I Really Didn’t Mean to Play Go!
Chapter 3: The Play at the 3-3 Point

"The star point, huh?"

As Yu Shao made his move, Zheng Qin raised an eyebrow, glancing at him curiously.

For some reason, even though the person sitting across from him was just an unranked high schooler, Zheng Qin felt an inexplicable sense of tension.

"Must be my imagination."

Shaking his head, Zheng Qin dismissed the thought. He reached into his Go box, pinched a white stone, and gently placed it down.

Click.

Column 4, Row 16. Another star point.

Nearby, the bystanders watching the game couldn’t help but whisper to each other.

"That kid’s really not taking a handicap from Zheng? But Zheng is on the path to becoming a professional player!"

"Mid-game? That’s generous. He’ll probably have to resign before the opening phase is even over."

"Let’s go check it out?"

"Let’s."

Hearing that the match had started, many people from the surrounding tables came over to watch. It was clear that most of them were here for one reason: to witness Yu Shao embarrass himself.

Outside the Mountain-Sea Chess Hall.

A black Bentley pulled up at the entrance. Moments later, the back door opened, and a stunningly beautiful girl stepped out of the car.

If Yu Shao were here, he would instantly recognize her—it was none other than Xu Zijin.

Xu Zijin was no longer wearing the school’s dull uniform. Instead, she had on a red-and-white striped short-sleeved blouse and a pair of fitted jeans, which accentuated her perfectly proportioned figure. On her feet were white canvas sneakers, revealing her delicate and slender ankles.

Though Xu Zijin was the type of girl who could make even a school uniform look good, her current outfit—despite its simplicity—was so flattering it could only be described as stunning.

"Uncle Wang, please wait for me in the car for a bit," she said politely to the driver in the front seat.

"It’s no problem at all, miss," the driver, Uncle Wang, replied with a smile. "Just text me if you need anything."

"Alright."

Xu Zijin nodded and then turned to enter the Mountain-Sea Chess Hall.

"Welcome!"

The receptionist greeted her with a professional smile as the glass doors slid open. However, when she got a good look at Xu Zijin, she couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, "Wow, you’re really beautiful!"

"Thank you."

Xu Zijin smiled faintly, her voice crisp and pleasant.

"Even your voice is lovely!" The receptionist, seemingly overwhelmed by her beauty, entered full-on compliment mode. "This must be your first time here, right? A girl as gorgeous as you—if you’d been here before, I’d definitely remember."

"Thank you, and yes, it’s my first time." Xu Zijin nodded politely and asked, "I heard there’s someone named Zheng Qin here. I’d like to learn a game of Go from him. Is he around?"

"Huh? Looking for Zheng?"

The receptionist blinked in surprise and then replied, "He’s here, but he’s in the middle of a game right now—with a boy about your age, from Jiangling High School."

"Jiangling High School?"

Xu Zijin froze for a moment when she heard that, then quickly recovered and nodded. "Alright, thank you. Can I go in and watch? How much is the fee?"

"Of course, you’re welcome to watch. There’s no fee for spectators," the receptionist said with a smile, clearly fond of Xu Zijin. Pointing toward the chess room, she helpfully added, "They’re at the table by the window. The boy is wearing a Jiangling High uniform, so he’s easy to spot."

"Thank you."

Xu Zijin nodded again and headed toward the chess room. It didn’t take her long to find Zheng Qin and Yu Shao—the school uniform made Yu Shao stand out immediately.

"Who is he…?"

Standing amidst the crowd, Xu Zijin frowned slightly, trying to recall if she had ever seen this fellow student before.

But…

She had no memory of him.

Xu Zijin didn’t find it strange, though. Aside from her classmates, she had little reason to remember anyone from other classes. And even with her classmates, the only ones she remembered clearly were those she interacted with regularly—mostly because she was the class representative for math and had to collect their homework.

Deciding not to dwell on it, Xu Zijin shifted her gaze from Yu Shao’s face to the chessboard.

The game had just begun. Two stones had been placed—one black, one white—each occupying a star point. Both players had adopted the most standard opening.

Now, it was Yu Shao’s turn to play.

Yu Shao picked up a black stone from the box, paused briefly in thought, and gently placed it on the board.

Click.

Column 16, Row 16.

Yu Shao’s second move was yet another star point.

"Huh, another star point?"

"Is this kid deliberately steering the game toward a complex and aggressive battle?"

"Probably. Against Zheng Qin, trying to create chaos on the board and hoping to seize a chance in the confusion is a smart move. After all, wild punches can sometimes take down a seasoned master."

"Not necessarily. It could also be that he just can’t handle the subtleties of a small-point opening. Compared to star-point openings, small-point openings involve way more intricate variations."

The spectators murmured among themselves, keeping their voices low to avoid disturbing the players.

For context, unlike a small-point approach, which focuses on "territory," star-point openings emphasize "influence" and speed, often pulling the game into aggressive, complicated skirmishes. This kind of playstyle thrives on sharp tactics and bold attacks.

"Another star point?"

Zheng Qin studied Yu Shao’s move carefully, his eyes lingering on him with a hint of thoughtfulness.

He, too, assumed that Yu Shao was trying to guide the game into a complex battleground where he might find an opportunity to win amidst the chaos.

After a moment of consideration, Zheng Qin’s lips curved into a faint smile. Reaching back into his Go box, he pinched a white stone between his fingers.

"If that’s what you want," he thought, "then…"

Zheng Qin’s eyes sharpened, his wrist raised high, and he declared silently in his mind:

"I’ll grant your wish!"

Click!

The white stone landed on Column 4, Row 4, another star point.

"What? Another star point?"

"What does this mean?"

"Is he… accepting the challenge?"

The onlookers were visibly stunned. They exchanged bewildered glances, each of them trying to make sense of the situation.

In Go, there’s a saying about "avoiding the opponent’s sharp edges." If Black was clearly seeking an aggressive fight, the best response for White would usually be to avoid confrontation—opting for a small-point or high-point approach instead.

If your opponent swings wildly, the ideal counter isn’t to meet force with force but to parry their attacks, using finesse and subtlety to outmaneuver them.

But no one had expected Zheng Qin to place his stone on another star point. This choice sent a clear message: "You want a fight? Bring it on. You draw your sword, I unsheathe my blade. Let’s see who comes out on top."

It wasn’t that star-point openings were inherently bad—on the contrary, they were solid and reputable moves. But most players would be reluctant to let their opponent dictate the pace of the game.

As Zheng Qin mirrored his star-point strategy, Yu Shao instinctively reached into the Go box without a moment’s thought. Picking up another black stone, he calmly placed it on the board.

Click.

The crisp sound of the stone landing filled the room, but as it did, the entire atmosphere shifted.

The spectators fell silent. Some widened their eyes, doubting what they were seeing, while others leaned forward unconsciously, trying to get a clearer look at the board.

Even Xu Zijin, standing among the crowd, furrowed her delicate brows, visibly puzzled by the move.

As for Zheng Qin, who was seated across from Yu Shao, his reaction was even more pronounced. He froze, completely taken aback, as this move was utterly unexpected—not just by him, but by everyone watching.

Because Yu Shao’s latest move landed on…

Column 3, Row 3.

The 3-3 point.

The 3-3 point is a daring and unconventional move, typically used to invade an opponent’s corner territory directly. In traditional Go strategy, playing this early on such a point can signal extreme confidence—or recklessness.

But one thing was certain: this game had just gotten a lot more interesting.