Night.
Chen Shouyi and Shell Girl sat facing each other, a game of aeroplane chess set between them.
Shell Girl had been cooped up for so long these past few days that she was nearly back to her old temper, despite only recently having gotten it under control. She was growing more and more restless, so he had to set aside time especially to keep her company.
He'd found the game in the residential complex. He had no idea who'd thrown it away.
It brought back memories from long ago.
Of all the games he'd played as a child, this simple game of aeroplane chess—which required no thought at all and came down entirely to luck—had been his favorite. He'd played it from kindergarten through elementary school, and if he'd had anyone to play with, he could have kept going into middle school. By then, even Chen Xingyue had lost interest.
He picked up the die, shook it, and gave it a gentle toss.
His face immediately fell.
Damn it, no six again!
All four of his planes were still stuck at the airport, while Shell Girl had already gotten two of hers airborne. The one in front was almost at the finish line.
"My turn!" Shell Girl said at once, delighted. Aeroplane chess had simple rules, and she'd understood them after Chen Shouyi explained them just once.
She grabbed the die and shoved it hard. It rolled around a few times, then landed on a six. Shell Girl hurriedly picked up another plane and moved it to the takeoff zone.
She beamed, looking unbearably smug. "Stupid giant, I've already gotten o-one plane out, and you haven't gotten a single one!"
"Don't get too excited. It's not over yet," Chen Shouyi said with a cold laugh.
She tossed again. Luckily,