The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

This time, Zhang Rui didn't let Chu Ying cause trouble for too long. Instead, he said directly, "Let's go to the dojo."

Shi Guang paused for a moment, then asked, "What dojo?"

"A place to learn chess."

"Like extracurricular classes at a children's palace?"

"It's different. At the Children's Palace, you go to a few classes a week, but at the Go school, you're there all day. You eat, live, and study together. Every day is spent playing Go, reviewing games, and studying game records. Of course, there are also classes."

Time blinked, seemingly not quite understanding: "There you go all day? What about school?"

"Take a break from school."

"Take a leave of absence?! You mean I don't have to go to school anymore?"

Time stared wide-eyed, standing there for a long while without saying a word.

Upon hearing that he didn't have to go to school, his first reaction was naturally excitement, and the thought of playing chess there made him even more tempted, but...

"Xiao Guang—"

"What are you still hesitating for!" Chu Ying anxiously circled around Shi Guang. "Didn't we already agree that you'd study chess properly? Aren't you just worried about not having anyone to play chess with—"

"I know..." Shi Guang was getting a headache from Chu Ying's nagging and subconsciously called out, then realized that Zhang Rui was still around, so he quickly tried to make amends, "...I mean, I know you want me to learn chess."

Zhang Rui watched his performance expressionlessly without saying a word.

Shi Guang cleared his throat, pretending nothing had happened: "Let me think about it some more. School is actually quite interesting, and I just agreed with Wu Di to participate in the high school league together—"

"The high school league requires three people, right? And you're not even a high school student yet. Participating would be considered cheating, and if you get caught, your results will be invalidated, and you might even face disciplinary action." Zhang Rui interrupted him. "Didn't you always say that school wasn't interesting? I've never seen you care about your studies."

"...I've always taken it to heart."

What was your math score on the final exam last semester?

Time opened its mouth, but no words came out.

"Forty-three points."

Shi Guang's face flushed red instantly: "That...that's because I had a cold on the day of the exam—"

"And your Chinese lesson? Was it also because of a cold?"

"..."

"Your grades are so bad, your aunt worries about you every day, afraid you won't get into high school, you know that..."

Time fell completely silent, its ears burning red with embarrassment.

"puff--"

Chu Ying couldn't help but laugh out loud, only calming down a little after being glared at by Shi Guang.

Looking at Shi Guang's embarrassed expression, Zhang Rui's tone remained flat: "You don't really like going to school; you just like the carefree life on campus."

Time bowed its head, offering no rebuttal.

"Don't worry about your mom; she said you can choose for yourself. I think you can give it a try."

"But……"

Do you actually like Go or not?

"What do you mean?"

"If you genuinely love Go and want to learn it properly, then go for it. If you're just playing casually, then don't go. I don't think you have the talent for it anyway."

"Who are you calling talentless?!"

"I'm talking to you. What kind of talent can someone have who doesn't even dare to try?"

"I--"

"What do you mean 'what do you mean'? If you can't go, you can always go back to school. What, are you afraid of being embarrassed? I've never seen you afraid of this before—"

"Who says I'm afraid to go!" Shi Guang exclaimed impatiently. "Go ahead! What's the big deal!"

He regretted it as soon as he said it, but the words were already out and couldn't be taken back.

Zhang Rui looked at him, a slight smile playing on his lips, before quickly returning to his usual expression.

"Then let's go."

"Now?!" Shi Guang's eyes widened. "I haven't even asked for leave yet—"

"Your mom called the teacher."

"When? How come I didn't know?"

"When I arrived..."

Shi Guang followed Zhang Rui without mentioning going back to the classroom to pack up; the two headed straight for the school gate.

After walking a few steps, he became increasingly suspicious: "Did you do this on purpose?"

"What?"

"It's... deliberately provoking me."

"no."

"You clearly are!" Shi Guang said indignantly. "You said I have no talent, isn't that just to make me—never mind, never mind, I won't say anything more."

He stormed ahead angrily, while Zhang Rui followed leisurely behind.

Chu Ying floated beside Shi Guang: "Your brother is pretty amazing."

"You still dare to talk back!" Shi Guang muttered under her breath, "It's all your fault, if it weren't for you—"

"What?"

"It's nothing!"

Upon reaching the school gate, Zhang Rui thanked the gatekeeper and then stood by the roadside waving to flag down a taxi.

Shi Guang, standing to the side, suddenly remembered a question: "By the way, does the dojo... require payment?"

"want."

"How many?"

Zhang Rui quoted a price, and Shi Guang gasped, "So expensive?!"

"Meals and accommodation are included, and there are teachers supervising you all day. It's not expensive."

Shiguang felt a pang of regret for his mother's salary, but he didn't dare say anything.

A taxi stopped, Zhang Rui opened the door and sat in the passenger seat, and Shi Guang followed him into the back seat.

The car started, and Shi Guang sat in the back seat, staring blankly at the street scene outside the window, when suddenly another question came to mind.

"Zhang Rui—" he leaned against the back of the passenger seat, "that dojo...is there a part for you?"

Zhang Rui didn't turn around: "Who said that?"

"Don't you usually live outside and not come back? I heard my mom say that you live in some kind of dojo, I think."

Zhang Rui paused for a moment, then said, "I guess so."

"What does 'consider' mean?"

"I just contributed some money; I have a share in the dojo."

Time's eyes widened: "Then aren't you the owner of the dojo?"

"Not counting the boss, I just own some shares."

"Isn't that the same thing!" Shi Guang exclaimed impatiently. "If I go to your dojo, won't I become a 'connected' student? The teacher will definitely give me special treatment! I'm not going!"

"Didn't you just say you were going?"

"That was just now! I'm not going now!" Shi Guang leaned back in the seat, arms crossed. "I don't want to be seen as someone who relies on connections, or be told I'm doing this because of connections."

Zhang Rui glanced at him in the rearview mirror: "You're overthinking it."

"I didn't overthink it!" Shi Guang said righteously. "Think about it, if I go to a dojo where you have a stake, the teachers will definitely treat me politely, not scolding me when I should, not punishing me when I should, then what's the point of me learning? Besides, the other students will definitely gossip about me behind my back—"

"so what?"

"So I'm not going! You take me back to school!"

Zhang Rui ignored him.

"Zhang Rui! Did you hear me?!"

"I heard you. But have you considered that you'll have to pay tuition at other dojos as well?"

"So what?"

"Since we're going to have to pay anyway, why not benefit our own people? A portion of your tuition will go into my pocket."

Time was speechless, choked by this logic.

"...Aren't you being a bit too realistic?"

"It's just a fact."