December 24, Jubilife Breeding Center.
When Li Wei woke up, all the Pokémon had left his room. Even Dragapult, who usually slept in the latest, was gone.
Li Wei swept the curtains open and stretched in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor.
Outside, everything was blanketed in white. It had snowed again, and snowflakes were still drifting down from the sky.
The employees were setting things up outside, bundled in knitted hats, thick padded coats, and scarves.
He could also see Korrina, Shiyin, and the others having a snowball fight.
For the first time in ages, Li Wei had slept in, not waking until almost ten. After a quick wash, he headed out.
Although the Breeding Center's gates were wide open today, it was effectively closed for business.
With the cold weather outside and his warm bed inside, Li Wei had indulged himself a little.
Yesterday, Li Wei had also told Korrina that Lucario had trained hard enough over the past few days and should rest today.
Li Wei had thought he was already very late.
But when he reached the cafeteria, he found Lalami and Mizuki, who had also gotten up late, still eating breakfast.
Since joining the Breeding Center, Lalami and Mizuki had quickly grown close. Later, they had even moved into the same dormitory suite.
Of course, they didn't share a bedroom.
The employee dormitories had suites with two bedrooms and a living room, and that was what they shared.
Seeing Lalami and Mizuki eating noodles whetted Li Wei's appetite.
"Xiao Meng, get me a bowl of noodles too!"
Xiao Meng had cooked these noodles, and she had hand-pulled them herself.
When it came to making dough-based foods, Li Wei really was no match for her.
He probably never would be, either. After all,