Chapter 29: Lin Yuan

This was the fifth time Shang Yi had peeked at Shang Ying's retreating figure.

Noticing his subtle movements, Old Man Feng picked up his cup, took a sip of warm water, and couldn't resist teasing him.

"Having your sister here to accompany you today has put you in a much better mood than before, hasn't it?"

Shang Yi withdrew his gaze, pinched a stone from the Go bowl with two fingers, and set it down gently on the board. He remained silent, yet Old Man Feng knew full well that he was overjoyed inside.

Shang Yi had first been exposed to Go at age seven, entered championships by nine, won the national Go championship at thirteen, and claimed the Ing Cup title that same year.

Since then, he hadn't participated in any further competitions, for no other reason than simply not wanting to. Within the Chinese Go Association, he was already a board member, despite being only sixteen years old this year.

Achieving fame at a young age and reaching the summit early, yet remaining composed, modest, and introverted. He was a rare genius.

After Shang Yi played his very first tournament, Old Man Feng had immediately scouted him as a student. Regarding Shang Yi's unassuming and quiet nature, while he couldn't claim total understanding, he could grasp a fair amount.

And right now, Shang Yi's aura and movements as he played Go communicated to Old Man Feng that he was so happy his tail was practically wagging. A truly rare sight that offered Old Man Feng a fresh perspective.

However, upon seeing Shang Yi glance toward Shang Ying yet again, Old Man Feng felt a bit grumpy. He waved his hand and complained, "Your sister isn't going to run away. Why do you keep looking at her?"

‘He ought to focus on playing Go properly!’

Shang Yi raised his eyelids, cast a glance at Old Man Feng, then looked back down at the Go board, tapping his finger lightly against the wooden surface, signaling Old Man Feng to hurry up and make his move instead of using idle talk to stall for time.

"Hey, you brat!"

Old Man Feng glared at him, grumbled a few lines, and lowered his head to contemplate his next move.

Commotion sounded from the outer courtyard. Shang Ying excitedly looked over, first spotting an Alaskan Malamute wagging its tail, and then shifting her gaze upward to lock onto a young girl.

‘She's here, she's here, she's here!’

The female lead has arrived!

Lin Yuan wore a long white dress paired with a thin, goose-yellow knit cardigan. White socks reached just past her ankles, and her shoes looked well-worn, though clean enough despite being lightly stained with fresh mud.

"Grandma Sun, we're back~"

The girl's voice was soft and sweet, delicate as the chiming melody of a turning music box.

She was bright and pretty, with clear features, relaxed brows, and a gentle demeanor. When she smiled, her full, rosy lips resembled a heart, the outer corners of her eyes curving upward slightly, radiating an aura of serene beauty.

‘A classic first-love face.’

Shang Ying marvelled internally.

Finally meeting the novel's female lead, Shang Ying couldn't quite describe her emotions. Alongside the excitement, she felt as if the cold prison food was beckoning to her in the distance.

She immediately snapped out of it and turned her head toward Shang Yi, who was playing Go nearby. Her eyes happened to meet his deep, dark gaze, setting off alarm bells in her mind as her eyes sharpened.

Mouthing silently to him: ‘Look at the board, don't look at the girl!’

Being caught red-handed, Shang Yi's eyes flickered. He pressed his lips together and obediently lowered his head to focus on the Go match.

"You're back! Thank you for your hard work, Little Yuan. Have some fruit, it was just freshly sliced."

"It wasn't hard work at all." Lin Yuan smiled as she bent down to unclip the dog's leash. Looking into the house, she noticed two extra people and asked, "Do we have guests?"

Grandma Sun patted the little dog jumping up against her twice, introducing them.

"Yes, this is your Grandpa Feng's student."

Then she paused, putting on a delighted expression as if finding a soulmate, and teased, "And the other is a young friend of mine."

The Alaskan Malamute was named Qixi, a little female puppy named so because the day Grandma Sun's son brought her over happened to be the Qixi Festival, making the name special and easy to remember.

At only three months old, she wasn't very heavy yet. When she scampered toward Shang Ying, Shang Ying lifted her up and set her onto her lap to stroke her fur.

"She likes you very much," Grandma Sun said with a smile.

Following Grandma Sun's gaze, Lin Yuan looked toward the girl sitting in the chair cradling Qixi in her arms, her soft, wavy hair tucked behind her ears.

Her eyes looked like amber honey bathed in sunlight, glistening brightly as they moved.

The clothes she wore were soft, tailored, and shone with a gentle lustre under the light. One glance was enough to tell she was well-cared for, someone untouched by the hardships of life.

When their eyes met, Shang Ying greeted her proactively with an approachable, balanced smile, neither overly intimate nor distant, displaying impeccable upbringing and manners that briefly made Lin Yuan feel a sense of inadequacy and self-consciousness.

Lin Yuan then turned to look at the person playing Go on the other side. The profile of the boy sitting on the cushion was refined and handsome, his expression cold as winter water, his body wrapped in an invisible layer of stillness, down to his thick, long eyelashes remaining motionless.

A flicker of awe flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes. She had never seen such a handsome boy before; feeling self-conscious, she averted her gaze, yet couldn't resist sneaking another peek.

‘To think a boy could look this stunning…’

Because Qixi had dirtied her paws outside, Grandma Sun was taking her to wash up and asked if Shang Ying wanted to come along. Having nothing else to do, Shang Ying nodded and agreed.

After they left, only three people remained in the living room. Old Man Feng motioned for Lin Yuan to come over and check out the Go game.

"This girl is Lin Yuan, quite talented. She absorbs everything I teach her. Oh right, Little Yuan, this is Shang Yi. He only comes on weekends, which is why you two haven't met before."

Following Old Man Feng's introduction, Lin Yuan came to a sudden realization. No wonder she had never seen other students visiting before. Their schedules simply hadn't overlapped.

She looked at Shang Yi's handsome, cold face and greeted him cautiously.

"Hello."

Shang Yi glanced at her lightly, giving a slight nod as a response.

"Hey, you brat, where are your manners?!" Old Man Feng glared at him in annoyance, then turned to explain to Lin Yuan, "His personality is just like that, doesn't like to speak. Don't mind him."

Lin Yuan hummed softly, offering a smile to say it was fine. She studied the Go board carefully, followed the match logic, and shared her thoughts, occasionally sneaking glances at Shang Yi, the tips of her ears flushing an increasingly vibrant red.

"Shang Yi, what do you think?"

Lin Yuan's voice carried a hint of uncertainty, as if lacking confidence. She had been talking for a while, yet Shang Yi kept his eyes fixed on the board, never raising his head once.

Finally, Shang Yi raised his eyes. His gaze was exceptionally cool, landing on Lin Yuan like snow melting on fingertips under winter sun. For a moment, Lin Yuan felt as though she had been drawn into a winter fantasy.

Having worked at a welfare center before, she had encountered many introverted, quiet children, knowing that behind their silence lay a heavy stone requiring someone to give them a gentle push.

Thus, she offered a smile, trying her best to appear warm and gentle. Lin Yuan's beauty was understated, yet when she smiled, her eyes were filled with pure tenderness and sweetness. An unreserved brilliance like afternoon sunlight that made one crave its warmth.