Chapter 294

"We plan to meet her tomorrow and see if we can help her remember anything. Maybe her amnesia is related to something."

"If we could recall it, it might even enhance our current intelligence capabilities."

"After all, it takes several days to book Gym Challenge here, so this is a good time to try and awaken her memory."

"Hmm." Sabrina nodded in agreement. The more comrades in the Pokémon World, the better. The more people there are, the greater the chance that they can reunite, return to that world, and change it.

Have you spoken to Cynthia about this?

"Not yet, I'll call her after I'm done talking to you," Qiao Ran replied.

"Oh?"

Sabrina's expression shifted slightly.

"I didn't expect you to call first..."

"The main reason is that your name, when sorted alphabetically by pinyin, appears above 'Cynthia'."

Before Sabrina, her expression froze on her face. "..."

"Goodbye."

The next second, she didn't say anything else and hung up the phone. Qiao Ran stared blankly at the black screen.

"..."

"Should we fight back, Rotom?"

"Never mind, never mind."

Faced with Rotom's question, Qiao Ran could only wave his hand. He had already explained most of what needed to be explained, and he also asked about her recent situation. If he had fought back, she would probably still be angry.

"I still need to tell Cynthia about what happened here..."

After finishing his calls with both of them, Qiao Ran lay down on the bed contentedly. He especially enjoyed talking to Cynthia; her voice was so pleasant, and she spoke so logically. Most importantly, he could learn a lot about Pokémon from her. He wished he could chat with her every day.

Cynthia had some contact with International Police, but she didn't know much about it. After all, besides her job Champion, she spent all her time doing research, so she didn't have time to deal with crime fighting.

She would only lend a hand if she happened to be passing by; otherwise, these things didn't really have much to do with her.

However, just as Qiao Ran opened his phone and pondered his actions for tomorrow, his bedroom door rang softly.

"Knock knock knock."

"?"

Qiao Ran didn't know who was knocking on the door, but from the voice that followed, he already knew who it was.

"Um... are you asleep yet?"

"Lillie?"

Qiao Ran opened the door to the room and let her in.

Generally speaking, Pokémon Center typically have individual rooms to accommodate Trainer and Pokémon, unless there is absolutely no room available, in which case double rooms would be considered.

So... she's here now because...

"Hmm... I just came to take a look."

"I'm having a little trouble sleeping..."

Lillie was wearing a simple coat, but Qiao Ran guessed that she was wearing a familiar nightgown underneath. In her hands, she was also holding a small Clefairy plushie, which she had carried with her ever since the Pokémon World.

She lowered her head slightly, not looking in Qiao Ran's direction, but Qiao Ran could clearly sense that the atmosphere in the room... was gradually becoming strange.

Let's rewind to a little over an hour ago.

In Lillie's room.

"This can't go on, Lillie."

Mei sat next to Lillie, her expression slightly serious.

You've seen it too, haven't you? That guy seems to be getting more and more people around him.

From the beginning, Mei supported Lillie taking the initiative to contact Qiao Ran, but what she didn't expect was that neither of them would take the initiative. So much time has passed, and they are still stuck here, completely stuck in the middle.

Most importantly, for Mei... rather than letting others benefit from it, it's better to let her best friend...

"I... I... no..." Lillie's gaze darted away. She didn't really want to talk about this with Mei, but this time, Mei seemed to have her eyes glued to her, giving Lillie no time to change the subject.

"I know, I noticed it from the beginning. You definitely like that guy, right?"

"I... I didn't..."

Lillie's cheeks flushed.

Mei grabbed her shoulders, preventing Lillie from escaping.

"I'll travel with you two, really because I want to see the two of you..."

Mei's eyes flickered.

Why are you two still like this...? If you were a little closer, I wouldn't have any strange thoughts.

"Now that no one else is bothering us, tonight is the best opportunity."

"Wh... what opportunity?"

Lillie blushed, still trying to play dumb, but she had pretty much figured out what Mei meant.

"Of course..."

Mei brought her face close to Lillie's ear and whispered something in her ear.

As she listened, Lillie curled up into a ball, her cheeks growing increasingly red.

"Is... is this really how it has to be?"

"Affim."

Mei nodded seriously; things couldn't drag on like this with Lillie.

"If we keep running away like this, what if someone else gets there first? You saw it yourself, Sabrina and Cynthia... they all seem a bit strange, and Mei too..."

Mei paused for a moment, but did not say her name.

"I found these on the internet around the world; I'm sure Qiao Ran would like them too."

"..."

"Let me... let me think about it..."

Lillie's mind was in complete turmoil; even after Mei had left the room, she remained lost in thought.

Do we really... have to do this?

Lillie hesitated.

However, thinking of those faces in her memory, and the various clues she discovered while living at Sabrina's house, Lillie gradually grew bolder.

Indeed... this can't go on any longer.

If we keep waiting like this...

"Hmm... I just came to take a look."

"I'm having a little trouble sleeping..."

At this moment, in Qiao Ran's room.

Holding her doll, Lillie mustered her courage and finally spoke those words.

Although Lillie is a shy child, her courage and drive are second to none.

"I... I can't sleep..."

Looking at the shy Lillie, Qiao Ran even forgot what he should say and could only reply somewhat stiffly.

"Then... just like before?"

"Uh-huh."

Neither of them said what they were going to do, but the conversation just kept going in a magical way.

Lillie walked to the edge of the bed and sat down next to Qiao Ran.

"Um... could you help me with this? My coat..."

"Let me?"

"Um..."

Lillie nodded, then shyly stared at the floor, keeping her head down.

"..."

Although Qiao Ran found it very strange—she was already so shy, why was she still...?

However, when Qiao Ran looked at the girl with long, flowing Golden hair who was as cute as an elf, Qiao Ran had to admit that she was really attractive.

"Then... then I'm here?"

"Please... please."

Qiao Ran slowly reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. Lillie's slender body trembled slightly, but she didn't say anything, simply quietly feeling the other's touch.

Following Qiao Ran's movements down her shoulder, Lillie raised her arm in response. As the coat gradually left her body, her thin white nightgown slowly revealed her face beneath the coat's cover.

A suspender strap loosely draped over her shoulder, yet it couldn't conceal her dazzlingly white and alluring figure.

"Qiao... Qiao Ran..."

The coat covering her body had been set aside. Lillie was looking at Qiao Ran with tears welling in her eyes. Qiao Ran was also looking at her. The series of actions just now had put both of them into a strange state.

"I... I actually..."

They've known each other since a very, very long time ago.

Although various unexpected events occurred during their first meeting, causing her to run into the Poké Ball.

But... it was from that time that she came into contact with this boy.

From that time onwards

She saw a wider world and lived a life completely different from before. Qiao Ran's existence was like her Sun.

Even now... with so many random girls appearing out of nowhere, she still won't let go.

"I know."

Lillie's emotions were practically overflowing, and as a Pokémon Trainer, how could Qiao Ran not feel her feelings and thoughts?

"I know everything."

Qiao Ran wrapped his arms around her waist and embraced her slender body, which was without an ounce of excess fat, and kissed Lillie's lips directly.

Before this, Qiao Ran had never imagined that something like this would happen tonight, but—everything was so natural.

"--!"

Lillie's eyes widened like a startled rabbit, but she quickly closed them, reached out, and hugged Qiao Ran's body back, awkwardly feeling his movements.

She felt no surprise whatsoever; on the contrary, she was filled with joy and excitement.

After a while, the two gradually loosened their tight grip.

What's the next step?

Qiao Ran looked at the girl lying on his chest, breathing slightly, with a faint smile on his face.

"I... I didn't know."

Lillie blushed and quietly looked away.

"Anyway, I definitely won't be able to sleep alone."