Chapter Six: This Is My House

Early the next morning, sunlight streaming through the window roused Cheng Cheng from sleep. He rubbed his eyes, stretched languidly, and as he rose, a fresh scent greeted him. He could tell it wasn't the aroma of air freshener; it was a natural, clean fragrance. His room was bright and spotless, not a thing out of place, so pristine it was hard to believe a young man lived there. The dominant tone was a soft blue, with the room connected to a small living area and a bathroom. His bed was small but exquisite, and three Poké Balls rested on the blue bedside table. Pale blue curtains were drawn to either side, revealing the large floor-to-ceiling window through which sunlight spilled gently, quietly into the room, brightening Cheng Cheng's mood.

He climbed out of bed and entered the living room, which contrasted sharply with his bedroom. While his bedroom was elegant and tranquil, the living room was more refined. Stepping inside, Cheng Cheng’s eyes lit up: the floor was wooden, a large television hung on the wall, and a soft, creamy yellow sofa invited comfort. To one side stood a purple bookshelf, and warm sunlight poured in through a crimson-carved wooden window. Pink gauze curtains fluttered with the breeze from the fan, carrying with them a whiff of nature.

“Come out, Chimecho, Abra, Ralts,” Cheng Cheng released his three Pokémon.

“Chime~ Chime!” they cried.

The Pokémon were surprised by the changes to the house.

“No need to be nervous, everyone. We’ve just switched up the style a bit. From now on, you’ll officially be living here,” Cheng Cheng reassured them.

Abra and Ralts, only recently moved in, quickly accepted the new surroundings. Chimecho, however, had lived here for five years and felt a deep attachment to the original room. It took Cheng Cheng’s gentle persuasion for Chimecho to accept the changes.

“All right, everyone, let’s go take a look at the breeding house downstairs. That’s the place you’ll really need to get familiar with,” Cheng Cheng said, leading his three Pokémon toward the first floor. If the second floor, renovated for a hundred thousand, looked this beautiful, he was eager to see what the first floor, remodeled for six hundred thousand, would look like.

He descended the stairs, reached the ground floor, and unlocked the shop door with his key. What greeted him was the newly transformed breeding house.

Upon entering, Cheng Cheng saw green flooring and a blue ceiling. As he stepped inside, the floor beneath his feet and ceiling above began to change. It felt as if he were standing on grass, and when he looked up, the once-still ceiling was now alive, with clouds drifting across a sky. It was as though he had stepped into the heart of nature. The entire room exuded a fresh scent that relaxed both body and mind.

Shelves lined the walls, each woven from vines, with recessed sections perfect for placing Pokémon eggs, eliminating the need for special egg holders. Bright stones hung from the vines, adding beauty to the shelves. Cheng Cheng was certain that if he placed Pokémon eggs here, their shells would become even more beautiful.

On the inner wall hung three photographs of Pokémon: Chimecho, Ralts, and Abra. Every psychic-type Pokémon that Cheng Cheng owned would have its portrait displayed here.

Near the inner wall stood a long glass cabinet, serving as a cashier’s counter, with space beneath for storing items like evolutionary stones.

Cheng Cheng entered the inner room, which was reserved for storing and preparing Pokémon food. Large cabinets stood locked, and several workbenches awaited him to equip with the necessary tools.

He surveyed the ground floor and judged it to be decent, but certainly not worth six hundred thousand. Aside from the atmosphere created by the floor and ceiling, the rest didn’t surpass the second floor, which cost only one hundred thousand. Moreover, the renovation differed greatly from what he had seen on the system’s preview page.

“System, explain to me why the model you showed earlier is so different from this? How could this shabby place be worth six hundred thousand?”

“You can’t blame me entirely. The original design included a lot of advanced technology. With the current state of technology in the Pokémon world, only the very best locations have access to such features. To prevent you from attracting too much attention, the system made some adjustments.”

“Adjustments? You call this a slight adjustment? Where are my 360-degree surveillance, the two robot attendants-slash-bodyguards, and the laser cannons embedded in the walls?”

“Host, please don’t be so agitated. Allow the system to explain. The features you mentioned aren’t appropriate for your shop at this time, so the system made improvements. The 360-degree surveillance has been hidden; you can use the system to monitor everything happening inside. As for the robots and laser cannons, those have been removed. But rest assured, the system has reinforced the entire house: it’s now waterproof, fireproof, earthquake- and pressure-resistant. You needn’t worry about damage.”

After hearing the explanation, Cheng Cheng calmed down. Although things hadn’t turned out as he hoped, there was really no need for cannons in a shop selling Pokémon. He thought it over and let it go.

“Ding. Please accelerate your progress and complete your task.”

“Mission: Equip the breeding house with a full set of Pokémon cultivation tools and facilities. Reward: 1000 achievement points.”

“All right, all right, I got it. I’ll do it this afternoon.”

He recalled his Pokémon, locked the shop door, and headed back upstairs—where he bumped into Aunt Mei Xuzi.

“Aunt Mei Xuzi.”

“Cheng Cheng, are you going out?”

“No, I just finished renovating the breeding house and was about to head back upstairs.”

“Is that so? Then let’s go in together. I bought your favorite dishes today, and I’ll cook for you.”

“Uh…” Cheng Cheng meant to decline, but Mei Xuzi simply climbed the stairs and let herself in.

“Cheng Cheng, what happened to your room?”

He suddenly remembered his room had been remodeled.

“Well, since I was renovating the breeding house downstairs, I decided to redo the second floor as well.”

“Really? Who did you hire for the renovation? It looks much better than before.”

“Uh… A friend recommended someone.”

“I see!”

Mei Xuzi didn’t dwell on the subject for long and soon began preparing lunch.

To be fair, Aunt Mei Xuzi’s cooking was excellent, especially after three days of dry rations.

“Cheng Cheng, how’s your preparation for the breeding house going?”

“Almost done. I’ll buy a few more things this afternoon, and in a couple of days I can open for business,” Cheng Cheng replied as he ate.

“That’s great. Do you need any help?”

“No need, Aunt Mei Xuzi. I can manage on my own.”

“All right, but since you’ll be busy with the breeding house, you won’t have time to cook. I’ll come over often and make meals for you.”

Cheng Cheng wanted to refuse, but Mei Xuzi’s gentle expression made him swallow his words.

“Oh, have you handled the paperwork?”

“Paperwork?”

“Yes, the breeding house license is still in your father's name. You need to change it.”

“I’ll take care of it this afternoon.”

That afternoon, Cheng Cheng completed the formalities, officially taking ownership of the breeding house and changing its name.

“Psychic Breeding House.”