Chapter 47: Different Times 13

Chapter 47: Different Times 13

Moments later, warm yellow light illuminated the previously empty chess room, casting three slender shadows on the wooden floor.

The player took his seat at the table, and Yu Bai, who had been watching, fetched a cushion for himself, sitting casually nearby.

He gazed at Xie Wufang, who sat with his eyes lowered, patiently awaiting the start of the game.

This chess room was beautiful, just as Yu Bai had imagined when he first stepped into this grand residence, but even more so than he had expected.

The room was square and spacious, adorned with just a few well-placed embellishments. On the pristine walls hung a calligraphy piece, graceful as a startled swan in flight. Beside it stood an elegantly crafted rosewood flower stand, its slender height supporting a pot of rhododendron, its branches sparse yet beautiful, adding a vibrant splash of green to the understated chess chamber. It bloomed like a segment of the most poetic springtime, preserved beneath the eaves.

Yu Bai mused that the elderly man before him, whose excitement was barely concealed, was not only affluent but also possessed fine taste.

It was a far more pleasant setting than that open-air stone table nestled in a corner of the park on that day.

It was as if stepping into a landscape painting with subtle brushstrokes and light ink.

Thus, even Yu Bai, who had a mere superficial understanding of Go, found himself engrossed in the game.

A servants moved softly about, bearing steaming tea and dainty pastries. Amidst the gentle curls of vapor, he discerned two vastly different expressions.

Excitement gradually faded from Zhang Yunjiang's countenance, replaced by a solemn expression. He deliberated over each placement of his white stones, insisting on giving the initiative to the younger, novice player.

Xie Wufang proceeded as in their previous game, once again taking the black stones and initiating the match. His gaze was as tranquil as that day, devoid of any commotion, and his pace of placing the stones was notably quicker than the average player.

Yu Bai felt that it was even faster than that day.

This might be due to the fact that Xie Wufang had spent a longer time studying go theory before this practical session than he did that day.

With increased concentration.

The black and white Go pieces interwove on the small board. The black stones always fell swiftly and decisively, rarely lingering too long between the slender fingers with distinct joints. As time went on, the white stones, having lost the rhythm, began to show signs of hurriedly struggling to keep up.

Yunzi lightly tapped the board, and the game situation shifted dynamically. Time passed silently as Yu Bai, an observer, intently watched for a long while.

Then, at a certain moment, he subtly turned his back.

He yawned inconspicuously, trying not to draw attention.

...

Apologies, he found it tedious.

For he truly couldn't grasp it.

Xie Wufang had evidently mastered the advanced techniques he learned on his phone that afternoon, far surpassing what Yu Bai, a Go novice, could comprehend, and even leaving Zhang Yunjiang with occasional expressions of perplexity.

Moreover, after indulging in sweets during dinner, the sugar coursing through his body contributed to a creeping drowsiness.

Yu Bai rubbed his eyes, fighting off sleepiness while pondering how to handle the next day.

He anticipated dozing off when Xie Wufang taught him Go the following day.

For Go was indeed an intricate discipline.

The initial steps appeared straightforward, but the deeper one delved, the more challenging it became.

He dared not imagine Xie Wufang's reaction if, in the midst of his focused instruction, Yu Bai yawned unexpectedly or stared blankly, as if in a math class.

...musing inwardly about how impolite humans could be?

Telling him to stay focused?

Sigh.

Yu Bai, feeling increasingly vexed, let out a soft sigh. Glancing beside him, his gaze happened to meet Yan Jing's equally absent-minded, half-lidded eyes.

Yan Jing and the others had mentioned exploring the gardens, but Yuan Yuhang, being an inexperienced yet enthusiastic chess enthusiast, couldn't shake off the allure of that captivating game. After wandering with the butler for a while, they eventually found themselves at the entrance to the chess room.

The young child, wanting to watch the game without revealing his ignorance, insisted on bringing along his two friends who were originally planning to watch TV, pretending they were all there out of curiosity.

Now, the little boy sat cross-legged on a cushion, holding his breath and focusing intently. His eyes shone with intense concentration. Whenever he saw something remarkable, he wanted to comment but dared not, so he clenched his fists subtly instead.

Beside him, the little girl initially looked puzzled. After the child-like grandpa whispered the basic rules to her, she began to follow the game with a vague understanding, her expression calm and earnest.

In contrast, the two adults sitting next to the children...

Yu Bai and Yan Jing suddenly locked eyes. The latter jolted, instinctively widening his eyes to glance at the board before quickly giving Yu Bai a thumbs up and whispering in admiration, "Brilliant!"

His tone was sincere, but his gaze was unusually vacant.

"..."

He hadn't even looked; how could it be interesting?

Yu Bai couldn't help but laugh wryly. He extended his hand, silently returning a discreet and refined middle finger.

Yan Jing finally realized that Yu Bai was also distracted. Relieved, he promptly withdrew his insincere thumbs-up and smoothly transitioned to a matching middle finger.

Observing this, Yu Bai said nothing and extended his other hand, calmly doubling the gesture.

Yan Jing responded with equal determination, escalating the game.

Two middle fingers met two middle fingers, sneers countered by silly grins.

As the others were absorbed in playing or watching the chess game, the two of them stealthily exchanged mocking gestures like mischievous elementary schoolers. Silent except for their shadows flickering on the white walls, they remained undetected.

At the center of the room, the elderly man with furrowed brows was deeply engrossed in the chessboard before him. Unlike his usual relaxed demeanor while playing with old friends, he was oblivious to the surroundings, his hand holding a chess piece suspended in mid-air as he pondered his next move.

The young man sitting across from him, however, was different.

His gray-blue gaze left the alternating black and white pieces on the board, glancing past the faintly shimmering shadows on the wall.

Then, it settled firmly on the face now beaming with a smile.

He no longer looked in this direction, turning his head slightly to focus intently on his companion beside him. The light brown strands of hair, illuminated by the lamplight, still appeared warm but suddenly seemed distant.

Snap.

In the quiet room, the white chess piece rang out crisply against the grid.

Zhang Yunjiang placed the nearly warm chess piece in his hand, finally deciding on his move – a crucial one that could, albeit temporarily, reverse the game's tide.

Just as the old man wiped away an imaginary sweat, feeling a hint of pride well up in his heart, he looked expectantly at his opponent, only to notice that the young man, who had shown no emotions throughout, had almost simultaneously redirected his gaze back from elsewhere.

Lowering his eyelids, the slightly curled black hair fell across his forehead, concealing the emotions in his heterochromatic eyes. Silently, he picked up a black cloud-shaped piece from the pot beside him.

Only a few seconds passed before, to Zhang Yunjiang's astonishment, the black Go stone landed in a spot he would have never anticipated.

It took him a moment to realize that the hard-won advantage he had just secured had crumbled in an instant and was now irretrievably lost.

The old man didn't have time to marvel as an involuntary gasp escaped from someone nearby.

"Is that even possible?!"

Indeed, was that even possible?!

Zhang Yunjiang echoed the sentiment inwardly, then sighed gloomily. "Ah, I've lost!"

As he admitted defeat, he turned curiously toward the source of the voice.

...It was Yu Bai, that rather eccentric nephew of his.

The boy, who had been barely managing to sit still on the cushion just moments ago, now sat up straight with excitement. His young face was a picture of astonishment and admiration.

Zhang Yunjiang was so engrossed that he didn't notice when the three had approached. Seeing this, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Little Hang, you know Go as well?"

And he knew quite a bit.

At the very least, in the group present, only he and Yu Hang probably understood that move just now. The others were all clueless.

Otherwise, they would have gasped in surprise.

The elder's question was innocent, but the previously enthusiastic young boy suddenly became nervous. He instinctively nudged Yu Bai with his elbow, instinctively seeking help. "Uncle—Uncle Little Bai!"

"..."

Yu Bai, who had been unexpectedly called out, coughed softly and quickly put away his childish gesture. Turning around, he casually came to his nephew's rescue as if nothing had happened. "Yes, Little Hang knows how to play Go." He bluffed. "I developed an interest in it because I found watching him play fascinating."

The way Young Master Yuan addressed him as 'uncle' was becoming more and more natural.

He called Yuan Yuhang 'uncle,' and Yuan Yuhang also called him 'uncle.'

Ancestral ranks aside, they were indeed each other's uncles in their own right.

...How remarkable.

Thinking this, Yu Bai redirected his gaze to the two men at the chessboard and couldn't help but jest, "Is the game over?"

"Yes," Zhang Yunjiang sighed deeply, shaking his head candidly. "I've lost, and it's a definite loss."

With the match concluded, the elderly man, who had just played his first genuine game against Xie Wufang, couldn't resist comparing it to the earlier game he had witnessed in the afternoon.

In that previous game, the opponent had mimicked his play with Old Yuan, gradually luring the unsuspecting latter into believing he was on the path to victory, all while he himself remained ensnared in a trap.

One's style of play often revealed aspects of their personality and habits, whether they be bold or cautious, offensive or defensive.

However, apart from that final stroke of genius that seemed to have come out of nowhere, that game could not be considered an embodiment of Xie Wufang's own style. He had merely replicated it before dismantling it.

"I initially thought you'd be more of a strategic and cautious player, focusing on setting up your pieces."

Recalling the thrilling game, Zhang Yunjiang expressed his surprise. "I never would have guessed that you're such a direct attacker, relentlessly pushing forward without giving your opponent a moment's respite. Truly, I didn't see it coming."

Upon closer thought, it was indeed consistent with the other party's unusually straightforward character.

With Yu Bai's assistance in diverting attention, the young boy who played Go, Yu Hang, finally mustered the courage to express his thoughts openly.

"The style of play is so aggressive, pressing relentlessly, and the moves are made swiftly," he exclaimed after letting out a sigh. "Just watching from the side made me break out in a sweat."

The white pieces were suppressed throughout the game, and any attempts at resistance were quickly extinguished. On the small board, the dark cloud pieces moved freely with an air of arrogance and dominance, as if no extra piece was allowed to exist, aiming to eliminate all foreign elements that did not belong.

The skill of the player handling the pieces matched this domineering style.

Hearing this, Zhang Yunjiang chuckled and casually said, "For someone so young, you can understand so much. You really have a knack for it."

Realizing his mistake, the little boy hastily closed his mouth.

Fortunately, Zhang Yunjiang's attention was not on him at that moment.

The elderly man, engrossed in the already lost game, found himself wanting more. After a moment of hesitation, he couldn't resist his impulse and asked Xie Wufang somewhat sheepishly, "Shall we take a break? I don't know if you're tired yet...?"

Due to the overwhelming and fierce style of play, the game ended much sooner than anticipated.

Yet in the midst of his excitement, even if he were to lose, he wanted to play a few more rounds. It was simply too exhilarating and thrilling.

Zhang Yunjiang turned to the young man sitting across from him, but the latter's gaze had shifted to the onlookers nearby.

Yu Bai also looked at Xie Wufang, voicing the hesitant elder's question, "The game ended rather swiftly. Would you like to play another round?"

Xie Wufang replied calmly, "I'm already certain of how much I've learned."

The elder, whose face had shown anticipation, was taken aback. Recalling the other party's earlier suggestion to play chess for practice, he instantly understood that it was a subtle refusal.

He said he wanted to play against him as a form of practice.

So, the practice was over?

...What an astonishing talent and learning speed.

Zhang Yunjiang felt deeply regretful but didn't want to push the matter. He was about to suggest they end the game there to avoid putting others in an awkward position when suddenly, a phone rang.

Yu Bai paused in mid-sentence, pulled out his ringing phone from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and immediately stood up. "Excuse me, I'll take this call outside. You two carry on."

"Who is it?" Yan Jing, curious, leaned in and then clicked his tongue. "Why does Brother Tian love video calls so much?"

"It might be a habit from his profession... He wants to see me in person, right?"

As Yu Bai responded, he began to walk out, not wanting to disturb the tranquility of the chess room.

Seeing this, Yan Jing, who was on the verge of dozing off in the chess room, seized the chance to escape and hurriedly followed. "I haven't seen Brother Tian for a while. I'll say hi. Hehe, carry on with your game."

Yu Bai allowed him to tag along, too lazy to expose the truth, as he pondered over the reason for Sun Tiantian's call.

It had to be about concern for him.

"I forgot that Qiang and the others are still at the station, and I've just had another encounter with the police."

Muttering to himself, Yan Jing chimed in effortlessly, "I recall that Brother Tian should be on a business trip at this moment. He wouldn't rush back in the middle of the night just to find you, would he?"

Yu Bai was slightly worried. "... Highly possible."

After all, the unmarried and childless Sun Tiantian had always been dedicated to being a loving father figure.

Amidst the melodious ringing of a bell, the two left the chess room, their voices fading into the distance until they could no longer be discerned.

He Xi, who remained obediently seated in the chess room, watched them depart and asked the little boy beside her, "Who's Brother Tian?"

"I don't know," Yuan Yuhang replied, still confused despite having heard the name with an air of seniority for the second time. "You'll have to ask Little Bai... uh! Uncle. He seems to be a close friend of his."

The little girl, who had already witnessed many new things in just a few hours following Yu Bai, said enviously after some thought, "Big Brother Bai has so many friends."

There was Brother Yan Jing, who could knock out their father with one punch, Grandpa Zhang whose home was like a garden, the impressive-sounding Brother Tian... and even a deity traveling the mortal realm.

"Yeah, lots of them," Yuan Yuhang remarked casually. "I reckon we'll meet even more of Uncle's friends later on."

He had no idea what Little Bai actually did; it seemed like he knew all sorts of people.

Zhang Yunjiang paid little attention to this brief exchange. He was about to gather the scattered chess pieces to end the game for the night when he heard a chilly voice in his ear.

"Another round."

The elder was taken aback but immediately beamed with delight. Unaware of the tone of the speaker, he hastily agreed, afraid that the offer might be retracted. "Sure, sure, that's fantastic!"

The little boy beside her immediately ended his casual chat and sat eagerly on the cushion, while the little girl also fell silent, watching attentively.

Ten minutes later, Yu Bai, who had gone outside to take a call, had yet to return, leaving the serene chess room with only these two adults and two children.

The room remained unchanged, with its potted plants bathed in light, their branches sparse and leaves lush green, but no longer evoking the poetic spring; instead, it seemed to reflect a disconcerting summer heat.

For Zhang Yunjiang, now immersed in the game, was drenched in sweat, unable to withstand the relentless assault of the black stones across from him.

The little boy on the cushion was also sweaty, his expression mirroring his anxiety, barely daring to breathe.

The little girl blinked her large eyes, watching the ever-changing chessboard with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.

Again and again, the dark cloud stones were deftly positioned by the pale, strong fingertips in the most fitting spot.

Each move made Grandpa Zhang wipe his brow in panic, while it sparked a glimmer of excitement in Grandpa Yuan's eyes and tightened his fists in anticipation.

Beyond the board, the big brother with black hair and blue eyes held the black stone in silence. His beautiful, otherworldly gaze reflected the warm yellow grid so close at hand, or perhaps something else entirely.

He Xi gradually felt that she could comprehend a bit of the "style" that Grandpa Yuan spoke of in chess.

How intimidating, she thought timidly.

...Even more so than just now!