Pokémon: Did you play Pokémon today?

Chapter 232 When did Little Blue become so fragrant with tea?!

"No—no—not there—not there—hehe—"

Azure mumbled incoherently in her sleep, a suspicious, silly smile playing on her lips, when suddenly she jolted awake and abruptly opened her eyes.

What comes into view is the ceiling emitting a cold white light.

—An unfamiliar ceiling?

wrong!

This is not my bedroom at all!

Where am I?!

Did someone kidnap me while I was asleep—uh, and move me here?!

But why don't I feel anything at all?! Did they use some kind of high-tech method?

Or is this a premeditated kidnapping?

She rubbed her somewhat dazed head, forcing herself to calm down quickly, and tried to get up from the cold, hard floor with a somersault.

As a result, his waist went weak and he almost fell back down.

She grimaced as she steadied herself, immediately adopting a defensive posture, her sharp eyes quickly scanning her surroundings.

A variety of strange scientific instruments, an almost reflective layout, and a faint smell of disinfectant and ozone in the air —

At first glance, this is a very standard, even exemplary, scientific research laboratory.

But this place—

It gave her an extremely strong sense of déjà vu.

"This is—Professor Oak's lab? I—I was just underground in Viridian City—"

Azure moved cautiously, making no sound, her brain racing, gathering all the information she could possibly need.

Her right hand instinctively reached for her waist, where her Poké Ball belt usually hung.

This habitual action should have brought a sense of security, but the sensation from her fingertips made her heart sink.

The good news is: the Poké Ball is still there.

The bad news is: there's only one red and white ball, and she doesn't know which Pokémon partner is inside.

Just as she was about to press the button to release the Pokémon from the Poké Ball and see which "partner in adversity" it was...

hum!

Without warning, a familiar semi-transparent panel appeared out of thin air in front of her!

The panel clearly lists options such as "Trainer Information", "Pokémon Team", "Backpack", "Map", and "Settings".

Azure eyes froze instantly, fixed on the "Pokémon Team" section.

It only has a lone avatar and name: "Ditto Lv.22".

"Professor Oak's lab, the Pokémon character panel, a level 22 Ditto, and my classic starter outfit —"

Bilan subconsciously adjusted the iconic sun hat on her head and then pinched her chubby cheeks hard.

"Ouch—it hurts!"

A sharp pain shot through her, instantly making her face contort in agony, and the absurd guess in her mind became clearer and clearer.

"Could I have... been transported into the world of the Pokémon game?!"

Her voice grew softer and softer until it even carried a barely perceptible sob, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.

"No way!!! I still have half a cabinet full of unopened limited-edition snacks in my room! I haven't even used the manicure voucher I booked a long time ago in Golden City! I haven't finished paying the balance on the latest phone! And—and—"

She stamped her foot in grief and indignation, her voice trembling with tears.

"Most importantly! I'm young and beautiful, and I've never had a proper, sweet romance!!!"

Thinking about the most likely answer to the current situation, Bilan felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, as if life had instantly lost its color and turned into a gray mess.

Fortunately, there was no one around, and no one saw her disheveled and utterly disfigured state.

"Wait! Something's not right!"

She slapped her forehead, and her eyes lit up again.

"Since there's a game panel, there must be an option to exit the game!"

Azure immediately grasped at this as if it were a lifeline, her spirits lifted, and she instinctively tried to control the panel floating in front of her with her mind.

Relying on her muscle memory from years of playing the game, she quickly found the "Exit Game" button at the bottom of the "Settings" menu.

With a "nothing to lose" mentality, she concentrated and pressed down hard!

The expected spatial shift or withdrawal of consciousness did not occur in the next moment.

Instead, a simply designed system dialog box pops up in the center of the field of view.

"Player Azure, do you wish to unlog in to NPC Little Blue and exit the current dream world?"

A dream, a dream world!?

You're saying I'm dreaming?!

But I definitely felt pain just now! Isn't pinching yourself a pain test?!

If this really was just a dream—then this dream was far too real!

This physics engine, this detailed rendering, this pain simulation—has dream technology really advanced to this level?!

Despite her inner turmoil, seeing this confirmation message strangely calmed down Bilan's heart, which had been in turmoil due to the "time travel".

The determination to quit immediately that I had before had largely dissipated.

She raised her hand and gently patted her cheeks a few times; the touch felt real.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally chose "cancel".

Since she can "safely log off" at any time, what is she afraid of?

Isn't this a perfect, immersive experience, and it's even set against the backdrop of her favorite Pokémon?

A large-scale, free-to-play holographic adventure game?!

Adventure, exploration, becoming a Pokémon Master — this isn't just a boy's dream!

What's more, for a die-hard fan like her, the attraction is absolutely explosive!

What does it mean to be a true fan?

Azure quickly composed herself, her earlier frustration and panic vanishing, replaced by an explorer's excitement.

She began to analyze the current "game start" with great enthusiasm.

I'm wearing the classic "Blue" starter outfit, and my only Pokémon is a level 22 Ditto. My starting location is a laboratory at Professor Oak's lab.

She came to a conclusion instantly.

This is clearly a story point where someone sneaks into the research institute and "borrows" Pokémon and the Pokédex right at the start of the game!

According to the game's plot as she remembered it —

"I think I lurked here for half a day, observing, and then slipped into the next room to get the Poké Balls and Pokédex when Professor Oak and his assistant weren't looking."

"It just so happens that the handsome researcher—Bai Zhou—caught red-handed, caught red-handed."

Azure cupped her not-so-ample chest, pinched her smooth chin, and carefully considered her next course of action.

"Should we—go ahead and get the Poké Balls and Pokédex beforehand, and then try to avoid being arrested by Shiraishu-ge," thus disrupting the storyline?

The thought had barely surfaced when it was suppressed by an even stronger idea.

But----

I still really want to meet Bai Zhou Ge in this world —

I wonder how it differs from reality —

Just as she was caught in a sweet dilemma, with two little people fiercely fighting in her head.

A figure that appeared quite tall relative to her had moved silently behind her like a ghost.

Accompanied by a gentle yet slightly playful remark, a speech bubble marked with an arrow suddenly popped up directly in front of her field of vision, almost touching her face.

"Handsome researcher: If I remember correctly, the internal areas of the research institute have always been off-limits to outsiders, right?"

"Handsome researcher: So, may I ask—this lady who looks a bit unfamiliar, how did you get in?"

"Handsome researcher: Could it be... trespassing?"

"Whoa!"

Azure was so startled that she almost jumped up on the spot.

Like a primary school student caught cheating by the teacher, she instantly straightened up and then stiffly and slowly turned around.

Sure enough, what came into her view was the handsome face with a gentle smile that she had just been hesitating about whether to see—Bai Zhou from the dream world.

Bai Zhou didn't say anything more to put pressure on her. She just maintained that gentle smile with a hint of mockery and quietly watched Xiao Lan, who exuded an aura of "guilty conscience."

Bilan felt her scalp tingle and her cheeks burn under his gaze; her toes were so embarrassed they could have dug a three-bedroom apartment out of the smooth laboratory floor.

She felt like she was melting under this silent gaze.

No! This can't go on!

She cried out in her heart, steeled her resolve, and blinked her eyes as if she had made a firm decision.

Anyway, these are all just my dreams! In my dreams, I can do whatever I want! Why am I being so timid and hesitant?

Let alone the White Boat Brother created by the cricket in a dream, I could "take care of" him right here and now!

He... he didn't dare say anything more! (Very quietly)

Thinking of this, she instantly felt much lighter, as if her mental burden had been lifted.

She made a decisive decision—

Using her feminine advantages, she begins her performance (lying)!

Although that's what he thought, and he was quite confident, when he actually faced Bai Zhou's gaze, which seemed to see right through people...

Her inherent, strange "ladylike" burden and subconscious sense of awe prevented her from ever being arrogant or domineering.

As soon as Azure opened her mouth, the corresponding text of the dialogue appeared in her field of vision along with the sound she made.

Little Blue: Huh? Can't we come in here? I... I'm not sure about the rules here————

As she spoke, she deliberately took two small steps forward, bringing herself and Bai Zhou so close that they were almost only a step apart.

Then she tilted her pretty face up and deliberately moved a little closer to Bai Zhou.

Blinking her large eyes, which seemed ready to well up with tears at any moment, she tried her best to put on the most innocent and vulnerable expression.

"Blue: I'm a new trainer in Pallet Town~ I was on my way to visit the backyard of the research institute when I accidentally took the wrong turn and ended up here — Big brother, you're so handsome and kind, you won't misunderstand me, right?"

Bai Zhou was clearly taken aback by this textbook-level "tea ceremony" performance, and his perfect, gentle smile froze for a moment.

No, sisters?!

When did Little Blue become so fragrant with tea?!

Has BYD's dream world, which constructs NPC characters, evolved to the point where they can perform this kind of gameplay?

Hearing these words, so sweet and savory, Bai Zhou's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He really wanted to give this dramatic Xiao Lan a sharp rap on the head to bring her back to her senses.

But he ultimately held back.

Why get angry at a piece of dream code?

Besides, he never intended to strictly follow the "original plot" of arresting Xiao Lan and forcing her to sign a series of "unequal treaties".

Doing so wouldn't bring him much practical benefit in terms of his current goals in this dream world.

The main reason he approached Xiaolan was to have a Pokémon battle so that Kirlia could adapt to its current state as soon as possible.

There's no need to complicate simple things.

"Handsome researcher: Alright, stop pretending in front of me. I know perfectly well what you're here for—"

Bai Zhou sighed helplessly and gently tapped her forehead.

Just when Azure thought her "tea ceremony" had failed and was about to switch to "nonsense" mode,

But then, as if by magic, he pulled two things out of the pocket of his neat white coat.

An uncolored Pokédex and an empty Poké Ball.

I handed it to her casually.

"Handsome researcher: Here, take this. I'm officially entrusting this Pokédex to you on behalf of Professor Oak. I hope you'll use it well and work hard to complete the Pokémon data for the Kanto region."

"Handsome Researcher: As for the starter Pokémon—find a quiet time later and go to the next room to pick one you like. I'll talk to the Doctor; consider it a special newbie perk for you."

Azure blankly accepted the heavy Pokédex and Poké Ball, then raised its little head.

Looking at the calm-looking Bai Zhou in front of him, and then looking down at the genuine illustration in his hand, his CPU was a little overwhelmed.

I have a general feeling that...

Isn't something off about this plot development?

Normally, it would be according to the script she remembered.

Shouldn't Brother Bai Zhou have just caught her red-handed and then engaged in some "friendly" negotiations (coercion and enticement)?

Only after she was forced to sign a series of "mutually beneficial" (but humiliating) treaties did they "reluctantly" agree to it.

Should I give her the encyclopedia entry?

What?! The entire process was skipped, and we fast-forwarded straight to the "freebie" part!?

Could it be that...?

Could it be because subconsciously, I've always hoped that Bai Zhou would be a gentle, considerate, and understanding older brother?

So this dream world responded to my inner desires and specially "customized" such an amazing older brother version of Bai Zhou just for me!?

This is amazing!

A surge of immense surprise and happiness instantly overwhelmed Azure's mind.

She wished she could pounce on him like a hungry tiger, rush up and hug her "dream lover" tightly, and give him a big kiss on the face.

To express the overwhelming joy I feel at this moment!