Chapter 12: Liar, You Just Want to Take Advantage of Me
"I didn't expect your cooking skills to be so good. Why don't you just follow me from now on?" Liu Shuyun teased, a playful glint in her eyes as she savored another bite. "You could be my personal chef."
Liu Shuyun was now wearing Renjiro's oversized T-shirt. Her own elegant cheongsam was far too formal—and uncomfortable—for lounging at home. She had insisted that Renjiro find something casual for her, and now, wearing his loose clothes, she looked both out of place and strangely charming. The hem nearly reached her knees, and the sleeves swallowed her slender arms. The sight was endearing, if a little amusing.
Renjiro, who was clearing the dishes, glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "No thanks. I've got money now. I don't need to be anyone's cook."
Although the day had been filled with unexpected dangers and complications, things had ultimately worked out. Renjiro had secured enough start-up capital to take the next step towards his goals. Whether it was recruiting the initial members for his Team Rocket revival or laying the foundation for his future empire, ten million credits were enough for now.
Liu Shuyun raised an eyebrow, chopsticks hovering mid-air. "Oh? I almost forgot to ask—do you really know the secret to Feebas evolving into Milotic?" She studied him closely, trying to gauge the truth in his calm demeanor.
Renjiro didn't even look up as he continued wiping the table. "Of course. There's nothing I don't know."
"Ha! Bragging again." Liu Shuyun rolled her eyes and smirked. "Is there anything you don't know, little genius?"
Renjiro only shrugged, unfazed by the sarcasm. "I'm just telling it like it is."
For a brief moment, the atmosphere softened, the tension of earlier events fading. But then Renjiro asked, his voice casual but eyes sharp, "That Salamence that showed up today... it wasn't after me, was it?"
Liu Shuyun's expression darkened. She set down her chopsticks, her appetite fading at the memory. "No, it wasn't. I'm pretty sure I know who sent it."
Renjiro gave a small nod. "Good. I'd hate to think I was being targeted on top of everything else."
The nonchalant way he said it made Liu Shuyun's blood pressure rise. How can he act so calm after everything that's happened? She clenched her fists, frustration mingling with a strange, inexplicable warmth.
"It's too late for that," Liu Shuyun muttered bitterly. "The fact that you know about Feebas evolving into Milotic... that little traitor Xiaoyue must've leaked it already. You're involved whether you want to be or not."
She hated the situation—and herself for dragging him into it. The betrayal of Xiaoyue, her most trusted assistant, still stung. And now, Renjiro was caught in the crossfire.
"Since I'm involved, shouldn't you compensate me somehow?" Renjiro said, smirking as he leaned back in his chair.
"Not a chance! Not a single cent!" Liu Shuyun snapped, glaring at him. "All you care about is money, huh?"
He laughed softly, unbothered. "So what's your plan, President Liu? What will you do next?"
Liu Shuyun slumped in her seat, the weight of her predicament pressing down on her again. "I don't know. I'll take it one day at a time. What else can I do? I don't have the power to fight them directly."
Her voice was quiet, almost resigned. For all her strength and intelligence, she was still trapped by the politics and dangers of her family's world.
"I can help you." Renjiro's words were simple, but his tone carried quiet determination.
Liu Shuyun looked at him, startled. "You've got some conscience after all," she murmured, her heart aching with a strange mix of gratitude and fear. But she shook her head, her practical side kicking in. "But you should worry about yourself first. You don't understand the kind of people we're dealing with."
Renjiro crossed his legs, his expression unreadable. "I know exactly who they are."
Her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"The Century Metropolis president's surname is Liu. Your surname is Liu. You're clearly a direct descendant of the Liu family—probably the reason you're president of the Magic City branch. What we're dealing with is nothing more than a classic power struggle among the rich. I've seen it before."
He spoke so calmly, so matter-of-factly, that Liu Shuyun was left speechless. Could this boy really be just eighteen? How could he see through everything so easily?
Renjiro continued, "I'd bet anything the ones after you are your own brothers or cousins, fighting for control."
Liu Shuyun stared at him, her breath caught. He was right. Those who wanted her dead were her own blood. She had hoped to use the evolution of Feebas into Milotic as leverage, to strengthen her position within the family and secure her survival. But betrayal had come from where she least expected.
"Are you sure you're only eighteen?" she asked, half-joking, half-serious.
Renjiro chuckled. "If you don't believe me, my student ID is in the other room. I'll be sitting for the National Pokémon Entrance Exams soon."
"Little monster," Liu Shuyun muttered under her breath, shaking her head. But what can you really do? she thought. You're just a high schooler, no matter how smart.
She sighed deeply. "Since you know so much, tell me—how exactly do you plan to help me? You're no match for the professional trainers they've got working for them."
Renjiro didn't flinch. He raised two fingers. "Two years. That's all I need. In two years, I'll help you crush them. You'll be the only one in your family with real power."
Liu Shuyun blinked in disbelief. "Two years? That's quite a boast."
But Renjiro's expression didn't waver. "It's not a boast. It's a promise."
He thought of the Ultra Ball production technology he held in his hands—technology that could reshape the entire Pokémon industry in the Yanhuang Region. And that was just the beginning. His system would provide even more secrets, more advantages. Century Metropolis controlled 80% of the market now—but that wouldn't last. He would use the Liu family's own company to build his empire.
Liu Shuyun stared at him as if seeing him for the first time. Then, to Renjiro's amusement, she yawned, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. Before he could say another word, she had dozed off in the chair, her head leaning back, her features soft and peaceful for once.
Renjiro smiled, shaking his head. "After all that talk, you fall asleep on me?"
He approached quietly, slipping one arm around her back and the other beneath her knees. She stirred slightly as he lifted her.
"What are you doing?" she mumbled sleepily, half-waking.
"Carrying you to bed. You'll be more comfortable."
"Liar," she murmured, her voice muffled as she snuggled closer, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. "You're just trying to take advantage of me."
Renjiro chuckled but didn't reply. He carried her to the bedroom, gently laying her on the bed and pulling a blanket over her. For a long moment, he watched her sleep, her face calm, her guard finally lowered.
"Rest easy, Liu Shuyun," he whispered. "Two years... I'll change your world."
---
Meanwhile, across the city, in a dimly lit hotel room, a man in a black windbreaker stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear.
"Boss, I failed. The target escaped."
The voice on the other end was cold and measured. "No matter. Stay in Shuangyang City. I have another task for you."
"Understood."
Moments later, a message arrived on his phone—a photo attached. The man opened it, eyes narrowing as he took in the face of his new target.
It was Renjiro.
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