There's Something Off About My Pokémon [88] [50 PS]

Bonus Chapter!

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Lu Cheng soon received the recommendation letter from Professor Du. It wasn't just a letter, though—it included his personal information, high school grades, and details about his Pokémon. Of course, the most crucial attachment was his first-author article in Pokémon Science. With its top impact factor of the season, Lu Cheng could probably secure a research position in a small town without any trouble.

Things had been a bit overwhelming lately. Ever since the explosion, Lu Cheng had felt like a spinning top, constantly on the move. Rubbing his forehead, he sighed. It was definitely time for a break.

"Cheng Cheng, your package is here!" Lu's father called out as he entered the room, holding a package with a puzzled expression. "Dragonite Express—what could be so urgent?"

Lu Cheng blinked. He hadn't had any time to browse the Pokémon market lately, so he hadn't ordered anything. Opening the box in front of his dad, he found a beautifully wrapped package with a ribbon. Lu's father coughed awkwardly and quickly left the room, pretending not to have seen anything.

"Could this be the gift Mu Mei was talking about?" Lu Cheng murmured to himself. The inside of the box was sprinkled with a layer of golden powder, giving off a faint, pleasant fragrance. Nestled on a soft cushion was a small, delicate bell.

"A Soothe Bell?" Lu Cheng's eyes lit up. This was a great item, known to emit a sound that Pokémon loved, helping to increase their bond with their trainer. But the bell had a pink string attached to it, and when Lu Cheng imagined Grovyle wearing the bell, he couldn't help but shake his head.

No way. A dragon doesn't need to look cute!

Grovyle was already cool enough—upright, green-scaled, and with a blade in hand. Then, he turned his gaze to Vulpix, who still had a piece of charcoal hanging from its neck.

"Vul?" Vulpix tilted its head, mirroring Lu Cheng's curiosity.

"Here, you play with it first." Lu Cheng tossed the Soothe Bell to Vulpix as if he were tossing a ball of yarn. The clear sound made Vulpix's eyes sparkle with delight.

"Don't lose it!"

"Vul!" Vulpix barked in agreement.

"What's this now?" Lu Cheng realized the box had a second layer. Pulling open the red velvet lining, he found a Poké Ball lying quietly inside. He stared at it, stunned.

It was a Love Ball, decorated with a pink heart.

…

His mind froze for three seconds.

Quickly, Lu Cheng whipped out his phone and went on Zhihu to search for an answer.

"What does it mean when a girl gives a guy a Love Ball?"

"Thanks for the invite. I'm in the U.S., just got off the plane. In most regions, a Love Ball signifies the budding of a romantic interest or the start of a young love. In the Mediterranean, it symbolizes…"

Setting down his phone, Lu Cheng solemnly picked up the Love Ball and placed it next to the U20 Championship trophy.

Meanwhile, Marveil, who was playing with a Friend Ball, suddenly sneezed.

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Saturday arrived with a bright, sunny sky. It was early June in Jiangcheng, the start of summer, but a gentle breeze still lingered in the air. Holding two Poké Balls, Lu Cheng carefully fastened his collar in front of the mirror, nervously smoothing down his hair. No matter what, this was technically his first official date with Mu Mei.

Relax. Don't get too tense!

The Prankster Electrode Amusement Park was famous for its thrill rides like pirate ships and roller coasters, as well as unique shows like Dodrio Races and Mime Performances. Lu Cheng had purchased a two-person ticket, allowing them to stay in the park all day. The crowd wasn't too heavy—a little girl with braids passed by, holding a Skitty's paw, while a balloon vendor tried to sell her a Pikachu balloon.

To most people, Skitty represented cuteness and elegance, with its pink tail adored by many girls. However, all Lu Cheng saw was a chubby, long-eared cat waddling past, its only pink spot a balding patch on top of its head. The short yellow fur on its face nearly covered its squinty eyes, and the chubby cheeks made it hard for the creature to fully open them.

But, at least that was still considered normal. Pokémon based on real animals were mostly acceptable to Lu Cheng's eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he checked the time just as a beautiful figure walked up from the park entrance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Mu Mei greeted with a smile.

She wore a pale yellow sun hat and a pure white dress. Her chestnut hair, styled in gentle waves, flowed down over her chest. A sparkling pendant hung from her swan-like neck. Nervously adjusting her hat, she asked in a soft voice, "Do you think this hat is too much?"

For a moment, Lu Cheng was speechless and could only shake his head vigorously.

"That's good," Mu Mei chuckled, her smile warm. She looked around at the crowd, surprised. "Wow, there are so many people!"

Though the crowd wasn't packed, they still had to wait about ten minutes in line to enter the park.

"This is actually not bad," Lu Cheng laughed. "If it weren't for the upcoming college entrance exams, it'd probably be even more crowded."

"Oh, right," Mu Mei nodded in realization. "The exams are coming up."

In about a week, the students of Zhe Province would face a significant turning point in their lives with the mid-June exams. But Lu Cheng had already escaped that ordeal, and his only task now was to enjoy his long vacation!

Walking through the entrance, shaped like a giant Poké Ball, the view suddenly opened up. The first thing that caught their eyes was the enormous Electrode statue.

The statue, painted red and white, stood at the center of the park, sporting a dangerously mischievous grin.

Art...is an explosion!

"I remember hearing about those Dynamax Electrode statues in the E region," Lu Cheng muttered to himself. "Now that's what I call art..."

"What should we do first?" It was Mu Mei's first time at an amusement park, and she was visibly excited, her eyes darting around.

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from afar. A Gyarados-themed roller coaster shot by, twisting and turning.

Mu Mei's eyes sparkled as she watched the ride.

"M-Mu Mei, you're not thinking...?" Lu Cheng had never been a fan of roller coasters!

Pointing towards the ride, Mu Mei slowly gave him a gentle smile.

---

"Ahhhhh!!!"

"Hahaha!"

The wind roared past, and amidst the rush, Mu Mei's laughter tinkled like silver bells beside him. Lu Cheng clutched the safety bar tightly. As long as she's happy, it's all worth it!

"Hey, what's that?"

Thanks to the system's attribute boost, Lu Cheng's reflexes had become incredibly sharp. Just as the roller coaster reached its highest point and began to plummet, a Poké Ball flew out from the hand of the man in the front row!

In a split second, Lu Cheng's hand shot out, catching the Poké Ball mid-air. As he slowly opened his fingers, even he couldn't believe it.

I actually caught it!

Mu Mei, seeing the Poké Ball safely in his hand, burst into laughter, her dark hair whipping wildly in the breeze.

"Thank you so much!"

After they got off the ride, the middle-aged man expressed his gratitude profusely. "If that Poké Ball had fallen out, I wouldn't have known what to do!"

"No problem." Lu Cheng scratched his head, sneaking a glance at Mu Mei out of the corner of his eye.

The man handed Lu Cheng a business card. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me!"

Lu Cheng looked down at the card: Lao Liang's Curiosity Shop. Well, turns out it was someone he knew.

Mu Mei, standing patiently with her hat that she'd left at the counter, smiled sweetly. "What's our next stop?"

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T/N: It's mooming time

Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!

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