Professor Carolina was an expert in ancient mythology and currently the curator of the Sendoff Town Historical Museum.
But to Mr. Lu, her most important identity was—
“She’s my grandma,” Cynthia said with a bright smile.
“So… should I bring a gift when I meet her?” Lu Ye was unsure.
“Huh? No need to be that formal—it’s not like you’re meeting…”

Cynthia paused briefly, then smiled and changed the subject:
“Anyway… let’s focus on getting the Adamant Orb delivered first.”

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.
You were totally about to say "meet the parents," weren’t you!
Well… we’re going to have to meet eventually. Might as well think about what to bring.
Should I… cook a meal myself?

Cynthia shut the specially reinforced case, and the orb’s aura immediately receded.
“Because the magnetic field around Mt. Coronet interferes with the Adamant Orb, we’ll need to take a land route around the mountain.”

Lifting the case, her golden hair falling slightly over her forehead, Cynthia tucked it back with a graceful motion:
“It’s about a three-day trip—no rush.”

Though she spoke formally, a faint blush colored her cheeks. She’d clearly just remembered the whole meet-the-family thing.
After all, the moment the task was assigned…
She hadn’t hesitated at all in picking the perfect partner.

Cynthia glanced up at Lu Ye with her silvery-grey eyes, feeling unexpectedly nervous.
This was the first time in her life she’d brought a guy home to meet her grandmother.
Even if, officially, he was just a work partner…
But honestly? Neither she nor her grandma would see it that way.

The only family she’d ever had by her side were her grandma and her Pokémon.
Now, slowly but surely, she was getting used to having someone else in her life.
Even the unstoppable Sinnoh Champion was a blank slate when it came to relationships—just like Lu Ye.

Are we officially a couple now…?
Or should I take the initiative?

“Let’s go. We’ll leave in the morning.”
Cynthia turned around gracefully, her heartbeat quickening.
Maybe I should ask Grandma about… how to confess properly…

“Where are we staying tonight?” Lu Ye asked.
“We’ll stay at my place.”
Cynthia let out a soft breath and turned back with a gentle smile. “We’ll head out tomorrow morning.”

It was already 10 PM by the time they returned to Masago Town with the Adamant Orb.
The small town was completely still. Streetlights cast scattered shadows across the roads.

“Loto-kun, turn on the house lights!” Lu Ye called out before even reaching the door.
In an instant, the villa lit up with a warm orange glow, giving off a cozy sense of home.

Cynthia smiled, gazing into the soft light.
“When I used to live with Grandma, she always came home late… so I’d leave the lights on when I went to bed.”
“And now?”
“I’m not really scared of the dark anymore.” Cynthia smiled. “After all, even Ghost-types can’t beat me.”
Lu Ye blinked. “You’ve got a point there.”
“Garooo!” Garchomp tilted her head with pride, giving Lu Ye a smug look.
“Because I’ve got Garchomp with me.”

Cynthia reached out to stroke her Garchomp, a nostalgic expression on her face.
“Back when she was still a Gible, I loved sleeping with her in my arms… Until Grandma came home and woke me up, and I had to let go.”
“Garoo~” Garchomp bent down and nuzzled Cynthia’s cheek affectionately.

Lu Ye hesitated for a moment.
“You’re wondering about the rest of my family, aren’t you?”

Under the starry sky, Cynthia’s eyes sparkled. The black fur at her neckline looked elegant, and starlight fell over her long cloak and slender waist.
“Let’s go inside. It’s cold out,” Lu Ye said, pausing. “You don’t have to talk about it.”
Cynthia shook her head and exhaled a white breath in the early spring chill, her smile soft.

“They were all strong Trainers… That’s why I wanted to become strong too.”
“I used to think… maybe they left because they weren’t strong enough.”

Lowering her gaze, Cynthia continued quietly:
“But later, I realized—there are a lot of things in this world that strength alone can’t solve…”

She stroked her Garchomp, and for a brief moment, there was sadness in her eyes—quickly replaced by a radiant smile.
“So now, I just keep loving Pokémon and growing stronger with them… That’s my life motto.”

The early spring air was cold, and the night sky stretched wide.
Stars were reflected in Cynthia’s eyes. Through her gaze, one could see distant mountains, rivers, and space-time itself.

Lu Ye was silent for a moment before nodding solemnly.
“That’s my belief too.”

Even though getting stronger wasn’t Lu Ye’s original goal…
Because of love, even being betrayed by his little partners didn’t seem so bad anymore.

Cynthia blinked and looked up.
The night was gentle. Their eyes met for a long time, and they gradually leaned closer.
Time itself seemed to slow around them. In the silence, the sounds of flowing water, rustling leaves, and the wind over the wilds whispered by.

A lovely scent drifted from her body. Time stood still. The world went quiet. Moonlight spilled through a break in the clouds.

Suddenly, Cynthia blushed and spun around, walking quickly indoors.
“I—I—I need to put away the Adamant Orb first!”

Lu Ye stared at the hem of her black cloak, dazed for a moment. Then his resolve hardened.

I have to win this cabbage over!

“Geng~”
Gengar floated up from his shadow, jabbing Lu Ye in the ribs with a mischievous grin.
“You were watching the whole time?!”
“Geng~” Gengar squinted and pretended to have ‘dreamy eyes,’ then rubbed his eyes playfully.

Lu Ye turned, suspicious.
In the corner of the villa, he saw Lucario, Blastoise, and Sirfetch’d with their heads stacked together—instantly pulling back in shock.

Looking up, he could just make out Togekiss in the clouds, with Togepi on its back giggling like a bell:
“Tchagi dooyi~ヾ(◍°∇°◍)ﾉﾞ”

Nearby, Sylveon sat in another corner, its ribbons twitching with a mix of jealousy and pride:
“Vee~o(´^｀)o”

Lu Ye turned again—
Right at the front door, a surveillance camera was pointed at him.
“Come on, look over here and smile, Roto!”
“Don’t make me disassemble you and send you to Professor Oak for repairs!”
“It’s not my fault, Roto! o(TヘTo)”

After that little nighttime episode, Cynthia seemed to be avoiding him.
No cards, no games, no solo matches—she washed up early and went straight to bed.
Women’s thoughts… really are hard to read.

Lu Ye could only help Sylveon brush its snow-white fur.
In his head flashed that meme of Ash’s Pikachu:
“Serena, you’ll never be as close to Ash as I am. Got it?”

“Ka-meh…ヾ(⌐■_■)”
“Luca… (ー`´ー)”
Blastoise and Lucario, realizing there was no more drama, disappeared—one into the water tank, the other into meditation.

Thinking about the upcoming trip, Blastoise shivered in fear.
Sirfetch’d, on the other hand, was delighted.
“Quack! (´థ౪థ)σ”
The tough training plan was finally on pause for a while!

Meanwhile, in Cynthia’s bedroom.
The bedside lamp glowed orange. Dressed in pink pajamas, Cynthia hugged a Garchomp-shaped pillow, leg slung over it ungracefully.
Still wide awake.

She stared up at the ceiling light, remembering the lonely nights and wild winds outside when she used to be home alone.
Now, Lu Ye was sitting outside—probably watching TV with Gengar or reading with Sylveon.

Cynthia closed her eyes and imagined the scene. Her lips curled into a smile.
Propping herself up on all fours, golden hair spilling down, she reached out and turned off the lamp.

The room went dark—but she felt nothing but safety.
See you tomorrow, she thought.

Pulling the blanket over herself, Cynthia fell asleep with that thought in mind.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read