chsdbacks Page 9
Page 9
The crisp sound of the keyboard clattering mingled with the steady, peaceful breathing of the little one beside me.
Under the light, the boy's focused profile appeared exceptionally determined.
At his feet, the Growlithe, still oblivious to the future, had found a place to rely on and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 10 Partners, the Initial Promise!
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains, casting a long, warm patch of light on the wooden floor.
Lin Che had already woken up.
Instead of doing his usual morning exercise, he tiptoed into the kitchen.
He poured the fresh MooMoo milk he bought from the store into a saucepan and patiently heated it to 38 degrees Celsius, the perfect temperature for a puppy's stomach, over the lowest heat. Then, he opened a package of expensive, specially formulated puppy food and mixed it with the warm milk in precise proportions. A rich aroma of milk and meat instantly filled the air.
After doing all this, he carefully carried the meticulously prepared breakfast back to his room.
On the soft cushion in the corner, the little orange creature was curled up, not sleeping soundly, its weak breathing accompanied by a barely perceptible tremor.
Seemingly drawn by the aroma of food, Growlithe's ears twitched, and it slowly opened its pure amber eyes. When it saw Lin Che, it instinctively shrank back, its eyes still showing wariness of the unfamiliar environment.
Lin Che didn't speak, but gently placed the food bowl on the ground, then took a few steps back and sat down on a chair not far away, gazing at it with the gentlest of eyes.
wait.
One minute, two minutes...
Finally, the hunger in my stomach overcame my inner unease.
The Growlithe hesitated as it stood up, sniffing the air with its small nose. Only after confirming there was no danger did it tentatively move step by step toward the food bowl.
It lowered its head, stuck out its pink tongue, and gently licked it.
The next second, those amber eyes lit up instantly.
Without the slightest hesitation, it immediately buried its entire little head in the food bowl, making satisfied, gurgling sounds as it ate.
Lin Che's lips curled up slightly involuntarily.
The panel for the Eye of Truth quietly appeared in his field of vision.
[Pokémon: Growlithe]
[Level: LV.1]
[Emotions: Fear (reduced), Gratitude (emerging), Hunger (satisfied)]
As Growlithe licked the last drop of milk from its bowl and let out a satisfied burp, a faint, visible white halo flashed across its body.
【Ding! 】
[Level upgraded to LV.2]
Lin Che could clearly feel that this little guy, who had been abandoned by the world and whose heart was filled with unease and fear, was staring at him without reservation with its pure amber eyes.
That gaze was no longer just one of gratitude.
An emotion called "dependence" is quietly taking root within it.
For the next week, Lin Che's life was filled with a new, slow, and gentle rhythm.
He did not conduct any form of combat training, nor did he teach any skills.
He temporarily suppressed all thoughts about future plans and improving his capabilities.
He knew that for an elf whose heart had been wounded, rebuilding the foundation of trust was far more important than any intense training.
Every morning, he would take his Growlithe for a walk in the nearby city park.
He never rushed it, but patiently followed behind, letting it explore this completely new world with its curious nose. Whether it was the chirping of crickets in the grass or the wings of butterflies in the flowerbed, he gave it ample time to explore.
In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the lawn.
Lin Che will take out that orange frisbee, its favorite one.
"call out--"
The frisbee drew a beautiful arc, instantly attracting the Growlithe's attention. Its four short legs took a powerful stride, transforming into an orange shadow, and it accurately caught the frisbee before it hit the ground. Then, with joyful steps, it wagged its tail and ran back to Lin Che's feet, affectionately rubbing its head against his trouser leg.
He can clearly "see" through the Eye of Truth that Growlithe's emotional tags toward him are undergoing subtle and delightful changes every day.
The first day was filled with both fear and gratitude.
By the third day, the label of "fear" had completely disappeared, replaced by "gratitude" and "budding trust".
On the fifth day, the proportion of "gratitude" continued to decline, while the labels of "trust" and "closeness" became increasingly prominent.
Like a true, primal companion, he soothed the wrinkles and wounds in Growlithe's heart little by little with the purest actions.
He combed every inch of its wind-blown fur, feeling the soft, smooth texture as it brushed against his fingertips.
He rolled around in the grass with it, letting the clingy little guy get his clothes covered in grass clippings.
This companionship, devoid of any ulterior motives, is building a most primal and pure emotional bond between the two.
Finally, on an evening when the setting sun had painted half the sky a magnificent orange-red.
As usual, Lin Che sat on the carpet and used a special soft-bristled brush to comb the fur on the back of the Growlithe.
Each stroke of the comb carried just the right amount of force, making the little guy squint his eyes comfortably and let out a satisfied purring sound from his throat.
Suddenly, Growlithe stopped moving.
It turned around on its own initiative, raised its head, and stared at Lin Che with its clear, amber eyes.
Lin Che paused in his combing motion.
The next second, Growlithe moved closer and stuck out its warm, slightly rough tongue.
Gently.
tentatively.
He licked Lin Che's palm, which was suspended in mid-air.
one more time.
A moist and warm sensation came from his palm, like a faint electric current, instantly running through Lin Che's entire body.
His breath caught in his throat at that moment.
Immediately afterwards, a whimper, unlike any it had ever heard before, came from deep within the Growlithe's throat, a sound that represented the ultimate intimacy and sense of belonging.
The expression on Lin Che's face slowly transformed from initial astonishment into a genuine and radiant smile.
He didn't take out his phone to take pictures, nor did he post them on social media to show off.
This moment of tacit understanding, this unspoken agreement between him and his first partner, was treasured by him, carefully and completely stored in the softest part of his heart.
He knew that from this moment on, he was truly accepted by this little guy.
He smiled, opened his arms, and hugged the Growlithe dog tightly.
He could clearly feel its warm body temperature and the heart beating powerfully for him in its chest.
Lin Che gently pressed his cheek against its soft fur and whispered a promise in its ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, yet with utmost solemnity.
"From now on, we're partners."
This was their initial agreement.
This is also the most important agreement.
Chapter 11 The Top Scholar and the Journey Begins, The Volcanic Ash Secret Realm!
After making the initial promise with Growlithe, Lin Che's life was rebuilt by a completely new order.
As the morning sunlight shone through the gap in the curtains, the figures of a person and a dog appeared on the lawn in the backyard.
"Growlithe, [Spark]."
Lin Che's voice was calm and clear.
"Woo!"
With a powerful thrust from all four paws, Growlithe spewed a ball of orange-red flame from its mouth, accurately striking the target ten meters away.
It turned its head, its amber eyes full of anticipation, wagging its tail, waiting for its owner's praise.
Lin Che stepped forward, said nothing, but squatted down and vigorously rubbed its warm back.
This is their daily routine.
Patience, repetition, and the silent understanding built up in every tiny step forward.
Half a month passed quietly in this daily training and learning.
The air was thick with anxiety on the day the college entrance exam results were released.
Lin Che sat in front of the computer, his finger hovering over the mouse. The screen displayed the city-wide unified score inquiry portal. His mother stood behind him, her hands nervously gripping her apron, even her breathing was shallow.
Without hesitation, he entered his examination admission ticket number and clicked to search.
The page refreshes.
Total score: 710.
Citywide ranking: 1.
The whole room was silent for a moment.
The next second, the mother's eyes instantly reddened. She covered her mouth, tears of joy welling up, but afraid of disturbing her son, she could only let out suppressed sobs.
The father walked over and patted Lin Che's shoulder heavily with his broad hand. He didn't say anything more, but the force he conveyed was a mountain of pride and affirmation.
The top scorer in the city.
This title laid the most solid and dazzling foundation for his path to the world of trainers.
A few days later, the gold-embossed acceptance letter arrived as scheduled.
[Shanghai Pokémon University, Ace Trainer System]
A line of large characters proclaimed the end of all his efforts in his youth and the beginning of a brand new era.