The Way of the Blind Girl Chess Saint

"Yes, my house is at the last stop on the school bus, but don't worry, Senior Ji Yingting, we'll be there soon!"

Xin Yufei sat in the back seat of Ji Yingting, quietly playing with her light green hair.

Because she was only holding a few thin strands of hair in her hand, Ji Yingting had no idea that Xin Yufei was treating her beloved hair as a plaything.

Five minutes later, the school bus finally came to a stop.

"Sakuraba-senpai, do you need me to help you?"

"No need, no need," Ji Yingting was already used to it. She waved her hand, held onto the railing, and gently jumped down.

-----

"Good evening, Ms. Yufei! Welcome home."

As soon as Ji Yingting's brown cloth boots touched the ground, she heard a row of neat female voices welcoming her from the front.

Wow!! So many maids!!! Are they wearing black stockings!?

Ji Yingting guessed in her mind that she had been reading a lot of unorthodox online novels recently, and even her thinking had become a bit strange.

"Sakuraba-senpai is staying at my house tonight, so please prepare dinner! By the way, Sakuraba-senpai, what would you like to eat?" Xin Yufei said to the group of maids in white stockings.

"Hmm... I haven't had it for years, but my favorite food is coconut-flavored steak!!"

Hearing the maids call Xin Yufei "Miss," Ji Yingting knew she must be a wealthy person, so she didn't bother to be polite.

After all, she hadn't eaten her favorite food since leaving the Ji family... because she couldn't afford it!

"Ahhh!! I love eating that too! My family even raises a few coconut cows that lay coconut eggs!!!"

"Hey hey hey hey hey hey!! Really!!... I really want to see coconut cows! Where are they!" Ji Yingting excitedly crossed her arms.

Seeing Ji Yingting's expression, Xin Yufei suddenly fell silent and didn't speak for a long time.

Because what follows will likely be a melodramatic plot twist often seen in novels or anime...

Where is your mother?

Ah! She's dead!

Ah! I didn't mean to, I'm sorry!

Ah! It's okay! I've already forgotten about it!

Mysterious Silence

Ah! Where are your eyes? Can't you see the coconut cow?

Ah! My eyes can't see the coconut cow!

Ah! I didn't mean to! I'm so sorry!

Ah! It's alright! I'm already used to life as a blind person!

Mysterious Silence

"Oh no! Just imagining it in my mind is incredibly embarrassing!!"

"So, Sakuraba-senpai, how well-done would you like your coconut steak?"

A few seconds later, Xin Yufei cleverly changed the subject, so that Senior Ji Yingting wouldn't forget that she was blind in her excitement.

Chapter 29: Handicap Chess

The coconut steak was served by two maids wearing white lace stockings. The emerald green sauce covered the tender beef, which the maids then neatly sliced ​​into dozens of strips.

A small incision is made with a sharp knife, and the tender meat is roasted to release a thick sauce that is a mixture of white and green. The rich, greenish sauce coats the meat, and it glistens under the dim light, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

Coconut beef not only has an enticing aroma and meaty flavor, but also a subtle milky fragrance, making it extremely delicious.

This beef is not directly cut from the coconut cow, but rather from the eggs laid by the coconut cow. Coconut egg beef is a very precious ingredient, and each coconut cow egg can sell for tens of thousands of star coins.

However, one egg is as big as a basketball! Ji Yingting and Xin Yufei ate together and only consumed one-third of the meat from one beef and coconut egg.

Therefore, although coconut steak is a luxury, its price is not outrageous and it is a common ingredient in wealthy families.

However, Xin Yufei's family keeps several coconut cows!

Coconut cows lay several coconut eggs each week, and their average lifespan is around 15 years, so the price of each coconut cow is immeasurable!

"Wow, this is delicious! I haven't had such delicious food in ages!"

Ji Yingting opened her cherry-like mouth and took a small bite of a piece of beef coated in coconut juice. She chewed slowly, and the rich aroma of beef and the milky flavor of coconut juice instantly flooded her taste buds.

Wow.

A bluish-green ahoge (a single strand of hair sticking up) from Ji Yingting's head and bounced into the sky.

This means the food was so delicious that it caused her clothes to burst open!

"The coconut steak is so delicious!!!" Ji Yingting couldn't help but cover her cheek and say happily.

“Yeah… but I’m still a little surprised that you can eat a medium-rare steak, Sakuraba-senpai…” Xin Yufei said, staring at Ji Sakuraba’s steak. Medium-rare steak is usually a bit too strong for girls.

After enjoying dinner, Ji Yingting was led to Xin Yufei's room. Along the way, many maids in white stockings tried to help her, but Ji Yingting refused them all.

"Speaking of which... I had no idea you were on the same school bus as me!" Ji Yingting said in confusion, her green ahoge hair sticking up and twitching strangely a few times.

"We weren't familiar with each other before... so I didn't talk to you."

Xin Yufei said shyly, how could she talk to Ji Yingting with such an ordinary appearance? People would definitely point and whisper, "Does this ugly girl think that she can become perfect, gorgeous, noble, aloof and unrestrained just by being friends with a beautiful woman?"

With her timid and insecure personality, and her ordinary appearance, no one had ever paid her any attention. To meet Sakuraba-senpai must be a blessing from heaven!!!

“Sakuraba-senpai, it’s already past nine o’clock. Do you want to take a shower and go to bed now? We can share a bed tonight,” Xin Yufei suggested.

"Hmm... not sleepy yet. I slept for half an hour on the school bus and now I feel much more energetic!" Ji Yingting shook her long, light green hair.

"Let's play Go! Okay?"

Upon hearing that Ji Yingting wasn't planning to sleep, Xin Yufei instantly became much more alert.

“Okay, but Xin Yufei, are you really interested in Go?” Ji Yingting sat down on her bed with some curiosity, not refusing her suggestion.

“Yes!” Xin Yufei nodded seriously.

Although her chess skills are not strong.

However... her desire to become stronger had become so intense that it was almost blatant.

During the training camp, Xin Yufei would stay alone in the game room to review the games after each evening's match. She was also particularly enthusiastic when everyone was studying the game records of professional players.

Ji Yingting slowly recalled.

Although she lost every game in the training camp, her voice always revealed a strong sense of resentment after each defeat.

She wants to become stronger...

This is something everyone knows; it's something that can be seen at a glance.

She lost; she'll be angry and resentful...

This is what Ji Yingting sensed.

I don't dislike kids who like to take things seriously...

Wanting to win isn't wrong; what's wrong is winning through despicable means, like those of Lian Hezhou.

As for her previous method of defeating her opponent by deception, strictly speaking... it can only be said that her opponent hadn't learned it, and it has nothing to do with chess ethics.

Ji Yingting might let the opponent win, but she would never intentionally let them win. [PS: This doesn't mean giving them a free move, but rather deliberately letting them win.]

Because she had already experienced firsthand how painful it is to lose a game countless times.

Therefore, you absolutely cannot let someone win, even if the opponent is a graduating senior, for example...

"Ah, Sakuraba-senpai."

"Sakuraba-senpai, are you still awake?"

Xin Yufei waved her hand in front of Ji Yingting for a while before realizing that Ji Yingting couldn't see her, so she asked aloud.

Interrupted from her thoughts, Ji Yingting stopped reminiscing and chuckled softly, "Then... let's start the next round!"

"it is good!"

Xin Yufei happily agreed, moved the Go set from the table to the bed, and sat down on the bed while half-lying down.

"Then, shall we start with a four-stone handicap?" Ji Yingting pulled the chess box containing the white pieces toward herself.

"...Okay, fine."

Xin Yufei hesitated for a moment before nodding. The gap in chess skills between her and senior Ji Yingting was too great. If she didn't give Ji Yingting a handicap, it would seem strange for Ji Yingting to give her guidance.

She placed four black pieces at the four corner star positions on the chessboard.

With a "thud," Ji Yingting placed a white chess piece onto the board, executing a large knight's move to the corner.

Um! ?

Wait a minute!! Did I forget something?

A few seconds later, Ji Yingting slowly opened her purple starry eyes and looked down at the starry chessboard as she pondered.

I have this feeling... like I've forgotten something? Is it important to me? Or is it not important?

Blinking, Ji Yingting continued to follow the black pieces in placing their stones.

"Sakuraba-senpai, a low-level room," Xin Yufei whispered a reminder.

Ah! I finally remembered!

Ji Yingting suddenly realized that she had forgotten to look at Xin Yufei's appearance. When she played chess with someone for the first time, she would always carefully observe that person's appearance, and it had even become a habit.

Then again, she had never seen what Xin Yufei looked like before. Ji Yingting slowly raised her head.

Hmm, she's quite a cute little girl. Xin Yufei is about the same height as me, with black bob haircut and tiny freckles on her fair face. I remember she was just starting junior high.

However, her bangs look so much like mine, all styled so neatly...

Ji Yingting was unaware that Xin Yufei had only changed her hairstyle a few days prior.

Although Xin Yufei cannot be described as beautiful, she could even be described as somewhat unremarkable.