Pokémon: I just became a Gym Leader, and Cynthia proposed to me.

Chapter 833 The Ghost Pokémon Who Fell in Love with Fashion Shows

The news was released during dinner between Ma Xiu, Li Shuwen, and Xilona.

Ma Xiu put down her chopsticks and nodded slightly to her assistant beside her.

The young woman understood immediately and opened her laptop.

Send a carefully crafted message to the largest social media platform in the Johto region.

"Sinnoh Champion Cynthia will be a special guest model at the personal fashion show held in Ecruteak City by renowned designer and Gym Leader Marshall."

"A cross-industry collaboration between top women from two major regions, a once-in-a-lifetime event not to be missed."

The comment section exploded shortly after the message was posted.

"What?! Cynthia as a model?! Am I dreaming?!"

"The design of the Ma embroidery combined with Cynthia's temperament... this is heaven-defying."

"Eruzano City? I'll book my flight tomorrow! I'll fly there from Hoenn!"

"A collaboration between a renowned designer from the Carlos region and the Sinnoh champion—this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Anyone who doesn't go will regret it for the rest of their life."

"I'm already in line to buy tickets! There are over two hundred people ahead of me?! Don't you guys have jobs?!"

"Cynthia walking the runway in a brooch-embroidered dress... Just imagining it makes my heart race. Requesting emergency medical personnel on site."

"Anyone want to go to Yuanzhu Park in a group? I'm driving, I can take three people, and we can split the gas costs."

"As a native of Yuanzhu, I'm so proud! Finally, it's our little city's turn to shine!"

"Ms. Ma Xiu's designs have always been known for their elegance and mystery, which perfectly matches Ms. Shirona's temperament. This combination is simply a match made in heaven."

"The person upstairs used inappropriate language. What do you mean by 'a match made in heaven'? Cynthia has a boyfriend, okay? Does Li Shuwen, the 'Midas Touch,' even know that?!"

"But seriously, it would be great if he could come on stage with us; his looks would be absolutely stunning."

"Don't get off-topic! We're here to see Cynthia! ...But if we could actually see them on stage together, I'd be willing to pay double the ticket price."

"Have you forgotten the most important question—where do you buy the tickets?"

The number of comments grew at a rate of hundreds per minute, and the three keywords "Cynthia", "Masquerade", and "Enoki Fashion Show" quickly climbed to the top of the Johto region's trending search list.

By late at night, the topic had spread to the trainer communities in Sinnoh, Kanto, and Hoenn, and the discussion continued to heat up.

In the hotel room, the curtains were half-drawn, and the night view of Enoki City stretched out outside the window like a warm river of light.

After taking a shower, Cynthia leaned against the headboard wearing a hotel bathrobe. Her long, golden hair was still slightly damp and exuded a faint floral fragrance.

She held a tablet in her hand, scrolling through netizens' comments with great interest, the corners of her mouth curving into a wider smile.

Li Shuwen came out of the bathroom, drying his half-dry hair with a towel as he sat down next to her.

The mattress dipped slightly, and Cynthia naturally leaned closer, holding the tablet in front of him.

"Look at these comments," she said, her eyes crinkling into crescents with laughter. "Some people are saying they'd be willing to pay double the ticket price to see us on stage together."

Li Shuwen glanced at the dense barrage of comments on the screen. "Netizens are all speculating how beautiful you'll look in the Ma Xiu costume."

Cynthia put down her tablet, looked up at him, and raised her chin in an elegant yet slightly arrogant curve.

"Of course," she said, a hint of a smile in her voice, her eyes sparkling with confidence like a lake in the sunlight. "I'm naturally beautiful."

Li Shuwen paused in drying his hair, then turned his head to look at her.

Cynthia was holding her chin up, waiting for his response, her expression just like a proud Eevee.

He smiled slightly and reached out to pinch the tip of her nose.

"Yes, yes, a naturally beautiful Miss Champion."

Cynthia wrinkled her nose and pretended to slap his hand away in annoyance, but the smile lines around her eyes and brows betrayed her good mood.

She leaned back on Li Shuwen's shoulder, her fingers continuing to swipe across the tablet, scrolling through one enthusiastic comment after another from netizens.

……

The next morning, the sky over Enoki City was a brilliant blue, as if it had been washed clean.

Ma Xiu, Xiluona, and Li Shuwen were having breakfast at a small restaurant near the venue.

"Ma Xiu, did you not sleep well last night?" Cynthia noticed the faint bluish tinge under Ma Xiu's eyes.

Ma Xiu smiled and picked up a piece of sausage cut into the shape of an octopus with her chopsticks: "I was drawing design sketches until 3 a.m., and I was too excited to sleep."

"The thought of you wearing my clothes on the runway keeps me going."

The curtain was lifted, and a stylish young woman, who also had dark circles under her eyes, hurried in.

She was Ma Xiu's assistant costume designer, and her expression looked like she had just lost her wallet and gotten caught in the rain.

"Teacher Ma Xiu..." Her voice trembled.

Ma Xiu put down her chopsticks, her brows furrowing slightly: "What's wrong?"

The costume designer opened her mouth, as if she didn't know how to start speaking.

She took a deep breath. "That...that key outfit you spent two months meticulously designing...it's gone!"

"I checked before I left the venue last night, and the clothes were hanging on the innermost hanger, covered with a dust cover."

"I went there early this morning, and the dust cover was still there, but the clothes inside... were gone."

The costume designer spoke faster and faster, her eyes beginning to redden. "The doors and windows were all locked, there were no signs of forced entry, and the security cameras didn't capture anyone entering or leaving."

"It's like...it just disappeared on its own."

Ma Xiu put down her chopsticks and stood up.

Her movements were steady, but Li Shuwen noticed that her fingers, which were gripping the edge of the table, tightened slightly.

"I can't have breakfast with you." Ma Xiu's voice remained calm, but her speech was a little faster than usual. "I have to go see someone right away."

Cynthia stood up too: "Let's go help. Maybe we can find some other clues."

Li Shuwen stood up as well, saying, "The more people there are, the more effort we can make."

As they left the restaurant, Ma Xiu asked the costume designer, "Did you look for Officer Jenny?"

The costume designer nodded repeatedly: "I found her. Miss Officer Jenny said she'd be here soon, she should already be at the venue."

The venue was located in an old building in the East Ward of Enoki City, which was rented by Mashu specifically for this fashion show.

Miss Officer Jenny was already waiting at the entrance of the venue with her Growlithe.

"Ms. Maxiu, Growlithe has collected the scent from the clothes hanger, and we can track it now."

Ma Xiu nodded, "Please!"

The Growlithe barked, sniffed the ground, and then ran towards the back door of the venue.

Officer Jenny followed closely behind, and Ma Xiu, Shirona, and Li Shuwen also quickly caught up.

Growlithe darted through an alley, into a thicket of mixed trees, and finally stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse less than 500 meters from the venue.

The warehouse's corrugated iron roof was rusted, and the windows were covered with dust and cobwebs.

Looking through the only relatively clean pane of glass, everyone was stunned.

Inside the warehouse, a group of ghost Pokémon were having a great time.

The missing outfit was disassembled into different parts.

The skirt was draped over the body of a dream demon, who held her head high, striking a pose of noble aloofness.

A Gengar draped its shirt over its shoulders, grinning and mimicking a model's catwalk with a chuckle. Its round body wiggled back and forth, looking both comical and adorable.

The sleeves and accessories were divided up by the Dream Eaters. One Dream Eater wrapped the ribbon around its neck and floated gracefully through the air, leaving a long trail of light behind it.

Another dream demon pinned a brooch to its head, making it glitter like a crown.

Gastly, holding up its crinoline with its ethereal arms, spins in the air, making all sorts of exaggerated poses.

The Cursed Doll then draped the remaining cloak over itself and stood on the high platform in the center of the warehouse, looking down at the other Pokémon like a king reigning over the world.

The group of ghost Pokémon lined up and, mimicking the poses of models, flew one after another to the center of the warehouse to display themselves.

Li Shuwen watched for a while, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"They probably saw your rehearsal and thought it looked good, so they brought back an outfit and put on their own fashion show."

Ma Xiu stared at the scene in the warehouse, her expression slowly changing from initial surprise to helplessness, and finally she couldn't help but laugh:

"These kids... actually have a good sense of aesthetics."

Although the ghost Pokémon's movements were clumsy and awkward, their earnestness made it hard to interrupt them.

Ma Xiu's gaze fell on the group of cheerful ghost Pokémon in the warehouse. "If a battle breaks out, the clothing will definitely be damaged. Those silks and embroideries can't withstand any impact."

Officer Jenny looked troubled: "Then what do you plan to do?"