Chapter 29: Is it too cheap?
[Player "Cabbage Ice Cream" has requested to add you as a friend. Accept/Decline.]
Without a second thought, Lu Ye clicked "Decline."
"Heh, trying to add me just to trash-talk? Not a chance!"
Back in the day, Teacher Lu was still an innocent youth, known for his mastery of the "Dirty Priest" deck in Hearthstone. Whenever he defeated an opponent, friend requests would flood in.
Naively, Lu Ye thought they wanted to exchange tips, so he accepted a request, only to be hit with verbal abuse. The other player, a classic keyboard warrior, vented their frustrations before promptly blocking Lu Ye. Their message read: "F*** your Dirty Priest! Pirate Warrior reigns supreme!"
Since then, Lu Ye had been very cautious about accepting friend requests—his dirty playstyle often left opponents raging. He'd seen this reaction countless times, like when his Venusaur swept through Jin's entire team, leaving Jin so upset he couldn't eat for 3 days.
"You're still too green, kid," Lu Ye chuckled, feeling proud of his foresight.
Moments after declining the request, a new message popped up.
[Cabbage Ice Cream: ?]
You've got the nerve to send me a question mark? Lu Ye couldn't help but laugh and quickly replied.
[Teacher Lu: My friend slots are premium.]
[Cabbage Ice Cream: How much?]
[Teacher Lu: At least 1,000 yuan.]
[Cabbage Ice Cream: What's your account number?]
Lu Ye: ?
Did this guy seriously want to pay me? Losing and ranting at opponents was common. Losing and ranting at teammates was practically a tradition. But losing and paying the opponent? This was a first!
Joining the dark side after losing, huh?
Staring at the unfamiliar ID, Lu Ye felt a lightbulb moment—this could be a lucrative new avenue.
[Teacher Lu: No rush, let's calculate the costs.]
[Teacher Lu: Joining my friend list gets you tactical coaching and free sparring sessions. 1,000 yuan is a fair deal, no?]
[Cabbage Ice Cream: Sounds good.]
[Teacher Lu: Considering my world ranking of 7th and my packed schedule, how about adding another 500 yuan?]
[Cabbage Ice Cream: Sure.]
[Teacher Lu: Factor in the Eastern Region's cost of living—utilities, labor, etc.—I'll give you a friendly rate: 3,000 yuan!]
The other party paused for a moment.
[Cabbage Ice Cream: …Isn't that a bit low?]
Cynthia had calculated once that a 2-hour league exhibition match would net her 2 million. If this guy really offered free sparring, the price was a steal. Senior trainers charged tens of thousands per hour for private training. For someone like "Teacher Lu," 3,000 yuan felt like an insult to his skills.
[Teacher Lu: L-Low?]
Lu Ye almost spat out the water he'd just sipped. Swallowing hard, he shakily replied:
[Teacher Lu: W-What do you think is reasonable?]
[Cabbage Ice Cream: How about 10,000 for the friend slot? Sparring charges can be negotiated later.]
[Cabbage Ice Cream: I gotta go. Send me your account details. Bye.]
The sudden windfall left Lu Ye stunned. Was this… a sugar mommy?
Someone who didn't rage after losing and even gave him 10,000 yuan?! Trembling, Lu Ye accepted "Cabbage Ice Cream's" friend request and checked her profile, hesitant but curious.
Judging from her ID and Pokémon, she might really be Cynthia. But would the Sinnoh Champion really have so much free time, playing games under a cutesy avatar?
Another possibility was Caitlin, the "Legal Loli" with blonde hair who was close to Cynthia. Or… was it a crusty middle-aged man using a chibi avatar?
Shivering at the thought, Lu Ye dismissed the idea.
"Let's just assume she's Cynthia," he murmured. "At least then I'll have something to fantasize about when sparring."
Ding!
[A deposit of 10,000 yuan has been credited to your account. Current balance: 23,500 yuan.]
"Yahoo! I'm rich!"
Raising Pokémon required significant funds, and this was a solid foundation. In a few days, he'd also receive his streaming and video income, totaling around 30,000 yuan. For an unconnected college freshman, this was a decent sum—but in the trainer world, it barely scratched the surface.
"That's why I never wanted to become a trainer," Lu Ye sighed, calling out to Gastly, who was studying nearby. "Son, I'm taking you out for a feast today!"
"Gengaaa!"
Gastly floated excitedly, only to hesitate midway, sensing something amiss. Why did this feel like a scam? Whatever, food was food!
To treat himself, Lu Ye took Gastly to a Michelin-starred restaurant on the Bund. He ordered a sirloin steak for himself and a veggie salad for Gastly.
"Don't give me that look," Lu Ye said, chewing a steak bite. "That salad is their signature dish, designed specifically for Pokémon!"
"Gen…gaaa…(T ^ T)"
Gastly's eyes turned into wavy lines as it reluctantly munched on leaves, drawing curious stares. Lu Ye smiled apologetically at the nearby patrons, making a young woman blush and whisper to her friend.
"Isn't he the trainer from the Piplup Cup?"
"Yeah, he was even on TV!"
Lu Ye preferred to keep a low profile, but talent always shone through.
Just as he pondered this, Gastly darted onto the table and devoured the entire steak in one gulp.
"Gengaaa!"
"...Are you sure you won't choke?"
The restaurant, a themed dining spot, featured Pokémon elements everywhere. Its main branch in Kalos's Lumiose City boasted a Snorlax 3-star rating. This Modu branch, while smaller, maintained Michelin-star standards.
Lu Ye admired the decor until the sound of heels approached. Dressed in a sleeveless blue dress, Shen Tingzhi greeted him warmly.
"Lu Ye, what a coincidence."
She seemed to be with her parents, who were eyeing Lu Ye fondly from a distance.
"Hello," Lu Ye replied, surprised. "Fancy meeting you here."
Before they could chat further, a screech from the microphone drew everyone's attention.
A waiter on stage smiled and announced, "Up next is a signature feature of 'Jimmy's Restaurant'—our Pokémon Battle Dining Event!"