April, Tokyo, Japan.

Yukari Umezawa sat in her home with a chessboard in front of her. It was spring, the sun was good, and there were a few large trees outside the room, and the light through the lush leaves landed on the board in front of them, drawing patchwork spots that contrasted with the black and white pieces in the chess game.

If you look at it roughly, Yukari Umezawa seems to be concentrating and playing seriously. However, if you look closely, you will find that Yukari Umezawa seems to be a little absent-minded, because her attention is not actually on the chess game, but on the photo that is accompanied by the chess game.

Li Xiaoqiang defended China's "Tian Yuan" and achieved the "Tian Yuan" triple hegemony ......

Li Xiaoqiang defeated Cao Yanzi and entered the semifinals ......of the 3rd "Ying's Cup"

Li Xiaoqiang defeated Zhao Zhixun and entered the semifinals of the 8th "Toyo Securities Cup" ......"

"Li Xiaoqiang defeated Ma Xiaofei and won the championship of the "Top 10 Battle" of Chinese Go......"

Li Xiaoqiang defeated Cao Yanzi again and entered the semi-finals of the first "Samsung Cup" ......"

In front of Yuka Umezawa, it was all news about Li Xiaoqiang. There are many such reports, not only in the Japanese media, but also in the Chinese and South Korean media. The reports look messy, but they are clearly organized by Umezawa.

Yuka Umezawa details Li Xiaoqiang in the photo. The current Li Xiaoqiang is no longer the young boy he was back then, he has a chic demeanor, a calm demeanor, and the demeanor of a big chess player. Yukari Umezawa stared at Li Xiaoqiang's eyes in the photo, and a smile unconsciously hung on the corner of her mouth.

If there is anything that Li Xiaoqiang has not changed, it seems that only his eyes are left. It seems that only his eyes are as clear and transparent as ever.

"Alas, it's been another year...... "Yukari Umezawa sighed softly in her heart.

Yes, it's spring of the year in the blink of an eye. Yukari Umezawa herself doesn't know when it started. When I calculate the "year" by myself, I have become more and more accustomed to counting from April every year.

For no other reason, April is the day of the annual Fujitsu Cup. Every year in April, it is the time when he comes to him.

Almost 2 years have passed. Yukari Umezawa sat in her home and recalled the moments of that day. Yukari Umezawa has always thought. The story of himself and Li Xiaoqiang has been forgotten by the years in some unknown corner, even if it is a memory, it takes a lot of trouble to find an invitation.

But Umezawa Yukari would not have thought that those painful or beautiful memories were like silverware that had been sealed for thousands of years, and I thought it would rust Banban, but I didn't think about it, but I just needed a gentle breath, and it would be visible immediately. Those memories are so clear. It seems to have been so pure for many years.

It's just these memories that make Yuka Umezawa's heart tingle like a pin.

When that happened, Li Xiaoqiang fell into a long slump. During that time, Yukari Umezawa was also very hesitant: "His downturn is all because of my ......." But now seeing Li Xiaoqiang's obvious recovery, Mei Ze is happy for Li Xiaoqiang but a little lost: "He is back to normal now, so does it mean that he ......?"

Outside the window, the sun shines in strongly, creating a straight path of light in the air. The tiny particles that were suspended made Yukari Umezawa a little upset. Chaotic thoughts are like these suspended dust. They are everywhere. They make it impossible for Yukari Umezawa to escape.

Yukari Umezawa felt that the dust was scrambling into her lungs, and a busy friction passed, and Yukari Umezawa even heard a rough sound on the alveolar walls, it must have been that they stubbornly stayed there and refused to come out, Yukari Umezawa suddenly coughed violently......

Pulling eyes, a burst of tears. Unconsciously it flowed down Yukari Umezawa's cheeks.

"Suzu...... Bell bell bell ......"

A ringing of the phone interrupted Yukari Umezawa's self-pity.

"What is the matter, sir?"

The call was made by Yukari Umezawa's master, Masao Kato. At present, Mr. Kato has served as the vice chairman of the Japan Chess Academy, and he is working with Hidei Otake and others to vigorously promote a series of reform measures of the Japan Chess Academy.

"At present, both the Chinese delegation and the South Korean delegation have arrived. Yukari, please prepare. There's a talk show to do in the evening. ”

"Huh?" Hearing that Li Xiaoqiang and they had arrived, Yuka Umezawa was flustered for no reason:

"Doesn't the game start the day after tomorrow? Usually they just arrive a day early, how ...... this year"

"Yukari, don't forget, this year is a special year, as it is the 10th year of the Fujitsu Cup, and the sponsors have held a series of commemorative events. And this talk show is one of a series of commemorative activities. ”

"That'...... The interviewee ......"

The main subject of the interview, of course, was the winners of the previous Fujitsu Cup. ”

Li Xiaoqiang and Yukari Umezawa met under such circumstances this year.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first Fujitsu Cup in 1988. In the previous nine years, there were 9 "Fujitsu Cup" championships. Since Masaki Takemiya and Li Xiaoqiang have won the "Fujitsu Cup" twice respectively, the actual number of world champions present is 7.

The distribution of these 7 people, including 3 Japanese chess players, they are Masaki Takemiya, Hayashi Haifeng and Otake Hero. There are two Chinese chess players, they are Li Xiaoqiang and Ma Xiaofei. On the South Korean side, Yoo Chang-hyuk and Lee Seok-fo are on the other hand.

Although it is a group talk show, although they are all world champions, everyone is treated differently. It is clear that Li Xiaoqiang has received relatively much attention. Of all seven world champions, only Japan's Masaki Takemiya and South Korea's Lee Seok-fo were asked questions that could rival him.

If you think about it carefully, this is normal, among these 7 people, only Li Xiaoqiang and Masaki Takemiya have won the "Fujitsu Cup" twice, and Mr. Takemiya, as a Japanese chess player and the first winner of the "Fujitsu Cup", will definitely play one of the leading roles in this kind of show. As for Li Shifo, since everyone says that the current world chess pattern is a three-legged standing, even if it is for balance reasons, it is impossible for everyone to snub him, the defending champion.

The talk show went well, and everyone sat together and had a good time. Wait until the talk show is coming to an end. The director in charge of recording the show even felt that if China's Li Xiaoqiang could be less absent-minded, if he could perform a little better, then the show would be perfect.

It's just a pity that I met Yukari Umezawa on such an occasion, and when Yukari Umezawa asked Li Xiaoqiang a question as the host. Not to mention that Li Xiaoqiang is usually silent, even if Li Xiaoqiang is usually talkative, he can't play his usual level in this situation.

Li Xiaoqiang is a person who is reborn once, but perhaps precisely because he is reborn, Li Xiaoqiang feels that there are many things in this world that he can't understand. For example, himself and Lin Mengyu, and for example, himself and Yukari Umezawa.

Regarding his relationship with Yukari Umezawa, Li Xiaoqiang sometimes feels that he is like a marionette. was wantonly manipulated by fate, suddenly mentioned in front of a person, and was negligently taken away. Such a body was involuntarily assigned in a tough attitude, and Li Xiaoqiang seemed to see the god of fate smiling carelessly.

When two people who could not have made a friend come together, it must be the god of fate watching the world run tiredly, it must be a boring game to pass the idle time.

Li Xiaoqiang could not do anything about this. Li Xiaoqiang feels like a big man full of strength, looking forward to a real game with the greatest sincerity. Unfortunately, this is not the same as a real chess game. Li Xiaoqiang felt that he was facing an invisible opponent, and Li Xiaoqiang could hear its ridicule. I smell it, but I can't find its direction. So Li Xiaoqiang could only helplessly wave his fists in the air, and then gasped and let the air disperse as if no one was around, and closed ......

What happened that night was undoubtedly like the thread that moved Li Xiaoqiang's soul, from that day to today. There are several springs and winters in between. It's been almost 2 years, and Li Xiaoqiang even thinks that he has become accustomed to its power, as if he is most accustomed to the black-and-white chess game, close his eyes, and it will appear in front of me. The eyebrows are clear, the edges and corners are sharp, and at the same time, they are nostalgic for themselves, the stream that is tightly embraced by spring, and the equally bright Yukari Umezawa standing on the side.

Can you forget Yukari Umezawa? Can you get along with her like a normal friend? Li Xiaoqiang knew it was difficult. So can you be a scumbag? …… Li Xiaoqiang knows that in fact, even if he is a scumbag, it is not so easy.

What to do?

"Maybe there are some things in life that don't have a reason, all you have to do is learn to ......"

Just when Li Xiaoqiang was still thinking nonsense, Li Shifo, who was sitting next to him, touched Li Xiaoqiang's arm with his arm and let him return to reality.

As soon as Li Xiaoqiang returned to reality, he heard Yukari Umezawa's voice:

“…… Many people may have heard of the legendary "Xiaoqiang Long Exam". I can tell you very responsibly that Li Sang's demeanor just now is the most standard "Xiaoqiang long test" demeanor. But I want to remind everyone that imitation needs to be cautious, the effect may not be good, not everyone is in a daze like him, and he will definitely be able to come up with amazing tricks. Well, since he let us see Xiaoqiang's appearance for the long exam, let's forgive him once. Let me repeat the question I just asked......"

Speaking of which, Yukari Umezawa turned her gaze to Li Xiaoqiang and Li Shifo:

"We just mentioned that Japanese players have not done well in the international arena in recent years. Both of you are among the top players in the world today, so what do you two think is the main problem for Japanese players? In other words, what is the problem of Japanese Go......

Hearing such a question, Li Xiaoqiang could only smile bitterly in his heart. He said in his heart that no wonder Li Shifo would wake himself up, how could he answer such a question?

Doesn't it take that kind of "respectable" person to answer such a question? To say that there is no problem with the level of himself and Li Shifo, but it seems to be a little far away from "high morality".

But looking at the current posture, it seems that it is not possible to answer it. So how do you answer appropriately?

For a while, Li Xiaoqiang's mind turned sharply. After thinking about what to say, Li Xiaoqiang smiled slightly:

"I think that in the decades of development of Japanese Go, there is already a very clear answer to this question...... (To be continued. )