Extra: The Bullet Shot in Childhood Hits Right Between the Eyes

Seven years ago.

On a certain night, the mansion of a financial conglomerate was ablaze with lights, like a dazzling pearl set against the city's night sky.

Countless dignitaries and nobles had gathered. They were either business magnates, political heavyweights, or military elites. Most had brought their families. Children played in the courtyard like a flock of cheerful little birds, while the lavishly dressed ladies and young misses, holding champagne flutes, glided gracefully through the banquet hall, chatting and laughing with guests. The clinking of glasses and the lively atmosphere showcased their refined elegance.

However, apart from this bustle, a certain boudoir was as quiet as if isolated from the world. A young girl sat quietly before a Go board, her fair fingers holding a white stone. After a long contemplation, she slowly placed it down. She was like an unearthly snow lotus, aloof and pure.

Just then, a respectful knock came from outside the door: "Young Mistress, the Family Head summons you to greet the guests."

The girl frowned but did not move. The door sounded twice more, still awaiting her command. A wave of irritation rose within her, like a fire burning in her chest.

Her name was Si Jing, the young mistress of this mansion.

She possessed a head of lustrous, raven-black hair. Her clear, bright eyes were like two pools of spring water, and her skin was fair and delicate, like the petals of a newly bloomed magnolia—the very image of a dignified, classic beauty.

Yet, what came to her mind at this moment was that fate-altering afternoon, the incident that made her understand that this beauty would be like an invisible chain, fettering her pursuit of the Way of Go.

She had been captivated since childhood by the wisdom and profundity of Go, developing an almost obsessive love for the game. Her family had provided the corresponding conditions, allowing her access to more Go knowledge.

Later, in junior high school, she joined the Go club and met the club president. She was instantly captivated by the president's profound understanding of the game and unique tactical style, even willing to follow and learn by his side.

In her eyes, the president was not only a master of Go but also a symbol of powerful confidence. Whenever she saw the president's self-assured demeanor, she couldn't help but feel her heart surge.

Towards the president, she felt admiration. She hoped to earn his recognition, to gain a sense of honor from it, rather than some vague worship and admiration.

As time passed, her skill in Go grew day by day. Finally, one day, she mustered the courage to issue a challenge to her hero, hoping to use the match against the president to advance herself further.

That game was exceptionally tight and difficult, with both sides trading blows, locked in a fierce struggle.

Si Jing had been at a disadvantage, forced to retreat constantly. Yet, even so, she showed no signs of defeat. Instead, relying on astonishing insight and flexible thinking, she repeatedly turned danger into safety.

In the end, as if heaven itself was aiding her, she secured victory with a divinely inspired, brilliant move.

However, before the joy of victory could bloom in her heart, the strange atmosphere around her poured over her like a basin of ice water, extinguishing her delight.

The onlookers held their breath, not uttering a word, their expressions grave. The entire Go club felt alienated from her. Even the president wore a gloomy expression, as if he had encountered a troublesome issue.

"I've lost..." the president sighed, admitting defeat. But the very next sentence pierced Si Jing's heart like a sharp blade: "However, I didn't lose to your skill, but to your beauty. It made it impossible for me to focus."

The people around chimed in, praising how her appearance was distracting. These words stabbed at Si Jing's heart like sharp thorns. She suddenly realized that her own face had become an obstacle on her Go path. This realization pressed down on her heart like a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.

Having won, what then?

The pain from the memory made Si Jing's gaze distant and sorrowful. She looked out the window at the night sky, as if questioning heaven itself. Moonlight draped over her like a thin veil, adding a touch of mystery and melancholy.

"Knock, knock, knock~" The sound came from the door again, pulling Si Jing back to reality.

"Young Mistress?"

The servant's voice carried anxiety and helplessness.

Si Jing slowly stood up. Her movements were graceful yet resolute, like a general about to step onto the battlefield. She glanced around, her gaze falling on the various ornaments on the dressing table. Those exquisite accessories now seemed like shackles in her eyes.

She raised her hands and removed all the hairpins and ornaments from her hair, revealing a mass of thick, jet-black tresses. She let her hair fall loose, completely obscuring her features.

At this moment, she seemed to shed the halo of the young mistress, becoming an ordinary girl. Yet, the determination in her eyes was stronger than ever before.

But the servant was instantly horrified upon seeing her appearance.

"Young Mistress, you absolutely cannot greet the guests like this!"

"This is most improper! Please reconsider, Young Mistress!"

Si Jing paid no heed and walked straight towards the banquet hall. Each step was firm and composed, as if she were walking towards her own destiny.

Along the way, the servants were stunned by her, and the guests were bewildered by her sudden appearance. The entire banquet hall descended into chaos, with noisy, disorderly sounds rising and falling. But Si Jing seemed detached from it all. Her focus was fixed on only one person—her father.

Si Zhao was chatting and laughing with several other family heads of financial groups. He wore a sharply pressed formal suit, looking authoritative and dignified.

However, when he saw his daughter's appearance, the smile on his face instantly froze.

"Jing'er, what has happened to you?"

Si Zhao's voice was full of shock and confusion.

Si Jing stood quietly, allowing everyone's gaze to gather upon her. Her voice was calm and firm: "Father, I have decided that from today onward, I will no longer present my appearance to others. I want everyone to see the real me, not an illusion blinded by mere beauty."

These words exploded like a bomb in the banquet hall, causing an uproar. Some were astonished, some puzzled, and others wore amused expressions. But Si Jing didn't care about any of that. Her gaze remained steadfastly fixed on her father.

A complex look flashed across Si Zhao's face. He walked to his daughter's side and asked in a low voice, "Jing'er, are you truly certain? Do you know what this means?"

Si Jing nodded. Her voice, though soft, was filled with resolve: "Father, I know this may disappoint you, but please believe me, this is a decision I have made after deep thought. I no longer wish to be doubted because of my appearance. I want to prove my worth with my ability."

Si Zhao was silent for a moment, then finally sighed. "Very well. Since this is your decision, I respect it. But remember, no matter what you become, you will always be my daughter, my proudest treasure."

Feeling the love in her father's words, a wave of warmth surged in Si Jing's heart. She knew her decision might bring trouble to the family, but she was determined to walk this path.

From that day on, Si Jing willfully hid her appearance in this manner. She no longer dressed meticulously, and even if she looked plain or even somewhat startling, she paid it no mind.

She only wanted to focus on her chess skills, hoping to gain genuine recognition.

As time passed, Si Jing's chess skills reached even greater heights. She began participating in various competitions, climbing step by step to the summit of the chess world through her own ability.

Her opponents no longer got distracted by her appearance, but instead truly focused on the game itself.

However, this path was not smooth sailing.

Some mocked her looks, saying she dressed that way deliberately to attract attention. Others questioned her skill, believing her past achievements were won through beauty.

Facing these doubts and taunts, Si Jing always remained silent, proving herself through one brilliant match after another. But precisely because of this, her state of mind also underwent a subtle change; she began to disregard others, becoming solitary, aloof, and harsh.

During an important competition, Si Jing encountered the club president from back then. Upon seeing her appearance, the other person was first shocked, then showed a hint of guilt. Once the match began, both immersed themselves completely in the game. This time, no one mentioned appearance; there was only pure competition.

In the end, Si Jing achieved victory with an overwhelming advantage.

Time flew by, and seven years passed.

Today, Si Jing has become a dazzling star in the chess world. Yet, she still maintains her old habits, presenting herself with an unkempt appearance.

…………………………

"Since senior has invited me so earnestly, how could I dare to refuse?"

Su Cheng's strong and powerful voice not only spread across the balcony but also reverberated in Si Jing's mind.

Unlike his previous baseless bluster, this time he was filled with confidence and certainty.

It truly was a case of never judging a person by their past.

Especially the confidence and calmness he exuded made Si Jing vaguely feel his figure overlapped with that of the club president she had admired in her youth. But so what?

A defeated opponent was not worth another ounce of her attention.

As the echo of his voice faded.

Si Jing set down the chessboard and took her seat, returning to silence.

Su Cheng gestured to Zhao Yan and Ling Ning beside him, then sat opposite Si Jing. Seeing this, the two girls exchanged a glance and stood to the side, preparing to observe this peak showdown.

…………………………

Downstairs balcony.

The commotion upstairs was clearly audible to Ji Qingyi. Naturally aware of the situation above, she didn't linger excessively and instead turned to walk towards the upper floor.

At the staircase, she stopped and looked towards Liu Qingyue, who was surrounded by many junior schoolmates.

Sensing her gaze, Liu Qingyue immediately apologized to the group and came to her side, asking softly, "What's wrong?"

"That guy is playing chess with Si Jing."

Ji Qingyi said lightly.

"Oh~" Liu Qingyue raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, seeming somewhat surprised. "That is a bit unexpected. I want to see what else he's hiding."

As soon as she finished speaking, the group of admirers behind her curiously pressed closer. She immediately made a shushing gesture and dispersed them, saying, "Su Cheng is playing chess with someone upstairs. As for whether he has any talent, you can go up and see for yourselves now."

"Really?"

"Great, he looks so handsome when playing chess."

"Hurry, hurry, don't miss it."

Upon hearing this, the group excitedly chattered and rushed upstairs, vying to be first.

"From your look, you seem to hope he loses?"

Ji Qingyi glanced at her and said leisurely.

"What's good about him winning?"

Liu Qingyue uttered a very dismissive, airy sentence: "Seeing him act smug makes me uncomfortable all over."

"But, there's still a possibility he could win."

"Miss, are you referring to when he still had his ability before, and he deliberately analyzed and rehearsed this game?"

Liu Qingyue looked askance at Ji Qingyi and sneered, "How could this rote memorization level possibly win against Si Jing, who has hyperthymesia?"

"Let's go see for ourselves, then?"

"I'll go see how he plans to lose in a novel way."

"Perhaps, winning in a novel way is also possible."

"Miss, you're almost turning into an 'Orange Blower'."

"Orange Blower?"

The two of them, trading remarks, walked upstairs together.

The commotion here naturally didn't escape the notice of Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi. They exchanged a glance and followed them up.

…………………………

Balcony.

When the group arrived, the original admirers, seeing that Su Cheng's opponent was Si Jing, didn't dare to venture deep onto the balcony. Instead, they guarded the balcony doorway, watching the game through the glass, not daring to breathe loudly, even deliberately lightening their breaths.

However, Ji Qingyi and the other three had no such reservations. After exchanging nods with Zhao Yan and Ling Ning, they stood by the chessboard, quietly observing this match that had once given them headaches.

Though quiet, each person's heart, upon seeing the game that had already been in progress for some time, stirred with complex, hard-to-define emotions, involuntarily growing tense and expectant.

At this moment, the game had reached move 77.

Su Cheng played white, Si Jing played black.

To their surprise, Si Jing's black pieces were beginning to show signs of strain.

Indeed, when Su Cheng still had his ability before, had he memorized this game or analyzed this match?

Immediately after, Su Cheng placed another piece.

As a result, with this move, the central black formation became full of flaws, and Si Jing was already powerless to attack Su Cheng.

Si Jing paused for a moment, as if hesitating.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she lifted her gaze to look at Su Cheng, and helplessly chose to abandon the central key stones. Although the advantage lay with Su Cheng, in her long-term consideration, this would still cause him significant damage later.

Sure enough, by move 90, Si Jing completely changed her previous steady, passive attitude, probing with a move in the upper-left corner.

In this situation, if Su Cheng wanted to save the corner, he could only sacrifice two stones. Then, her black group in the upper-left would be completely alive, and later operations on the left side would have one less constraint; if Su Cheng was unwilling to sacrifice, she would create a ko fight, and her isolated group would unexpectedly gain leverage.

Facing this situation, the women watching the game all involuntarily furrowed their brows, showing concern. Because if Su Cheng made the wrong decision here, he would lose the entire game.

"When encountering situations requiring decisions like this, the influence of technical factors relatively diminishes, while the influence of a person's character and other factors begins to increase." Liu Qingyue, at the doorway, snatched a bag of chips from one of the admirers and, while eating, began explaining the situation to everyone: "For someone with Su Cheng's personality, who doesn't want to give up anything and wants to occupy everything... heh, he's definitely going to lose!"

As soon as she said this, even Ji Qingyi nodded slightly in agreement, clearly they all shared this view.

"That gentleman is correct." Just then, a bespectacled girl with braids appeared behind the fangirl, pushing her glasses frame, a strange glint flashing in her eyes. She spoke softly, "Restraint and forbearance, sharpness and decisiveness, balance and calculation, elegance and cunning... It's rare for a single game to combine so many different characteristics. Compared to artificial intelligence, which relies solely on immense computational power, human complexity might be the most captivating aspect of Go."

Facing the meticulous 'test' prepared by Si Jing, everyone was sweating for Su Cheng. He had dodged this same question multiple times before, and now he had to endure this pressure again, which was undoubtedly very troubling.

Li Guanqi clenched her small pink fists, watching Su Cheng with his head hung low, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry.

Ji Qingyi, however, watched Si Jing with great interest, a faint, teasing smile on her lips. It seemed she hadn't expected her old friend to present her with such a big surprise.

Gu Ruoxue waited for someone's decision.

Zhao Yan and Ling Ning stared at Su Cheng without blinking, holding their breath as if afraid to miss any detail, yet the tension on their faces was unmistakable.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

No matter how noisy the surroundings were or how cold the balcony was, everyone present felt time pass slowly, each minute and second dragging on like an agony.

Suddenly, Su Cheng moved!

He gave the most audacious answer!

A fierce attack on the lone Si Jing group in the center!

He actually chose to sacrifice stones!

Such a bold and contrasting display of spirit.

Even Ji Qingyi's pupils constricted sharply.

The others either closed their eyes or sighed.

Because this was completely out of character for Su Cheng. It didn't align with his usual thinking at all. To them, the reasoning behind Su Cheng's choice this time was so undisguised and transparent.

In the brief moment everyone was still stunned, after a few more moves, the board situation changed again. The black stones were in increasing danger, with almost no escape route against the thick white wall Su Cheng had built below.

In this desperate situation, Si Jing erupted with astonishing power, staking everything on the board with tremendous courage.

This left Su Cheng with no way back.

Now, it was time to test Su Cheng's killing power!

How would he play this crucial one-hundredth move?

Just as everyone was still guessing what Su Cheng would do, he suddenly extended his index finger and placed a white stone.

Fierce and direct!

Si Jing was slightly taken aback, as the situation was becoming unfavorable for her.

Sure enough, in the following moves, Su Cheng went straight for the dragon's eye. The space for Si Jing's black dragon to struggle grew smaller and smaller.

After a few more moves, Si Jing's black dragon died indignantly. However, Su Cheng did not win.

Si Jing fell into deep thought.

She lifted her head to look at Su Cheng.

"Senior, are you unable to concentrate because of me? What a pity."

Su Cheng smiled faintly, a hint of teasing in his tone, "However, handsomeness is my weapon."

Liu Qingyue gave a shiver, her delicate frame trembling, "Don't say things that give me goosebumps."

"Ah, I'm just joking to lighten the mood." Su Cheng shrugged his shoulders, "After all, this is a party. It's important for everyone to have fun. Being too serious is quite tiresome."

"You're really not a good brother-in-law. Is it so hard to admit that Su Cheng is handsome?"

"Yeah, handsomeness is his weapon!"

"Su Cheng, I've already been slain by your weapon."

"Right."

Some began to chide Liu Qingyue, and the atmosphere began to shift.

Si Jing wasn't angered by Su Cheng's words. Instead, they stirred something within her, leaving her momentarily dazed. Because once upon a time, her own attitude had been the complete opposite of his.

She considered beauty an obstacle,

while he took pride in it?

"You are indeed quite handsome."

She collected her thoughts and shook her head slightly at Su Cheng, "However, I won't be distracted by such superficial things."

Having said that, she placed another stone. The balcony fell into silence again, with only the sound of stones being placed and the rasp of friction against the stone table.

After they exchanged several moves, Si Jing suddenly realized that Su Cheng's white stones in the lower left corner were like a lone boat in a black sea, unable to retreat unscathed. If she swallowed them whole, the result would be a major victory for her.

Since Su Cheng had previously sacrificed his large corner, he now had no room for another sacrifice. The situation was an all-or-nothing gamble: kill and lose, live and win.

Si Jing once again threw a new test paper for Su Cheng to answer.

This time, it was testing Su Cheng's ability to manage weak groups.

This was a test even Si Jing wasn't confident about.

Ji Qingyi was pondering.

Li Guanqi was worrying.

Gu Ruoxue was conflicted.

Liu Qingyue was eating potato chips.

Sure enough, Su Cheng lacked his previous confidence and composure. He was frowning deeply, looking intently at the board with a focused expression, as if searching for a flaw, or perhaps... contemplating. It was complex.

Time passed minute by minute.

Si Jing lifted her head, ready to appreciate the disheveled appearance of the loser's desperate struggle. It would have been better if she hadn't looked. This glance made her subconsciously straighten her posture, her expression turning grave.

Because she discovered that Su Cheng's entire aura had abruptly changed. His originally gentle, refined, humble, and peaceful image had instantly transformed into one carrying a quiet, soft beauty. His every move and gesture gave her a strong sense of dissonance and a faint, familiar feeling.

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"Why does he feel a bit unfamiliar now?"

The women observing nearby also felt surprised.

Su Cheng's behavior and demeanor were too unfamiliar. One could even say this was not a demeanor or aura he should possess at all!

Ji Qingyi, however, felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with Su Cheng in this state. It was a feeling of déjà vu, but the memory was too distant, so she couldn't quite recall it.

Gu Ruoxue crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze shifting from Si Jing to Su Cheng, then back from Su Cheng to Si Jing. Her eyes flickered, and as she thought of something, she sighed somewhat helplessly.

"Senior, did you notice something?"

Li Guanqi keenly noticed the change in Gu Ruoxue's expression and couldn't help but ask.

"He always likes to do things he believes are right," Gu Ruoxue sighed, understanding Su Cheng's intention.

"What?"

"You'll know in a moment."

Gu Ruoxue stopped talking.

Li Guanqi gave up on pursuing the question and could only continue looking at the board, though her eyes were somewhat dim. Because if it were her, after making a mediocre block, she would probably resign.

Ling Ning looked at Su Cheng, a complex expression flitting across her face.

Because she knew very well where Su Cheng's current aura came from—

It was from Si Jing, who sat opposite him!

No, to be precise, it was from the beautiful form of Si Jing, from when she hadn't yet concealed her appearance, when she was a bright and dazzling beauty, her every move dignified and graceful, noble and elegant.

As a junior, she had once admired the former Si Jing, and her own temperament had been more or less influenced by her.

She finally understood why Su Cheng had sought her out some time ago to learn about Si Jing's past and why he had taken away the surveillance footage of Si Jing's past games. So that was it... So that was the reason.

He wanted to use Si Jing's own playing style to defeat the present Si Jing?!

He's even started to imitate every single move now?

Si Jing believed that beauty was the greatest obstacle in Go! But what if Su Cheng used her own playing style to defeat her present self?

Realizing this, Ling Ning's delicate frame trembled slightly, her gaze astonished, her lips parting, revealing the extreme shock within her heart, yet mixed with even more anticipation and nervousness.

Liu Qingyue, standing at the balcony door, noticed that Xu Tianyi beside her seemed somewhat agitated and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Xu Tianyi shook her head, but her expression remained excited as she stared intently at the two players, not even blinking.

"Hmm..." Liu Qingyue ate a potato chip, frowning slightly. She took in the reactions of everyone present and could guess about seventy or eighty percent of what was going on after a moment's thought.

"Really..." She shook her head, somewhat speechless. "As if he hasn't caused enough trouble already, he's still trying to win her over."

In handling this matter, Su Cheng had transcended the low-level pursuit of victory or defeat, instead choosing to help Si Jing overcome her inner demons through a form of redemption?

To make Si Jing accept herself?

To make Si Jing reconcile with herself?

In any case, the meaning was profound.

Assuming Su Cheng had already simulated this scenario before losing his abilities, then he could indeed achieve it.

After all, losing his abilities didn't mean losing his memories.

Ling Ning watched as Su Cheng entered a long, deep think. He simply hung his head, gazing fixedly at the board as if repeatedly analyzing and pondering. Nervousness, trembling, embarrassment, anxiety—all sorts of emotions filled her face, yet she stubbornly persisted.

An unprecedented sense of dissonance filled Si Jing's vision, leaving her somewhat dazed and at a loss.

This feeling was like facing a childhood friend, an old acquaintance, unfamiliar yet strangely intimate.

Just as she was sinking into a certain confusion, Su Cheng reached into the go stone container, picked up a white stone, and then, to her astonishment, stopped it mid-air. In an instant, Su Cheng raised his head.

Their gazes collided across the board. What met Si Jing's eyes was a pair of eyes, deep yet still carrying a hint of childishness, hazy and naive, as if awaiting her response.

Si Jing suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. Just as she was about to look away, her pupils constricted sharply. Because she was shocked to discover that the Su Cheng before her had actually transformed into a composed young girl holding a stone.

Si Jing froze abruptly. This face was completely identical to her own childhood appearance: exquisite features, delicate skin, a slender and graceful figure, dressed in plain clothes with a pink silk ribbon tied at the waist, her jet-black hair styled into a simple bun adorned with two jade hairpins.

Insecure yet brave, embarrassed yet spirited.

At this moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

Everyone held their breath, watching Su Cheng hold the stone.

Breath following the heart's intent, momentum shifting with its flow, Su Cheng slowly placed the stone.

Click!

A crisp sound, as if striking the very heartstrings of everyone present.

Si Jing snapped back to reality. In her field of vision, it was still Su Cheng's handsome face, with no trace of the young girl from just a moment ago, as if everything had merely been her hallucination.

Only when she looked at the board did she realize she couldn't clearly see the move Su Cheng had just made at all. The entire board was in chaotic disarray, densely covered with a complex endgame, leaving her almost no place to step.

It was then she noticed the move Su Cheng had just played.

This move...

It happened to be the brilliant move she had used to defeat the club president back then, identical in placement and effect.

But the problem was, this was simply impossible to replicate!

Because back then, she had transcended normal reasoning. Even now, she couldn't possibly calculate it. Because back then, it was a heaven-sent flash of inspiration, a miracle she had created.

What's going on...

"I won."

A clear, girlish voice rang out.

As the echo faded, Si Jing sharply looked up, searching for the source of that girlish voice. But it seemed like an auditory hallucination—Su Cheng hadn't spoken, and no one else had spoken either.

Who was speaking?

Was it me?

At this moment, no one could verify what Si Jing was thinking, but everyone knew that her subsequent play was no longer like her usual 'no brilliant moves throughout the game' style. Instead, she switched to a different approach, producing brilliant and devilish moves one after another, until Su Cheng's overall position was beyond salvage.

Su Cheng had no heart to continue and resigned by placing stones on the board.

"I've lost."

"Congratulations, senior!"

………………

"Yay, that was amazing!"

"Senior Si is incredible."

"That was truly formidable!"

"Although I don't understand Go, I'm awed by the sheer skill!"

The balcony erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers.

Si Jing tidied the board, ignoring everything, and prepared to leave.

"Senior Si."

Su Cheng's calm voice came from behind. Si Jing's body stiffened almost imperceptibly before she turned her head.

Su Cheng and his girlfriend(s) slowly uttered:

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Si Jing walked away holding the board. However, unlike her usual recklessness, she didn't bump into anything. Under the night sky, she didn't startle anyone either; instead, she elicited waves of astonished admiration.