The arrogant Ye Chen

The classroom of Class Five, junior year.

Jiang Xiaoyu lay slumped over her desk, her pretty, oval face full of worry.

"Hey, Xiaoyu, look. Ye Chen posted a video."

Her best friend and roommate, Ding Xiaowen, patted her arm as she spoke.

Jiang Xiaoyu was in no mood to watch any videos, especially one from Ye Chen, the person she found most annoying.

"I don't want to! I just want some peace and quiet."

Hearing that, Ding Xiaowen realized something was wrong. Jiang Xiaoyu had been listless ever since she arrived in the classroom today.

"What's wrong today, Xiaoyu? Are you feeling sick?"

To her, Jiang Xiaoyu had always been a lively, cheerful goddess.

She had a wonderful temper, was incredibly pretty, and, most importantly, was very patient.

No matter what you said to her or what favor you asked of her, she would agree without hesitation.

But today, Jiang Xiaoyu seemed like a completely different person.

Jiang Xiaoyu turned her head to face the window. "It's nothing!"

Usually, when a girl said she didn't want you to...

What she probably meant was, don't...

Stop!

When she said nothing was wrong, something definitely was. There was no question about it.

As a girl herself, how could Ding Xiaowen not know that?

Could Xiaoyu be dating someone?

At their age, with no money or work worries, the only things that could affect their mood were exams and goddamn love!

"Xiaoyu, don't tell me you're dating someone?"

Ding Xiaowen was determined to keep probing until she got to the bottom of it.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Jiang Xiaoyu replied flatly.

Seeing her reaction, Ding Xiaowen decided not to bother her anymore and simply returned to her seat.

Then, looking at her phone screen, she murmured to herself:

"Ye Chen's battling Qin Feng tonight. Ye Chen's been making such a splash lately. I wonder if Qin Feng can beat him!"

Suddenly!

Jiang Xiaoyu shot upright as though she'd sprung from her deathbed!

She straightened in a flash and cried out in surprise.

"What?"

Her reaction startled all the students around her!

Realizing she'd lost her composure, the pretty girl's face flushed.

Then she lowered her head.

Ding Xiaowen looked completely baffled too.

Does she want to watch the excitement, or is she worried about someone? Why such a big reaction?

While she was still wondering, Jiang Xiaoyu stood, walked over to her, and snatched up her phone.

"Tonight at eight, I'll battle Qin Feng. The loser crawls a lap around the school track..."

After watching the video, Jiang Xiaoyu's expression grew visibly tense.

An ordinary battle would have been fine. Wins and losses were part of the game.

But these stakes...

Weren't they going a little too far?

Jiang Xiaoyu recalled the bet Qin Feng and Ye Chen had made outside the dorm building.

Suddenly, she understood something.

From what she knew of Qin Feng's personality, he was definitely not the vain or troublemaking type.

Ye Chen must have approached Qin Feng first.

Ultimately, she was the reason Qin Feng had been dragged into this trouble.

That left Jiang Xiaoyu feeling somewhat guilty.

But... was it really just guilt?

Jiang Xiaoyu asked herself, but even she didn't seem to know!

After returning the phone to Ding Xiaowen, she walked out of the classroom.

Meanwhile, in the classroom of Class Two, junior year, several girls were gathered around Ye Chen.

"Ye Chen, you said you'd give me a Pokémon. When are you taking me to draw one? I can't wait anymore."

"What's the hurry? When has Ye Chen ever broken his word? He'll definitely buy you one after he wins tonight."

"I watched the video of Qin Feng's Pikachu battling Butterfree. That girl just didn't have any experience. Pikachu wasn't anything special. Besides, Ye Chen's Pokémon learned a super-powerful move the day before yesterday!"

"This time, we have to make that Qin Feng crawl around the track like a dog!"

Ye Chen sat with his legs crossed.

He toyed with a lighter in his hand, a smug expression on his face.

Just then, someone in the classroom shouted:

"Holy shit, Jiang Xiaoyu actually came to our Class Two? Now that's something you don't see every day!"

"It really is Jiang Xiaoyu. Could she be here for Ye Chen?"

Ye Chen abruptly looked up toward the classroom door.

Sure enough!

Jiang Xiaoyu was standing in the doorway, looking straight at him.

A wicked smile appeared on Ye Chen's face as he stood and walked out.

The girls gathered around him looked annoyed and jealous.

"That Jiang Xiaoyu really is such a bitch. She turned Ye Chen down when he pursued her. Now that he's getting so much attention, she comes running back to him. Pah!"

"Exactly. She's just a little prettier, that's all. Won't she still end up as some man's plaything? What the hell is she so stuck-up about?"

"Xiaoyu, this is the first time you've come looking for me. Have you finally changed your mind?"

Ye Chen asked with a smile.

"Could you cancel the battle?" Jiang Xiaoyu's reason for coming was simple: she didn't want them to make this bet.

Although she knew Qin Feng was very strong and was also the owner of the Pokémon Home.

There was always a chance that something could go wrong.

What if he lost?

If Ye Chen lost, he could refuse to honor the bet, and Qin Feng couldn't do anything about it.

But if Qin Feng lost, would Ye Chen let him off that easily?

Obviously not.

So she wanted to stop the battle or change the stakes to something else.

Ye Chen was visibly surprised by Jiang Xiaoyu's words.

"Cancel it? Why would I cancel it?"

"Aren't Pokémon Trainers supposed to battle each other and gain experience from it?"

Jiang Xiaoyu had expected Ye Chen to say that.

"I know why you're targeting him, but this is between you and me. I don't want you dragging him into it."

Hearing Jiang Xiaoyu's words, Ye Chen sneered and said:

"I can cancel it, but you have to agree to be my girlfriend!"

"Otherwise, I'll definitely make him crawl a lap around the track like a dog today."

"And I'll have every teacher and student in the school come watch!"

"Then I'll film it and post it online so the whole country can see!"