Hearthome City.
Around ten o'clock at night.
After training Lucario, Cynthia returned to her villa.
Cynthia's villa wasn't large in living space, but it had a yard.
The story has to start earlier.
When Li Wei went to the supermarket to buy ingredients,
Seeing Metagross intently reading a Breeding Manual, and Lucario eager for more training...
To thank Li Wei for going out late at night specifically to cook her a meal,
Cynthia decided to take Lucario and the others out for training; Garchomp could also train Drakloak.
So, when Li Wei arrived at the villa,
The villa was empty.
If Cynthia hadn't told him the correct password, Li Wei might have thought he'd gone to the wrong house.
Upon learning that Cynthia had taken Lucario and the others out to train, Li Wei stopped worrying.
Although taking Lucario and the others out to train late at night, it was truly others who should be worried.
With Garchomp's protection,
Cynthia was as safe as could be.
Cynthia skillfully entered her birthday, 1029.
"Beep, beep... beep-beep-beep."
The moment she unlocked the door, Cynthia's gaze went straight ahead, not finding Li Wei's figure.
But a fragrant aroma had already wafted over.
Passing through the entryway to the living room, the obstacles blocking Cynthia's view disappeared.
In the not-so-large kitchen, Cynthia saw a busy figure from behind.
From Cynthia's aesthetic perspective, Li Wei's physique was excellent, with broad shoulders that didn't appear overly muscular.
Although Bruno and Da You were very strong, Cynthia politely declined to associate with such muscle-bound individuals.
It wasn't that such physiques were bad, just that they didn't align with her aesthetic.
She still preferred the slender yet not frail, smoothly contoured forms of Garchomp and Lucario.
"You're back?"
In the kitchen, the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board did not stop.
Li Wei's greeting was very ordinary, so ordinary that Cynthia was slightly taken aback.
Cynthia couldn't help but smile, "I'm back."
The weather had turned warmer, and Cynthia took off her black trench coat, revealing the green shirt she wore underneath.
She unbuttoned her cuffs, skillfully tied her golden hair into a single ponytail, then rolled up her sleeves and came to Li Wei's side,
"Do you need any help?"
Li Wei refused.
"You must be tired from training Lucario and the others. You should go sit down; it'll be ready soon."
Although Cynthia meant well, her cooking skills were better left unmentioned.
A natural smile appeared on Cynthia's lips,
"Today, I'm not just a guest. Although my cooking is indeed not good, I can still be a helper."
Li Wei didn't believe it.
But he had to believe the facts.
Cynthia was very steady with a knife when cutting vegetables, clearly having cut them before.
Although her knife skills were average, so much so that Farfetch'd would even look down on them.
But being pretty was enough.
Li Wei asked in confusion, "You haven't studied cooking, so why are you so skilled at cutting vegetables?"
"Have you forgotten? Roland learned cooking from Lien."
That was true, but Li Wei still didn't understand,
"But what does that have to do with this?"
"Although Roland usually cooks at home, I still help her out when I have time."
Li Wei nodded in understanding.
He no longer spoke to disturb Cynthia as she cut vegetables.
With Li Wei's knife skills, he could casually look away while cutting vegetables without issue, but if Cynthia wasn't careful, she might get hurt.
Unexpectedly, Cynthia and Li Wei's Pokemon were crowded in the living room and did not come into the kitchen.
"Do I only need to cut these?"
Li Wei looked at Cynthia, whose hair was simply tied into a ponytail with a rubber band, a playful strand of hair falling beside her cheek.
"Yes, you go rest. It'll be ready soon."
Seeing that Li Wei's hotpot base was indeed almost ready,
Cynthia also washed the knives, then washed her hands and tied up her sleeves.
Since they were eating with Pokemon, Li Wei simply made hotpot for convenience.
He wanted to make it more elaborate, but time didn't allow it.
If he cooked a few more dishes, he wouldn't know when they'd finally eat.
During the cooking process, Li Wei also found time to make Energy Cubes.
This seemed quite magical to Cynthia.
When others made Energy Cubes, they wished they could watch them constantly.
Li Wei, on the other hand, cooked and made Energy Cubes at the same time.
The crucial thing was that the Energy Cubes he made were of perfect quality.
Perhaps this was talent.
At least this was something Cynthia couldn't learn.
Around ten o'clock,
They finally had their dinner for the day.
Li Wei first placed custom-flavored Energy Cubes for Garchomp and Lucario.
Li Wei and Cynthia ate relatively quietly, falling into a state of casual conversation.
Conversely, the Pokemon's state was quite unique; Garchomp and Dragapult were laughing heartily together.
The two Lucario formed a stark contrast.
Li Wei's Lucario slowly scooped spoonful after spoonful, exquisitely elegant.
Meanwhile, Cynthia's Lucario's hands blurred into afterimages, its mouth nearly stuffed with Energy Cubes.
Cynthia suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, why did you become a Breeder?"
Li Wei thought for a moment, "At first, I thought it was because of debt, but later I realized it must be passion."
Li Wei was completely belated in this realization.
"Passion, huh?"
Cynthia understood, just like her love for researching ancient myths and history.
Cynthia looked at Lucario, Metagross, Arcanine, and Drakloak, her gaze slowly sweeping over them.
If not for passion, Li Wei would not treat his Pokemon as friends and family.
Cynthia did the same.
She had long since become family with her own Pokemon.
"How's the Breeding Center doing lately? Nothing like that has happened again, has it?"
"No, it's been good. Why do you ask?"
The Breeding Center had been surprisingly smooth sailing lately.
Except that the main quest was indeed a bit difficult to do.
Cynthia's expression relaxed, "That's good then."
What Li Wei didn't know was that Cynthia had secretly looked after the Breeding Center.
Although she wasn't suppressing other Breeding Houses,
She simply informed the Alliance that, at least under normal operation, the Breeding Center should not encounter any problems.
Later, Cynthia learned the full story.
Tian Guan Breeding House in Jubilife City had first engaged in a price war, then tried to smear the Breeding Center through procurement channels and online, but neither succeeded.
This happened precisely during the period she was temporarily staying at the Breeding Center.
In fact, if Li Wei or even the Breeding Center's employees had just told her,
Cynthia could have ended Tian Guan Breeding House's price war on the grounds of unfair competition.
But Li Wei and the Breeding Center's employees never mentioned it.
If she hadn't been told in advance, Cynthia wouldn't have believed it.
Thinking of this, Cynthia asked curiously, "At that time, Tian Guan Breeding House was clearly targeting you. Why didn't you tell me? We've known each other since childhood, so we should at least be considered friends, right?"
Li Wei pondered for a moment, "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"