You've Actually Played Quite Well

"Maybe it was because I had just finished playing against myself, so I couldn't adjust my condition right away. Although I tried to hold back as much as possible, still..."

Yu Shao silently stared at the Go board, feeling slightly regretful.

Unless they needed to fight for victory in a competition, strong players like him generally wouldn't use their full strength against weaker players.

It was like how some Go academies with very high entry requirements didn't allow their students training to become professionals to participate in amateur competitions, even though those students hadn't yet become professionals.

Because...

Once they used their full strength, they might crush players who were still growing.

That was also why he hadn't played especially seriously in his two games against Zheng Qin.

He hadn't gone all out in this game either, and had still held back. However, Xu Ziqin hadn't played badly. After guiding the game into a complicated, entangled position, she had played several extremely sharp moves.

Because of that, when faced with White's aggressive stones in such a complicated position, he had sometimes been forced to use even fiercer moves. That was what had led to White's stones suffering such a crushing defeat.

If Xu Ziqin had played just a little worse, Yu Shao might even have been able to accompany her all the way to the endgame...

"You've actually played quite well."

Yu Shao spoke softly.

He was telling the truth. In Yu Shao's eyes, Xu Ziqin's Go strength should have been slightly weaker than Zheng Qin's, but among amateur players, she was already at an exceptionally top level.

However, Xu Ziqin showed no reaction. She still kept her head lowered, her hair covering her face so completely that he couldn't see her expression at all.

She sat motionless in her chair without saying a word.

Seeing this, Yu Shao sighed inwardly and could only begin gathering the Go stones himself.

Soon, Yu Shao had finished collecting the Go stones. He raised his head toward Chen Jiaming and said, "Teacher Chen, it's about time. Can I go home?"

"Huh? Oh, yes."

Only then did Chen Jiaming come back to his senses. He nodded and said, "But aren't you going to eat dinner? The school cafeteria should have finished preparing the food by now. You can eat there before leaving."

"I'll skip it today."

Yu Shao shook his head. He really didn't know how to face Xu Ziqin, so he said, "I'll just buy something to eat on the way."

After saying that, Yu Shao stood up, put on his backpack, and fled the activity room.

The activity room fell silent again.

Xu Ziqin still sat in her chair with her head lowered.

"Xu Ziqin... are you all right?"

After a moment, Chen Jiaming finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked worriedly.

Xu Ziqin still didn't speak, as if she couldn't hear him at all.

"Xu—"

Chen Jiaming had just begun to speak again when he seemed to notice something. He froze and abruptly shut his mouth.

Xu Ziqin's body was trembling slightly.

The movement was extremely subtle, but Chen Jiaming noticed it.

After a moment of silence, Chen Jiaming turned to Zhong Yufei and said, "Let's go outside and let Student Xu be alone for a while."

"Huh?"

Only then did Zhong Yufei finally return to his senses. He nodded instinctively and followed Chen Jiaming out of the activity room.

Only after leaving the activity room did Zhong Yufei let out a long, shaken breath. He patted his chest and said, "Yu Shao actually... has that kind of Go strength? That's just..."

For a moment, he couldn't find the words to describe what he was thinking.

Zhong Yufei seemed to think of something and added, "Although Xu Ziqin lost, her Go strength is also very strong. With Yu Shao and Xu Ziqin here, I'm afraid no one will be our match in this year's Go league, right?"

"Compared with those two, I'm simply... far too weak." Zhong Yufei shook his head and sighed.

Chen Jiaming was silent for a while before saying, "Then play more games with Yu Shao from now on. It should help improve your Go strength."

"Huh?"

Zhong Yufei was dumbfounded. Then he immediately shook his head like a rattle drum and flatly refused. "No, no, Teacher Chen. Even if playing Go with him could improve my Go strength..."

"But I'm afraid it would crush what little confidence I have left, wouldn't it?"

The next day.

When the dismissal bell rang, the Chinese teacher finished assigning the homework and hurried out of the classroom. The room instantly became noisy.

Yu Shao felt a headache coming on when he thought about having to go to the activity room later.

"Zhou De, where's your copy of 38 Lectures on Go Fundamentals? Lend it to me. I'll return it tomorrow." After thinking for a moment, Yu Shao turned to Zhou De.

"I left it at home."

While packing his schoolbag, Zhou De asked curiously, "Why do you need a beginner's Go book?"

"It should have game records in it. I'm going to play through them later."

Yu Shao explained, then glanced sideways at Zhou De. "Didn't you swear you were going to learn Go? What happened? You gave up again? That's just like you, Old Zhou."

"I'm a genius. Do you understand? A genius!"

With a smug look, Zhou De pulled Grand Lectures on Go Formations from his desk and said, "I've already skipped the beginner stage. I've learned most of the basics, and I've begun studying formations!"

"Gasp!"

Yu Shao sucked in a breath, clearly unconvinced. "Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Zhou De said smugly, "It's just liberties, life and death, shicho, true eyes and false eyes. That stuff is way too simple. Child's play! I, Shen Yi of Jiangling, wouldn't have such a reputation for nothing!"

"Is that so?"

Yu Shao asked, "Can you solve all the life-and-death problems in the book now?"

"Uh..."

As if Yu Shao had hit a sore spot, Zhou De defended himself, "They're just life-and-death problems. I'll get them eventually after playing a few more games. I'll learn the opening formations properly first."

"Lend me the book. I'll return it tomorrow."

Yu Shao couldn't be bothered to argue with Zhou De. He simply reached out and snatched Grand Lectures on Go Formations from him.

"Whether it's your book or mine, you're still being awfully forceful for someone borrowing it."

Zhou De complained, then seemed to think of something. His eyes lit up as he asked, "Old Yu, can I go to your activity room?"

"You?"

Yu Shao shot Zhou De a sidelong glance. "Are you thinking about Xu Ziqin?"

"I'm not."

Zhou De denied it immediately. "Really! I just want to learn Go! Look, I already know the most basic knowledge, but no one will play with me! I want to improve! I want to study!"

Yu Shao stared fixedly at Zhou De, as if he could see straight through his soul.

"Fine, maybe a little."

Zhou De eventually gave in and said, "But what guy in the whole school isn't thinking about Xu Ziqin? At most, I'll just admire her from afar. Besides, I really do need to find someone to play Go with. I've only just started learning. It's not like I can go play at a Go club, right?"

Yu Shao thought it over and decided that bringing Zhou De along would be pretty good. After all, he could watch a clown put on a show. He said, "Come with me. Once Teacher Chen arrives, I'll tell him. It should be fine."

"Good brother!"

Zhou De excitedly came over and gave Yu Shao a bear hug.