Xiaoxia and Hanako's Bedtime Talk

The three of them squeezed into Hanako's not-so-spacious kitchen and started getting busy.

Hanako was in charge of cooking, Xiaoxia was in charge of washing and chopping vegetables, and Jiangchuan was in charge of preparing meat.

A delicious aroma soon filled the kitchen.

The rich aroma of cream mingled with the fresh scent of seafood, slowly spreading through the air and filling the entire small house.

Xiaoxia was peeling potatoes while secretly swallowing her saliva.

Hanako was stirring the cream stew in the pot when she suddenly heard a "glug" sound. She turned around and saw that Xia's throat had moved again.

She couldn't help but laugh: "Xiaoxia, bear with it, it'll be a while."

Xiaoxia stared longingly at the pot: "I know... I just... wanted to get a feel for it beforehand."

Jiang Chuan was slicing chicken wings beside him, his knife skills were swift and precise, and with one cut, the meat and bone were clearly separated.

Upon hearing this, he glanced at Xiaoxia and said, "Didn't you just eat two bread rolls outside? Are you hungry again?"

Xiaoxia retorted confidently, "Bread is bread, and a main meal is a main meal; they're two different things!"

Hanako laughed so hard her shoulders were shaking, and tears were almost streaming down her face.

The person who cooked this meal was happy, and the person waiting for it was even happier.

By the time the last dish was served, it was already completely dark outside the window.

Hanako lit the candles.

A short glass candlestick sat in the center of the dining table, the candlelight flickering gently, casting a warm orange glow on everyone's faces.

The table was piled high with food.

The seafood cream stew is served in a deep white dish, the broth thick and rich, with shrimp and scallops peeking out and steaming.

The pan-fried fish fillet is golden brown, and a few drops of lemon juice squeezed on top make it incredibly fragrant.

The honey-glazed chicken wings, glistening with a caramelized color and sprinkled with white sesame seeds, are so irresistible.

The vegetable soup, served in a handled bowl, was vibrant in color and topped with a touch of light cream.

There was also a bowl of avocado salad, neatly arranged to the side.

Xiaoxia sat at the table, her hands clasped together, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm starting!"

The three raised their glasses.

The cup contains iced fruit tea that Hanako brewed herself; it's sweet, sour, and refreshing.

"Cheers~"

Welcome home.

When Hanako said this, her gaze slid across Jiang Chuan's face and then landed on Xiaoxia, the curve of her lips like the gentlest curve in the world.

This meal took a long time to finish.

No one was in a hurry, and no one cared about their image.

Xiaoxia's mouth was glistening with oil, and there was even a trace of cream on the corner of her lips.

Hanako laughed as she watched, then took a napkin and gently wiped it off for her.

Jiang Chuan slowly and methodically cut the fish fillets, but he ate just as much as he wanted.

The three little guys also got a treat, and they ate around their little food bowls on the floor, wagging their tails.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the three of them cleaned up the table together.

Hanako brewed another pot of hot tea, and the three of them sat in the living room, chatting casually.

The faint chirping of insects outside the window made the room even quieter.

"It's getting late."

Hanako glanced at the clock on the wall and put down her teacup.

"It's time to arrange rooms."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiaoxia suddenly leaned over and grabbed Huazi's arm.

"I'm sleeping with Hanako-nee tonight!"

She made the announcement with complete confidence.

Then he turned to look at Jiang Chuan and deliberately added a fierce remark.

"You! You big pervert! Go sleep alone!"

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow.

"Um?"

Xia snorted and didn't answer, but just hugged Hua Zi's arm even tighter.

She actually had her own agenda.

She suddenly became very curious about the beginning of Hanako and Egawa's story.

Tonight is a perfect opportunity to return to where we all started.

She could cling to Hanako and listen to her tell stories of the past.

"Hanako-nee, sleep with me tonight, I have so much to tell you."

Xiaoxia shook Huazi's arm, her tone softening and becoming slightly coquettish.

Hanako was so flustered by her shaking that she could no longer resist and nodded with a smile.

"Okay, okay, I'll sleep with you."

She looked at Jiang Chuan with a hint of apology in her eyes.

Jiang Chuan, on the other hand, remained completely calm and composed.

He had just had his fill of fun at the hotel in Tokiwa City, playing the role of Zhao Zilong of Changshan and fighting fiercely.

Taking a break today and becoming the Eighth Prince is not necessarily a bad thing.

"Okay, then I'll sleep by myself."

He stood up, stretched, walked up to Xiaoxia, and looked down at her.

"But don't kick Hanako-nee out of bed in the middle of the night."

Xiaoxia pouted: "I won't!"

Jiang Chuan looked at Hanako, his gaze softening slightly.

Goodnight, Hanako-nee.

Hanako tilted her head back, a smile playing on her lips.

"Good night."

Jiang Chuan walked up to Xiaoxia and pinched her cheek.

Goodnight, Xiaoxia.

Xiaoxia snorted, but still whispered back, "Goodnight."

Jiang Chuan turned around and walked towards his bedroom.

…………

Hanako led Kasumi back to the bedroom and gently closed the door behind her.

As soon as Xiaoxia entered the room, she looked around curiously. The room wasn't large, but it was extremely tidy. The bed was made perfectly smooth, and the corners of the blankets were tucked in meticulously. Several small succulents sat on the windowsill, their plump leaves gleaming warmly under the yellow lamplight.

Her gaze swept around the room and finally landed on the desk by the window.

There wasn't much on the table: a small lamp, a few books, and a pen.

The pen rested on the edge of the table, its silver cap gleaming under the light.

Xiaoxia walked over, lightly touched the penholder with her fingertip, and then withdrew it.

She couldn't quite explain why, but she felt that the pen was somewhat out of place with the warm atmosphere of the room.

It was so ordinary, like an old thing that you could just pull out of any drawer, yet it was placed there neatly, as if its owner had deliberately reserved a place for it.

Her gaze fell on the chair in front of the desk.

It was a wooden chair with a backrest, covered by a thin, light-colored cushion whose edges had faded slightly from washing. Several faint scratches could be seen on the chair legs.

Xiaoxia tilted her head.

There are many objects in this room that have a story to tell, but somehow, there seems to be an invisible thread connecting this chair and that pen. She can't quite put her finger on it, but her woman's intuition tells her that these two things must be hiding something.

Hanako was opening the wardrobe to get her pajamas when she sensed Kasumi standing motionless in front of the desk and turned around to look at her.

She followed Xiaoxia's gaze, which landed on the pen and then on the chair.

For a split second, Hanako paused.

The memory was like a lamp suddenly turned on, illuminating my mind in an instant. Countless details flooded back like a tide, so clear as if they had happened just yesterday.

I was sitting in this very chair back then...

Then Jiang Chuan opened the door to the story that followed.

After Jiang Chuan used this pen, Hanako picked it up and put it on the table.

I can't explain why I didn't throw it away. Maybe it was a keepsake, or maybe it was just something I did casually.

…………

"Hanako-nee, what are you laughing at by staring at that pen?"

Xiaoxia's voice suddenly came closer.

Hanako snapped out of her daze and found that Kasumi was right in front of her, her eyes sparkling as she stared at her face, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Smiling so sweetly, there must be something going on."

Xia's arm wrapped around Hanako like a little snake, passing behind her and loosely encircling her waist. Her chin rested on Hanako's shoulder, her voice soft and clingy, as if she were about to playfully pester her.

"Tell me, what exactly happened between you and Huai Jiangchuan in the beginning?"

Hanako stiffened slightly from the hug, then relaxed her shoulders and gave a helpless smile.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"I want to hear it! Tell me, tell me!"

Xiaoxia nestled against her shoulder like a little animal begging for food.

Hanako blushed and gently patted her head.

"Change into your pajamas first, then lie in bed and talk slowly."

"Okay, okay! I'll change it right away!"

Xiaoxia sprang away, stood by the bed, and in a flash stripped off her clothes, leaving only a tank top and shorts. She moved with incredible speed, as if Hanako would change her mind if she hesitated even a minute longer.

Hanako shook her head at the sight, then turned her back and slowly took off her pajamas, changing into a smooth, light-colored slip dress. The hem of the dress only reached above her knees, revealing two straight and shapely legs that were dazzlingly white under the bedside lamp.

Xiaoxia had already crawled into bed, lifted a corner of the blanket, and patted the mattress.

"Hanako-nee, come in."

Hanako turned off the lights, leaving only a small bedside nightlight. She lifted the corner of the blanket and lay down, and Xia immediately clung to her like a magnet, using her hands and feet to treat her like a human-shaped pillow.

The two were separated only by a thin layer of clothing, and they could both feel the warmth emanating from each other.

Xiaoxia nuzzled Hanako's hair, her voice soft: "Let's begin."

Hanako stared at the ceiling, silent for a few seconds. The dim light of the nightlight cast a very pale orange glow over their heads, like a thin veil.

She took a soft breath.

"Actually, there wasn't anything particularly special about how it started... It was just the two of us living under one roof. He was injured at that time..."

Xiaoxia hummed in agreement, indicating that she was listening.

"I'm older than him, and at first I treated him like a younger brother. He's very sensible, but sometimes the way he looks at me... doesn't seem like a younger brother at all."

Xiaoxia chuckled to herself in bed: "And then?"

"Then..." Hanako's voice lowered, her ears burning red, "and then the incident happened."

She bit her lower lip, recalling the scene from that day, and even her toes curled up in the blankets.

Hanako spoke slowly, while Kasumi bombarded her with questions one after another, her words coming out at a rapid-fire pace.

After learning about it, Xiaoxia covered her mouth and laughed until her eyes curved into crescent moons.

"Hanako-nee, you're doomed. You'll never escape that chair for the rest of your life."

Hanako chuckled softly and reached out to pinch Kasumi's waist: "You little ingrate, you're laughing at me."

Xiaoxia didn't dodge; instead, she moved even closer, her forehead touching Huazi's forehead, their noses almost touching.

The two burst into laughter again.

I don't know how long we talked, from our first time on the chair, to all sorts of things during our trip, and then to the absurdity of that night in Tokiwa City. The more Xia listened, the more engrossed she became, rolling around with the blanket between her legs, occasionally letting out exclamations like "Oh my god," "Oh my god," and "Bad Egawa."

Finally, the two of them got tired of talking, and their voices grew softer and softer. Xia's arm was still draped over Hanako's waist, and she had already closed her eyes in a half-asleep state. Hanako was also a little too tired to stay awake, so she gently pulled the blanket up to cover their shoulders.

Moonlight streamed through the curtains and fell on the empty chair.

A night breeze slipped in through the cracks in the window, gently lifting the gauze curtains, as if someone were quietly walking past the chair.

..............................

Early the next morning.

When Jiang Chuan came out of the room, it was just getting light.

He changed into some light sportswear and did a full set of morning exercises in the yard. Push-ups, squats, and several sets of short shuttle runs, until he was covered in a thin layer of sweat. The sun slowly rose from behind the mountains, bathing Zhenxin Town in a pale golden light.

He went back to his room, took a shower, and changed his clothes before coming out.

The living room was quiet. There was no movement in the kitchen, and the dining table was empty. He glanced up at the second floor; Hanako's door was tightly closed, and there wasn't a sound coming from inside.

Jiang Chuan paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Oh, even Hanako-nee has times when she wants to sleep in."

He walked to the top of the stairs, listened carefully, and could vaguely hear Xia's soft snoring and Hua Zi's steady breathing. The two seemed to be sleeping on top of each other, their breathing rhythms intertwined.

Jiang Chuan didn't go up and call out.

"Xiaoxia's got some nerve, she's even made Hanako-nee lazy. What were those two doing last night?"

He walked back to the sofa, ready to call Pikachu to come along to Professor Oak's lab.

But when I looked down, I saw the three little ones sleeping soundly on the sofa.

Pikachu cradled Eevee's tail in its arms, its head resting on Eevee's soft belly. Eevee curled up in a circle, surrounding Togepi, its pink little nose twitching gently in its sleep. Togepi lay on its back, its little belly rising and falling, its soft breathing making the fur on its belly tremble.

The three fluffy balls huddled together, like a litter of newborn puppies.

Jiang Chuan stood by and watched for a few seconds, but ultimately couldn't bear to disturb them.

"Alright, you guys can go back to sleep too."

He tiptoed into the kitchen, grabbed a slice of bread, took a couple of bites, poured himself a glass of milk, and gulped it down, thus making do with breakfast.

Before leaving, he glanced upstairs one last time, then shook his head with a smile.

"This whole family slept in today."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out, heading towards the direction of Oak's research lab.

A morning breeze blew down from the mountains, carrying the scent of earth and grass. The paths in Zhenxin Town were still glistening with dew, and the fences on both sides were covered with wild vines, dotted with tiny white flowers.

Jiang Chuan walked briskly and soon saw the familiar white building of the research institute.

Professor Oak's research institute remains unchanged.

There were still no guards at the entrance, and the gate remained wide open.

Jiang Chuan stepped through the gate and looked around.

The lawn was still so green, and several large trees stood by the yard, their shadows stretching long in the morning light.

Several Rattatas circled on the grass, chasing their own tails. Above, several Pidgeys and Butterfrees flew around, their wings scattering fine scales that glittered in the sunlight.

Jiang Chuan squinted and watched for a while.

The aura emanating from these Pokémon was completely unfamiliar, unlike any of the ones he had caught. He didn't pay much attention, assuming that Professor Oak had probably moved the pair of Butterfree he had been fostering elsewhere.

He walked straight across the lawn toward the main building of the research institute.

As soon as he stepped into the building, he saw Professor Oak with his back to him, one hand on his hip and the other holding a phone receiver, grinning from ear to ear.

"Okay, okay, Nanami, remember to contact me before you come back. Um, I'll arrange what you need. I have guests here, so I'll stop here for today. I need to go and greet them."

The doctor hung up the phone, turned around, and immediately saw Jiang Chuan standing at the door.

His already smiling face instantly blossomed, and his eyes lit up.

"Good lad! You're back!"

Professor Oak strode over and slapped Jiang Chuan on the shoulder with his thick palm, making Jiang Chuan's shoulder sag.

"How's it going? Did you get all eight badges? What new Pokémon did you catch recently? Any new academic discoveries? Have you recorded the data? Have you researched the evolutionary forms? Why don't you send any data to the research institute? I'm getting impatient waiting!"

Professor Oak rattled off a whole string of questions in one breath, speaking at a speed like firecrackers, leaving Jiang Chuan no time to catch his breath.

Jiang Chuan was jolted by the pat and rubbed his shoulder, both amused and exasperated.

"Professor Oak, slow down. I just got back and I'm still catching my breath."

Professor Oak laughed heartily, patted him on the shoulder twice more, and finally withdrew his hand, eagerly awaiting his reply.