Male? Male! Male...

"Damn, Brother Yun, is your Beedrill even scientific?"

In the small corridor by Battlefield No. 11, Liu Jianhao complained to Mu Yun as they walked.

Even before the battle began, he had figured that Snubbull probably couldn't beat Beedrill before evolving.

After all, one was in its final form while the other was in its initial form. The gap between them was real.

But in his imagination, they would have passionately shouted at each other, fought until they were drenched in sweat, and in the end, he would have lost to Mu Yun by a narrow margin. They would then part with mutual respect and agree to fight again someday.

But what had actually happened?

He had indeed lost, but he had lost way too quickly!

Why the hell could this Beedrill spit out six strands of silk in one breath, like a net cast over heaven and earth? That was ridiculous!

"Scientific. Why wouldn't it be scientific? That's just how us Beedrill are. As long as you're willing to put in the work, even String Shot can create miracles," Mu Yun said solemnly.

He really wasn't lying. Setting aside the tiny boosts from "effort always pays off" and Traits, Xiao Du's ability to spit out a net-like barrage of silk in one breath relied entirely on talent and perseverance.

How could that not be called scientific?

Besides, Xiao Du hadn't even put in any real effort. If they had fought for real, one Poison Sting would have been enough for Snubbull to start considering reincarnation.

"Fine, you're first in the grade. Whatever you say..." Liu Jianhao shrugged and helplessly accepted it.

"Um, could I interrupt for a moment?"

Just as the two reached the entrance to the small corridor while chatting, a somewhat shy male voice rang out.

It was none other than Chu Xiaolan.

Although he had mentally prepared himself, when he truly stood before Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao and saw that beautiful, pure face, he still couldn't help feeling bashful.

One of them was handsome, and the other was beautiful. To outsiders, they really did look like a match made in heaven.

Seeing Chu Xiaolan strike up a conversation, Mu Yun glanced at Liu Jianhao, and their tacit encrypted eye-contact exchange began.

Mu Yun: Want me to say something?

Liu Jianhao: Forget it. I'm used to this. I'll handle it.

Liu Jianhao: Oh, right. Keep an eye on me later. I don't want some guy feeling me up.

Mu Yun: Don't worry. You know what I can do.

Over their two years of high school, exchanges like this had happened countless times.

Even their first meeting had come from the classic tale of a hero saving a "beauty."

Except the "beauty" had turned out to be his bro.

That was just impossible to process...

Their eye-contact exchange ended. Liu Jianhao casually stepped half a pace aside and moved to Mu Yun's side. After putting some distance between himself and Chu Xiaolan, he finally asked, "What is it? Do you need something?"

Liu Jianhao's tone was far from friendly. It was even a little cold.

It couldn't be helped. Any standard straight guy would be in a bad mood upon learning that another man might be about to confess to him.

Mu Yun, tall and handsome as he was, was standing right beside him, yet some guy had still come over to talk to him.

Did this guy think he was that handsome?

"Um, my name is Chu Xiaolan. I'm from No. 2 High School. I-I don't mean anything else by it. I just... just wanted to get to know you, uh, you two. That's all, really."

Perhaps because it was his first time talking to a pretty girl, or perhaps because the pretty girl before him was the person he had fallen in love with at first sight, Chu Xiaolan spoke in fits and starts.

Still, he got his meaning across clearly enough.

"Bro, I don't mind getting to know you, but let me make one thing clear first. I'm a man, I like women, and I'm not into that stuff," Liu Jianhao said coldly.

"M-Male?"

Chu Xiaolan's expression became a little unnatural.

It wasn't that he believed Liu Jianhao's words. After all, whether it was that delicate, refined face, that noble and elegant aura, or that cool yet captivating voice, everything pointed to Liu Jianhao being a rare beauty.

Other than being a little flat, he was nearly flawless!

No, that was wrong. His type was "the flatter, the better." Flat was absolutely a bonus for him!

So he merely took Liu Jianhao's words as a roundabout rejection.

Once he realized that, Chu Xiaolan felt as if the sky had fallen.

He had thought they weren't a couple, but now it seemed that even if they weren't, they were at least more than friends. One of them might even be harboring unrequited love.

Thinking this, Chu Xiaolan looked at Mu Yun's tall, sturdy build and his face, which looked as though it had been modeled after a manga protagonist.

Damn it, was this the advantage of having such high-quality character modeling?

No, even if they were boyfriends, they were only in high school. Maybe they'd break up once they went to college and started a long-distance relationship. Even if they didn't, as long as he waited, maybe he would still have a chance!

With that thought, Chu Xiaolan gathered his courage again and prepared to speak. But before he could say anything, Liu Jianhao held a student ID between his clean, pale fingers and raised it before him.

"Songjiang No. 1 High School, Class 3, Year 2, Liu Jianhao, male!?" Chu Xiaolan unconsciously read the information on the student ID aloud.

When he got to the last word, he let out a startled cry.

Confusion, shock, incomprehension, utter bewilderment...

At that instant, Mu Yun seemed to hear the sound of a heart breaking.

"Got it now? Your bro here is a man, one hundred percent straight. Still want to get to know me?"

Seeing Chu Xiaolan's heartbroken and vacant expression, the coldness on Liu Jianhao's face melted away like spring snow beneath the sun, replaced by a bright, radiant smile.

Little bro, have you felt the malice of this world yet!

Your big bro is a man! Hahahaha!

Yet unexpectedly, after seeing Liu Jianhao smile, Chu Xiaolan actually came back to his senses. Blushing, he lowered his head and timidly muttered, "C-Could I... have your Yunxin...?"

Liu Jianhao:?

Mu Yun:?

No, bro, you?

Mu Yun was utterly stunned. He had seen plenty of people bravely pursue love, but this was the first time he had seen someone charge straight at a man!

Was this really Northeast China? Could Palkia have secretly exerted itself and sent someone from Sichuan here to Northeast China?

You fool, stop! Are you trying to destroy Northeast China?!

Silence was the Cambridge of the night, while shock was the tangible emotion in Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao's eyes as they looked at each other.

Fortunately, after the words left his mouth, Chu Xiaolan also realized something was wrong. He turned around and ran off without looking back.

The moment he left, Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao both breathed a sigh of relief.

"A big forest really does attract every kind of bird." Liu Jianhao put away his student ID and sighed helplessly.

"That's why I'm saying, have you never considered changing your look? Maybe getting a buzz cut or something? Bro, I'm afraid that one day when I see you again, it'll either be at the prosecutor's office or a colorectal hospital." Mu Yun smacked his lips, sounding rather emotional.

"Relax. In this new era, men can be pretty too. Besides, my dad prepared safety measures for me long ago." As he spoke, Liu Jianhao pulled out the pendant resting against his chest. It was a small Poké Ball, only a little larger than his thumb.

Its black-and-gold casing marked it as a Luxury Ball worth ten thousand League Coins!

"It contains one of my dad's retired teams of Pokémon. Under normal circumstances, that's enough to handle things. Besides, haven't I started working out? Once I build a body full of muscles, I refuse to believe I won't attract girls!" Liu Jianhao flexed his nonexistent biceps and spoke with complete confidence.

"Actually, you're already very attractive to women."

"For example?"

"Lesbians."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Liu Jianhao asked, "What's the difference between a lesbian and a man?"

"Uh, one extra safe passage?"

"...Get lost!"

After leaving Battlefield No. 11, Mu Yun and Liu Jianhao returned to the reservation machine. This time, both chose random matchmaking.

Since the venue had just opened and was fairly popular, random matchmaking was quick.

In just a few minutes, the two received notifications.

Mu Yun had been assigned to Battlefield No. 7, while Liu Jianhao was assigned to No. 9.

"My side will be quick. I'll head over to Field No. 7 to find you afterward." Liu Jianhao glanced at the information on his phone and spoke.

"Sure."

After they split up, Mu Yun quickly arrived at Battlefield No. 7.

The layout here was basically the same as Battlefield No. 11: a standard battle arena with protective barriers, along with a rest area.

Mu Yun was in the twelfth match. The eighth match was currently underway, so three more matches remained before his turn.

"Xiao Yun?"

Mu Yun had only just entered the rest area when he heard a familiar voice call out.