Saturday, January 8th.
Xia Huna stood on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Time flies. I haven't done anything, and it's already January, and winter break is almost here."
Indeed, since the press conference ended, Xia Huna hadn't done anything significant. The only thing that prompted him to write in his diary was the next day, when he inquired about the reporter's identity and whether they could serve as the official spokesperson for their Star-Crossed team. He was informed by the league that the reporter was a temporary staff member. This made Xia Huna reflect: temporary workers and delivery drivers are all gods in their own right.
Xia Huna got out of bed and watched the snowflakes flutter outside the window. "Liuling City is also snowing. I wonder how Jinghai is doing."
His phone rang, a custom ringtone, the original Pokémon opening theme, so nostalgic.
"Hello, this is Xia Huna. Is there something?"
"Boss, turn on the video. Let's video chat."
Hearing the click of the call ending, Xia Huna felt annoyed. Why couldn't he just say what he needed to on the phone?
Xia Huna opened his laptop, logged into the chat software, and a video conference request popped up. He accepted, and then saw Shen Yu and Zhang Hong appear on screen one after another.
"Xiao Yu, did you need me for something?"
Shen Yu held a doll that looked very similar to Xia Huna. "I missed you, so I wanted to video chat. How have you been lately?"
Xia Huna threw on a jacket. "I've been great. You've been great too, right?"
Seeing these two shamelessly flaunting their affection in front of him, Zhang Hong cleared his throat. "Boss, I wanted to talk to you about something."
Interrupted from his affectionate exchange with Shen Yu, Xia Huna's gaze turned displeased. "Speak."
"Boss, are you coming back for the final exams?"
Xia Huna was taken aback by the question. "What are you talking about? Final exams? What does that have to do with me? I've already dropped out."
Zhang Hong shook his head. "No, the school changed things. Your records are still at the school, and you're still a student."
Xia Huna knew exactly what the school was thinking. "In other words, they just want to leverage my alumni status. What a hassle."
Shen Yu chimed in. "I don't know what the school is thinking, but Teacher Bai said she really hopes you can participate in the final exams."
A hint of nostalgia appeared in Xia Huna's eyes. "Teacher Bai. Alright, when are our final exams? I'll see if I can make it back."
"The twentieth. No need to rush."
"Okay, I got it."
Just then, Zhang Hong's phone rang, with a ringtone similar to the Pokémon Center jingle. Xia Huna leaned back. "I say, Zhang Hong, what is that ringtone?"
Shen Yu laughed. "That's his custom ringtone for the Pokémon League. He usually uses it to remind himself that he's made some money."
Zhang Hong glanced at his phone. "Boss, I can't thank you enough! Do you know how much I've made so far? It's over a million!"
Xia Huna rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a sandwich. "Watch what you say. That's our money. After we split it three ways, you'll only have about a hundred thousand, alright?"
"That's still enough for me to buy a lot of things. You know my situation as a rich second-generation."
Looking at the money-obsessed Zhang Hong, Xia Huna asked, "How's Niu Niu doing?"
Zhang Hong nodded. "Don't worry, boss. Niu Niu is doing great. I've also learned the trick to petting her horns lately."
Speaking of Niu Niu, after consultations between Xia Huna, Niu Niu, and Zhang Hong, Niu Niu became Zhang Hong's. Both Niu Niu and Zhang Hong were happy. Zhang Hong finally found a "laborer," and Niu Niu finally found a master who would let her run around freely. As for Xia Huna, he was quite similar to Ash in this regard: respecting the Pokémon's wishes.
After chatting with Zhang Hong and Shen Yu for a while longer, and after Zhang Hong repeatedly assured him that he would immediately transfer Xia Huna's share of the money, the three ended their video call.
Not long after the video call ended, Xia Huna heard someone knocking on the wall next door. Xia Huna was startled, then left his house and went to Tong Ruo's place next door.
Tong Ruo had given Xia Huna permission to enter, as long as he scanned his face at the gate.
Xia Huna went up to the second floor. Before he could knock on the bedroom door, it swung open. Xia Huna peeked inside, then turned and retreated.
Ten minutes later, the bedroom door opened again, and Zheng Xiaoxiao and Tong Ruo walked out. Xia Huna looked at the two sisters. "I say, sisters, it's your freedom to make as much noise as you want, but can you not just randomly bang on the walls? And if you're going to bang on the walls, you might as well bang on the dividing wall between our houses."
Zheng Xiaoxiao flicked his forehead with her finger. "Shut up. No talking."
Xia Huna obediently raised his hand and made a zipping motion over his mouth. Tong Ruo looked at Xia Huna. "Since you're here, I'll tell you in advance. Our first-year final exams start next Tuesday. As a teaching assistant, you'll be one of the invigilators, understand?"
Xia Huna blinked. This world always came up with things he couldn't understand. Now he had another job as an invigilator?
"You can go back and prepare. I have more to discuss with Xiaoxiao."
Xia Huna pointed. "I hope you two can choose this wall next time." With that, Xia Huna turned and ran.
...
Back in his room, Xia Huna sighed. This t/
Wang Hu: ...
Feng Bing: ...
Guo Shuang'er: ...
Dozens of messages, all identical ellipses. The students were going crazy. Teaching Assistant Xia was going to be an invigilator, and he needed to borrow Pokémon. What kind of exam was this?!
Soon, the news of Teaching Assistant Xia becoming a final exam invigilator became the top hot topic on Liuling Pokémon University's internal network.
The senior students from the second and third years were gloating, dubbing this final exam the most difficult in history. After all, Xia Huna's "Almost a Doll" strategy was still fresh in their minds. If he came up with that strategy again in this final exam, the first-year students might not even have a good holiday.
In the private group chats established by each class, students were discussing how to deal with the final exam with Xia Huna as the invigilator.
Meanwhile, Xia Huna was beaming as he looked at the more than three hundred thousand yuan Zhang Hong had transferred to him. "I guess I have some savings now. I'll go buy some TM machines to strengthen my team."
Currently, the only active fighter in Xia Huna's team was Froakie. Diancie was only level three and needed considerable training to become a combatant. As for Rotom, Xia Huna had officially decided to make it a translator. By allowing Rotom to enter electronic devices, he could bypass the rule and carry six other Pokémon. However, he decided to wait until the end of winter break, after they had made a Pokédex, to have Rotom reside there.
Xia Huna no longer dared to let Rotom enter his phone. The incident where Rotom created a Sphinx was still vivid in his memory. If he continued to let Rotom inhabit his phone, the next time it might build a Great Wall on him.
He tidied up and put on a cotton jacket before heading to the Pokémon Center in Liuling City. After looking around, Xia Huna selected a reasonably priced TM machine, paid, and left.
Xia Huna had originally wanted to buy a TM for the little princess, but the Liuling Pokémon Center was out of stock. In the end, he bought a TM for Ice Beam, to broaden Froakie's attacking options.
However, before strengthening Froakie, Xia Huna strolled through the streets and decided to have some all-you-can-eat hot pot.
"System, come out, quickly."
The system groggily asked, "What is it? It seems like nothing's wrong with you."
Xia Huna looked at the less active system. "System, do you have a habit of hibernating?"
The system retorted, "Hibernating? It's too cold. I'm afraid of freezing, so I'm reducing my activity to conserve energy."
"Isn't that still hibernating?"
"I'm not saying you..."
"Alright, alright. How about I treat you to hot pot?" Xia Huna said with a smile.
The system, however, felt something was off. "Since when are you so kind, willing to spend money to simulate hot pot for me?"
Xia Huna arrived in front of a hot pot restaurant and looked up at the sign. "Yeah, this one. If I don't make the owner cry, then my system is useless."
System: ??? Can you do something normal?