Xia Huanao, borrowing the momentum of all the trainer audiences worldwide, teased the referee a bit before returning to their living quarters with his teammates. As for Kaswiding, although he was in a bad mood after losing the match, he stated that finishing in the top four would be acceptable to report back. Sometimes, Lixing Technology could do anything...
Without dwelling on the mixed feelings in Lixing's camp, Xia Huanao, on his side, began scheming as soon as he left the competition arena. Rubbing his hands, he approached Meng Tianya: "Old Meng, I have something to ask you."
Before Meng Tianya could speak, Yu Longdu interrupted: "Alright, the league won't mistreat you. What's the point of asking here and now?"
Xia Huanao waved his hand: "Scram, go away. I just want to ask, does that kid Miao Longque still not know the match results?"
Meng Tianya nodded: "Yes, because his body is quite weak, I had our team doctor watch over him. Less phone and computer, and plenty of rest. Although, I don't think with his physical condition, he'd be able to see anything on his phone anyway."
Xia Huanao felt a bit awkward. He had pushed it a bit too far with the medicine. Miao Longque was probably still bedridden. However, this didn't mean Xia Huanao had given up on "persecuting" Miao Longque further: "Since he can't see his phone, it means he can't see the broadcast, right? Then don't blame me for being impolite."
Hearing this, everyone walking on the road stopped, seeming curious to see how he planned to be impolite. Xia Huanao walked a couple more steps and noticed no one was following him, so he turned around: "What's wrong? Is there something particularly difficult to understand about what I just said?"
Chu Xiaodie raised her hand and asked: "Isn't it a bit much to treat a patient like this?"
Xia Huanao wagged his finger: "All trainers in the world know that a Pokémon's potential sometimes needs a bit of pressure to emerge. Human potential is the same. Only by putting some pressure on Miao Longque will he go further on his path as a trainer."
Xia Huanao's explanation was only enough to fool those who didn't know the details. Meng Tianya, who understood clearly, chuckled and asked: "What do you plan to do? He's the face of our match tomorrow. If he can't compete, it'll be trouble."
Meng Tianya's statement was essentially telling Xia Huanao that although they all found Miao Longque an eyesore, it was the late stages of the major competition, and he hoped Xia Huanao wouldn't cause any trouble that would be difficult to resolve for everyone.
Xia Huanao, understanding the implication, directly shared his plan with everyone: "I'll tell you, when we get back, you'll all act like our match today didn't go too well. He'll have to win three small points tomorrow to secure victory. That means all the team's hopes will be pinned on him."
Chu Xiaodie worriedly said: "Isn't that pressure a bit too much?"
Xia Huanao shook his head: "It's fine. Believe in Miao Longque. After all, he's a trainer who has been through thick and thin with us."
Saying this, Xia Huanao glanced at those present: "Forget it, I'll play the good cop, alright? I'll give him this pressure."
The group talked as they returned to the Minglong Kingdom's camp. Although the people at the camp were also watching the matches, they were primarily focused on their research tasks, so the news of the match result hadn't reached the camp yet. When Xia Huanao returned, only Yu Rui was waiting for them at the camp entrance.
Yu Longdu spotted Yu Rui and quickly walked over: "I'm not saying this, Xiao Rui, but what are you doing here? Aren't you afraid of being abducted by the monster trainers from Lixing Kingdom?"
Yu Rui dodged Yu Longdu's attempt to hug her and retorted: "Did you win? If you didn't win, you're not allowed to touch me."
Yu Longdu, remembering Xia Huanao's instructions, said: "Uh, you know, our match isn't completely over yet. It's too early to say who won. Besides, the outcome of the match isn't something I can control."
Yu Rui pressed her index finger to Yu Longdu's lips: "I just want to know, did you win your match?"
Xia Huanao sauntered over to the two of them: "Xiao Rui, just look at Yu Longdu's demeanor, and you'll know."
Yu Rui comforted Yu Longdu: "It's okay, it's just losing a match. I know you're not feeling good about letting down Xiao Die, but you have to look forward, right..."
Yu Longdu's mood became quite complicated after hearing this. Xia Huanao, not wanting to interfere with their domestic affairs, simply said he was going to check on Miao Longque and headed towards the infirmary. The other party involved in this matter, Chu Xiaodie, left the scene with Mu Zhishui and others to make travel plans. After finishing the competition, they could finally relax and have a few days of fun. Soon, only Yu Longdu and Yu Rui were left at the scene.
Now, regarding Xia Huanao's plan for a "hidden move," he stealthily approached the doctor who had been idly accompanying Miao Longque and called him out. He then whispered something to him. Miao Longque, lying in bed covered by a quilt and sweating, wanted to hear but couldn't quite make it out, so he waited for Xia Huanao to come in and ask.
Not long after, Xia Huanao and the doctor returned. Xia Huanao entered the room and immediately asked: "How are you feeling?"
Miao Longque feigned concern about the match: "I'm fine. The match, how did it go?"
Xia Huanao glanced at the doctor: "I asked the doctor to step out just now because I wanted to ask if your body could handle some bad news..."
Miao Longque cursed inwardly: You're talking as if I'm on my deathbed, about to die...
Despite his inner monologue, he shook his head on the sickbed: "It's fine, just tell me."
Xia Huanao placed his hand on his shoulder: "You have to cheer up. All our hopes are on you. Although the pressure is a bit high, I believe you have the potential to win three to zero."
After saying this, Xia Huanao looked at the thick quilt covering Miao Longque: "No, what are you doing? You ate something bad, you don't have a cold. What's the point of sweating?"
The doctor chimed in: "I've advised him against it, but he feels more comfortable this way. As doctors, we have to respect the patient's personal wishes to a certain extent, especially since his illness isn't very serious."
Xia Huanao expressed a few more words of concern for Miao Longque and then left the room, leaving Miao Longque to his own thoughts: Why was Xia Huanao the one delivering this news? Shouldn't the team leader be the one to do it?
At this moment, the doctor once again played his part: "Xia Huanao cares about you a lot. If the leader had come, it would have been to put pressure on you, but if someone else came, it wouldn't seem official. So, they had to get him to do this thankless job."
Miao Longque thought about it and agreed. If three leaders had come, most people would have buckled under the pressure, but having someone else would have felt awkward and out of place. Indeed, Xia Huanao was the most suitable. Thinking this, Miao Longque felt somewhat relieved.
After dinner, Miao Longque rested on the sickbed. He had been on an IV drip all day and only now felt his physical condition had returned to normal, although he hadn't been running to the bathroom quite as frequently since noon.
Miao Longque stared at the ceiling of the infirmary. For his health, the doctor had confiscated his phone, making it impossible for him to contact Lixing Kingdom for the time being and receive further instructions. Anxious, he decided to sneak out under the cover of darkness to seek Kaswiding's opinion.
However, as soon as Miao Longque pulled back the curtain to look outside, he saw Xia Huanao strolling in the yard with Guagua and Dianxi, unsure what they were doing. Miao Longque, wanting to test the waters, put on his clothes and walked into the yard.
Xia Huanao heard the sound and turned around, just as Miao Longque came out. He quickly rushed over and pushed Miao Longque back inside with both hands: "Oh my, don't scare me! Do you know how important you are right now?"
Miao Longque, pushed back into the room by Xia Huanao's torrent of words, asked in confusion: "No, what are you doing?"
Xia Huanao first stepped out of the room and looked around before saying mysteriously: "Do you know how important you are right now? Although winning three to zero is indeed difficult, we also need to prevent Lixing Country from becoming desperate and coming to eliminate you directly."
Miao Longque scratched his head: "No, surely not. They wouldn't dare to go against public opinion like that..."
Xia Huanao patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, you just rest peacefully in your room. Guagua, Dianxi, and I have decided to stay up all night to ensure your safety."
Saying this, Xia Huanao raised his hand to wipe his eyes: "I'm so moved by my own dedication, you should go back now, for my sake."
Xia Huanao was determined and sealed Miao Longque in his room. Then, he and Guagua and Dianxi set up a table in the yard and sat down.
Glancing stealthily into the room, he could vaguely see Miao Longque pacing inside. Xia Huanao snorted: "Hmph, you still don't know who I am, do you? You're a long way from escaping this inescapable net."
Meanwhile, in another room, Meng Tianya and Wang Zhen watched Xia Huanao sitting in the yard, bathed in moonlight, and silently mourned for Miao Longque: "Sigh, why did you provoke this jinx? Since he rose to prominence, how many people he's targeted have managed to escape unscathed?"
"Yes, he's completely playing with them. They still think they hold the final trump card. But speaking of which, what are your arrangements for him?"
Meng Tianya let down the curtain he had lifted: "Now is the time to enjoy victory. As for this scoundrel, we'll talk about him when we get back."