Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 114 Rainstorm: Best Friend Caught Red-Handed

Flights bound for the coastal city flew smoothly through the clouds.

Zhang Jianying leaned against the porthole and fell asleep without realizing it.

In my dream, light and shadow swayed.

The spotlight shone on the high catwalk, where a tall and graceful figure walked with precise rhythm. Her incredibly long legs were faintly visible beneath her slit dress, and her steps were confident and elegant, each one seemingly stepping on the heartbeat of onlookers.

The spotlight followed her; she tilted her head slightly, revealing a smile that could eclipse any fashion magazine cover.

It's all legs below the neck!

Zhang Jianying let out a satisfied sigh in her dream.

"Attention passengers, the aircraft is experiencing unstable turbulence ahead. Please fasten your seatbelts and do not leave your seats."

A muffled broadcast came through, and the dream began to sway.

"Boom—!"

With a loud bang, accompanied by a violent feeling of weightlessness and turbulence, Zhang Jianying was suddenly awakened!

The sky outside the porthole was no longer a clear night sky, but a churning, dark cloud! Large raindrops lashed against the window, making a dense, pattering sound, like countless pebbles falling.

Lightning flashed intermittently, tearing through the sky and illuminating the chaotic sea below and the shattered clouds torn apart by the gale.

Visibility was terrifyingly low; you could barely see a few meters beyond the fuselage.

The plane rocked violently like a small boat in a storm, the overhead bins creaked, and suppressed gasps came from the passengers.

"This weather—it's outrageous!"

Zhang Jianying gripped the handrail tightly, his brow furrowed as he looked out at the raging storm. The sky had been clear when they took off from Nohara City, how could it have turned like this in just a few hours? Was the weather along the Sinnoh coast really that drastic?

He had a vague feeling that this storm was unusual. He probed out with his waveguide power, but apart from the restless natural energy, he didn't sense anything different.

He stroked Gardevoir's Poké Ball, transmitting his thoughts through Aura. Gardevoir closed its eyes and sensed for a while inside the Poké Ball, but found nothing unusual. It gently shook the Poké Ball, sending back the feedback that everything was normal.

Ash, sitting next to me, was very excited, his face pressed against the window, his eyes shining: "Wow! What a huge storm! Pikachu, look, the lightning is so powerful!"

"Pikachu!"

Pikachu clung tightly to Ash's hair, dizzy from being shaken around, looking utterly dejected.

Xiao Gang and Xiao Guang also fastened their seatbelts, looking tense.

After a thrilling and bumpy ride, the flight finally landed safely at Binhai Airport.

Stepping out of the cabin, a fierce wind carrying icy raindrops lashed at you, soaking you through in an instant.

"This awful weather—" Xiao Gang complained loudly, shielding his head with his coat, "I hope it won't affect Miss Xiao Ju'er's fashion show!"

"Let's find a place to settle down first!" Zhang Jianying shouted, and the four of them braved the wind and rain, rushing into the airport terminal in a disheveled state.

Unbeknownst to them, on the other side of the airport, a hot air balloon marked with an "R" and tossed about by the strong winds was making a desperate attempt to make an emergency landing in an open area, belching black smoke.

Inside the hot air balloon basket, the Rockets trio huddled together, shivering, soaked to the bone, their faces streaked with black and white.

"Meow—I'm going to die, meow—what awful weather—the hot air balloon almost fell apart, meow—" Meow's voice was trembling.

"My new hairstyle!" Musashi looked at his carefully styled hair, now stuck to his face in clumps, and felt like crying.

"W-Forget about the hairstyle for now—" Kojiro's teeth chattered. "Let's find somewhere to shelter from the rain. I...I think I'm getting a cold—"

"Whoosh, achoo, whoosh~ Nas!"

In contrast, Zhang Jianying and his three companions, though also soaked to the bone, at least arrived safely. They quickly found a hotel near the city center in Binhai City and settled in.

Standing by the window of his hotel room, Zhang Jianying gazed at the city shrouded in torrential rain.

Even in such severe weather, the coastal city still exudes a unique futuristic feel. Towering, modern buildings with sleek lines, many rooftops adorned with massive solar panels, and small aircraft occasionally struggling through the wind and rain.

Further away, a uniquely shaped building, resembling a giant white seashell, shimmered with a hazy light in the rain. That was the Binhai Arena, a landmark of Binhai City and the main venue for this fashion show.

Even more striking is a towering lighthouse on the other side of the city. Even in the pouring rain, the beam of light at the top of the lighthouse stubbornly pierces through the rain curtain, slowly rotating to guide ships that may be lost. Below the lighthouse lies the seaside dojo.

"Binhai City, telegraph."

Zhang Jianying recalled the rumors about this gym leader, a tech genius who combined gym challenges with urban energy management, and whose appearance was very similar to "Eternal Girl". It was said that the transformation of this city was all done by him when he was bored.

Wow, these Electric-type Gym Leaders are all incredibly skilled and capable!

Oh right, except for Maslow.

Meanwhile, in a quiet and elegant private café room in Binhai City, with a stunning view.

Outside, the rain was pouring down, but inside it was warm and bright, with soft jazz music playing and the air filled with the aroma of roasted coffee beans and the sweetness of desserts.

Two young women sat facing each other on a soft sofa.

-

One of them had long, golden hair that shone like sunlight, which was loosely draped over her shoulders, with only the ends loosely tied up.

She was dressed in a well-tailored off-white casual outfit, her posture relaxed and elegant. She was gently stirring the coffee in her cup with a small silver spoon, a gentle yet thoughtful smile playing on her lips.

It was Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion.

Sitting opposite her was a beautiful woman with a mature and intellectual demeanor, her long chestnut hair styled in an elegant updo.

She wore frameless glasses to protect her eyesight, and behind the lenses, her eyes held a smile and concern. She was none other than Karuni, the champion of the Carlos region and a famous actress.

"so."

Karune picked up her black tea and gently blew on it. "You deliberately slipped away from the Sinnoh League," she said, "it wasn't just to have coffee with me and see an old friend, was it?" She winked mischievously. "You were stammering on the phone, something's up?"

Cynthia paused slightly as she stirred her coffee, her long eyelashes drooping and casting a faint shadow on her eyelids.

She seemed a little embarrassed, but more than that, she had a rare, subtle shyness and sweetness that belonged to a young girl.

"Um.

Cynthia responded softly, her voice much gentler than usual, "I met someone, someone quite special."

"Oh?"

Karuni immediately became interested, leaning forward slightly and lowering her voice, "Someone who could impress our mythologist and goddess of war? Tell me! Who is it? A colleague from the Alliance? Or some senior doctor?"

Cynthia shook her head, her golden hair sliding over her shoulder with the movement: "Neither. He's a trainer. He's challenging the Sinnoh League."

"A trainer?"

Karuni's eyes lit up even more. "A promising young newcomer? How old is he? Is he handsome? What's his fighting style like?"

Faced with a barrage of questions from her friend, Cynthia chuckled, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Age—is a bit younger than me."

She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully, "As for his appearance, he's quite handsome, with very beautiful eyes. His fighting style is very solid and he has a lot of ideas. Moreover, he knows a lot about ancient history and mythology, and we get along very well."

"Younger?"

Karuni caught the key phrase, and her smile deepened. "Our Cynthia likes younger men? Sure! Age isn't a problem! The key is character, potential, and chemistry! Sounds like a really nice kid. What's his name?"

Cynthia picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and tried to hide her slightly flushed cheeks: "His name is Zhang Jianying."

Karuni repeated, smiling, "How far have things progressed? Have you gone on dates?"

"Oh dear, Karuni!"

Cynthia gave her friend a reproachful look, her blush deepening. "There's been no progress. We just keep in touch occasionally and chat. He's still traveling, and I'm very busy too—"

"So, they have mutual feelings for each other, but haven't officially made it clear?"

Karune understood, wearing a "I've been there" expression. "This ambiguous period is both the most beautiful and the most agonizing. But since the feeling is right, you should take the initiative. Our Cynthia is so outstanding, we can't let her slip away."

She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "Maybe we'll bump into each other in Binhai City this time? I heard that many trainers come to watch Xiaoju'er's show."

Cynthia smiled slightly, not replying, but the tenderness in her eyes betrayed her feelings.

She then asked, "Never mind me, how about you? How have you been in Carlos lately? Is filming going smoothly?"

When she mentioned herself, a smile of extreme gentleness, even maternal warmth, flashed across Karuni's face, a stark contrast to her usual confident and assertive image on screen or on the battlefield.

"I'm fine."

Karuni's voice softened as she gently touched her lower abdomen, which was still flat. "Filming is going very well. And—I'm also currently in a relationship."

"Really? Congratulations!"

Cynthia was genuinely happy for her friend, and leaned closer, lowering her voice to ask curiously, "Is the other person someone in the industry?"

Karuni shook her head, her smile sweet yet tinged with mystery: "She's not in the industry; she's a very gentle and reliable person."

She didn't say her name, but her eyes were gentle.

"You can't even tell me?" Cynthia pressed, curious. "Do I know him?"

Karuni blinked, a hint of girlish playfulness in her eyes: "It'll be a secret for now, my best friend. I'll definitely tell you first when the time is right. But—"

She gently stroked her lower abdomen again, her voice even softer, almost blending into the background music of the coffee shop, "It seems we already have the fruit of our love."

"!!??"

The small silver spoon in her hand fell into the coffee cup with a "clink," splashing a few drops of coffee.

Cynthia opened her shimmering grey eyes in shock, looking at Karni's gentle hand stroking her lower abdomen and the undeniable happiness on her friend's face.

"You, you mean you're pregnant?!" Cynthia's voice rose a notch, thankfully the private room was well soundproofed.

Karune nodded, a happy blush spreading across her face. "Yes, it was just confirmed recently. So, besides work, I also wanted to relax a bit and share this good news with you."

She took Cynthia's hand, which was resting on the table, and said earnestly, "You have to keep this a secret for me, okay? It's not time to go public yet. Even the agency doesn't know about it."

Cynthia finally recovered from her shock and nodded quickly, squeezing her friend's hand in return: "Of course! It'll be a complete secret! Congratulations, Karuni! The other person must be a very good person!"

She was genuinely happy for her friend, but at the same time, a corner of her heart seemed to be gently touched, stirring up an indescribable ripple.

Karuni smiled and nodded, not directly answering the question about the man's identity, but simply saying, "He's a very nice person, just a little older than me, and very caring."

Next, the two champion best friends entered into a more private whispering session. They exchanged delicate thoughts, minor worries, and hopes for the future that only the closest friends would share.

Cynthia also shed her champion's composure and, like an ordinary girl, consulted her friend, who seemed to have more experience in dating, about some confusing yet sweet little questions.

Karuni, with the tenderness and感慨 of soon-to-be mother, shared her changing mindset. The torrential rain outside the window seemed to become the background noise of their private space, making this afternoon feel especially warm and precious.

After some time, Karuni glanced at the exquisite women's watch on her wrist and said softly, "It's almost time. We should head to the venue. The organizers have reserved a private room for me; the view is fantastic. Shall we come together?"

Cynthia readily agreed. The two tidied their makeup and clothes, left the cozy café, and took a private car arranged by the organizers to the seaside arena.

As an internationally renowned movie star and champion, Karuni enjoyed the highest level of VIP treatment. Their box was located diagonally above the audience seating, offering privacy and an excellent view overlooking the entire runway and most of the audience, yet without being easily disturbed.

With some time to spare before the fashion show began, the VIP box was stocked with exquisite snacks and drinks. Karuni sat down gracefully, flipping through tonight's show catalog. Cynthia, meanwhile, leaned against the railing at the edge of the box, her gaze casually sweeping over the gradually filling, slightly noisy audience below.

Suddenly, her gaze fixed on a certain area.

Several familiar figures were taking their seats in the front row: a vibrant boy wearing a bright yellow Pikachu, a squinty-eyed peer, an adorable girl holding a Piplup, and—

The boy, wearing a dark coat, with black hair and black eyes, was looking up and surveying the interior of the venue.

Cynthia's lips unconsciously curved into a pleased smile. Karune was right; they really had run into each other.

She didn't intend to go down and greet him immediately. On the contrary, she thought it would be interesting to observe him from the shadows, especially seeing Xiao Gang's obvious anticipation for Xiao Ju'er.

She turned and went back to the coat rack in the box, where the off-white trench coat she had taken off when she entered hung. She picked up the trench coat, put it back on, and then pulled up the large hood, which perfectly concealed her overly dazzling long blonde hair, revealing only her fair chin and slightly upturned lips.

"Hmm? Shall we go down and take a look?" Karuni noticed her movement and asked with a smile.

"Okay," Cynthia nodded, "If you see any familiar kids, go say hello. You'll be right back."

"Go on, little one!"

Karuni repeated the word sarcastically and waved her hand. She probably guessed what it was, but didn't say anything. She simply picked up her black tea and gave a knowing, blessing smile.

Cynthia pulled up her hood and quietly left the box, like a raindrop merging into water, and quietly made her way to the edge of the regular audience seats below through the VIP passage.

She had a good position and quickly spotted Zhang Jianying's row, and found that there was an empty seat right behind him, probably because the original audience member couldn't attend due to the heavy rain.

Like an audience member who didn't want to be disturbed, she quietly walked over and sat down in the empty seat. The young man in front of her seemed completely absorbed in his anticipation of the upcoming show and didn't notice her.

The lights dimmed, the music started, and the fashion show officially began. Cynthia also enjoyed the performance on stage, but her attention was involuntarily drawn to the reactions of the people in front of her.

She saw Xiao Gang quickly enter a "petrified" state, his eyes brimming with hearts. She saw Xiao Guang diligently taking notes, and Xiao Zhi initially curious but later seemed a little bored, while Zhang Jianying watched intently, occasionally revealing an expression of admiration.

Until Xiaojuer made her grand finale appearance.

Even Cynthia, herself a woman, had to admit that Kikunojo on the runway was truly radiant, perfectly combining the sharpness of an Electric-type gym leader with the allure of a supermodel. Her long legs, in particular, became the focus of the entire audience.

Then, she saw Zhang Jianying in front of her, and she was particularly "focused" on him, her eyes following his moving figure, and a smile of appreciation for beautiful things on her lips.

All of this happened to Cynthia, and for some reason, a strange feeling suddenly swept through her heart.

They were watching it quite intently.

The thought naturally came to mind.

Cynthia pursed her lips slightly, her gray eyes darkening slightly in the shadow of her hood, and she began to exude an inexplicable "pressure" of a champion.

She suddenly remembered the tender and shy feeling she had when talking about him to Karuni in the coffee shop, his earnest yet slightly awkward tone during their occasional text messages, and the light in his eyes when he discussed history and mythology—

And now, he is staring intently at another radiant woman on the stage with those eyes that she finds very clean and beautiful.

She felt a little jealous. Why was she looking at it so seriously? What, are my legs not long enough? Cynthia felt that her emotions were a bit unreasonable, even a little childish.

But emotions are something that never need to be reasoned with.

Thus, the jealousy suppressed by reason transformed into a mischievous thought tinged with a hint of revenge and testing.

She turned slightly to the side, leaning close to the ear of the boy who was completely unaware of the approaching danger, so close that she could smell his familiar, refreshing scent.

She deliberately lowered her voice, her tone laced with danger and amusement: "How was it, Ah Jian?"

"Is it pretty?"

"Little Chrysanthemum—are your legs long?"

She deliberately paused slightly on the word "legs," with a hint of mischief in her voice.

Zhang Jianying nodded almost subconsciously, mumbling a reply, "Yes, it's long."

The moment the words left his mouth, he was struck dumb, as if by lightning!

That sound—

My blood seemed to freeze at that moment, my scalp tingled, and my neck felt like a rusty machine, making a creaking sound that I could only vaguely hear. I twisted it back with great difficulty.

There was someone sitting in the previously empty side and rear area.

The man was wearing a beige hooded trench coat, the hood pulled up over his head, slightly obscuring his face.

But at this moment, as she spoke close to his ear, a few strands of long, golden hair, as radiant as sunlight, slipped out from the edge of the hood, shimmering with a familiar and dazzling light under the dim lights of the audience.

Beneath the hood's shadow, a pair of familiar gray eyes were staring at him intently.

hiss----

What should I do? I need help urgently. I'm waiting online.

Zhang Jianying's mind went blank with a "buzz". He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. The expression on his face changed rapidly, from focus to shock to blankness to panic, like a palette of colors.

It's all over—

He'd been caught red-handed! He'd just been nodding and admitting it!

"No, I didn't! You've misunderstood! Um, let me explain—oops, no! Let me explain!"

Zhang Jianying subconsciously denied it three times in a row, rambling incoherently, wishing he could dig a hole and crawl into it on the spot, or turn back time thirty seconds.

Seeing his flustered and bewildered state, Cynthia's smile deepened.

She reached out and gently patted Zhang Jianying's stiff head.

"Sh-

—

She put a finger to her lips to indicate that the show on the runway was still going on, "We'll talk after the show."

Then, she gracefully leaned back in her chair and turned her gaze back to the radiant Xiao Ju on the catwalk, as if she hadn't asked that "death question" herself.

Zhang Jianying was left standing there, frozen in place, his soul seemingly leaving his body, his heart ashen, feeling as if every minute and every second to come was like being tortured on fire.

Xiao Ju'er on stage remained as charming as ever, and the audience below the stage remained as enthusiastic as ever.

But in Zhang Jianying's world, all that remained was that gentle yet deadly question, "Are your legs long?"

All of this was witnessed by Xiao Gang, who happened to be turning around to share his excitement with Zhang Jianying after his "petrified" state was finally lifted.

Xiao Gang: "!!!"

His gaze swept back and forth between the despair on Zhang Jianying's face and the imposing blond figure behind him.

Suddenly, an unprecedented gossip-loving glint appeared in Xiao Gang's narrowed eyes!

He covered his mouth with his hand, then nudged Xiao Guang, who was still intently watching the show and taking notes, with a frantic look in his eyes: Look! Look over there! Big news!

On a stormy night in Binhai City, under the dazzling lights of a fashion show, the emotions of a certain scumbag trainer who was caught red-handed were like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs and incredibly exciting.