Inside Xia Huanao's room at the Kyogre Inn.
Xia Huanao sat in his wheelchair, facing three stern-looking girls: Shen Yu, Tong Ruo, and Zheng Xiaoxiao. The situation was supposed to be the opposite, with Xia Huanao kneeling before the three girls. However, due to his poor health, he was allowed to sit while they stood to interrogate him.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Xia Huanao dared not joke around. He cautiously glanced at Shen Yu, only to be met with a glare. This made Xia Huanao flustered, as Shen Yu had never done anything like this before. "Uh, Xiaoyu, can you not do this?"
Shen Yu, her expression as cold as frost, pointed at Xia Huanao. "What's going on with you? Explain it to me clearly!"
Tong Ruo, ever the instigator, chimed in as soon as Shen Yu finished. "Yeah, didn't you go to see a girl? How did you end up like this?"
Shen Yu leaned closer to Xia Huanao. "Oh? Going to see a girl? Xia Huanao, you've got some nerve!"
Xia Huanao looked at Tong Ruo, who was suppressing a giggle, and thought, *If you phrase it like this, how am I supposed to live? Didn't you explain this to Xiaoyu before?*
Xia Huanao quickly explained to Shen Yu why he was in his current predicament. After listening to his explanation, Shen Yu gave a lukewarm hum. "Is that so? Well, it's still your fault. I'm angry and don't want to talk to you. Ruo-jie, let's go."
As Shen Yu and Tong Ruo turned to leave, Xia Huanao, out of nowhere, blurted out, "Get lost, all of you!"
Watching Shen Yu and Tong Ruo storm out, Xia Huanao slumped powerlessly in his wheelchair. Zheng Xiaoxiao sighed, looking at the suddenly dejected Xia Huanao. "Why bother, you two."
"Is it my fault? I explained everything. I wasn't dating a girl, and she's still like this!"
Zheng Xiaoxiao sat down beside Xia Huanao. "Stop it. Don't you know what Xiaoyu is thinking? You disappeared for a month, and when you reappear, you're like this. Do you know how worried she was?"
Xia Huanao pouted. "I sent a message saying I was fine, but she insisted on making a fuss and nitpicking. If I knew this would happen, they shouldn't have revived me."
As soon as Xia Huanao finished speaking, he realized his blunder. How could Zheng Xiaoxiao be indifferent to the word "revived"?
Seeing Zheng Xiaoxiao inching closer, Xia Huanao lost his nerve. "Alright, the thing is..."
Xia Huanao had to retell the story to Zheng Xiaoxiao. At the end of his tale, Xia Huanao said, "So, I've always suspected they really killed me back then. I don't know how I was revived. Maybe they asked Ho-Oh for help? I don't know."
After hearing Xia Huanao's second version of the story, Zheng Xiaoxiao looked at him. "No, this is completely different from the story you told before."
Xia Huanao felt awkward. "I can't help it. Do you think this version of the story can be told to Xiaoyu? Xiaoyu would be worried if she knew I was beaten to death, but in Ruo-jie's mind, I'm just a scumbag who deserved to die for flirting with a young girl Pokémon. What else could I say?"
Xia Huanao leaned back in his wheelchair. "Xiaoxiao-jie, can I be alone for a while?"
Zheng Xiaoxiao sighed. "You two, really. Don't worry, I won't reveal the truth."
Seeing Zheng Xiaoxiao leave the room, Xia Huanao released Diancie. "Diancie, you're still the cutest. You never get angry with me or get jealous."
Diancie tilted its head, looked at Xia Huanao, and then extended its little hand, wanting a hug. Xia Huanao hugged Diancie. "I told you, Diancie is the cutest."
Speaking of which, Xia Huanao looked at Froakie. "Froakie, you must remember that the word 'cute' cannot be used to describe you. Your final evolution is Greninja. You're responsible for being cool!"
Froakie seemed to understand, or perhaps not.
Meanwhile, although Zheng Xiaoxiao had promised Xia Huanao she wouldn't reveal the truth, Tong Ruo and Shen Yu soon found out. This was traced back to the previous college student Pokémon tournament, where Zheng Xiaoxiao had placed a listening device on Tong Ruo. And this time, Tong Ruo, seeking revenge, had placed a listening device on Zheng Xiaoxiao.
After leaving Xia Huanao's room, Tong Ruo pulled Shen Yu back to their room, wanting to hear what else Xia Huanao had said. As a result, they heard everything Xia Huanao didn't want them to.
Tong Ruo grew angrier with each word, almost grabbing a knife to go and confront Xia Huanao. Shen Yu, on the other hand, listened to Xia Huanao's story without saying a word.
As night fell, Xia Huanao wheeled himself back to his room. Upon opening the door, he saw Shen Yu sitting on the bed, her head bowed. Xia Huanao froze. What was going on?
Before Xia Huanao could speak, Shen Yu stood up. "That..."
"Host, there's a listening device."
Hearing the system's alert, Xia Huanao quickly made a shushing gesture and then asked the system, "System, where is it? Who put it there?"
"On your wife's person. It should be Tong Ruo. By the way, Zheng Xiaoxiao also had a listening device this morning, the same one on your wife."
Xia Huanao panicked. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Zheng Xiaoxiao is Tong Ruo's person, not yours."
Shen Yu, seeing Xia Huanao frozen after making the shushing gesture, became worried. Fortunately, Xia Huanao quickly snapped back to reality and wheeled himself over to Shen Yu.
"System, where exactly is that listening device?"
"Her chest. You can take it off."
Xia Huanao gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, reaching out. Shen Yu, seeing Xia Huanao directly reach out without a word, flinched and moved aside. "What are you doing?"
"Stay still!"
Xia Huanao's low growl startled Shen Yu, allowing him to remove the brooch from her chest. Then, Xia Huanao went to the window and opened it. "Froakie, Dark Pulse!"
With that, Xia Huanao flung the brooch he was holding outwards. Froakie unleashed a Dark Pulse, shattering the brooch.
As soon as it was broken, a cry came from the next room. "Ah..."
Xia Huanao shook his head. "You reap what you sow. What were you doing eavesdropping? And you got caught."
"What was that just now?"
"Ruo-jie put a listening device on you. When it was broken, the static might have startled her a bit. It's fine."
Shen Yu was confused. "Why would Ruo-jie do something like that?"
Xia Huanao went to Shen Yu's side and whispered in her ear, "She probably wanted to hear you..."
Shen Yu's face turned red, and she pushed Xia Huanao's wheelchair away. "You, you, you, what nonsense are you talking about? How could I..."
"Shouldn't we try and find out?"
"Who's trying? I'm still angry."
Shen Yu, blushing, turned her head away. Xia Huanao leaned in and said, "Then why are you in my room?"
"I, I was just... you always bully me!"
The two looked at each other, and then Shen Yu leaned her head on Xia Huanao's shoulder. "Honestly, you're not allowed to provoke such powerful Pokémon anymore. It's too dangerous."
Xia Huanao nodded gently. "I know. I'll be careful from now on. I'll only provoke my Xiaoyu."
"I'm not yours!"
Xia Huanao took out a Poké Ball. "See? I've even prepared your Poké Ball. Just let me capture you obediently."
Shen Yu lightly punched Xia Huanao's chest with her small fist. "No, if you capture me, you'll bully me..."
After another half hour, Xia Huanao looked at Shen Yu, who was still sitting on his bed. "Xiaoyu, why aren't you going back? Shouldn't you be staying in the same room as Ruo-jie and the others?"
Shen Yu shook her head. "No, we have two rooms for three people. But I canceled my room. I want to focus on taking care of you. You have no self-care ability in your current state."
Saying this, Shen Yu pointed at Xia Huanao. "When was the last time you showered or changed your clothes? Just listen to me obediently."
With that, Shen Yu pulled Xia Huanao into the bathroom.
"Xiaoyu, take it easy. I'm still recovering."
...
After enjoying the bathing service provided by Shen Yu, Xia Huanao changed into new clothes. Looking at the pajamas, Xia Huanao nodded. "Not bad, Xiaoyu. You know my measurements so well."
"I'm your girlfriend."
Xia Huanao whispered, "I know your measurements too..."
"Get away."
Xia Huanao was carried to bed by Shen Yu and the Pokémon. Shen Yu made the bed and then snuggled in.
"It's been a long time since we've lain like this together. I really miss it."
Xia Huanao reached out and took Shen Yu's hand. "Xiaoyu..."
As they gazed into each other's eyes, a soft knocking sound came from the next room. Shen Yu blinked. "Huh? Ruo-jie, is something wrong? Oh no, don't move your hands!"
Xia Huanao whispered something in Shen Yu's ear, making her face turn instantly red. She hid under the covers, while Xia Huanao propped himself up on the pillow, staring at the ceiling. "If only my legs had recovered before."
The system rolled its eyes. "If your legs were truly healed, you'd be complaining. You'd be wishing your hands had healed before."
...
The next morning, as Xia Huanao opened his eyes, he saw Shen Yu's face incredibly close to his. Xia Huanao leaned back slightly. "Xiaoyu, what are you doing?"
Shen Yu poked Xia Huanao's cheek. "Get up quickly, we're going out to sea today. Can you manage?"
Xia Huanao blinked. Go out to sea? Where did you get a boat?
"Get up and wash up. Xiaoxiao-jie got the boat. They say it's even a yacht."