Pokémon: Master System.

"Xia Yu, if anything happens, you can tell me." Su Muzi looked at Xia Yu earnestly, her eyes filled with worry.

Listening to Su Muzi's words, Xia Yu knew it was time for him to make a decision.

Xia Yu took a deep breath, his gaze falling on Su Muzi's face. A smile appeared on his lips as he tried to appear relaxed: "Muzi, let's go for a walk together."

Ok?

Upon hearing Xia Yu's invitation, Wu Yaozu and Xia Jie were startled, but then an ambiguous smile appeared on their faces.

Xia Jie nudged Wu Yaozu with her elbow and said, "Wu Yaozu, let's go to an internet cafe and play some games. I remember there's a maid internet cafe nearby, right? You've been saying you wanted to check it out, so let's go."

"Huh?" Wu Yaozu looked puzzled.

"Ah!" Wu Yaozu, after taking another bite of the elbow, realized what was happening and quickly replied, "Oh...right, right, right. I've always wanted to go see it."

"Let's go. Go pay the bill," Xia Jie said to Wu Yaozu.

"Okay. Good, good, good," Wu Yaozu replied.

After paying the bill, the two walked towards the door.

Just as I stepped outside, I heard Wu Yaozu's screams from outside.

"It hurts."

"You want to go to the maid cafe?"

"Didn't you say you were going?"

"You really want to go just because I said I would?"

…………

Watching Wu Yaozu and Xia Jie leave, and hearing the conversation between the two outside the door, Xia Yu and Su Muzi also smiled.

"When did they start dating?" Xia Yu asked Su Muzi.

"I don't know." Su Muzi shook her head, her face beaming with a smile: "Anyway, their relationship has been quite close lately. They often chat when they wake up in the morning and before they go to bed at night."

"That's good," Xia Yu replied. "I was just worried that he'd be single his whole life."

"It shouldn't be that bad," Su Muzi said after thinking for a moment. "Wu Yaozu is quite handsome, his family is rich, and he has a good personality. He's quite popular with girls. Anyway, I think Xia Jie likes him a lot."

"Really?" Xia Yu smiled faintly when she heard Su Muzi's words. "I'm relieved to hear that. Wu Yaozu is finally going to date. Let's go, I'll take you back to school for a walk."

"Ah."

Hearing Xia Yu's words, Su Muzi nodded gently, her face slightly flushed, a faint smile appearing on her lips, her heart pounding like a deer, full of anticipation.

This was the first time in a long time that Xia Yu had taken such the initiative, catching her somewhat off guard.

The two walked out of the barbecue restaurant and strolled side by side on the winter streets of the capital, just like a real couple.

"It's snowing," Xia Yu murmured, looking at the sky.

"Hmm." Su Muzi nodded: "It seems like it's been snowing a lot in the capital lately. The other day, it snowed heavily at school, and the lake even froze over."

"Really?" Xia Yu smiled and looked down at Su Muzi, who was a head shorter than him.

"Hmm. Xia Yu, let me tell you, a lot of interesting things have happened at school lately." Su Muzi chattered on and on, as if she had endless things to say, and it was clear that she was in a very good mood.

"Your reputation on the school forum has improved a lot since you defeated Wu Chongwen last time."

"No one questions your abilities now."

"However, the competition among the next few places has become very fierce, and some new faces have appeared in the top ten."

"And you? What have you been busy with lately?"

Su Muzi looked at Xia Yu with a curious expression: "Actually, the Pokémon Association contacted me and asked me to join Team Zero, but my mom thought my personality wasn't suitable for doing this kind of thing, so she refused."

"Now I actually regret it a little. If I had joined Team Zero, maybe I could have been on the same team as you."

Looking at the lively, adorable, and innocent Su Muzi in front of him, Xia Yu felt a pang of pain in his heart.

No one can live a carefree life forever; everyone has to learn to grow, but the price may be heavy.

He forced a smile and replied dismissively, "Is that so?"

"It's a pity that it's too difficult to get into Team Zero now, but I will try my best."

"great, good luck."

The journey from the barbecue restaurant to the school wasn't short; it would take about half an hour to walk, but the two walked for forty minutes before they could even see the school gate.

“Mu Zi…” Xia Yu took a deep breath and looked at Su Mu Zi.

"what's up?"

"I have a girlfriend."

Chapter 503 The Gray Sky

The sky was overcast, and the snow fell heavier and heavier. The falling snowflakes, like white starlight, landed on the two people's heads, making it seem as if their hair had turned white overnight.

A stroll in the snow is always romantic for couples in love; before they know it, they've grown old together.

However, for couples who are about to break up, such a scene is undoubtedly somewhat sad and desolate.

After walking for a long time, Xia Yu and Su Muzi stood silently under the dim streetlights. With Xia Yu's confession, the atmosphere froze at this moment, as if they were drowning in the sea, making it hard to breathe and a suffocating feeling welled up in their hearts.

Su Muzi's smile vanished abruptly. Just a moment ago, she was sharing the joys of life with Xia Yu, but now she silently lowered her head, burying her face in the shadows.

Su Muzi was trying her best to calm herself down, but it was clear that she couldn't.

Her body trembled slightly as she took a step closer to Xia Yu, reaching out to tightly grasp his sleeve, but remained silent.

The two were extremely close; Xia Yu could even smell the girl's unique, faint fragrance. To passersby, their actions appeared as intimate as those of a couple.

Xia Yu lowered his head, looking at Su Muzi's current appearance, and recalling her usual innocent and cheerful demeanor, he felt extremely distressed.

As expected, it proved the saying true: once feelings are established, if there is no response for a long time, hurt will follow.

His relationship with Su Muzi will only bring harm and will not lead to anything.

"sorry."

Xia Yu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but all the words he wanted to say turned into just three words: "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry" is the most powerless, pale, and useless three words.

People apologize not because they realize they've done something wrong, but because they know they don't want to or can't offer any compensation, and can only try to soothe the victim's hurt by saying sorry.

Trying to erase past hurts with just three words like "I'm sorry" is impossible.

If apologies were effective, why would there be so many grudges and feuds in the world?

Xia Yu felt a pang of regret; perhaps he should have kept a certain distance from Su Muzi from the very beginning?

But who can resist the kindness and goodwill emanating from a girl like Su Muzi?

I can only blame myself for being too greedy.

…………

“Xia Yu…” Su Muzi’s voice was somewhat bitter. She kept her head down and did not look up: “Actually, you don’t need to apologize. You have never apologized to me. It was just my wishful thinking.”

"Xia Yu... I want to hug you... okay?" As she spoke, Su Muzi gently hugged Xia Yu and buried her face in his chest.

Xia Yu wanted to push Su Muzi away, but he couldn't bring himself to do such a cruel thing. He turned his head slightly and let Su Muzi hug him.

Su Muzi also reached out and hugged Xia Yu tightly, pressing her ear against Xia Yu's chest. Hearing Xia Yu's heartbeat made her feel at ease.

This was the first time the two had been this intimate.

"Xia Yu...you know. I've always liked you, I've always liked you." Su Muzi's voice was calm, each word landing like a heavy hammer on Xia Yu's heart.

"I've been thinking about it..."

"I've made it so obvious. I've done everything I could except confess to you in person. Why are you still pretending not to know?"

Su Muzi's voice was soft, but the grievance in it was heartbreaking.

"I guessed that you might have a woman you like and might be hesitating about whether to accept me. I also guessed that you might already be in a relationship."

"I've already guessed it."

Su Muzi's voice was eerily calm, like a heartfelt narration, stating her inner thoughts.

"I'm sorry. I..." Xia Yu's voice was heavy. At this moment, he could offer Su Muzi nothing but an apology.

The paleness and powerlessness in his words were on full display at this moment.

Xia Yu could only apologize, because if things continued like this, and both of them became unable to extricate themselves and were deeply involved, the harm to them would only be greater.

For both of them, cutting ties now is undoubtedly the best outcome.

"Xia Yu...can you hug me?" Su Muzi's voice was soft, with a hint of pleading in her tone, as if she wanted to be buried in the ground.

She gently pressed her face against Xia Yu's chest, nestled tightly in his arms, and inhaled his scent deeply.

Hearing Su Muzi's humble plea, Xia Yu felt a pang of pain in his heart. He couldn't bear to refuse, so he nodded gently, slowly reached out, and hugged Su Muzi tightly in his arms.

The two looked so warm and well-matched, and to outsiders, it seemed to have a unique kind of sweetness.

Passersby also cast envious glances at the passersby.