Xia Hunan, deciding to visit Tianshi City for a couple of days, boarded the express train of the Pokémon League. It had to be said that the Pokémon League’s treatment of trainers was exceptionally good, even a novice trainer like Xia Hunan could buy a first-class ticket at a low price.
Sitting in his seat, Xia Hunan squinted his eyes and began to enjoy his life. While enjoying himself, he asked the system, "I always feel like I cheated before. Beating Roserade was too dreamlike."
The system replayed the battle between him and the examiner: "Indeed, with your luck, there shouldn't have been so many critical hits, and you should have successfully made the opponent attack in those few turns of confusion."
"What the hell do you mean? Are you saying I should have lost?"
"That's not what I mean, I just find it a bit outrageous. Perhaps something was helping you in secret."
Hearing this, Xia Hunan stroked his chin and began to ponder: Generally speaking, the kind of Pokémon that could cause such outrageous match results wouldn't be ordinary. The two I can think of are Victini and Mew.
"System, which one do you think helped me?"
"Mew, perhaps. After all, it's a Pokémon that humans can't possibly research thoroughly."
"If it really is Mew, that would be wonderful. I really want to see it, especially I want to know what Mew's tail feels like to touch."
The system rolled its eyes at Xia Hunan: "Seriously, I think you're not just a little bit perverted... not even letting Pokémon off the hook."
As the two of them bickered, in the sky, a small pink Pokémon coiled its tail in front of its body, gently stroking it with its small paws, its large blue eyes filled with confusion. It felt as if something very rude was coveting its tail...
As it turned out, the phenomenon of drastically different weather within a short distance wasn't uncommon. The train had traveled for less than an hour when Xia Hunan clearly saw two distinct weather patterns in the sky: one side was clear and sunny, while the other was overcast and cloudy.
"This sight is truly rare. Froakie, come out and see too."
The Pokémon Express train allowed trainers to release one Pokémon to alleviate the loneliness of the journey, but to ensure the safety of the train's operation, exceptionally large Pokémon were not included. There was also a温馨提示 (warm reminder) within the train: Please do not release Pokémon such as Garchomp or Onix arbitrarily within the train, violators will be heavily penalized. (Where is this warm reminder at all...?)
Of course, if you were to choose a Pokémon with high flight or running speed and have it follow the train outside, no one could stop you. However, the truth was that most people weren't foolish enough for that.
Holding Froakie in his arms, Xia Hunan pointed his finger towards the sky outside the window: "Look."
Froakie looked at the two colors in the sky. It didn't understand what was so good about it. But since Xia Hunan said so, it had to look even if it didn't understand.
The system, after observing Froakie for a while, exclaimed: "It's developing this fast?"
Xia Hunan's consciousness sank into his mind and he asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"
The system, as if shaking its head in surprise, threw over a status panel: "Aren't you developing too fast? It's already level five?"
Hearing that Froakie was already level five, Xia Hunan showed no particular expression: "Level five, so what? What's so surprising. The experience required for early levels is low. Besides, I've just overturned Roserade by more than ten levels. Reaching only level five, I actually feel it's too little."
"That's true. Who would do something like what you did for no reason?"
...
"Wait, you just said Froakie is already level five?"
"Yes, it's already at a level where it can learn Bubble."
Xia Hunan took out his tablet from his backpack and began to ponder how he should teach Froakie to use the move Bubble.
Flipping through various teaching videos, Xia Hunan's thoughts gradually became clearer. He decided to wait until he reached the Pokémon League branch in Tianshi City.
Of course, the main reason he wasn't teaching it now was the lack of battle and training facilities on the train. Otherwise, if two battling trainers got too heated and one unleashed an Explosion and the other retaliated with Hyper Beam, would the train still be intact?
Similarly, all means of transportation have no such facilities, and trainer battles are strictly prohibited. Of course, if special circumstances arise, they would be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
The train rumbled on for an entire afternoon. By the time it stopped in Tianshi City, it was already close to ten o'clock.
Tired, Xia Hunan got off the train, rubbing his neck. He looked like he might have a stiff neck.
"What a lousy train, not comfortable at all... I need to find the League branch to rest quickly."
...
In the city center of Tianshi City, Xia Hunan, having finally recovered his energy, lay on the bed. He had to admit, the single room provided by the Pokémon League branch was indeed different. The bed was much more comfortable than his bed at home.
Xia Hunan, who slept until dawn in a daze, looked at the overcast and rainy weather outside the window: "I'll go for a walk."
He put on his clothes and took his Poké Balls outside. Xia Hunan shivered and promptly retreated back into the Tianshi branch.
"System, I think I'm an idiot..."
"I think you are too. I felt something was off when you told me yesterday you were coming to Tianshi to see the Ten Sceneries. You probably won't be able to see any of the Ten Sceneries this season."
"No, it's not that I can't see the Ten Sceneries, it's that I forgot to bring some warm clothes."
He paused, and Xia Hunan began his standard lament in the style of Xianglin's widow:
"I'm so stupid, really. I only remembered that it would be colder than usual when it snows, so I should add clothes. I forgot that winter rain is the same. I woke up early this morning, pulled open the curtains, changed a few clothes, and thought I'd go out for a walk. I really love exercising, I need to move every day. I was ready, put on my shoes, and opened the door. The door opened, and I was about to step out. I looked at the sky, it was a bit gloomy. I stepped out and felt the cold air raging, freezing me into a shiver. I rarely give up exercising, but I reached out and felt it, it was indeed very cold. I was stunned, and quickly retreated. Until now, shivering, I saw that it was already drizzling outside. When I thought about it, it was bad, I'd probably freeze to death if I went out. I tried again, and I was indeed swept by a breeze, getting goosebumps from head to toe. I could only hug myself tightly..."
The system watched from the side: "How should I evaluate this? Should I praise his good Chinese literature from his previous life, or should I curse him for having a problem with his brain?"
The system had never seen this version of Xianglin's widow before! In an instant, the entire system felt unwell.
The teacher Bai Lan, who was currently leaving the principal's office, felt much the same as the system. The words Zhong Dingyi had just told her echoed in her mind: "Xia Hunan's parents contacted me yesterday. They've decided to have Xia Hunan withdraw from school. The withdrawal procedures have been completed."
Bai Lan was stunned. Such a good student, and he's withdrawing just like that?
She immediately asked, "Is it because of too much pressure that..."
Zhong Dingyi glanced at Bai Lan: "Teacher Bai, I've said it before, remain calm when encountering problems. Don't worry, Xia Hunan is fine. You can rest assured..."
As she was thinking, Bai Lan had already arrived at Class 2-7. She opened the door and walked in. The students were discussing why the class monitor hadn't come. After all, Xia Hunan never missed class or took leave, regardless of thunder, rain, or the end of the world. Taking leave yesterday was already bizarre enough, and today he's skipping class altogether?
Bai Lan placed the textbook she was holding on the podium: "Class, before we begin, I have an announcement to make. Xia Hunan has applied for withdrawal from school. The position of class monitor will be taken over by Yang Guangli. Let's start class!"
In the audience, Shen Yu was completely lost in thought. When Xia Hunan took leave yesterday, she already felt something was wrong. She went to Xia Hunan's house last night, but no one opened the door. In the end, she had no choice but to return home and couldn't sleep well all night. Then today, she heard such devastating news.
"Is it... is it all because of me?"
While Shen Yu was lost in her thoughts, Bai Lan saw that she was not in the right state. She walked down from the podium and tapped on Shen Yu's desk with her finger: "Don't overthink things, focus on class."
...
After discussing matters at school, let's return to Xia Hunan, who was still in the state of Xianglin's widow. This kid was too immersed in his role. It had been over ten minutes, and he was still sitting on the sofa at the Tianshi branch, looking like a lunatic. A passing trainer glanced at him and said, "Was he attacked by some Psychic-type Pokémon? You need to be careful when you go out."
Just as the staff at the Tianshi branch were about to come over to see what was going on, Xia Hunan's phone rang.
Xia Hunan took out his phone and looked at it, his expression becoming strange. He already looked odd, and now he looked even more ridiculous.
The phone screen clearly displayed a message from Xia Tianjue and his wife:
Son, we've already helped you withdraw from school. We hope you have fun outside and don't worry about things at home. Just remember to call us often to let us know you're safe.
Xia Hunan felt like crying without tears at his parents' actions. After all, in the letter Xia Hunan left for his parents, he had asked them to apply for a leave of absence for him, so that he could return to school later. Who knew that Xia Tianjue would directly withdraw him from school?
Xia Hunan feared that his parents wouldn't agree, so he acted first and then reported. He didn't expect Xia Tianjue to first find his junior brother to stop Xia Hunan from abusing his authority for personal gain, and then directly withdraw him from school, pulling the rug out from under him. This family is truly a model of fatherly love and filial piety!
But since things had happened, Xia Hunan couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't re-enroll. This was the path he chose, and he had to walk it even if it was blocked.
He put his phone back into his pocket, bought an umbrella, and went out. When he felt strange, he needed to look at the scenery to clear his mind.