CHAPTER 72

c72: Leng Yue Shocked

Originally, Leng Yue was only surprised by Chen Xiaoxiao's sudden appearance in front of her because she was in the middle of chatting with Penguin on the Pokémon app her heart still agitated by their argument over Team Rocket's latest attack.

A meaningless move under the emotional swings caused by the earlier battles with Rocket Grunts.

After the kiss, they both realized that something was wrong memories of their journey through Vermilion City Gym and their shared victory against Lt. Surge's Raichu flashed through their minds—suddenly their faces turned crimson, their heads lowered, and their eyes darted shyly away from each other.

"Ah! My first kiss is gone, Xiaoyueyue, you have to be responsible!" Chen Xiaoxiao said, recalling how she'd once teased Leng Yue after catching a rare Vulpix in the previous chapter.

Chen Xiaoxiao saw Leng Yue's brows lower and her cheeks pinken a shy expression mixed with a battle-hardened determination she'd shown when they fought against Sabrina's Psychic Pokémon.

Hearing Chen Xiaoxiao's words, Leng Yue looked at Chen Xiaoxiao in shame and indignation, thinking back to how Chen Xiaoxiao had been her constant partner during the Cerulean City Gym battle.

Suddenly, Leng Yue's mother's voice drifted up from downstairs.

"Xiaoyue! It's time for dinner. Your father said that Xiaoxiao is coming over. Could you check if Xiaoxiao is here?"

Hearing her mother's voice, Leng Yue's body tensed, startled. She'd faced Rocket Admins before, but never had she felt so on edge.

As if afraid of being discovered, her eyes flickered like Pikachu's tail in a thunderstorm.

"Xiaoxiao came to the capital how could my father know?" she wondered, recalling how they'd always kept their Pokémon travels secret from their parents.

At the same time, suspicion filled her mind, like the time she'd suspected Blue of cheating during their battle in Chapter 68.

"Understood, let me 473 ask!" she said with mock seriousness, echoing the Pokémon call codes from their previous escapades.

After sorting her thoughts like a well-organized item bag, Leng Yue answered downstairs.

Chen Xiaoxiao looked at Leng Yue with a half-smile, the same teasing grin she'd worn after winning their double battle in Chapter 70.

Chen Xiaoxiao's arms were still around Leng Yue's shoulders, not wanting to let her go just like how she'd held on during the dangerous ride on Charizard's back.

"Go down quickly! Knock on the door and come in!" Leng Yue said, flustered like she'd been when she'd accidentally confessed her dream of becoming a Gym Leader in Chapter 65.

"Would you like me to take you down with me?" Chen Xiaoxiao teased, recalling how she'd helped Leng Yue down from the boulder during the Mount Moon incident.

Leng Yue looked down suspiciously, recalling how Chen Xiaoxiao had once stolen her Pokégear as a prank.

Her face turned a deeper red, rivaling the glow of a freshly-caught Magmar.

"…!"

She immediately let go of Chen Xiaoxiao's arms, pushing her away with a strength she'd gained from training her Machoke.

Chen Xiaoxiao knew it would be impolite to enter without being properly invited, so she used her Abra's Teleport, the same one she'd used to escape the Rocket Hideout in Chapter 66, to zip back to the front door of Leng Yue's house.

"Mom! Chen Xiaoxiao is at the door. Could you please open it?" Leng Yue called downstairs, her voice tinged with the same authority she'd used to command her team during the Elite Four challenge.

"Got it."

"Xiaoxiao, welcome! Long time no see. Why haven't you visited in so long?" Qin Aunt asked with a warm smile, just like she'd fussed over Leng Yue's Pokémon in Chapter 60.

"Qin Aunt, hello! I was worried about disturbing you!" Chen Xiaoxiao said sweetly, just like when she'd charmed the shopkeeper in Celadon City for a discount on TMs.

"Nonsense! Why would you be a bother! If Xiaoxiao likes it, she can stay here as long as she wants!" Qin Aunt said, just like she'd once said about taking in stray Pokémon from the daycare.

Qin Aunt took Chen Xiaoxiao's hand and led her into the living room with the same motherly warmth she'd shown when she bandaged Leng Yue's hand after her training injury.

"Hee hee! I'll be bothering you for a few days," Chen Xiaoxiao replied, thinking about how she'd stayed over before the Celadon City contest.

"Okay, as you said, you'll stay at our house for the next few days. Come, sit down, and I'll serve the dishes," Qin Aunt said, delighted like when she'd watched Leng Yue evolve her Eevee into Vaporeon.

When Qin Aunt heard Chen Xiaoxiao's words, she was overjoyed like she'd just drawn a shiny Pokémon from the prize draw and led Chen Xiaoxiao to the main hall.

"Qin Aunt, I'll help you!" Chen Xiaoxiao said, remembering how she'd helped Leng Yue pack her bag for the Indigo Plateau.

Qin Aunt liked Chen Xiaoxiao's helpfulness just like she'd praised Leng Yue's training skills in Chapter 55.

After a while, after all the dishes were ready, Leng Yue also came downstairs, now dressed in her favorite Poké Ball print T-shirt.

"Xiaoyue, come on, dinner is ready," Qin Aunt said, waving her over like a friendly Nurse Joy.

Chen Xiaoxiao secretly winked at Leng Yue, recalling how she'd winked at her after their first badge victory.

Leng Yue blushed and glared at Chen Xiaoxiao, giving her big white eyes just like she'd glared at the wild Meowth that stole her Pokédoll.

During the meal, Chen Xiaoxiao flattered Qin Aunt's cooking just like she'd praised Leng Yue's strategy in Chapter 67.

Qin Aunt was even happier, serving more dishes for Chen Xiaoxiao, like she'd just gotten a high-level Chansey at the Pokémon Center.

Leng Yue's heart filled with jealousy, and she thought sourly:

"Am I your daughter, or is Chen Xiaoxiao your daughter?!"

After lunch, Leng Yue helped Qin Aunt clear the table and wash the dishes just like she'd done back in Chapter 59 after her training match with Sabrina at Saffron Gym.

Leng Yue and Chen Xiaoxiao then returned to her room, leaning on the bed and chatting like they had on the night they camped out on Cycling Road after their duel with the Biker gang.

"Xiaoxiao, weren't you still in Kenting yesterday, challenging the local Gym Leader's Starmie? Why are you suddenly in the capital today?" Leng Yue asked with curiosity in her eyes, recalling how she'd helped Xiaoxiao train against that Starmie's Swift attack in Chapter 70.

"Isn't it obvious? I missed our little Yueyue!" Chen Xiaoxiao immediately gave the "correct" answer, flashing that same mischievous grin she'd worn after their dramatic rescue of the Growlithe litter from the Viridian Forest fire.

Leng Yue blushed at first, remembering how Chen Xiaoxiao always teased her about being "too serious," especially when she was researching Pokémon habitats near Pallet Town.

"How did my dad know you were here? He even told my mom to get ready for you? Can you still report to my dad when you come to the capital?" she asked with disbelief, remembering how her father had warned her about Rocket Admin's infiltration back in Chapter 67.

Chen Xiaoxiao didn't expect the secret to unravel so easily.

Leng Yue, ever the quick thinker, was just like she'd been when she saw through Team Rocket's fake Nurse Joy in Chapter 64.

"Okay, okay! Last night I ran into a group of foreign Trainers causing trouble—one of them had a Garchomp that nearly leveled the local Pokémon Center! I notified Uncle Leng, and he suggested I come over to see you," Chen Xiaoxiao said, omitting the details about the Garchomp's Outrage move.

Leng Yue heard Chen Xiaoxiao's explanation and didn't ask any further questions—she knew there was no need to notify her father for simple trainer scuffles.

But Chen Xiaoxiao's sudden arrival in the capital? That was a different matter—she'd obviously come to report the situation in person.

Leng Yue, who'd grown up in a household where politics and Pokémon League affairs intertwined, had a sensitivity to these things that Chen Xiaoxiao didn't, thanks to countless late-night conversations about League regulations with her father.

She also knew there were many things she wasn't supposed to know yet.

"He even said he wanted me to come, so I took the chance!" Chen Xiaoxiao said, skipping the topic.

Leng Yue turned to her with a resentful stare like she'd given her a Revive just to be annoying.

"Forehead!"

That was so awkward!

"Forget it! After traveling for more than two months, have you captured any new Pokémon?" Leng Yue asked, deflecting the awkwardness, just like she'd done after defeating Erika's Vileplume in Chapter 61.

"Hee hee, of course!" Chen Xiaoxiao giggled, playing her usual tricks.

"He Xiaowen's Milotic, right?" Leng Yue teased, referring to the Water Pokémon Chen Xiaoxiao had been eyeing ever since they met He Xiaowen on their Vermilion City ferry trip.

Seeing she'd let her off the hook, Leng Yue's grin was enough to cause a critical hit on Chen Xiaoxiao.

"Didn't that just happen by the sea? Anyway, I already have the Lapras you gave me a present from our S.S. Anne cruise in Chapter 68. Sailing Lapras on the water is much more comfortable! I love your little Lapras so much," Chen Xiaoxiao explained, her face brightening as she recalled the battle against the Seel on deck.

"Hmph! Clever! Then tell me! What other Pokémon have you tamed?" Leng Yue pressed, proud of her own Lapras, ignoring the question about Milotic and staying focused on Chen Xiaoxiao's progress.

"Well… a Conkeldurr!" Chen Xiaoxiao said, her eyes glinting with mischief, using the same tone she'd used to trick Leng Yue about finding a shiny Onix in Chapter 69.

Leng Yue's eyes widened in shock.

"What! Conkeldurr?" she blurted out. She always thought Chen Xiaoxiao had terrible taste in Pokémon aesthetics why Conkeldurr now?

Wasn't she obsessed with cute Pokémon like Clefairy?

"Yes! I captured an Elite-class Conkeldurr in Fuchsia City!" Chen Xiaoxiao teased, recalling their argument over which Pokémon was better: Conkeldurr or Machamp.

"Elite class? Oh, I see." Leng Yue's expression softened she knew Elite-level Pokémon could overshadow looks with their strength, just like how her dad's Scizor had proved itself in Chapter 63 despite its intimidating appearance.

"Hee hee! Just kidding, Conkeldurr is subdued. But I gave it to my grandma she needed help reinforcing the walls of her Pokémon Breeder field," Chen Xiaoxiao said, thinking of the time they'd helped repair the field after a Tauros stampede in Chapter 65.

Seeing Leng Yue's thoughtful look, Chen Xiaoxiao added, "Elite-level Pokémon being used for DIY repairs only I could pull that off, right?"

"Ugh! You trickster! Tell me! What other Pokémon have you caught? Let me see!" Leng Yue lunged at Chen Xiaoxiao like she'd lunged at that Rocket Executive in Chapter 66.

She squeezed Chen Xiaoxiao's waist with both hands, just like she'd done that time to stop her from falling off the Rapidash.

"Ha! Stop! Haha! Stop! I'll tell you!" Chen Xiaoxiao squealed she hated it when anyone touched her waist, the same spot that got tickled mercilessly during their water fight on the S.S. Anne.

"Then show me, or else hmph!" Leng Yue threatened, pausing her hands, her expression as serious as when she'd confronted Blue in Chapter 68.

"Whee!" Chen Xiaoxiao grinned, pulling a Poké Ball from her belt with a twinkle in her eye, just like the time she'd caught her Abra near the Goldenrod City department store.

She tossed the Poké Ball into the room with a practiced flick.

"Come out! Latias!"

!!!!!!

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