Erika finished dressing in the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. The thought of her mother seeing her practically naked was mortifying. It took her several minutes to calm down—more than enough time for Kyoko to enjoy her "snack" in the living room.
When Erika finally opened the door, Kyoko snapped back to her senses. To avoid being caught in the act, she gave Li Yuan's tongue one last, frantic swirl before reluctantly pulling apart, a thread of saliva still connecting them.
Erika walked back into the lounge just in time to see her mother and Li Yuan clinging to each other, a glistening string of spit still stretching between their mouths.
I know you two like to play 'behind my back,' Erika thought, her face dark. But can't you at least be professional about it? You didn't even bother to break the saliva thread!
She suspected her mother was doing it on purpose—a subtle, jealous provocation to remind Erika that Li Yuan didn't belong to her alone.
"Li Yuan... what exactly are you two doing?" Erika's expression shifted through a dozen shades of frustration. She didn't know if her mother was finally dropping the act and admitting to their "filthy" relationship.
But as long as Kyoko didn't explicitly "come out," Erika could pretend she didn't know. It was the only way they could maintain their relationship as a "loving mother and daughter."
"Don't misunderstand, Sister Erika! It was an accident! Auntie Kyoko tripped while walking past and happened to fall right into my arms~," Li Yuan spun a lie so shamelessly blatant it was almost impressive.
"Heh. What a coincidence. And I suppose it's also a coincidence that you're still shirtless? Is the 'summer air' that refreshing?" Erika said coldly.
"Well... summer is only two months away. I just wanted to get used to the wardrobe early~," Li Yuan replied with a straight face.
"Summer is two months away. Put your clothes on before you catch a cold," Erika said. Seeing her mother had no intention of a full "confession," she chose to let the matter slide to avoid a total fallout.
"Hehe, I knew Sister Erika cared about me~," Li Yuan chuckled. He patted the beauty in his arms, signaling it was time for Kyoko to let go. Kyoko nodded; she wanted to confess and be with him openly, but she loved her daughter and didn't want to make things impossible for her. She suppressed the urge for now.
"If you know I care, then stop making me worry," Erika sighed, picking up his shirt and helping him put it on herself.
"I'm very well-behaved! I barely leave the house. Who's easier to look after than me?" Li Yuan protested.
"You don't leave because you're too busy being 'shameless' with your female customers! You don't have time to go out!" Erika glared at him. She couldn't believe she had fallen for such a legendary skirt-chaser.
"That's only because Sister Erika doesn't spend enough time with me. If you were always by my side, why would I look at anyone else?" Li Yuan deflected the blame perfectly.
"Right, right. It's all my fault," Erika muttered. "Anyway, have you thought about what we discussed? About the National Tournament?"
"Oh? You mean that?" Li Yuan looked disinterested. "Do I have to?"
There were three major official tournaments in the country, and the National Tournament held every summer was one of the biggest. It was open to all trainers who hadn't graduated from university yet—a way for the state to scout new talent. However, most people waited until their senior year to enter. As a sophomore, Li Yuan would be at a natural disadvantage.
"With your 'hacks,' you wouldn't feel any pressure even against seniors. Why not give it a try?" Erika urged.
"Because the tournament lasts for a month. Even if I win, the prize is only one million RMB. I can make more than that in a few days at the shop. Why would I do something so exhausting for so little reward?" Li Yuan shrugged. He had zero motivation.
"It's not just about the money. Think of the fame! You could make a real name for yourself."
"What's so good about being famous? Did you see the crowd outside the gym today? That was a nightmare."
"That's different. Those people wanted to 'buy' your strength. Now that you've publicized the price, the people who can't afford it won't come back. You don't need to worry about that."
"Still, I'd rather stay home and spend time with you, Sister. Why go looking for trouble?"
"Fine. I'll tell you the truth: Your mother asked me to convince you. If you make a name for yourself, it helps her political standing, doesn't it? Besides, I want to see you shine on the big stage," Erika said plainly. She wanted her man to be famous—it gave her "face" when she talked to her friends.
But more importantly, Li Yuan's mother, Sina, had personally assigned her this task. Sina knew her son was a "salted fish" (slacker) who would stay in bed his whole life if no one pushed him.
Li Yuan's family was powerful. His mother was the Chairwoman of the Sichuan Trainer Association, governing a massive territory that included Celadon City. However, Sina's own combat strength wasn't top-tier. In the past, Li Yuan's father had supported her, but since his passing, she was struggling to maintain her position. If her son became a nationally recognized champion, it would give her the political leverage she needed to secure her career.
"Sigh..." Li Yuan groaned when he heard it was his mother's request.
He knew his mother was in a tight spot. In fact, if he hadn't "hacked" her Pokémon's abilities in secret, she might have already been ousted by her rivals. He enjoyed the perks of her position—like how easily she had approved the licenses for his "Martial Arts Hall." For the sake of his own comfortable, hedonistic lifestyle, he had to keep her in power.
"Fine, fine. I'll do it." Li Yuan sighed. It looked like his dream of being a total "salted fish" and just holding beautiful women all day was on hold.