Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment, probably only a fraction of a second.

There's no need to hide too much from Xiaoxia.

The four sisters of Clarin Dojo all share the same beliefs.

A supporting pillar.

Jiang Chuan understood this point and stopped hesitating.

He looked at Xiaoxia, a smile playing on his lips, his tone shifting from feigned to frank and open.

"Sakura-san has a really nice figure."

He paused for a moment, then added another sentence.

"She's a top-tier beauty."

Xiaoxia's eyes lit up when she heard the answer.

Her lips curled up into a "just as I thought" smile. Then she gently nudged Jiang Chuan's waist with her elbow. The force wasn't great, but the spot was perfect—it was right on the most ticklish muscle on his side.

"You really are a big scoundrel."

There wasn't a hint of anger in her voice when she said that. On the contrary, she sounded quite pleased, as if she had finally confirmed a certain guess.

Then she immediately asked another question.

"So, are you interested in Sakura-nee?"

As soon as the question was asked, Jiang Chuan paused for a moment.

This pace is too fast.

They were just asking how my figure was, and now they're jumping straight to whether I'm interested?

He quickly calculated in his mind.

Normally, he would have two standard answers to this kind of question.

Option 1: Say in a joking tone, "Yes, I'm interested in all the girls from your Cerulean Dojo," then laugh and change the subject.

Option two: Be straightforward and honest in admitting that you are "interested". Anyway, Xiaoxia won't be angry about it, since that's the idea that the four sisters have been taught since childhood.

But this is not "normal".

This is a special period, as "Sakura-nee has instructed us to keep it a secret for the time being."

Take charge of half the household and mediate relationships.

You can't just say it casually.

We can't just joke around like we used to.

It's important to strike a balance.

Jiang Chuan began to carefully organize his thoughts, trying to find an answer that would not arouse Xiaoxia's suspicion, would be self-consistent, and would not violate the confidentiality principle that Yinghua had instructed him to keep.

It takes time.

So he paused.

About four or five seconds passed.

He was still thinking.

But Xiaoxia didn't give him time to think about it further.

"Ugh."

Xiaoxia suddenly waved her hand, her tone carrying a carefree "never mind" attitude.

"Why am I asking you this? It doesn't really matter."

Her expression shifted from "serious interrogation" to "indifferent" in the blink of an eye. It was as if she hadn't asked a question that needed an answer at all, but had just casually mentioned it.

"Fine, it's fine if you're interested."

As she spoke, she shook the hand that was linked with Jiang Chuan's arm.

"Anyway, I've told you about the philosophy of our Cerulean Dojo sisters before, so it's not a problem."

"But..."

Xiaoxia's voice pulled him back to reality.

Her tone changed.

The previous nonchalance and indifference have subsided somewhat, replaced by a more serious and solemn feeling.

She slowed her pace and tightened her grip on Jiang Chuan's arm.

"If you're interested, you can handle it yourself. I'm not going to help you with this."

As she said this, she held up a finger and waved it in the air, as if drawing a "no passage" sign.

"If I meet other beautiful sisters on my trip, I can help you out with Hanako-nee."

"But Sakura-nee..."

She paused for a moment, then pursed her lips, her expression somewhat subtle.

"It's really not something I can take the initiative to do."

She emphasized the word "not good" as if to stress that it wasn't "unwilling" but "inconvenient".

"If you're really interested, then rely on your own abilities."

She stretched out a finger and poked Jiang Chuan's chest.

The pressure was very light; the fingertips touched his chest through the fabric of his clothes.

"Don't try to take a shortcut through me."

Her tone became a little urgent, with a sense of urgency that said, "Let me make this clear beforehand so you don't have to come looking for me later."

"I'm so embarrassed, there's no way I could help you out."

When she said the word "awkward," she lowered her voice very low, as if the word itself was an awkward thing.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuan finally understood completely.

Xiaoxia has been at the Hualan Martial Arts Academy these past few days; she's neither blind nor mentally challenged.

She saw the interaction between Sakura and Jiangchuan, perhaps their eyes met in the corridor, perhaps their seating arrangement at the dinner table, or perhaps Sakura always unconsciously sat next to Jiangchuan during meetings.

She also saw the same look in Jiang Chuan's eyes when he admired the cherry blossoms, the same look that Jiang Chuan had once given her.

Of course she didn't mind.

Her beliefs prevented her from feeling jealous or resentful about such things.

But she also knew one thing.

If one day in the future Jiang Chuan really develops feelings for Sakura-nee and comes to her saying, "Xiaoxia, can you help me...?"

Just thinking about that scene made her so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground.

It's not that I'm unwilling, it's that I really can't do it.

So she came early today to lay the groundwork.

Jiang Chuan understood.

Then he smiled to himself.

Xiaoxia was unaware that her vaccination was two days late.

First of all, Jiang Chuan himself never intended for Xiaoxia to play a supporting role.

Secondly, there's no need for assistance, since her precious older sister already launched her attack the night before last, and the speed and power of her attack far exceeded expectations...

………………

Jiang Chuan nodded and said, "Of course, this definitely depends on my own abilities. Don't worry, I'm confident!"

"My skill is evident from the first move. One strike can completely overturn the world..."

He spoke with absolute confidence, his tone carrying his usual composure and certainty, as if stating a fact that had been proven countless times.

As Xiaoxia listened, her brows furrowed.

She raised her hand and nudged Jiang Chuan's waist again, this time with significantly more force than before.

"What are you saying?"

Her tone was slightly reproachful, and her lips were slightly pouting.

"That kind of roughness isn't allowed either, be gentler~"

When she heard the words "earth-shaking changes," her mind automatically conjured up some not-so-gentle images.

Sakura-nee's personality, though she seems carefree most of the time, definitely needs to be treated well in these kinds of situations. It won't do if Jiang Chuan tries to act recklessly just because he's experienced.

So she took that elbow for Sakura-neechan.

But when she pushed out like that, she didn't even realize that she hadn't controlled her strength well.

Actually, this kind of force is nothing to Jiang Chuan under normal circumstances. When training Pokémon, the force of a Charizard's tail sweep is ten times greater. Jiang Chuan's physical strength is such that even if Xiaoxia were hanging on him and swaying, he wouldn't even bend his back, let alone this elbow.

But today is different.

Because Sakura-nee came by last night.

Last night, around 11 PM, Xiaoxia had already gone to her room to sleep. Sakura knocked on Jiangchuan's door, saying she wanted to confirm tomorrow's schedule. But the schedule had already been confirmed three times during dinner.

She stood in the doorway, wearing a light blue nightgown, her hair loose and not tied up.

She said, "You're leaving tomorrow."

That's all I said.

Then she took a step forward and reached out to close the door.

Xia was unaware of all this.

So she wouldn't know that her elbow had hit the muscle group that Jiang Chuan used the most.

Jiang Chuan clutched his side and cried out, "Ouch!"

That sound wasn't acted; it was a genuine pang of sadness.

The muscles on her side were already overused, and Xiaoxia's elbow landed precisely on that most sore spot.

He bent over, pressed his palm against the spot where he had been pushed, and his face scrunched up.

Xiaoxia stopped in her tracks when she heard the cry of "Ouch!"

She turned her head, looked at Jiang Chuan clutching his waist, and blinked twice.

Then the corners of her mouth turned up.

"Oh dear, you're here?"

Her tone was playful, and her eyes swept Jiang Chuan up and down as if she were inspecting a machine that had suddenly malfunctioned.

She took two steps back, put her hands behind her back, bent down slightly, and looked up at Jiang Chuan's face.

From this angle, she looks like she's coaxing a child, but her expression clearly reveals a sly fox who's caught someone red-handed.

"You only helped out at my house for a few days, and then you were busy with the performance, and your health has already deteriorated?"

She tilted her head, her tone becoming increasingly smug.

"Hmm? You always brag about how tough you are, saying you can fight for days and nights without even getting out of breath~"

She deliberately emphasized the words "ga ga meng" as if she were repeating a boast Jiang Chuan had made before.

Jiang Chuan straightened up, wanting to speak up and explain.

But Xiaoxia didn't give him a chance.

She extended a finger, tapped Jiang Chuan's chest, then slid it down to his waist and gently poked him.

It was poked right where he had just been covering his face.

Jiang Chuan instinctively shrank back a little.

Xiaoxia accurately captured this reaction.

Her eyes lit up, as if she had discovered a rare Pokémon.

"Oh my, it's even shrunken up now."

She withdrew her fingers, placed her hands on her hips, and raised her chin slightly, looking at Jiang Chuan with the air of a queen inspecting her spoils.

"Given your current state, aren't you doomed tonight?"

As soon as she said those words, the tips of her ears turned red.

But she did not back down.

She spent most of the week at the Cerulean Dojo, trying to maintain a respectable image in front of her three older sisters, just like the Eighth Prince.

They trained during the day and went back to their own rooms at night, never even visiting each other once.

But tonight is different.

Xia had already told Jiang Chuan a few days ago that he would make it up to her doubly after leaving Hua Lan Dojo.

Seeing Jiang Chuan's back almost unable to straighten up, she was already mentally celebrating her victory.

"Minor fish~ Minor fish~"

She mimicked the tone of voice from anime, drawing out her words with a deliberate arrogance.

"Tonight, it seems to be my time to rule!"

After saying that, she shut her mouth and began to imagine.

She even imagined what she would say.

"Aren't you usually pretty aggressive? Hmm?"

"What's wrong today? Are you tired?"

"Beg me, beg me and I'll let you rest for a bit~"

She rehearsed the scene in her mind, and the more she thought about it, the happier she became, her lips curving into a wide smile.

Then she took a deep breath and temporarily saved these images to the "Tonight's Execution" folder in her mind.

She turned around, her ponytail tracing an arc in the air, the ends brushing against Jiang Chuan's arm.

"Bye-bye, you little fish, get clean and ready for me tonight~"

She waved to Jiang Chuan behind her, a gesture that wasn't a casual farewell, but rather a signal that said, "Just you wait, you'll see."

Then she skipped and hopped towards Hanako.

It landed on the dirt road of No. 6, raising a small cloud of dust.

Hanako heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Kasumi flying towards her like a deflated balloon.

"Finished talking?"

Hanako asked with a smile.

"We're done chatting!"

Xia grabbed Hua Zi's arm, her face beaming as if she had already hung tonight's spoils on the wall.

"Hanako-nee, I need to specially request Jiang Chuan's help tonight. He might spoil a little, so please prepare some delicious food beforehand~"

She said this in a coquettish, joking tone.

But Hanako noticed a determined glint in Kasumi's eyes.

Hanako smiled knowingly and didn't expose him.

"Okay, but you still need to be careful, since you'll be participating in the Quartz Conference later."

She knew Xiaoxia was joking, and went along with what Xiaoxia was saying, but she still subconsciously showed gentle concern.

Jiang Chuan walked behind, watching Xiaoxia's bouncy figure, and a smile appeared on his lips.

He reached up and rubbed the spot on his side where Xiaoxia had nudged him earlier; the soreness in that area was slowly subsiding. Given his physical condition, this level of fatigue would recover quickly.

He stretched his waist and did two side twists, and the soreness in his muscles had subsided considerably.

Then he looked at Xiaoxia's back and narrowed his eyes.

"Heh, your world?"

He was talking to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

His tone carried the air of an old man teasing a mischievous child.

"Just to make you happy for a little while."

He readjusted the shoulder strap of his travel bag and strode forward.

"I'll be able to deal with you properly tonight."

Xiaoxia thought his back was giving out and that she could take the initiative tonight.

What she didn't know was that the soreness in his lower back was not a problem at all.

That ouch just now, three parts were genuine soreness, and seven parts were an act for Xiaoxia's benefit.

Make her happy.

Let her get a little smug.

Let her plant the flag of victory in her mind.

Tonight, she will realize that none of the scripts she has rehearsed in her mind will be of any use.

Sometimes, it's the little incidents like these that make things interesting.

Jiang Chuan reached into his pocket and his fingertips touched a Poké Ball.

He took a few more steps forward, and Road No. 6 stretched to the horizon, with a faint blue mountain silhouette visible in the direction of Tokiwa City.

More and more trainers appeared on the road. Some rode bicycles past them, some squatted by the roadside to feed their Pokémon, and others stood under the shade of trees studying maps.

Jiang Chuan withdrew his gaze, took out a few Poké Balls from his belt, and weighed them in his palm.

Blastoise, Infernape, and Dratini were flipped between my fingers in turn, making a soft clicking sound.

Time to grind levels.

Xiaoxia turned around when she heard the sound, glanced at the person, and couldn't help but think to herself: "They've leveled up so quickly, instead of taking a proper rest. Do they really not respect me?"

Hehehe~ You little brat~ Well, tonight I'm really going to teach you a lesson~