Night had fallen.
Liu Zhiyue stepped out of Zhou Shiyan’s house, his schoolbag slung over his shoulder. Zhou Shiyan followed him to the stairwell, watching him with a soft expression.
After a brief mont of thought, Liu Zhiyue said, “I’ll head ho now.”
“Be careful on your way back.”
“It’s fine, it’s not like this is my first ti.”
Waving his hand casually, Liu Zhiyue started down the stairs. Before long, he reached the first floor.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly felt a gaze on him. He stopped in his tracks and looked up—sure enough, Zhou Shiyan was still standing at the railing, watching him.
He raised his voice. “Go back inside.”
“…Are you coming over again tomorrow?”
Her voice was soft, but her eyes were locked onto him.
Unlike the first ti they t, after nearly two months of intense weight loss, Liu Zhiyue was no longer the chubby kid he used to be. His height had also shot up, making him slim down even faster.
Hearing her question, Liu Zhiyue was montarily stunned. Then, he smiled and nodded.
“I will.”
With that, he turned and walked away, not looking back at Zhou Shiyan.
These past few days, Liu Zhiyue hadn’t been going to the company with his father, Liu Changqing.
Whenever his dad took his little sister out, he would take the opportunity to sneak over to Zhou Shiyan’s family’s breakfast shop to help out.
At first, Lan Yixian felt this arrangent was inappropriate and had advised Liu Zhiyue against it several tis. But every ti, he would simply reply,
“I have nothing to do at ho anyway. After helping out, I’ll be asking your daughter so academic questions. Auntie, just think of it as repaying you for letting study here.”
Although she still felt uneasy about it, Liu Zhiyue’s persistent enthusiasm won her over.
Besides, after closing the shop in the afternoon and heading off to work, it was nice knowing soone was keeping her daughter company.
Lan Yixian truly thought Liu Zhiyue was a wonderful kid.
Now that he had slimd down, he looked handso, had a great personality, and was incredibly polite and hardworking.
The three of them often had lunch together, with Lan Yixian cooking.
Once she left for work, Zhou Shiyan and Liu Zhiyue stayed behind to study.
Both were top students in the Rocket Class and had already begun self-studying the curriculum for their third year of middle school.
Technically, Liu Zhiyue was asking for Zhou Shiyan’s help, but in reality…
It was usually Zhou Shiyan asking him for help.
The walk ho was uneventful.
Just as Liu Zhiyue reached his apartnt building and was about to climb the stairs, he heard a car door closing nearby.
Then, his sister’s familiar voice rang out.
“Dad! Why didn’t you take out for good food at lunch?!”
“Stop talking nonsense, I didn’t eat anything special.”
“Liar! Uncle Feng told you and Aunt An went out for a fancy al!”
“That damn Feng… always running his mouth…”
The voices grew closer.
Liu Zhiyue, montarily stunned, rushed up the stairs at full speed.
Just as Liu Changqing and Liu Xiazhi arrived at the building’s entrance, they caught a glimpse of a shadow disappearing around the stairwell corner.
Both of them paused.
Liu Changqing blinked, listening to the rapid footsteps going up the stairs.
“…Which kid runs up the stairs that fast?”
Liu Xiazhi tilted her head and looked at him. Then, she said in a small voice,
“Dad, I want waterlon.”
“No problem, but only one piece. Eat too much, and you’ll be running to the bathroom all night.”
“Okay!”
Father and daughter made their way inside.
When Liu Changqing opened the door, the first thing he saw was Liu Zhiyue sitting shirtless on the sofa, holding half a waterlon and eating it with a spoon.
Hearing the door open, Liu Zhiyue glanced over at them. Unbothered, he scooped up another spoonful and stuffed it into his mouth.
“You’re ho early.”
“Not much work today,” Liu Changqing replied, changing his shoes.
anwhile, Liu Xiazhi ran over to her brother and stretched out her hands.
“I want so too!”
“Fine, fine, take it.”
Handing over the waterlon without hesitation, Liu Zhiyue watched as his little sister happily carried it to the coffee table and took a massive bite.
Liu Changqing looked at his son thoughtfully.
Then, he suddenly asked, “Did you take a shower yet?”
“Not yet.”
“You didn’t go out today?”
“Nope.”
“…”
Staring at his son’s straight-faced response, Liu Changqing fell silent.
Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handheld gaming console, handing it to Liu Zhiyue.
Confused, Liu Zhiyue took it and asked, “Why are you giving this?”
“Insert this cartridge,” Liu Changqing instructed, handing him a ga cartridge.
Taking it, Liu Zhiyue inserted the cartridge into the console.
The screen went black for a mont, then an intro cinematic began playing—without sound.
A mont later, a large, winged dragon spewing flas appeared on the screen.
And above it—
[Pokémon FireRed]
Liu Zhiyue froze, then looked up at his father.
“…It’s finished?”
“Not completely. So background music isn’t done yet, so parts of the ga are silent.”
Liu Changqing grinned.
“I have a mission for you. Since you’re good at gas, play through the entire thing and tell your thoughts.”
“…The whole thing?”
“This is a story-driven ga with a main quest and side quests. There’s a first playthrough and a post-ga mode. When you finish, let know if you have any suggestions.”
“…Alright.”
Hearing his father’s request, Liu Zhiyue looked back down at the console in his hands.
Nearby, Liu Xiazhi—who had been eating waterlon— overheard their conversation.
She imdiately forgot about her snack and climbed onto the sofa beside her brother, her eyes sparkling.
“Is there a Pikachu?!”
“I just started, how would I know…?”
Ignoring his sister, Liu Zhiyue pressed Start.
The ga loaded, displaying a small bedroom.
As he controlled his character, he searched the room, adjusting the clock on the wall before heading toward the only exit.
The mont he stepped out, an NPC stopped him.
A large exclamation mark appeared over the NPC’s head, forcing a dialogue sequence.
The ssage? He had to find a professor to receive his first Pokémon.
After exploring every house in town and failing to find the professor, Liu Zhiyue reluctantly guided his character toward the only exit.
Two steps later—
The ga forcefully triggered another cutscene.
A scientist-looking NPC appeared, stopping him.
After a lengthy warning about the dangers of wandering outside without a Pokémon, the professor escorted him to the research lab.
Inside, another NPC appeared.
Judging from the dialogue, it was clearly a rival character.
At this, Liu Zhiyue glanced up at his father.
“…This ‘Blue’ guy—he’s the rival, right?”
Liu Changqing smirked.
“Smart. You figured that out quick.”
He sat down beside his son, watching as the screen displayed three Poké Balls.
Bulbasaur.
Charmander.
Squirtle.
Seeing the options, Liu Xiazhi imdiately pouted.
“Where’s Pikachu?!”
“You can catch one later. Zhiyue, which one are you picking?”
Thinking for a mont, Liu Zhiyue selected Charmander.
Liu Changqing’s eyes lit up.
A subtle smile ford at the corners of his lips.
Congratulations, son.
You just picked the hard mode start.
Reviews
All reviews (0)