The forest was utterly silent. Snow-white moonlight poured down.
Lu Ye picked up the quietly lying Poké Ball, feeling quite helpless.
"Tsunderes are so troublesome. If you had turned back earlier, I would have known everything!"
Lu Ye even specially considered Eevee's feelings.
After all this effort, was I engaging in wits with thin air?
Inside the Poké Ball, the filthy Eevee uneasily surveyed its surroundings.
It sniffed, smelling a familiar, reassuring scent.
Through the Poké Ball, it could see the outside scenery.
It raised its head, gazing blankly at Lu Ye before disdainfully sprawling on the ground, squinting its eyes.
I am just coincidentally somewhat tired.
Taking a nap now, pretending to know nothing seems best.
Thinking this way, Eevee felt overwhelming exhaustion surge forth, eyelids gradually growing heavy.
Lu Ye and Haunter exchanged glances, simultaneously scratching their heads.
"What should I say again?"
"Kekeke?"
"Eevee, Get Daze!"
Uncle stepped forward, kicking the feigning-death Raticate, scratching his head.
"Last time wrongly blamed Eevee. Speaking of which, why did Eevee appear here again?"
Lu Ye smiled. "Perhaps it wanted to prove itself."
Eevee could not explain itself. Chasing away this Raticate group was its way of repaying Lu Ye.
It just never expected to encounter Lu Ye here again.
The little thing could barely restrain itself then, barely managing to bare its teeth. Fortunately, crying was not witnessed by Lu Ye.
"I will send this Raticate to the Pokémon Centre."
Uncle pulled out a Poké Ball, pouting. "Eating and drinking for free beats living freely on the mountains!"
Red light absorbed Raticate. The Poké Ball shook three times before stopping.
The matter concluded.
Lu Ye's greatest gain was this somewhat tsundere little Eevee.
The sky darkened. Eevee just experienced a fierce battle. Lu Ye planned letting it sleep longer.
Taking this opportunity, Lu Ye used the Pokédex to scan Eevee's moves.
[Ability: Anticipation]
[Moves: Growl, Sand Attack, Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Swift, Bite]
This Eevee was solitary, not resembling having a clan. The list also lacked the Helping Hand move.
However, besides Fairy-type Baby-Doll Eyes, it had mastered everything quite proficiently.
This Eevee's battle experience was quite rich. First meeting, even Haunter nearly suffered.
This sufficiently showed that the little thing definitely endured considerable hardship on the back mountain.
"You worked hard." Lu Ye smiled, murmuring. "From now on, I will care for you."
The Poké Ball gently swayed once.
The review week was ending. Lu Ye needed to return to school for final exams.
Before final exams, there was still one viewer tournament match. The schedule was quite busy.
After eating breakfast at home, Lu Ye bid farewell to his parents, boarding the return high-speed train to Magic City.
On the high-speed train, Lu Ye browsed his phone, saying surprisingly, "Yo, reached Lifestyle section's top ranking!"
Teacher Lu's Late Night Diner successfully defeated Professor Oak's Backyard, reaching the Lifestyle section's top, attracting strong viewership.
"No way, no way. Teacher Lu is not genuinely an all-around UP master, right?"
"Genuinely meal-accompanying video."
"I originally thought Teacher Lu's gameplay was meal-accompanying enough. Never expected he is genuinely a chef!"
"Holy crap, handsome guy, who are you? Return Teacher Lu quickly!"
Within one week, this new program broke through one million views. The system task indicated completion.
**
[Task Objective: Reach any section video rankings (excluding the Gaming section)
[Task Rewards: 2000 BP, Programming Lv3, Silk Scarf x1]
[Note: This task is repeatable]
[Programming Lv3: You can skillfully use various common algorithms and programming languages.]
(See that jogging old man? He is actually a 25-year-old programmer who loves exercise.)
Lu Ye's eye corner twitched.
"Are you certain this skill has no baldness risk?"
[Ding! This system's produced skills have absolutely no side effects. Please rest assured using them.]
Lu Ye relaxed but remained somewhat cautious.
"This skill cannot be frequently used."
"If judgment fails, hell lies ahead!"
Another task reward was a Silk Scarf.
[Silk Scarf: Silky-textured scarf, slightly increases Normal-type move power. (Luxury brand limited edition collaboration. You deserve owning it.)]
Lu Ye stroked his chin.
"I constantly suspect you broken system has warehouse inspection functions."
Just after capturing Eevee, random rewards immediately provided an Eevee-suitable item.
Although pseudo-random, in this era where systems also emphasised big data, this was quite reasonable.
Arriving home's entrance, before Lu Ye pulled out the keys, Haunter extended its hand through the large door.
"Click!"
Reversely twisting the door handle, Haunter grinned proudly at Lu Ye.
Haunter: (๑- ̀ㅂ- ́)و✧
Lu Ye's mouth corner twitched. "You are the outlaw maniac?!"
This lock-picking was far too convenient!
Returning home, opening the Poké Ball, a red light flickered.
Sleepy-eyed Eevee yawned, using its filthy small paw to rub its eyes.
"Eevui?"
Suddenly, Eevee's ears instantly perked up. Seeing it was Lu Ye, its rigid tail lowered down.
Gently swaying once, twice, then immediately stopping.
Lu Ye smiled warmly. "This will be your new home from now on!"
"Eevui."
Eevee half-opened its eyes, reluctantly surveying its surroundings, disrespectfully yawning.
"Kekeke!"
Haunter grinned, adopting a boxer's stance approaching to greet, but was immediately bitten by Eevee.
"Kekeke?!"
Haunter's eyes widened, shocked watching its bitten hand, painful tears welling in its eye sockets.
"This scene somehow feels déjà vu." Lu Ye rubbed his chin, murmuring.
The little thing remained somewhat wary, anxiously pacing around the living room, seemingly preparing escape routes.
Lu Ye pulled out the Silk Scarf, handing it to Eevee. "Here, your greeting gift."
"Eevui?"
The little thing raised pitch-black eyes, blankly glancing at Lu Ye, adorably tilting its head.
"This is my gift to you, given to you." Lu Ye smiled.
Eevee froze slightly, swiftly turning its head aside, and extremely disdainfully leaping onto the windowsill.
Lu Ye relentlessly approached, easily grasping Eevee's back neck ruff.
"Eevui! o(≧口≦)o"
The little thing struggled desperately but merely went through the motions.
Lu Ye smiled faintly, wrapping the soft Silk Scarf around its neck, adorably tying a bow.
Seeing resistance proved ineffective, Eevee also pouted, reluctantly accepting it.
Eevee: (○`3′○)
Lu Ye released his hand. Eevee nimbly leapt down, shaking its head.
Seeing the neck's white scarf stained with grime, the little thing's eyes flashed with heartache.
Biting down on the neck scarf, Eevee held the Silk Scarf aside, hiding far away.
"You do not like it?"
"Eevui."
Eevee shook its head, then licked its filthy fur, quite stubbornly raising its head.
Lu Ye pondered momentarily, stroking his chin.
"Bath together?"
Eevee held back a long while, face flushing red before finally only emitting low purring sounds from its throat.
"Eevui."