Inside Bai Yun's villa, Cheng Tian's mother was currently lecturing the two young men.
"I knew it! You came here to play, and you didn't even bring your schoolbag. How were you planning to do your homework?"
Cheng Tian's face darkened. Damn it! It turns out he had been in such a rush that he hadn't even grabbed his schoolbag, and now he was caught.
Cheng Tian's mother said coldly, "And here I was thinking of bringing your schoolbag over, only to find you gone when I arrived. You really are something, young man!"
Cheng Tian chuckled nervously, "I wouldn't dare claim that title, I'm just my father's son, after all."
"Stop joking around! Your father isn't much better! Don't you know how dangerous the wilderness is? Huh? How dare you go out there alone with just Yamper! What if high-level Pokémon attacked you? Did you even think about any of that?!" Cheng Tian's mother grew angrier as she spoke.
Bai Yun stood nearby, nodding repeatedly, "Exactly! Tian, you went too far this time. Look how angry you've made Auntie."
Cheng Tian glared at Bai Yun. This traitor actually sold him out at the critical moment just to save his own skin.
Bai Yun was quite helpless; at a time like this, self-preservation was paramount. Sacrifice the friend, save myself.
Tian, I'm sorry!
Cheng Tian's mother clearly wasn't buying it. "And you, Yun! Cheng Tian told you not to tell me, and you actually kept it a secret from me?!"
Uh oh... Bai Yun's heart clenched. Tian, Tian, you've really gotten me into trouble!
Seeing this, Cheng Tian quickly interjected, "Mom, I only kept quiet because I didn't want you and Dad to worry. Besides, look, nothing happened to me, right?"
"What 'something' else are you waiting for to happen? You brat, do you want your father to bury his own son?"
After scolding the two boys for half an hour, Cheng Tian's mother finally managed to calm down somewhat.
Giving Cheng Tian an exasperated glare, she finally spoke, "Look at how filthy you are. Go clean yourself up immediately."
After all, he was her son, and everything she said was out of anger. Seeing Cheng Tian covered in dirt, it was impossible for her not to feel worried.
Cheng Tian's mother also knew why her son risked going out alone to catch a Pokémon: Cheng Tian didn't want one that was too cheap, and the expensive ones were difficult for the family to afford. The self-reliant Cheng Tian didn't want to discuss it with the family, which is why he went out on his own.
As a parent who couldn't help her own child, Cheng Tian's mother felt deeply saddened.
Hearing this, Cheng Tian felt like he had been granted amnesty. He didn't dare say anything else and quickly headed to the bathroom. At this point, only his mother and Bai Yun were left in the living room. Bai Yun felt a jolt of alarm. He then chuckled awkwardly and said, "Auntie, I'll go check on Tian." Having said that, he fled the scene as if running for his life.
Cheng Tian's mother watched the two young men disappear into the bathroom, her expression complicated, and she sighed softly...
Cheng Tian carelessly splashed water on his face when Bai Yun walked in. "Why did you leave that morning without even saying goodbye? That wasn't cool."
Cheng Tian replied while washing his face, "I saw you were sleeping so soundly. After thinking about it, I decided not to wake you up and just left."
Bai Yun looked at Cheng Tian's filthy appearance and clicked his tongue in admiration. "I have to say, you're pretty gutsy, kid. Daring to go into the wilderness alone. Regardless of the result, you've proven you're a man."
Bai Yun clearly didn't believe Cheng Tian could have caught anything in just two days, so he consoled him, "It's fine. Listen to me, I'll have my dad get you a Pokémon."
Cheng Tian just grinned upon hearing this and didn't say anything.
"When did my mom get here?"
"Sigh. Auntie came this morning to bring your schoolbag. She looked around and found you weren't here, so I had no choice but to tell her the truth."
Cheng Tian said, "Didn't I tell you to cover for me and just say you didn't know where I went?"
Bai Yun gave him an annoyed look. "You know how good Auntie's interrogation skills are! It would have been a miracle if I could have stopped her!"
Cheng Tian was speechless. Bai Yun was telling the truth. Cheng Tian remembered when he was little, a girl classmate bullied him in elementary school, so he hid her pencil case. The little girl cried for a long time, and the teacher called Cheng Tian's parents. Cheng Tian initially refused to say anything, but his mother got the answer out of him in just a few sentences, found the pencil case, returned it, and then beat Cheng Tian up when they got home...
After a quick wash of his face, Cheng Tian and Bai Yun returned to the living room, where Cheng Tian's mother's anger had completely subsided.
Looking at her son with a bit of heartache, she asked, "Bai Yun told me you bought the Poké Balls with your own New Year's money?"
Cheng Tian nodded.
"So, how was your adventure? Did you manage to catch the Pokémon you wanted?" Although Cheng Tian's mother didn't hold out much hope, she still asked.
Cheng Tian chuckled, taking a Great Ball from his belt. "Of course! Who do you think I am?"
Bai Yun was stunned. Did this guy actually manage to catch a Pokémon???
Cheng Tian pressed the button, and with a flash of red light, Froakie appeared. "Froakie!" Froakie curiously surveyed its surroundings.
Bai Yun seemed to freeze in place, and after a long moment, he practically screamed: "Holy crap! Froakie! You—you—you actually caught a Froakie!"
Cheng Tian's mother didn't know much about Pokémon. Hearing this, she subconsciously paused. "Froakie? That's a name I haven't heard before."
Bai Yun quickly explained, "Auntie, this is Froakie! It's an extremely popular starter Pokémon! It's one of the most expensive starters, too! And it evolves into something incredibly cool!"
Cheng Tian rubbed his nose smugly. "Well? Aren't I amazing?"
Hearing Bai Yun's explanation, Cheng Tian's mother looked at her son in shock. Her son actually managed to catch a starter Pokémon on this trip!
"Froakie." Froakie looked at Bai Yun. After a moment of thought, it remembered seeing this boy on Cheng Tian's phone; Cheng Tian had said he was his friend.
So, it extended its small white hand. Bai Yun blinked, then cautiously shook it. "Froakie!" Froakie chirped a greeting.
Cheng Tian laughed heartily, "Froakie has seen you on my phone." Hearing this, Bai Yun quickly greeted it, "Hello, Froakie, it's very nice to meet you."
"Alright, alright. Did your dad prepare a Pokémon for you?" Cheng Tian asked. Bai Yun nodded. "He said they'd deliver it from the Pokémon Center tonight." Cheng Tian nodded upon hearing this.
Then Cheng Tian picked up Froakie and told it, "Froakie, this is my mother. Come on, say hello."
Hearing Cheng Tian, Froakie immediately bowed.
It couldn't forget its manners; it needed to leave a good impression on Cheng Tian's mother!
Seeing this, Cheng Tian's mother crouched down and stroked Froakie's head. "You must have been taking care of Cheng Tian in the wilderness these past two days. Thank you, little Froakie."
"Froakie..." Froakie scratched its head shyly. Cheng Tian had taken care of it a lot too.
After a brief introduction, Cheng Tian's mother picked up Froakie and told Cheng Tian, "Since you're back, stop lingering at Yun's place. Go home, talk properly with your dad, and take a bath."
Cheng Tian nodded. "Alright, Bai Yun, we're leaving now. Thanks for everything."
Bai Yun walked the Cheng family mother and son to the gate. After they mounted the electric scooter, Bai Yun said, "Auntie, please be careful on the road."
Cheng Tian waved his hand, and they departed.
Watching Cheng Tian's receding figure, Bai Yun sighed with a hint of envy: " Tian has such good luck, catching a starter Pokémon all by himself."
... Cheng Tian's mother took Cheng Tian first to the Pokémon Center for a quick treatment for Yamper and Froakie. Then they went to the commercial street to buy Froakie some suitable Water-type Pokémon food and a blue food bowl before finally heading home.
It was already past 7:00 PM when they arrived home. Cheng Tian's father was sitting in a chair, his expression serious. "You're back."
Cheng Tian nodded, and his father pretended to be angry. " Tian, you've disappointed me greatly this time."
Cheng Tian's mother snapped, "Alright, stop acting, both of you. It's enough that Tian is back."
Hearing this, Cheng Tian's father scratched his head sheepishly. Then, looking excited, he asked, "Ahem... Tian, did you manage to catch anything this time?"
"Yes, Dad. I caught the starter Pokémon Froakie." As he spoke, he took out the Great Ball and released Froakie.
Cheng Tian's father's eyes widened. He rushed over, crouched down, and examined it closely. "It really is a Froakie! Tian, your luck is incredible!"
As he spoke, he curiously pinched off a clump of foam from Froakie's neck and began to study it.
He then excitedly told Cheng Tian, "Xiao Tian, look! The foam Froakie secretes is used to protect its body. It's quite sticky, which means its Bubble attack is different from the Bubble moves used by other Pokémon."
Cheng Tian nodded; he had witnessed that firsthand in the forest.
"Alright, son, release Yamper too. Both little guys must be hungry after a full day," Cheng Tian's mother said.
Hearing this, Cheng Tian released Yamper and, while he was at it, returned Yamper's Poké Ball to his mother.
After all, Yamper wasn't his own Pokémon, and it had been put through a lot of trouble fighting for him this time.
As soon as Yamper appeared, it happily ran toward Cheng Tian's father, who stroked its head with his large, rough hand.
Cheng Tian's mother took out the food bowl she had just bought for Froakie and Yamper's bowl, pouring their respective Pokémon food into each.
"Froakie?" Froakie looked at the food in the bowl. Is all this for me? Cheng Tian's father smiled and nodded. "Eat up, Froakie. We're a family now, so don't be shy."
Froakie tentatively picked up a piece, sniffed it, and then ate it in one bite. "Froakie!"
In the wilderness, it usually ate berries and fish found by its master and itself. This was the first time it had eaten such delicious food.
The Cheng family also enjoyed their dinner.
After dinner, Cheng Tian took Froakie to bathe with him.
Inside the bathroom, Cheng Tian looked in the mirror and touched his face. "I don't look half bad!"
This silly guy was getting narcissistic, but truthfully, Cheng Tian was indeed quite handsome. Although his skin wasn't as pale as Bai Yun's, it was a healthy wheat color.
His neat, black hair made him look very energetic, and his most striking features were his eyes, which were dark and bright.
Cheng Tian touched his stomach. Although he wasn't fat, he usually only exercised during P.E. class. He didn't have the chiseled eight-pack abs like the fitness influencers online. At most, he had faint, subtle V-lines, making his physique look well-proportioned.
"Froakie." Froakie chirped, signaling that the bathtub was full.
"Coming, coming." Cheng Tian quickly walked over, adjusted to the water temperature, and sat down while holding Froakie.
Feeling his entire body instantly relax, Cheng Tian couldn't help but let out a groan. "Froakie~"
Froakie was clearly very comfortable too. Its two large yellow eyes squinted shut.
"Huh? Froakie, your foam is floating away!"
The surface of the bathwater was now covered in Froakie's foam. Cheng Tian reached out and touched it. It felt sticky, yet it slid smoothly off his skin—a truly marvelous sensation.
"This is way better than shower gel!" Cheng Tian exclaimed...
After bathing for about an hour, the water was getting cold. Only then did Cheng Tian get out.
His parents had already gone to bed with Yamper. Cheng Tian went to the refrigerator, took out two bottles of fresh milk, and opened them—one for Froakie and one for himself.
Cheng Tian immediately started chugging his milk. Froakie was momentarily stunned seeing Cheng Tian do this. Then, it picked up its own bottle and started gulping it down too.
"Ah~ After a hot bath, drinking a cold bottle of milk is truly the most wonderful thing in the world!" Cheng Tian sighed contentedly.
Returning to his room with Froakie, Cheng Tian lay on his bed and opened his phone, quickly checking the class group chat for notifications. Since there was nothing urgent, he opened a video streaming site.
"Froakie, come here quickly. I'll show you the ninjas among humans," Cheng Tian said mysteriously to Froakie.
"Froakie?" Froakie's curiosity was instantly piqued. It jumped onto the bed and watched with Cheng Tian.
What Cheng Tian was watching was none other than one of his favorite Japanese animations besides Pokémon: *Naruto Shippuden*.
Froakie watched with rapt attention alongside Cheng Tian. When they saw the main characters instantly create dozens of Shadow Clones with a *poof*, Froakie's eyes went wide. Are these the ninjas among humans?
So strong!
After watching five episodes at 1.25x speed, Cheng Tian yawned; he was getting sleepy. "Let's stop here for today."
Just as he closed his eyes, Cheng Tian suddenly remembered, "Oh no, I haven't finished my homework yet!"
Having no choice, Cheng Tian had to get up and start writing. "Ugh, there's so much!" Cheng Tian groaned. Left with no alternative, he messaged Bai Yun, asking him to take pictures of the assignments.
Bai Yun's reply came back quickly, containing the homework list and one photograph.
In the picture, Bai Yun was holding a small red monkey. Cheng Tian recognized the Pokémon immediately.
Chimchar, one of the starter Pokémon.
Orange Peel: So cute! Your dad gave it to you, right?
My Wife Miku: Yeah, I picked it up from the Pokémon Center tonight.
My Wife Miku: I'll show you when we get to school tomorrow.
Orange Peel: Sounds good. The two little guys can meet each other. Looking forward to it.
After hurriedly copying his homework, Cheng Tian returned to bed, found a comfortable position, and immediately hugged Froakie.
"Froakie?" Froakie hadn't reacted yet.
Cheng Tian grinned. "Isn't it normal for family members to sleep together?"
Cuddled in Cheng Tian's arms, Froakie felt very warm.
Is this what family feels like?