Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!-Chapter 791 - 344 has a good teacher

"You lost."

Feng Xue shook her head in disbelief, her gaze seemingly trying to bore a hole into the chessboard.

How could she have lost?

But on the chessboard, the outcome was unmistakable.

She played fast chess, but her opponent was even faster. What’s more terrifying, her opponent seemed to have anticipated her strategy, leisurely laying out a trap. By the time she realized it, she was already cornered.

A chess style this seasoned... it was hard to believe this was her opponent’s first competition.

The arrogant boasts uttered before the match now transformed into a colossal joke in front of the decisive game result.

Feng Xue’s cheeks burned hot, her hands clenched into fists inside her sleeves.

The entire hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop, broken only by the crisp sound of chess pieces snapping into place.

The contestants in this competition were roughly of the same skill level, and a normal match would take about forty-five minutes. However, less than fifteen minutes had passed—an indication of the considerable skill gap between the two.

This was a result Feng Xue found completely unacceptable.

Shen You’an raised her hand, and a referee came to her table, glanced at the board, and quickly announced the verdict.

"White wins."

Feng Xue was eliminated.

Shen You’an could leave early, heading to the lounge to rest while waiting for the second-round draws.

Wei Yun’er had been discreetly observing Shen You’an’s table for a while now. As a judge, she had the right to roam the venue and watch various games. Not wanting to appear too obvious, she moved from table to table at a slow pace; before she could even reach Table 27, the match was already over.

Wei Yun’er frowned slightly, watching Shen You’an and Feng Xue walk out of the venue. One looked calm and collected, the other seething with unwillingness and rage.

The winner and loser were evident at a glance.

She called over the staff: "Let me watch the video of the match at Table 27."

Judges had the authority to do this, so the staff complied without hesitation, replaying the match footage for Wei Yun’er to review.

As Wei Yun’er watched, her astonishment deepened.

Feng Xue’s level was considered mid-tier for an amateur player, and she had ample tournament experience. Yet, in front of her opponent, she appeared entirely unpolished. Her opponent hadn’t even used their full strength but had easily crushed her.

Though this was merely a simple match, Wei Yun’er discerned the profound depth and strategic mastery of the white pieces player. Without fanfare, they dismantled their opponent with seasoned and mature chess moves.

This style of play reminded her of someone: Liu Runxi.

"You’ve truly poured everything out for her, haven’t you."

If Wei Yun’er’s earlier feelings were just tinged with jealousy toward Liu Runxi’s special attention for this girl, at this moment, the blazing flame of envy burned uncontrollably in her heart, almost consuming her sanity.

"Mr. Wei...?" The staff hesitated, noticing the dark and awkward expression on her face, cautiously speaking up.

"Is something wrong?"

Wei Yun’er’s face regained its pleasant smile: "Nothing, it’s just that the skill level of Table 27’s player was a bit surprising to me."

Shen You’an and Feng Xue walked out of the venue’s doors. Feng Xue shot her a vicious glare: "How many years have you been studying Go?"

She figured Shen You’an must have been learning since childhood; she herself had only studied for three years, so losing was normal.

Shen You’an replied casually, "Including today? About a week."

Feng Xue’s eyes widened: "Impossible!"

"Probably because I have an excellent teacher," Shen You’an said, her expression softening all of a sudden.

Liu Runxi really was an outstanding teacher. Shen You’an had learned so much from him. Although she had some prior exposure to the game, she hadn’t touched Go in years and had completely forgotten the rules. But thanks to her strong memory and learning ability, combined with the guidance of a one-of-a-kind teacher, she progressed rapidly.

At first, Feng Xue had thought Shen You’an was modest. Now she realized Shen You’an was recklessly assured.

"Let’s see just how far you’ll go."

Feng Xue had barely let out her harsh words when staff members approached to escort her from the venue.

Feng Xue left, defeated and crestfallen.

Shen You’an walked into the lounge, pulled "The Chess Scripture" out of her backpack, and became entirely absorbed in it.

The notes Liu Runxi added were exceptionally detailed, helping her understand and integrate complex ideas seamlessly.

Shen You’an licked her lips, suddenly feeling thirsty. The morning’s soup dumplings had been a bit salty. Though the lounge supplied bottled water, Shen You’an had grown accustomed to not drinking unfamiliar water—a habit born from past mistakes in her previous life.

Her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen.

A message from Liu Runxi: "There’s water in your bag—don’t forget to drink."

Shen You’an blinked, stunned. She opened her backpack and rummaged through it, ultimately finding a small thermos at the bottom.

The thermos contained Scented Tea, calming and stress-relieving. The tea was warm—perfectly so.

When Shen You’an was with Liu Runxi, her nerves relaxed to the extent that she hadn’t even noticed when he placed the thermos inside.

She also unearthed a bag of nuts and some bread from her bag.

Arranging the items together, she snapped a photo and sent it to Liu Runxi with a question mark.

Liu Runxi quickly replied: "There are five rounds in total. Go matches consume a lot of energy—you’ll need to eat something to replenish your stamina."

Shen You’an sent him a playful thank-you sticker, casual yet familiar.

This guy was way too considerate; drinking tea, Shen You’an couldn’t help but think—whoever ends up being his girlfriend someday will be one lucky person.

Realizing her train of thought, Shen You’an quickly stopped herself from spiraling into daydreams. She ate a nut and refocused her attention entirely on studying the chess patterns.

"Runxi, I’m really glad you came to see me, but please reconsider. At your age, you still have a bright future if you continue pursuing a professional Go career. Don’t waste the talent you’ve been blessed with..."

Sun Xiangren urged earnestly, though the boy across from him stared at his phone, seemingly lost in thought.

"Runxi?"

Sun Xiangren called his name several times before finally pulling Liu Runxi’s attention back. Liu Runxi immediately put away his phone and apologized sincerely: "I’m sorry, Dean, I shouldn’t be looking at my phone while speaking with you."

Sun Xiangren’s smile was warm and teasing: "Be honest with me—are you seeing someone romantically?"

The young man rarely showed his emotions, but just now, his expression was identical to Sun Xiangren’s grandson secretly falling in love. There was no fooling him.

Liu Runxi shook his head, slightly flustered: "Dating early isn’t right."

"So you have someone you like?"

Liu Runxi’s sudden silence was answer enough.

Sun Xiangren burst into laughter: "You’re not great at hiding it, huh? I’ve known you since you were little, and this is the first time I’ve seen such lively emotions from you. Good! Being young is the time for love—don’t let your youth go to waste. She must be an exceptionally talented young woman."

At the mention of her, light flickered in Liu Runxi’s eyes.

"She’s a participant in this Go tournament."

This time, it was Sun Xiangren’s turn to be stunned. "So, you’re here accompanying her, and seeing this old man was just an afterthought."

Sun Xiangren circled back to the earlier topic: "You’re so gifted. Are you really not going to continue on this path? Don’t squander your talent."

With resolute determination, Liu Runxi shook his head: "I know what direction I want for my future. With gain comes loss; one cannot have both. Moreover, I’ve already learned so much from Go. For who I am now, it’s more than enough."

If you covet everything, you risk losing everything.

He wasn’t greedy. His original intention behind learning Go had merely been seeking a quiet refuge for thoughtful reflection in an otherwise lonely childhood.

But now, he’d found a new sanctuary.

Sun Xiangren lamented: "You’re an exceptional and insightful young man. Whatever you pursue in the future, you’ll succeed. I wish you the very best."