Xia Huanao and Mu Zhishui exchanged a glance, then stood up together. Xia Huanao asked, "Does this laboratory of yours have kitchen facilities? You don't expect us to eat in the city, do you?"
Mu Zhishui held up a Poké Ball, "Are you coming or not? If you don't, I'll leave you behind."
Xia Huanao quickly took two steps forward and, together with Mu Zhishui, used Teleport to go for a meal. At the dining table, Mu Zhishui asked, "So, what did you research just now?"
Xia Huanao said while picking up food, "Compressed files. If it's troublesome to make their relationships like optical drives and discs, why not make them like laptops and USB drives? Directly compress the attribute energy into a compressed package, decompress it when in use, and recompress it when not needed. At worst, we can strengthen A Kong's processing power through training. I think this is simpler than updating discs."
Mu Zhishui thought about it and agreed. As long as all attribute energies were made into compressed packages, there would be no need to worry about their positions. They wouldn't be able to react even if they wanted to. Even if you threw a Water-type compressed package and a Fire-type compressed package together, it would be the same.
The two quickly finished their dinner, or rather, their late-night snack, and returned to the laboratory to continue their work until the next morning.
In the laboratory, Mu Zhishui stretched and then handed a disc to Xia Huanao, "We worked all night, I'm so tired."
Xia Huanao looked at Mu Zhishui, "Wow, even a lab coat can't hide your great figure..."
Although Xia Huanao's voice was not loud, it was clearly audible in the enclosed laboratory. Mu Zhishui glanced at Xia Huanao, "What, you want to touch? Come on, I promise I won't tell Shen Yu. Come on, come on."
Even though Mu Zhishui said that, Xia Huanao still shook his head, "Never mind, I'll go back and hug Xiao Yu. I'll feel more at ease that way."
"Suit yourself. I need to get some good sleep. See you next time."
With that, Mu Zhishui left the laboratory to go to her bedroom to rest, and Xia Huanao also left the laboratory to head to the airport to return to Jinghai.
"It's been so long since I've been back to Jinghai. I wonder if anyone misses me..."
...
In Jinghai City, all the high schools in the city were still in class. Even though there were only one or two days left until the college entrance examination, they still hoped their students could work a little harder and give it their best shot. But honestly, some things cannot be achieved by cramming at the last minute.
Shen Yu sat on the ground, looking at her Delphox beside her, "The exam is in a few days. You have to work hard." Delphox waved its paws, indicating that it would definitely try its best. Shen Yu stroked Delphox's ears, "I really don't understand how Froakie evolved so quickly."
Speaking of which, Delphox couldn't help but think of its good friend, Froakie, who was a few months younger than it. It didn't know what hormone it ate to have evolved into this state in just over a year.
Delphox rested its chin on its paw and looked up at the sky, wanting to evolve too.
Just then, Zhang Hong walked over with Yu Tingyun, "Xiao Yu, what are you thinking about here? Are you missing Boss Xia again?"
Shen Yu admitted frankly, "Yes, I was thinking about him. We haven't seen each other for so long. I know he's busy, but he hasn't even sent a video call."
As she spoke, Shen Yu pouted. Zhang Hong listened and turned to look at Yu Tingyun, "Tingyun, did you see that? Only someone like me is a true, good man who knows how to cherish his girlfriend."
Yu Tingyun turned her head away and ignored him, "I'd rather you have your own career like Boss Xia. If you don't accompany me, you don't accompany me. I have my Pokémon, and that's enough."
"No, you didn't say that last time. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
"Last time was last time, and now is now. The exam is coming soon. Can't you have a little more ambition?"
"These two things have nothing to do with each other, right? Not everyone is like Xia Huanao, as if they've cheated, you know?"
"I don't care. I just want to see you be capable. I want all the girls in college to know that my boyfriend is capable..."
Watching the two of them lock horns, Shen Yu smiled with a hint of "doting" and was about to say something when the school bell rang, "Ding ding ding ding~"
Shen Yu stood up, "Alright, school's out. Let's go home."
Zhang Hong and Yu Tingyun also stopped arguing. Zhang Hong slung his backpack over his shoulder and complained about the school's unfortunate bell, "Honestly, this 'ding ding ding' bell sound is really unpleasant. But then again, I've heard it for three years. It's still a bit sad that it's gone."
Yu Tingyun smiled, "Is that so? In that case, you can choose to repeat a year. Listen to it for as many years as you want. No one can stop you."
"You can't joke about that."
The three of them walked towards the school gate while chatting. As they reached the school gate, they saw the security guard in the guardhouse tightly gripping a Poké Ball and staring at the outside of the school gate as if facing a formidable enemy.
Zhang Hong had never seen this guy with such an expression, so he walked over and asked, "Hey Brother Lu, what are you doing here? Seen a ghost?"
Security guard Brother Lu pointed at a man in black outside the school gate, "Do you see that sneaky guy outside? I'm keeping an eye on him."
Zhang Hong and the others followed the security guard's finger and saw a strange man wearing a black trench coat, a black hat, and also a mask and sunglasses, looking around the school gate. His demeanor was like someone trying to abduct a child; he clearly wasn't up to any good.
Zhang Hong asked, "Why don't you just call the police if someone like this is here? What's the dilemma?"
"He hasn't done anything yet, so how can I call the police? What if it's a false alarm?"
Zhang Hong thought, "That's true. How about this, I'll go and scout him out, and you guys keep watching."
Saying that, Zhang Hong walked towards the sneaky guy. Yu Tingyun was about to say something, but Shen Yu stopped her, "Don't worry, Zhang Hong isn't someone who acts impulsively without considering his own safety. You can relax."
Zhang Hong walked over to try and probe the black-clothed man's intentions. However, he was discovered by the black-clothed man before he got far. The black-clothed man looked left and right, then walked straight towards Zhang Hong. Zhang Hong was instantly dumbfounded: What the hell is going on? Is he here for me?
The black-clothed man approached Zhang Hong, put his arm around his shoulder, and asked, "Brother, buying discs?"
Zhang Hong was stunned for a moment, then asked, "What kind of discs?"
The black-clothed man smiled, "You say that, what else could it be..."
"You guys are quite brave to come to the school gate to sell this kind of thing?"
"Are you buying or not? If not, don't get in my way of doing business."
Zhang Hong glanced behind him, then whispered, "I'll buy."
The two quickly reached a transaction. However, Zhang Hong looked at the disc, "Isn't this color scheme a bit too direct?"
"I don't care. We've completed the transaction."
Zhang Hong felt like he had been taken advantage of, but with his girlfriend behind him, he couldn't make a scene, so he had to put away the disc first and then returned to campus, "It's nothing, he was just waiting for someone. Let's go."
"Waiting for someone, and dressed like that?"
"What kind of people aren't there in this world? Let's hurry."
The three walked out of the school gate. After only a few steps, they saw the black-clothed man walking towards them. Zhang Hong immediately panicked. Shen Yu and Yu Tingyun were also confused. What was going on? Is he looking for us?
The black-clothed man approached them and immediately asked, "Two young ladies, buying discs?"
Shen Yu and Yu Tingyun had never encountered such a situation and took two steps back to avoid him, "Sorry, we don't have any plans to."
The black-clothed man was not deterred. He took a disc out of his pocket and waved it in front of them, "Ladies, are you really not buying?"
"No, wait..."
Yu Tingyun, being the daughter of a wealthy family, quickly caught the black-clothed man's loophole, "Why are you only asking us two? Why don't you ask..."
At this point, Zhang Hong broke out in a cold sweat. The black-clothed man had no intention of covering for Zhang Hong, "He already bought one. Ladies, please buy one. This kind of thing is rarely seen on the market."
Yu Tingyun's eyes were already filled with murderous intent as she looked at Zhang Hong. Zhang Hong's heart sank as the disc he had just bought was exposed to everyone. Yu Tingyun raised her fist to hit him, but Shen Yu quickly stopped her, "Wait a minute, what kind of discs are these?"
The black-clothed man smiled, "Why ask? What else would discs sold to young boys and girls like you be..."
Upon hearing this, Yu Tingyun threw her fist. Zhang Hong grabbed her fist and begged for mercy, "Tingyun, listen to my explanation..."
As he was speaking, they heard the black-clothed man add the latter half of his sentence, "Of course, they are exam review materials."
Everyone was stunned. The black-clothed man was also stunned. Zhang Hong pointed at the disc, "You mean this is..."
"Nonsense, what do you think I sell? Your thoughts are terribly impure..."
Although the misunderstanding was resolved in just a few words, Zhang Hong's situation did not improve. Yu Tingyun had already adopted a cold war stance with him. It was Shen Yu who came forward to mediate, "Okay, okay, we're still outside. Let me ask you, what's in your materials? They aren't common stuff, are they?"
"How could that be? These are all internal materials, all insider information that ordinary people can't get. Buying a copy is definitely worth it."
Shen Yu listened and stroked her chin, "Is that so? Let me ask you, do you have a high-definition version of that Pokémon tournament that was broadcast online?"
The black-clothed man replied, "Of course, I do. But the price might be a little higher. You know, this kind of thing isn't easy to get."
Shen Yu smiled, "Alright, I'll take it. How about I offer myself as payment?"
Saying that, Shen Yu rushed into the black-clothed man's arms like a swallow returning to its nest, causing Zhang Hong and the other two to widen their eyes.
"Really, why are you disguised as a disc seller?"
The black-clothed man took off his hat and other disguises, revealing Xia Huanao's somewhat decent face, "Isn't this to give you a surprise? What do you think, surprised?"