The next day.
Early in the morning, 6 or 7 o'clock.
At home, Zhang Ye's mother was already awake while his father was still sleeping.
"Mom, I'm going out."
"Where are you going now?"
"I have some serious business to attend to."
'It was past 8 when you got home last night. Come back earlier tonight."
"Got it."
"You don't have much to do at work anyway, so why are you still always going out every day."
Zhang Ye thought to himself how he really had serious business to handle. This was a matter concerning his marriage!
Outside Old Wu's villa.
Zhang Ye had driven over and used the key to open the door. He changed into his slippers with familiarity and placed the still warm breakfast onto the dining table. He looked up the staircase and called out twice. No one responded. She was probably still asleep.
He headed upstairs and opened the door to Old Wu's bedroom.
A whiff of perfume greeted him as he stepped into the room.
The room was very clean and tidy. Even the clothes Old Wu had taken off had been carefully folded and stacked before being placed at the side. The topmost piece was a nude bra, with a skirt and pale pantyhose placed beside it. These were what Old Wu had been wearing last night. Lying in bed under her blanket, Wu Zeqing's eyes were closed. Her sleep posture was very beautiful and elegant. A woman's upbringing and her family environment could sometimes be seen from their sleeping posture. Some women might look very elegant during the day. But once asleep, their true colors would be revealed by their sprawled out legs and snores. However, Old Wu's gentleness was something that was etched deep into her bones. She looked especially nice and ladylike even while she was sleeping.
"Old Wu?"
"…"
"Old Wu?"
"Hm?"
"Wake up."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWu Zeqing was finally awake.
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "It's past 7."
Wu Zeqing covered her mouth and yawned a few times, then said with a slight smile, "You're here?"
"Yeah, I bought breakfast. Come downstairs and eat." Zhang Ye said, "After you're done eating, help me call your parents. I'll go over during the day since your dad is waiting for me."
Wu Zeqing laughed and said, "You're still thinking about that?"
Zhang Ye said, "Of course. Your dad scheduled a match with me, I must definitely show up. He already said that if I don't go, I'll be a whelp. So of course I'm still thinking about it!"
Wu Zeqing said, "Alright, I understand. I'll send you over later."
"Don't you need to work?" Zhang Ye was taken aback.
Wu Zeqing smiled. "I'll take the day off, I guess. I'll be worried if you go there alone. If you start arguing with my dad again, my mom won't be able to hold off the two of you for sure."
Zhang Ye harrumphed, "If I can't argue, I will let my skill speak for itself. If I lose, he can scold me or beat me up however he wants. But if I win, your dad will have to take back his words about my character being questionable! Just ask around. Who wouldn't give a thumbs up when they hear the mention of the name Zhang Ye? Why did my character even get called into question?"
"Right, a thumbs up." Wu Zeqing pulled aside the blanket and had a slow laugh as she slowly moved her slender legs off the side of the bed. She put on her slippers and got up. "Go eat breakfast first. I need to wash up."
Zhang Ye urged, "Quick, Old Wu. I can't wait any longer."
Wu Zeqing said, "Hur hur, I understand."
"Or why don't you make the call first," Zhang Ye said impatiently. "Then we can head over right after breakfast!"
Wu Zeqing had no response.
After eating.
Wu Zeqing called her parents' house.
...
At Old Wu's parents' house.
The telephone in the living room rang.
Li Qinqin and Wu Changhe were both not fond of sleeping in. Although they were retired, they still usually got up quite early. Li Qinqin was already making breakfast.
"Hello?" Li Qinqin answered the call.
Wu Zeqing said: "Mom, you're up?"
Li Qinqin said: "Zeqing, yes. I'm making breakfast right now."
"Is Dad around?"
"He is. What's the matter?"
"Zhang Ye came over to my place and insists that he wants to go over today. Didn't Dad arrange for them to play another match? He insists on showing up."
"Eh? I'll have to check with your dad about that first."
Li Qinqin walked into the courtyard.
Wu Changhe was doing some stretching and exercises. "Who called?"
Li Qinqin smiled and said, "Our daughter. She says that Little Zhang wants to come over."
Wu Changhe's expression sank. "What does he want to come here for?"
"Didn't the two of you arrange to play another match today?" Li Qinqin didn't know how to react. "You said that you would give him a handicap of 190 stones, and he said that he would give you a handicap of 200 stones."
At this, Wu Changhe gave a sneer and said, "Don't let him come over. I won't see him!"
Li Qinqin said, "But didn't you both arrange a meeting?"
"I just don't like seeing him. I can't be bothered to play Go with him!" Wu Changhe turned around and continued exercising.
Li Qinqin smacked her lips. "You said that whoever didn't show up would be a whelp."
Wu Changhe said coldly, "He thinks that he can play against me with that skill of his? He's still way off. Perhaps if he trains another 20 years in his next life, he could stand a chance playing me!"
Li Qinqin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Changhe, are you afraid that you'll lose another match to him and won't be able to show your face around?"
When she said that, Wu Changhe laughed on end. "Me? Lose? I'd lose to him? Ai, Li Qinqin, why are you so funny today? I'm not going to play him for the sake of our daughter, do you understand? Can't you see? If I were to get serious, I could beat him even with my eyes closed! Me? Afraid to lose? Hahahaha!"
She went back into the living room.
Li Qinqin conveyed the message exactly as it was said.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWu Zeqing was amused. "These two, ai."
Li Qinqin also said with a laugh: "These two grown men have really similar tempers. They're both feisty and want to save face for themselves."
Zhang Ye was nearby listening to the conversation. His ears perked up and he got so close to Old Wu that his cheek was almost touching hers. Then he whispered, "Ask about me, ask about me."
Wu Zeqing laughed and said: "Mom, what do you think of Little Ye?"
"My view?" Li Qinqin thought about it before answering: "I think he should be quite alright. I rather like him as he is quite smart, is knowledgeable, and speaks what he feels. Hur hur."
Zhang Ye was touched by this!
His mother-in-law was the best!
Just look at how insightful she was!
What about that future father-in-law of his? Ai, how can there be such a big difference when it comes to comparing the two of them!
The call ended.
Wu Zeqing said, "I don't think it will be a problem with my mother. She seems pretty satisfied with you. But it should be quite troublesome with regards to my dad. Alright, let's just rest well at home today. You won't be needing to go to my parent's place since my dad does not want to see you."
He's afraid that he'll lose to me!
Wu Zeqing and Li Qinqin probably still did not quite understand it. After all, their Go skills were limited and they were not great at the game. But Zhang Ye understood quite well. He was sure that Wu Changhe also knew very well that he was trying to avoid Zhang Ye so that he wouldn't need to play him!
Zhang Ye suddenly asked, "That's right. Old Wu, does your dad usually play Go online?"
Wu Zeqing said, "Yes. He doesn't go to the Go club often since the skill there isn't high and the people there are not able to play against him. He usually only plays against those disciples of his or the other elite Go players who have retired like him. Besides that, he also goes online to search for an opponent to play against. With the Internet so advanced nowadays, the Internet Go servers are expanding their user base. Many of our domestic professional Go players, and even those from Japan and Korea, go online to search for opponents to play against."
"Which server does he play on?"
"It's called the Online Go Server 1 ."
"And what is his username?"
"Wu Changhe, his real name."
"Alright, I got it."
"Why are you asking?"
"It's nothing. I was just asking out of curiosity."
You want to avoid me?
Then I will search you out!
Zhang Ye was already as good as in a fight with Wu Changhe now!