Shen Yu announcing she wanted to take an extended leave was something Tong Ru had never anticipated. However, as a conscientious homeroom teacher, Tong Ru felt compelled to try and dissuade her. "Xiao Yu, I can't make that decision. You'll need to get approval from Xiao Xiao. Only then can I grant you leave. Otherwise, if you insist on leaving, you'll be expelled."
The threat of expulsion did not deter Shen Yu from her desire for a long break. She threw her arms around Tong Ru and pleaded, "Sister Ru, please agree, won't you?"
Embraced by Shen Yu, Tong Ru felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. She hugged Shen Yu back, saying, "Xiao Yu, you're so comfortable to hug, but no matter what, it's a no. Even if you talk until you're blue in the face, it won't change."
Tong Ru's adherence to principles, however slight, made Shen Yu a little uncomfortable. "Sister Ru, you treat me the best in this school. Please let me go."
Shen Yu was about to press further when another voice chimed in from behind Tong Ru, "Oh? Is that so? She treats you the best, what about me?"
Shen Yu turned her head and saw Zheng Xiao Xiao standing beside her, looking quite displeased. Shen Yu quickly broke free from Tong Ru's embrace and, like a swallow returning to its nest, rushed towards Zheng Xiao Xiao, "Sister Xiao Xiao, you're here too, that's great!"
Zheng Xiao Xiao gently pushed Shen Yu away. "You want to take an extended leave? I approve. You can leave tomorrow. Come home tonight, and Sister Xiao Xiao and I will see you off." 138 Reading Net
With that, Zheng Xiao Xiao picked up the suitcase that Tong Ru had been sitting on and said, "Ruoru, come with me. Since you've taken a liking to these things, you can use them."
Then, Zheng Xiao Xiao headed home with the suitcase. Tong Ru's expression changed slightly. "I'll head off then. Remember to come tonight."
...
A few hours later, as the sun began to set and the streetlights flickered on. Shen Yu arrived at the balcony and, with her hands on the railing, leaped lightly onto Zheng Xiao Xiao's balcony. She cautiously peeked through a gap in the curtains and saw Zheng Xiao Xiao sitting on the bed, looking at her phone. She hadn't noticed Tong Ru.
While wondering about Tong Ru's whereabouts, Shen Yu noticed Zheng Xiao Xiao stand up and walk towards the window, opening it directly. Caught off guard, Shen Yu stumbled forward, landing right in Zheng Xiao Xiao's arms. "Sister Xiao Xiao, where's Sister Ru?"
Zheng Xiao Xiao didn't answer her question. Instead, she pulled her towards the dining table. "Let's go, it's time to eat. We're having hot pot tonight."
Half-heartedly pulled downstairs by Zheng Xiao Xiao to eat, Shen Yu was shocked to see Tong Ru tied up and bound to a pillar on the first floor as soon as she descended.
Tong Ru, seeing Shen Yu come down, struggled and shouted, "Xiao Yu, hurry and save me!"
Zheng Xiao Xiao held Shen Yu's hand. "Don't mind her. She deserves this. Just focus on eating."
Saying that, Zheng Xiao Xiao pushed Shen Yu into the chair furthest from Tong Ru. "Here, eat. Don't pay attention to her."
The two of them then had a lively dinner, completely ignoring Tong Ru, who had red eyes and was drooling. Zheng Xiao Xiao even deliberately scooped a piece of meat from the pot and dangled it in front of Tong Ru.
"Zheng Xiao Xiao, if you have the guts, untie me! See if I leave you a single bite of meat!"
Hearing this, Zheng Xiao Xiao, who had been about to bring the meat to Tong Ru's mouth, abruptly withdrew her chopsticks and swallowed the meat herself. "Mmm, it tastes delicious."
With that, Zheng Xiao Xiao licked her lips. "It's such a shame to only have this delicious food for you and me. Don't you agree, Ruoru?"
Tong Ru nodded frantically, desperate to be untied. To her surprise, Zheng Xiao Xiao fumbled around her and then produced several Poké Balls. "Come, everyone, let's eat together."
Humans and Pokémon ate harmoniously, leaving only Tong Ru to go hungry.
Halfway through the meal, Zheng Xiao Xiao asked Shen Yu, "Xiao Yu, are you leaving school because Xia Zi arranged it?"
As soon as the question was out, everyone present froze. Shen Yu stirred the pot of meat leisurely with her chopsticks, then looked up at Zheng Xiao Xiao. "Yes, he arranged it."
Zheng Xiao Xiao sighed. "As expected. Wait a moment."
With that, Zheng Xiao Xiao stood up and went upstairs. Tong Ru, on the side, quickly signaled to Shen Yu: Xiao Yu, the meat in the pot, give me a little.
Just as Shen Yu was about to move, she heard Zheng Xiao Xiao shout from upstairs, "Xiao Yu, if you dare to feed her anything, don't blame me for not giving you the things Xia Zi left behind."
Hearing this, Shen Yu was powerless to help Tong Ru, even if she wanted to. Compared to Sister Ru, Shen Yu valued Xia Huanao's遗物 more.
Unable to get any food from Shen Yu, Tong Ru stuck out her tongue towards the second floor. This earned her a glare, and Tong Ru quickly stood up straight, leaning against the pillar, pretending to be innocent.
Zheng Xiao Xiao, who knew Tong Ru all too well, smiled in her direction and then brought a box to Shen Yu's side. "This is something Xia Zi left for you."
Shen Yu took the box and placed it on her lap. Tong Ru's eyes widened. "Didn't you say this was a gift for me? You were tricking me?"
Zheng Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes. "Xia Zi sent me three boxes at once. He said one was specifically for Shen Yu, and the other two were for us."
Tong Ru huffed. "Xia Zi still has a conscience. Unlike you, you hide everything from me."
Zheng Xiao Xiao picked up another piece of meat. "Xia Zi also sent a letter with it. It said if Xiao Yu had no intention of leaving the university, then this wouldn't be urgent to give to her. If you found out about this, it would be troublesome."
Shen Yu opened the box on her lap. Inside was a small blue hat, with an elastic band beneath it. Beside it was an instruction manual left by Xia Huanao for Shen Yu.
"Xiao Yu, this is an experience booster developed by me and Zhi Shui. By placing this hat on a Pokémon's head, it can release electromagnetic waves to lightly stimulate the Pokémon's brain, allowing it to gain more experience in battle. You must protect yourself when you're out alone..."
Shen Yu softly read the instruction manual left by Xia Huanao, then carefully folded it and put it back in the box. "Honestly, always doing these kinds of things."
After putting away Xia Huanao's Exp. Share, Shen Yu continued to eat with Zheng Xiao Xiao. As Zheng Xiao Xiao added food to her bowl, she said to Shen Yu, "Xiao Yu, if a trainer is to grow, they can't avoid taking some risks. Even the high-intensity battles and training in our school team may not be as beneficial to a trainer as going out and experiencing the world."
Shen Yu nodded. "The notebook Xia Xia left me says the same thing. He also said I should train hard outside and make a name for myself at next year's Collegiate Pokémon Tournament. He has other things for me then too."
"Xia Zi is really something, leaving so many mysterious things."
"I don't know either. But since Xia Xia arranged it this way, I'll follow his plan. It's like indulging his last bit of wilfulness."
As the conversation veered towards Xia Huanao again, the two wisely changed the subject. Tong Ru, still tied to the pillar, shouted, "Untie me quickly! I have something to give Xiao Yu too."
Zheng Xiao Xiao blinked when she heard Tong Ru say she had something for Xiao Yu. Then, with a knowing look, she said, "Stop messing around. I know you. You just want to come down and eat. You can give it to her anytime. Tomorrow is fine too."
Tong Ru immediately retorted, "It's not the same. It's better for Xiao Yu to leave early in the morning. The more time is wasted, the more classmates will stop her, and she won't be able to leave. And I'm quite a lazy person. What if I delay Xiao Yu's departure?"
Tong Ru's excuse completely disregarded the fact that when Xia Huanao was around, Zheng Xiao Xiao and she could always be seen on the balcony, no matter what time Xia Huanao woke up. Zheng Xiao Xiao, however, believed her explanation and personally untied Tong Ru from the pillar. The moment Tong Ru's feet touched the ground, she swiftly went to the table, grabbed chopsticks, and began to devour the food.
Zheng Xiao Xiao stood by the pillar and smiled. "Didn't you say you had something to give Xiao Yu? Why are you eating first?"
"Oh, just wait until I've eaten my fill, and then we'll talk. It's not like it's urgent, is it?"
Listening to Tong Ru's nonsensical ramblings, Zheng Xiao Xiao remained unfazed. She sat back down at the table and used her chopsticks to stuff Tong Ru's mouth full of food.
"Mmm, I knew it. Xiao Xiao still cares about me."
With her mouth full of food, Tong Ru mumbled incoherently, while Shen Yu and Zheng Xiao Xiao exchanged a knowing smile.
...
Time flew by, and it was the next morning.
At the entrance of Liuling University, Shen Yu, with a backpack slung over her shoulders and a straw hat on her head, gazed at the scenery within the campus. "I'm leaving. I'm about to embark on the same path as Xia Xia."
With that, Xia Huanao waved goodbye to the tallest building in the campus and turned to begin her new journey. Inside Liuling University, on the top floor of that tallest building, Zheng Xiao Xiao and Tong Ru watched Shen Yu's retreating back, bathed in the morning sun. "What a fine young woman. I believe when she returns next year, she will be a top trainer of the new generation, just like Xia Huanao."
Tong Ru excitedly hugged Zheng Xiao Xiao. "Xiao Xiao, you have such high hopes for her?"
"Of course. By the way, what did you give Xiao Yu yesterday?"
Tong Ru whispered something in Zheng Xiao Xiao's ear. Zheng Xiao Xiao turned around in disbelief. "You're really willing to part with it."