Do you... like Pokémon?

While Fang Yan was still talking with Gengar, he heard the roar of a motorcycle outside.

He turned to look. Officer Jenny parked her motorcycle by the entrance, then led Nurse Joy and the others into the Pokémon Day Care.

Officer Jenny walked over to Fang Yan and quietly explained the little girl's situation in detail.

After listening, Fang Yan looked at the little girl hiding behind her parents.

Her head was lowered, and she did not dare look at him.

Her parents gently patted her, and only then did the little girl raise her head to look at Fang Yan.

Fang Yan saw that the little girl's eyes were full of fear as she looked at him.

He looked at her hiding behind her parents, dressed in a pink princess dress, her silver hair tied into twin tails, her delicate little face full of fear as she looked at him.

They really do think highly of me, giving me something like this to handle.

After that inward grumble, Fang Yan gestured for Gengar to head to the backyard, then took a deep breath and crouched in front of the little girl.

Seeing Fang Yan approach, the little girl trembled in fear and hid farther behind her parents.

"Is your name Shauna?"

Fang Yan's voice was very gentle.

After a long while without hearing Fang Yan say anything more, Shauna peeked out and glanced at him.

She found him still crouching there, watching her with a gentle smile.

She gave a slight nod.

Seeing Shauna respond, Fang Yan let out a breath, then silently sat on the floor, discreetly pressing a hand against his thigh.

I'd been crouching too long...

Watching Shauna retreat behind her parents again, Fang Yan did not speak further.

Before long, Gengar came to Fang Yan's side, carrying Petilil.

Dali and the others also quietly moved behind the counter.

Fang Yan reached out to take Petilil and gently patted her little head. "I'm counting on you."

Fang Yan's voice was very soft and quiet.

"Lil."

Petilil nodded. Gengar had already told her about it on the way.

"Shauna, could I ask you a question? Please."

There was no response for a long while. Only when Fang Yan was about to speak again did Shauna peek out once more.

Seeing that little head, Fang Yan spoke softly. "Do you think she's cute?"

Fang Yan held up Petilil as he spoke.

Under Fang Yan's careful care over this time, Petilil had become even cuter. Especially after Fang Yan trimmed the leaves on top of her head, she looked just like a little onion.

Shauna did not reply. She stared intently at Petilil in Fang Yan's hands.

"Lil."

Hello there.

Hearing Petilil's sweet voice, Shauna nodded.

But this time, she did not retreat again.

"What do you think? Want to hold her? She says you're very cute too."

Hearing this, Shauna looked up at the others and found them smiling encouragingly at her.

Clutching her father's trousers, she slowly emerged from behind him. Just as she was almost out, she suddenly drew back again.

She peeked out for a look.

Fang Yan was still smiling, his eyes full of warmth as he gestured for her to give it a try.

Petilil also held out her tiny arms.

"Lil~"

She continued cautiously moving out from behind her parents, the whole process very slow.

But not a single person or Pokémon hurried her.

At last, she reached Fang Yan with her head lowered and held out her trembling hands.

A gust of wind blew past, frightening her into pulling her hands back. Before she could withdraw them, a solid weight settled into her arms.

She hurriedly tightened her hold. Looking at Petilil in her arms, her body stopped trembling.

Watching the scene before him, Fang Yan felt relief wash over him.

Sure enough, cuteness is unbeatable.

Fang Yan murmured inwardly.

"How does it feel to hold her?"

Hearing the voice in front of her, she kept her gaze fixed on Petilil in her arms and nodded slightly.

Then she heard the young man before her speak again.

"You know, Pokémon can be found everywhere in this world. In forests, in the sky, in oceans, on grasslands, we can see them everywhere. They form all kinds of bonds with us humans."

Fang Yan recited a passage he had loved most in his previous life. It was precisely because of these words that he had yearned so much to come to the world of Pokémon.

"Some live in unoccupied houses and enjoy playing pranks; some wander from place to place, helping humans in need; some keep working hard for the Trainers they love; some help their Trainers treat people and Pokémon; some help their Trainers catch criminals and maintain public order."

The people and Pokémon around him were all drawn in by Fang Yan's gentle voice.

"Without them, the Pokémon Day Care might not even be able to stay open."

Gengar stretched the corners of his mouth, stuck out his tongue, and flew around. Petilil called sweetly, while the Machamp saluted.

"Without Blissey, the Pokémon Center would have a hard time keeping up with its work too."

"Bliss."

Blissey glanced at Nurse Joy and gently patted the egg she held against her front.

"Without Growlithe, Officer Jenny would have a hard time arresting criminals too."

Growlithe stuck out his tongue, his tail wagging nonstop. Seeing this, Officer Jenny crouched down and stroked his head.

"Pokémon are also friends we can't do without."

"They'll stay by our side and never abandon us."

Shauna raised her head and glanced around.

She liked Blissey, who often took care of her. She liked Growlithe, who often played with her...

Friends...

Shauna's eyes were full of confusion.

She was afraid of everything unfamiliar, whether people or Pokémon.

Except for Petilil in her arms.

Fang Yan saw that the emotions in her eyes were different when she looked at Blissey and the others compared with when she looked at Gengar and the others.

He vaguely began to understand a few things.

"Shauna."

Shauna looked at Fang Yan, the fear on her face greatly diminished. She waited for him to speak.

"Do you... like Pokémon?"

As Fang Yan finished speaking, Shauna's eyes suddenly widened, and her little mouth parted slightly.

Many scenes flashed through her mind: Blissey soothing her to sleep, Growlithe building sandcastles with her, and some stray Pokémon she had fed.

She came back to herself and looked at Fang Yan before her.

Fang Yan was waiting for her answer.

At that moment, sunlight streamed through the Pokémon Day Care's entrance, spilling inside and falling on Fang Yan's face and behind him.

Looking at Fang Yan smiling in the sunlight before her, Shauna nodded gently.

"I... I do."

Her voice was barely audible, but every person and Pokémon in the Pokémon Day Care heard it clearly.

A trace of tenderness flashed through Fang Yan's eyes. Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny looked incredulous, while Shauna's parents covered their mouths, their eyes instantly brimming with tears.

Only after a long while did her mother wipe away her tears, crouch down, put her arms around Shauna's shoulders, and speak softly.

"Then, Shauna, how about we raise a Pokémon?"

Hearing her mother's words, Shauna began trembling slightly again.

"It's all right. We can start by hatching a Pokémon Egg. That way, you'll have time to get used to it beforehand and build a bond too."

Fang Yan's voice reached her again.

He had already figured out what was causing Shauna's behavior.

Only after hearing Fang Yan's words did Shauna look up at her parents.

"C-can we? Daddy... M... Mommy..."

"Yes, of course we can, my little Shauna."

Her mother hugged Shauna and began to cry, then spoke.

Her father turned away, wiped his tears, then looked at Fang Yan.

"Do you have any Pokémon Eggs here?"