ended there. Xu Ziqin would never reveal anything about herself to a boy, let alone a secret.

However, to Yu Shao's surprise, after hearing his words, Xu Ziqin's face actually showed hesitation!

Yu Shao was completely shocked!

No way, bro?

Playing this aggressively?

This doesn't fit your character profile!

Seeing Xu Ziqin's hesitant expression at that moment, Yu Shao was a bit bewildered.

But fortunately, Xu Ziqin ultimately maintained her character.

She didn't say a word, nor did she reveal her secret. She turned her head and continued walking forward, as if all the previous conversation had never happened.

ps: To readers who think this book is written well, please follow along. If you could also vote with your data, that would be even better. Your little author thanks you!

Watching the S-tier matches has completely messed with my mental state. I feel like I'm not in the zone for writing today. A grown man is crying.