The Chess World’s Twin Pillars Are Still Pretending Not to Know Each Other

Shizhun, a genius Go player hailed alongside his rival as one of the twin pillars of the Go world, died young in an accident. So did his rival.

When he opened his eyes again, Shizhun had been reborn and was bound to a strange Romance System.

The System told him that if he won five world championships within three years, it could save his secret crush, his rival Feng Jue, from an early death.

The System also had rules:

1. He couldn't play Go against Feng Jue in an official match unless Feng Jue's affection reached 100%.

2. If he played Go in an official match, he would definitely collapse from illness. But the more people liked him, the better he would play, and the stronger he would become.

Shizhun tilted his head. "Huh?"

Then, when Shizhun and Feng Jue first met at a Go tournament, Feng Jue's affection shot through the roof, just a hair's breadth from the maximum.

The System was stunned. "...Is that right?"

-

After Shizhun, a veteran career-minded player, qualified as a professional with an undefeated record, he immediately signed up for the world championship.

Then, in the tightly packed tournament schedule, he put on a display of falling ill after every match.

The sympathetic referee shook his head repeatedly. "The heavens are jealous of genius! The heavens are jealous of genius!"

Who would have thought that fragile, glass-like Shizhun would only grow more formidable with every match? In the blink of an eye, he reached the top, becoming the first shodan to win the championship since the Autumn and Winter Cup.

Then, within just one year, he won two major world championships in succession, becoming famous and turning into the fastest genius Go player to reach 9-dan in the past decade.

The media competed to report on him: fair and handsome, brilliant at Go, a sure bet for anyone investing in him.

Even the referees switched sides on the spot. One asked his daughter to start a fan club and swiftly became Shihuai Fan Club's senior honorary president.

And so Shizhun won a huge following, with fans all over the country.

Shizhun, who had to wear a hat whenever he went out, sighed. "Sometimes being too popular isn't a good thing."

-

And what did his rival Feng Jue think about all this?

Having finally met someone his age with such superb Go skills, Feng Jue thought Shizhun was wonderful in every way, especially at Go.

But... he realized that Shizhun might hate him.

Otherwise, why wouldn't he give him a proper title?

Seeing Feng Jue constantly lose his appetite and sleep, his friend stormed in and scolded him. "Get a grip! Can't you see he's playing you? You're such a love-struck idiot."

Feng Jue retorted solemnly, "You don't understand!!!

He always turns down my challenges, but he was willing to make time for my birthday in the middle of an important tournament, prepare everything carefully, and travel overseas to see me. He even asked me out to eat and go to an amusement park over the weekend! How could he possibly be at fault?

He's just a little slow on the uptake!"

His friend slapped him on the shoulder with a knowing look. "You're hopeless, bro."

Little did anyone know, just the day before,

on a quiet summer night,

black and white Go stones tangled together lay scattered across the floor. The silver dog tag hanging from his neck swayed slightly. By the broad, bright floor-to-ceiling window, the genius Go player lifted slender, pale fingertips tinged with pink

and beckoned to him.

"Why are you so impatient?"

"You want to play me at the tournament? Kiss me."

"Make me happy, and I'll accept your challenge!"

#Also known as

#The Twin Pillars of Go Still Pretending They Don't Know Each Other

#You Have to Confess Before You Can Date

#Come on, who's really the slow one here?

1. One-on-one, happy ending, both leads inexperienced, mutual crush.

2. Go played by unconventional rules, a sweet fluff story you can read without thinking.

Pre-release, My Rival Went Crazy After We Broke the Bond. Blurb:

[Cool, aloof beauty bottom VS domineering, possessive, loyal-dog top]

"Who said you could get up here?"

In the middle of the night, Yi Shangli lay beneath the blankets, frowning slightly as he addressed the person beside him, who had claimed most of the bed.

"Didn't we agree last night that you'd sleep on the floor?"

The man didn't move away. Instead, he edged even closer.

He stretched out his long arm and almost pulled the slender waist of the person beside him into his embrace.

"Let's be reasonable..."

His voice was husky with sleep, his warm breath brushing Yi Shangli's ear.

"Why do I always have to sleep on the floor?"

Disaster descended upon the Great Wilderness.

The demon prince Yi Shangli was ordered to infiltrate the human realm and find a lost clan treasure to save his people.

But he hadn't expected to be bound by an ancient curse to the human prince Yu Zhuoyin.

The two could not be more than five meters apart.

If they crossed that limit, they would be struck by heavenly lightning, burned by raging fire, pierced by icy cold, or suffer some other random calamity.

Even more awkwardly, after investigating, the two discovered that the curse contained a secret dual cultivation technique.

If they practiced it together, their cultivation would progress hundreds of times faster than that of ordinary people.

At first, Yu Zhuoyin looked disgusted. "Our two peoples have been enemies for generations, and we're like fire and water. You want me to practice dual cultivation with you? Dream on!"

Later, Yu Zhuoyin said, "...It's actually pretty great!"

At first, Yi Shangli was calm and composed. "This is merely a temporary measure to improve my cultivation. I will never develop any unnecessary feelings for this person."

Later, Yi Shangli said, "Mmm, don't kiss me so deeply."

As they practiced dual cultivation more and more, and the technique advanced to higher levels, the two began to glimpse scattered fragments of each other's memories.

That was when Yi Shangli finally sensed something was wrong.

"Why have your recent memories been full of my face?"

Yu Zhuoyin folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, pretending to be indifferent.

"There's only you within five steps. Who else am I supposed to look at?"

The curse was finally lifted.

Yi Shangli took the clan treasure back to the demon realm. Before long, news spread that he was about to marry his childhood friend.

When Yu Zhuoyin heard, he charged alone into the demon realm with his sword.

Before the horrified guests, he grabbed Yi Shangli by the wrist, red wedding robes and all, and pulled him roughly into his arms.

"We've kissed, we've slept together, and our spiritual power and souls have been intertwined."

His eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse, as if he were about to cry.

"Yi Shangli, and now you're saying you don't want me?"

"...I won't accept it."

1. One-on-one, happy ending, light and sweet.

Theme: The world is beautiful. Cherish every day.