That afternoon, a sleek Skarmory glided down from the clouds and landed with sharp metallic grace in front of the Chen family villa. Two figures hopped off—one man, one woman.
"Chen Shi-ge!! I missed you soooo much!!"
Before he could react, Phoebe launched herself at him like a missile with arms wide open.
Chen Shi's expression froze.
Then—
He dodged with the reflexes of a frightened cat.
Phoebe halted mid-pounce, stiff as a board, staring at him with a betrayed, glassy-eyed expression.
Chen Shi coughed twice, trying to act composed.
"Ahem… Men and women shouldn't hug casually. Don't do that."
Behind her, Steven Stone walked over, raising a brow with the smugness of a man who had waited days for this moment.
"I sincerely hope," he said slowly, "that when Cynthia comes to hug you one day, you respond with: 'Men and women shouldn't be close.'"
"Exactly!!" Phoebe chimed in, arms crossed.
Chen Shi pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You two don't understand anything. I treat Cynthia like a brother. So, obviously—"
Steven cut him off with a long, drawn-out:
"Oh~~~ really now?"
"I'll make sure to tell Cynthia every word you just said."
"Don't! Don't!! Don't!!!"
In a panic, Chen Shi grabbed Steven's arm and dragged him toward the house.
"You must be tired! Come in! Have tea! Tea solves everything!"
Steven burst into laughter as he was pulled inside.
Phoebe stomped her foot, cheeks puffed with indignation, and hurried after them.
In the Living Room
Grandpa and Grandma were still downstairs working in the lab, so Chen Shi prepared tea himself.
Steven took a sip and sighed contentedly.
"How've things been for you recently?"
Chen Shi leaned back. "Smooth enough. What about you?"
Steven exhaled sharply.
"I've been alright. Just got out of the family's hidden Secret Realm. My team got huge gains. But…"
He tapped the table.
"You said you had something to discuss?"
Chen Shi reached under his shirt and pulled out the chain holding his Keystone.
He placed it in front of Steven.
"These stones… your family should start collecting as many as possible. After the World Championship, their price will skyrocket."
Steven examined the Keystone, then returned it.
"I had the same feeling. The family has a few stored already, but I'll gather more."
His eyes sharpened, excitement flickering beneath the surface.
"So… does that mean… you're planning to use that power during the Championship?"
Chen Shi raised a brow.
"What? Are you scared?"
Steven blinked—then laughed out loud.
"You've grown bold. Confident."
He pointed.
"How about we battle right now?"
Chen Shi waved him off.
"We'll fight at the Championship. Fighting now ruins the fun."
Steven smiled. "Then I'll wait for you on that stage."
He leaned back, exhausted.
"Before coming here, I just finished a mountain of company work. My father dumped half of Devon Corp onto me again. I barely managed to escape."
Chen Shi patted him sympathetically.
"Well, at least you're free now. Plenty of time to slack before the Championship."
"Exactly!!" Phoebe sang happily.
Steven chuckled. "True. I can relax for a bit."
Chen Shi's eyes lit up as he remembered something.
"Right—did Devon finish reviving the fossil I gave you?"
The Dreepy fossil he'd dug up in Meteor Falls had been entrusted to Phoebe for resurrection.
Phoebe's eyes sparkled instantly. She pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Come out—Dreepy!"
Fwip!
A tiny green ghost-dragon materialized…
Stared at Chen Shi…
And promptly panicked.
"D-dreeee…"
It shot upward and latched onto Phoebe's head like a trembling leaf.
Chen Shi scanned it instinctively.
Pokémon: Dreepy
Level: 27 (Advanced — Late)
Potential: Sub-Champion
Ability: Clear Body
Moves: Bite, Quick Attack, Astonish, Infestation, Double Team, Confuse Ray
Chen Shi nodded in approval.
"A Sub-Champion potential Dreepy… very good. Train him well, and he'll be your ace."
Phoebe puffed her chest proudly.
"Of course! He was revived only a few days ago!"
Chen Shi nodded.
Then:
"What are you both planning next?"
Steven answered first.
"I'm heading home to prepare for the Championship.
I can feel it… this year's competitors will be incredible.
I need to get even stronger."
Phoebe blinked, then raised her hand cheerfully.
"Well… I'm staying here!"
"I'm not going traveling anymore! I'll sunbathe at the ranch with Chen Shi-ge!"
The moment those words landed—
Her shadow twitched.
Then—
"GENGAAAAAAR!!!"
A Gengar burst out, tears streaming down its face, arms spread wide like a man who had just been released from prison.
"( I'M FINALLY FREEEEEE!!! )"
It rocketed around the living room like a firework of liberation.
The three humans stared, stunned.
Especially Phoebe, who looked completely confused.
"W-why was there a Gengar in my shadow…?"
Chen Shi slapped his forehead.
"Right…
I did suggest assigning a Champion-tier Gengar to secretly protect you during your travels…"
Which meant—
Gengar had been guarding her the entire time.
And now, hearing she wouldn't travel anymore—
Mission complete.
Of course it celebrated.
Gengar shot Chen Shi a deeply resentful glare—
Then smirked mischievously, cackled twice—
"Geng-geng!"
—and sank underground like a vanishing ghost.
Phoebe finally understood.
Her chest tightened.
Naive, scammed, lost, starving—
she had faced the world unprepared.
Yet someone had protected her the whole time.
A Champion-level Gengar, assigned just for her.
Phoebe lowered her head, eyes warm and glowing.
"…Chen Shi-ge…"
Her voice trembled with gratitude.
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