Chapter 28
: Let's be bad kids together, the promise to block the bridge!
Today is a day to be happy, at least that's what Sophia thought before Xia Ming said those four words.
As always, Sofia, who lost her parents, works hard alone in the Blue Moon Blackberry Vineyard. From the age of fourteen to now at sixteen, she has been supporting her small family on her own.
Although the income of the entire Blackberry Vineyard has been nearly halved, to less than one-tenth of what it was when her parents were alive, she is very content. Especially after adopting her starter Pokémon a few days ago, her uncontrollable tear duct problems and depression have improved a lot, and at least she doesn't lose her composure and break down in tears so easily anymore.
After finishing her work, she would lock herself in the house in the afternoon to read storybooks or watch TV.
She used to just look at things without reading them aloud, but after having Yan Gougou, she worried that Yan Gougou wouldn't understand, so she slowly read them to her.
Before dinner, just like she had done every day for the past two years, she went alone, rain or shine, to the small beach not far from her home, found the familiar big rock, and sat on it to watch the sunset.
If that's all there is to it, there's nothing to be happy about. But what if she finally gets the person she's been waiting for to "keep their appointment"?
Xia Ming graduated and chose to return to Stardew Valley. More importantly, he knew that someone would be waiting for him there!
The Little Mermaid didn't get to see the prince turn around, but she did get to experience this long-awaited reunion.
He hadn't forgotten, and understood himself as always, as if there had never been a six-year, seven-month, and twenty-one-day gap between them.
He gently put an exquisite necklace on her head. What was this? Was it a prelude to a confession? She was filled with anticipation.
Since losing her father and mother, Sofia had always hoped that someone could be there for her, and now it seemed that he had arrived.
"I'm unhappy..."
As she said this, she hoped that Xia Ming would understand what she meant. What would Xia Ming do when she was unhappy in the past?
Tell stories, fairy tales she loves to hear, in the camping tent, under the watchful eyes of the stars and the moon, accompanied by the sea breeze and the waves, on this beach.
Now, perhaps it's time to find a better place?
"Are you still unhappy after seeing me? I just can't do anything with you. Come on, let's go home, I'll take you to find something fun to do!"
He understood!
Excitement, shyness, and anticipation were all intertwined in Sophia's heart. If this were an anime, she would probably be steaming by now.
She didn't refuse, but the girl's shyness still made her ask:
"What...is something that makes you happy?"
Tell me, just say it, I'll agree to it, I've been waiting for so long.
The loneliness and fear of being alone in bed on a stormy night, the shackles that shackled her, making it hard for her to breathe.
Her parents' Pokémon need her, and the Pokémon living on the farm need her. She hasn't had any complete training and is facing immense pressure right from the start.
Planting, harvesting, processing, brewing, inspecting, screening... so many things, so much work.
Hurry, someone come and help her!
"Block the evacuation point!"
eh?
Unable to hear the words she hoped to hear from Xia Ming, Sophia stared in astonishment at Xia Ming's smiling face.
Blocking... the evacuation point? What's that? Isn't the evacuation point the exit in the Hyperdimensional Operation? Why block it?
wrong!
Why do you have to block the evacuation point when you're unhappy?
You should confess your feelings to me directly, take me home, lie in bed with me tonight, whisper sweet nothings, tell me fairy tales to lull me to sleep, and then I'll wake up shyly the next morning to make you breakfast. Finally, we can live together for a while and get married to build a happy, fulfilling, and joyful family!
This is how the process should be!
"Haha! Just like before, you can't resist being teased."
"You! I'm ignoring you now!"
Seeing Xia Ming's familiar wicked smile, Sophia lowered her head again in embarrassment and annoyance, even her angry expression was quite adorable.
After a moment, Xia Ming stopped teasing Sophia. In fact, he really did plan to take Sophia to block the bridge and make her smile, but not now.
"Alright, it's getting late. Have you had dinner yet? If not, I'll cook."
"Phew... Not yet. By the way, will you leave again?"
"I'm not leaving. I've decided to inherit Grandpa's farm and stay in Stardew Valley forever. What, are you too busy? But compared to you, I'm just a greenhorn."
"No...no, okay, I'm hungry. Do you have any food that rock dogs can eat?"
As she spoke, Sofia picked up the rock dog beside her, who was still confused and looked bewildered.
Trainers are truly complex creatures.
"Of course, by the way, let me introduce you to my partner, Younggilas!"
Bang!
"Yukichi Yukichi!"
A flash of red light, and Larvitar makes a dazzling appearance!
Boom!
So the small rock beneath him was crushed.
"Yukichi Yukichi~"
Stepping on the broken rocks, Larvitar quickly approached the two and extended his hand to the trainer's partner in a friendly gesture.
"Hello Larvitar, this is Rockruff."
Sofia smiled and put the rock dog down, while reaching out to shake hands with Larva's little hand.
The rockhound, after being put down, circled Younggiras twice, then stretched out its head and sniffed his scent before showing any goodwill:
"Yo~ yo~"
"Yoji~"
Pokémon friendships are actually quite simple; look, these two kids quickly became friends.
Xia Ming and Sophia stood up together. Before leaving, Sophia asked with some doubt:
"Xia Ming, what exactly does 'blocking the evacuation point' mean?"
"Hmm, it wouldn't be fun if I made it clear beforehand. Let me take you gambling once I'm done with what I'm doing in a couple of days."
At this point, Xia Ming revealed a wicked smile:
"For now, let's keep it a secret. Just know that we're going to do things that bad kids do."
"Something only bad kids would do?"
Sofia looked surprised, but then she changed the subject. Since we weren't going to block the evacuation point tonight, we had to do something, right?
"Then... tonight..."
"Of course I'll tell you stories. There are still 722 nights to go in the 1001 Nights, aren't there?"
"Hmm... okay."
As they walked on the sand, Sophia held Xia Ming's hand tightly, looking down at the necklace around her neck.
She reached out and touched the heart-shaped pendant hanging from the necklace.
She looks so beautiful; she should cherish her for a lifetime.
As a return gift, breakfast will be provided to her!