Chapter 55: Garchomp: No, I don't want to!

【Holy crap??? Zhulan herself is here?】

【??? Besides Hoenn Champion Steven, you also know the Sinnoh Champion, streamer?】

【Not brother, what is your background?】

【The three-year term has arrived, the Sinnoh son-in-law returns?】

As Zhulan appeared in the live broadcast room with her eye-catching golden message, the comments instantly turned into a storm of question marks, frantically scrolling the screen in the live broadcast room.

Qingyu was stunned.

Where did this bring me, is this still PokéTV?

Why did Zhulan suddenly appear in my live broadcast room and even explode gold coins for me...

Is this normal?

Although he didn't quite understand why, Qingyu still thanked her as a matter of routine:

"Thanks to Mythology Scholar Zhulan for the paid message, boss is generous~"

Then, amidst the storm of question marks in the comments, he decisively cut off the live stream.

【??? Where is the person?】

【The streamer didn't recognize that this is Zhulan's account...】

【A role model for our generation, even Zhulan couldn't stop his hand from ending the stream, a true Sigma man!】

After gloriously ending the stream, Qingyu clutched his nervous little heart and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, his reaction was fast, otherwise it would have become a live broadcast accident.

Responding directly is definitely not possible.

Let alone that he and Zhulan hadn't coordinated at all; if there was no tacit understanding, it would only get darker the more he described it.

Ending the stream at light speed at this point, the comments would probably just tease him, and they would forget about it tomorrow.

Wait...?

Qingyu was suddenly stunned on the spot.

After all, what am I afraid of?

A childhood friend I haven't seen for many years comes to the live broadcast room to brush up some popularity for me; wouldn't it be fine to interact generously?

Why do I care so much about the comments stirring up trouble?

Thinking of this, Qingyu sighed long and covered his cheeks helplessly.

He had to admit that since understanding the future pointed to by the system, he had somewhat been unable to look directly at the name Zhulan.

Completely unable to understand what he was thinking...

But since things had reached this point, continuing to struggle had no meaning.

It's better to figure out why Zhulan appeared in his live broadcast room first.

Qingyu picked up the phone, and sure enough, he had already received Zhulan's reply.

Not only did she directly ignore his "read but not replied" for half a year, but she was even caring and encouraging him.

Mom, I think I saw a real angel descend to the world!

But he couldn't quite understand the content of the line behind.

"Why would Zhulan ask me to confirm the location of the Gym?"

Qingyu felt confused about this.

Since he couldn't figure it out, he would just ask actively.

【Qingyu: Yes, why did you suddenly ask this?】

After the message was sent, the other side replied almost instantly.

However, she didn't directly reply to the question he raised, but instead...

【Zhulan: The streamer I saw on PokéTV just now was really you! Although the voice became mature, I recognized it immediately!】

Even through the screen, he could feel the little pride in the girl's tone.

Qingyu scratched his head.

He always felt that the Zhulan chatting with him now was not quite the same as the one in his impression.

But that's right, the stereotypical mature Zhulan had been a Champion for a long time, and she was more mature and steady.

Now she was just a half-rookie who had achieved the Champion title upon her debut, and she was far from as mature as he thought in terms of state of mind.

【Qingyu: No wonder you sent that message; you really recognized me. Thanks to the top donor for the tip~】

Facing the cute-toned Sister Cynthia, Qingyu gradually relaxed.

He even took the initiative to crack a small joke.

【Zhulan: It's just a little money; if it can help you, that's good.】

【Zhulan: Operating a Gym alone in Paldea must be very difficult, right?】

【Zhulan: If you encounter any problems that I can help with, please be sure to contact me.】

"Hiss—"

What a domineering CEO statement!

Qingyu always felt that he had been flirted with.

But was the gender between the two reversed?

It should be that he was overthinking.

Qingyu shook his head and threw all the irrelevant thoughts to the back of his mind.

Afterwards, the two chatted for a long time through the Navigator.

It might even be the longest exchange since they added each other as friends after moving away from Celestic Town.

Although they were all daily chats with no nutritional value, Qingyu chatted with great interest.

Time passed quietly.

Until Zhulan on the other side took the initiative to say goodbye, Qingyu realized belatedly that he had actually chatted for a full hour.

His time for ending the stream was usually 7:30, and chatting for an extra hour didn't count for much for his schedule.

But there is a seven-hour time difference between Paldea and Sinnoh...

"In other words, it's almost 4 AM on Zhulan's side?"

If you don't sleep, you can just stay up all night.

【Qingyu: Sorry! I didn't pay attention to the time at all, keeping you chatting for so long!】

Qingyu knelt down decisively.

Thinking that Zhulan, who is a Champion, might appear at the Pokémon League with dark circles under her eyes the next day...

Keeping a Champion to pass the time with him, he suddenly felt whether he should commit seppuku to apologize.

【Zhulan: Then, good night, see you tomorrow.】

【Qingyu: See you tomorrow.】

【Qingyu:... Wait? What do you mean see you tomorrow?】

Perhaps it was the memory engraved in their DNA from being childhood friends for many years, Qingyu instinctively felt that Zhulan's sentence didn't seem quite right.

Looking at the previous chat history, their chat time was very unfixed.

So this "see you tomorrow" was a bit intriguing.

Discovered.

On the other side, Zhulan, who had changed into home pajamas, yawned repeatedly, but the corners of her mouth were filled with smiles involuntarily.

【Zhulan: I originally wanted to give you a surprise, but I didn't expect to be seen through by Detective Qingyu.】

【Zhulan: Actually, Grandma asked me to pass a Pokémon to you; it just so happens that I'm free tomorrow, so I'll come to see you by the way.】

【Zhulan: I'm going to sleep, bye-bye~】

"Ah?"

After receiving the message, Qingyu was stunned.

Zhulan is coming to Sunshine Gym tomorrow?

Really?

Is this a surprise or a shock?

Why is there a sudden sense of nervousness before meeting offline...

Compared to the confusion on Qingyu's side, Zhulan seemed much calmer.

If you ignore her hands tightly gripping the phone.

"Didn't expect to really say it out..."

Zhulan breathed a sigh of relief.

She just said that Grandma asked her to pass a Pokémon to Qingyu.

This is a lie.

In fact, Professor Carolina didn't say such a thing. ===== CHAPTER 57 =====