Su Yu looked at the freshly baked energy cubes and felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The energy cubes prepared for Garchomp were a soft lavender color, and when they first came out of the oven, they even emitted a faint fluorescent glow. This wasn't the result of any strange additives—only when a true top-tier energy cube formula was successfully completed would it produce this kind of light. It was the clearest sign of success. Once the cubes cooled down completely, the glow would naturally fade away.
He carefully took the huge trays out of the oven and set them aside to cool, then immediately loaded the next batch in. For Garchomp alone, the oven needed to run five full cycles to complete a month's worth of top-quality energy cubes. Glancing at the exhausted children nearby, Su Yu couldn't help but smile. He waved them off gently, telling them to take a break and rest first. There was no need for them to keep pushing themselves—later on, when it came time to deal with the remaining tree fruits, their help would still be needed. Hearing this, the kids nodded obediently and ran out without hesitation. Watching their backs, Su Yu felt quietly grateful. Without their assistance, he would have had to spend far more time and effort here.
Once alone again, Su Yu returned his focus to work. Chen Xier's energy cubes were already fully baked; all that remained was cooling, packaging, and labeling. After finishing the last batch, he headed to the orphanage for lunch. By then, Xiaoqing had already fed the Pokémon, and everyone was sitting down to eat. Su Yu joined the children for a simple meal, enjoying the rare moment of calm. Just as he was about to head back to the workshop, Aunt Wang called out to him, telling him that she had already contacted her daughter—Xiaoyu would be returning the very next day and had agreed to help.
Hearing this, Su Yu nodded, though he couldn't help feeling slightly amused. Both their names were pronounced almost the same, and for a moment he even wondered whether Aunt Wang ever got confused calling one or the other. Shaking off the thought, he returned to the breeding house and got back to work. By now, the energy cubes prepared for Garchomp had fully cooled. Su Yu took out the packaging boxes he had purchased earlier—each box equivalent to one meal, three boxes per day. In total, more than ninety boxes were packed, stacked neatly into three large crates. After labeling each batch clearly—usage instructions, Pokémon name, and dosage—he set them aside, ready for Chen Xier to collect.
There was no time to rest. Six more customized energy cubes still needed to be made. Su Yu worked late into the night, finishing the energy cubes for Metagross and Aggron before finally stopping around midnight. The next day, he continued without pause, successfully completing the energy cubes for Aegislash and the Aluminum Steel Dragon by the afternoon. Just as he finished the final preparations, a crisp, energetic voice rang out from outside.
"Brother Su Yu!"
Su Yu turned his head and saw a slender girl with long black hair standing at the entrance, looking both surprised and excited. For a brief moment, he was stunned, then recognition dawned. "Xiaoyu?" She stepped forward immediately, greeting him with obvious excitement and telling him she was back. Su Yu blinked, taking a closer look. It had really been a long time. The crybaby with snot bubbles from his childhood was gone; the girl in front of him looked gentle and pleasant, not stunningly beautiful but the kind of person who naturally felt comfortable to be around.
After chatting briefly, Xiaoyu curiously looked around the breeding house, her eyes landing on the busy workspace. Seeing Su Yu in the middle of work, she asked if he was still busy and, without waiting for an answer, rolled up her sleeves and volunteered to help. Su Yu didn't refuse. Extra hands were always welcome, and this was a good opportunity for her to familiarize herself with the environment. He quickly assigned her tasks, and she began processing tree fruits according to his instructions with practiced efficiency. Watching her movements, Su Yu could tell immediately—she wasn't inexperienced. She had clearly done this kind of work many times before.
While working, Xiaoyu glanced at the stacked boxes nearby, her curiosity growing. She asked whether Su Yu had taken on orders, and why there were so many energy cubes prepared. Su Yu answered honestly, explaining that two wealthy clients had placed long-term customized orders and that there were still three more types left to complete. Hearing this, Xiaoyu was visibly surprised. Her mother had told her the breeding house had just opened—yet there were already such high-level commissions. As she looked at the ingredients and tools in use, confusion deepened. The combinations were nothing like what she had learned before; even Pokémon props were being incorporated. Could these really be advanced energy cubes?
As if reading her thoughts, Su Yu explained calmly that these were top-tier, fully customized energy cubes, made specifically for individual Pokémon. That was precisely why the business existed in the first place. He then reassured her that from now on, she could work here properly. Her salary wouldn't be low, and he would personally teach her how to formulate these energy cubes. With enough experience, becoming a senior breeder would be well within reach.
Xiaoyu froze for a moment, staring at Su Yu in disbelief. What shocked her wasn't the promise of teaching or the salary—it was the realization behind his words. After a brief silence, she asked hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer, "Brother Su Yu… are you already a master breeder?"
In her memory, Su Yu had only just graduated. She herself had barely passed the intermediate breeder exam. And yet, standing in front of her now was someone casually producing master-level, customized energy cubes as if it were routine work.