Pokémon Padea Adventure: The Journey Continues

Looking at the cheers of the audience, Xiaozhi and his friends in the back row were stunned at first, having not prepared for such a huge reaction from the crowd.

“What a talented designer!”

"That's right! Who is that hidden designer? I want to buy his clothes to wear..."

Seeing that everyone's comments were all positive without exception, Lip on the stage finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the audience surrounding her with questions, Lip responded with difficulty.

"What? You want to know who that designer is! Sorry everyone... He told me in advance that he didn't want to be famous, so I can't tell you. As for his true face, I don't know either, because he always wears a hoodie and covers his face with cloth, so I don't know his true face either..."

Seeing Lip surrounded by people, Xiaozhi and the others realized that they couldn't get close to Lip, so they could only go to the front desk on the first floor to sign up for the challenge.

Xiaozhi said with emotion.

“Great! The unknown designer’s debut collection was a big hit!”

Xiaoqing was also moved by the stories of Lip and the unknown designer, and said with emotion.

"There are many good horses, but few good horse trainers. As the person who discovered the other person, Ms. Lip, I am impressed by her professional vision. She can see the beauty in the ordinary..."

Papa crossed his arms, tilted his head, frowned, and thought hard.

"Why do I feel that the designer's design is somewhat familiar? Not only does it resemble the clothes worn by the members of the "Star Team", but also the clothes worn by the bosses. I feel like I have seen his work a long time ago..."

Just as Xiaozhi and his group turned to head towards the stairs leading to the first floor, they saw a familiar figure, leaning against the tower pillar with his arms folded, quietly observing the fashion show on their side.

Xiaozhi and the others immediately recognized each other. From the panic on the other side's face, which only showed one eye, they could see that the other side was equally surprised. Both sides spoke in unison.

"why you!"

"Why is it you!"

The person who appeared behind Xiaozhi was Qiu Ming, the former boss of the "Drug Gang Squad" of the "Sky Star Team". Qiu Ming was responsible for the design of the "Sky Star Team" uniforms and retired after being defeated by Xiaozhi.

Xiaozhi became alert to the other party and said.

"Okay, I thought you had retired, but now you're here! If you want to fight, fight me..."

Qiu Ming replied unhappily.

"I abide by the rules of my former team. I will really retire if I say I will retire. I will not pester you or fight with you... I am here to visit the exhibition. There is no rule that says I cannot be here, right?"

After listening to Qiu Ming's explanation, Xiaozhi and the others finally relaxed and chose to believe the other party's promise. There was not much interaction between them. After all, apart from the previous battle, the two sides were not very familiar with each other.

Xiaozhi and his group passed by Qiu Ming and walked down the stairs. Qiu Ming followed him downstairs, which made Xiaozhi a little concerned. Ignoring him, after going downstairs, Xiaozhi and his group turned and entered the front desk on the first floor to register for the subsequent gym challenge. Unexpectedly, after Xiaozhi and his group entered the building, the glass door behind them opened again, and Qiu Ming followed closely behind.

Xiaozhi immediately turned around and scolded unhappily.

"You said you had no other ideas? Why are you following us again..."

Qiu Ming replied in the same cold tone.

"I said I didn't, but our routes just happened to be the same! I came here to follow Ms. Lip's words and wait for her arrival..."

"Lip? You're lying. How could Ms. Lip know you? You're not from the modeling, makeup, or clothing industry!"

Hearing the argument between Xiaozhi and Qiu Ming at the front desk of the gym, the front desk staff spoke up to stop them.

"Alright trainers, please don't make any noise in public. What do you want?"

Hearing the front desk staff's stop, Xiaoqing stopped Xiaozhi and said.

"Alright, Xiaozhi! Stop arguing. Maybe what Qiu Ming said is true. We can judge whether he said something wrong after the gym challenge with Ms. Lip!"

Papa looked in the direction of Qiu Ming with a frown on his face. He felt that the other party was somewhat familiar. Apart from having seen him once in the "Star Strategy Team Base", he could not remember when he had seen him. He just felt that it was a long time ago.

Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, an elevator door slowly opened from the wall beside the front desk, and Lip appeared from inside. After walking out of the elevator, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Wow! The response from everyone is really enthusiastic. Qiu Ming, your costume design is a great success!"

Xiaozhi and his friends didn't expect that there would be an elevator under the tower on the second floor, nor did they know that Lip would appear so suddenly. An unconscious word from Lip revealed the fact that Qiu Ming knew Lip, and also revealed that Qiu Ming was the reclusive designer who didn't want to show his face as Lip said.

When Lip arrived at the lobby on the first floor, she saw that in addition to the informed front desk staff and Qiu Ming, Xiaozhi and his group also had surprised expressions on their faces. She immediately realized that she had said the wrong thing and changed the subject.

"Qiu Ming, the clothing design you provided is good, but it is still slightly inferior to the clothing on the Linjia show I mentioned today. I hope you can learn from him... Qiu Ming is not that reclusive designer!"

Lip's words undoubtedly made the situation worse. Qiu Ming, who was present, sighed.

"Okay, Ms. Lip! Xiaozhi and the others are my friends. It doesn't matter if they know about this. And thank you Ms. Lip for giving me this opportunity to showcase my designed clothes..."

After hearing Qiu Ming's words, Lip breathed a sigh of relief. Xiaozhi and Xiaoqing were surprised that Qiu Ming was the designer. Papa slapped his forehead, as if he recognized when he had seen Qiu Ming before, and said in surprise.

"I remember you, Qiu Ming! Even though you are wearing a hoodie and a veil now, I recall that you were my neighbor who lived next door to me in the dormitory now!"

Xiaozhi and Xiaoqing were a little confused about what Papper said, while Qiu Ming seemed a little thoughtful, but still ignored Papper, who continued to speak.

"Just like me at that time, I was immersed in studying cooking, and you were immersed in studying clothing. Although we lived next door to each other and had met from time to time, we seemed to have our own thoughts and never said hello..."

Qiu Ming replied coldly.

"So what? Actually, I recognized you, but we still don't need to have any contact now."

As Qiu Ming was about to leave, he was stopped by Papa again.

"Qiu Ming, what I want to say is... we should all open ourselves up. After meeting a group of like-minded partners, unexpected sparks will be generated in all aspects of our creation."

Hearing what Papa said, Qiu Ming was stunned at first, then turned around and said to Papa and the others.

"Speaking of companions, you know... I once had one, but thanks to your "Stardust Operation", I am now alone."

Piper also recalled and continued to exhort.

"We have met the companions you mentioned more or less in subsequent travels. We already know the truth about the "Sky Star Operation". Under the leadership of the new principal Clavel, the academy has been getting better and better. I hope that all of you students from the "Sky Star Team" can return to the academy."

Papa's invitation still did not arouse Qiu Ming's interest at all. He left after leaving a few words.

"Go back? Can we go back to the academy that disappointed us?"

Watching Qiu Ming walking away, Papa was about to take a step forward, but Xiaoqing held his shoulder. Papa turned around and looked at Xiaoqing, shook his head, and said.

"Piper, let him go! Our purpose in participating in the "Stardust Operation" is to make the bosses retire. Like the other bosses, Pina has Ms. Lime of the "Ice Box Gym", Melloco has Boruto of the "Padia Fire Department", and Ortiga has the former principal Mu Fei... In addition, Qiu Ming and Ms. Lip are all accompanied by someone who is attracted to them."

"With the efforts of Principal Clavel of the academy, I believe that one day, they will return to the academy together with the last boss and the real boss."

Xiaozhi, who was unaware of the situation, muttered to the side.

"Principal Clavel! Is he involved in the "Stardust Wars" plan?"

Lip came over from behind and, although she had no idea what they were arguing about, she still gave them gentle advice.

"Dear trainers, you are friends with Qiu Ming. Did you have a quarrel just now?"

Xiaozhi and the others didn't know how to start.

Lip continued.

"Qiu Ming is a quiet child, but I know he has no ill intentions. I hope you will stop arguing. I will cooperate with him in the future, and I will also make sure he stops being upset, okay?"

Looking at the gentle Lip, Xiaozhi and the others nodded slightly, and then Xiaozhi made a request to Lip.

"Ms. Lip, I'm here to request a gym challenge with you. Please accept my gym battle request!"

Lip looked at Satoshi in front of her and felt that he looked familiar. It was as if she had seen Satoshi's face somewhere in the Galar region overseas before. Without thinking too much about it, Lip answered.

"Okay, but..."

Before Lip could finish her next words, Xiaozhi jumped up and cheered.

"Great!"

"…But, not now!"

Lip continued what she hadn't finished saying. Xiaozhi was stunned for a moment before answering.

"Why is this? Ms. Lip, what do you mean by not now!"

Lip raised her hand to check the time on her wrist and told the truth.

"Originally, the "Baike Gym" doesn't have that many rules. There is no such thing as a pre-match test. But I still have to finish the follow-up work of the model show, so I need some time to deal with it."

"Plus, I recently recruited a 'little brother' who took a pre-match test. So before you fight me, Xiaozhi, go find that 'little brother' and complete the pre-match test!"

After saying that, Lip walked out of the house without looking back, leaving Xiaozhi and others confused and puzzled.

"'Little brother'?"

The front desk staff behind him also spoke at this time.

"As Ms. Lip said, she still needs some time to sort out work matters. The rule about the 'pre-match test' was also made by Lip recently after she returned to 'Baking Town' and was busy with her last model show. It just so happened that Ms. Lip's friend came here, so she entrusted her friend to do the pre-match test."

Under the guidance of the front desk staff, Xiaozhi and his group walked out of the "Bagu Gym" and came to an open space next to the gym, where the person responsible for conducting pre-match tests on challengers had been waiting for a long time.

After Xiaozhi and the others approached, Xiaozhi shouted to them.

"Hello! Is this a pre-game test with you?"

Until the other party turned around, Xiaozhi and his friends saw each other's faces and spoke in unison in surprise.

"It's you! Teacher Huangbo..."

When Huangbo heard a voice calling him from behind, he turned around and noticed that it was Xiaozhi and his group.

"It's you! Xiaozhi, Xiaoqing, Piper..., long time no see."

Everyone reminisced about the past.

"Yes, I didn't see Teacher Huangbo during the midterm return to school a few days ago."

Huang Bo scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.

"I'm sorry, it's all because of Lip! She's a friend I've known since childhood, and I knew she was coming back to Baking Town from her model show tour, so I went out of my way to catch up with her."

"It was originally just a short stop, but she asked me to stay here for a while to defend her against the challenges of some trainers in the last fashion show. She set up a defense here so that I can conduct the 'pre-match test' for the subsequent challengers!"

Xiaozhi then suddenly realized.

"In fact, when we returned to school during the mid-term, we learned from Teacher Taim that Teacher Huangbo and Lip, who had returned to "Beigu Town", were friends and came here to reminisce about the past. But I didn't expect that the 'little brother' that Ms. Lip was talking about was also you, Teacher Huangbo!"

After learning from Xiaozhi's words that Lip called her that behind her back, Huangbo said sullenly.

"Okay, Lip! You tease me like that behind my back. I'll teach you a lesson next time I see you!"

After being angry, Huangbo sighed again.

"Hey, I wouldn't have agreed to Lip's outrageous request. After I lost to Lip in a Pokémon battle where the loser had to obey the other party, I was asked to take charge of the pre-game test of the "Baking Gym"..."

Seeing Huangbo with a lost look on his face, Xiaozhi and the others were about to give him some advice, but suddenly Huangbo perked up, stood up straight and spoke loudly.

"Alright! Let's do good things to the end. Since I've agreed to Lip's request, I have to admit defeat... I'll just finish this last pre-match test!"

Seeing Huangbo regaining his spirits, Xiaozhi also became interested and said.

"So, Mr. Huangbo, what exactly is the pre-match test for the "Baikoku Dojo"?"

Huang Bo's eyes narrowed and he answered proudly.

"Since that's the decision, let Xiaozhi take the pre-match test I designed for you - "Challenge the Joy, Anger, Surprise and Joy Gymnastics"!"