Boundary - Chapter 14

Gu Yetong’s home was a place he had visited many times over the years. But this seemed to be the first time he had come as the true grandson-in-law of the Gu family.

Three days after the wedding, he went on a business trip. He hadn’t arranged for any traditional rituals like the bride’s return to her parents’ home.

“Why are you here?” Gu Yetong, coming downstairs, had clearly visible dark circles under her eyes, her face full of weariness.

“I came to see Grandpa, how is he?” Jin Nanting raised his hand, signaling his intention to follow her upstairs.

Gu Yetong hesitated for a moment, then turned to lead him to Grandpa Gu’s room. “Fortunately, it was discovered early, and the thrombolytic injection was given in time. He’s fine now.”

Indeed, Grandpa Gu, the patient, looked more spirited than Gu Yetong. “Ah, Nanting, you’re here.”

“Grandpa,” Jin Nanting walked to the old man’s bedside.

“Tongtong said you were on a business trip in Europe this week,” Grandpa Gu sat on the bed, a game of Go set up on the small table, just starting.

“I returned this morning,” Jin Nanting said, “to see if there’s anything I can help with.”

“There’s nothing to help with, Auntie Song and I…”

“You coming is a great help,” Grandpa Gu interrupted his granddaughter with a smile, throwing the few Go pieces on the board back into the box. “Come, come, play a game with me. It’s been a long time since I had a young person to play with.”

Jin Nanting glanced at Gu Yetong, who was standing by, pursing her lips in dissatisfaction. “Isn’t Tongtong playing with you?”

He vaguely remembered that when Gu Yetong was a child, she had been pulled by adults to play Go with him. But she lacked patience and was too easy to read.

“At her level, she can’t last half an hour before conceding,” and it seemed her progress over the years hadn’t been much. Grandpa Gu grabbed a handful of white stones, asking him to guess the number for the first move. “It’s different with you here! I still remember when you were in your teens, you only lost to me by a few points. I heard from Little Jin that your skills have only gotten better since then.”

These days, there are very few people who could call his father, Jin Yan, “Little Jin.” His father had worked at Gu’s for a while after being expelled from the family business, and the friendship between the two families started from that time.

“I haven’t played in many years either,” Jin Nanting took a black stone from the box and placed it on the board.

Grandpa Gu opened his hand and counted, “You guessed right.”

“It seems I have good luck today.”

Seeing that the two of them had already set up the game, Gu Yetong helplessly walked over, bending down to whisper in his ear, “Let him win early.”

That rich, wine-like voice finally filled his somewhat empty heart a little.

About an hour later, Jin Nanting conceded.

“Are you really listening to Tongtong that much?” Grandpa Gu didn’t win entirely satisfactorily.

“I haven’t played in many years, I’m a bit rusty,” Jin Nanting said without showing any emotion. It was true, but having the advantage of the first move, he actually had several chances to control the game, yet each time he left a glimmer of hope for Grandpa to turn the tables.

“Then you must come every week to practice with me,” although Grandpa Gu was still not fully satisfied, having just been discharged from the hospital, fatigue showed on his face. “Tell Auntie Song I’ll take a nap first, I’ll have dinner in my room, you two do as you please.”