Chen Yan remembered what Gholdengo had asked yesterday. He looked at Professor Rowan and asked:
"Professor, could you do me a favor?"
Professor Rowan looked at him in puzzlement. "What is it?"
Chen Yan pressed his palms together and pleaded with Professor Rowan.
After spending these past two days with him, Chen Yan had discovered that, despite Professor Rowan's stern exterior, he was actually a very gentle man at heart.
Professor Rowan had also formed a very favorable impression of Chen Yan over the past two days, so he nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. What's the specific problem?"
"Uh... I didn't ask..."
"..."
Seeing Professor Rowan's stern expression, Chen Yan hurriedly explained:
"He asked me how much I knew about Pokémon evolution, and I didn't dare give him an offhand answer. So I told him I'd ask you first before getting back to him, because I don't think Pokémon evolution is a trivial matter."
At that, Professor Rowan's expression finally softened a little. "You handled that very well. Pokémon evolution isn't actually as simple as we tend to assume. How about this? I'll make some time later to speak with your friend, and we can examine his specific problem."
"Thank you, Professor."
Chen Yan clenched his fists in gratitude.
Rich Guy, if even the teacher I've found for you can't solve your Pokémon evolution problem, I doubt many other people could!
[Livestreaming is now available. Livestream viewer numbers will be converted into View Count.]
The system text ambushed him again, giving Chen Yan a fright. Looking at the words before him, he suddenly remembered that the initial introduction had said video views weren't the only thing that could be converted into View Count. Livestreams apparently counted too.
But livestreaming hadn't been available back then.
Livestreaming, huh... I already promised Gholdengo I'd do it, so it was bound to happen sooner or later. Why not take this opportunity to figure out how it works?
Chen Yan looked at Professor Rowan before him. If I could get Professor Rowan to come on as a guest...
Staring at Professor Rowan's back, Chen Yan broke into a Gengar-like grin.
Hehehehe-
Inside the research institute.
When Professor Rowan had a moment free, Chen Yan walked over and poured him a cup of tea.
"Professor," Chen Yan called softly.
Professor Rowan picked up the tea, took a sip, and said:
"Go on. What else would you like my help with?"
"?!"
"From what I've observed over the past two days, you generally don't approach me unless you need my help with something."
Chen Yan scratched his head.
"Don't worry. Tell me," Professor Rowan said calmly.
"If it's within my power, I'll certainly help. A Pokédex, perhaps? My assistant Tengxia Sanxiu mentioned that you seemed very interested in Pokédexes. Would you like me to give you one?"
Chen Yan hurriedly shook his head, then sat down beside Professor Rowan and said:
"Here's what I was thinking, Professor. While we're helping my friend with his Pokémon evolution problem, why don't we also explain some common questions and precautions about Pokémon evolution?"
"It'd be a good chance for me to learn too." Chen Yan grinned.
He was also quite curious about what problems Pokémon evolution could involve in this world.
"An educational presentation? That would be fine. It's part of my job, after all. But how would we do it? Record a video? I've recorded some before, but they didn't seem particularly effective," Professor Rowan asked, setting down his teacup.
Chen Yan snapped his fingers. "We'll record a video, but that won't be today's format."
"Oh?" Professor Rowan sounded curious.
"As you know, I'm a photographer. Besides recording videos, I also do livestreams so people can get a more direct look at how wild Pokémon live."
Though he hadn't actually done a livestream yet.
"You mean..."
"That's right, Professor. Why don't we try a livestream? It might work better than a video! We could even let viewers call in or ask questions in real time."
Professor Rowan stroked his mustache, thought for a moment, and nodded.
"We can give it a try."
"Wonderful! Thank you so much, Professor."
"What do I need to prepare?" Professor Rowan had never livestreamed before and didn't know much about these emerging online features.
"All you need to prepare is the material you'd like to explain later. Leave everything else to me."
"Very well."
Professor Rowan stood up and took several assistants back to the institute's workroom to prepare the material for his presentation.
Meanwhile, Chen Yan took out his phone and sent Gholdengo a message first.
Chen Yan: Come to my livestream in an hour.
Rich Guy replied almost immediately.
Gholdengo Is Number One: No problem.
Next, Chen Yan posted a comment under his own account.
Gengar, Don't Steal My Chicken Leg: My first livestream starts in an hour! I'll be testing the Live Broadcast Equipment a viewer sponsored. Drop by if you're interested.
After posting the announcement, Chen Yan put away his phone and called Gengar and Weedle over to prepare for the livestream.
They chose Professor Rowan's courtyard as the location. With Snivy coming over to help, Chen Yan, Gengar, and Weedle set up a simple presentation space based on what he remembered of Professor Oak's educational videos.
Chen Yan opened the livestreaming app on his Rotom Phone and connected it to the Drone beside him, maneuvering the Drone to find a suitable camera angle.
"Gengar, look at the camera. That's right, hold still. Now make a funny face and wiggle your butt."
"Weedle, turn around and bite your tail."
"Snivy, give me a smile."
Once he'd adjusted the camera angle, Chen Yan started the livestream.
Almost as soon as it began, a line of large golden text floated across the screen.
"Gholdengo Is Number One has entered the livestream."
"Huh? You're here already, Gholdengo?" Chen Yan asked in surprise as he read the notification.
Rich Guy: I happened to have the day off.
"Oh, got it. Hang on a little, then. We haven't started yet."
By now, many fans of his videos had followed the notification into the livestream.
"Whoa! You're actually livestreaming?"
"Huh? Where is everyone? Why is there just a table? Are you going to sell stuff?"
"Where's the streamer? Come out! Stop hiding, we can hear you."
"Not showing your face?"
Seeing the chat asking him to show his face, Chen Yan said:
"I'm a looks-based streamer. Sorry, I'm not really used to showing my face."
Li Luochen Definitely Isn't a Lolicon: Oh, please. How many times have you shown your face in your videos already?
"Oh, right. What the hell am I hiding for, then?" After seeing the message from the fan named "Li Luochen," Chen Yan said that and simply stepped into the frame.
He greeted the camera.
"Hello, everyone! It's such an honor to meet you. My name is Chen Yan, and I'm really happy you enjoy the videos I make."
Looking into the camera, Chen Yan continued, "Please bear with us for a moment. Today's stream is a test run for future livestreams out in the wild. I want to see how it works."
Call Me Purple Scholar: Where are your Pokémon?
"My Pokémon? I only have two at the moment. Gengar, come here for a second." Chen Yan called to Gengar nearby.
Gengar floated over to Chen Yan, curiously examining the camera before looking at the image on the Rotom Phone's screen.
Gengar made a movement and discovered that the Gengar on the screen made the same movement.
Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ
It's haunted?!
Gengar looked at Chen Yan and pointed at the screen.
Chen Yan reached out and tugged Gengar's cheek. "Don't worry. This is a livestream."
"Geng?"
What's a livestream?
"It means taking our... never mind. Basically, other people can watch what we're doing through their phones or other devices."
"Geng-"
Oh.
Then Gengar looked at the camera and offered a goofy greeting.
Next, Chen Yan picked up Weedle. "And here's our Weedle. Look how cute and chubby!"
"Weee-"
Hello, everyone~
"And that's Snivy, one of the institute's Pokémon."
"Sni~"
Snivy elegantly extended a vine in greeting.
While they had some time, Chen Yan chatted with the fans in his livestream.
As he watched the viewer count keep climbing, he couldn't help being startled.
"Holy crap, we're already at over eight thousand?"
"Why am I livestreaming? Just to chat? Of course not. I've invited a special guest today, someone you're all very familiar with."
"You'll find out who it is in a moment. Be patient."
"We're ready over here, Chen Yan," Professor Rowan called.
Chen Yan turned and nodded. "We're ready too."
Chen Yan looked into the camera and said with a smile:
"Now, let's welcome today's livestream guest."
The Drone's camera swung around to Professor Rowan, who stood in front of the table and smiled as he greeted the camera.
"Hello, everyone. It's an honor to meet you. I'm Professor Rowan, from the Sinnoh Region."
The livestream chat froze.
Then.
Messages began scrolling frantically.
Silence Isn't Madness: By guest, you meant Professor Rowan?! One of the leading Pokémon Professors?!
Li Luochen Doesn't Like Lolis: Guys, you have no idea... My favorite hidden-gem streamer invited Professor Rowan to his very first livestream...
Before you continue