"Good morning, Junior Martial Uncle!"
"I'm setting off on my journey today!"
At Professor Oak's Laboratory in Kanto, Chen Shi had just finished washing up with his little girl in his arms.
Gary, now fifteen and old enough to set out on a journey, came racing down from upstairs.
He was practically bursting with excitement.
"Big Brother Gary, where are you going? Can you take Xiao Xi along?" Chen Yanxi's eyes shone.
"Nope." Gary put on a serious expression. "Only grown-ups can go on journeys. You're still little, Xiao Xi. Once you grow up, you can go on a journey too."
"Oh..." The little girl nodded thoughtfully. "Then when can Xiao Xi hurry up and grow big?"
Chen Shi smiled and ruffled his darling daughter's hair. "You just need to eat plenty, Xiao Xi."
"Will eating plenty make Xiao Xi grow big faster?" Chen Yanxi blinked her big eyes and asked curiously.
"Nope." Chen Shi laughed. "If you eat plenty, you'll turn into a big, chubby girl."
"Then Daddy won't have to work so hard carrying you every day!"
The little girl immediately panicked. "No, no, no! Xiao Xi doesn't wanna be a big, chubby girl! Xiao Xi wants Daddy to carry her!"
"I'm never eating again!"
Just as Chen Shi was laughing himself silly, a slap suddenly landed on the back of his head.
He turned and met Cynthia's icy gaze.
Chen Shi gave a sheepish smile. "I was joking. Just joking."
"Don't be mad."
"And you expect me not to be mad?" Cynthia smacked Chen Shi again and took their daughter from his arms.
"Do you know how hard I work every day to coax her into eating? And now you're making it worse!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong. Don't be mad, honey. Give me a kiss!"