By the time Steven's private jet descended over Silver Town, the sky was already turning gold.
Chen Shi stared through the window at the gigantic structure dominating the center of the city—
The Silver Conference Stadium.
A colossus of steel and stone, towering like a fortress built for gods.
From a distance, it looked less like a battle venue and more like a monument the world revolved around.
Chen Shi couldn't help but sigh.
"This place is… spectacular."
Silver Town was bursting at the seams—trainers, tourists, journalists, vendors—everyone had gathered here for the World Championship.
Officer Jenny squads were patrolling non-stop, shouting commands as they struggled to manage the chaos.
Steven chuckled lightly.
"Come. There's no way you'll find a hotel now. I've already prepared a place."
Chen Shi nodded. With crowds like this, lodging would have been impossible. Steven, thankfully—or rather, predictably—had already handled everything.
Soon, they arrived in front of a sleek, modern three-story villa.
"This is it," Steven said casually.
Chen Shi asked, "You rented this?"
Steven blinked.
"Rented? No. I bought it."
Chen Shi: "…"
Phoebe: "…"
Right.
He should've expected that from the richest young master in Hoenn.
Millions for a villa just to watch a tournament?
Pocket change.
Chen Shi muttered under his breath: "Filthy rich…"
But he still followed Steven inside.
Phoebe skipped happily behind them like she'd just arrived at theme park.
Inside, Steven waved a hand dismissively.
"Pick any room you like."
Chen Shi chose a room on the first floor.
Phoebe immediately grabbed the one beside his.
Steven, too lazy to climb the stairs, claimed another ground-floor room.
After tossing their luggage aside, the three gathered in the living room.
Steven said, "Let's grab dinner later. Registration starts the day after tomorrow. Preliminaries on the 19th. We've got a few days to enjoy ourselves."
"No objections," Chen Shi replied.
"None!" Phoebe said while flopping onto the sofa.
Mew refused to go anywhere and simply curled up inside Chen Shi's room.
Chen Shi fed it a mountain of energy cubes before heading out.
The three stepped outside—
And the villa next door opened at the same time.
A man and woman stepped out.
The man wore a flowing white coat and hat, long green hair trailing over his shoulders—handsome with a refined, almost ethereal temperament.
The girl beside him had long lavender hair and a soft, hesitant expression.
They looked familiar.
Chen Shi frowned, trying to place them.
Steven recognized them instantly.
"Huh? That's Wallace. And the girl—must be Winona, daughter of the Fortree Gym Leader."
Ah.
No wonder Chen Shi had felt they looked familiar.
This was that famous future couple… who would eventually break up for the dumbest reason imaginable.
Wallace noticed their gaze.
He approached with Winona, elegant as ever.
"Steven Stone. Chen Shi. What a coincidence—we're staying next door," Wallace said with a polite smile.
"I'm Wallace. This is my girlfriend, Winona."
Chen Shi greeted them politely.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wallace. Miss Winona."
The groups exchanged short introductions.
Chen Shi ended with,
"We were just heading out for dinner. We won't disturb your date. See you around."
Wallace smiled gently.
"See you."
The couple walked away.
Winona glanced back at Steven and Chen Shi, whispering:
"Those two… Steven Stone and the League's youngest Mid-Level Breeder. They're both legends already."
Wallace's lips curved confidently.
"Legends, hmm? I'd like to battle them someday."
Winona could only sigh inwardly.
Standing beside Wallace—Hoenn's future Champion—and meeting two more prodigies…
She felt the gap between them like a weight on her chest.
Dinner
At a busy local restaurant, dishes piled high on the table, Chen Shi looked at Phoebe seriously.
"Phoebe, when you're home, eat less—Grandma cooks everything from scratch."
"But when you're outside with Steven—eat as much as you want. He's a money printing machine."
Phoebe nodded rapidly—mouth already full.
Steven let out an exasperated laugh.
These two were impossible.
Then Steven said:
"Funny, isn't it? We buy a villa here and end up next door to Wallace."
"And apparently he's dating Winona. First time I've heard that pairing."
Chen Shi took a sip of soup.
"It is a coincidence. But Winona… she felt a little off."
Steven leaned forward.
"Off? How?"
Ever since that fateful "gossip trip" to Lavaridge, Steven had secretly become addicted to drama.
Chen Shi thought for a moment.
"She's insecure."
Steven blinked.
"Winona? Insecure? Why?"
Chen Shi shrugged.
"She's not as strong as Wallace.
She's not as strong as us.
And she knows it."
"That kind of pressure makes some people fold inward."
He wasn't wrong.
Winona's future breakup logic was:
'You're too perfect.
I'm not worthy.
I'll leave you so I don't drag you down.'
Chen Shi had always thought her reasoning was ridiculous.
Steven looked at him like he'd heard an alien language.
"Shouldn't she be happy her boyfriend is amazing?
And what's wrong with having a stronger partner?"
"Exactly!!" Phoebe shouted, cheeks stuffed with rice.
"I can't beat either of you and I'm not insecure!"
Chen Shi nodded approvingly.
"You're right. But some people… aren't normal thinkers."
Steven stared at him.
So you're calling Winona mentally unstable…?
He didn't say it out loud—
but his expression absolutely said it.
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