Pokémon: Master System.

"Now you can say it."

"Yan Ning... I'm sorry, there's something I've been keeping from you. I have another identity that I haven't told you." Xia Yu said to Long Yan Ning with a serious expression.

Long Yan Ning remained silent, simply looking at Xia Yu, quietly waiting for him to continue.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you, I was just worried you wouldn't be able to accept it." Xia Yu took a deep breath and looked at Long Yanning.

“You said… I can accept it,” Long Yanning replied.

"My other identity is Sakaki..."

As Xia Yu spoke, he took out the box containing the rainbow-colored crested feather.

Hearing Xia Yu's words, and looking at the white flames and the dazzling rainbow-colored crest, Long Yan Ning's face was filled with disbelief.

"You...you're Sakaki?!" Long Yanning couldn't help but cover her mouth, looking at Xia Yu, finding it hard to accept for a moment.

She knew Xia Yu was hiding something from her, but she never expected him to be hiding something so big.

"Hmm." Xia Yu nodded. To convince Long Yanning, he took out the Ditto mask and put it on, transforming into Giovanni's appearance.

Looking at Sakaki in front of her, Long Yanning was momentarily stunned.

"You really are...Sakaki?"

“It’s the real deal.” Xia Yu looked at Long Yan Ning: “Yan Ning, you are one of the people I trust the most, so I don’t want to hide it from you.”

…………

Chapter 501 Emotions and Hurt

Xia Yu chatted with Long Yanning for a long time, telling her the story of how he gradually became Sakuragi, and also telling her about each member of Team Rocket, without hiding anything from Xiao Wanyu.

Of course, Xia Yu didn't foolishly reveal his relationship with Xiao Wanyu.

After listening to Xia Yu's story, Long Yan Ning's eyes were filled with heartache. Perhaps others would only care about Sakaki's strength, but she didn't care what achievements Xia Yu made. She only wanted to live a peaceful and happy life with Xia Yu and watch the sunrise and sunset together.

She doesn't have grand ambitions; she just likes to protect the small happiness in her heart.

“Xia Yu, I also want to join Team Rocket.” Long Yanning looked at Xia Yu and said earnestly, her expression firm: “This time you go to trade with Maye, I want to go too.”

Seeing the determination in Long Yanning's eyes, Xia Yu did not refuse and nodded gently: "Okay, but you must promise me one thing before that."

"what's up?"

Xia Yu didn't speak, but instead took out a Poké Ball and placed it on the table.

"What's this?" A hint of surprise flashed in Long Yanning's eyes. Why did Xia Yu suddenly give her a Poké Ball?

"This is a Pokémon I prepared for you," Xia Yu said with a smile. "This Pokémon is the Crystal Metagross I just mentioned, with near-Champion strength. I'm giving it to you now. But be careful before you build trust with it."

"You..." Long Yanning was about to speak when Xia Yu waved his hand to interrupt her.

“I don’t feel comfortable letting you come with me since you don’t have a strong Pokémon.” Xia Yu looked at Long Yan Ning with a serious expression. “Besides, this Crystal Metagross is an enemy of the Metagross I have. Since I have already chosen Metagross, this Crystal Metagross can only be given to you.”

"Take it. By the way, I won't let you act with me unless you've established trust with it."

Hearing Xia Yu's words, Long Yanning no longer refused and nodded seriously: "Okay, I will subdue this giant golden monster as soon as possible."

"Xia Yu, thank you for your hard work." Long Yan Ning gently hugged Xia Yu from behind, whispering, "I will fight alongside you from now on."

"Smoke Condensation..."

"Alright, take a rest and get some sleep. Aren't you going to have dinner with Su Muzi tonight?" Long Yanning teased Xia Yu with a smile.

"Ahem." Xia Yu was about to speak when Long Yan Ning covered his mouth.

"Xia Yu, promise me, if you stop loving me and start to get tired of me, you must tell me, okay?" Long Yan Ning's murmured words made Xia Yu's heart tighten.

"Yan Ning... I..."

"Alright, I was just kidding." Long Yanning's face lit up with a bright smile, dispelling the winter chill: "By the way, Xia Yu, you just said that Han Qing also knows your true identity?"

"Hmm." Xia Yu nodded. He had just casually mentioned that Chi Hanqing had figured out his identity: "Chi Hanqing has also guessed my identity, and she even threatened me, wanting a Gigantamax Pokémon..."

Xia Yu recounted in detail the conflict between him and Chi Hanqing. After all, Chi Hanqing was Long Yanning's best friend, and Long Yanning's attitude was crucial in how Chi Hanqing was dealt with.

Even if we really have to take action against Chi Hanqing, we absolutely cannot bypass Long Yanning.

After listening to Xia Yu's story, Long Yanning frowned and a thoughtful expression appeared on her face. After a few breaths, Long Yanning looked at Xia Yu and asked, "Did you give Chi Hanqing a Gigantamax Pokémon?"

"No." Xia Yu shook his head: "Where would I get so many Gigantamax Pokémon? There are only about twenty in the whole world, and I only have three right now. How could I possibly give them to her?"

"Did she tell anyone else about your identity?" Long Yanning continued to ask.

"Probably not." Xia Yu thought for a while. He had asked Sylvia to try to monitor Chi Hanqing for so long, but he hadn't received any news from her, which proved that Chi Hanqing shouldn't have revealed his identity.

Upon hearing Xia Yu's reply, Long Yanning nodded gently: "Xia Yu, Chi Hanqing was indeed wrong in this matter, but I have known Chi Hanqing for so many years, and I understand her quite well."

“Her father passed away when she was very young, and my mother also passed away when I was young, so we became very good friends. She has always taken care of me and treated me like a younger sister. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart.”

Long Yanning's gentle voice rang out, each word like a whispered pillow talk: "Sometimes, what others say isn't important; the key is what they do. Although Chi Hanqing threatened you, she didn't actually expose you or do anything to hurt you."

"Of course, Xia Yu, I'm not speaking up for her, I'm just expressing my own opinion. You should still do things according to your own ideas." Perhaps afraid that Xia Yu would misunderstand that she was making excuses for Chi Hanqing, Long Yan Ning looked at Xia Yu seriously and said, "Chi Hanqing is not a bad person, but it is indeed a hidden danger that she knows your Sakaki identity."

“You know her special status, we definitely can’t kill her to silence her.” Long Yanning looked at Xia Yu and continued softly, “The best way is to have her join Team Rocket. Didn’t she want to participate in this trade? It’s perfect to have her with me. If she joins Team Rocket herself, she won’t betray us, right?”

Xia Yu nodded. Chi Hanqing was indeed a troublesome person. Putting aside her troublesome identity, the Chi family behind her made Xia Yu give up his assassination plan.

The Chi family, a large family born and raised in the capital, wields immense influence, far surpassing that of families in the southwest region.

…………

As the sun sets, the sky begins to darken, and neon lights gleam along the streets.

Inside a barbecue restaurant on the street.

Xia Jie and Wu Yaozu had bright smiles on their faces, and their eyes were full of love when they looked at each other.

Although the two have not officially confirmed their romantic relationship, it is obvious to everyone that there is love flowing between them.

This ambiguous stage before falling in love is the most fascinating.

Su Muzi changed into an exquisite outfit, her face adorned with beautiful makeup, and a sweet smile graced her lips. Just seeing Xia Yu made her very happy.

However, Xia Yu's smile seemed somewhat forced. He could easily see Su Muzi's feelings for him, but the situation with Xiao Wanyu and Long Yanning was already giving him a headache. If Su Muzi were added to the mix, he really wouldn't know what to do.

Moreover, given the relationship between Su Muzi and Xiao Wanyu, a relationship between him and Su Muzi is absolutely impossible, and he cannot offer Su Muzi any future.

If this kind of thing, which is destined to have no result, continues to drag on, it will only cause harm to Su Muzi.

Indecisiveness leads to disaster.

Xia Yu decided that she had to make things clear with Su Muzi today.

Although this was somewhat cruel to Su Muzi, Xia Yu had no other choice.

Once feelings are established, if there is no response for a long time, hurt will follow.

Chapter 502 The Price of Growth

The setting sun cast its last rays on the avenue, and cars sped past from outside the street.

A couple deeply in love strolled hand in hand down the street, draped in golden coats, their faces beaming with happiness.

In the barbecue restaurant, steam rises and fat oozes from the pork belly, making a sizzling sound.

"Quick, eat it while it's hot, this place has really good barbecue. It's my treat today, so don't be shy." Wu Yaozu's voice rang out, a smile spreading across his face.

"Then I won't be polite. Today I'm going to rip you off. I want one steak and one lamb chop." Xia Jie's face also showed a bright smile. She secretly glanced at Su Muzi and said with a smile, "To celebrate Xia Yu's return to school! Xia Yu, while you were away from school, Muzi kept calling your name. I'm sick of hearing it."

"What did you say..." Su Muzi blushed slightly, secretly glancing at Xia Yu, and said with a red face, "I didn't miss him at all~"

"Really?" Xia Jie looked at Su Muzi with a half-smile: "Then I might have misheard you. You might have been saying another boy's name."

"Could it be Xia Xu or Xia Lü?"

"Xia Jie!"

The two were playfully bickering and laughing, but it only made Xia Yu's mood heavier.

His gaze also fell on Su Muzi's smiling face, and he was slightly lost in thought.

"Xia Yu..." Xia Jie saw Xia Yu staring blankly into space and gave him an ambiguous smile: "What? Are you mesmerized by our beautiful Su?"

Xia Jie's words made Su Muzi lower her head slightly, her face flushing with even more embarrassment.

"Xia Yu, let me tell you, Mu Zi rarely wears makeup like this. I don't know why she dressed up so carefully and made such a grand appearance today."

"Mu Zi, tell me why you chose this outfit today? You changed several outfits before leaving the house."

"Xia Jie, eat something! Even eating so well won't shut you up!"

…………

At the dinner table, Wu Yaozu and Xia Jie kept talking, keeping the atmosphere lively.

However, Xia Yu was preoccupied and not in particularly high spirits.

As the dinner party drew to a close, Su Muzi finally couldn't resist leaning against Xia Yu, her gaze fixed intently on him.

"Xia Yu..." Su Muzi, who was standing to the side, noticed that Xia Yu seemed to have something on his mind and asked in a low voice, "Is something on your mind? I feel like you're not in a good mood."

Hearing Su Muzi's words and looking at the beautiful and charming Su Muzi, and thinking about the decision he had just made, Xia Yu suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart. He forced a smile and said softly, "It's nothing..."