Chapter 148 What Kind of Look Is That Kind of Look

Although the wounds heavily battered by the falling rocks had already been treated just a moment ago, the mental energy consumed today was truly immense. Ralts rarely had the opportunity to experience such a high-tension match from start to finish.

Fortunately, the high-intensity training from the past period allowed Ralts to not be completely adapted yet, but at least kept her from falling into total panic and helplessness.

Ralts was indeed exhausted, but the words that slipped past her lips were: "I'm fine, I'm not tired at all. Just now, Mom looked really happy."

Tang Yi shook his head. "Adults and their vanity. I'm just worried that when the New Year comes around, my younger cousins are going to hate me."

Ralts asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

Tang Yi explained, "Well, it's like this. In our family's tradition, all the uncles and aunts get together for the New Year's Eve dinner."

"No, I mean, why would they hate you?"

"You saw it just now. We only won a single match, and my mom came this close to summoning every distant relative in existence. If this keeps up, I'm going to become the legendary 'child of other people' in the mouths of those relatives, and nobody likes the child of other people."

"Oh," Ralts replied.

Tang Yi knew she still didn't really understand, but he just smiled and didn't bother explaining further.

Even though the hotel was equipped with fully functional training facilities, Tang Yi had no intention of using them. With only a day and a half left until Wednesday, it was much better to just get some good rest.

After every match, Ralts would manage to get herself all dusty and dirty. The room had a fantastic bathtub, even equipped with a massage function. Taking a soak would feel amazing—expensive high-end hotels certainly had their reasons for costing a fortune.

Tang Yi went in personally to run the water for Ralts. "You stay here and have a nice soak. Trust me, it feels wonderful."

"Ah, there's no need for that," Ralts instinctively refused without even thinking.

Tang Yi didn't give her room to argue. "Don't worry, I'm going to go wander around outside for a bit and come back in a little over half an hour."

That way, she wouldn't feel so shy anymore.

"But..." Ralts was still hesitant.

Luxurious as the hotel may have been, it wasn't her own home after all. Being in an unfamiliar place, the young girl still had some psychological barriers to overcome.

Tang Yi sighed helplessly and resorted to a threat, "You'd better take a bath by yourself. If I come back and find out you haven't soaked, I'll just have to wash you myself."

Sure enough, Ralts was startled, a mix of shock and indignation crossing her face. "You wouldn't! You can't!"

"Oh, yes I would, and yes I can."

Ralts glared at him, her gaze gradually sinking. In the end, the young girl was no match for this great villain, and she muttered softly, "Fine, fine, I'll take a bath. But you really have to go outside, okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm definitely going out," Tang Yi waved his hand.

In truth, the bathroom in the hotel room was completely sealed, and the glass was of the opaque kind, making it entirely impossible to see what was happening inside from the outside.

The designer had clearly anticipated potential awkwardness and avoided it in advance.

Yet unfortunately, both of these individuals secretly had guilty consciences to begin with.

Right before heading out, Ralts bit her lip and suddenly said, "Y-you make sure to take your room card. I won't lock the door, just in case you forget to bring something, it'll, it'll be more convenient for you to come back."

Tang Yi stumbled slightly, almost blurting out, *If you're not going to lock the door, why am I even leaving?*

Catching sight of Ralts's flushed face, Tang Yi swallowed his words to spare the young girl a shred of dignity.

Bam!

The room door was firmly shut. Ralts bit her lip, trotted over to the door on tiptoe, and pressed her large eyes against the peephole.

On the other side of the room door, Tang Yi was making funny faces right at the peephole.

Startled, Ralts immediately jerked backward, then suddenly realized something was wrong—he shouldn't be able to see inside the room from out there, right?

Hmph!

He did it on purpose!

He knew I would peek!

This bad guy is so cunning!

Ralts stood on tiptoe again to look, but Tang Yi had already walked away.

...

Tang Yi didn't go anywhere else. He simply headed to the first-floor lounge area, ordered a complimentary cup of coffee reserved for hotel guests, and sat quietly.

Ten minutes later, Fang Tianze and Butterfree strolled over.

Although she had already mentioned it to Tang Yi via WeChat earlier, Tang Yi was still somewhat surprised. "Big Brother Fang, you're really splurging. Do you have any idea how expensive the rooms here are?"

"Such a small amount of money isn't worth mentioning to me," Fang Tianze replied generously.

"Honestly, I'm quite curious about how you actually make your living normally."

As a champion—even a former one—one normally didn't lack money. First of all, the prize money alone was a massive sum. Even if he never participated in another match from then on, simply writing a book, taking on some endorsement deals, or accepting government commissions would be enough to live in comfort and security for the rest of his life.

Yet Fang Tianze clearly chose none of those paths, and the prize money from champions twenty years ago was far less than what it was today.

Too lazy to answer, Fang Tianze asked, "Where is Ralts?"

Not pressing further, Tang Yi replied, "She's taking a bath in the room. She was worn out today, so I told her to have a good soak."

Eevee asked in surprise, "Taking a bath? Then why did you come out... Oh, were you afraid you wouldn't be able to control yourself, so you ran away?"

Smack!

Ouch!

Tang Yi gave a thumbs-up to Vulpix. "I support you hitting her a couple more times each time. If you only hit her once, she clearly doesn't remember to learn her lesson."

Vulpix flicked her orange tail and chuckled softly, "I'll seriously consider your suggestion."

"Hey, hey, hey! Sister Vulpix, how can you help an outsider? You're my older sister, Wuwuwu!"

Nobody paid her any attention.

Tang Yi glanced at Feebas, who was trailing behind the group. He hadn't seen her in quite a while.

Felt Tang Yi's evaluating gaze, Feebas tilted her head, locked eyes with him for two seconds, puffed out her chest, and asked, "Do you think they look bigger?"

"They're all right. Doesn't feel like there's much change, probably because it hasn't been long enough. Keep it up," Tang Yi encouraged her.

Feebas let out an "oh," showing neither surprise nor disappointment. After pondering for a moment, she asked again, "Are, are you usually like that with Ralts?"

"Huh? Like what?"

"J-just like that."

"Like what?"

"You know, that way."

"So which way is that?"

"That—you know, that exact way."

Fang Tianze felt a slight headache coming on. "All right, stop playing riddles with each other."

He turned to Vulpix and Eevee. "Why don't you girls take Feebas out for a walk? I want to chat with Tang Yi for a bit."

"I want to chat with him too! This kid's train of thought is very interesting," Eevee protested.

Smack!

Smack!

True to form, Vulpix flicked her tail and struck twice, then dragged Eevee's tail with one hand while holding Feebas's hand with the other, heading outside.

Fang Tianze and Butterfree sat down across from Tang Yi.

"Any thoughts on today's match?" Fang Tianze asked casually.

"To describe it in one word: blessed by the European Emperor," Tang Yi said.

Fang Tianze froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. Turning back to Butterfree, he said, "See? I told you there was no need to talk to him about this specifically. This kid's mental state is just fine."