Li Meining finished her chocolate ice cream in a few quick bites, her eyes curved like crescent moons. "Give me another mango ice cream!"
Li Shuwen lightly tapped her head. "You can only have one."
"You stingy old man!"
"Eating too much ice cream isn't good for your health. If you like mangoes, I can make you other mango desserts."
If he didn't limit her, Li Meining would definitely keep eating one after another.
Li Meining's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"You should know my cooking skills."
Li Meining turned to the intellectual beauty. "Sister, why don't you come to our house too and try my brother's cooking? His desserts definitely taste great."
"Our house is the Veilstone Gym right ahead. It's just around the corner, not far."
The intellectual beauty lowered her head, eating her ice cream, hiding her surprise.
Veilstone Gym! Siblings!
So this red-haired handsome guy in front of her was Singing Jangmo-o!
Yesterday, Singing Jangmo-o mentioned his ideal outfit. This morning, Cynthia came to Curtain Department Store to discuss the store's anniversary event happening in half a month.
After finishing her discussion with the general manager, she was inexplicably drawn to buy this outfit from a store clerk.
When she put it on, Cynthia almost didn't recognize the intellectual beauty in the mirror as herself.
She was completely different from the usual wild and domineering Cynthia.
With makeup and round, black-rimmed glasses, even acquaintances she saw frequently wouldn't recognize her.
Thinking this, Cynthia immediately calmed down.
"Alright, then I won't be polite."
She unconsciously drove to Veilstone City and unexpectedly ran into her good friend. This must be fate. Trying his cooking wouldn't be bad either.
When they chatted on the forum, her good friend enthusiastically invited Cynthia to visit him at the Veilstone Gym if she passed through Veilstone City, as he was skilled in various cuisines.
He promised to serve the most luxurious dishes, but Cynthia didn't want to reveal her identity as a girl and kept making excuses.
Since they met today, and her good friend had no idea of her identity, she could take this opportunity to learn about his living environment and see what he usually did.
That seemed pretty good too.
On the way to the Veilstone Gym, Li Meining chattered non-stop.
"Sister, my name is Li Meining. What's yours?"
"Me?" Cynthia had an idea. "My name is Baicai."
Baicai? Hearing this name, Li Shuwen subconsciously scrutinized the Baicai in front of him.
She had golden hair in a high ponytail, but no ancestral slanted bangs covering her left eye, nor any Lucario ear-shaped hair accessories.
Most importantly, her face didn't match.
Eighteen-year-old Cynthia was already well-known in the Sinnoh region, an Elite Four member. News reports called her the Champion's top seed, with hopes of becoming Champion within a year.
Cynthia was naturally beautiful and never wore makeup.
The Baicai in front of him was still slightly inferior to Cynthia.
"Sister Baicai, are you traveling in Veilstone City?"
Cynthia nodded. "Yes, my company is on holiday, so I seized the opportunity to travel around."
"What do you do, Sister?"
"I'm a historian, researching Sinnoh history and mythology."
Li Shuwen's heart stirred. He remembered one of his good friend's hobbies was researching Sinnoh history and mythology.
Li Meining's eyes lit up. "Sister, have you booked a room? Our house is very big. If you don't mind, Sister, you can stay at our house!"
"This... wouldn't be good, would it?" Cynthia glanced at Li Shuwen.
Li Meining nudged Li Shuwen with her elbow, whispering, "Brother, say something!"
Li Shuwen quickly nodded. "Yes, the Veilstone Gym has many empty rooms. If you don't mind, Miss Baicai is welcome to stay temporarily."
Li Meining shook her head. "Not just temporarily, you can stay long-term too."
"Then I won't be polite."
Cynthia smiled faintly. Yesterday online, he was so bold, even suggesting she take him to certain places to spend money.
Today, encountering a beautiful girl, why was he so quiet?
He only dared to talk big online. When he actually met a girl, he couldn't even speak. No wonder he didn't have a girlfriend.
"I still don't know your name?"
"My apologies. My name is Li Shuwen, the eldest son of the Veilstone Gym family."
Li Meining held her forehead. Brother, can you be any more dense? You actually made the girl ask for your name.
Li Shuwen, it's a pretty good name, but where's the energy he had when chatting with her online?
Bring it out!
Is this all? And you want to find a girlfriend???
Even if you found one, you'd scare her away.
Her good friend's personality was so introverted, wanting to approach girls but not daring to. He clearly had no dating experience, a complete virgin.
Thinking this, Cynthia secretly scoffed.
So that wasn't a reason to go to those kinds of places.
As a man, how pathetic would it be if you could only find an hour of love in those kinds of places?
Chatting with a good friend online alone at night, how pitiful.
Brother, your happiness is on me. Let me teach you how to interact with girls.
Li Meining quickly spoke, "Sister, do you like mangoes? Do you want brother to make some other flavored refreshments?"
Cynthia shook her head, her high ponytail swaying, and Li Shuwen's heart swayed with it.
"I'm fine with anything. Actually, I don't usually have afternoon tea."
Li Meining bounced excitedly. "Then it's perfect to try it today. Maybe Sister will fall in love with afternoon tea."
Cynthia showed a bright smile. "Alright."
Upon arriving at the Veilstone Gym, Li Shuwen quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Interacting with girls truly made him feel immense pressure.
Indeed, he only dared to talk big online.
Li Meining pulled Cynthia directly to the living room at the back of the Gym, not the Gym's reception room.
"Sister, make yourself at home, just like it's your own house. Brother, hurry and make desserts!"
"Okay." Li Shuwen smiled. "Miss Baicai, do you prefer tea or coffee?"
"Tea, I suppose. I grew up with my grandmother and developed a habit of drinking tea. Grandmother used to say that drinking tea can promote health."
Li Shuwen nodded. "Grandmother used to say," that phrase sounded familiar.
"Then we'll have jasmine tea. It matches Miss Baicai's temperament very well."
Is that so? Cynthia watched Li Shuwen skillfully brew two cups of tea.
He served them to Cynthia and Li Meining respectively.
He then took out a plate, arranged two plates of refreshments, and placed them on the table.
"Osmanthus cake, cookies? Drinking jasmine tea with these two snacks?"
Li Shuwen nodded. "Jasmine tea has a fresh aroma and a soft taste. The subtle osmanthus fragrance of the osmanthus cake echoes the jasmine aroma."
"The rich aroma of cookies contrasts sharply with the fresh scent of jasmine, giving the tea drinker a novel experience."
Watching Li Shuwen instantly become eloquent when it came to his professional field, Cynthia revealed a bright smile.
Li Shuwen was instantly captivated, then quickly turned his head away.
"Miss Baicai, please wait. I'm going to make desserts now. Is there anything in particular you'd like? I have all the ingredients here; I can make most of the desserts on the market."
Cynthia gave a sweet smile. "I'm not picky. Just make your best dessert. It'll be a good chance for me to test your skills. I've been to many places and tasted many desserts, you know."
Li Meining, uncharacteristically, didn't focus on the refreshments in front of her. She earnestly praised her brother's skill. "Sister, don't worry, my brother's cooking skills are among the best in all of Sinnoh!"
"That amazing?" Cynthia smiled as she looked at Li Shuwen. "Then I'm even more eager to taste Mr. Li's cooking. I hope Mr. Li won't disappoint me."
Under Cynthia's gaze, Li Shuwen's face visibly reddened. He turned and quickly walked into the kitchen.
"I'll go now."
Cynthia secretly chuckled. Teasing her good friend while in disguise felt really good.