Chương 73: There's Something Off About My Pokémon. [73]
"Come in!" Gao Lu was in her room researching training methods for "Ice Punch" when she saw that the visitor was none other than her father, Gao Minglang, whom she hadn't seen for a while.
"Dad!" Gao Lu exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't you going to work at the company?"
"Nah," Gao Minglang smiled as he sat on the edge of her bed and patted her head. "The company can't pay wages these days, so I'm taking a break at home."
"Dad," Gao Lu pouted with a kitten-like expression. "Can you please stop being a security guard? It's so embarrassing for someone like you, a dojo master, to be doing that."
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Gao Minglang chuckled. "I'm getting older, no point in denying it. Staying at the dojo just gets in the way. Might as well get another job."
When Gao Chi was fifteen, their mother passed away from illness, and their father, after a defeat during a dojo challenge, fell into depression. The responsibility of running the dojo landed entirely on Gao Chi's shoulders. Yet it was this fifteen-year-old boy who revived the dojo, which once only had three students and was on the verge of bankruptcy, into a place with dozens of members.
Feeling that he no longer deserved to be the dojo master, and lacking other life skills, Gao Minglang chose to work as a security guard for a Pokémon company to make ends meet. A former dojo trainer reduced to this state—very few would believe it. Only when he was drunk and bragging to his coworkers did glimpses of the past grandeur of the Yixin Dojo, before the rise of the Jitian Dojo, slip out.
"Anyway, since my brother's almost an adult and I've applied for a scholarship, you can just stay home and enjoy your retirement," Gao Lu said, her eyes turning red.
"I'm not worried about Gao Chi one bit," Gao Minglang said as he wiped away Gao Lu's tears, smiling. "It's you I'm worried about. They say when girls grow up, they can't be kept around."
"Dad!" Gao Lu protested, pinching his arm. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Come on, I'm not saying anything wrong!" Gao Minglang teased. "Tell me the truth. Have you been eyeing any boys lately?"
Gao Minglang glanced toward the door and swore, "Don't worry. I promise I won't tell that brat Gao Chi!"
"There's no one!" Gao Lu's face turned as red as a tomato. "I've never even thought about that kind of thing."
"No one, huh? Then what's going on with that boy named Lu?"
"What boy named Lu?" Gao Lu asked, confused.
With a huff, Gao Minglang crossed his arms. "One of your classmates told me this afternoon that they saw you walking with a guy named Lu Cheng!"
Gao Lu froze. Wait, what? Did one of my classmates see me at the playground today? No, no, I was just there to trade skill disks! How did it get twisted into this?!
Seeing her reaction, Gao Minglang knew most of the truth. Ah, silly daughter, so easy to trick!
With a sly grin, he said, "Don't worry, I'm an open-minded dad! I know about that Lu Cheng. He's one of the U20 tournament semi-finalists, right?"
"I'll make sure Gao Chi tests that kid thoroughly. Hmph, if he wants to date my daughter, he'd better be the real deal!" Gao Minglang slapped his thigh as he left the room, leaving Gao Lu completely bewildered.
What on earth is going on? My brain's not working right—please don't bully me like this!
---
Mu Mei looked at the newly dressed-up Lu Cheng and nodded approvingly: "Not bad!"
Lu Cheng touched the long leaf hat on his head and asked curiously, "Mu Mei, how are your sales going?"
"Pretty good." Mu Mei sipped her tea, "By the way, what's your bank account number?"
"Huh?" Lu Cheng was momentarily confused.
"I'll transfer your commission!" Mu Mei smiled: "Since you refused to take the endorsement fee, I figured I'd just give you a commission."
"No, no, I can't accept that." Lu Cheng quickly shook his head, "I don't need money right now!"
"Really?" Mu Mei stared at Lu Cheng, not moving her gaze until he awkwardly looked away.
"Okay, fine, I admit I'm a little short on cash."
Mu Mei smiled and said, "Alright then, don't be so polite with me."
"If you really don't want to take the money, I'll just send you some items. You can decide whether to keep them or sell them."
Now that was an offer Lu Cheng could get behind. Only a fool would choose to sell them. He nodded, curious, "What kind of items?"
"I can't tell you yet." Mu Mei tilted her head, resting her hand on her chin. "Actually, I haven't decided. When I do, I'll have it delivered to your house."
While the two were talking, the door creaked open. Marveil, who hadn't been seen in a while, had apparently grown a bit taller but was still as shy as ever, peeking into the room from the door crack.
"Marveil!" Lu Cheng smiled, "Long time no see!"
Marveil's big eyes, brimming with crimson, squinted into crescent moons. She pushed the door open, revealing her body covered in yellowish hard scales. From her head sprouted a set of fearsome fangs, balancing a tray with an elegant tea set.
Well done, you deserve a reward!
"Thank you, Marveil," Mu Mei smiled and patted the head of the big-mouthed Mawile.
The scene felt familiar, but Lu Cheng no longer felt fear towards Marveil. Drinking the tea she brought, Lu Cheng thought to himself, I've unknowingly gotten used to Pokémon with such bizarre looks. In fact, compared to their original designs, these modified versions had more personality. He couldn't help but wonder what Mawile would look like if it mega evolved.
But I could definitely accept whatever it might look like.
With that thought, a fatherly smile spread across Lu Cheng's face.
"By the way, Mu Mei, do you know how to train 'Double Team'?"
Feeling like his smile was a bit too much, Lu Cheng cleared his throat and shifted the conversation.
Mu Mei, however, didn't seem to notice. Puzzled, she asked, "If I recall correctly, both Grovyle and Vulpix need a TM to learn 'Double Team,' right?"
"Why are you suddenly asking about that?"
"I found someone on the Pokémon forum to trade TMs with."
"I exchanged for two 'Double Team' TMs at the amusement park the other day. It should be a big boost for Vulpix and Grovyle." Lu Cheng sighed, "I just don't know if they'll learn it in time before the finals."
Lu Cheng's match against Gao Chi was set to be on May 30th at the West Lake Egg Arena, the same venue where Gongsun Rong and Wu Ye had their duel. Major media outlets would be present, and the Jiang City TV station would broadcast it live. Even though the contract with Wang Yingjie fell through, the station had already garnered high ratings, and the nearly bald station manager was very pleased.
Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Mu Mei was momentarily stunned. Then she smiled and said, "'Double Team' is highly dependent on a Pokémon's talent."
"My mother once told me that there are many different ways to execute 'Double Team.' Some Pokémon create afterimages using Agility, others with consecutive quick movements, and even skillfully using Substitute can achieve a similar effect. It all comes down to the Pokémon's intuition."
Lu Cheng nodded, intrigued. "Mu Mei, your mother was also a trainer?"
"Yes."
Mu Mei only answered briefly before falling into deep thought again.
Seeing her lost in thought, Lu Cheng wisely chose not to ask further and instead entertained himself by playing with Marveil's terrifying large mouth.
Suddenly, Mu Mei spoke in a low voice, "The amusement park… what kind of place is that?"
"Huh?" Lu Cheng was surprised, "It's a place with lots of fun things!"
Mu Mei shook her head, "I've never been to one."
Seeing her curious yet somewhat regretful expression, Lu Cheng suddenly smiled and said, "After the finals, let's go to the amusement park together!"
Mu Mei was startled, but slowly, a graceful smile spread across her face, like a pebble dropped into the heart of a lake, startling white herons into flight.
"Alright," Mu Mei smiled.
---
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