Pokémon: Master System.

After that, he began to draft trade plans, contacting all Rockets members and making plans in advance.

The champion's formidable strength forced Xia Yu to be extremely cautious.

Even though he believed his strength was among the best in the world, he still wasn't confident of victory against Mayer.

Many people speculate that Meyer seems to have a near-Master level Pokémon. Of course, this is just speculation, since Meyer has been the champion for many years and was already a champion more than a decade ago.

Over the years, he has only made a handful of real moves, but when he does, they are swift and devastating, and he has never lost.

…………

Besides the Rockets incident, another major event occurred at the end of December: Xia Yu's large laboratory was finally completed, and from now on he could recruit researchers and conduct experiments.

As a result, Xia Yu received countless offers to join his experimental team and earn a title.

Xia Yu's phone has been ringing off the hook these past few days. He naturally turned down calls he could, but some families closely associated with the Lin family asked Old Master Lin to personally act as their mediator.

Xia Yu naturally couldn't refuse his maternal grandparents. China is essentially a society based on personal relationships, and being unconventional is not a good thing.

Xia Yu took this opportunity to do these people a favor, but he was also very sensible, and these people could only be responsible for some unimportant tasks.

The core experimental content must be firmly in our own hands.

…………

It's the end of December, about a week before New Year's Day.

"For this year's New Year's Eve party, our class needs to put on at least one performance. If you have any good ideas, please feel free to sign them up. After I review them, I will submit them to the school," Chi Hanqing said to the students below from the podium.

To be honest, she doesn't really like these cultural and creative activities or gala events. She'd rather spend that time in the lab and doing something productive.

Listening to Chi Hanqing's words, Xia Yu sat in the first row, while Su Muzi was lost in thought.

In just half a month, Su Muzi and Xia Yu became complete strangers.

The two no longer had any private contact, and Xia Yu never saw Su Muzi's bright smiling face again.

Xia Yu remembered that every time she met Su Muzi before, she would always have her hands behind her back, a bright smile on her face, and look up at her.

She has now cut her waist-length hair and replaced it with shoulder-length blonde hair. Her cool and aloof face has lost its former smile, which makes people feel a little sorry for her.

…………

"How about we put together a short skit?"

"A musical is fine too."

"Let's do a rap song and dance routine."

…………

Young people always love to join in the fun, and they have a great interest in anything that isn't related to class.

For students majoring in trainers, such parties are a rare opportunity for them to rest and relax.

While the students around him were discussing animatedly, Xia Yu turned his head to look out the window, lost in thought.

Although he wanted to participate in such activities with his classmates like a normal college student, his time was too precious, and he couldn't find the time to rehearse, so he might not even be able to attend the gala.

Just as Xia Yu was in a daze, a handsome and well-dressed boy walked up to Su Muzi's side.

"Mu Zi," the boy said with a gentle smile, "how about we prepare a performance together?"

…………

"Brother Yu..." Wu Yaozu, standing beside Xia Yu, patted Xia Yu's shoulder, looked at him with a complicated expression, and whispered, "What happened between you and Su Muzi? Xia Jie has been cursing you for half a month, and she even called me a scumbag. What exactly happened between you two?"

"It's nothing, I just told her we can only be friends," Xia Yu said calmly, looking at the scene before him.

"No, you really rejected Su Muzi?" Wu Yaozu looked at Xia Yu in shock: "You actually rejected Su Muzi?"

No wonder Wu Yaozu was so surprised. How could Xia Yu be so heartless as to reject a perfect girl like Su Muzi?

Wu Yaozu looked Xia Yu up and down, and remembering that Xia Yu had never been in a relationship since he was a child, a terrible possibility suddenly occurred to him.

"Brother Yu... tell me the truth, I promise I won't laugh at you." Wu Yaozu looked at Xia Yu with hesitation: "Do you like men? Do you like me? Brother Yu... promise me, if you like men, at least find someone else, okay?"

"Get the fuck out of here!"

Chapter 512 New Year's Eve Party

Wu Yaozu's suspicions prompted Xia Yu to punch him.

"There's a special reason for this," Xia Yu explained irritably.

"What's the reason?" Wu Yaozu asked curiously.

"I already have a girlfriend," Xia Yu said.

"You have a girlfriend? It's good that you don't like men." Wu Yaozu breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest. As long as Xia Yu didn't like men, that was fine. His only worry was that Xia Yu would go down a path of no return: "Who is your girlfriend? When are you going to bring her out so I can give you my opinion?"

"Brother Yu, I'm not bragging, but I've now developed a pair of discerning eyes. No matter what kind of scumbag or green tea girl she is, she can't escape my discerning eyes," Wu Yaozu said proudly.

"Don't worry, you'll have a chance to meet in the future." Xia Yu gave Wu Yaozu a meaningful look: "I'll have you check me out then."

"Alright, you're keeping it a secret from your brother, huh? Don't be so formal," Wu Yaozu joked, then suddenly changed his tone and sighed, "Sigh."

“Brother Yu… Su Muzi… Sigh.” Wu Yaozu wanted to say something more, but in the end it all turned into a sigh. Finally, he pointed to the boys surrounding Su Muzi and said, “Look at these toads. They’re like they’ve smelled something. Now they’re all clinging to Su Muzi.”

"Brother Yu, I think Su Muzi is great. You two will definitely be happy together. Why don't you reconsider? I can't think of a girlfriend more suitable for you than Su Muzi."

Hearing Wu Yaozu's words, Xia Yu waved his hand: "Feelings can't be forced."

"Then tell me, you've never had feelings for Su Muzi?" Wu Yaozu asked Xia Yu. "I don't believe you could remain unmoved."

Hearing Wu Yaozu's words, Xia Yu fell silent and changed the subject, saying, "Yaozu, sometimes life is just like this, there's no way that everything will go as you wish."

"So you were at least tempted at some point, right?"

…………

Just as Xia Yu and Wu Yaozu were chatting, a tall girl walked up to them, poised and confident with a smile on her face.

"Xia Yu... I'd like to invite you to choreograph a dance with us, is that alright?" The girl was proactive and generous, looking directly at Xia Yu, her high chin like that of a white swan.

Upon hearing the girl's voice, Wu Yaozu silently shut his mouth, his gaze shifting back and forth between Xia Yu and the girl.

Xia Yu has always been this popular, so he's not surprised at all.

"Sorry, I've been a bit busy lately, I'm afraid I don't have time." Xia Yu smiled, waved his hand, and declined the girl's invitation.

"It won't take up much time each day, at most an hour or two." Faced with Xia Yu's refusal, the girl was not discouraged. She put her hands together, put on a coquettish expression, and pleaded with Xia Yu, "Xia Yu, please."

"I'm sorry, I really don't have time," Xia Yu said with a smile. "If you are short of people, Wu Yaozu would be a good choice."

“Me? I… I can’t, I can’t dance.” Wu Yaozu quickly waved his hand in refusal.

Xia Yu's conversation with the girl also attracted the attention of others. Su Muzi, who was sitting in the first row, also turned her head to look at Xia Yu and the girl.

Her fair face and eyes as clear as autumn water fell on Xia Yu, their gazes meeting.

Their eyes met, and their hearts skipped a beat.

Their eyes met briefly, as if nothing had happened, and Su Muzi turned her head back.

"I'm sorry, I'm really busy. Thank you for your kindness." Xia Yu declined the invitation again, making the woman's face look a little awkward.

"Well... alright. Sorry to bother you, Xia Yu."

Upon hearing Xia Yu's refusal, Su Muzi paused slightly, then continued to lower her head and write and draw in her notebook.

…………

The giant laboratory has been completed, and Xia Yu has taken the time to visit it twice. After discussions with the Pokémon Association, he set the start date for the experimental project before the Lunar New Year.

There is still more than a month until the Chinese New Year, so Xia Yu must find experimental personnel and staff in advance.

However, Xia Yu was simply too busy, so he specially asked Sylvia to oversee things and temporarily take on the role of human resources manager, responsible for all personnel matters in the laboratory.

Sylvia showed great interest in the task Xia Yu had given her. She was full of fighting spirit and worked late into the night to review everyone's resumes and assign each person to the most suitable position.

As for Xia Yu, he was busy contacting all the members of Team Rocket, making full preparations for the trade with Maye. At the same time, he also contacted Shui Yutu and Jiang Yu, inviting them to participate in the operation.

However, Xia Yu was also cautious and did not reveal the details of the operation in advance. He only told the two that there was a Team Rocket operation that required their participation.

…………

In such a fulfilling life, time flies by, and a week passes quickly, bringing us to New Year's Eve on December 31st.

Xia Yu and Long Yanning had originally planned to spend New Year's Eve together at home, but because Long Yanning was a new teacher, the school required her to attend the school's New Year's Eve party that evening.

Therefore, Xia Yu could only accompany her to the school to watch the New Year's Eve party.

To avoid suspicion, Long Yan Ning sat in the designated teacher's seat, while Xia Yu could only sit in the trainer's professional group.

Seeing Xia Yu approach, Wu Yaozu quickly waved and said, "Brother Yu, here, I've saved you a spot."

"You're here so early?" Xia Yu asked Wu Yaozu.

"That's right, you don't know that there are many beautiful girls performing at tonight's New Year's Eve party. Like Tao Su, the senior from the Trainer major, and Chu He, the number one beauty from the School of Economics and Management, will both be performing. Su Mu Zi..." Wu Yaozu said in a low voice, "We have to come early to get the best seats, right?"

Xia Yu smiled, a look of curiosity on his face: "You still dare to look at beautiful women? Isn't Xia Jie going to do something about you?"

"Her?" Wu Yaozu's face showed a contemptuous expression: "We are men of Western Shu, upright and honest, how dare she, a mere woman, be so presumptuous?"

"Awesome." Xia Yu made a gesture of admiration: "Then when Xia Jie comes later, say that to her face as well."