"K-K-K-K-K... Ke Ji!" Zhou Feng stuttered.

The bespectacled young man gave a bashful smile. "Hello."

Zhou Feng hurriedly handed over a pen and paper. Ke Ji, knowing the drill, signed his name with practiced ease. He had clearly done this many times before.

Then, Ke Ji looked toward the infirmary. "Excuse me, is Mr. Xu Lai here?"

"R-R-Right here." Li Cheng quickly waved him over, his eyes sparkling with ecstasy.

After all, in the world of Go, Ninth Dan players like Ke Ji, Zheng Zong, and Xiao Duo were as revered as the kings and queens of the entertainment industry—rare and highly sought after.

Xu Lai put down his geography magazine and looked at Ke Ji with a trace of regret. He saw a wisp of the 'chess spirit' in him. To think this is Earth, an abandoned cultivation star system. If Ke Ji were in the Immortal Domain, he might have had a chance to achieve the Dao through Go.

"Mr. Xu, Ruan Lan told me you were here." Ke Ji cupped his fists, a fervent flame twinkling in his eyes. "I've watched her two games against Lu An from five days ago, as well as the four games from today. They were incredibly stunning, but... they have flaws."

"Huh?" Li Cheng was dumbfounded. These games were being used as teaching material and were currently being analyzed by top Ninth Dan grandmasters in the gymnasium. How could there be flaws?

"Their skill is insufficient," Ke Ji said solemnly. "I seek your guidance, Mr. Xu."

This "guidance" clearly meant he wanted to play a game.

Xu Lai checked the time. "I'm sorry, but it's time for me to go."

As Ke Ji stared in confusion, Zhou Feng whispered, "Director Xu has to go pick up his child."

"...Then I'll come back tomorrow!" Ke Ji insisted.

"I gave the game records to Ruan Lan," Xu Lai said with a smile. "If you're not in a hurry, you can play Lu An in a year, or even in your next lifetime."

In a year! Anyone else would have taken that as a refusal, but Ke Ji nodded earnestly. "Alright."

He was a bit puzzled by what "next lifetime" meant, but he was too embarrassed to ask. At this moment, in Ke Ji's eyes, Xu Lai was a master who transcended the mortal world.

Xu Lai left the infirmary.

As the door closed, his sigh could just barely be heard. "Such a pity."

Though they were born in an unfortunate era, the fated connection between Lu An and Ke Ji was indeed predetermined, clearly visible within that chess spirit.

***

At the gate of Galaxy Kindergarten, Beibei squatted on Xu Yiyi's shoulder. Qian Xiao hesitantly glanced at the sea snail girl before whispering, "Yiyi, is there really a city in the sea?"

"Ha, you doubt me? Believe it or not, I'll kill you!" The sea snail girl raised her brows, threatening to draw her sword.

"Beibei," Yiyi called out in dissatisfaction. The Sea Demon Beibei clamped her mouth shut and fell silent.

"Yiyi, I…" Qian Xiao looked hesitant. Although he also longed for the spectacular underwater world Beibei had described, the idea of two children like them venturing into the sea alone was far too dangerous. Moreover, Beibei is a monster, and one that holds intense hostility toward me...

"It's okay, I'll go by myself." Xu Yiyi didn't press him. Seeing her dad waving from a few meters away, she said this and started running toward Xu Lai.

Suddenly, Qian Xiao clenched his teeth. "Yiyi, I can't rest easy with you going alone! I'll go with you!"

"Then it's a date." Xu Yiyi looked back with a radiant smile. "Nine a.m. tomorrow at Mount Haitang. See you there!"

Qian Xiao was stunned. His little head buzzed; all thoughts of danger and fear of the unknown vanished in that moment. He had only a single thought—how could this girl be so beautiful when she smiled? So beautiful she brightened the entire world.

Even long after Xu Yiyi had walked away, Qian Xiao remained dumbfounded for a full half hour.

Finally, the security captain couldn't help but whisper, "Wake up, kid. She's long gone. Time to go home for dinner."

"Ah!" Qian Xiao slapped his forehead. That's right, I need to buy snacks! What will we do if we get to Sea City with nothing to eat?

***

Seeing his daughter's face brimming with happiness, Xu Lai pretended to know nothing and asked, "What's making you so happy?"

"Ah? Nothing, nothing." Yiyi kept shaking her head. She took Xu Lai's hand and said sweetly, "Daddy, I want to go out with Qian Xiao tomorrow morning, but I'm afraid Mommy won't agree."

"No problem, I'll talk to her."

"Daddy's the best!" Xu Yiyi's eyes crinkled into a smile.

Xu Lai, who had overheard his daughter's conversation with Qian Xiao, just smiled slightly without letting on. I'll just be a silent guardian in the background tomorrow.

After dinner, Xu Yiyi sat on her room's balcony with the roly-poly Xiao Hei, both gazing at the moon.

Xu Lai mentioned to Ruan Tang that their daughter and Qian Xiao were going out to play the next day, but he didn't say it was to the world under the sea. When Ruan Tang heard Xu Lai would be going along, she didn't object, only advising, "Be careful."

Then, looking through the window at the reflection on the sea's surface, she became entranced. "The bright moon shines over the glittering water; it's so beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you," Xu Lai said earnestly. "The moon on the water is the moon in the sky; the person before me is the one in my heart."

"..."

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Not feeling the least bit awkward, Xu Lai casually reached out and gently took Ruan Tang's soft hand. "Sweetheart," he said softly, "on the day you get married, the stars themselves will seem dim in comparison, even the moon."

"I haven't decided to marry you yet!"

"So, that means you've thought about it?"

"..."

Ruan Tang's face flushed red as she pulled her hand away and glared at him. "I-I'm going to sleep now. Good night!"

Watching his wife-to-be practically flee, Xu Lai shook his head and chuckled softly. Liking someone isn't something to be ashamed of. What's there to be shy about? But I know she's thin-skinned. The road to getting a marriage certificate is long and arduous!

「Time passed.」

The next morning at nine o'clock, the beach at the foot of Mount Haitang was crowded with Saturday visitors.

Xu Yiyi, dressed in white sportswear, and Qian Xiao, carrying a black backpack, arrived at the beach sneakily.

"What did you tell Aunt Luo?" Xu Yiyi asked curiously.

"She wasn't home. She went on another business trip." Qian Xiao suddenly slapped his backpack and said mysteriously, "I brought lots of fruit and snacks, enough for a whole day."

"Tch, we're not on a picnic," Beibei grumbled with disdain. But as her gaze shifted to Xu Yiyi, she cupped her cheeks and smiled sweetly. "Yiyi, it's time to set off!"

She took off the conch shell from her back and threw it directly into the seawater.

The conch shell expanded rapidly, growing as large as a car and leaving Qian Xiao and Xu Yiyi astonished.

"Board the shell!" Beibei waved, all the while glancing around nervously. If any humans saw this, it would be a huge problem.

Luckily, they had chosen a secluded spot. Aside from Xu Lai, who was observing from the shadows, no one was paying any attention to this area.

Xu Yiyi was quite brave and crawled right into the conch shell. Qian Xiao hesitated for a long moment before finally jumping in as well.

The first glimpse of the shell's interior left him completely dazzled.

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