Chapter 512: Jealous Mengmengda
Suimài City is not far from Masago Town;
a half-day ferry ride can get you there.
Lu Ye stood on the third deck of the ferry, gazing out at the vast blue horizon, while the sharp calls of long-winged gulls echoed in his ears.
On the deck, some people were chatting leisurely in the breeze, while others engaged in Pokémon battles.
A few who recognized Teacher Lu quietly whispered in surprise.
Lu Ye returned their smiles, leaving an unforgettable impression on several bikini-clad beauties.
“Isn’t there anyone who wants to battle me?”
Lu Ye wondered, “Didn’t they say if our eyes meet, I’m supposed to get pocket money... ahem, I mean, a Pokémon battle?”
Obviously, no trainer was foolish enough to invite trouble from the champion. Except for NPCs in the game.
Lu Ye watched the amateur battles on the deck and then observed a few sea fishermen’s catches for the day.
The sea breeze brushed his face;
the agate jellyfish’s “gems” surfaced, shimmering under the sunlight. “Gengarrr~” Haunter squatted beside the fishermen’s fish bucket, teasing a big clawed crab blowing bubbles.
Suddenly, tourists pointed at the water where a Gyarados stood upright, circling nearby.
Click—
People kept taking photos, but the Gyarados turned its massive head with a displeased expression: “Roar!!”
Unintentionally, the Gyarados glanced at Haunter on the deck.
Then it turned its head again, growled lowly (ominously), and sped away.
Lu Ye: “...”
“Gengarrr!” Haunter grinned with bared teeth.
It grabbed the big clawed crab with both hands and offered it to Lu Ye like a treasure.
The fishermen opened their mouths but, after glancing at Teacher Lu, said nothing.
“Put it back.” Lu Ye said helplessly. “We’re almost at Suimài City.”
“Gengarrr~” Haunter obediently nodded and tossed the crab back into the sea.
Splash—
Teacher Lu: “...”
Fishermen: “...”
Their eyes met in silence, speechless.
Toot—
The long ferry whistle sounded;
the white ferry dock was within arm’s reach.
Teacher Lu recalled Haunter into its Poké Ball.
Blending into the crowd, he hurried down from the deck.
...
Wearing a white coat and stylish sunglasses perched on her orange curly hair, Sonia supported Professor Mustardseed as they descended the ferry steps.
“What is it, Sonia?” Professor Mustardseed asked softly, leaning on her cane.
“It seems... I saw someone familiar.” Sonia stared into the crowd, trying hard to identify.
“Many scholars arrive in Suimài City around this time;
it’s normal to see acquaintances.” Professor Mustardseed said, “If you’re sure, go chat with them. I’ll wait here.”
“I’ll be right back!” Sonia said.
“I’m not so old that I can’t move.” Professor Mustardseed replied lightly.
Sonia’s steps were light as she approached Lu Ye, who was buying crepes from a street vendor at the corner, and patted his shoulder.
Lu Ye’s body tensed, and instinctively, he threw a backhand punch that brushed through Sonia’s orange curls.
A gust of air surged, but he stopped just in time;
otherwise, Dan Emperor might come looking for trouble.
Lu Ye: “You scared me to death!”
“I-I’m the victim here, okay?” Sonia’s eyes glistened with tears. “I clearly came to greet you, and you treat me like this!”
Lu Ye scratched his head awkwardly. “Sorry, it was an instinct. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Aura felt more like an active skill, and keeping it on constantly drained energy and mental strength. This was why Teacher Lu couldn’t distinguish it properly.
The “close combat” training had honed his reflexes to counterattack instantly.
While comforting her, Teacher Lu secretly thought, “I’m so strong!”
“Honestly.”
Sonia’s cheeks flushed red, and she exhaled deeply.
“Alright, I forgive you!”
In the distance, a blonde beauty in black turned the corner, heading to the agreed meeting place.
A faint smile curled on Cynthia’s lips as she raised an eyebrow and stopped.
The voices of a man and woman speaking.
Lu Ye said, “Sorry, it was instinct. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Sonia replied, “Honestly, I forgive you!”
After thinking for a few seconds,
Cynthia’s eyes curved into crescent moons, smiling brightly.
Tap, tap, tap—
The sound of high heels striking the ground, her powerful aura causing tourists to unconsciously clear a path.
Lu Ye was chatting with Sonia when a sudden sense of crisis exploded along his spine.
Even facing the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons, he had never felt this level of terror.
Cold sweat ran down Teacher Lu’s forehead as the silhouette of the blonde beauty entered his sight, and he slightly froze.
“Cynthia?”
She smiled, and the black hem of her clothes fluttered in the wind as she walked gracefully forward.
In that instant, Teacher Lu’s heart trembled.
Murderous intent!
This was tangible murderous intent!
Sonia opened her mouth but, looking between Lu Ye and Cynthia, her face still bore the earlier blush of nervousness.
Cynthia glanced at Sonia and said with a smile, “Long time no see.”
“Ah, yes...” Sonia stammered, “Last time was at the Gongmen City arena.”
“How is that young man?”
“Thanks to you and Teacher Lu, John is no longer in life-threatening danger and is undergoing rehabilitation treatment...”
Though it was a normal conversation, Cynthia’s smile was very gentle.
Around them, the crowd thinned.
Shop owners put up closed signs and hurried indoors with their finger-sucking children.
A desolate wind swept through the commercial street, rustling the leaves.
Cynthia and Sonia chatted happily, the atmosphere harmonious and cheerful.
Teacher Lu: “...”
Tightening his thin clothing, Lu Ye glanced at the stiff-faced Haunter.
“Gengarrr?” Haunter swallowed nervously.
I didn’t do anything wrong. Why is everyone so scared?
I, Lu, have always been innocent—no need to explain!
Clearing his throat, Lu Ye prepared to speak.
Cynthia’s gentle smile looked toward him: “?”
Garchomp!
That was the gaze of a Garchomp!
“You just arrived in Suimài City today?” Cynthia asked with a smile.
“Yes, because I have to attend tomorrow’s exhibition.” Sonia shivered.
“What a coincidence, meeting someone familiar?”
“Ah, no, Miss Cynthia, please let me explain...”
Only then did Sonia realize that Miss Bamboo Lan had misunderstood.
But,
Sonia was filled with grievances.
I’m clearly the one who got hurt!
Almost knocked out by a punch, then interrogated, and those two unconsciously showed off their couple moments...
Too hard, I shouldn’t have come to Suimài City! (;
´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
“Sonia.” Professor Mustardseed slowly approached with her cane. “Are these the acquaintances you mentioned?”
Cynthia looked slightly surprised: “Professor Mustardseed?”
“Long time no see, Bamboo Lan.”
Professor Mustardseed nodded slightly.
“I heard you and Lu Ye are on the same team. I believe you can deliver results to be proud of.”
Cynthia glanced at Lu Ye’s straight posture, then asked Professor Mustardseed,
“How did you know...”
“Professor Mustardseed informed me.”
Professor Mustardseed smiled:
“Sonia and I just arrived in Suimài City;
I didn’t expect to run into you two.”
Just arrived in Suimài City...
Cynthia gradually realized.
A delicate blush flew to her cheeks. She murmured quickly and lowered her head, golden hair falling:
“Yes... we will definitely work hard.”
‘The gentleness of that lowered head is like a water lily shy beyond words.’
Teacher Lu was admiring the profile when suddenly he felt puzzled.
Lu Ye: “We?”
Cynthia firmly tugged Teacher Lu’s arm, and together they bowed to the senior.
Professor Mustardseed leaned on her cane, smiling kindly.
“You remind me of Sonia and Dan Emperor...”
“Grandma!” This time it was Sonia’s turn to blush.
“Haha, alright, Bamboo Lan, lead the way. You should be more familiar with Suimài City than we are.”
“No problem.” Cynthia tucked her golden hair behind her ear and smiled softly. “Let’s head to the guesthouse near the Suimài City Library first.”
Cynthia turned and walked gracefully ahead.
Lu Ye followed, whispering, “Were you jealous just now?”
“No.” Cynthia looked straight ahead.
“I told you, besides Mengmengda, I won’t like anyone else...”
“No.”
“Eh?”
“Shut up.”
Cynthia’s cheeks were flushed, her side profile irresistible, words slow and deliberate.
“I did not.”
...
Teacher Lu was in a great mood.
Even though he was nearly hit by a machete, his heart was warm.
“Here.” Lu Ye handed the crepe to Cynthia.
“What?” Cynthia reluctantly spoke.
“I was buying crepes at the corner when Sonia came to greet me.”
Lu Ye recounted the “almost knocking out Sonia with a punch” and then explained the blush on her face.
“That’s how it happened.” Lu Ye shrugged.
“Do you think I’d believe it?”
“Haunter can vouch for me!”
“Gengarrr!” Haunter pulled down its eyelids, staring wide-eyed to show loyalty.
Cynthia crossed her arms, resting her delicate hand on her chin, glancing at Haunter and Lu Ye.
After a long moment, Cynthia smiled faintly and whispered, “Go back and prepare your thesis report, no slacking off.”
Lu Ye and Haunter exchanged glances.
Who would have thought that last time, when Mengmengda had Haunter act as an insider... it turned out to be a key move!
“Thank you, Haunter.” Lu Ye said tearfully.
“Gengarrr! ﾍ(;
´Д｀ﾍ)” Haunter showed the same expression of having survived a disaster.
Cynthia’s gaze landed on the crepe in Lu Ye’s hand.
“I bought it early for you because I worried you’d hesitate for another half hour.” Lu Ye said.
“What flavor?”
“Ice cream.”
“Mm.”
They walked side by side, biting into the crepe;
Haunter took the role of the cold front between them.
“Gengarrr~(￣～￣)”
Sonia looked at the figures ahead, supporting Grandma and whispered, “They seem very close.”
“Just like you and Dan Emperor.” Professor Mustardseed said calmly, as if having seen through everything.
“Grandma!” Sonia shook Professor Mustardseed’s arm, eyes shaped like ‘＞_＜’.
Professor Mustardseed chuckled softly, smiling without a word.
...
The guesthouse for the scientific summit was near the library.
Mengmengda’s room was right next to Teacher Lu’s.
The familiar names on the list included Doctor Zhenghui, Professor Samuel Oak, and others.
They hadn’t arrived yet, and Mengmengda was silently sulking by herself.
However,
It was rare to see Mengmengda jealous, and it strangely felt exciting.
Lu Ye smiled faintly but suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
No, he couldn’t be reckless like A-Jin.
Otherwise, next time, Garchomp might unleash a “Double Slash” right at him!
Collecting his emotions, Teacher Lu browsed the official website’s introduction of Suimài City.
Outside, dusk fell.
Suimài City’s waters intertwined, with ferries reaching nearby Crescent Island, Full Moon Island, and Iron Island.
Iron Island’s owner was Aogen, whom Lu Ye had met once.
Crescent Island and Full Moon Island were the habitats of Darkrai and Cresselia.
Thinking of the intelligence Mallow had mentioned earlier, Teacher Lu frowned slightly.
On TV, there seemed to be an episode dedicated to this.
The nightmare god and the dream god visited Suimài City every year to duel.
“They probably wouldn’t choose a day like this to visit Suimài City...”
Lu Ye stepped outside, looked up at the gray starry sky;
everything was silent around him.
Opening the mission list, Teacher Lu scanned the “Main Quest.”
[Mission Objective: Win the gold prize at the Suimài City Scientific Summit.]
[Mission Reward: Haunter Mega Stone *1]
Teacher Lu felt conflicted.
If it resonated with Haunter’s bond energy... wouldn’t it drain me dry?
“Professor Samuel Oak, give me a hand tomorrow...” Lu Ye murmured.
“Gengarrr?” Haunter suddenly looked around and scratched its head oddly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Beep beep... suspicious energy fluctuations detected, analyzing samples.”
Rotom’s Pokédex said, “Analysis result: 90% similarity to Darkrai, Rotom!”
Lu Ye smirked.
“Do you think a 90% probability means it’s definitely Darkrai to me?”
Rotom fell silent.
Amid the gray haze, Suimài City seemed to fall asleep. Dark clouds covered all light;
everything was deathly quiet.
Suddenly, the clouds quietly dispersed, revealing a bright new moon, scattering crystalline light.
Under the moonlight’s cover, Teacher Lu looked toward that noble, hazy figure and suddenly opened his eyes wide.
“It’s not Darkrai...”
“It’s the dream god, Cresselia!?”