Transmigrated into the Film Emperor’s Death-Seeking Fiance

Chapter 7

This chapter was translated by Daed to be hosted on Foxaholic.com only. Thank you.

Last edited 7/7/21.

Yan Qing Chi looked up and met his gaze. He smiled, winked, and then looked down at his checker pieces.

Qiqi also lowered his head.

Then, he saw Yan Qing Chi move one of the marbles from the very bottom row. He used the same hopping strategy that Qiqi had used for the last two rows. As Qiqi watched, the man suddenly moved to another spot, and then there was a spot for the marbles in the third-to-last row to hop to. He watched as Yan Qing Chi jumped step by step, and finally jumped directly to the opposite side.

He looked at Yan Qing Chi in surprise. The latter returned a warm smile as he continued.

Soon, the colors of the checker pieces on two sides were flipped, forming a new triangle.

As the last marble was put into place, Yan Qing Chi breezily declared, “I won.”

Qiqi stared at him unblinkingly. After decades, he cast his eyes down, his long eyelashes like hooks. He studied the newly-rearranged pieces on the checkerboard, slowly picked one up, and set it down.　

Yan Qing Chi noticed that Qiqi was mimicking the hopping strategy he had used. He had a very good memory, swiftly correcting his previous mistake. Once he had the third-to-last row all out of its corner, he seemed to be quite proud of himself. He glanced at Yan Qing Chi slyly, to which the latter applauded, “Clever.”

Qiqi bit his lip lightly, continuing to make his moves. But he wasn’t proud for long, because once he hopped to the center, he discovered that he wasn’t able to hop over.

His teeth unwittingly bit harder on his lip, causing it to whiten. Just as Yan Qing Chi was about to let Qiqi release his lip, he found that the child had already retrieved his teeth and was drumming his cheeks. He returned the marble to its original position in a huff but remained calm. He lifted his head and stared at Yan Qing Chi, not saying a word.

Yan Qing Chi almost chuckled at this; he could only lower his head and demonstrate for him again.　　

Qiqi memorized it. After he finished hopping, the child began to mimic the way that Yan Qing Chi had hopped. However, at the end of the day, he was still young. Although he saw the step-by-step process of the standard solution, he would constantly forget the next step. Every time that Qiqi forgot or made the wrong move, he would return the pieces to their original positions and then look towards Yan Qing Chi, signaling for him to demonstrate again.

Yan Qing Chi watched as he repeated the process again and again, and began to see Qiqi in a different light. He felt like the child in front of him was more brilliant than he had thought.

He had thought that Qiqi had simply been clever, but now it seemed that he was more than that. He was more rational and self-disciplined than the average kid. At such a young age, he was able to be so patient and composed, taking the trouble to repeat the process again and again. Yan Qing Chi felt like this child was calmer and more unhurried than he himself had been when he was a kid.

It took Qiqi about five tries before he finally succeeded.

He looked at the reversed colors of the pieces on the checkerboard, and sent Yan Qing Chi a proud look. 　　

Yan Qing Chi applauded for him without hesitation, praising him, “You’re truly amazing.”

Qiqi seemed to be a little bashful; he smiled silently.

Yan Qing Chi supported his head on his palm as he watched him, his eyes filled with mirth. Warmly, he inquired, “Are you called Qiqi because you’re good at Chinese Checkers?” 1 　

Qiqi shook his head.

“Then why are you called Qiqi?”

Qiqi pondered about it, “Just because I’m called Qiqi.”

He looked towards Yan Qing Chi as he said solemnly, “I am Qiqi, so I’m called Qiqi.”

It had been a long time since Yan Qing Chi had heard such a childish answer. Complemented with Qiqi’s soft and pliant voice, it was absolutely adorable. He played along, saying,”Ohh, so that’s why.”

Qiqi nodded. 　　

So Yan Qing Chi asked, “Can I play Chinese Checkers with you?”

Qiqi thought about it, then nodded.

Yan Qing Chi looked at the board, “I’m red, you’re green. Whoever is the first to reach the other party’s corner and places their piece there is the winner.”

Qiqi nodded again.

“You go first.” Yan Qing Chi said.

And so Qiqi began to hop according to the earlier hopping strategy.

When Yan Qing Chi noticed that he was still following the previous hopping strategy, he almost burst into laughter. He held it in and even cooperated, watching as Qiqi hopped along, seizing his city and occupying his territory.

Qiqi didn’t have any playmates. This was the first time that someone had played with him for so long—and he’d even won—thus he was extremely happy and was unable to mask the excitement in his voice, “I won.”

“Yeah, you won. Qiqi is amazing.”

Qiqi immediately beamed, his eyes curving into crescent-moon shapes.

Yan Qing Chi reached out and poked his fair and supple cheek. “But it’ll be my win in the next round.”

Qiqi didn’t believe him.

Yan Qing Chi arranged the pieces, letting him go first again. When he had jumped to the second-to-last row, Yan Qing Chi raised his head and winked, “Watch this.”

Qiqi lowered his head and discovered that he changed the way that he jumped.

No doubt about it, it was Yan Qing Chi’s complete victory this round.

Qiqi looked at him, a little puzzled. He seemed to be unable to understand how he (YQC) could still play like this.

Yan Qing Chi rubbed his head, “Here, I’ll teach you.”

When Jiang Mo Chen finished the matters at hand, remembered about Yan Qing Chi, and pushed open the door, he saw this scene:　

The two of them did not talk much as they sat on the carpet and played Chinese Checkers. At the end, Qiqi seemed to have won. He set the piece in place and turned his head slightly, a pair of sparkling eyes waiting for the other’s praise.

And so Yan Qing Chi cooperatively praised, “Wow, Qiqi is so amazing. You learn so quickly.”　

Qiqi was enjoying himself, asking, “Is there more?” 　　

His words had no context, but Yan Qing Chi understood what he meant, “There is. But you’ve already learned two strategies today. Let’s save some for next time.”　

Qiqi’s face instantly fell, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

When Yan Qing Chi noticed that his mood was down, he reached out a hand and poked his face, “Were you drawing before lunch? How about I teach you how to draw?”

Qiqi was surprised, “What are you going to teach me to draw?”

“What do you want to draw?”

Qiqi pursed his lips as he thought about it, “A puppy.”

“Okay.”

He got to his feet, reaching out a hand and pulling Qiqi up as well. When Qiqi turned his head, he noticed Jiang Mo Chen standing there. He took a moment, blinked, and called out, “Daddy.”　

Since Jiang Mo Chen was called upon, he could only come over, “Are you two going to draw?”

Qiqi nodded.

Yan Qing Chi looked back at him, “Do you want to draw with us?”
　
Jiang Mo Chen didn’t expect that he would invite him. He opened his mouth to refuse but Qiqi kept staring at him. And well, he did want to be closer with this child, so he swallowed down the words that had already reached his throat and cooperated, “Sure.”

Enjoy your weekend~

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