Chapter Seventy-Five: How Can I Prove That I Am Myself

Tang Yi, left awkwardly standing in place, felt a touch of embarrassment as he watched the three girls walking side by side in the distance. It was a curious sight. He knew well that, given Kirlia’s temperament, it was usually difficult for her to get along with others one-on-one. However, that Butterfree woman possessed an extraordinary warmth, and under her deliberate guidance, the three seemed to get along seamlessly. Even Feebas, who last time had worn a constant scowl, looked far more relaxed.

Naturally, Tang Yi’s attention remained fixed on Kirlia. He observed her quietly for a moment and, from the subtle upward curve of her lips, he could discern that uniquely shy smile of a young girl—a sure sign that she was at ease. Good, that would suffice. Tang Yi exhaled in relief. Although things hadn’t gone exactly as he’d imagined, as long as Kirlia could shed some of her accumulated stress, it was worth it.

He wandered nearby, never straying far. His gaze drifted between the three chatting under the shade of the trees. Butterfree didn’t look like a bad person, but she didn’t seem to be staff here either; one could never be too careful.

Before he knew it, an hour had passed. The three girls grew more animated in their conversation, showing no sign of stopping. In the end, it was Tang Yi, aimlessly circling about, who tired himself out first.

“You must be worn out from all that pacing. Why not sit down and rest a while? Don’t worry, the orphanage is quite safe—no human traffickers could ever sneak in here.”

A lazy voice called out from not far off. Tang Yi turned to see a man in casual clothes lying on a small slope nearby, a hat covering his face from the sun, as if just waking from a nap. When he caught Tang Yi’s gaze, he sat up unhurriedly, stretched luxuriously, adjusted his hat, and strolled over at a leisurely pace, continuing:

“There are at least a dozen Espeon or Alakazam girls keeping an eye on every unfamiliar visitor in this area. Outside, several well-trained Rapidash and Arcanine girls stand ready at a moment’s notice. If anyone dares try anything, they won’t make it a hundred meters from the orphanage.”

“So really, what’s there to worry about?”

“It’s you, Creepy Uncle,” Tang Yi recognized the slightly pot-bellied middle-aged man at once. Since Butterfree was here, it was only natural her trainer would be nearby. He probably hadn’t recognized him earlier because he’d been napping.

“Ahem, that’s a polite greeting, isn’t it?” the man replied.

“I don’t even know your name,” Tang Yi answered, having blurted it out without thinking; their last encounter in the park had been a fleeting one, no introductions involved. Compared to last time, the man’s stubble was trimmed, and he looked a bit more put together.

The man gave a helpless shrug. “Alright, alright. Seems fate keeps throwing us together. So you don’t get my name wrong next time, let’s get acquainted. I’m Fang Tianze. What about you, young man?”

“Oh, I’m Tang Yi.” The name struck a familiar chord with Tang Yi, and after a brief pause, realization dawned. He drew a sharp breath, eyes widening at the unremarkable man before him, disbelief coloring his voice. “You, you, you…”

Fang Tianze lifted his chin ever so slightly, hands behind his back, assuming an air of mysterious profundity, bracing himself for words of awe and admiration.

Tang Yi blurted, “How dare you use that name? Do you know who Fang Tianze is?”

Fang Tianze replied, “The former world champion?”

Tang Yi added, “And a notorious weirdo.”

Fang Tianze exploded, “Nonsense! That’s all those damned reporters’ doing. I never liked dealing with the media, so they made up stories for a scoop. I can’t stand journalists!”

Tang Yi scratched his head, only repeating what he’d read online. Indeed, when he’d looked up Fang Tianze’s information, he found few photos or statements—scant traces on the web.

The most famous quote left behind by Fang Tianze: “Cuteness is justice.”

Other than that, he’d said very little. Fang Tianze was, in truth, a strange champion. At the very peak of his career, he withdrew, and did so utterly—vanishing from public sight entirely. Unlike some former champions who, even in retirement, might show up for an endorsement or pen an autobiography to cash in, Fang Tianze disappeared completely, leaving not a trace of news. Eventually, there were even jokes that maybe he’d been secretly arrested by Interpol for being a pervert.

Recalling these rumors, Tang Yi eyed the middle-aged man before him with suspicion. “Are you really Fang Tianze? How can you prove it?”

It was an extraordinary claim, after all—a champion missing for years suddenly appearing at an orphanage, and running into him, of all people. Doubt came naturally. The Pokémon girls around the man matched the ones from the legends—but that didn’t prove anything. Every new world champion inspired a trend of adopting the same Pokémon girls.

As for his appearance, there were old photos online, but those were taken twenty years ago. The man before him, with his paunch and unremarkable looks, was hardly a clear match.

“Want me to show you my ID?” Fang Tianze said, exasperated. He rarely revealed himself to strangers, and now he wasn’t even believed.

“Well, sure,” Tang Yi hesitated, then shook his head. “But there are plenty of people with your name in our country.”

Besides, there wasn’t much information available anyway. The most comprehensive records of Fang Tianze were from his World Cup matches—little else survived for comparison.

Fang Tianze stared at the cautious young man, feeling a tightness in his chest. He felt so wronged—he was a world champion, after all. Couldn’t Tang Yi at least show a little more amazement?

He hadn’t really intended to prove anything, but Tang Yi’s skepticism irked him enough to take it seriously.

He simply didn’t believe it—surely he could prove who he was.

“Why not have a battle? The orphanage has a battle hall. Let me show you what real champion strength looks like!” In the past, Fang Tianze had scorned the idea of showing off, but now he was eager to prove himself.

Tang Yi scoffed, “No matter who you are, at your age, with so many years of training, obviously you’d beat a student like me. Does it even make sense to challenge me?”

“I could find someone who can vouch for me. Like the orphanage director?”

“I don’t know any of your acquaintances. I don’t know the director, either. And how would I know you didn’t just bring someone in to back you up?”

“I…” Fang Tianze scratched his head in frustration. He’d never imagined he’d one day be so troubled by the question of proving his own identity.

Gege Party