Ling Xuan said, “You’ve already pointed out that Tosaki Naohara holds the world record in international chess. If Jiang Fuyue were to defeat him, just imagine the consequences. Even if the odds are slim, the R Country delegates would never let him risk the nation’s honor.”
That’s exactly why Jiang Fuyue boldly gave the choice to her opponent—because she had already predicted Tosaki Naohara wouldn’t pick chess.
“Tsk, told you! Sister Yue really could cosplay as Zhuge Liang!”
She had calculated everything perfectly.
“I just want to know how her brain works. How can she think so much faster than us? She covers everything. It’s godlike!”
“Go ask her then. I’d like to know too.”
“Lurking for answers.”
“Same here.”
After the rules for the Go match were agreed upon for the next day, Jiang Fuyue turned to leave.
But White suddenly caught up to her. “Hey, excuse me, may I have a word?”
He spoke in Chinese.
Jiang Fuyue turned back, nodding politely. “Hello.”
“I’m White. This is my business card.”
She accepted it with both hands. “Sorry, I don’t have a card.”
“No problem! I know you’re still a student.”
“Is there something you need?”
White rubbed his hands together, his grey-green eyes sparkling with excitement. “I know this might be a bit presumptuous, but I’m really curious. You can choose to answer—or not.”
A very gentlemanly preface.
Jiang Fuyue smiled slightly—she had a pretty good guess. “What’s the question?”
“Do you know Qitan Yingyue? He’s an incredibly gifted wind instrument player. From what I’ve heard, the suona is just one of the many instruments he’s good at. Can you believe it? And it’s not even his strongest! Simply amazing!”
Jiang Fuyue shook her head. “I don’t know him.”
“But the Thousand-Hands Bodhi fingering you used just now…”
“You mean like this?” Jiang Fuyue picked up her suona and demonstrated a smooth, flowing transition between the finger holes.
White’s aged eyes lit up. “Yes! That’s it! Incredible…”
He instinctively mimicked her hand movements.
Then quickly realized it might be seen as trying to steal techniques, so he dropped his hands to his sides—but couldn’t take his eyes off her fingers.
Jiang Fuyue wasn’t stingy; she demonstrated again and even asked considerately, “Got it?”
“Is the last part done like this? Or this?” White asked, then realized he was getting carried away and looked a bit embarrassed.
“Sorry, I was just too curious…”
“It’s alright.” Jiang Fuyue slowed the final few finger transitions and repeated them again.
White was amazed. “So that’s how it’s done! Incredible! How did you even come up with this? Did Qitan Yingyue teach you? I know there are a lot of traditions in Chinese music circles. A reclusive player like Qitan would probably have very strict standards for students.”
He nodded to himself, looking like he completely understood.
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
“You guys have rules. It’s okay if you can’t talk about it. I get it! I totally get it! You’re an incredibly talented young lady. I hope to see you perform at the Vienna Golden Hall someday. I know it’ll be breathtaking!”
Then he turned to leave, still muttering and replaying the fingering she’d shown him.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and turned back. “I’m heading back to my country next month. If you ever need anything, just use the contact on my card. If it’s within my ability, I’ll do everything I can to help.”
“Oh—and we’re friends now, right?”
Before Jiang Fuyue could respond, he answered his own question.
“Yes, we’re friends.”
“…”
That one match had brought Jiang Fuyue tremendous attention and applause.
But this was just the beginning. Another tough battle awaited the next day.
On the way back, Lin Shumo, Yici, Zhong Ziang, and Ling Xuan walked with her.
They all wanted to know what her true abilities were for the three upcoming contests and whether she was confident—but in the end, no one asked aloud.
Xu Jing also wanted to talk to her, to get some mental preparation.
But Hu Yong stopped him. “No need. All we can do is believe in her.”
Believe in Jiang Fuyue’s strength.
Believe in the students nurtured by No. 1 High.
Believe in the unbending backbone of the Chinese nation.
Xu Jing nodded. “Understood.”
The next morning arrived.
At 8 a.m., the entire assembly hall was opened to prepare for the upcoming China-R Cultural Exchange match.
After a night of buzz, Jiang Fuyue’s victory the day before had already spread across all grades in the school.
Middle School Division—
“So sad I didn’t get to see it live… I’m stuck watching video clips.”
“There are videos?! From where?!”
“I snuck into a first-year high school group and caught one. Someone recorded the live battle between Jiang-senpai’s suona and the shamisen.”
“You’re holding treasure and not sharing? Gimme gimme!”
“Me too!”
Two minutes later—
“D*mn! So much noise! The person filming kept screaming, my eardrums are about to explode! And their hands were shaking the whole time—the footage is so shaky I can’t even see what’s happening on stage!”
“What now, I really want to see it live…”
“Should we talk to Director Xiong?”
“Let’s do it!”
“Go go go! More people, better odds…”
So a crowd of middle schoolers rushed to the director’s office, catching Director Xiong completely off guard. He thought something serious had happened.
After hearing their request, his first instinct was to refuse—
Watch what?
Don’t you have class?
But then one kid said—
“I think this is a precious hands-on patriotic education experience. Please let us go! We all want to see Jiang-senpai crush that arrogant guy from R Country!”
Hearing that, Director Xiong, a middle-aged man in his 40s, suddenly felt his blood surge with pride.
With a grand wave of his hand: “Alright! Follow me!”
