At the thought, Smeargle trotted over to Xu Mu and Cynthia, tongue lolling eagerly.
The sight of Smeargle melted Cynthia's heart. She had already felt sorry for him, and now she crouched down and swept him into her arms.
Smeargle didn't resist. He had believed that, apart from the painter, no one else could understand him so well.
But after hearing Xu Mu and Cynthia, his heart, so long starved of recognition, had suddenly melted.
Cradled in Cynthia's arms, Smeargle gazed at her warmly, then stuck out his tongue and licked her hand.
Cynthia already had a soft spot for him, and now his adorable behavior filled her heart to bursting.
Watching Smeargle in Cynthia's arms, Xu Mu suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Hey, wait a minute. Cynthia's arms were supposed to be for Xu Mu. He couldn't accept Smeargle taking his place out of nowhere.
Other people might not know what Xu Mu was like, but we certainly did.
When it came to Cynthia, he had been at odds with Lucario for ages!
And that was Lucario. What chance did Smeargle have?
Besides, this Smeargle was male.
With that thought, Xu Mu hurriedly lifted Smeargle out of Cynthia's arms.
He said to Cynthia:
"Come on, Cynthia. Holding Smeargle like that makes him uncomfortable!"
Then he shot Smeargle a murderous look.
Smeargle froze in Xu Mu's arms when he heard that.
Uncomfortable?
Why would I be uncomfortable?
I was enjoying it!
But at the sight of Xu Mu's gaze, so full of "kindness," Smeargle changed his mind at once.
Right!
It was uncomfortable!
Xu Mu's standing in his heart plummeted.
So much for being someone who understood him. Apparently, he wasn't.
This rough man didn't understand him at all.
And he was threatening him into saying something he didn't mean!
At that