You are not allowed to date a trainer.

Chapter 61: College Entrance Examination Failed

"Lao Qin! I did it! I got it! 637 points!" The little round-faced boy shouted excitedly from the other end of the phone.

"Oh." Qin Zhen said.

"I want to apply to Alejin University of Technology! My score is definitely enough!"

"Ah."

"Lao Qin, come find me in Alejin City when the time comes! I'll take you out to play!"

"it is good."

"Lao Qin, which university are you going to apply to?"

"...I didn't know. I was just about to check my scores when your call came."

"Oh, oh, oh! Then I won't bother you anymore. You go ahead and check it out first. After that, let's go to the internet cafe to play games. I'll treat you. Oh, right! I heard from my mom that there's a really awesome new trainer in Jinguan City who can easily kill a gym leader. I'll look up that guy's information. Old Qin, you're so cunning. Come and help me formulate a strategy. I have a feeling that guy will definitely be my formidable rival for the title of King of the Universe in the future..."

Qin Zhen hung up the phone, put the phone in his trouser pocket, and stood obediently in front of the desk.

"Have you finished your call?" The tall old man sat behind his desk and gently pushed his reading glasses up his nose. "I don't like corporal punishment. Sit down and talk."

"No, teacher, I'm fine standing."

"That's fine, let's get down to business." Teacher Chen tapped the table gently. "Chinese 137, Math 55, English 99, Liberal Arts 155, total score 446. Qin Zhen, what do you have to say about these scores?"

"I have nothing to say. I'm sorry, Teacher Chen."

At this time, Xiao Qin's family lined up in front of the desk. Qin Zhen lowered his head, Snake lowered his head, and Milton lowered his head. Relying on the fact that the trainer in front of him was his grandmother, Growlithe tried to step forward to plead for Qin Zhen. However, just as his paw touched the trainer, a palm of Tathagata came down from the sky, which made the puppy tremble all over. It tucked its tail between its legs and fled behind Qin Zhen, whimpering in grievance.

"Logically, I should be giving you a good scolding and telling you to prepare for retaking the grade, but something is stopping me from speaking now."

Teacher Chen took out a stack of letter paper from the drawer and spread it out on the table.

"Just yesterday, the Qingcheng Dojo, Baiyun Dojo, and our own Yuelu Dojo all sent letters saying they have a partnership with a local university and can recommend you for admission. Come and take a look."

Qin Zhen took a step forward, took a quick look, and was almost blinded by the school emblem on it.

"Can I get into these prestigious schools with my grades?"

"You're taking a path similar to special admissions. You have superpowers and broke the league's gym challenge record. Although there's never been a precedent for a student entering university without taking an entrance exam simply by challenging a gym, your record is so impressive that few of these schools have objections." Teacher Chen asked, "Which one do you want to go to?"

"..." Qin Zhen hesitated for a long time. Finally, he scratched his head and said hesitantly: "Teacher, I still want to go to Qizhou City to challenge the gym."

Teacher Chen could hear Qin Zhen's refusal, but his expression remained calm, neither emotion nor anger evident. "Going to university and challenging a gym don't conflict."

"While there's no conflict, it doesn't help much either," Qin Zhen said. "Brother Baisong once told me that joining the Yuelu Gym is equivalent to being admitted to the Hunan University in this province. The gym leader will be responsible for guiding students in commanding and training their Pokémon. Reversing this, the result is clear: universities don't teach students how to become professional trainers."

"And..." Qin Zhen reached out and plucked at the recommendation letter on the table. He scratched the back of his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "It feels a bit strange for me to go to such a prestigious school with these grades."

"Since you know this result is nothing to show for it," the old man snorted coldly. "Then why didn't you study hard during those three years of high school?"

Qin Zhen didn't dare to say a word. Even if you once rode on the God of the Future and fought side by side with the legendary hero, eliminating the disaster that could destroy a city, you would still be unconsciously frightened in front of the teacher's angry eyes.

"Okay, stop being so pretentious and choose one quickly, Qin Zhen." Teacher Chen urged, "They are all good schools, and it will be easy to find a job after graduation." Hearing this, Qin Zhen slowly frowned.

"Don't worry about grades. University students don't really care what their classmates scored on the college entrance exam. Just don't tell them. If they ask, just make one up..."

"Teacher, this isn't your style." Qin Zhen couldn't help but interrupt, "I remember you said that as a teacher, you should be careful about your words and actions, because the best education is not through words but through actions. But now you're teaching me to take shortcuts. You're obviously an ordinary student, but you're trying to get into college like a special student. You're even hiding your grades and deceiving your classmates..."

This time, Teacher Chen was silent for a long time.

"The letter of recommendation from Yuelu Gym was personally delivered by Gym Leader Chi. I happened to be at school at the time, so I had a brief chat with her," Teacher Chen said slowly. "During our conversation, she hinted at a few things, like how being a professional trainer isn't easy and that you'll likely face danger throughout your life."

"I went home and did a thorough investigation, and I've indeed discovered a problem. Professional trainers seem to 'disappear' quite easily," Teacher Chen said gravely. "The most recent instance was four years ago. Professional trainers from all over the world suddenly announced their retirement and vanished without a trace. The media also tacitly stopped covering them. No one mentioned their names since then, not even their families. It was as if those trainers had never existed."

At this moment, Qin Zhen finally understood.

The so-called college entrance examination results were just an introduction. Teacher Chen was able to approve such a spontaneous leave note for him at that time, so he was naturally mentally prepared for his results. The real reason for calling him over was actually the brief conversation between him and his aunt.

Professional trainers are dangerous, that's why.

What a helpless and stubborn old man. He thought Millerton was a fire pit, so he took action and brought his pet puppy to stop his students from jumping down; now he thinks that professional trainers are a fire pit more dangerous than Millerton, but this time he has no puppy by his side, so he can only sell out some of his principles.

"Teacher, I understand everything you said."

"You know everything?"

"Yes, I know what professional trainers face, but I'm sorry, Sensei, I can't tell you."

The truth cannot be told to anyone other than professional trainers. This was the warning Lao Gu gave Qin Zhen before he left Jinguan City.

What could I say? Should I tell everyone that this world is neither gentle nor beautiful, that the gods are waiting to awaken in the dark side of the planet, that their might will bring horrific disasters, and that the champions, kings, gym leaders, and professional trainers of each major league are not only the stars of Pokémon Duels, but also the armies responsible for stopping the gods and quelling disasters?
Ordinary people are incapable of cultivating and commanding powerful elves, and cannot even serve as pawns on the battlefield against the gods. Such a truth can do nothing but cause panic.

"Qin Zhen, can't you really say anything?"

Qin Zhen thought for a while, took out two small boxes from his pocket and placed them on the desk.

Teacher Chen frowned and opened the two boxes one by one. Two badges lay quietly in the boxes, one pure white and the other magenta. They were engraved with a stretching Snorlax and a smiling Gardevoir respectively, and the workmanship was extremely exquisite.

"Qin Zhen, what do you mean? Do you think I'm missing these two badges?"

"This is all I can tell you, teacher. It took me less than two weeks to collect the three badges. I'm strong, and my friends are strong too. And we'll become even stronger, stronger than any trainer and their Pokémon from ancient times to the present." Qin Zhen turned his head to look at his Pokémon friends, especially the confused Milton. He took a deep breath and said, "So I promise you, teacher, I won't disappear suddenly. What you're worried about will never happen."

Teacher Chen stared at the two badges for a long time, and finally let out a long sigh.

"Take your elf and follow me."

Qin Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he had passed the test. He smiled, walked forward and gently tapped the old man's shoulder.

"Teacher, where are we going?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to try Shandong cuisine in Jinguan City?" Teacher Chen tilted his head. "I asked someone and found a Shandong cuisine restaurant in Tanzhou. The food is authentic. I'll give it to you as a practice before you go to Qizhou City."

(End of this chapter)