Early the next morning, Chu Xin asked Dean Zhuo Yuan for permission to leave the academy. Although Zhuo Yuan approved his request, he looked troubled. After all, he had invited Chu Xin to Jindu Academy so he could study there, yet in less than half a year-not even a full semester-Chu Xin had already gone away three times. This would be his fourth!
Even Chu Xin's homeroom teacher had come to complain. Over all those months, he could count the number of times he had seen Chu Xin on his fingers. Did Chu Xin even count as his student anymore?
But Zhuo Yuan was in a difficult position too. He had seen what Chu Xin gained from every trip. Each time Chu Xin returned from training away, his strength improved so much that even the dean was astonished. That was why Zhuo Yuan approved every request.
Sigh. I'll have to listen to his homeroom teacher nagging again.
After obtaining Zhuo Yuan's permission, Chu Xin made no further preparations. He simply took his four Pokémon and headed for the airport.
Once he arrived, Chu Xin took out his phone and called Ai Xing. Someone immediately came to escort him onto a plane.
Ai Xing was dressed for the heat, with flip-flops dangling from his feet, a loose tank top, baggy shorts, and a pair of sunglasses. He looked as though he were off on vacation to Hawaii.
When Ai Xing saw Chu Xin, he smiled and waved him over, motioning for him to sit beside him.
"Hey, I thought you'd need a few days to think it over. Didn't expect you to decide so quickly. Well? How does it feel? Excited to travel with an Elite Four member for the first time?"
Ai Xing reached over and patted Chu Xin on