Their fear wasn't unfounded. Because after the drop, Elder Bai Qingshui calmly approached the table.
Then bent low.
And aimed for a stripe.
A confused noise bubbled from the crowd.
"Wait, huh? Why stripe?" Hua Feixue's voice piped up brightly from somewhere near the side.
"Wasn't solid the obvious pick? Two went in, right? And one stripe only? I would've picked solid! Right?"
"Or - wait - am I wrong? Don't tell me I'm wrong - no, tell me if I'm wrong - what's happening?"
Lin Yijun, arms crossed, answered without even looking away.
"The old man picked stripes because the layout gives him more options."
He raised a hand. "The solids are clustered near the top right. Even if he makes the next shot, the cue ball will have no clean way out."
"Stripes are spread open. Three are near the rails. One's already close to a side pocket."
"Choosing stripes lets him map his shots and control the cue ball better."
Hua Feixue blinked, mouth slowly forming an "O."
