Chapter 88: A Series of Miracles
On a sunny morning, Lu Ye opened his eyes to find Cynthia brushing her dazzling golden hair. Her smooth, layered golden locks cascaded down to her waist, each strand rippling like a wave.
Dressed in her familiar black coat, Cynthia quietly combed her hair, offering Lu Ye only a gentle smile.
"Are we going to roam around all day?" Lu Ye said with a smile.
"Well, it's not impossible," Cynthia replied with a light smile.
Picking Eevee up and placing it on her shoulder, Haunter couldn't wait to push the door open, pulling out a pair of sunglasses and flashing a proud grin. Below the building, a black luxury car, dispatched by the Modu Association, waited silently.
President Song Pengcheng had even called Lu Ye the previous night. However, he didn't say much—just told Lu Ye to enjoy the day's journey. Lu Ye thought it was just a privilege of being with the Sinnoh Champion, unaware that it was part of a matchmaking plan.
The chauffeur, wearing white gloves, was silent and professional. In the soft, comfortable backseat, Cynthia gazed out at the scenery of Modu.
"Where's our first stop?"
"The aquarium," Lu Ye said, scrolling through his phone. "There's a Dewgong and Spheal show today."
Perhaps due to the area being cleared, the aquarium was sparsely populated. There was only a little girl selling flowers, balancing a small Oddish on her head while holding a bunch of dew-covered Gracidea flowers.
"Big brother, would you buy a bouquet for the pretty sister?" The little girl smiled sweetly.
"Wrap them all up," Lu Ye said. Having already accumulated a debt of 5 million, this small sum didn't matter. He took the flowers from the surprised little girl and handed them directly to Cynthia, who blinked in surprise.
"It's fine, I saved a flower for Eevee too." Lu Ye pulled out another flower and teased Eevee on his shoulder. The little guy turned red and gulped down the petals whole.
Red light flashed, and Lucario automatically emerged from its Poké Ball. It snatched the flowers from Cynthia's hands, shot Lu Ye a cold glance, and retreated back into its Poké Ball.
The aquarium was not crowded. In front of them was a blue underwater tunnel, with Magikarp and Goldeen swimming behind the glass, creating ripples in the water.
"Hauunt!" Haunter pressed its face against the glass, making a silly face at a beautifully patterned Goldeen, but the Goldeen flicked its tail and swam away, leaving Haunter feeling a bit dejected.
Cynthia gathered her golden hair at her side, offering a soft smile as she walked beside Lu Ye in the long tunnel. The deep blue of the tunnel gave a mysterious sense, as if they were in a different world, alone together.
A Gyarados swam by in the distance, and the giant wings of a Mantine blocked the sunlight, casting a shadow for 3 seconds. The show featured performances from the Dewgong and Spheal, earning rounds of applause. Lu Ye and Cynthia clapped along.
For a moment, Lu Ye almost had the illusion that the person beside him wasn't the Sinnoh Champion, but just a normal, exceptionally beautiful girl. He turned his head, making eye contact with Cynthia for a second, and in her deep gray eyes, he saw a hint of shyness.
Lu Ye's face turned a bit red. "There's still the next stop."
Lunch was at a luxurious restaurant recommended by the chauffeur, with only the two of them at the table. The chef, from Kalos, personally explained the culinary process. When the chef left, Cynthia finally set down her knife and fork and said seriously, "It's not as good as what you make."
"I think so too," Lu Ye sighed and nodded in agreement.
This world didn't have a Disneyland, but there was a similar amusement park called "Thundershock Park." Lu Ye gazed at the huge, grinning Pikachu mascot at the entrance, his expression a bit strange.
"Roller coaster?" Cynthia's eyes lit up.
Lu Ye's expression slightly changed, but Eevee and Haunter beside him both looked eager to try.
Though Garchomp could fly, being strapped into a roller coaster, its face turned ashen. Lucario was the same, tense and visibly nervous. Strong winds blasted their faces. Garchomp, in the front row, screamed in terror, while Lucario remained silent, its face pale.
Cynthia's golden hair fluttered in the wind, and her crisp laughter mixed with Haunter's sinister chuckle. After the ride, Lu Ye felt a bit dizzy, while Cynthia's face was flushed.
"Again?"
"Let's try... something else," Lu Ye said, wiping sweat from his brow as he thought about Garchomp and Lucario.
The log flume ride was a bit dull. Lu Ye waved at the Greninja operating it, who responded with a wave, then playfully shot him in the face with its Water Gun.
The Ferris wheel was the last remaining attraction. From the highest point, they could see most of Modu's skyline, and in the quiet, cramped space, Cynthia's breathing was audible.
"I find it quite magical," Cynthia suddenly spoke with a smile. She paused for a moment, as if thinking about her words, gazing at the increasingly distant scenery outside. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "I mean... encounters between people are, after all, very magical."
"Yeah," Lu Ye nodded. "Every encounter between lives must lead to something. People are the same as Pokémon in this way..."
Cynthia froze slightly. He agreed so much with this; it was almost identical to what she was thinking.
"Yeah," Cynthia smiled brightly. "In many ways, we're quite similar."
"But, I don't want to be a Trainer," Lu Ye said firmly.
"Like you said... encounters between people and Pokémon lead to something." Cynthia looked at Eevee in Lu Ye's arms and smiled faintly. "Many times, a person's destiny may not be entirely in their own hands."
Lu Ye rubbed his forehead and smiled helplessly. "As long as I can take good care of these two, I'm already very satisfied!"
The view outside continued to rise as the Ferris wheel reached the top. The surrounding sounds suddenly became quieter. Lu Ye and Cynthia's eyes met for a moment, and neither of them spoke.
At that moment, Haunter let out a loud burp. "Hauunt (¯﹃¯)!" The lunch was pretty good!
This might have been a less-than-perfect date, but Lu Ye hadn't thought that far ahead. Spending a joyful and unforgettable day with the Sinnoh Champion, the world's top Trainer, was a miracle happening right before his eyes.
Thanks to the Modu Association's arrangements, there were no unexpected interruptions throughout the day. The final stop was a movie Cynthia suggested—Karen's latest film. The title was Morning of Kirlia, an unremarkable name with an unremarkable plot, though Karen did resemble Audrey Hepburn.
Lu Ye nodded thoughtfully. After all, Karen's design was based on Audrey Hepburn! Rewriting a few scripts doesn't seem too difficult... he murmured.
By the time the day's journey ended, it was close to 8:00 PM. Cynthia had to head to the airport, and Lu Ye had to send her off. The night was gentle, with the evening breeze softly blowing from the overpass. Cynthia's black coat swayed in the wind.
Inside the Modu Association, President Song Pengcheng suddenly spoke into the intercom: "Is everything ready for the Bund direction? I'm counting down, the fireworks are about to start!"
"3, 2, 1!"
Lu Ye was about to say something when his vision was suddenly filled with brilliant fireworks. The grand fireworks burst in the sky, shining like shooting stars, creating beautiful patterns as they glowed brightly in the night.
Cynthia's eyes sparkled, her golden hair dyed a rosy hue by the fireworks. She softly said, "So beautiful..."
Before him was her exquisite profile, and Lu Ye smiled faintly. "Yeah, it's really beautiful."
Cynthia gathered her golden hair at her side, turned to face Lu Ye, and smiled sweetly. "If you come to Sinnoh, I'll invite you to the fireworks festival."
It was a rare thing for a girl to invite a guy to watch fireworks together. After all, fireworks in the summer dusk were the most beautiful.
Lu Ye gently nodded and smiled. "I will."
Time flowed gently. Cynthia gazed at the fireworks, her golden hair swaying in the soft evening wind, her face brightening and dimming in the glow. Lu Ye etched this moment into his mind.
Later, he sent Cynthia to the airport. Haunter, with tears in its eyes, waved goodbye. "Hauunt! (˘︶˘)"
Lu Ye returned home. When he woke up again, it was already the morning after Cynthia's departure.