Chapter 163: Meeting a Big Shot
"What's wrong?" Xiu repeated calmly, observing Xiaoyuan's frantic interruption. "If coastal cities aren't to your liking, there's always Saffron City or Celadon City. Their economies are far more developed than Viridian's, more modern..."
"Okay! Okay! I was wrong! Alright?" Xiaoyuan cut him off again, her voice tight with frustration and a touch of desperation. The retirement life Xiu painted held zero appeal for her. She'd poured everything into building this operation alongside him, rising from obscurity to a position of real responsibility.
Letting go, letting someone else take over... the thought was unbearable. She didn't know what she would even do without this work.
Xiu stopped his hypothetical travel planning, his gaze becoming direct, serious. He looked straight into Xiaoyuan's eyes, his expression unreadable. "And do you understand why you were wrong?"
"Uh..." Xiaoyuan flinched inwardly under his steady gaze, instinctively looking away. She hesitated, then offered tentatively, "I... I shouldn't have lost my temper?"
Xiu didn't respond immediately, simply maintaining his direct stare until Xiaoyuan, uncomfortable, lowered her head completely. Only then did he speak, his voice quiet but firm. "Your mistake wasn't losing your temper. It was losing control. Impatience. Allowing stress to dictate your actions." He stepped closer, gently tilting her chin up with his hand so their eyes met again. His tone softened slightly. "If you want to effectively manage others, lead an organization, you must master emotional discipline. Keep your true feelings hidden. Never let outsiders guess your state of mind, especially under pressure."
He sighed, his expression turning complex. "Look, I'm not trying to blame you. But this lack of emotional control... if it becomes a habit, it will lead to disaster in your position. I would genuinely rather see you step down, live a safe, peaceful life elsewhere, than hear one day that something terrible happened because you couldn't maintain composure in a critical moment."
Xiaoyuan stared back, momentarily speechless, caught between resentment at the critique and a dawning understanding of his underlying concern. She felt a pang of guilt. "Did... did I disappoint you?" she asked quietly, her voice small.
"No," Xiu replied immediately, letting go of her chin. "You've done exceptionally well, far better than I initially expected." He turned and resumed walking. "Come on." Xiaoyuan fell into step beside him, silent and contemplative.
They walked the rest of the way back to the Pokémon Center without speaking, the earlier tension replaced by a thoughtful quiet.
Inside, Xiu inquired at the front desk, the nurse retrieving an envelope from under the counter. "This arrived for you a little while ago, Mr. Xiu. Delivered by a middle-aged gentleman."
'Fushun.' Xiu took the envelope, recognizing the farmer's likely handwriting. He opened it discreetly, scanned the contents – a list of addresses – and nodded slightly, a satisfied smile flickering across his face before he tucked the paper away. 'Nice.'
Xiaoyuan, who had been standing nearby, observed his reaction. "Is that... part of your plan?" she asked cautiously.
"No," Xiu replied cryptically. "This is just groundwork." He didn't elaborate on the warehouse locations. Instead, he changed the subject. "Alright, slight change of plans. We need to go meet someone important. A real heavyweight. For this meeting, remember: you're my friend, visiting Viridian, who happened to stumble upon some worrying business practices."
Xiaoyuan looked confused but nodded slowly, trying to grasp his intention. "You want me to tell them... about the market situation?"
"Exactly."
"But... why not tell them yourself?"
"Because," Xiu explained patiently, "you are the acting manager of our... import/export business." "Presenting this information in your official capacity lends it credibility and establishes your presence here. It lets the powers-that-be in Viridian know who you are. My current identity," he gestured to himself, "is 'Professor Oak's assistant.' Reporting concerns about market manipulation falls outside that role and wouldn't carry the same weight, nor achieve the same strategic goals."
Though she didn't grasp all the nuances, Xiaoyuan trusted Xiu's strategic reasoning. "Okay. I understand."
Xiu led her towards a section of the Pokémon Center clearly marked 'Staff Only'. As they walked down the corridor, various staff members they passed greeted Xiu with polite nods or brief "Mr. Xiu" acknowledgements. This didn't escape Xiaoyuan's notice.
'He moves so freely here... everyone seems to know him.' Her curiosity deepened.
They stopped outside a door marked with a simple nameplate. Xiu paused, then knocked firmly. "Nurse Joy? It's Xiu."
Xiaoyuan glanced up at the nameplate, her eyes widening in sudden comprehension. Nurse Joy? The Nurse Joy? She knew the name, of course – everyone did. The matriarchs of the Pokémon Center network were legendary figures, powerful and respected throughout the regions. She hadn't realized this was the 'heavyweight' Xiu meant.
"Come in," a calm voice replied from inside.
Xiu pushed the door open and stepped inside, gesturing for Xiaoyuan to follow. She hesitated for a split second, intimidated, before steeling herself and entering. Xiu quietly closed the door behind them.
The office was surprisingly plain, functional rather than luxurious. A standard desk, a few chairs, filing cabinets, a single potted plant providing the only decoration. Head Nurse Joy sat behind the desk, reviewing some documents. She looked up as they entered, her expression calm and professional.
"Mr. Xiu," she acknowledged him. "I heard you were looking for me? Is there something I can help you with?"
"Before we get to that, Nurse Joy, allow me to introduce someone," Xiu said smoothly, stepping aside slightly to indicate Xiaoyuan. "This is my friend, Yuan. She's visiting Viridian City."
"A pleasure to meet you, Yuan," Nurse Joy smiled politely, her experienced eyes assessing Xiaoyuan briefly but keenly.
"H-hello, Nurse Joy," Xiaoyuan managed, forcing herself to meet the older woman's gaze, remembering Xiu's instructions about composure.
"My friend Yuan has recently arrived to explore some business opportunities here," Xiu continued, laying the groundwork. "In the process, she's observed some market activities that raised concerns – things that might potentially impact the city's stability, especially during the festival. I thought it prudent to bring these observations directly to your attention." He then looked pointedly at Xiaoyuan. "Yuan, perhaps you could share what you told me earlier?"
Caught in the direct spotlight, facing the calm authority of Nurse Joy, Xiaoyuan felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. Her carefully prepared composure wavered, her eyes darting towards Xiu for support.
Seeing her hesitate, Xiu subtly moved closer, placing a reassuring hand briefly on her shoulder. "Don't worry," he murmured quietly, "Nurse Joy is very understanding."
Taking a deep breath, Xiaoyuan focused, recalling the points Xiu had coached her on. She relayed Fushun's story and her own (technically Xiu's) analysis – the coordinated buying halt, the price inflation, the impact on rural suppliers – framing it as observations made during initial market research. She carefully avoided mentioning Team Rocket directly, sticking to the economic anomalies and their potential negative consequences for the city and its surroundings.
When she finished, she fell silent, anxiously awaiting the Head Nurse's reaction. The older woman simply regarded her with that same calm, enigmatic smile.
After a moment that stretched uncomfortably long for Xiaoyuan, Head Nurse Joy finally spoke, her voice serene but carrying an underlying weight of authority. "Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention, Yuan. We are aware of certain... irregularities... in the market recently." She offered a reassuring nod.
"Please rest assured, the relevant authorities, in cooperation with the Pokémon Center network, are monitoring the situation closely. We are confident in our ability to manage any potential issues and ensure the stability of Viridian City. We appreciate your diligence as a potential investor, and naturally, the legal rights and interests of legitimate businesses operating within the city will be protected. Welcome to Viridian."
The response, while polite and seemingly reassuring, felt like a carefully worded dismissal to Xiaoyuan. It acknowledged the concern but offered no specifics, essentially brushing her off. She sat stiffly, unsure how to proceed.
Xiu stepped in smoothly, recognizing the official deflection for what it was. "Thank you for your time, Head Nurse Joy. My friend simply wanted to ensure the proper channels were aware of her observations, given the timing with the festival." He smiled politely. "We wouldn't want to take up any more of your valuable time." He gently guided Xiaoyuan towards the door. "We'll let you get back to your work."
He ushered Xiaoyuan out of the office, closing the door firmly behind them. It wasn't until they were back in the main corridor that Xiaoyuan finally let out a shaky breath, the tension draining from her. That brief encounter had been more nerve-wracking than managing dozens of employees. Interacting with someone at that level of power and influence was a completely different experience.
"How... how do you even know someone of such high standing within the Joy Family?" she asked, looking at Xiu with renewed awe and confusion.
Xiu merely smiled enigmatically. "Now do you understand why I couldn't be the one to make that report directly? My current 'identity' has limitations." He started walking back towards the main lobby. "But it also has its advantages."
Xiaoyuan stared after him, her mind reeling. 'Just who is he connected to? How deep does his network run?' The layers of mystery surrounding Xiu seemed to deepen with every interaction.