Pokémon: I picked up a reborn Eevee at the start of the game.

"Just give it a try~"

Okay, don't move, I'll do it myself.

"Wow! So beautiful!"

Xia Chen, who was listening outside the door, looked at the conversation with a strange expression. Why did this conversation sound so bad?

Am I being cuckolded by this strange tree?

Wait, why would I have such a strange thought?

Putting aside his chaotic thoughts, Xia Chen politely knocked on the door.

"Ah, Xia Chen is here! Hurry up and put your clothes on!"

"Yeah, over there, the pants."

Xia Chen's face was ashen.

Oh no! I went on a trip and a strange, beautiful girl stole my childhood sweetheart.

What's going on?

Qi Shu looks harmless, but is that just a disguise?

Damn it!

Xia Chen was thinking about how to win back his childhood sweetheart when, after a flurry of hurried footsteps, the door suddenly opened.

Before them stood two stunningly beautiful young women, their clothes disheveled and faces slightly flushed.

One looked embarrassed, the other shy.

Xia Chen looked them over suspiciously. "What are you doing in there?"

"Nothing much. Oh, by the way, what are we having for lunch?"

Mingyi's attempt to change the subject was extremely poor.

Xia Chen said irritably, "I don't know. Let the servants make it. We'll eat whatever they make."

The yacht's culinary team consists of three devoted servants who are excellent at Padménian cuisine, but Xia Chen, who is in a bad mood, doesn't want to cook.

Looking at Xia Chen's expression, Mingyi seemed to understand something.

She suddenly leaned close to Xia Chen's ear mysteriously and chuckled, "I bought a few really sexy swimsuits."

Xia Chen nodded in realization; so that's what they had been talking about in the room.

That means that under the thin coats of the two girls in front of them...

Xia Chen subconsciously glanced at Qi Shu, whose expression had become even more shy, and suddenly understood something.

He dared not think any further, coughed lightly, and said, "Well, what do you guys want to eat for lunch? I'll make it. There's plenty of food to bring on board."

Mingyi chuckled. "You weren't like this before I said that."

Couldn't you have been tough for just two more minutes?

…………

Full of energy, Xia Chen eventually went back to the cabin to cook. With the help of three servants who were skilled in cooking and had superpowers, the meal was easy to prepare.

However, this does not mean that he did not put his heart into it. When he invited Qi Shu to dinner for the first time, Xia Chen showed his true abilities.

As the last dish of braised prawns was served, Xia Chen casually tossed off his apron and said nonchalantly, "I apologize for the poor hospitality!"

Looking at the brightly colored and fragrant dishes laid out on the table, Qi Shu swallowed hard, completely losing his composure.

Qi Shu, whose diet had always been strictly controlled, had never seen anything like this before. If it weren't for her politeness and upbringing, she would have already started eating before Xia Chen even sat down at the table.

"Alright, alright, let's eat!"

Seeing Captain Xia Chen take his seat, Mingyi invited Qi Shu, who still seemed a little embarrassed, to join them for dinner.

"thanks for treatment."

Qi Shu nodded to Xia Chen, then picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the appetizing piece of meat that he had been eyeing for a long time.

The dishes, meticulously prepared by a top chef from Donghuang, undoubtedly won over Qishu, who usually prefers salads and blanched dishes.

The dining table is the place where people can get closer together. After a meal, Qi Shu was no longer as reserved as before.

"By the way, when do we start filming the video?"

Qi Shu put down his chopsticks and asked Xia Chen.

"Weren't we filming the whole time?"

Xia Chen pointed to the Rotom phone that was hovering in the air and replied matter-of-factly.

Qishu was taken aback. "Ah, but I haven't changed into that outfit yet."

Xia Chen asked in a strange tone, "Without that outfit, are you no longer yourself?"

Qi Shu frowned slightly. "You know perfectly well that's not what I meant. Anyway, this won't do. You're not live streaming right now, are you?"

Xia Chen curled his lip. "If it were a live broadcast, your agent would have already arrived in a speedboat. We're broadcasting tomorrow, so we'll keep today's footage as backup."

Qi Shu said seriously, "This video must not be leaked today, otherwise you will be in trouble."

Xia Chen shrugged. "What is this? A threat? A threat from the gym leader?"

In just a few words, the originally harmonious atmosphere suddenly became inexplicably heavy.

"You guys chat first, I'm going out for a walk to digest my food."

Mingyi led the elves and made a quick getaway. Soon, only Xia Chen and Qi Shu remained in the restaurant.

…………

Mingyi's departure actually dissipated much of the tense atmosphere.

Qi Shu didn't answer Xia Chen's question. Instead, she suddenly asked, "Why did you do that?"

Both of them understood the meaning of those words. Xia Chen didn't pretend not to understand and replied calmly, "If you want to do it, then do it."

Qi Shu narrowed his eyes slightly, and his demeanor seemed to undergo a subtle change.

"Do you think I need your rescue? Or am I just a spice in your journey?"

Seeing the strange tree suddenly "turn evil", Xia Chen was not surprised. Instead, he slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

A popular idol full of energy during live streams, an introverted and shy quiet girl outside of live streams, or now a scheming and cunning girl.

No face can be considered real; she simply wears whatever mask suits the occasion.

A dojo owner who is so young could not possibly be just a puppet manipulated by the capital behind him.

Xia Chen shrugged. "Think what you want. I'm already involved. It's up to you to decide how you want to stand up to me."

Qi Shu's eyes flickered, and after a long period of thought, she slowly said, "Do you know what the simplest way to cross social classes in this world is?"

Xia Chen replied without hesitation, "Of course, I want to become a trainer."

Fame, wealth, status—as long as you and your spirit have enough strength, everything is within your grasp.

"Yes, trainer. Becoming a trainer isn't difficult; all you need is a Poké Ball and a Pokémon. The difficulty lies in becoming a respected and powerful trainer."

"Talent, family background, resources, luck. These are all obstacles on the path of a trainer. I understood this at a very young age. So I chose a path that was relatively easier."

Xia Chen jokingly guessed, "So you chose to become an idol?"

Kiju readily admitted, "Ten years ago, the Calvo Foundation devised a plan to train a gym leader for the City of Breathtaking."

Xia Chen nodded in understanding, "You've been chosen."

Qi Shu shook his head. "No, I should say that I stood out from the selection process that involved raising Gu poison."

Xia Chen remained silent.

Qi Shu concluded, "My current strength is not enough to turn against them, and I also need the resources they provide, so I want to maintain the current balance."

So you were just meddling in other people's business?

Xia Chen nodded helplessly, "I understand. However, whether you believe it or not, my initial intention was truly good."

The strange tree remained silent.

Just as the air fell silent, Mingyi suddenly ran back.

"Xia Chen, Qi Shu, there's a huge whale king outside! Are you sure you don't want to come out and take a look?"

"Okay, I'll be right there."

After replying, Xia Chen looked at Qi Shu and said, "That's settled then. I'll head out now. You can eat slowly."

Qi Shu silently watched Xia Chen's departing figure, a hint of warmth suddenly flashing in his eyes.

…………

Since we've come all this way to the sea, it would be a shame not to take a swim.

After stopping the yacht, Xia Chen changed into his swimming trunks and stood on the deck to warm up before going into the sea, while waiting for Mingyi and Qishu, who were still making a fuss in the room.

Unlike Xia Chen, the two girls couldn't simply take off their clothes; changing into swimsuits and applying sunscreen took time.

Xia Chen, who had been waiting patiently under the scorching sun, showed no impatience whatsoever. Swimsuits—especially swimsuits for two beautiful girls—were worth the extra patience to wait for.

About half an hour later, the door to the cabin on the second floor finally opened.

"Long time waiting~"

With a beaming smile, Mingyi stepped out of the room first. She was wearing a lake-green swimsuit with ruffled edges. Her jade-like skin was delicate and radiant, glowing softly in the sunlight.

Her long, white, and tender legs reminded Xia Chen of the finest stone-ground tofu.

This girl was already very tall; Xia Chen only became noticeably taller than her when he grew to 1.7 meters two years ago.

She usually keeps a low profile, but when she changes into a swimsuit, which accentuates her figure, her stunning physique becomes apparent.

Of course, the most eye-catching feature was the two smooth, snow-white mounds that seemed ready to burst forth beneath the tender green ruffles of the swimsuit.

When Xia Chen last saw swimsuit-clad Cynthia, he thought her prowess was no less than Ming Yi's.

But when he actually saw her in person, Xia Chen could only sigh silently, "You're still the best, Mingyi."

Compared to Mingyi, who openly displays her perfect figure, Qishu is much more reserved and shy.