Chapter 367 - 160: Pokémon’s Journey Off the Island (Part 1)

Chapter 367: Chapter 160: Pokémon’s Journey Off the Island (Part 1)

"Here, you can play."

A meager data fee was hardly enough to scare Gu Qiuyan.

Zhang Shutong shook his head and said he didn’t want to play; he was just curious to see what was going on. Gu Qiuyan pouted. "Why do you love sticking your nose in everything?"

For a rare moment, Zhang Shutong actually considered how to answer that. But then she pointed at a duck on the lake’s surface and said:

"Quick, look! What’s that?"

"A seagull."

"This is my first time seeing a sea—huh?" Qiumian froze. "Where would a seagull come from on a lake?"

"You can see sheep on a pane of glass."

Zhang Shutong stifled a laugh.

He suddenly felt much more energetic.

Gu Qiuyan shot him a glare and quickly took a picture of the colorful duck on the lake.

Then, she asked:

"Does everyone want to take a group photo?"

Zhang Shutong was indifferent.

"You go ask them."

"No, you go ask."

’Aren’t you the class president? Where’d all that impressive authority from before go...?’

With that thought, Zhang Shutong went to call his three best friends over.

"What are you guys doing?"

He poked his head over.

All three were staring at their phones, looking very busy.

"Don’t interrupt," Ruoping said.

"It’s a nail-biter," Qingyi said.

"How come you’re not hanging out with Gu Qiuyan anymore?" Du Kang glanced up, looking puzzled.

Zhang Shutong felt like he was being ostracized by his own little group. He told them about the photo, and they all nodded.

The five of them lined up along the railing and asked a staff member to help take a photo. They used Zhang Shutong’s phone, so he would be in charge of sending the picture to everyone later.

Yanlong Island was one of the city’s main tourist attractions. However, winter was the off-season, so there were few visitors. The busiest times were during the National Day and May Day holidays, when the wait to board a boat could be several hours long.

So, taking photos for people was a common occurrence for the staff.

"Okay, I’ll count down from three. Everyone smile..."

As the countdown finished, everyone shouted the cliché "Cheese!" Just as a smile touched Zhang Shutong’s lips, he felt something tickle his face.

He turned his head to see that the wind had blown Gu Qiuyan’s hair into his face.

...

They took a taxi to the mall entrance. After they got out, Gu Qiuyan paid the fare.

It was already past eleven.

"What should we eat?" Everyone already knew Gu Qiuyan was treating, so there was no need for false modesty. They’d just have to treat her back in the afternoon anyway.

Zhang Shutong recounted to his buddies how he had negotiated with Gu Qiuyan last night and painstakingly secured their triumphant victory: KFC. He presented his story like a lion rejoining its pride on the African savanna, hoping for their acceptance.

The alpha lioness patted his head with her paw.

"Alright."

The moment she spoke, Qingyi and Du Kang nodded and agreed, shooting Zhang Shutong looks that suggested they had just been threatened.

At this point, Zhang Shutong felt his own status within the group had become rather complicated.

He took the lead, heading toward the north side of the shopping plaza. He claimed to be leading the way, but in reality, old memories were surfacing in his mind. This was his first time back in the area since his ’return,’ though he had wandered around here plenty back in high school.

He had been here before with an ambulance, but the situation had been urgent, leaving no time to look around.

This place held many memories for him, though most of them weren’t exactly pleasant.

It was the weekend, and the mall happened to be holding some sort of event. Banners and balloons floated in the sky, and a crowd had gathered around a singer playing a guitar in the plaza.

Passing through the crowd, they ran into a few people in furry mascot costumes handing out flyers for a charity. It turned out they were students from City No. 1 High School doing volunteer work.

For old times’ sake, since they were fellow alumni, Zhang Shutong accepted a flyer from someone in a teddy bear costume.

The KFC was on the northernmost side of the mall. He walked a few steps before realizing he was going too fast. Once the main group caught up, they all found a place to sit.

Gu Qiuyan was treating, but she didn’t want to wait in line. In the end, the three guys agreed to go order while she and Ruoping waited at the table.

The three of them got in line.

"Ah, the Spicy Tender Beef Wrap," Du Kang said suddenly, startling the other two.

"Sorry, sorry," he said sheepishly. "We’ve been talking about getting Spicy Tender Beef Wraps ever since we caught those poachers, remember? We’ve been craving them for ages."

Zhang Shutong deeply agreed.

"Is it really getting discontinued?" Qingyi asked. "I remember there used to be a TV commercial where the Original Recipe chicken and some kind of Golden Crispy Chicken had a duel. The loser was supposed to be taken off the menu, but the whole thing just fizzled out."

"Trust me, it’s definitely gone."

The thing cost 18 yuan each.

Although they all came from well-off families, for students like them back then, it wasn’t something they could eat to their heart’s content. A movie ticket only cost 40 yuan at the time, roughly the price of two Spicy Tender Beef Wraps.

"We’re really cashing in on Gu Qiuyan’s treat," Du Kang said with a sigh. "Shutong, can we order a few extra?"

Zhang Shutong said it should be fine. He knew the other two were a little embarrassed to ask, so after a brief discussion, he took on the task of ordering for them.

「A few minutes later.」

He received the bleakest news of the day—

"I’m so sorry," the cashier said with a cruel yet polite smile. "The Spicy Tender Beef Wrap has already been discontinued."

"Dis... discontinued?"

The three of them muttered to themselves.

"Yep. You can search on your phone. It’s really been discontinued nationwide."

The cashier twisted the knife.

"It was removed the day before yesterday, December 12th. You just missed it."

Zhang Shutong turned around in disbelief.

Across a few tables, by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Gu Qiuyan happened to swivel around on her stool. She crossed her arms, a triumphant smile on her face.

It was as if she were saying:

"How do you like them apples?"

A few minutes later, the three guys silently followed the two girls out of the restaurant.

"Sigh. You three," Ruoping said, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Isn’t this a bit of an overreaction? It’s really not that big of a deal, right? We should have just listened to Qiumian. So, Qiumian, what are we eating?"

The great Miss Gu seemed to have anticipated this outcome all along.

She was holding up her phone’s navigation app and pointed toward the back street behind the mall. There stood a dark green, villa-style building with a beautiful little garden out front. Even the restaurant’s name was in English.

Gu Qiuyan lifted her chin.

"Let’s go get some pizza!"