It must be said, his sister-in-law's idea was too outlandish. For a moment, Xu Lai didn't even know how to refuse.

Seeing Xu Lai's silence, Ruan Lan exclaimed in astonishment, "Wow, no way, brother-in-law. Don't tell me you're actually imagining it? Ugh, men!"

Xu Lai: "..."

He forcefully knocked Ruan Lan on the head and frowned. "Stop thinking of devious ways out. If you're not convinced, just beat her at Go."

Why did you hit me so hard!

Ruan Lan covered her forehead, her eyes welling up with tears from the pain. As for winning back her pride at Go…

The fact that Dongli University's Go Club had been the runner-up for ten consecutive years spoke volumes.

If that were even possible, why would she need to resort to such petty schemes?

At least at this stage, they were simply no match for their opponents.

...

Sitting beside Xu Lai, Xiao Yu faintly sensed that Ruan Lan wasn't saying anything nice about her. She couldn't help but speak up with a smile.

"Ruan Lan, how about we play a game of Go? If I win, your brother-in-law is mine for the night."

"What if you lose?" Yu Xiaoxiao retorted.

"Our East Sea University Go Club hasn't lost in ten years. How could I possibly lose!?"

Damn it, she's so arrogant!

Ruan Lan clenched her fists. "Fine, let's play! If you lose, I want you to perform a striptease in our Go Club!"

Xiao Yu's face flushed red, but she didn't think for a second that she could lose. She said with a smirk, "Alright, I'll change my bet, then. If you lose, you do the same!"

Ruan Lan was silent for a long time.

She had played Go with Xiao Yu four times, and each game had ended in a crushing defeat.

Although Ruan Lan had drunk a little tonight and was slightly tipsy, it didn't mean she had lost her reason. She was still hesitating.

Just then, Xu Yiyi chimed in with her sweet voice, "My little aunt won't lose to you!"

Her own niece had so much faith in her.

Ruan Lan gritted her teeth and declared, "Fine, it's a deal!"

"Then let's go," Xiao Yu said eagerly. "There's a Go parlor nearby."

And so, the group that was originally going to party at the bar changed their plans and headed to the Go parlor.

「On the way to the Go parlor.」

Xu Lai turned his head to look behind him. He saw the neon lights flashing in the bustling East Sea City, his gaze eventually fixing on a flowerbed.

There, a conch lay on the ground. A small head hastily retracted into its shell.

Am I being followed?

Xu Lai's eyes shimmered, but he didn't make a move.

In his Divine Sense, the white-patterned conch Demonic Beast showed no trace of murderous intent or malice, so he decided not to bother with it.

They soon arrived at the Go parlor.

Even though it was nearly ten o'clock at night, the main hall was still filled with Go enthusiasts playing, most of them middle-aged or elderly.

As Xiao Yu entered, quite a few old men raised their heads and called out to her.

"Xiao Yu! Come, come, play a game with me."

"Xiao Yu's here? Old Li, get out of the way! I'm going to redeem myself today!"

"Get real. Do you even remember how many games you've lost? A fifty-year-old man losing to a twenty-year-old girl. Have you no shame?"

"She's an amateur sixth dan and I'm an amateur second dan. There's no shame in losing to her!"

"..."

Amateur sixth dan?!

Ruan Lan's expression shifted slightly. Just a month ago, Xiao Yu was still an amateur fifth dan.

"There was a competition recently. I had nothing better to do, so I entered. I was lucky enough to place in the top few, so I got promoted," Xiao Yu said with a grin. "Let's begin, amateur fourth-dan Ruan Lan."

Amateur sixth dan and amateur fourth dan might both sound like amateurs, and the gap appeared to be only two small ranks. But Ruan Lan knew the reality. The difference is huge!

She frowned slightly.

Unlike an ordinary practice match, losing on the Go board this time meant she would have to dance... and it was *that* kind of dance.

For a moment, she hesitated.

Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Yu said lazily, "Ruan Lan from Dongli University, if you're scared, you might as well not play. Just come straight to our school tomorrow."

What a blatant provocation!

Ruan Lan sat down, her pretty face cold. "Let's play!"

The corners of Xiao Yu's mouth curled up. Oh dear, she's far too easy to provoke.

"You can take black and go first," Xiao Yu said indifferently, propping her chin on her hand.

"Go for it, Ruan Lan!"

"You have to win!"

"Auntie, if you win, I'll have Dad make you something delicious!"

Not only Yu Xiaoxiao and Li Li, but even Xu Yiyi was cheering for Ruan Lan. As for Qian Xiao, he was fast asleep on a chair, snoring softly.

Xu Lai didn't watch the game, instead saying casually, "I'll take Qian Xiao home first."

Holding Qian Xiao by the back of his collar, Xu Lai slowly left the Go parlor.

When he returned half an hour later, he saw Ruan Lan with cold sweat on her forehead, hesitating for a long time without placing a black stone.

In contrast, Xiao Yu appeared calm and composed, as if victory was already in her hands. And indeed, it was.

Xu Lai glanced at the board and shook his head inwardly. My sister-in-law has lost...

Sure enough, after just three more moves, Ruan Lan stared at the board with a pale face and murmured, "I've lost..."

Stretching lazily, Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Ruan Lan, don't forget to come to our school tomorrow."

Ruan Lan wasn't a sore loser. Clenching her teeth, she said word by word, "I'll be there tomorrow!"

"Mm-hmm. Not only will I be waiting, I'll also invite all the members of our Go club to be there."

"..."

Ruan Lan bit her lip so forcefully that it bled. She said softly, "Brother-in-law, ask my sister to buy me a coffin for tomorrow. A pink one."

Xu Lai: "..."

He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Look at you, so spineless. Besides, they don't make pink coffins."

Ruan Lan looked devastated.

Whether she went to East Sea University tomorrow or not, she would become a complete laughingstock. She might as well just die.

"Alright, alright, I'll win it back for you," Xu Lai said resignedly. Sitting down, he started picking up the black stones and looked at Xiao Yu. "I'll play a game with you in Ruan Lan's place."

"Brother-in-law knows how to play Go?"

Xiao Yu squinted at him. She called him "brother-in-law" so readily it infuriated Ruan Lan, Yu Xiaoxiao, and Li Li even more.

"A little," Xu Lai replied modestly.

"Hmm, a little, huh? What rank are you, brother-in-law?" Xiao Yu asked with a radiant smile.

"No rank." Xu Lai was candid. "I haven't played in many years."

"If I win, you have to spend the night with me," Xiao Yu said, propping her chin on her hand, though her gaze was fixed on Ruan Lan.

As expected, these words infuriated Ruan Lan. "Fox Spirit!" she exclaimed angrily.

"If I win, your bet with Ruan Lan is off," Xu Lai said.

"Fine, but I'm taking the black stones," Xiao Yu replied.

It was clear that she really wanted to win.

"Daddy, you can't lose on purpose," Xu Yiyi said in a sweet, gentle voice.

Xu Lai's heart ached.

Is this what my daughter thinks of me?

Though Xiao Yu was beautiful, how could she possibly compare to his beloved wife? In Xu Lai's heart, there was only room for Ruan Tang.

They reset the board.

The Go enthusiasts still in the parlor gathered around, looking at Xu Lai with expressions of sympathy.

Ignorance truly is bliss, a middle-aged man sighed.

Xu Lai smiled and didn't argue, instead making a "please, begin" gesture with his hand.

Xiao Yu, playing black, placed her first stone on the star point.

Playing white, Xu Lai made his move, but the spot he chose left the Go enthusiasts staring wide-eyed in disbelief.

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