Chapter Forty-Two: New Leaf Meow: Unrelated Matters

“Xia Chi, are you serious?”

After returning to the dorm, Xia Chi was stopped by Chen Zhenze in the common area.

Chen Zhenze, visibly excited, held up his phone screen almost to Xia Chi’s eyes. “This is the official stage of the Hubaobei Cup. Do you understand what that means?”

The Hubaobei Cup’s official website updates preliminary results in real time.

Though not skilled in much else, Chen Zhenze was top-notch when it came to gossip, so he knew Xia Chi’s record wasn’t surprising.

“What else could it mean? Top 32 rookie trainers under 18 around Shanghai?” Xia Chi replied matter-of-factly, leaving Chen Zhenze momentarily speechless.

Damn, he had been bested again!

Actually, Chen Zhenze had quietly entered the tournament with his own Pippi today but was eliminated after four rounds with a 2-2 record.

As they say, personal failure is tough, but a friend’s success can be even more heart-wrenching!

Chen Zhenze said enviously, “You’re now the only remaining champion from our Shanghai University non-Pokémon Combat Department... Actually, there aren’t even many freshmen left!”

“So brutal…”

Xia Chi had no idea his peers had already been knocked out so thoroughly. Thinking about it, he felt he was actually quite impressive.

He nodded thoughtfully, “Yeah… I work hard every day, so advancing is only natural.”

Chen Zhenze was speechless.

“I live next door, go to classes with you, and I know you’re working hard? You’re working hard at livestreaming and making money, maybe, but that’s about it.”

Jokes aside, Chen Zhenze was genuinely happy for his friend.

From having nothing when they first started school to now owning two Pokémon and running a thriving livestream channel,

Xia Chi had shown far more planning, dedication, and passionate love for Pokémon than most his age.

In a way, he truly deserved this.

Of course, Chen Zhenze’s own help and support had surely played a part!

Patting Xia Chi on the shoulder with some emotion, Chen Zhenze encouraged, “Brother, carry a bit of my spirit with you and keep going!”

Xia Chi: “?”

We’re not brothers—what are you imagining now?

——————

After a night’s rest, Xia Chi set out again for the Hongqiao Pokémon Arena with his new Leafcat.

This time, he left his Mismagius at home.

Not because Mismagius was shy or afraid of people—it feared ghosts, not humans.

But it liked to scare others.

After spending the whole day outside yesterday, Xia Chi kept having other trainers bring over their crying Pokémon to complain about it.

Afraid it might ruin his chance to compete today, he decided to leave it home to rest.

Compared to the chaotic preliminaries, the official Hubaobei Cup felt truly professional—

Each of the 32 players had their own lounge, the entire competition was broadcast live on TV and online, and the arena, which could seat over seventy thousand, was nearly full with spectators.

It might sound unbelievable, but in this world, people’s passion for Pokémon battles meant that many would spend their weekends at live matches.

Today’s matches were the rounds of 32 to 16 and then 16 to 8.

Xia Chi’s battle was scheduled for the fourth match in the upper bracket, around ten o’clock.

That meant he had plenty of time before his match to relax in the players’ lounge and watch others compete.

Just as Xia Chi was happily eating a grape offered by Leafcat’s vine, a line of subtitles on the screen caught his attention.

“Hubaobei Cup Lower Bracket Match 3: Lin Lange vs. Wang Yang!”

The camera then gave close-up shots of both contestants. On the left side of the screen, a beautiful young woman with a cold expression stood upright, clutching a luxurious Pokéball.

Lin Lange... Wasn’t that the “Shinji” who abandoned Leafcat?

Xia Chi glanced at Leafcat, meeting its intelligent crimson eyes.

Clearly, it had seen the person it once trusted most.

Afraid to upset Leafcat, Xia Chi joked, “What, don’t recognize your ex-trainer?”

Unexpectedly, Leafcat just shook its head indifferently and said, “Meowfee~”

Not meaning it didn’t recognize her, but rather—

“I don’t care.”

Leafcat had long since come to terms with it.

Honestly, Lin Lange hadn’t treated it badly.

She had provided the best food, care, training, and material support.

But all this came with conditions. Leafcat had to meet her standards.

Training intensity, physical stats, move mastery, and battle victories—fail, and you were released.

Like a boss setting KPIs for an employee—fail to meet them, you’re fired. Nothing more.

Leafcat just hadn’t seen it clearly before and had invested unrealistic emotions.

But that no longer mattered, because now, it had gained what truly counted—the real treasure and the person truly worth dedicating everything to.

Leafcat gazed steadily at Xia Chi, thinking this.

——————

Sometimes, a look is the most efficient form of communication.

Though Xia Chi couldn’t know Leafcat’s innermost thoughts, the deep emotion shining in its crimson eyes said it all.

Xia Chi smiled with relief. He had worried about upsetting Leafcat but turned out to be the one who didn’t understand.

He had even thought about avenging Leafcat by humiliating Lin Lange in a grand “Dragon King Returns” moment.

But now, it seemed unnecessary.

“Alright, no more dwelling on this,” Xia Chi decided, rubbing Leafcat’s head.

Though the connection as its former trainer no longer mattered, the possibility of facing Lin Lange as an opponent still remained.

Xia Chi watched the match with full attention and realized why Lin Lange was considered a top contender for the Hubaobei Cup.

Her Serperior perfectly embodied the ideal traits of a Grass-type Pokémon—solid, resilient, and impenetrable.

At first glance, it seemed ordinary, without any flashy attacks that could instantly defeat an opponent, but its defense was unbreakable.

Once dragged into a prolonged battle, its agile and tough vine whips would slowly strangle the enemy.

Even when facing a second-stage starter of a type that should counter it, like a Fire-type Scorbunny, the suffocating strategy dragged the opponent into defeat.

This trainer had a profound understanding of Grass-type Pokémon.

That was Xia Chi’s verdict after watching.

He had often seen Lin Lange’s name on forums since enrolling.

“Emotionless Battle Machine,” “Daughter of the Guangfu Gym Leader,” “Future Grass-type Champion”—

These were nicknames given by onlookers, though Xia Chi wasn’t deeply involved in the university’s core battle circles and had limited knowledge.

Today, he finally saw her strength firsthand.

If they met in the final, could he win?

Well, that was thinking too far ahead. Better to focus on the next match first.

“Contestant No. 9527, Xia Chi, please prepare and proceed to Arena A1. Your match will begin shortly!”

The announcement repeated as Xia Chi took his Pokéball in hand and weighed it.

“Let’s go, Leafcat. It’s our turn.”