February 7th, the first working day after the New Year holiday. Xia Huanao and his two companions arrived at Jinghai City Airport, watching the men and women rushing back to their jobs in other cities. Xia Huanao sighed.
"Time flies, half a month gone in the blink of an eye. What a leisurely half-month it was, and now I have to work again."
Zhang Hong looked at Shen Yu, who was leaning on Xia Huanao's shoulder. "Of course it was leisurely. Look at you these past two weeks, practically glued to your sister-in-law day and night, inseparable. I heard you even spent New Year's at her place? It truly makes a lonely dog like me extremely envious."
Xia Huanao glared at Zhang Hong. "Shut up, why bring up what you shouldn't be talking about? My parents had no holiday during New Year's, and I haven't seen them for two months. I haven't received any news from them either. If it weren't for the lack of an obituary, I'd suspect something had happened to them."
Shen Yu patted Xia Huanao's shoulder. "Calm down, calm down. Uncle Xia must be busy with something very important, just like you. Haven't you also accomplished something significant without making a sound?"
Xia Huanao thought for a moment. "You're right, maybe they didn't contact me because they didn't want me to worry about them. I should just focus on my own matters."
Just then, the airport announcement sounded; it was time to board.
...
The reason the three of them were there was that Xia Huanao had received a call from Yu Longdu last night, asking them to fly to the Pokémon Alliance headquarters as soon as possible to complete the creation of the Pokédex.
As for why they had to go to the Alliance headquarters, it was because Yu Longdu said that while the Pokédex could be made anywhere, the bigwigs at the Alliance headquarters wanted to meet Xia Huanao's Awakening Team. And with the Alliance's recent busy schedule, they had to ask Xia Huanao and the others to head north quickly for a meeting at headquarters.
For this trip north, Zhang Hong personally paid for three first-class tickets. Sitting in first class, Xia Huanao saw Zhang Hong constantly scanning his surroundings and turned to ask him in a low voice, "Zhang Hong, what are you looking at?"
Zhang Hong whispered back, "I heard that the flight attendants in first class are particularly beautiful..."
Xia Huanao had no mood to entertain him and put on his eye mask to sleep. Zhang Hong, meanwhile, leaned back in his seat and continued his research into the aesthetics of flight attendants.
The plane took off, then landed. Xia Huanao and his two companions had thus arrived in Linglong City, the capital.
Xia Huanao had always had opinions about the name of the capital of the Minglong Kingdom. The foremost city of the Minglong Kingdom on the spirit-demon planet was called Linglong City; the naming was truly a bit too casual.
The three of them got off the plane and arrived at the exit, where they saw a person wearing a black cotton jacket holding a sign in their hand. The artistic style of the sign made it difficult for Xia Huanao to comment, as the sign was entirely a chibi version of his own headshot.
Seeing the sign, Xia Huanao, Shen Yu, and Zhang Hong walked over. "I say, A'Du, while I appreciate you coming to pick us up, where did you get this pickup sign?"
Yu Longdu, who was holding the sign, put it away. "What do you think? Of course, my sister made it. If I were picking you up, I would have just written your name."
Xia Huanao nodded. "I see, alright, where are we going now?"
Yu Longdu turned and walked ahead. "Follow me. We've got a car waiting outside the airport to take you to the Pokémon Alliance headquarters. You'll be staying there from now on."
Xia Huanao followed Yu Longdu. "Staying at headquarters is fine, but they won't restrict our freedom, will they?"
Yu Longdu shook his head. "Not at all. You're here to help, not to be imprisoned. You can go wherever you want."
The group arrived in front of a huge pink RV outside the airport. Yu Longdu opened the door and got in, followed closely by Xia Huanao and his two companions. Upon entering the RV, Xia Huanao saw someone already lying on a bed inside, dressed in a pink down jacket. Xia Huanao looked closely and exclaimed, "Linglong-jie, what are you doing here?"
Yu Linglong sat up. "I'm here to intercept. Your first stop was supposed to be the Pokémon Alliance headquarters, but I have something urgent, so I'm borrowing you first."
Xia Huanao was stunned. "Something urgent? What could possibly require my attention, Linglong-jie? Could it be a Pokémon movie looking for me to play the male lead?"
Yu Linglong poked Xia Huanao's forehead with her finger. "I say, our honorary chairman, have you forgotten you're the chairman of the Grand Festival? Today, Linglong City is holding its first Grand Festival after the New Year, and since you, the chairman, are here, it wouldn't be appropriate for you not to participate. We can also have a meeting to let you all get acquainted."
Xia Huanao looked at Yu Longdu. Yu Longdu didn't respond, his eyes wandering, acting as if he had nothing to do with it. Xia Huanao then knew that this must also be approved by the Alliance. The importance of the Grand Festival was no less than that of the Pokédex.
The RV started moving. Shen Yu and Yu Linglong sat on the bed in the back, chatting about everyday matters, while Xia Huanao was studying the RV. If they were to go on an adventure in an RV, it would undoubtedly be the best logistical support. Xia Huanao had already decided to get a top-spec RV. Up front, Zhang Hong was whispering to Yu Longdu.
Zhang Hong glanced back. Seeing that none of them were paying attention, he moved closer to Yu Longdu. "Um, since Boss Xia calls you A'Du, can I call you A'Du too?"
Yu Longdu nodded. Building a good relationship with Xia Huanao's team was one of the Yu family's expectations. "Sure. If you're Xia Huanao's friend, you're my friend. You can call me whatever you like."
Zhang Hong lowered his voice and asked, "A'Du, Yu Linglong is your sister, right?"
"Isn't that obvious? What's up?"
A smile appeared on Zhang Hong's face, which made Yu Longdu feel that something bad was about to happen. "A'Du, do you have any other sisters or cousins? Could you introduce one to me?"
Yu Longdu was taken aback. Zhang Hong's gleeful leaning in was indeed not good news. "What? Say that again?"
Zhang Hong rubbed his hands together. "Um, do you have any sisters or cousins around my age?"
Yu Longdu quickly understood Zhang Hong's intention. "Yes, we the Yu family are a large clan. Of course, there are girls around your age. What, you want to fall in love? Bold of you to set your sights on a Yu family girl."
Zhang Hong displayed a rare burst of bravado. "What, is it not allowed? As ambitious as a person is, so productive they can be..."
"I didn't say it wasn't allowed. Our Yu family doesn't force our descendants in matters of the heart. I'll find some time to introduce you to the girls in our Yu family. Whether you can win them over depends on your abilities. But you better be prepared, the selection criteria for Yu family girls are very high. You can't be too far behind Xia Huanao."
Yu Longdu's words made Zhang Hong a bit uncomfortable. "No, are all the Yu family girls so picky? Do you need someone like Boss Xia to marry a Yu family girl?"
Yu Longdu shook his head. "You're overthinking it. How many people like Xia Huanao are there in this world? Our Yu family's attitude towards Xia Huanao is that if he wants to marry any girl, any girl can marry him. But Xia Huanao already has a girlfriend..."
...
Xia Huanao studied the RV for a while and then saw Shen Yu beckoning to him. Xia Huanao walked over, and Shen Yu asked him, "Huanao, what do you think Zhang Hong is talking about with Yu Longdu over there?"
Xia Huanao looked over and saw the two of them acting suspiciously. He quickly made up his mind. "Linglong-jie, you need to be careful. Zhang Hong might be tricking Yu Longdu into selling off your Yu family girls. This kid is going crazy looking for a girlfriend lately. He asked me quite a bit during the New Year about what kind of girls I met during my travels."
Yu Linglong looked at the two people in front. "Our Yu family girls aren't unapproachable. If he wants to pursue them, he can. My uncle's youngest daughter should be around your age. If he can win her over, I approve."
Xia Huanao smirked upon hearing this. "In that case, let me give him an assist. A'Du, do it now."
The two who were chatting happily in front instantly separated upon hearing Xia Huanao speak. Zhang Hong sat up straight, feigning innocence as if he hadn't done anything wrong. Yu Longdu looked at Xia Huanao, who was sitting next to Shen Yu, and walked over.
...
In the back of the RV, Xia Huanao quietly asked A'Du, "A'Du, is Zhang Hong eyeing one of your family's girls? Tell me the truth."
A'Du looked at Xia Huanao, his expression like that of seeing a celestial being descend. "Amazing. We were talking so quietly up front, and you already know?"
Xia Huanao leaned to the left. "Zhang Hong, if you want to, come listen. It's not something that can't be told."
Zhang Hong's head retracted behind the chair, indicating he wasn't eavesdropping. Xia Huanao then straightened up. "What do you mean 'heard'? I guessed. A'Du, listen to me..."
Yu Longdu looked a bit conflicted after hearing Xia Huanao's plan. "This, this I..."
"I know you're in a difficult position, so I'm asking you to try. If it doesn't work out, then so be it."
Yu Longdu shook his head. "That's not what I meant. I meant, what if my sister doesn't like him? If he gets completely discouraged, don't blame me."
Xia Huanao reached out and patted Yu Longdu's shoulder. "If she doesn't like him, she doesn't like him. Zhang Hong isn't that easily defeated. But if he does fall, then it's his own fault."
"You truly are his good brother..."
Zhang Hong in the front suddenly shivered. He felt as if he were being stared at by some primordial beast. He looked back and saw Xia Huanao and the others sitting together, looking happy and harmonious.
"Strange, is it just my imagination?"
Seeing that Zhang Hong had discovered nothing and had sat back down, Xia Huanao breathed a sigh of relief. "A'Du, this matter is entrusted to you."
A'Du nodded. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to handle this properly."