School Flower and School Tyrant - Chapter 15

That night, Ouyang Qianxue returned to his dormitory, unable to calm his thoughts. Frustrated, he kicked his legs against the bed. 

“What’s wrong? Missed me after a day apart?” Wang Qian pushed open the dormitory door and playfully jumped onto the bed beside him. 

“You’re back.” Ouyang Qianxue replied, his voice lacking its usual energy. 

“That’s not like you. You seem really out of it today. Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine. By the way, where were you today? You took the day off.” 

“I went to report your situation to my aunt. She told me to remind you to be more confident, and to be careful around Bai Yuxuan.” Wang Qian’s words made Ouyang Qianxue flinch slightly. 

“Is Bai Yuxuan really that dangerous?” 

“Obviously! Don’t forget, Xijiang City is practically Bai family territory. Wait… don’t tell me you got involved with that guy?!” 

“No, of course not.” 

“Really? You’ve seemed distracted ever since I walked in.” 

“I just caught a cold today. Bit of a headache, that’s all.” 

Ouyang Qianxue couldn’t let Wang Qian know the truth. After all, she was the ears and eyes of Madam. He doubted she’d be willing to offend the Bai family for his sake. If Madam learned about this, she might abandon the campus idol project, then his mother’s medical bills and his sister’s tuition would be in jeopardy. 

“Is that so? Well, get some rest.” Wang Qian didn’t press the issue. The two of them studied for a while before lights-out. 

As they lay in their respective beds, Wang Qian recalled something her aunt had said earlier that day. She stared at the ceiling, then turned toward Ouyang Qianxue. 

“Hey, Qianxue?” 

“Hm?” 

“Do you think someone without talent or enough determination is foolish for chasing a dream?” 

“Well, I’ve never had that experience myself, but I think anyone who dedicates themselves to their dream, even if they fail, is admirable. At least they tried, rather than giving up without a fight. There’s no regret in that.” 

“I see.” 

“Why? Did something happen?” 

“No, just asking. Let’s go to sleep.” Wang Qian turned away, hiding her expression. 

“If only I had met you sooner…” she whispered to herself. 

A week later, the Qingshui Cup Go Tournament officially began, bringing together hundreds of players, many of whom held high amateur ranks. 

“Don’t be nervous. You nearly beat me last time, and I hold a professional rank. Plus, after a week of training, you’ve improved even more. Just play your best, and you’ll secure a win easily.” The Hanfu-clad girl patted Ouyang Qianxue’s shoulder reassuringly. 

“I understand. Thank you, senior.” 

“I hereby declare the Qingshui Cup Amateur Go Tournament officially open! Players, please proceed to your designated match areas.” 

With the host’s announcement, the tournament began. The players were divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D. Ouyang Qianxue was assigned to Group D. As he made his way to the match area, he suddenly spotted a familiar face, the one he least wanted to see. 

Bai Yuxuan smirked as he approached. 

“What a coincidence, running into you here. You’re in Group D? That’s too bad. But that’s fine saving the best for last makes victory all the sweeter. Try not to lose before you get the chance to face me.” With that, Bai Yuxuan chuckled and walked toward the Group C area. 

Ouyang Qianxue took a deep breath, steadying himself before stepping into his own match area. 

Meanwhile, outside the venue, two female students anxiously watched the live broadcast. Both were members of the Go club and Ouyang Qianxue’s classmates, there to cheer him on. 

“President, do you think Ouyang can win? The prize money for this tournament is huge, so plenty of top-ranked amateur players are competing.” 

“Hmph. Are you still doubting her skills? You’re underestimating her. When I played against her on the last day of training, I could feel an invisible pressure, something I only encountered when qualifying for my professional rank. Do you know what that means?” 

“What?” 

“It means that even against professional players, Ouyang Qianxue stands a fighting chance.” 

The two girls were left speechless. The difference between amateur and professional players was like the gap between two entirely different worlds. 

Inside the match area, Ouyang Qianxue focused intently on his game, recalling the club president’s advice. 

“Your opening and endgame are strong, but do you know why you lost to me despite gaining an early advantage? It’s because your midgame control lacks precision. You must learn to convert your advantage into a winning position. That’s what we’ll focus on in this week’s training.” 

With each move, Ouyang Qianxue played with increasing confidence, dominating his opponent and leaving them no room to recover. The match ended swiftly, earning him praise from both commentators and judges. 

Meanwhile, in Group C’s match area, the atmosphere had turned silent as the commentators struggled for words. Bai Yuxuan’s aggressive playstyle had nearly wiped her opponent’s pieces off the board. The overwhelmed player, unable to withstand the pressure, surrendered in less than twenty minutes. 

“It’s been so long since I last played, I’m a little rusty. But against these amateurs, it’s still as easy as slaughtering pigs.” Bai Yuxuan cracked her knuckles and walked toward the resting area with a satisfied smirk on her face.