Sweet moments always feel too short. The vacation came to an end, and Chi Wan took Yu Jiuzhou back to the dojo before returning to the lab to wrap up her work.
She had already submitted her resignation letter. Once this project was finished, she could leave the lab for good.
Wu Hongxu, who had received the letter, wasn’t surprised. “Although I knew you wouldn’t stay in the lab for long, I’m still quite reluctant to see you go now that the day has come.”
Where else could she find a pharmaceutical researcher as capable as Chi Wan? When she was away, she could entrust the lab to this student of hers with complete confidence.
Capable and responsible, Chi Wan was so skilled that a project estimated to take a year could be shortened to between six and ten months. She was truly losing a great general.
“Thank you for your care, Professor. I’ll come back when I have time. After all, your lab is quite nice to use.”
Wu Hongxu shot her a look. “You rascal. You start acting like this as soon as you get your spirit back.”
She sized up her star pupil. “I’m really curious, how did you manage to find a woman like Jiuzhou?”
Chi Wan was speechless.
She had introduced Yu Jiuzhou to her professor. As a Go enthusiast, her professor knew that the person before her was the champion of this year’s most prestigious international tournament. She had eagerly played a game with Yu Jiuzhou.
Unsurprisingly, she was thoroughly crushed, but she was delighted. For an amateur 5-dan to play against a professional 9-dan, the latter must have been showing her great respect.
After all, some entrepreneurs who knew a bit of Go, those half-baked players, would offer a high price just to play a single game against a professional, especially a 9-dan, and even then, it was often impossible to arrange.
In any case, her professor was already completely won over by Yu Jiuzhou. Just listen to what she was saying.
“Professor, I’m your actual student.”
Wu Hongxu remained silent, simply sipping her tea.
Fine, she got the message.
Chi Wan raised an eyebrow. “Well then, Professor, I’ll finish handing over my work in the lab. I’ll be leaving once this project is over.”
“Go on, then. Remember to come back and visit often. You rascal, I don’t know where you suddenly went for advanced studies, but your medical skills have improved so quickly. Prescriptions come one after another as if they cost nothing. When you come back, you can guide your junior female students. Oh, and you can exchange ideas with me, your professor, as well.”
The thought of losing such a capable assistant soured Wu Hongxu’s mood instantly. “Get out, get out. And while you’re at it, give back the lunch your professor’s wife packed for you.”
Uh…
“Don’t be so petty. My professor’s wife gave that to me,” Chi Wan laughed.
This was also why she had introduced Yu Jiuzhou to her professor. Her professor also liked women and had been with her partner for many years. They had faced opposition, but evidently, their worldly success had made all that opposition vanish. Even if people still objected, they wouldn’t dare say it to their faces.
It was a harsh truth: worldly success could indeed eliminate many troubles.
Chi Wan had heard this saying often, but her professor was a living example of it right beside her.
Chi Wan walked out of her professor’s office with a smile, happening to run into Yu Xuan. She nodded with a smile and left.
Yu Xuan was bewildered. What was suddenly wrong with her half-dead senior? She was actually smiling, and even took the initiative to greet her with a smile.
How terrifying. Had the sun risen from the west?
She had hinted at her interest in Chi Wan before, but the other woman hadn’t taken the bait at all and had simply run off, leaving her to come to work the next day with dark circles under her eyes.
And Chi Wan acted as if nothing had happened, completely ignoring her, as if the previous night’s events had never occurred—though, in truth, nothing had.
Yu Xuan was a bit unwilling to give up and wanted to try again, but Chi Wan soon took a leave of absence and was gone for many days. Seeing Chi Wan today, she seemed like a completely different person.
In reality, Yu Xuan didn’t like Chi Wan that much. She was an overly cold woman who always exuded a faint sense of lifelessness. She couldn’t deny that she was attracted by Chi Wan’s looks.
So she wanted to date Chi Wan. Was it just lust? Or was it to show off a beautiful girlfriend? She had all these thoughts.
But she had been rejected. And not just rejected—the sight of Chi Wan’s fleeing back had left her utterly discombobulated.
Chi Wan hadn’t been fleeing; she had just received information about Yu Jiuzhou and was desperate to verify it immediately.
To Yu Xuan, she had been rejected, and rejected thoroughly. She wasn’t someone who couldn’t take a hint and let go. After not seeing Chi Wan for so many days, she had mostly moved on.
After all, her sudden hint had been rather absurd.
But the Chi Wan she saw today was completely different from before. She used to be like a machine, but now she seemed to have been infused with a soul. What had happened?
Using her status as the youngest and a bit of wheedling, Yu Xuan got the answer from their professor.
Resigning?
So she was happy because she was about to stop being a beast of burden?
She had seen many people who were listless at work but full of energy the moment they clocked out.
But Chi Wan’s situation seemed different. She was highly skilled, sold patents, and won awards. With her annual patent income approaching ten million, she shouldn’t have been in that state.
Yu Xuan also speculated that perhaps she had been heartbroken. If that was the case, then she wouldn’t pursue her. Chasing someone with a “white moonlight” in their heart would only bring her grief. Even if she felt she was better than the old flame in every way, what you can’t have is always the best.
So why was Chi Wan suddenly in such high spirits? She hadn’t even seemed this happy when she sold her patents before. Could it be that she had gotten back together with her ex?
With these thoughts, Yu Xuan quietly went to Chi Wan’s office and leaned in close. “Senior, what good news have you had? You seem so happy.”
Happy? Chi Wan glanced at the glass cabinet and saw her reflection. Was it that obvious?
Everyone in the lab was busy, at least until the end of the workday. Although Chi Wan didn’t have a private office, she shared one with her two assistants.
They were both out working, so only the two of them were in the office.
Chi Wan was puzzled. It was this junior, Yu Xuan, again. They weren’t very familiar, were they?
“Is something the matter?”
Yu Xuan was speechless. “Nothing, I just saw you looked happy and came to ask.”
“Oh.”
“Are you in a relationship, Senior?”
“You’re still young. You shouldn’t be so interested in your senior’s personal life.” Chi Wan remembered the girl had asked last time too. “I am.”
She had a wife; she wasn’t a single dog.
Yu Xuan was speechless again. When Chi Wan talked about being in a relationship, she looked like a triumphant general.
Especially when she said she was still young. How was she young? She was a graduate student, not young at all. To think she was being treated like a child.
“I’m not young.” Hearing that Chi Wan was in a relationship, Yu Xuan had intended to give up, but who knew if it was true or not.
“What does your partner do?”
Chi Wan frowned, then her brow smoothed out.
“Don’t you think our relationship isn’t close enough to discuss such private matters?” The professor was the professor, but the professor’s student was several degrees removed.
Oh, right. Yu Xuan realized. “Sorry, I was being presumptuous.”
Then Yu Xuan left the office. Chi Wan didn’t mind. They were strangers to begin with and wouldn’t get any closer.
Two months later, the project was finally over. Chi Wan took a picture of her work lunch and sent it to Yu Jiuzhou.
—【Today’s food isn’t good.】
Yu Jiuzhou was also in a cafeteria. —【Just as bad here.】
Seeing the instant reply, Chi Wan smiled. For the past two months, the two of them had been like they were in an online relationship, chatting, video calling, and talking on the phone, but never seeing each other in person.
Every weekend, when Chi Wan wanted to visit Yu Jiuzhou, either she had to work overtime or Yu Jiuzhou had a tournament. Two days were simply not enough.
The end of the project also meant she could leave the lab. Today was her last meal there.
Perhaps the blissful smile on her face was too obvious, because Yu Xuan became even more certain that she was in an online relationship.
After their last conversation in the office ended badly, Yu Xuan had wanted to give up. But seeing Chi Wan clutching her phone and giggling foolishly, sharing pictures of everything, and not going on dates on weekends—all this evidence made her think Chi Wan was in an online relationship.
This made her feel even worse. A sweet girl like herself couldn’t even compare to an online partner.
“Annoying Chi Wan.”
Yu Xuan had no idea that at her volume and their distance, it was hard for Chi Wan not to hear her. As someone who cultivated internal energy, even though it was harder to advance in this world than in ancient times, her hearing was still much better than an ordinary person’s.
Why did she find her annoying? Chi Wan didn’t quite understand. They barely had any interaction, right?
After finishing her meal, Chi Wan passed by Yu Xuan and placed a bottle of yogurt in front of her. “A kid like you should focus on your studies, don’t let your mind wander.”
Now she was even more annoying!
Yu Xuan twisted open the yogurt and took a vicious sip. Did Chi Wan know she liked her or not? It seemed like she didn’t, but she had already hinted at it—no, it was practically an explicit declaration.
Yu Xuan clenched her fists, wanting to give Chi Wan a couple of punches.
After lunch, Yu Xuan went outside the lab to sign for a document and saw a stunningly beautiful woman walking over.
The internet was well-developed now, and there were many beautiful women online; she could scroll past several every day. Her feed was already curated for it. In real life, the most beautiful person she had ever seen was Chi Wan.
However, Chi Wan’s style of dress was rather plain, and she mostly wore a white lab coat at work. After getting used to it, the initial stunning impression had faded.
Chi Wan’s beauty was pure and clean, while this woman possessed a cool, refined, and noble air. The two were beautiful in their own unique ways.
“Hello, I’m looking for Chi Wan.”
The woman walked to the front desk and said a surprising name.
Yu Xuan watched as the receptionist called Chi Wan’s office, saying someone was looking for her. Chi Wan didn’t seem to care much, until the woman took the phone.
“It’s me.”
After saying those two words, a smile bloomed on the woman’s face. So beautiful.
Yu Xuan felt she might be falling in love again.
A moment later, Chi Wan came jogging over, her face alight with an excited, happy smile. “Weren’t you in the cafeteria?”
Yu Jiuzhou smiled. “A little surprise for you.”
The initially cool and unapproachable woman, with that one smile, was like a frozen flower melting its icy exterior under the warmth of the sun, blooming in the light.
Yu Xuan’s gaze shifted between the two of them, and then her eyes widened.
Holding… holding hands?
Why were they holding hands? And not only that, Chi Wan’s fingers were even scratching the back of the other woman’s hand. That was flirting!
Yu Xuan understood something. She certainly didn’t discriminate against minority relationships—after all, she was one of them—but to fall for two beautiful women one after another, only to find out they were a couple… how was a person supposed to live?
She was tired. Let the world burn.
Chi Wan’s eyes were filled with only Yu Jiuzhou. After two months apart, she couldn’t express how much she had missed her.
She dreamed of holding Yu Jiuzhou in her arms. They didn’t have to do anything; just hugging and resting or watching a movie would be enough.
Just being together like that was sufficient.
Yu Jiuzhou felt the same. The moment her tournament ended, she had rushed over, finally arriving on the day of Chi Wan’s resignation.
Leaving a job meant carrying a box out alone, which was so lonely. Having her company should make it better.
Chi Wan was, of course, delighted, wishing she could leave right this second. Just then, Wu Hongxu passed by. “Jiuzhou is here to pick up Chi Wan? You two go on ahead. I was going to organize a farewell dinner for Chi Wan tonight, but since you’re here, I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Yu Jiuzhou smiled. “Thank you, Professor.”
“Nothing to thank me for. Come over for dinner when you have time.”
Yu Xuan was dumbfounded. What had she missed? Why did even their professor know them and seem so familiar?
Could it be that the professor had known they were dating all along? Had Chi Wan already introduced her partner to her family?
Realizing the key point, Yu Xuan felt even worse. Look at how they were dating—with a beautiful woman, and with family support. Why couldn’t she have that?
I’ll take it!
She wanted to have such good fortune too—to date a beautiful woman with no family opposition.
Next, Chi Wan led Yu Jiuzhou into her office, shutting out the gazes from outside.
“I’ve already packed my things. I was planning to go find you tomorrow.”
A few sets of seasonal clothes and her bank card were enough. She didn’t need to bring much. After confirming that today was her official last day, she had started packing.
Most of the things in her apartment had been sent by Chi Wan to the old house. Besides, she didn’t have many possessions. After working at the lab for over a year, it was all work and no play. Her clothes were so plain; it would be strange if she had a lot of things.
Yu Jiuzhou tucked her hair to one side. “I guessed as much.”
She knew that once Chi Wan officially resigned today, barring any accidents, she would definitely want to see her immediately.
Chi Wan tidied her desk. “All packed. Let’s go.”
Her computer, water bottle, and a small ornament. There was nothing else.
“Alright.”
The two returned to the apartment together. It was very clean, and Yu Jiuzhou could tell at a glance that there were far fewer things inside than the last time she had visited.
“Have some water and rest for a bit. We’ll stay here tonight and leave together tomorrow.”
Chi Wan felt no sense of reluctance to leave. To her, home was wherever Yu Jiuzhou was. Being alone was always lonely.
Yu Jiuzhou pulled her down to sit. “I need to tell you about the situation at the dojo.”
“What is it?”
“Just as you predicted, the Lu family has started fabricating my past. If they succeed and spread it widely, many future tournaments will disqualify me.”
Lu Shiwei was not an easy person to deal with. She had a pathological need for control. Originally, she could have pursued her properly, humbling herself and putting on a show of courtship.
In reality, she already saw Yu Jiuzhou as a possession. After learning of Chi Wan’s existence, she began using semi-threatening tactics to achieve her goals.
Chi Wan frowned. “Lu Shiwei wants to control you.”
Love? Perhaps there was some, but it was more about control. Lu Shiwei wanted Yu Jiuzhou to be a doll in her hands, one that would always be under her control no matter how it changed.
Leaving the Lu family? They would certainly not agree to terminate the contract. During the legal battle, they would maliciously spread rumors, and Yu Jiuzhou’s Go career would be ruined.
The best option was to lie low and wait for the contract to expire. By then, no matter what tricks the Lu family pulled, Yu Jiuzhou would likely have already earned the title of Go Sage.
However, Lu Shiwei’s desire for control was too strong. Chi Wan’s appearance had started to make her resort to unscrupulous means.
And now that Chi Wan was going to be Yu Jiuzhou’s manager, wouldn’t Lu Shiwei become even more frantic?
“Then, let’s get rid of the Lu family.” Chi Wan’s tone was calm. She and Yu Jiuzhou had taken down countless noble houses. The Lu family? They weren’t even in the same league.
They just had a bit of influence. There were plenty of people in this world with more power than the Lu family. At worst, they could change their identities and move somewhere else, and the Lu family wouldn’t be able to do anything to them.
But why should they be the ones to hide? And on what grounds could the Lu family force them to retreat again and again?
Yu Jiuzhou took a sip of water. “The Lu family made their fortune in Go. Lu Shiwei’s grandfather was a Go master who single-handedly fended off challenges from Dongdao, which made him famous. After making money, he started opening dojos. Thanks to his reputation, he opened more than a dozen dojos in the country, and even expanded to Dongdao. Many famous players were trained in Lu family dojos, including some from Dongdao, so the Lu family has some influence there.”
But they weren’t in Dongdao. This was also why she had chosen to emigrate after receiving her first large prize money.
Chi Wan tilted her head. “What are you suggesting, Sister?”
She could hear the unspoken meaning in Yu Jiuzhou’s words. Knowing her wife, she was sure she already had a plan.
Yu Jiuzhou tapped her own shoulder. “Actually, we’ve been thinking about this the wrong way. We don’t need to deal with the Lu family, just Lu Shiwei.”
If Lu Shiwei wanted to force Yu Jiuzhou to stay, even resorting to extreme measures, then they didn’t need to show any mercy either.
“Lu Shiwei’s father is a conservative man.”
With that one sentence, Chi Wan understood what to do. If Lu Shiwei’s father found out his daughter liked women, what would he do?
Would he take back the dojos from Lu Shiwei’s control, or would he stop Lu Shiwei from pursuing Yu Jiuzhou?
It was also possible that her father would threaten Yu Jiuzhou, so they needed a backup plan.
“I’ll compile the ancient medical formulas into a book and donate it to the country as soon as possible.” Chi Wan had already planned to donate the formulas, but now it was more urgent.
The Lu family only had influence in the Go world. On a national scale, they were insignificant. Anyone who understood traditional Chinese medicine would know the value of the book of ancient formulas she would compile.
Of course, Chi Wan planned to divide the ancient formulas in her mind into ten volumes, publishing some and donating others. After all, she had too many formulas in her head to organize them all at once. Releasing them volume by volume was the best approach.
It would make the timeline less pressing while also quickly building her reputation.
Her medical skills were quite good, as a few people in the industry knew. After the ancient formulas were compiled into a book, it would further prove her abilities. When a person reaches the pinnacle of their field, even outsiders have to show them some respect, especially in the medical profession. Just like Mister Dongbi—such a cold and proud person, yet everyone from noble families to the emperor had to yield to him.
Chi Wan thought to herself that after so many years of advanced study in the ancient era, while she couldn’t bring the dead back to life, she could help people live a few more days. Once her reputation was established, the Lu family had better behave.
Yu Jiuzhou gently squeezed her ear. “You’ve worked hard.”
“Then what’s my reward?” Chi Wan asked without hesitation.
The Lu family was no longer a threat, so they naturally had nothing to worry about. She leaned her face closer, waiting for Yu Jiuzhou’s reward.
To be precise, she was waiting for a kiss.
Yu Jiuzhou pinched her lips. “I’ll reward you with a flick on the forehead.”
Chi Wan pretended to cry. “Then I’ll be so heartbroken.”
Amid their playful banter, she turned on the stereo. Music suitable for the evening filled the air as they leaned against each other, listening quietly.
As they were sitting, Chi Wan suddenly padded barefoot to the wine cabinet and took out a bottle of red wine. “This bottle was a gift from my professor. I was going to bring it to drink with you. Today is perfect.”
She opened the red wine, poured it into a decanter, and then got a basin filled with ice. After pouring half a glass for each of them, she placed the decanter in the ice.
“It’s hot, so we can drink it chilled.”
She handed the glass to Yu Jiuzhou. The stemmed glass swirled in her hand. Their glasses clinked together, and then they leaned against each other again.
By this time, they had moved to the balcony, nestled together in a single armchair, gazing at the distant scenery.
The view from the apartment was excellent. After all, the building’s main selling point was its amenities. It could be small, the lease could be short, but the location had to be good, otherwise it would be impossible to sell or rent out.
A thought occurred to Chi Wan. She propped her hand on the arm of the chair, her eyes fixed on Yu Jiuzhou’s profile. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but her face had become flushed, and her eyes were hazy.
Not drunk, but enjoying the moment.
Yu Jiuzhou took a light sip of wine. Feeling the scorching gaze from her side, she had just turned her head when her lips were captured.
How could Chi Wan resist a Yu Jiuzhou like this? A sexy, enchanting woman. Her heart would forever be trapped by Yu Jiuzhou, and she was willing to be trapped.
After a brief kiss, the two slowly parted.
Yu Jiuzhou didn’t particularly like the feeling of being tipsy. She was habitually clear-headed and would never allow her mind to become muddled. Fortunately, she could hold her liquor well, so a couple more glasses wouldn’t be a problem.
The atmosphere today was just right, so it wouldn’t matter even if she drank too much.
In front of Chi Wan, she didn’t need to restrain herself, much less put on a facade. In private, she was very uninhibited.
After finishing their glasses, Chi Wan stood up with her glass. “Chilled?”
She hadn’t poured out all the wine from the bottle, leaving some behind. She had thought, what if the chilled wine wasn’t good? Then they would still have some at room temperature.
“Alright.”
Chi Wan poured two glasses of chilled wine and walked over to Yu Jiuzhou. Before she could even put the glasses down, an arm wrapped around her waist.
Yu Jiuzhou’s lips pressed against her abdomen, just a little higher up, her breath fanning across her skin. Her body instantly stiffened, and she barely managed not to drop the glasses in her hands.
You little devil.
Chi Wan decisively knelt in front of Yu Jiuzhou. Just as she was about to lean in for a kiss, a soft hand covered her lips.
She watched as Yu Jiuzhou smilingly picked up a glass of chilled wine—she didn’t know which one was hers, just randomly grabbing one—and brought it to her lips. It looked like she was drinking, but in reality, she was teasing.
She stared directly into Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes, suppressing the impulse in her heart. She leaned forward slightly, and just as she was about to kiss her, she reached out, picked up her own glass, and clinked it against Yu Jiuzhou’s. “Cheers.”
Yu Jiuzhou tilted her head. She had thought Chi Wan was going to kiss her. What a rascal.
This round was a draw.
Even though they had been together for a long time, this feeling of mutual teasing, of neither willing to yield, was still intoxicating.
They both knew what would inevitably happen after drinking, but the foreplay was essential. Who would be the first to surrender and admit they “wanted it” depended on their respective skills.
The bottle of wine was empty. Yu Jiuzhou played hard to get, clearly ready to go another three hundred rounds.
Chi Wan grabbed her wrist, stopping her from continuing. “Sister, I lose.”
Yu Jiuzhou laughed, and then allowed her to do as she pleased.
