The next morning, in a quiet residential community in Suzhou and Hangzhou, Li Zhenhua was preparing to set out for an important meeting that could change his family's future.
"Be careful on the road, and be polite when speaking to others. Don't lose your temper no matter what happens, understand?" He Ye, his wife, gently reminded him as she sat in her wheelchair, straightening the lapels of his coat. Her voice was soft, but there was a firmness in her tone that showed her concern.
Li Zhenhua smiled warmly, his eyes filled with affection and gratitude. "Don't worry, I know what to do. I'll be back soon."
From beside them, their daughter chimed in, her clear voice filled with excitement. "Dad, good luck! You can do it!"
Li Zhenhua turned to her, his heart aching slightly at the sight of her bright and hopeful eyes. "Don't worry about me. Study hard at home and aim for your dream university. One day, you'll make us even prouder."
Their daughter had always been sensible beyond her years. She once dreamed of becoming a Pokémon trainer, but life had other plans. When He Ye fell ill and their family's finances grew tight, she quietly shifted her focus to academics, determined not to be a burden. That sacrifice had always weighed on Li Zhenhua's heart.
After one last look at his family, Li Zhenhua left the apartment, carrying not just his hopes, but those of his wife and daughter as well.
The journey to Shanghai was short thanks to the high-speed rail, only about thirty minutes. Yet to Li Zhenhua, the time felt longer as he stared out at the blur of passing landscapes, his mind filled with thoughts. The company that had contacted him was new but ambitious. What surprised him most was the offer: an annual salary of three million yuan, along with management rights. Even in large, established companies, such a package was rare.
It was the kind of opportunity that could change everything. With that income, He Ye could receive the best medical care. His daughter could return to chasing her dream of becoming a trainer.
But there was a catch. The contract terms were extreme. Thirty years. A confidentiality clause so strict it felt like selling his soul.
Li Zhenhua was determined to negotiate. He wasn't desperate enough to sign his life away — not yet.
When the train arrived in Shanghai, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver his destination: the Oriental Pearl Tower, specifically its famous Battle Tower.
He couldn't help but feel curious. The employer insisted on meeting at a place more associated with trainers and battles than business.
---
Inside the Battle Tower, the atmosphere was electric. Cheers and excited chatter echoed through the vast hall.
"Lost! Another junior trainer just lost!"
"That's eight now today! He's unstoppable!"
"This is insane — no one can beat that Beedrill!"
Li Zhenhua stepped inside and looked around, puzzled. A large crowd had gathered, all eyes glued to the giant screen on the wall. There, a battle was playing out live: a confident young man, maybe not even out of high school, commanding a ferocious Beedrill as it darted and struck down a Machoke with surgical precision. The opposing trainer looked helpless.
"What's going on here?" Li Zhenhua muttered under his breath. "Is this what everyone's so worked up about?"
A man standing beside him chuckled when he overheard. "Brother, you must've been living under a rock if you don't know who that is."
Li Zhenhua smiled politely. "I've been… busy lately. Haven't kept up with much news."
"I see. Well, that kid up there — that's Renjiro. He's from Anhui Province. His Beedrill has already defeated eight junior trainers today. People say his Beedrill is a god on the battlefield."
Li Zhenhua frowned slightly. "He's just a kid…"
"You'd think so, right? But Renjiro's already acknowledged as the one who faced down a wild Salamence and lived to tell the tale. That Beedrill — it's the same one from that fight. He's no ordinary student."
Li Zhenhua watched as the battle concluded. The Beedrill struck with blinding speed, and the Machoke fell. The crowd erupted again.
On the screen, Renjiro remained calm, as if the victory was expected.
Li Zhenhua shook his head in disbelief. "Unreal. He looks like he hasn't even graduated yet."
"Senior in high school. Eighteen years old," the man next to him said, his voice tinged with envy. "When I was his age, I was just worrying about passing my college entrance exams. He's out here destroying professional trainers."
Li Zhenhua sighed. The gap between people really could be this wide.
Still, he reminded himself, I'm here for work. Focus.
He pulled out his phone and called the contact who'd invited him. To his surprise, as his phone rang, so did the phone of the young man on the big screen. The sound echoed through the speakers.
Li Zhenhua froze. No… it couldn't be.
On the screen, Renjiro glanced at his phone, smiled slightly, and answered.
Li Zhenhua's heart sank. My prospective employer is… him?! A high schooler?!
---
Renjiro stepped out of the battle area and approached the meeting point within the tower. Li Zhenhua met him there, still trying to mask his shock.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Li," Renjiro said, his tone respectful and businesslike despite his youth. "Let's talk in private."
They moved to a quieter lounge where the sounds of battle faded.
Li Zhenhua found his voice. "Forgive me, I didn't expect my potential employer to be… so young."
Renjiro chuckled softly. "Understandable. But age doesn't always reflect ability — in Pokémon or business."
Li Zhenhua nodded slowly. "Your offer is very generous. But thirty years is a long time. And the confidentiality clause…"
"I know it sounds demanding," Renjiro said, leaning forward. "But I'm building something unprecedented. What I need is loyalty and stability. In exchange, I'm offering security — for you and your family."
Li Zhenhua hesitated. The sincerity in Renjiro's eyes was hard to doubt. And his achievements spoke for themselves.
Still, he had to try. "Could we discuss… perhaps a shorter term? Or an initial trial period?"
Renjiro considered this. "A trial period is fair. Let's say one year. If at the end of that time we're both satisfied, we can discuss a longer contract."
Relief flooded Li Zhenhua's face. "That sounds reasonable. Thank you."
---
Meanwhile, outside, the buzz around Renjiro only grew. His battles were being streamed online, and forums filled with posts.
> [Renjiro's Beedrill is a monster!]
[Another junior trainer falls — who's next?]
[Intermediate trainers, it's your turn!]
Even the Battle Tower officials had to change their rules. At first, Renjiro was matched against unrated opponents, but the matches were too one-sided. Now, his challenges were public, open to any trainer who dared.
And still, no one could stop him.
Renjiro had become more than just a prodigy. He was a symbol — proof that with the right training and determination, even a Pokémon like Beedrill, often underestimated, could rise above all expectations.
---
As Li Zhenhua left the Battle Tower later that day, contract in hand, he felt hopeful. He had come seeking a chance. Instead, he had found inspiration.
And as for Renjiro, the young trainer stood on the balcony of the tower, looking out over Shanghai's skyline. His phone buzzed with new challenge requests.
But Renjiro wasn't content. He knew this was just the beginning. His Beedrill had yet to meet its match. And he would keep climbing, higher and higher, until no one could doubt his place at the top.
---