Xu Lai held his forehead.

Go is all about talent. For instance, Baize defeated the Immortal Domain's Chess Saint at the age of thirteen, whereas Ruan Lan is already twenty... Hmm. Although she's older, perhaps she can still be salvaged.

As Xu Lai pondered, Xu Yiyi waved and said, "Daddy, let me use your phone."

"Here."

Xu Yiyi took it, found the voice memo app, and began recording. "Auntie said she's willing to do anything for Daddy, and Daddy hesitated."

Xu Lai was dumbfounded.

"Yiyi, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Ruan Lan's face darkened. "What if your mother hears this? Your dad and I would be done for! Delete that voice note right now!"

Without looking up, Xu Yiyi continued, "Auntie is very afraid of Mommy finding out."

Ruan Lan was speechless.

"Yiyi, what are you doing?" Xu Lai asked, trying to remain calm.

"I'm recording a diary entry."

Xu Yiyi said earnestly, "My teacher said today that we should record our daily lives. When we get a little older, we'll have to write our diaries by hand."

The teaching method is quite innovative... But don't screw over your aunt!

Ruan Lan pleaded, "Yiyi, your aunt only asked your dad to teach me Go. There's nothing worth recording. Be a good girl and delete it."

"No."

Xu Yiyi shook her head, her big eyes staring straight at Ruan Lan. "Diaries have to be truthful."

"Be good."

Ruan Lan said, bracing herself, "I'll buy you a rabbit after school tomorrow."

Xu Yiyi held up two fingers. "Auntie, Yiyi wants two."

"...Fine."

Ruan Lan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

If she hadn't bribed Xu Yiyi with little rabbits in advance, Xu Lai wouldn't have come over for dinner at all. One or two made no difference.

When they returned home, Ruan Tang had already drawn a hot bath. After washing her daughter, she went back to the bedroom.

Xu Lai sat on the edge of the bed, telling a story to mother and daughter.

Before long, Xu Yiyi, who had played all day, drifted off to sleep.

Ruan Tang looked at Xu Lai and asked, "Why didn't you answer when I called you?"

"I was playing Go and had my phone on silent, so I didn't hear it," Xu Lai apologized.

Ruan Tang didn't press the matter, only reminding him, "Don't always keep it on silent. It'll be a problem if I can't reach you in an emergency."

"Mm," Xu Lai replied.

The night was as cool as water. The evenings on Mount Haitang were especially serene.

...

...

「The next morning.」

Inside Dongli University's infirmary, it was unusually bustling for a Saturday.

In addition to Li Shouzhong, Yan Gui, and their group of elderly men and women, there was another old man: Zheng Zong!

Seeing this unexpected guest, Yan Gui was momentarily stunned, then said cheerfully, "Old Zheng? You can't be here to see a doctor too, can you? Dr. An, hurry and take a look at Zheng Jiuduan."

Dr. An rolled his eyes, ignoring Yan Gui. He was a veterinarian.

"Old Man Yan, what are you all gathered here for?" Zheng Zong asked, looking puzzled.

Although he was a Go player, he and Yan Gui were longtime friends. He often sought out Yan Gui for medicine or acupuncture for his bad back. Over time, the two clicked and became friends. Zheng Zong also knew a bit about these famous physicians from the world of Xinglin.

But Zheng Zong was baffled. This was just an ordinary university infirmary, wasn't it? Why were so many top-tier doctors gathered here?

Could it be... that this has something to do with Xu Lai?

"Guess," Yan Gui's reply made Zheng Zong roll his eyes.

"Cut the crap. Where is Mr. Xu Lai?"

"He might not come, and even if he does, it probably won't be until this afternoon."

"Definitely. After all, he has to take his daughter to school," Yan Gui said to Li Shouzhong and the others.

"You're close with Mr. Xu?" Zheng Zong asked, surprised.

"Naturally," Yan Gui nodded proudly.

Zheng Zong's face lit up. "That's great! You must help me persuade Xu Lai to become a professional Go player."

A professional Go player?!

Yan Gui, Li Shouzhong, and the other doctors exchanged glances, then all stared at Zheng Zong with odd expressions.

Zheng Zong laughed heartily. "Xu Lai's talent for Go is extraordinary. It's a waste for him to be a doctor."

"Old Zheng, that's not quite right," Yan Gui said, displeased. "What do you mean it's a waste for him to be a doctor? It would be a waste for Xu Lai to play Go!"

Zheng Zong was stunned. "Is Mr. Xu an exceptionally skilled doctor?"

"It's not a matter of whether Director Xu is skilled or not. He's that truly rare kind of..." Yan Gui trailed off, searching for the right words.

Li Shouzhong added, "A once-in-a-lifetime genius!"

"Exactly, a once-in-a-lifetime genius!" Yan Gui nodded vigorously. "In the words of Dr. Zhou Feng, 'If heaven had not birthed Xu Lai, the path of medicine would have remained in eternal night.'"

"I don't care about your nights or days," Zheng Zong retorted. "If Mr. Xu played Go, he would surely go down in history!"

"Old Zheng, Xu Lai's appearance is enough to advance the field of medicine by a hundred years—no, at least three hundred years!" Yan Gui said solemnly. "Your talk of going down in history is not even worth mentioning."

Zheng Zong gasped. He knew Yan Gui well and was aware his friend never exaggerated.

"So forget playing Go," Yan Gui said, his eyes fervent. "Studying medicine can not only save the people of Hua Country, but billions around the globe will benefit—he could even change the world!"

Zheng Zong's scalp prickled. Yan Gui's claims were becoming more and more outrageous.

He hesitated. "I think I'll just wait for Mr. Xu and ask for his thoughts directly."

"Director Xu doesn't like being in the limelight, so don't bother asking. If you ask, the answer will definitely be no," Yan Gui said, shaking his head. "After all, with Director Xu's ability, he could easily become the world's number one if he were to play Go."

Zheng Zong corrected him, "Go is considered the most complex board game in the world. Becoming number one is incredibly difficult!"

Yan Gui shook his head.

It seemed his old friend still didn't understand the kind of upheaval Xu Lai would bring to the world, much less that Xu Lai was someone who shouldn't even exist in this era!

"Come, Old Zheng, sit down. Let me explain it all to you properly."

That explanation lasted three hours. Afterward, Zheng Zong didn't say another word and silently left the infirmary.

"Teacher, will Xu Lai agree to become a professional Go player?" a middle-aged woman waiting at the infirmary door asked, looking at Zheng Zong with anticipation.

"I didn't see Xu Lai," Zheng Zong sighed softly. "And I won't be coming to invite him again. Just... pretend he never existed."

The middle-aged woman was puzzled but didn't ask any more questions. She accompanied her teacher, who looked regretful and utterly dejected, as they left Dongli University.

...

The sunshine was warm and cozy.

Not only did Xu Lai not go to work, but Ruan Tang also didn't go to her company. Instead, she stayed home with Xu Yiyi, playing with building blocks.

"Honey, is it alright for you not to be at work?" Xu Lai asked Ruan Tang.

Ruan Tang shook her head.

The busiest period at the company was mostly over. Now, she only needed to go in occasionally.

Ruan Tang stood up and stretched. Her gaze swept over the courtyard outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, and she suddenly paused.

"Huh? Where did this conch shell come from?"

"A conch shell?"

Xu Yiyi dropped the block in her hand and rushed over.

When she saw the familiar, white-patterned conch shell, the little girl exclaimed with delight, "Mommy, this conch shell can talk!"

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