The largest “Poké Ball Studio” in Magic City was packed to the brim.
Even outside the studio, people had blocked all the passages.
This was because today, Magic City’s largest studio was hosting an interview, and the subject of this interview was Mu Li, who had recently caused a worldwide sensation.
The entire studio was enveloped in a layer of excitement.
Inside the studio, a gigantic screen displayed a dazzling title: “Champion Tea Party · Special Edition: Legend Ends, Life Begins — A Conversation with A Li.”
The lighting technician adjusted the brilliant beams, and Mu Li’s “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master” played from the speakers.
All eyes were focused on the meticulously arranged retro coffee shop scene at the center of the stage: wicker tables and chairs, and an exquisite Poké Ball teapot steaming hot.
Backstage, the program’s host, Xiao You, the leading female host of CCTV, was nervously rubbing her manuscript.
“Sister Youzi, Teacher A Li has arrived!” the assistant whispered.
The door was pushed open, and a figure walked in.
Mu Li was dressed in comfortable beige casual wear, with a gentle yet slightly distant smile on his lips.
To prevent his identity from being exposed, he had specifically left Jigglypuff and other Pokémon at home this time.
“Hello, Teacher Xiao You,” Mu Li’s voice was deep and pleasant.
“You are? Teacher A Li?! Welcome, welcome!” Xiao You exclaimed. This was Mu Li’s first public appearance, and she was a bit slow to react, but then she enthusiastically extended her hand.
“Are you planning to reveal your identity?” Xiao You pointed to her cheek, asking.
Mu Li smiled mysteriously: “You’ll know in a bit.”
Just then, Ling Fei walked in, glanced at Mu Li, and asked Xiao You, “Where’s A Li?”
Xiao You looked at Mu Li and Ling Fei with a puzzled expression: “Isn’t this him?”
Ling Fei’s pupils constricted. He looked at Mu Li, who had a half-smile on his face, his eyes full of disbelief. The next moment, he reached out and tugged at Mu Li’s face.
Before Mu Li could react, his face wiggled, and then a Ditto appeared on Mu Li’s face.
Ling Fei couldn’t help but roll his eyes and said grumpily, “Ditto? You sure know how to play, kid.”
Mu Li quickly broke free from Ling Fei’s grasp, continued to rub Ditto onto his face, and soon, Ditto transformed into another face: “Teacher, can’t you be a bit gentler? Ditto was scared by you.”
Xiao You’s eyes on the side were almost popping out: “This…this…”
Mu Li laughed: “It’s just a little trick to hide my identity. I don’t want to reveal my identity now. Being a star or something is too much trouble…”
Xiao You showed a look of sudden understanding and excitedly pressed on, “Then, can I bring this up later?”
Mu Li smiled and nodded.
Ling Fei, however, grumbled inwardly, “Being a star is troublesome, yet you still want to be a singer…”
The target of this program’s interview was Mu Li, but to prevent Mu Li from having difficulty answering some questions, Ling Fei specifically participated in this interview together.
The time for the interview to begin quickly arrived.
The studio lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a cone of light on the stage entrance.
The song “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master” played again, and Xiao You walked to the center of the stage with an excited expression: “Audience friends in the hall! Trainers in front of your televisions! Welcome to the special live broadcast of “Champion Tea Party”! Today, we welcome a heavyweight guest, and I believe you no longer need me to introduce him.”
The audience below instantly ignited, and various screams erupted.
“God Li is awesome!!!”
“A Li!! A Li!!!”
“Demon Dragon King of Annihilation!!!!”
…
Amidst the audience’s screams, Mu Li walked onto the stage wearing his familiar black mask.
Immediately, flashlights flickered wildly, and the audience’s screams rose another level.
“Uh…that one who called me Demon Dragon King, get him out…” Mu Li’s mouth twitched as he joked, and the audience immediately laughed.
Any fan of Mu Li knew that his most hated title was this one. According to Mu Li, whenever someone called him by that name, he wished he could learn to dig a hole.
After Mu Li and Ling Fei entered, Xiao You took advantage of the lively atmosphere to begin hosting: “A Li, you’ve been retired for so long, everyone is very curious about what you’ve been doing?”
Mu Li smiled awkwardly: “Actually, it’s nothing much. I just found a quiet place, planted some crops, grew some flowers, just like a retired old man…”
As soon as this was mentioned, Ling Fei couldn’t help but retort: “Everyone, judge for yourselves, this twenty-year-old kid lives like an old man every day, while I’m almost 60 and haven’t even had a chance to retire yet…”
Everyone immediately burst into a friendly roar of laughter.
But just then, the audience in the top row of the stage suddenly stirred.
This sudden movement immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
The audience in the last two rows left their seats, forming a square formation at the back. Each person held a banner, and these banners gradually converged to form a single formation.
Within these formations, many slogans written in bright red paint appeared: “Oppose Retirement!”
“Champion Never Ends!”
“Rekindle the Flames!”
“We Need You! A Li!”
…
The audience immediately erupted in huge gasps and discussions, and flashlights flickered wildly again.
At this moment, Xiao You on stage was also stunned. It was clear that she had no idea such a thing would happen at the beginning of the show.
Mu Li’s reaction, however, was very calm. He couldn’t help but rub his temples and said to the audience: “I know what you’re thinking. It seems everyone is a bit dissatisfied with my retirement life, but can we please sit back down and talk properly first?”
Upon hearing Mu Li’s words, the fans below the stage began to support what he said.
“That’s right, let’s talk things out nicely.”
“Since A Li is here, he will give us an explanation.”
“Exactly, everyone, please sit back down and don’t disrupt the order of the program.”
…
Fortunately, although these fans’ actions were relatively extreme, they still listened to the advice of others and quickly returned to their seats.
Xiao You took the opportunity to ease the atmosphere in the venue: “It seems that even after so many years, everyone still has a lot of dissatisfaction with A Li’s retirement.”
The audience below also responded enthusiastically.
“How about it, A Li? Is the pressure great?” Xiao You asked Mu Li.
Mu Li couldn’t help but show a wry smile: “The pressure is indeed great, it’s just…”
“Perhaps I can give everyone an answer to this question,” Ling Fei suddenly said.
Immediately, everyone’s attention turned to Ling Fei.
“Some things Mu Li isn’t very good at saying, but I can,” Ling Fei said after glancing at Mu Li.
Mu Li’s pupils constricted slightly, and he subconsciously said, “Teacher, this…”
Ling Fei smiled and shook his head, saying, “Since I’m here, I’ve naturally communicated with the higher-ups. We all feel that over the years, the country owes you too much, and these slanders shouldn’t be borne by you alone.”