Chapter 14: Black Stockings Go Better With This Dress
"You're awake."
When Renjiro returned home, he found that Liu Shuyun had already woken up. She was sitting quietly in the living room, watching TV. The screen was filled with news reports about the Salamence attack that had taken place earlier that morning.
"Mm."
Liu Shuyun nodded slightly but kept her gaze on the screen, absorbed in the report.
"I bought you some clothes. See if they fit," Renjiro said, pointing to the neatly folded outfits resting beside the sofa. When he had returned from the bank, he had stopped by a store and picked up two sets of clothes for her.
Liu Shuyun turned toward him, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "Buying clothes is one thing, but why did you get these?" she asked, lifting a pair of black stockings from the pile and holding them up with an amused expression.
The moment Renjiro saw the stockings in her hand, he felt as though his little secret had been exposed. His face flushed bright red, and he quickly averted his gaze.
"Ahem, the clerk said… the black stockings go better with that outfit," he stammered, turning on his heel and walking toward the kitchen, unable to meet Liu Shuyun's eyes.
"Tsk, if you wanted to see it, you could've just said so," Liu Shuyun chuckled, watching his retreating figure. "It's not like I wouldn't wear it for you."
Renjiro felt his ears burn at her words. He busied himself with preparing dinner, determined not to look back.
A moment later, Liu Shuyun called out, her tone soft but serious. "Renjiro, can you book me a plane ticket tonight? I want to go back to the Magic City."
Renjiro paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Now?" he asked. "Do you have anyone over there you can trust? It'd be safer if you had a Pokémon with you."
His words made Liu Shuyun's heart sink. The person she had trusted the most—her assistant Xiaoyue—had betrayed her. Who else could she rely on? For the first time, the world felt vast and empty, with no place where she truly belonged.
After a long silence, Renjiro sighed. "You can stay here for now. I'll take you back after my college entrance exams are over."
His words warmed her heart. "Little brother, you're worried about me?" she asked gently.
"No. I'm worried about my 990 million," Renjiro replied flatly.
The touching atmosphere shattered in an instant. Liu Shuyun glared at him, stomping her foot in mock anger. "I regret this! I won't pay you back!" she huffed, storming into Renjiro's room and slamming the door behind her.
Renjiro shook his head with a faint smile and continued making dinner. As night fell, peace settled over the house, but not all was calm in the city.
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"Mom, I'm back," Zhang Xuewei called out as he stepped inside his home after a long day of deliveries. His Dodrio waited outside, resting after the exhausting shift.
His mother, pushing herself in a wheelchair, came to greet him with concern etched on her face. "Xiaowei, you're safe? I heard about the attack on Shuangyang Street. I was so worried something happened to you."
"Don't worry, Mom. I didn't run into any trouble," Zhang Xuewei reassured her, forcing a smile. In truth, his delivery business had suffered greatly. The destruction on Shuangyang Street meant fewer customers and fiercer competition among delivery workers.
"Oh, that's good, that's good," his mother breathed in relief. "By the way, your sister found this at the door earlier." She handed him an envelope.
Zhang Xuewei frowned, examining it. The envelope bore large, bold letters: Invitation from Team Rocket – For Zhang Xuewei.
"Team Rocket?" he muttered, puzzled, and opened the envelope. Inside was a cheap-looking piece of yellowed paper.
His eyes widened as he read. The letter detailed personal information about him and his family—details only someone who knew them well could have gathered. The letter offered him a place in an organization called Team Rocket. If he accepted, they would cover his sister's tuition and help him achieve his dream of becoming a professional trainer. But in exchange, he would have to follow their orders—even if it meant doing illegal things.
At the bottom was a signature: Giovanni. A QQ number was included for him to contact if he decided to accept.
"What's that about?" his mother asked, seeing his troubled expression.
"Nothing, Mom. Just some dumb prank." Zhang Xuewei crumpled the letter and tossed it into the trash. Though the offer tempted him, he couldn't pay that kind of price.
"Okay, wash up and eat. You've had a long day," his mother urged.
"I will, Mom. You rest too." As he began to undress, his phone rang. The caller ID said: Boss.
"Hello, boss!" he greeted eagerly, hoping for good news.
But the voice on the other end was cold. "Xiaowei, you don't need to come in tomorrow."
"What?" Zhang Xuewei was stunned. "Boss, what do you mean?"
"You're fired. Don't come in anymore." The line went dead.
Zhang Xuewei stood frozen. He tried calling back, but the call wouldn't go through. His boss had blocked him.
Despair washed over him. His job—his family's only source of income—was gone. Where would he get money for his mother's medical bills or his sister's tuition?
His gaze fell on the crumpled letter in the trash. Slowly, he picked it up, smoothed it out, and read it again. He took it into his room, lying awake as the night deepened.
Somewhere else, Liu Shuyun lay sleepless too, staring at the ceiling, thoughts tangled like a web.
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