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Afterwards, Li Xiang contacted Qu Sheng and Yang Tianwang as well.
Compared to Mist City University, Shanghai University—a school that had reached the global level for three consecutive years—undoubtedly had even stricter requirements for its team selections.
The competition was also fiercer.
In comparison, even though the two youths were from the Youth Training Camp and ranked in the top hundred, they still couldn't break into the reserve team in their first semester.
However, just because they couldn't, it didn't mean others couldn't.
[Zheng Duowen, I don't know if you've noticed him. He was second in our year, super strong! Even most senior students aren't his match! You really need to watch out for this guy!]
Yang Tianwang leaked information in the chat.
[I think instead of watching out for him, I should watch out for you, Brother Yang. When are we going to meet on the battlefield?]
[Next year for sure, next year for sure. I had bad luck this year, ran into a sixth-year student, crazy as hell, both the person and their Pokémon were fighting like their lives depended on it. Just couldn't beat them.]
[What about Qu Sheng?]
[He lost to Zheng Duowen. In the finals.]
[Dang, that's some rotten luck!]
[That's what I said too. But reality is just like that. First-years facing each other in the finals—I don't know what the school was thinking, just random assignment, right?]
Yang Tianwang switched from typing to voice messages mid-sentence, heaping sarcasm on Shanghai University's administration.
It wasn't entirely unjustified. Two first-years making it to the finals, with only twenty to thirty participants total, and the brackets assigned by the school—it was hard not to think there was something off.
He felt like the school was deliberately giving older students a chance, thinking the new students still had time.
As Qu Sheng's good buddy, Yang Tianwang naturally wanted to voice his indignation on his behalf, but it was just complaining.
After all, according to the contracts they signed earlier, they could directly enter the reserve team in their second year.
After chatting a bit more, Li Xiang closed the window, sighing that none of the Big Six were easy to handle.
He heard that Luo Dayou and Fang Xin also failed to make it into their respective school's reserve teams. Competing with senior students was indeed too difficult.
Especially for the top three schools; those who consistently secured global-level spots definitely had what it took.
Mist City University seemed better. Look at Lin Feng, encountering a champion, getting an autograph and photo, even having a friendly match.
That kind of experience was truly unmatched; other kids couldn't even dream of it.
Afternoon.
Having genuinely considered giving Incineroar and the others a good rest, Li Xiang deliberately reduced the number of battles for the day.
In fact, he only did two matches before leaving early.
This left the reserve team members, who had been anticipating who would be unlucky today, feeling somewhat unaccustomed.
Some wondered if he had eaten something bad. Or perhaps his Pokémon were in poor condition?
In short, a series of rumors began circulating among them, but it didn't affect Li Xiang himself.
At the moment, he was being pestered by Gong Xu, practicing double battle coordination while the latter complained about not being able to participate in the Youth Tournament as a doubles specialist.
This guy had zero interest in single battles. If it weren't for Xu He's mandatory requirement to familiarize him with the environment, this ungrateful fellow likely would have given up.
Because he felt it was a waste of time.
"So... what will you do after graduation? Official matches are singles; there aren't any official doubles competitions," Li Xiang asked the indignant blonde youth softly.
"So I plan to make it to Master Ball rank first. Once I have some say, I'll advocate for the trainer community to pay more attention to doubles, just like what happened with Coordinator trainers back in the day!" Gong Xu declared fervently.
Coordinator trainers referred to those participating in Pokémon Contests, Pokémon Performances, and other competitions that balanced spectacle and competition.
Compared to the "savage and brutal" battles of regular trainers, Coordinators focused more on showcasing their Pokémon's inherent charm through a series of performances for the audience.
But a long time ago, being a Coordinator was an obscure profession, receiving no attention, and no one cared. The whole concept of showcasing a Pokémon's beauty was mocked.
Yet eventually, with the support of several Master Ball rank trainers, the Coordinator profession gradually developed.
Up to the present day, the number of Coordinator trainers had grown to rival that of regular trainers.
After all, compared to the high threshold and investment of being a trainer, the requirements for being a Coordinator were lower. The demand for combat strength wasn't as high.
Many popular movie stars started as Coordinators, including their Pokémon.
Gong Xu's intention was to replicate the success path of Coordinator trainers.
"Young man, I'm rooting for you!" Li Xiang patted his shoulder. Having dreams was good; what's the difference between a person without a dream and a salted fish?
If it were an ordinary person, maybe. But with Gong Xu's family background, talent, and execution ability, it wasn't impossible.
This kid was the type to stubbornly stick to one path all the way.
Nothing more to say.
Later, after finishing doubles practice, Li Xiang returned home to rest briefly, leaving his Pokémon behind.
Bored, he went next door to visit Song Jie.
Unexpectedly, he found the door closed—Song Jie wasn't home!
Now that was strange. This guy hadn't left home once in the past month.
'On a holiday, and he's gone? Off playing with his sister?'
Not impossible. Given Abigail and the others' habit of going shopping whenever they had free time, with a rare holiday, wouldn't they go? Song Jie was their pack mule.
Thinking this, Li Xiang couldn't help but mourn for the white-haired youth.
Dozens of miles away, atop a skyscraper.
Inside an opulently decorated private room.
On a dining table covered with a white cloth, Song Jie covered his mouth with a napkin and let out a small sneeze.
"Someone your age should take better care of your health."
A deep baritone voice came from the head of the table.
Song Jie glanced over. A handsome, middle-aged man with slicked-back hair sat at the head, holding silver cutlery.
That was his father, the head of Jin Nan Mining—Song Cheng.
"Yes, Xiao Jie. I heard the Spring Tournament is coming up soon, and you have a chance to play. You can't afford to neglect your health."
To Song Cheng's right, a young man bearing a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Song Jie, but with black hair and at most a hint of pink in his brown eyes, spoke gently.
This was his biological elder brother—Song Shen, the designated heir to Jin Nan Mining.
"Okay, I understand."
Song Jie nodded, then glanced at his seemingly poised but actually mind-wandering sister, who was nearly dividing the food on her plate into dozens of pieces.
Hearing that Song Jie was going to play, Song Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Oh? How come I never heard you mention it?"
"It was only confirmed today. It's just to make an appearance, not really worth mentioning."
Facing his father, Song Jie very much wanted to show off, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.
For a successful businessman who could stay at his post while his wife was seriously ill, making the enterprise prosper and providing them with a wealthy life, he could understand, but he didn't dare expect too much.
Watching his younger son's silent demeanor, Song Cheng's hand movements slightly paused.
Come to think of it, if not for a stroke of luck, they wouldn't even have the chance to share a meal at the same table.
He wanted to tell Song Jie that if he had time, he would go watch the match live, but considering the schedule arranged by his secretary, those words simply couldn't leave his mouth.
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
"Do your best."
After thinking for a long time, he could only manage those two words.
"Thank you."
Song Jie nodded, expressing thanks to his father.
Song Shen looked at his father, then at Song Jie, and couldn't help but kick Anya under the table.
"Huh? Ah! The taste is good! Delicious!"
Anya, as if waking from a dream, revealed a bright smile, looking at the three present.
Noticing the surprised expressions on their faces, her expression instantly fell. She said discontentedly to Song Shen, "Brother! If you have something to say, say it!"
"The food on your plate is already in that state, and I can't even remind you? Wasting food is shameful."
Song Shen used his eyes to indicate the plate of food Anya had mangled.
Actually, he just wanted to change the subject and dispel the awkward atmosphere at the table.
"I just like eating it this way."
Anya, with extreme ladylike grace but remarkable speed, cleaned the food from her plate, wiped her pink lips with a napkin, and said, "I'm full. Please continue."
And with that, she directly withdrew from the family banquet.
Song Cheng frowned slightly, "Where are you going?"
"I have plans with your niece."
Anya slightly bowed to Song Cheng, "Father, your daughter takes her leave for now."
Without waiting for Song Cheng's reaction, she walked out through the door opened by a servant.
"This girl is getting more and more disrespectful of her elders." Song Shen stood up, intending to chase after her, but was stopped by Song Cheng.
"Forget it, let her go."
"...Dad." Song Shen hesitated, then slowly sat back down.
Song Cheng shook his head, "She takes more after your mother, stubborn personality—"
Clink!
The crisp sound of cutlery being placed on a plate.
Song Jie stood up abruptly, glaring at his father and brother with wide eyes, and said heavily, "I'm full!"
"Xiao Jie!" Song Shen frowned deeply, "What are you making a fuss about now!"
"I'm full."
Song Jie repeated, picked up his schoolbag nearby, and said, "I'm going back to school. My classmate is waiting for me."
"Xiao Jie!"
Song Shen, unwilling to let this hard-won family banquet end so abruptly, stepped forward and grabbed Song Jie's arm. "There are still dishes to come. Have a little more? You're still growing."
His tone unconsciously softened.
"I've eaten more than enough. Thank you, big brother." Song Jie's pale pink eyes revealed a trace of distance.
Song Shen, for a moment, didn't know what to say.
"Go, go back. Your classmate is named Li Xiang, right? It's good to get closer to him."
Song Cheng's voice rang out.
Song Shen turned to look at his father, who remained calm and composed, sitting like a bell, hesitated, and released his grip.
"Goodbye, big brother. Dad." Song Jie nodded to them, then left through the doorway.
Without looking back.
"..."
Song Shen was speechless, silently returning to his seat.
"Those two siblings, they still can't let go of what happened when your mother was seriously ill."
Song Cheng put down his cutlery, wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth, and sighed. "It's my responsibility. There's nothing to argue about."
"Dad."
Song Shen couldn't help but say, "But letting Xiao Ya and them continue like this... we can't just leave them be!"
Others might not know, but he did!
His good sister had once lost faith in men and turned to the embrace of women.
And his brother Song Jie had become withdrawn, actively leaving home at just eleven to attend school in his mother's city.
In recent years, he had indeed become more outgoing and talkative.
"Wait a couple more years. In a couple of years, Xiao Ya's health issue... it will be time to find a solution."
Song Cheng pushed the plate in front of him towards Song Shen. "Those two siblings have no fortunate palate. We'll eat. It's fine."
"Okay." Song Shen looked at his father, who was gradually aging, with deep nasolabial folds, and nodded.
He absolutely must not let Anya repeat their mother's tragedy!