Chapter 208
Qiao Ran understood that this was a great opportunity. If he created an account, riding this wave of popularity, he would definitely attract a large number of people.
Even better... if we could attract some of the hidden Pokémon World residents within this world.
">
">
">
During training, the day passes quickly. If the Gym compete in terms of the power of their moves, then the Performance Competition compete in terms of the "skill" of those moves.
As the special training progressed, Qiao Ran's understanding became clearer. He originally thought that the Performance Competition was just a pretty face Competition, but he gained new insights from Competition.
After training, Qiao Ran found Sabrina.
"We won't be going home for dinner tonight; we might be going somewhere else."
Where are you going?
Sabrina crossed her arms and slightly raised an eyebrow.
"If you're not used to eating takeout every day, just let me know, and I might consider taking you out to eat..."
"No, actually a relative invited us to her house for dinner... I think it was to celebrate my victory or something."
Qiao Ran scratched the back of his head a little embarrassedly. As soon as he woke up this morning, he received a call from his Aunt, who showered him with praise and told him to bring the two girls from last time. Faced with such enthusiasm, Qiao Ran couldn't possibly refuse, so he could only nod in agreement.
"Relatives..." Sabrina's eyes twitched slightly, "Are they all going?"
"Ah... um." Qiao Ran nodded blankly.
Sabrina: "..."
For a moment, Sabrina didn't know whether to call him confident or carefree.
And so... he took two girls to visit his relatives?
"Okay, okay, then you can all go together. Just so you know, I won't open the door if you come back too late."
Sabrina looked away.
"Um... if you're free, would you like to come along...?"
Qiao Ran tried asking, otherwise it just didn't feel right. It seemed a bit unfair that only the few of them went out to eat, leaving Sabrina here to eat takeout.
Do you think I'd do something so stupid with you?
Sabrina squinted at Qiao Ran, gave a soft hum, and left the Training Ground without looking back.
"Sabrina..."
Lillie and Mei, who were standing to the side, remained silent. After all, they weren't going to a public entertainment venue, so they could understand why Sabrina might not want to go.
Until--
Huh? Why are there so many people???
Upon arriving at her Aunt's house, Xia Fei rushed out to open the door. Qiao Ran then saw a house full of familiar faces—besides them, the two sisters, Nian Xiaoxiao and Nian Hongyu, were also there.
"Feifei invited me," Nian Xiaoxiao explained.
"... Xiaoxiao called me," Nian Hongyu explained.
Qiao Ran: "..."
No, if you guys keep sending people like this, I'll bring Sabrina along too!
"Since we're celebrating the victory today, I had Feifei invite all her friends over. I heard you all know each other," Aunt said with a smile as she poked her head out from the kitchen.
"Yes, I know you." Qiao Ran gave a polite but slightly awkward smile and nodded.
Of course he knows her, how could he not?
These two are the granddaughters of the Gym Leader.
However, judging from my Aunt's condition, she doesn't seem to know about this.
"Ah... I wish Miss Sabrina could come too."
Xia Fei seemed a little reluctant to leave, wishing Miss Sabrina could also come to tonight's dinner party... for example, if her cousin had invited Miss Sabrina...
"However, Miss Sabrina must be very busy, after all, she usually has a lot of things to do."
Qiao Ran's lips twitched. "..."
No, no, no, that guy is probably still at home eating takeout.
Nian Hongyu, standing to the side, also froze. Why were there Sabrina's fans here?
Does that guy have that many fans?
Because Nian Hongyu and Nian Xiaoxiao were also present, this "family dinner" did not turn out the same as the last one. Mei and Lillie breathed a sigh of relief, but also seemed a little disappointed.
Along the way, they also made a lot of preparations in case of all sorts of unforeseen circumstances.
In the end, none of these things were used. Everyone was discussing Qiao Ran's Competition. Xia Fei was at the dinner table, excitedly recounting the details of the battle. As someone who had experienced the Competition firsthand, she had told the story to her classmates countless times, but even though she told it over and over again, she never seemed to get tired of it.
Qiao Ran, listening from the side, felt a little shy.
"I will become Trainer as good as you!"
Xia Fei looked at Qiao Ran's face and patted her chest. Her attitude towards Qiao Ran had quietly changed over the past few days, from distrust and doubt at the beginning to admiration and longing now. She saw a world she had never experienced before, and in this world, she found her new goal.
It's not the same routine as before, going to school, coming home, and attending tutoring classes every day...
The world she lives in now, and everything she sees, is far more wonderful than before.
"I won't lose either."
Nian Xiaoxiao, standing to the side, added quietly, but her words were clearly directed at her older sister. As the second daughter in the family, Nian Xiaoxiao was naturally compared to Nian Hongyu. Having an outstanding older sister might seem like a good thing to others, but in Nian Xiaoxiao's eyes, it brought her unbearable pressure.
This is one of the reasons why she has never mentioned her family to Xia Fei or anyone else; she no longer wants to feel similar pressure from others.
However, after witnessing Qiao Ran 'Qiao Ran victory, seeing him Defeat her seemingly omnipotent grandfather, and seeing the expression on her sister's face... Nian Xiaoxiao seemed to understand something.
Besides these, besides her family, there are many more powerful beings out there. Perhaps her vision shouldn't be limited to what's in front of her, just like Xia Fei right now... She can also find entirely new goals.
"Me too."
Nian Hongyu looked at Qiao Ran, her face still showing little emotion, but her gaze was fixed on Qiao Ran.
If Xia Fei and Nian Xiaoxiao only had a vague direction, then Nian Hongyu had already seen her goal: this man was even more powerful than Sabrina and her grandfather, and he would definitely become even more powerful in the future.
So... on the path to becoming stronger, as long as I keep an eye on him, I won't lose my way.
Her goal.
"One day, I will challenge you too."
">
">
">
"..."
So, I've become very strong too.
Feeling the gazes around her, feeling their emotions, Qiao Ran closed her eyes slightly.
A day ago, or some time ago, Qiao Ran's thoughts were very different from now, but after experiencing all of this, the world in his eyes seems to have truly changed.
Just like Sabrina said.
He had never seriously looked at the scenery of this world before, nor had he ever truly taken this step. He could act a little recklessly—he certainly had the ability to do so.
To become someone who inspires dreams and guides others...?
Qiao Ran couldn't help but think of the Old Man Nian Hai, whom he had fought. Nianhai had been Gym Trainer all his life, training countless Trainer. In his final battle after retiring in old age, he was still able to unleash such powerful fighting strength, fighting to the very last moment.
After he finishes this journey, will he also stay somewhere?
Perhaps, anywhere, he can pause for a while, and as long as his companions are by his side, his heart will find rest there.
After dinner, Qiao Ran and his group, along with Nian Xiaoxiao and the others, embarked on their journey back to the Trainer Community.
"As Trainer, I can't compare to you."
On the way, Nian Hongyu frankly admitted that her strength was not as good as Qiao Ran's. She had previously estimated that she was about equal to Sabrina, but after watching Sabrina and Qiao Ran's battle, she realized that she was not even as good as Sabrina.
Qiao Ran has now directly Defeat his own grandfather, and the Frisk in strength he possesses is no small feat.
Nian Hongyu wasn't foolish enough to challenge a Trainer so much stronger than herself.
"Ah... um."
Qiao Ran responded, but didn't quite understand what she was trying to say.
"But I've already heard that you've signed up for the Performance Competition a few days from now, haven't you?"
Nian Hongyu talked about the Performance Competition match that followed. Like Sabrina, she also performed very well in the Performance Competition. Although her brilliance faded a lot after Sabrina appeared, her confidence and pride did not diminish in the slightest.
"Since my skills as Trainer aren't up to par, then I'll find a way to Defeat you in the Performance Competition."
"Of course, there's that woman too."
Standing at the crossroads, Nian Hongyu issued a declaration of war to Qiao Ran.