After visiting for a while, Chen Kai thanked Xu SanShi again and bid him farewell.
Chen Kai continued to freeload meals at his grandpa's house.
Dipplin and Dipplin 2 ate a large bowl of dinner together; after witnessing Maushold's lifestyle, the two of them became relatively harmonious, at least they wouldn't fight over food, but they were still very far from being deeply affectionate.
Miraidon didn't just eat from a bowl; his grandma specially bought him a dedicated pot, and a whole pot of delicious food was made just for him.
Xiao Mei, on the other hand, held a bowl of food normally, but she seemed out of place with her surroundings.
Because his grandpa's Swablu was also a very big eater.
Chen Kai once worried about eating his grandpa's family into poverty, but luckily, his uncle got a promotion and a significant raise, so for now, he probably wouldn't eat them into poverty, right?
“Woo!” At this moment, Miraidon, who was focused on eating, suddenly raised his head.
Miraidon, who would let nothing interrupt his eating, actually stopped eating!
The situation was serious, Chen Kai quickly approached and asked nervously, “What happened, Miraidon?”
Miraidon sniffed around: “Hmm! I feel like I smell a strange scent!”
Chen Kai walked away speechless: “Oh, you're eating what's in your bowl and still thinking about what's in the pot?”
“No, really, there's a very strange scent, it smells a bit bitter, yet also a bit fragrant, but it's very far away…” Miraidon still wanted to explain, but Chen Kai no longer wanted to bother with him, he went to wash dishes and didn't hear him at all.
Miraidon could only suppress the doubt in his heart.
However, later that evening, after leaving his grandpa's house and returning to the residential area on the Fifth Ring Road, Miraidon could no longer smell that peculiar scent.
But the scent lingered in his mind, causing him to not sleep well all night.
The next morning, Chen Kai went to the Botanical Garden for his usual exercise.
While still on the bus, Chen Kai received a message from Bai Yuchun: “Little brother! Our senior brothers are back! And they brought us gifts! Come quickly.”
Just as Chen Kai was about to reply, Miraidon transmitted a message to him: “Xiao Kai! I smell that scent again!”
Chen Kai advised: “I brought you breakfast, don't be anxious. You can't eat on the bus, I'll give it to you when we get to the Botanical Garden.”
Miraidon was anxious! “No! It's really not that, I feel it getting stronger and stronger!”
“What exactly does it smell like then?” Chen Kai realized something was off and asked.
Miraidon said: “It has a slightly bitter feeling, and also a fragrance.”
Chen Kai heard clearly this time and said in surprise: “Could it be Bitter Seasoning!?
Which direction do you think this scent is coming from?”
“Let me smell.” Miraidon ran out of his Poké Ball. Luckily, there were few people on the bus right now, so he sniffed around the car, confirmed it, and told Chen Kai: “It seems to be in the direction of the Botanical Garden.”
“Okay, then let's take the bus to the Botanical Garden first.”
Upon arriving at the Botanical Garden and getting off the bus, Miraidon couldn't help but say, “What a strong scent! I feel like it's right ahead!”
Chen Kai had already seen Bai Yuchun standing at the entrance, chatting with someone, from a distance.
Bai Yuchun also saw Chen Kai and waved from afar: “Xiao Kai, come over quickly.”
Chen Kai jogged over, and Chun Jie introduced: “Xiao Kai, this is our Senior Brother Lu Yang. He just returned last night.”
The Senior Brother smiled and extended his hand: “No need to follow Xiaobai's silly calling, we are all Teacher's students, you can just call me Lu Yang.”
Chen Kai also extended his hand and shook hands with the Senior Brother: “Hello, Senior Brother!”
For some reason, the Senior Brother gave Chen Kai a sense of déjà vu, very familiar, but Chen Kai could guarantee he had never seen the Senior Brother before.
Chen Kai carefully scrutinized the Senior Brother; he wore a red and white baseball cap with a simple and clean design.
He had a black short-sleeved shirt underneath, with a red and gray spliced zip-up vest over it, adding a touch of dynamism. He wore black wristbands on each wrist.
For his lower body, he wore a pair of light blue cargo pants with multiple pockets, combining practicality and style. On his feet were a pair of red and gray athletic shoes, and his overall outfit was casual and comfortable, exuding youthful vitality.
For some reason, a somewhat thin Eevee was following him.
The more Chen Kai looked, the more he felt something was off! Wasn't this a very standard Pokémon world outfit! Very everyday yet somewhat recognizable sportswear.
Lu Yang said with a wry smile: “Xiao Chen, don't join Xiaobai in making fun; your 'Senior Brother' sounds like something from an immortal cultivation sect. If it's too much, you can just call me 'Senior Lu'.”
Chen Kai no longer teased him and said: “Okay, hello, Senior Lu Yang.”
At this moment, Miraidon was sniffing incessantly, almost pressing against Lu Yang.
And Eevee seemed startled, baring his teeth and glaring fiercely at Miraidon, looking ready to bite at any moment.
This made Lu Yang a bit flustered: “Hey! Xiao Chen, what's wrong with your Cyclizar?”
He asked while comforting Eevee.
Chen Kai quickly pulled him back: “Miraidon, stop, that's very impolite.”
“The scent is coming from him!” Miraidon affirmed to Chen Kai through telepathy.
“Then I'll ask him in a bit, don't get too close to him for now.” Chen Kai advised.
“Senior Lu Yang, my Cyclizar is greedy and smelled a fragrance on you, I apologize.”
“It's fine, it's fine, but do I have some kind of scent on me?” Lu Yang asked, somewhat puzzled.
Bai Yuchun immediately said: “Yes! I've wanted to say it for a long time, but I was afraid you'd hit me. It smells a bit… stinky?”
“Oh!” Lu Yang clapped his hands, as if remembering something: “I remember now, I got home too late yesterday and forgot to unpack my backpack.”
He took off his backpack and pulled out a fresh-keeping bag from inside, which contained a green plant.
“It should be this plant! I brought it down from Changbai Mountain! It's not stinky, it just gives off a bitter smell!”
Chen Kai saw it and exclaimed: “This is! Bitter Seasoning!”
Lu Yang turned his head and asked: “Oh, Xiao Chen, do you recognize this plant? I looked it up and didn't know what it was used for.”
Chen Kai didn't intend to hide it: “Yes, this is the legendary seasoning—Bitter Seasoning!
Senior Lu Yang, could I trouble you for a few of its leaves? I can pay for them!”
Lu Yang waved his hand directly, refusing Chen Kai's offer of money: “Hey! Paying for it makes it too formal. We are all Teacher Ye's students. The things in my bag were originally brought as gifts for you, Xiaobai, and Xiaosun. You can just take them directly!”
Because it was indeed very important, Chen Kai no longer declined: “How about this then! Senior Lu Yang, I'll make this seasoning into food, and we can share it, how about that!”
Lu Yang nodded: “Sounds good, since you said it's a legendary seasoning. It must taste great, right! I haven't had breakfast yet!”
Bai Yuchun, however, was skeptical: “Can this thing be eaten? And I haven't heard that you can cook, little brother?”
Chen Kai took the Bitter Seasoning, took out the bread and sandwiches from his bag, added the seasoning, and retorted: “I can't cook, Chun Jie, you don't have to eat it. Senior Lu Yang and I will eat it together.”
“You forget your sister when you have a senior brother, huh?” Bai Yuchun rubbed Chen Kai's hair.
Chen Kai quickly begged for mercy: “No, no, how about you try a bite, Chun Jie?”
“That's more like it.” Only then did Chun Jie let go of her little brother.