On the way back to Jubilife City, Li Wei first reported his advancement to the top 16 to his grandfather, while A-Jin was already bragging in the group chat.
A-Jin typed furiously on his phone, "Top 16? Isn't that easy?"
Xiao Qian said disdainfully in a voice message, "Only top 16. Brag after you win the Champion title!"
Qinglv: "I hope I can still see that face of yours when we reach the top eight."
Kona said in surprise, "Speaking of which, I'm surprised you agreed to be a judge."
Qinglv sighed, "Research costs money. Mr. Harrod provides a considerable amount of sponsorship to the Dr. Damu Research Institute every year."
Kona instantly understood.
No choice, he gave too much.
Xiao Huang also popped up,
"How about Mr. Li Wei? Did he pass?"
Li Wei happened to see it,
"Yes, I passed. I was first in both rounds."
"So amazing!"
Lt. Surge caught the key point, "You were first in both rounds, so what about A-Jin?"
Before Li Wei could answer, A-Jin quickly replied with a voice message, "I was second in both rounds!"
Lt. Surge: "As expected of you, A-Jin, the Second Place King!"
A-Jin actually didn't lie.
It was just that one round was second place, and the other was second to last.
Second to last is also second.
Watching this scene, Li Wei sneered inwardly, 'Keep bragging, A-Jin. You'll be exposed when the show airs.'
"Just get through this round. As long as I win the Champion title... no one will care if I was second to last in the top 16."
A-Jin thought happily to himself.
Flying and chatting, the two returned to the Zhuqing Breeding Center in a flash.
The Breeding Center was relatively quiet at 7:30 PM, but customers and staff could still be seen strolling under the streetlights.
"From here to that building, and then further back to the west gate, it's all my family's."
A-Jin's eyes widened.
"I've only seen it in videos. I didn't expect your family's Breeding Center to be so big!"
The Breeding House where A-Jin worked was a small-scale Breeding House run by his grandparents.
It only accepted skill learning and foster care breeding.
Unlike Li Wei's family, where even hair management, essential oil care, and styling design were within their scope of work.
"Little Boss."
"Brother Wei."
Not only the Breeding Center staff, but even customers were already very familiar with Li Wei.
A tall woman of about thirty, holding a Furfrou, smiled and said, "Xiao Wei, did you advance in the competition?"
"Of course I advanced, Sister Qian."
Sister Qian was a wealthy woman living nearby.
Many houses nearby belonged to her, and she often brought her Furfrou for styling.
And she always chose the two most expensive people: Li Wei for Furfrou's care, and his uncle for styling design.
"Then I'll head back first."
Li Wei had already told his parents not to wait for him in the evening, so everyone else had already eaten.
Li Wei joked, "Since you're here, help me look after the Pokemon."
A-Jin was on the verge of tears, "Please be a human! I haven't eaten, and I'm a guest!"
Li Wei didn't expect A-Jin to react so strongly,
"Just kidding, my family stops business at five o'clock. There are no customers at this hour."
Li Wei released several Luxury Balls at once, "Everyone, rest first. I'll prepare your dinner right away."
Milotic, Metagross, Lucario, Arcanine, and Dragapult dispersed.
Seeing this, A-Jin also released his Typhlosion, Togekiss, Ambipom, and Politoed.
A-Jin only brought these four; the rest were left at home, as he was only here for the competition.
"I'll take care of Explosive Taro and their food too. You don't have to worry."
"Awooo!"
"Togekiss!"
"Croak!"
"Chirp!"
A-Jin's Pokemon had all met Li Wei before, so A-Jin didn't need to introduce them one by one.
A-Jin rubbed his already rumbling stomach,
"I'm hungry too."
"You won't starve. I'll make it for you."
The old man had already gone back to his room to rest.
Li Wei was not an unfilial grandson; he couldn't specially ask the old man to cook, so Li Wei had to do it himself.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Li Wei first sent a message to Comrade Leon, "Safely home. I'm going to the cafeteria to make something to eat."
Then he took A-Jin to the cafeteria.
Looking at the spacious cafeteria where one could run, A-Jin was stunned, "Even your cafeteria is this big?!"
"This was left by the Breeding Center's previous owner. It was originally a cafeteria, but it went out of business."
After Li Wei's family took over the Breeding Center, this cafeteria was also taken over incidentally.
Currently, it is only used as a staff cafeteria. If they want to open a Pokemon Restaurant in the future, it will need to be renovated.
At 7:30 PM,
Only two aunties were left in the cafeteria, washing dishes.
"Xiao Wei is back. This must be your friend. Shall I make something for you two?"
"He's A-Jin. I'll make it myself. You two can leave after you finish washing up. I'll clean up the rest myself."
A-Jin also greeted them under Li Wei's introduction, "Auntie Fengdai, Auntie Kuishi, hello."
A-Jin was young and had a sunny smile, which was a type the two aunties particularly liked.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Do you want me to introduce one to you?"
Li Wei immediately covered A-Jin's mouth,
"No need!"
He could be without a girlfriend, but A-Jin couldn't.
It was the same principle as not being able to drive a Range Rover with a brother.
Auntie Fengdai and Auntie Kuishi looked a little regretful.
Speaking of meals, Comrade Leon never shortchanged himself. He would never eat what others made if he could make it himself.
Of course, except for what the old man and Li Wei made.
If anyone's cooking skills could gain his approval,
They would naturally be on his list.
The two cafeteria aunties only did washing dishes and tidying up. They were enthusiastic, but their cooking skills were only at a home level.
Moreover, Li Wei wanted to personally host A-Jin,
As a thank you for him advertising Li Wei's family recently, he naturally couldn't let the cafeteria aunties cook.
Li Wei glanced at the refrigerator, which was fully stocked.
Even if it were empty, it wouldn't matter; the cafeteria had a freezer.
"Can you eat spicy food?"
A-Jin patted his chest, "No problem!"
"Then I'll make you Mapo Tofu, Spicy Diced Chicken, Chopped Pepper Fish Head, and Boiled Beef. There's also chilled Smoked Round Citrus Juice in the fridge, so I won't make soup."
"Slurp~"
Listening to Li Wei list the dishes, A-Jin unconsciously swallowed his saliva.
However, before cooking, Li Wei had to prepare food for the Pokemon first.
He needed to make a special meal for Drakloak. The three Dragon Scales he got from Rayquaza were to be eaten over three days.
The two item lottery tickets obtained from treating Rayquaza yielded a Durin Berry and a Soothe Bell.
Soothe Bell: When held by a Pokemon, it becomes more intimate with its Trainer.
Durin Berry had no effect on improving abilities but could make a Pokemon more handsome, used for participating in Contests.
Li Wei gave the Soothe Bell to Shaymin as a thank-you gift for the Miracle Seed He had given him earlier.
Since Shaymin liked to play hide-and-seek, wearing the Soothe Bell made hide-and-seek sound like a death knell...
A-Jin casually turned on the cafeteria TV and watched Steven and Piao Tai's battle.