The Club did not spend money hiring drivers out of charity. It wanted them to create value.
Drivers had to follow the Club's arrangements, with restrictions on both training and race schedules. Unless they reached the level of the Club's ace, they had very little freedom.
Once she signed, Shaling could at most send money home during her contract. She would not be able to come home often to visit and look after Imite.
Shaling could not accept those conditions.
Shen Qi understood. His reasons for not considering Shan Sheng's invitation were much the same.
The clock quietly ticked past nine in the evening. Shen Qi finished the tea on the table, rose, and said goodbye.
Shaling wanted her guest to stay the night.
The house was small, but she could still clear out a guest room.
She got along well with Lilligant and knew Shen Qi's finances were hardly in good shape. Since her good friends had come to Saffron City for a race, she thought letting them stay would at least save them some accommodation costs.
"No, really, it's fine." Shen Qi would not dare impose. "We've already booked a hotel room. It'd be a waste not to use it."
Amid Shaling and Doduo's farewells, Shen Qi left with his Pokémon.
"The race isn't for another couple of days. I'll come visit again after it's over, too."
Starting up the Little Sheep, Shen Qi returned to his hotel.
On his phone, Cacturne had sent a message asking how things had gone. Without a reply from Shen Qi, he had not dared ask again, instead sending a Yamask reaction image and waiting miserably.
Shen Qi: Shaling doesn't have a Pokémon she likes, but you should know what's on her mind.
Cacturne really did not know...
"You don't know? Like