44. To the Death

 In the morning , Kai woke up to find that Zhao Lusi had already left his room. He smiled like a fool as he prepared himself to leave the room. In the seating room, he found Zhao Lusi who was seated on a chair while playing chess against herself. He watched how she moved the pieces of both players by herself and the harmony she exuded seemed to be in flow with the world. She played multiple games by herself as Kai watched. He had never played the game before, but through watching her play, he was able to learn how the game worked.

He entered the room and sat in the opposite chair to Zhao Lusi. He moved a piece and that was when she noticed his presence. She smiled at him shyly before moving a piece. This surprised Kai who had thought that she had long become aware of his gaze.