21

[User "Lippi" has requested to connect with you!]

[Connection successful!]

"Lippi? Just from your name, I can tell you're a mischievous one!"

Having just received a surge of traffic from the Dream Protection Bureau, boosting the stream's popularity past 500 viewers, Ye Yinchuan was in a great mood, and his tone naturally became more relaxed.

Even though Officer Tan's departure had taken a chunk of viewers with him, the retention rate was still decent.

"Hello, streamer."

The person on the other end didn't show their face. Instead, they aimed their camera at a Pokémon.

"I wanted to connect with you because I have a question."

Ye Yinchuan focused his gaze. The Pokémon on the screen had a green back and yellow belly, with a red, Y-shaped antenna on its head. Its large, black eyes were surrounded by a pale yellow sclera, and running down its segmented body were circular yellow markings, mimicking eyes, making it look like it was covered in them.

It was a Caterpie—a Bug-type Pokémon, commonly found everywhere in the Pokémon world, almost to the point of being overabundant.

Right now, this Caterpie was using its little prolegs to hold onto a leaf, nibbling away contentedly.

Ye Yinchuan glanced at its status panel: [Anxious, Lonely, Increased Appetite].

"..."

Alright, weak, pitiful, and helpless… but with a strong appetite, huh?

[What's there to analyze about a Caterpie? This thing isn't even good enough for stir-fry!]

[Don't underestimate Caterpie! It can evolve into Rayquaza!]

Ye Yinchuan chuckled at the chat.

Caterpie evolving into Rayquaza—it was a classic meme in the Pokémon world.

Although Rayquaza's official name in Chinese was 裂空坐 (Lièkōngzuò, meaning "Sky-Severing Seat"), many people preferred to call it 裂空座 (Lièkōngzuò, where "座" means "constellation").

Ye Yinchuan personally preferred the latter.

After all, in Chinese grammar, "座" as a name felt more natural.

"Alright, what's your question?"

Ye Yinchuan was curious. What kind of question could one have about a Caterpie?

"Here's the thing, streamer. My younger brother is about to start Pokémon Academy soon. My parents bought him a Charmander. I also wanted a Pokémon, but they got me a Caterpie instead…"

[Wait, bro, your family is seriously playing favorites?]

[Caterpie vs. Charmander? That's like a toy car vs. a sports car!]

[There's a story here!]

"Uh… I've heard of families favoring sons over daughters, but I've never heard of favoring younger siblings over older ones. How old is your brother compared to you?"

Ye Yinchuan couldn't help but ask.

"I'm actually a girl. I used a voice changer because I didn't want to be recognized. I didn't dare ask bigger streamers—I was afraid of being exposed… My brother is one year younger than me."

[Whoa! Your mom barely took a break between kids, huh?]

[Gender favoritism confirmed!]

[So you don't even have a Pokémon yet? Even though you're older? That's rough…]

"I didn't go to Pokémon Academy because my family couldn't afford it…"

[Oh, so they had money for your brother but not for you?]

[Let's be real, you were an accident.]

Ye Yinchuan felt a pang of sympathy.

So even in the Pokémon world, gender discrimination existed?

He wasn't trying to stir up controversy, but at the end of the day, they were both children of the same parents. Why should someone suffer injustice just because of their gender or some other reason?

"Some of you in chat need to think before you speak. If you can't say anything decent, just shut up. No one's forcing you to talk."

His tone carried a rare hint of anger.

This girl was already unfortunate enough. If she was reaching out for help online, she shouldn't have to endure cyberbullying on top of everything else.

[The streamer is standing up!]

[I support this! Some of you are just too harsh!]

[I'm out! Less than 500 viewers and you already dare to argue with your audience?]

[Good, leave! I like a streamer who promotes positivity. I'm following!]

Seeing the chat responses, Ye Yinchuan remained calm.

You can't please everyone, so why even try?

The viewers who left didn't bother him at all. The kind of streamer you are determines the kind of audience you attract. He only needed to maintain his own principles.

"Go on, girl. Keep talking."

"I just want to know… is the Caterpie my parents bought me any good? Does it have potential for training? I've always dreamed of becoming a Pokémon trainer! But I can't afford to pay for an evaluation…"

[Trying to go pro with a Caterpie? That's a tough road!]

[You can't even attend Pokémon Academy, and you want to be a pro trainer? I won't say anything mean—I'm shutting up.]

[Streamer, be real with her. She should give up.]

"Alright, let me take a look. Bring the camera closer."

Ye Yinchuan didn't want to crush her enthusiasm outright.

Even though he had already seen the status panel, he still went through the motions to make it look professional—he didn't want people accusing him of looking down on anyone.

[Bug Baby Pokémon: Caterpie]

[Level: 4]

[Type: Bug]

[Gender: Male]

[Base Stats: D Rank (195)]

[Individual Value: C Rank (65)]

[Ability: Shield Dust]

[Nature: Lonely]

[Moves: Tackle]

[Status: Anxious, Lonely, Increased Appetite]

[Evolution Path: Caterpie → Metapod → Butterfree]

[Special Traits: None]

Ye Yinchuan scanned through the data again. There was nothing remarkable about this Caterpie at all.

D-rank base stats—one of the lowest among Pokémon.

On top of that, C-rank individual stats… In a word: trash.

As some chat users had said, this Caterpie wasn't even deadweight—it was lunch.

"Listen, kid, this Caterpie is best suited as a companion Pokémon for daily life. If you work hard and evolve it into a Butterfree, you might have a shot at being a casual trainer. But as for becoming a professional trainer… I can't say."

Ye Yinchuan carefully chose his words.

He didn't want to be too discouraging, but he also couldn't give her false hope.

Giving someone hope only to crush it later—that was the cruelest thing one could do.

[Low EQ: No chance. High EQ: I can't say.]

[Sigh, the streamer is too nice. Training a strong Butterfree isn't impossible, but it's far from easy. Bug-type Pokémon grow fast, but they have low ceilings.]

"I understand…"

On the other end, there was silence. Then the camera started shaking slightly, and soft sobbing could be heard.

"Hey, kid, don't…"

Ye Yinchuan felt a pang of guilt. He didn't know how to comfort her.

But then, he caught something in the reflection of a window behind the camera—

A boy.

"…Lippi, you little bastard!"

Ye Yinchuan's stomach dropped. He realized he had been played.

All his sympathy, all his concern—gone in an instant.

At that moment, his expression turned completely blank, except for the faintest hint of a cold smirk at the corner of his lips.

[What's up with the streamer's face? Something's off…]

[Did his persona just collapse?]

In a live stream, even the smallest expression was magnified.

Ye Yinchuan's subtle shift in demeanor didn't escape his viewers' notice.