Chapter 160: The Unexpected Visitor
Descending to the Pokémon Center lobby, Xiu scanned the area, expecting... he wasn't sure who. His eyes swept past the few occupants until they landed on a figure seated on one of the waiting couches. He stopped dead, blinking in disbelief.
"Xiaoyuan?" he breathed, momentarily dumbfounded. It was her. His business partner, who should have been hundreds of miles away managing operations in Fuchsia City. "What... are you doing here?"
Xiaoyuan looked up as he approached, a complex expression on her face – fatigue warring with something else, perhaps determination. She pushed herself up from the couch. "What's wrong? Not happy to see me?"
Seeing her in person, not through the flickering image on a computer screen, felt strangely different. The timid uncertainty he remembered from their early days was gone, replaced by a subtle but distinct air of command, a quiet confidence likely forged by months of managing the complex, illicit business on her own.
Dressed in smart, professional attire that contrasted sharply with Xiu's own deliberately unremarkable casual wear, she seemed more mature, more self-possessed.
"No, not unhappy," Xiu managed, shaking off his surprise. "Just... shocked. How did you know I was here?" He noticed the faint shadows under her eyes, the slight slump in her shoulders despite her composed demeanor. "Did you travel overnight?"
A wry, almost knowing smile touched Xiaoyuan's lips. "I was worried," she said, her voice carrying a hint of dry accusation, "that if I arrived any later, a certain someone might have already vanished."
Xiu could only offer a helpless smile in return. 'Fair enough.' "You must be exhausted," he said, shifting the topic. "It was just the Viridian festival, nothing urgent enough for you to travel all this way. You need rest. I'll get you a room."
At the mention of rest, Xiaoyuan couldn't suppress a yawn, quickly raising a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes narrowing slightly with fatigue.
"Come on," Xiu chuckled softly, gesturing towards the reception desk. "Let's get you checked in."
He approached the front desk. "Hello, could we get a single room for this lady, please?" He prompted Xiaoyuan to present her ID.
But the nurse on duty shook her head apologetically. "I'm very sorry, sir, but due to the festival, the Pokémon Center is completely booked. We have no available rooms."
Xiu and Xiaoyuan exchanged glances. Xiu shrugged. "Well, looks like we'll have to find a hotel outside."
"Forget it," Xiaoyuan sighed, the weariness deepening on her face. "Every hotel in the city is probably full too. It would take hours to find anything." Her eyes drooped slightly. "I'll just make do in your room for now."
Seeing her obvious exhaustion, Xiu didn't argue, even if it was inconvenient and slightly awkward, secondary to her need for sleep. "Alright. Follow me."
He led her up to his room. As Xiaoyuan stepped inside, her earlier sluggishness seemed to momentarily evaporate. She glanced around the small, standard room, her gaze lingering, taking everything in. She perched on the edge of the single bed, observing.
Ignoring her scrutiny, Xiu headed to the small en-suite bathroom. "I'll get you some hot water. Wipe your face, maybe soak your feet. You'll sleep better."
He returned less than two minutes later with a basin of warm water and a clean towel, only to find Xiaoyuan already fast asleep, collapsed fully dressed onto the bed. She must have been running on fumes.
'Completely defenseless,' Xiu observed, shaking his head slightly. 'Does she trust me that much? Or just too exhausted to care?' He carefully removed her outer jacket and shoes, then gently wiped her face and hands with the damp towel.
"Mmm," she murmured in her sleep, shifting slightly but not waking, subconsciously pushing his hand away weakly.
"Alright, alright," Xiu whispered, stepping back. He carefully pulled the thin blanket over her.
Watching her sleep soundly, a sense of weary resignation settled over him. 'She must have left Fuchsia yesterday, before my email about the Viridian situation and the new business plan even arrived.' Which means none of those arrangements are in motion. And looking at her now, deep in exhausted sleep, discussing complex business plans was impossible.
'Looks like I'll have to handle the initial steps here myself.' He quietly sorted out his thoughts, adjusting his own plans around this unexpected development.
Hours later, Xiaoyuan stirred. Xiu, who had been quietly working on the room's computer terminal, noticed her movement. He walked over to the bed. "Hey. Wake up."
She mumbled something incoherent, then slowly opened her eyes, blinking groggily at his face looming above her. "...Klein?" she muttered, still half-asleep. Then, reality seemed to crash in. She bolted upright in bed, looking around wildly before shouting, "When did you get back?!"
Xiu regarded her with tolerant exasperation. "What are you talking about? Look around. You're the one who traveled."
Xiaoyuan glanced around the unfamiliar Pokémon Center room, recognition dawning. The fog of sleep slowly cleared from her face, leaving behind a residual grogginess.
"It's evening," Xiu informed her. "Time for dinner. Afterwards, we can walk around the festival if you're up for it."
"Wait," Xiaoyuan reacted instinctively, reaching for the computer terminal Xiu had vacated. "Let me just check for any urgent messages first." She quickly logged into their secure system, her focus immediately shifting to work reports.
Xiu watched her for a moment, then asked casually, "So, what brings you all the way to Viridian?"
"To see the festival, of course," Xiaoyuan replied automatically, her eyes still scanning the screen. "Heard it was a big event this year." Her tone, however, lacked conviction.
Xiu remained silent, letting the obvious evasion hang in the air. After a few moments of quiet tapping, Xiaoyuan sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. She turned away from the screen, her voice dropping to a lower, more serious register.
"Alright, fine. There were… irregularities showing up in the Viridian accounts. Discrepancies. Then the rumors started circulating online about potential trouble here during the festival." Her gaze met his, serious now. "With everything happening, the potential risks... I couldn't just sit back in Fuchsia. I needed to understand the situation on the ground myself, assess the risk to our operations, figure out how to respond."
Before she could continue, Xiu let out a soft chuckle. Xiaoyuan turned sharply towards the sound, frowning. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Xiu replied, leaning against the wall, a genuine, appreciative smile finally gracing his lips. "Just realizing I struck gold when I recruited you. Look at you." He gestured towards her. "Taking initiative, traveling across cities to manage a crisis firsthand, thinking strategically..." He continued praising her foresight, her dedication, her growth from the hesitant girl he'd first met into the competent manager she'd become.
His words, smoothly delivered and seemingly sincere, visibly eased the tension in her shoulders. The stern frown melted away, replaced by a faint blush.
"Alright, alright," she mumbled, though clearly pleased.
"Forget the work for tonight," Xiu pressed his advantage, moving towards the computer. "You traveled all day, you need a break. Consider it a mandatory day off." He reached over and shut down the terminal before she could protest further.
"Hey! I still had things to check!"
"They can wait until tomorrow," Xiu insisted firmly, pulling her gently away from the desk. "Tonight, you're just a tourist enjoying the festival."
Xiaoyuan subsided onto the edge of the bed, looking slightly disgruntled but not actively resisting anymore.
Later, Xiu led Xiaoyuan through the illuminated streets of Viridian City. Drawing on his explorations from the past few days, he acted as a surprisingly knowledgeable guide. "This is the central square... connects to the main commercial district over there... this street is known for artisan crafts, mostly local woodwork..." He pointed out landmarks, shared snippets of local history he'd gleaned, and recounted certain shops or areas, keeping the conversation light and engaging.
Xiaoyuan seemed to relax, holding a bag of festival snacks Xiu had bought for her, munching contentedly as she looked around, taking in the sights. The crowds were slightly thinner than the previous day, making for a more pleasant stroll. They could browse stalls without jostling and admire wares without queuing.
Yet, Xiu noticed, despite looking interestedly at various crafts and souvenirs, Xiaoyuan didn't buy anything.
"See anything you like?" he prompted as they passed a stall selling intricate glass figurines. "You handle all the business finances, but rarely get time to spend any of it."
Xiaoyuan glanced at the figurines, then shook her head. "Why buy things like that? They just collect dust. A waste of money, and takes up space."
Xiu smiled faintly. 'Still a cheapskate to the core.' Despite her newfound confidence and the considerable wealth she now managed (on his behalf), her fundamental nature hadn't changed. She still valued utility and frugality above all else.
'Good. That's exactly what the operation needs.'