The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script - Chapter 21

Shang Shiqian had become a regular at the Go Room.

Not only had the Go Club students who frequented the place taken notice of her, but even the administrators recognized her. She no longer needed Chen Yixun to escort her inside she could enter smoothly on her own.

And Shang Shiqian no longer had to borrow Go sets either, because the moment she arrived, someone would eagerly invite her: “Hey, want to play a game?”

Shang Shiqian happily accepted.

After two matches, two more defeated players lay in the Go Room’s wake.

The onlookers teased them: “I told you she was good! You just had to ask for trouble!”

They retorted, “How else would we know if it’s just you guys being terrible?”

Li Zhishen, who had just finished class, rushed over in a sweat without even stopping for lunch.

“Care for a game?”

Chen Yixun, who had come to call Shang Shiqian for lunch, reminded them, “It’s time to eat.”

“My treat,” Li Zhishen said to Shang Shiqian before turning to hand his campus card to a Go Club student. “Go grab two no, three boxed meals.”

Seeing his enthusiasm, Shang Shiqian agreed.

Li Zhishen exhaled in relief and sat across from her. “How about we play by Ying’s Rules today?”

Ying’s Rules were one of the three major Go rule systems currently in use, the other two being China’s Counting Method and Japan’s Area-Counting Method, along with Ying’s Point-Counting Method.

Of course, there were also rules adopted for specific tournaments, such as the New Zealand Rules, American Rules, and Mind Sports Games Rules.

The actual gameplay under these rules was largely similar, with differences mainly in overtime penalties, victory calculation methods, and komi adjustments.

Several world-class championships currently used Ying’s Rules, so any player who had participated in such competitions would be very familiar with them.

Li Zhishen’s suggestion to use this rule set was also a way to test Shang Shiqian.

Shang Shiqian might be oblivious in other areas, but when it came to Go, no one’s little schemes escaped her notice.

Not that she minded.

“Sure.”

Li Zhishen took out two Ying-specific timers. After hand guessing for the first move, they immediately plunged into a casual match that was no less intense than an official tournament.

The administrator wasn’t around at noon, so they ate while playing.

Even so, the game lasted over five hours.

Li Zhishen’s time ran out first, pushing him into overtime penalty points.

Already at a disadvantage, he now faced losing two points for every additional 20 minutes spent, with only two penalty chances after which he would automatically forfeit.

To save time, Li Zhishen decided to speed up his moves.

But he lost his composure, made a wrong move, and the game was lost.

As they cleared the board, Li Zhishen said, “Tomorrow, let’s use the rules from Ying’s University Go Championship.”

That tournament had shorter time limits he wanted to see if Shang Shiqian could stay just as steady.

Shang Shiqian replied, “I won’t be coming tomorrow.”

Li Zhishen abruptly stood up, exclaiming, “Not coming? Why? Did someone stop you?”

His voice was so loud the entire room turned to look.

A nearby student teased, “President, tomorrow’s Saturday she’s probably got a date.”

Li Zhishen realized his mistake and laughed awkwardly.

But then Shang Shiqian dropped another bombshell: “Not just tomorrow, I might not be coming back at all.”

Now the others couldn’t sit still: “Why?”

Although they always got crushed whenever they played Go with Shang Shiqian, they also benefited greatly from it.

Every match was recorded so they could review afterward, discussing and improving their weaknesses.

As Li Zhishen put it, Shang Shiqian wasn’t just a formidable opponent she was also their teacher on the path of Go.

Without her, how could they hone their skills for the upcoming university Go championship in July?

Under their anxious gazes, Shang Shiqian awkwardly explained, “I’ve run out of living expenses. I need to start Playing for Stakes.”

Everyone: “…”

Such a simple, practical reason!

Shang Shiqian had made this decision after careful consideration.

She knew she couldn’t keep living in Wei Yixian’s home indefinitely, so she had to plan ahead.

When Chen Yixun took her to the commercial street near East City University for food these past few days, she’d spotted an unregistered chess and card parlor and the idea of earning money there took root.

After the “Gilded Cage Rumors” surfaced, she became even more determined.

As for where she’d stay after leaving Wei Yixian’s place?

Last night, she’d confessed her undocumented status to Chen Yixun over WeChat.

Not only was Chen Yixun unfazed, he even offered to help.

Once she saved enough, she could rent a single room near East City University under his name.

In a desperate bid to keep her, Li Zhishen swallowed the pain of his shrinking wallet and said, “I can play for stakes with you too.”

Shang Shiqian looked mildly surprised, then smiled. “Wouldn’t that just be handing me money for free?”

She declined politely. “The Go Room at school has a learning atmosphere. I don’t want to bring gambling into it.”

Hearing this, Li Zhishen didn’t press further only asking which parlor she planned to visit.

Wei Corporation.

Xie Yu hurried into the CEO’s office with a tablet and placed it on Wei Yixian’s desk.

“President Wei, these are the client records from all beauty and plastic surgery institutions in East City. No one matching the criteria was found. Next, I’ll expand the search to the entire province, then nationwide.”

Wei Yixian glanced at it briefly before closing the tablet.

“No need.”

Xie Yu thought she’d misheard.

Surprised, she asked, “Do you know her background now?”

“Not exactly. Just a guess.”

Xie Yu remained unruffled.

Even after days of wasted effort, her composure held.

After a pause, she asked, “Then what about the task of contacting East City University’s Go Club to track her daily activities. Should I stop that too?”

Wei Yixian extended a hand. “Keep that going.”

Xie Yu calmly pulled out a phone, opened the gallery, and handed it over. “These are the videos they sent.”

Wei Yixian skimmed through them, eyebrows lifting slightly. “All Go matches?”

“Because Shang Shiyu only plays Go in the Go Room. Nothing else.”

Wei Yixian pressed her lips together. “Understood. You may go.”

Just as Xie Yu turned to leave, she was called back. “One more thing. Recently, Sun Wei, the deputy captain of the Public Security Action Unit, seems to be investigating her too. Find out why.”

Xie Yu accepted the new task and left but paused at the door, unable to resist turning back. “About the new rumor in the circles that you’re keeping a Caged Canary… Do you plan to clarify?”

Wei Yixian curled her lips and asked leisurely, “Why clarify? Since she chose to approach me, she should be prepared to face the negative consequences that come with it.”

Xie Yu: “…”

She silently opened the door and left.

Wei Yixian finished up some work and only picked up her tablet to watch Shang Shiqian’s chess match video as she was about to leave the office.

Even though Shang Shiqian’s face wasn’t shown, Wei Yixian could recognize her from the slender, pale wrists and the distinct, long fingers with prominent joints.

This was probably the first time she had seen “Shang Shiyu” holding chess pieces to play.

The way “Shang Shiyu” held the pieces clearly showed she was an experienced player. Under the high-definition camera, even the calluses on her fingers were visible.

Watching the entire match at eight times speed made it even clearer that “Shang Shiyu’s” playing style was remarkably mature and skilled.

Her grasp of the game situation was precise, and her strategies were flawless.

When she gained the upper hand, she remained steady and composed, advancing step by step.

When her opponent took the lead, she stayed calm and collected, then gradually lured them into her carefully laid trap before delivering a fatal blow to turn the tables.

This was definitely not the kind of solid foundation that could be built with just a few years of casual training.

Wei Yixian could now confirm that “Shang Shiyu” indeed knew how to play chess and at no low level.

The setting sun’s afterglow streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, its fiery glow scorching Wei Yixian’s hand.

She should have felt burning heat, yet her fingertips remained icy cold.

Her secretary knocked and entered, “President Wei, you have a dinner appointment at seven. Should we prepare to leave now?”

Wei Yixian lowered her gaze and said indifferently, “Cancel the dinner. Have the driver take me to East City University.”

After a pause, she added, “Also, look into Shang Shidai’s recent schedule for me.”

The secretary was taken aback, “Shang Shidai, the fifth young lady of the Shang family?”

Wei Yixian lifted her eyes, her gaze frosty, “Is there a second Shang Shidai in East City?”

The secretary shuddered in fright and hurried out.

Mini Theater:

System’s relay: Host, the female lead watched your chess video and is very satisfied with your hands.

Wei Yixian: ?

Wasn’t it because the video only showed hands?

System: Aren’t you satisfied with her hands?

Wei Yixian: …

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