NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: 7
"Gloom, come with me to pick up the food."
Having changed into a brand-new outfit she had never worn before, Hu Luo Bo carefully checked herself from head to toe, ensuring that no unwanted smells lingered. Holding her phone with the livestream still running, she confidently stepped out the door with Gloom.
She took the elevator downstairs, picked up the delivery, and completed the process in one smooth motion.
Along the way, both people and Pokémon instinctively reacted with surprise upon seeing Gloom. To them, a Gloom in public meant an overwhelming, nose-wrinkling stench.
In fact, in certain areas, there were regulations prohibiting Gloom from entering public places. Some online users had even classified it as a "biochemical weapon," showing just how notorious its smell could be.
Rumor had it that a Gloom in heat, experiencing extreme emotional fluctuations, could release an odor so powerful that it could knock people unconscious within a two-kilometer radius!
As a result, people's first instinct upon seeing a Gloom was to clamp their noses shut and flee.
But soon, their expressions shifted from caution to confusion.
There was no smell.
Not even a trace of the usual stench.
Instead, there was an unexpectedly faint floral fragrance in the air.
Unbelievable. Inconceivable.
Some even leaned in closer, hesitantly sniffing the air.
All of this was broadcasted live, allowing the audience to witness every moment firsthand.
For added effect, Hu Luo Bo boldly invited the delivery guy to take a sniff. Then, as a final test, she treated him to a drink, asking him to open it and take a sip right on the spot.
To Ye Yinchuan, this girl had a natural talent for boosting livestream engagement.
After all, if Gloom still smelled terrible, eating or drinking in that environment would trigger an instinctive gag reflex. But if the delivery guy had no reaction, it would serve as undeniable proof.
"So? Mr. Contrarian, are you still going to argue with me?"
Having completed all the necessary tests, Hu Luo Bo smirked triumphantly at the camera.
"My Gloom isn't smelly at all now! Not even a little! And it never will be again! It's the best Pokémon in my heart! You'd better apologize now, or get ready to drown in the flood of chat messages from the audience. Their eyes don't lie!"
After speaking, she turned to Ye Yinchuan, as if seeking his approval.
He simply nodded, signaling his agreement.
The livestream chat exploded:
[HAHAHA! That was satisfying! Bet he won't be able to keep up his act now!]
[The streamer is amazing! New viewers, don't forget to follow!]
[Mr. Contrarian, you got anything to say now? Just admit you're an idiot already!]
At this point, it was a done deal.
But some people… some people just had unbreakable egos.
Mr. Contrarian: [Fake! It's all fake! Amazing acting, that's all!]
Ye Yinchuan felt nothing but amusement.
"Buddy, you can lie to us, but don't lie to yourself. Is admitting the truth really that hard? Fine, I can see you're still not convinced. Alright then, grab your Pokémon, and let's do a live assessment!"
Hu Luo Bo, satisfied with her victory, voluntarily disconnected her call and left a final message in chat:
[Streamer, thank you so much today! I'll be supporting you from now on! I'll watch all your streams!]
She even sent a Poké Ball gift—a small donation worth about 50 RMB. Not much, but for a student without a job, it was a sincere show of appreciation.
One loyal female fan, is secured!
"Thank you for the gift, Hu Luo Bo! And to all the new viewers, remember to hit that follow button! Free Pokémon evaluations, happening live!"
Meanwhile, the chat had turned on Mr. Contrarian, bombarding him with messages:
[Why aren't you accepting the challenge now?]
[If you're not going to show your Pokémon, just leave. We don't need sore losers here!]
Ironically, Ye Yinchuan, who previously had to beg for people to participate, was now overwhelmed with requests for evaluations.
The tables had turned!
Eventually, after keeping the audience waiting, Mr. Contrarian finally accepted the call.
When his video feed appeared, the chat exploded with laughter.
He was wearing a Pikachu mask.
Ye Yinchuan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Dude, this is great! You're ready to rob a bank without even changing gear!"
Mr. Contrarian simply sneered, "Cut the crap! I want to see just how skilled you really are, streamer!"
The chat:
[I leave for five minutes and come back to see a creepy Pikachu arguing with the streamer? What did I miss?!]
[Was stuck in class, someone tell me what's happening! Please, I'm desperate!]
[He's been humbled before, and he's about to be humbled again. Get ready for the show!]
[Dude really put on a Pikachu mask to hide his shame… Pikachu doesn't deserve this disrespect!]
[Streamer, teach him a lesson! Time to put him in his place! 💪💪💪]
Ye Yinchuan could feel the energy in the chat.
The more arrogant Mr. Contrarian acted, the sweeter the takedown would be.
He grinned. "Alright, listen up! If anyone here still doubts me, step forward! I'll take you all on! Get your wallet ready, pal—your Master Ball gift is as good as mine! Now, let's see your Pokémon."
With great fanfare, Mr. Contrarian finally revealed his Pokémon.
A Squirtle.
"Streamer, I have the same request as Hu Luo Bo. I won't say anything—I just want you to analyze my Squirtle and tell me if there's anything wrong with it."
Ye Yinchuan smirked. Oh? You want to make things difficult for me right away?
Good. That's exactly what he wanted.
"Angle the camera properly. Let me take a good look."
He studied the Squirtle closely.
It had a round head, stubby limbs, three toes on each foot, and a brown shell with a yellow underbelly. The white wavy trim connected the front and back shells.
A curled tail resembling a swirling wave added a signature touch to its appearance.
Its purple eyes held an unmistakable hint of fear.
Its big mouth gave off a clueless, innocent expression.
Squirtles, by design, looked nearly identical. Unlike Pokémon with unique color patterns or visible traits, spotting differences in Squirtles was a challenge.
It was entirely possible that Mr. Contrarian deliberately picked a Squirtle to make things harder for him.
But that was no problem.
Ye Yinchuan narrowed his eyes.
His Treasure Appraisal Eye activated.
The panel flashed before his eyes.
His smile faded.
His brows furrowed.
He muttered under his breath:
"…That's not right. Something's wrong here."
[Tiny Turtle Pokémon: Squirtle]
Level: 7 Type: Water Gender: Female Base Stats: C-Rank (314) Individual Value: B-Rank (75) Ability: Rain Dish Nature: Timid Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Withdraw Status: Oxygen Deprivation, Depression, Anxiety Evolution Path: Wartortle → Blastoise Special Trait: Aquaphobia
Ye Yinchuan was stunned.
A Squirtle with aquaphobia?
This was a Water-type Pokémon!
Being timid made sense—it was just camera-shy.
But oxygen deprivation?
Depression?
Something was seriously wrong here.
(End of Chapter)