Bai Weimin walked in front, a silent Swablu perched on his shoulder, pulling several suitcases, and heading silently towards the small port.
His left eye was a bruised black, that patch of discoloration starkly visible on his skin, like a grotesque ink flower blooming wantonly, making his expression appear quite disheveled.
Following behind his grandfather was a man in a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt, adorned with vibrant tropical flowers in interwoven patterns of bright yellow, vivid pink, and lake blue, exuding the unrestrained vitality unique to Hawaii.
This man was Boss Zhou, formerly his grandfather's student, and now operating a guesthouse on Ula'ula Island in Alola.
It was with his assistance that his grandfather managed to secretly arrange the family's flight tickets and passports, even for himself and his grandmother, without anyone knowing, not even his grandmother.
“Haha, Teacher Bai just wanted to give you all a surprise,” Boss Zhou said, trying to smooth things over, as he helped his grandfather load the luggage onto the small boat.
The boat belonged to Boss Zhou; his guesthouse was located near the beach, facing the sea and backed by green mountains, with beautiful surroundings, making boat travel more convenient for daily commutes and picking up guests.
“This is called a surprise? This is clearly Astonish!” Chen Ma, Bai Lijuan, still fumed.
The bruise on her grandfather's eye was precisely her handiwork.
“Haha, I just called the ranch, and the village and Tianxiang will help look after it for a few more days,” Chen Dafu said with a wry smile, comforting his wife.
If he hadn't intervened earlier, his grandfather's other eye would probably have been bruised as well.
“It just so happens I haven't been to an island for a vacation either, so just consider it accompanying me.” After his grandmother learned of her husband's actions, she was initially so angry she wanted to hit him, but now that her husband had used his retirement savings to pre-pay for the guesthouse and round-trip tickets, she could only smile helplessly and comfort her daughter.
Chen Kai, meanwhile, looked around curiously, eagerly hoping to spot Tapu Koko.
However, even as the boat gradually moved further away, he didn't get his wish.
“It seems I'm not Zhi Ye; I don't have that kind of luck.”
Chen Kai thought to himself, if Senior Lu Yang were here, he might have a good chance of encountering Tapu Koko.
The sun slowly sank towards the horizon, dyeing the sky and clouds a rich crimson and golden orange.
A few Wingull stretched their white wings, riding the salty sea breeze, happily skimming over the shimmering sea, occasionally letting out clear calls, adding lively notes to the rhythm of the waves.
Beside the beach, several elegant resort guesthouses stood quietly, their open terraces facing this boundless splendor.
Just beneath the swaying coconut grove's shadow next to the guesthouse, a tall Exeggutor stood leisurely, its iconic three egg-shaped heads looking towards the sea, the sunset glow, and the guesthouse terrace respectively, its long neck gently swaying in the breeze, blending with the silhouette of a real coconut tree, like an indispensable tranquil guardian in this tropical paradise.
“Oh! This is an Alolan Exeggutor!” Chen Kai, still on the boat, couldn't help but exclaim.
A creature over ten meters tall appearing before one's eyes would astound anyone!
Chen Kai released Exeggcute from its Poké Ball, letting it witness the Alolan Exeggutor of the Alola region.
Exeggcute looked up at the Alolan Exeggutor in front of it, then turned back to Chen Kai in disbelief and said:
“Egg, egg!” (Wow, it's so tall!)
Chen Kai squatted down, looking at Exeggcute, whose eggshells were now increasingly damaged, with one egg even completely shattered, revealing the yolk inside, and which was about to reach Normal Class (Level 20), and asked, “You can evolve into this too, do you want to?”
Exeggcute was a little surprised:
“Egg?!” (Ah, I can?!)
“Of course you can!” Chen Kai nodded.
His grandfather watched Exeggcute from the side, full of anticipation, hoping it would agree.
After all, he went to such great lengths, even booking the guesthouse here for over ten days, just hoping Exeggcute would evolve into an Alolan Exeggutor, possessing the “noble” Dragon typing, so his grandson could become a trainer specializing in Dragon-type Pokemon!
Boss Zhou said with a wry smile from the side, “Teacher Bai, I don't mean to discourage you, but I heard that Exeggcute needs to stay in Alola for a long time to evolve into the Alolan form of Exeggutor; it's not something that happens as soon as it arrives. It needs to adapt to the local environment.
Actually, if you were to go back tomorrow, I could refund you the guesthouse fee.”
“No! No need for a refund, I think this child can do it; its mother came from Alola!” His grandfather directly raised his hand to refuse.
As for Exeggcute's mother, Chen Dafu accidentally let slip during a dinner party in the Capital recently, and his grandfather found out. From then on, his grandfather began to plan all of this.
Upon hearing this, Bai Lijuan flared up again, rolled up her sleeves, and wanted to go over and give her father a few punches.
Fortunately, Chen Dafu was quick-eyed and quick-handed, hugging her tightly to prevent a “tragedy.”
Watching the Alolan Exeggutor gradually move away, Exeggcute fell into a dilemma.
Chen Kai saw through its thoughts and reached out to stroke Exeggcute's smooth head: “No rush, take your time to think.”
Exeggcute then breathed a sigh of relief.
No one had ever told it before, and it had always thought that after evolving, it would be like Bai Lijuan's Exeggutor at home. Suddenly being told it could evolve into something over ten meters tall, it indeed felt a lot of pressure for a while.
And Bai Lijuan's Exeggutor, seeing this scene through its Poké Ball, couldn't help but feel a little sad.
Just then, a young man from the guesthouse ran over with a smile: “Alola! Hello, guests.”
Chen Kai looked up and saw a child with a Rowlet on his head, clearly a Dragon Country native, but with darker skin, probably just starting junior high.
The child immediately took the luggage from his grandfather's hand and helped push it.
Boss Zhou explained to everyone, “This is my son, Zhou Zicheng. The regulations here in Alola are relaxed, so he's also studying Pokemon Trainer courses now.”
Chen Kai scrutinized the Rowlet on Zhou Zicheng's head. This Rowlet, sensing the gaze, looked sharply at Chen Kai.
Upon noticing this, Zhou Zicheng quickly put Rowlet down and said, “Brother, I'm really sorry, my Rowlet's eyes are naturally like that, it's not directed at you.”
Chen Kai quipped, “Haha, how great is that, naturally sharp eyes.”
Everyone shared a laugh.
In the evening, a meal of local specialties made Chen Kai's family of five eat heartily.
His grandfather booked three rooms, and Chen Kai got a single room, which made him very comfortable.
Lying on the bed, it was afternoon in the country, and Chen Kai dialed Huang Mao's number: “I'll trouble you to look after the ranch for a few more days.”
“Hey, Kai Ge, that's no big deal. Besides, Uncle and Aunt gave me some money, so it's only reasonable for me to look after it for a few more days, otherwise, this money feels like a hot potato.”
Huang Mao on the other end of the phone sounded nonchalant, with a hint of gratitude.
Chen Pa and Chen Ma had given Huang Mao a sum of money before they left, so Huang Mao wouldn't have to worry about Larvitar's food for at least the near future.
“I'm telling you, when you come back, you might not even be my opponent in a Pokemon battle!”
“Hmph! That confident?” Chen Kai wondered if Huang Mao was getting ahead of himself again.
Huang Mao replied confidently, “Absolutely! Let me tell you, I've been sparring with Yelena a lot lately, and now I'm terrifyingly strong!
Her Dewott is no match for me anymore!
In a while, hmph hmph! Her Aegislash won't be able to beat my Pokemon either, eventually!”
“Alright, but you try to spar with Yelena as much as possible?” Chen Kai asked, a bit puzzled.
“Old Xu's Pokémon haven't been our opponents for a long time. Aren't we going to Rongcheng for a competition in December? I don't know what's going on, but recently, the Pokemon levels in our class have been rising much slower.
No choice, we tried asking Yelena to spar with us. She's a good person; she wholeheartedly helped me, my sister, and also Su Yuexi and Qin Ying. Our Pokemon's strength has improved quite a bit.
I had a bit of a grudge against her after that summer vacation incident, but now it seems I was narrow-minded…”
Huang Mao chattered on the phone.
Chen Kai's impression of Yelena improved greatly upon hearing about these things she had done.