The Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife Changes to Take the Black Moonlight Script - Chapter 47
After four days, Shang Shiqian returned to the Go Room at East City University and noticed that while there were more students present, fewer were actually playing Go.
The reason for this odd phenomenon was the approaching exam week.
East City University’s vacation began on July 3rd, and the one or two weeks prior were dedicated to final exams for various courses. As a result, students who had spent the semester leisurely now crammed frantically in the week leading up to exams.
The library and study halls were already packed, so students who usually came to the Go Room to play Go simply used the space to study instead.
The room had air conditioning and was quiet, making it an ideal environment for revision.
Of course, if students came to play Go, they would still have to give up their seats.
But aside from those preparing for competitions, no one had the leisure to play Go anymore.
Shang Shiqian spotted Chen Yixun there.
Chen Yixun said awkwardly, “I overslept today and couldn’t get a seat anywhere else.”
Shang Shiqian smiled knowingly.
Chen Yixun asked, “You haven’t been here the past couple of days, have you?”
These past few days, she had been juggling exam revision, preparing for her elective course finals, and compiling materials for her application to the Phoenix Foundation’s summer internship program. She simply hadn’t had time to visit the Go Room.
If she wanted to chat with Shang Shiqian, she could just message her on WeChat, so she hadn’t even noticed Shang Shiqian’s absence until now. It was only when she heard the administrator greet Shang Shiqian that she realized something was off.
Shang Shiqian replied, “I caught the flu, so I stayed home to recover.”
Chen Yixun asked with concern, “How are you feeling now?”
“I was asymptomatic, I just stayed home to avoid infecting others. I’ve tested negative now. But just to be safe, you should wear a mask. I actually brought a bunch with me.” Shang Shiqian unzipped her backpack and handed her one.
Chen Yixun’s gaze drifted to Shang Shiqian’s wrist, where there was nothing. A pang of disappointment struck her.
But when Shang Shiqian pulled out the mask, Chen Yixun caught sight of the tea-colored bracelet tucked inside, and her heart warmed slightly.
She blurted out, “You don’t like wearing bracelets or other accessories, do you?”
“It’s not about liking or disliking, they just get in the way when playing Go.”
Shang Shiqian paused, then tied the bracelet Chen Yixun had given her to a small loop on her backpack as a charm. “Maybe the reason I had no symptoms was because of this bracelet. If I hang it here, it should still protect me, right?”
Chen Yixun felt both exasperated and amused.
Though she could tell Shang Shiqian only saw her as a friend, this small gesture made her feel that being friends wasn’t so bad after all.
She laughed and said, “I won’t keep you from coaching. I should head back too, if someone takes my seat, I’ll have nowhere to cry about it.”
Shang Shiqian entered the professional Go Classroom and, to her surprise, found it unusually crowded.
Upon asking, she learned that the Go program also had exams, scheduled a week earlier than other majors.
The Go program was a specialization within the Communications department. Graduates in this track typically pursued careers as Go commentators, Go instructors, or worked in sports organizations. To graduate, students had to reach at least an amateur 3-dan level.
Since most students had already achieved this rank, they often skipped practical classes only those required attendance in the professional Go Classroom, while other courses were held elsewhere only showing up during exam week.
Shang Shiqian: “…”
She wondered why so many students had suddenly appeared turns out they usually skipped class.
But she wasn’t responsible for guiding these students, so whether there were many or few didn’t really concern her.
Though that’s what she thought, she couldn’t stop the students from thinking otherwise.
Half of these students were freshmen and sophomores. Freshmen studied theory, board positioning, and fixed patterns, while sophomores focused on life-and-death problems and techniques.
When they saw in the group chat that Shang Shiqian was helping competition participants solidify their foundations by focusing on these aspects, they came to freeload on the guidance.
At noon, Shang Shidai came to East City University to find Shang Shiqian. Seeing her surrounded like a star (actually, students were competing for afternoon coaching slots), she couldn’t help muttering, “Quite popular, huh…”
Shang Shiqian happened to walk up to her younger sister, Shang Xiaowu, and asked, “What are you muttering about?”
Shang Xiaowu huffed and said, “I advise you to give up on copying Shang Qiguan. Go isn’t something you can learn so easily.”
Shang Shiqian countered, “Is Go really that hard?”
“Of course it’s hard! Even someone as talented as Shang Qiguan started learning Go at five and only became a professional dan player at eleven. You’re starting now? Too late!”
Shang Shiqian said, “Who said I’m here to learn Go?”
“If you’re not here to learn, then are you here to teach? What’s your professional dan rank?” Shang Xiaowu scoffed.
Shang Shiqian smiled, not bothering to prove anything to her sister. Instead, she asked, “Did you come out without bodyguards?”
“Why would I need bodyguards?”
“With that arrogant attitude of yours, I’m afraid you’ll offend someone sooner or later and get jumped.”
Shang Xiaowu choked.
After a pause, she glared at Shang Shiqian. “You’re so annoying!”
Just like Shang Qiguan!
At that moment, Chen Yixun came out of the Go Room and saw Shang Shiqian still there. Delighted, she walked over and patted Shang Shiqian’s shoulder. “Shiyu, want to grab lunch together?”
Only then did she notice the person standing opposite Shang Shiqian.
At first glance, the girl looked familiar, bearing some resemblance to Shang Shiyu.
Upon closer inspectionwasn’t this Shang Shidai, whose photo she had just seen earlier?!
“You!”
Chen Yixun’s heart tightened. Why was Shang Shidai here?
Could it be true what the gossip group said about Wei Yixian confronting Shang Shidai at East City University and that it was related to Shang Shiyu?
Which raised the question: Was Shang Shiyu part of the Shang family?
Shang Xiaowu didn’t notice the strange expression on the masked stranger’s face. She asked Shang Shiqian, “Your classmate?”
Chen Yixun: ?
The question threw her off.
If Shang Shiyu was from the Shang family, why didn’t Shang Shidai know that her own family member wasn’t even a student at East City University?
The more she thought about it, the stronger the suspicion grew that Shang Shiyu was an illegitimate child.
“My friend,” Shang Shiqian said.
Shang Xiaowu didn’t probe further.
After all, many people referred to close classmates as friends.
To her, Shang Shiqian was simply admitting it.
Shang Xiaowu asked, “Where are you guys eating?”
Chen Yixun answered, “The cafeteria.”
“What’s so good about cafeteria food? Come on, I’ll take you out to eat.”
Chen Yixun’s scalp prickled.
Last time, Wei Yixian’s treat had left her with such a psychological gap that it took her a long time to recover.
Now, she was genuinely afraid of East City’s wealthy elite.
But Shang Shiqian cherished every moment with her sister and readily agreed. “Sure!”
Chen Yixun tactfully said, “I need to go to the library early to grab a seat later.”
“Then let’s eat nearby. I’ll call and ask what good places there are around here.”
Shang Xiaowu naturally turned to Li Xiao’s girlfriend, Zhu Yuanying, for recommendations.
However, she didn’t have Zhu Yuanying’s contact information, so she had to reach out to Li Xiao first.
Li Xiao and Zhu Yuanying happened to be planning to train some newly recruited students, so they simply invited everyone to the same restaurant, treating it as an early team-building event.
Shang Shiqian seemed to think of something and stepped aside to make a call.
When she returned, she asked Shang Xiaowu, “I have a friend who originally had plans with me. Since you’re treating, would it be alright to bring her along?”
Shang Xiaowu grew wary: “It’s not Wei Yixian, is it?”
“No.”
“As long as it’s not Wei Yixian, you can bring whoever you want.”
Half an hour later.
Xiao Luomeng arrived at the restaurant, whose menu prices alone would have made her hesitate to enter.
She looked at the two people beside Shang Shiqian and asked, “So when you said you were treating me to a meal, you meant with this many people?”
Shang Shiqian pointed at her younger sister: “Originally, it was my treat, but she was so insistent on paying that I let her.”
Shang Xiaowu: ???
She felt like she’d been played.
Xiao Luomeng recognized Shang Shidai: “The fifth young lady of the Shang family?”
“I’m Shang Shidai. And you are?”
“Xiao Luomeng. ‘Luò’ as in ‘water joy,’ ‘méng’ as in ‘grass bright.'”
Shang Xiaowu, noting how dark Xiao Luomeng was compared to Shang Shiyu’s fair complexion, wondered where Shang Shiyu had met such a friend.
Suddenly, Shang Shiqian clapped her hands and said, “Ah, I just realized Xiao Luomeng actually has a connection to the Shang family too.”
Shang Xiaowu: “Huh? What connection? I’ve never heard of it.”
Xiao Luomeng raised an eyebrow, thinking Shang Shiqian was about to mention her involvement in that case eight years ago.
Instead, Shang Shiqian said, “She’s a forest ranger at the Luxing Conservation Station. Not far from there is the Shang family cemetery. In fact, during Qingming Festival, it’s her and her colleagues who patrol the area to check for illegal fireworks!”
Shang Shidai: “…”
Xiao Luomeng: “…”
You must be a master at mental gymnastics, what kind of convoluted connection is that?!
Xiao Luomeng asked, “So, you invited me here just to ask me to turn a blind eye if the Shangs burn paper money or set off firecrackers during Qingming?”
Shang Shiqian asked curiously, “Could you?”
Xiao Luomeng: “…”
Shang Xiaowu huffed, “Who even sets off firecrackers during Qingming? Certainly not our family!”
“Then you have nothing to worry about,” Shang Shiqian told Xiao Luomeng.
Xiao Luomeng replied sarcastically, “Thanks for your support of our work!”
Chen Yixun, silently spectating, was already numb inside.
How does Shang Shiyu know so much about the Shang family?
Is she really the illegitimate daughter?
But Shang Shidai doesn’t seem to treat Shang Shiyu the way most families treat an illegitimate sister!
…
After a lunch that tasted like cardboard, Chen Yixun left early to secure his spot at the library.
Shang Shiqian asked her sister, “What about your two friends?”
“Oh, they’re in the private room next door,” Shang Xiaowu said.
Since Li Xiao knew her sister, she didn’t want him to notice Shang Shiyu’s resemblance to Shang Qiguan.
Hearing this, Xiao Luomeng said, “I’m going to the restroom.”
Shang Xiaowu seized the moment to ask Shang Shiqian, “How much is Wei Yixian paying you?”
Shang Shiqian thought she had taken advantage of his absence to learn from Chen Yixun about his tutoring sessions with Wei Yixian.
He replied, “Five thousand an hour.”
Shang Xiaowu was stunned.
Twenty-four hours a day meant 120,000, and a month, 3.6 million!?
No wonder Shang Shiyu was so devoted to Wei Yixian and even spoke up for her Wei Yixian was incredibly generous.
More generous than most wealthy people she knew who had affairs or kept Caged Canaries!
She had originally planned to persuade Shang Shiyu not to be Wei Yixian’s substitute for Shang Qiguan.
Now, forget persuasion even she felt a fleeting temptation.
The Shang family had a trust fund, but she only received 250,000 yuan in monthly allowance, less than a tenth of Wei Yixian’s “support fee”!
Realizing what she had just thought, Shang Xiaowu inwardly scolded herself for losing her composure.
Who the hell would want to be Wei Yixian’s Caged Canary?
Unable to find any grounds to criticize Wei Yixian, Shang Xiaowu said with mixed emotions, “She offers quite a fair price.”
Shang Shiqian nodded. “Of course. Her rate is several times higher than others’.”
Shang Xiaowu was even more shocked. “You others have approached you too?”
“Of course. But they didn’t offer nearly as much ust around five thousand a month.”
“Five thousand? That’s practically charity!” Shang Xiaowu’s face darkened. “Can’t you quit this line of work?”
No, she couldn’t accept someone with Shang Qiguan’s face being a Caged Canary for so many people.
Shang Shiqian said, “But I don’t know how to do anything else.”
“If you need money, you can ask me!”
Before Shang Xiaowu could finish, Shang Shiqian, as if realizing something, interjected with a strange expression, “If you want to learn Go, why not ask Grandpa?”
Shang Xiaowu: ?
Her brain short-circuited for a moment before she blurted out, “Go?! You were talking about Go this whole time?!”
“What else would it be?”
A moment later, Shang Shiqian had an epiphany.
She didn’t want to scold her sister, but she couldn’t help mocking, “Don’t tell me you thought I was talking about being someone’s kept lover?”
Shang Xiaowu fell silent.
Shang Shiqian took one look at her guilty expression and knew she had guessed right.
She chided, “Can’t your thoughts be a little more wholesome and positive? Why do you always assume the worst?”
Shang Xiaowu argued, “Wei Yixian hiring you to teach her Go that’s just impossible to believe!”
“Why is it impossible?”
Shang Xiaowu couldn’t answer.
Shang Shiqian answered for her: “Because you think she’s still hung up on her first love, that she only married Shang Shiyu for leverage. That she even suffered because of Shang Shiyu’s death, so she must resent Shang Shiyu and would never take an interest in anything related to her.”
Shang Xiaowu opened her mouth but hesitated, looking somewhat indignant.
Shang Shiqian sighed.
Influenced by the original novel, she had once thought the same way.
But after interacting with Wei Yixian, she realized how narrow-minded she had been.
Their heart-to-heart talk had given her a glimpse into Wei Yixian’s true feelings.
So she wouldn’t be swayed by such biases anymore.
But this prejudice had taken root in her sister’s heart for eight years, it wouldn’t be uprooted overnight.
A long road lay ahead!
Shang Xiaowu suddenly felt that inexplicable sense of crisis fade away.
Curiosity resurfaced as she asked, “You really know how to play Go?”
“Care for a game?”
Children from the Shang family grew up surrounded by chess and could all play to some extent, though most lacked the time or interest to delve deeper into it.
Shang Xiaowu shook her head: “Too boring. I don’t want to.”
She paused, then pressed further: “So what exactly is your relationship with Wei Yixian?”
Shang Shiqian opened her mouth, only to find this question unexpectedly difficult to answer.
Ex-wife, deceased wife, substitute.
Even a simple “go teacher” label would provide a reasonable explanation for their connection.
But while she could brush off Shang Xiaowu with such answers, she couldn’t deceive her own heart.
Whenever she contemplated her relationship with Wei Yixian, it felt like plucking a taut string in her chest each thought of Wei Yixian sent resonant notes echoing through her being.
Noticing the faint curve at the corner of Shang Shiqian’s lips, Shang Xiaowu immediately demanded fiercely: “You don’t actually like Wei Yixian, do you? That’s not allowed!”
Shang Shiqian glanced at her, avoiding introspection about her feelings for Wei Yixian and countered: “Why not?”
“Liking her brings bad luck.”
“Not liking her doesn’t guarantee good fortune either.”
“That’s sophistry.”
“That’s prejudice.”
“…” Outargued, Shang Xiaowu’s nose tingled, tears of frustration threatening to spill again.
Shang Shiqian quickly ruffled her hair and asked: “Want some ice cream?”
Shang Xiaowu pouted: “Yes.”
The restaurant served ice cream.
After checking the prices, Shang Shiqian wordlessly slipped into the neighboring supermarket and returned with two 2-yuan mini popsicles.
“You’re so stingy,” Shang Xiaowu remarked.
“Nostalgic flavors can’t be measured by price,” Shang Shiqian replied, unwrapping one for her.
Shang Xiaowu stuffed the treat into her mouth, too busy savoring it to retort.
When Xiao Luomeng came out and saw the sisters, she inexplicably felt they could pass as biological siblings.
Shang Shiqian said: “I’m heading back to campus now.”
“Fine, don’t let the door hit you,” Shang Xiaowu waved dismissively.
Only after walking some distance with Xiao Luomeng did Shang Shiqian ask: “Any findings, Sister Luomeng?”
Long accustomed to the “Luomeng” nickname due to her name, Xiao Luomeng replied: “Checked them, none are using that stuff.”
As a former police officer who’d handled drug-related cases during her narcotics squad days, Xiao Luomeng could identify substance users through observation.
Shang Shiqian had enlisted her help to eliminate potential bad influences around Shang Xiaowu.
For now, Li Xiao and Zhu Yuanying could be ruled out.
“Thanks, Sister Luomeng.”
Hearing her WeChat notification, Xiao Luomeng opened the app to find a red envelope from Shang Shiqian.
Her face darkened: “Looking down on me?”
Shang Shiqian shook her head: “Not my intention.”
With sudden pensiveness, she added: “I only recently learned 92-octane gas costs over 8 yuan now. Can’t have you driving here with a full tank and leaving empty.”
Xiao Luomeng suddenly laughed: “Classy move. Call me again for such gigs.”
With that, she strode off with a wave.
–
Returning to East City University, Shang Shiqian spotted Chu Fei patrolling inside Treasure Pavilion wearing security attire.
Shang Shiqian: ?
“Sister Chu, did Wei Yixian fire you?”
Chu Fei explained: “I’m now East City University’s temporary building administrator, responsible for managing Treasure Pavilion during your campus hours.”
Even without thinking, Shang Shiqian knew this was another one of Wei Yixian’s arrangements meant to ensure Chu Fei could be by her side anytime, anywhere.
“So does this mean Sister Chu is paying to work?”
Chu Fei: “……”
Shang Xiaowu: “You’re so annoying.”
Shang Shiqian: “Wei Yixian says I’m not annoying, hehe.”
Shang Xiaowu: “You’re all annoying!”
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