"Cynthia, this is the person I mentioned before, Lu Ye from the Donghuang region."
Cynthia approached the camera from afar, her figure gradually becoming clearer.
The usual black trench coat had been replaced with a researcher's white lab coat, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on her high-bridged nose.
She wore no makeup. Her pale pink lips, fair and delicate bare face, and those deep gray eyes gave her an air of unfathomable depth. Her dazzling golden hair flowed down to her waist, which left Lu Ye momentarily stunned.
This is... way too beautiful!
"Hello," Cynthia nodded and gave a gentle smile. "The professor speaks very highly of you."
"Professor Yamana overpraises me…" Lu Ye felt a bit sheepish.
"The professor doesn't praise people easily."
Cynthia smiled again. "Besides, your research aligns with mine in some areas."
"You two chat; I'll get some coffee."
With that, Professor Yamana got up, leaving Cynthia and Lu Ye facing each other on the screen.
An awkward silence ensued.
Lu Ye absentmindedly petted the sleeping Eevee on his lap, lost in thought.
This voice sounds so familiar…
Where had he heard it before?
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck his mind. The Cynthia before him overlapped with the blonde girl from the game, and that slightly magnetic voice from the team chat matched perfectly.
Like a thunderclap, the realization froze Lu Ye in place.
It's really Cynthia?!
The rich lady he gamed with was actually the Sinnoh Champion?!
Holy s***! Holy s***! Holy s***!!
Lu Ye's expression was a mix of shock and disbelief.
Cynthia tilted her head curiously: "Is there something on my face?"
"You look... really good... Wait, no..." Lu Ye wiped his face, trying to recover. "Give me a moment."
Cynthia blinked, her lips curling into a faint smile.
The smile disappeared as quickly as it appeared, like ripples left by a swan dancing on water.
"Have we met before?" Cynthia asked softly.
Lu Ye shook his head.
"No?" Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, pondering. "Then why does your voice sound so familiar?"
She genuinely couldn't remember where she'd heard it before. The busy schedule of a Champion and myth researcher left little time for games.
Lu Ye’s expression turned complicated.
How am I supposed to answer this?
Tell her I was the one gaming with her? In this serious academic setting? No way.
He frowned. Admitting to being "Teacher Lu" could be really awkward right now.
He mumbled, "You might be mistaken."
"Hmm..." Cynthia scratched her head in frustration.
At that moment, Professor Yamana returned with his coffee. Cynthia nodded and smiled at Lu Ye: "Excuse me."
Her graceful figure vanished from the screen.
Professor Yamana sipped his coffee. "Anyway, if it's convenient, you can send over your Eevee later."
"Besides that, is there anything else?"
Lu Ye pondered for a moment.
"Does your lab need more staff?"
"Hmm?" Professor Yamana raised an eyebrow. "You planning to come over?"
Lu Ye had to admit: seeing Cynthia shook his resolve a little. But as a modern youth, staying true to himself was his foundation.
After thanking Professor Yamana, Lu Ye ended the call, picked up Eevee, and walked to the cozy cat bed.
He stared at the sleeping, curled-up Eevee who rolled over in its sleep.
"So the rich lady was actually Cynthia... No wonder she's loaded."
"Wait, does that mean I'm being…"
Lu Ye coughed, swallowing his words.
"No matter how rich she is, I’m not living off anyone!"
In the two months since the worldline change, Lu Ye had captured Haunter and Eevee. He’d gained new connections and now, somehow, was linked with Cynthia.
But as a trained professional, Lu Ye quickly accepted the reality of Cynthia being his gaming companion.
"No wonder she said her rates were cheap," Lu Ye muttered, aggrieved. "She’s the Sinnoh Champion; charging her thousands per hour wouldn’t be unreasonable!"
After a fierce self-critique, Lu Ye exhaled deeply, calming down.
"Stay cool. Even Red is my fan. Gaming with Cynthia isn’t a big deal."
"Business is business. Just because she’s pretty doesn’t mean she gets a discount!"
His logic was airtight. Lu Ye gave himself a mental pat on the back.
"No free rides here!"
Night had fallen. Exhausted after a long day, Lu Ye collapsed into bed and was asleep in seconds.
In the dark room, faint rustling noises stirred.
Eevee, now fully rested, opened its bright eyes and looked around alertly.
"Bui? (Tonight’s mission?)"
A sinister face floated out of the wall. Haunter grinned and nodded.
"Bui? (What’s the training tonight?)"
"Gengarr gengarr! (You’ll find out!)"
At the Yamana Research Institute, Cynthia was still mulling over the blurry impression.
"Where have I seen him before?" she murmured. "Why does he seem so familiar...?"
Internet voices were distorted enough, and with her busy schedule, she couldn’t recall.
Professor Yamana recorded Lu Ye's Eevee case.
"An Eevee with the Anticipation ability, but a feisty temperament…" He chuckled. "A fascinating pair."
"That Eevee from earlier?" Cynthia asked, intrigued.
"Yes." Professor Yamana nodded and explained its symptoms. "It might be due to environmental stress… but it won’t accept transfer, which is tricky."
Cynthia smiled. "I’ll go see the little one. I need to visit Donghuang anyway."
"For the World Master Championship?" Professor Yamana stroked his beard.
"Yes, in Modu. I’ll likely face Lance from Kanto."
Cynthia yawned, covering her mouth with a slender hand. "After this break, I’ll have no free time at all."
"Do you have contacts in Donghuang? Need introductions?"
"That’s alright." Cynthia’s mind flashed to a tricky strategist known for using Perish Song teams.
"I recently met a friend… I think he’s from Modu."
She scratched her head.
"What was his name… Teacher Lu?"