Lu Mingfei, why are you slaying dragons if you're not involved!

Chapter 117 Liu Miaomiao's speed in giving away her gifts seems a bit too fast.

"Was the Lionheart Society originally the core organization of the Secret Society?"

The silver cutlery clinked softly against the rim of the bone china plate. Lu Mingfei was measuring the Australian Wagyu M9+ Ribeye steak on the plate with his eyes, which was said to have been dry-aged for forty-five days. He was trying to remember whether he was "holding the knife in his left hand and the fork in his right hand" or vice versa when he heard Susie's explanation, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

They were currently in a private room at a private steakhouse. This classic American luxury steakhouse, a blend of Art Deco and modern style, occupied a prime location with huge floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the sunset over the river.

A few birds, whether wild ducks or cormorants, became silhouettes in the twilight, rising and falling on the shimmering water, truly evoking the feeling of "the sunset glow and the lone wild goose flying together, the autumn water and the sky merging into one color."

Chu Zihang is a person who always repays kindness. Su Xi came all the way here, giving up her winter break, so naturally he wouldn't hesitate to treat her to a meal.

"I didn't expect you to be so amazing, senior brother! You've already infiltrated the enemy and become a prospective high-ranking officer!"

Lu Mingfei suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed intently on Chu Zihang, and sighed.

"When are you planning to close the net? Or is your ambition even greater, senior brother, to wait three years and then another three years, until you become the leader of the Secret Party? Then you can pass the position to me, and I can also experience being the leader!"

Susie was stunned. Of course, she knew Lu Mingfei was referring to a reference from the movie *Infernal Affairs*. But surely he wouldn't just make something up like that? Was it a joke to be made so casually? Or... could Chu Zihang really be carrying out some important mission?
Is this something I should be listening to?

"The Lionheart Society is now just a simple student organization, lacking even symbolic meaning, and is no different from the student council."

Chu Zihang's tone remained completely flat. His hands moved swiftly, the silver knife gliding precisely and efficiently across the finely textured, top-quality beef, quickly slicing his portion into even, neat pieces.

"The leadership of the Peruvian Party has always been the same group of people. The school board consists of eleven heads of mixed European families, and there's also Principal Angers. If you want to become the leader of the Peruvian Party, becoming the principal is the most likely path."

He gently pushed the plate of cut steak toward Lu Mingfei, the movement as natural as pushing a glass of water.

"Forget it then."

Lu Mingfei naturally and casually took his senior's "finished product" and pushed his own untouched over. Having observed Chu Zihang's previous actions, he quickly mastered the knife and fork stance, immediately forked a piece, stuffed it into his mouth, and muttered something.

"A school principal must be incredibly busy, right?"

"I shouldn't say I'm too busy."

Chu Zihang thought about it seriously for a few seconds.

"Principal Angers is in charge of teaching 'Introduction to Dragon Family Genealogy,' a course with a relatively small workload. It is said that he often travels around the world in his free time by private jet, and during the winter break he even bought a new icebreaker to prepare for an expedition to Antarctica."

“Principal Angers… but he’s the leader of the Peruvian Party! Won’t a leader be fired for setting such a leading example?”

Lu Mingfei paused in his chewing, then asked in confusion, "And buying an icebreaker? Where did the principal get such a high salary, or... did he embezzle funds?"

This time, Chu Zihang didn't remain silent, indicating that he had been paying attention for some time: "It is said that he used his authority as the principal to approve a cutting-edge scientific research project called 'Searching for Traces of Biological Activity in Antarctic Dragon Subspecies,' and personally took charge as the project's chief. The process was complete and all the formalities were in order."

"Where would a subspecies of dragons come from in that godforsaken place like Antarctica... a dragon emperor penguin, the kind that breathes fire?"

Lu Mingfei's eyes widened, his face filled with shock, as if to say, "This actually works!"

"This goes beyond misappropriation of funds; it's blatant and open abuse of power! Doesn't the board of directors investigate him? Doesn't anyone report him for embezzlement?"

"The United States has a system called political donations, which is essentially a transaction of power and money, turning corruption into 'legitimate investment.' After politicians use political donations to come to power, they introduce policies that benefit the capitalists who helped them, thus creating a mutually beneficial relationship."

Chu Zihang explained it to him.

“Principal Angers, as the leader, has ‘power,’ and the eleven mixed-race families that make up the Secret Party are not short of ‘money.’ You can regard this investment as a political donation from the mixed-race people.”

In exchange for this, they secured the support of the most prestigious principal in Angers, allowing him to lead Kassel College in maintaining the dragon-slaying mission and continuously gain benefits, consolidating their power and position.

"Oh my god."

Lu Mingfei was momentarily speechless, "What an incredibly strong man this is..."

He suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly stopped talking.

If he didn't stop talking, he was afraid that the schedule would suddenly go crazy and, based on his goal of "becoming the most powerful and awesome man in the world," would issue him a schedule such as "defeating Angers and becoming the new principal of Kassel College!"

Isn't that the end?

Fortunately, there was no change in the schedule, only two rather piercing gazes directed at me...

wrong!

Where did the schedule come from?

Lu Mingfei subconsciously looked back—it was Susie.

The pretty girl, who had the air of a big sister, was now scanning back and forth between Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei with a look that was sometimes blank and sometimes sharp.

When the question landed on Chu Zihang, he was bewildered, as if he were seeing a completely unfamiliar president.

But when it came to Lu Mingfei... or rather, when it came to the steak that Lu Mingfei had forked with his left hand, it was as sharp as a knife!

Lu Mingfei looked down at the nearly finished steak on the porcelain plate, somewhat puzzled.

This steak, which costs as much as an average person's monthly salary, is naturally delicious and tasty, but Susie already has one in front of her, isn't there? So what's the difference...?

and many more!

Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat; he finally realized what was happening.

The biggest difference is that his portion was personally cut and handed over by Chu Zihang!

Lu Mingfei didn't think much of it; his senior brother had been taking care of him for a long time, and he was used to it. But to the girl who liked his aloof, stoic senior brother…

Is the sky about to fall?

"At a time like this, if I were to ask the same question, 'Senior Sister Susie, has Senior Brother ever cut your steak like this before...'"

Lu Mingfei quickly dismissed this somewhat reckless thought and focused on eating the meat heartily. In the past, he might have sighed and lamented the extravagance of the wealthy—a steak taking forty-five days to prepare and costing so much—then savoring it with utmost care, taking a picture beforehand to post on QQ Space, accompanied by captions like, "This cow must have eaten elixirs of immortality in its lifetime..."

but now?
It's just an energy-boosting food, and in terms of cost-effectiveness, it's far inferior to the braised intestines from street vendors!
Lu Mingfei's thinking has always been highly agile. Soon, he was once again immersed in the problem that had been troubling him all day.

This sudden pause and silence did not arouse any suspicion from Chu Zihang. If he were to describe his impression of Lu Mingfei's personality in words, one of the things he would definitely say is that he is "easily out of touch".

"Used to it."

Chu Zihang said to Su Xi, who was clearly puzzled.

"……it is good."

Susie smiled gently, but inside she was raging like a storm was brewing. She thought, "How could I possibly get used to this! President, when you're being hypocritical, don't you even bother to pretend?"

"no!"

She thought to herself, "I don't understand, I need to seek remote support! Nono will definitely be able to figure out what's going on..."

……

[Warning, it's time for [piano practice]...]

Although he felt that Susie's chances were slim, Lu Mingfei decided not to be a "third wheel" anymore. He got into Uncle Chen's Mercedes S65 AMG and sped off to the music store.

Winters in this southern city are always dry; it's common for it to go one or two months without rain. Every time Lu Mingfei comes here, he can see the gradually changing sunset glow reflected on the glass curtain wall. Climbing the steps feels like heading into the twilight clouds.

"Could there be a celestial palace in the clouds?"

As he walked up, he was lost in thought.

As they were about to reach the end of the steps, the rosy clouds silently parted in the middle, revealing a young girl.

Lu Mingfei stood there, stunned.

Not yet eighteen years old, still bearing the immaturity of a young girl, yet a long dress already outlined her beginnings of maturity.

That's Liu Miaomiao.

She wore a sleeveless, deep-colored silk gown, almost the inky blue of the night sky, but as the "Heavenly Gate" slid open to the sides and the rosy light poured down upon it, it shone with a light that seemed to circulate like a river of stars.

The rosy glow kissed her profile, which still retained a touch of childishness, her eyes and brows as innocent as ever. The fabric slid gracefully down her slender shoulders and neck, outlining her smooth curves. Her exposed arms and collarbones were so fair they were almost translucent.

Perhaps it was the constraint of this overly formal dress that made her purse her lips slightly, a hint of nervousness in her expression. Like a young knight stepping onto the battlefield for the first time, lance in hand, ready to challenge a dragon.

That resolute feeling was completely different from the soft-spoken, delicate piano prodigy she used to be!

"what?"

Lu Mingfei looked at it carefully for a moment, then suddenly turned around and rushed down the steps.

It seemed as if they were about to leave.

Liu Miaomiao's slightly nervous expression quickly turned into astonishment.

However, before that sense of confusion and loss could even creep into her heart, the boy who had turned to leave suddenly turned back, went up the steps, and rushed to her in a few steps.

"Excuse me, I think I've taken the wrong turn."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, his expression very serious, his tone sincere, but his eyes held a sly glint.

"This is the Heavenly Palace, right? Do you know how to get to the human world? I'm in a hurry to my piano lesson! And a friend who looks a lot like you is waiting for me."

In the Heavenly Palace... there are only gods and immortals.

"Is he...is he complimenting me, saying I look as beautiful as a fairy now?"

Realizing what had happened, Liu Miaomiao's cheeks flushed crimson, even redder than the sunset. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her mind felt like it was filled with cotton candy clouds—sweet yet chaotic—and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
"Alright, alright, it's winter! It's so cold, and you're still wearing so little. Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"

Before she could answer, Lu Mingfei spoke at an astonishing speed, reaching out to press her shoulder and twist her, pushing her into the music store. The softness he felt stirred his heart; he thought, "The saying 'skin like jade' is indeed true. Our ancestors were right!"

At the same time, the countdown to "one" that was about to end and disappeared beside his ear made him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"You almost got shocked again because of you, Liu Miaomiao, you are truly wicked!"

Thinking this way, the slight guilt he felt for touching the girl's skin disappeared from his heart—high risk, high reward, he thought, consider it interest on the previous times he was electrocuted because of Liu Miaomiao.

Principal? Of course not. Why would he let her off so easily? Lu Mingfei kept a mental record of everything!

"This is... the dress I'm going to wear for my performance at the gala, and I thought... I'd show it to you first."

Liu Miaomiao had no idea what kind of scheme Lu Mingfei was plotting. She only felt that Lu Mingfei's hands were very big and hot, even a little hot.

The heat even dispelled the coldness she felt from the outside world when she stood at the door, spreading to every part of her body, almost making her weak and her legs go weak.

Aunt Shan Shan, hiding in the corner, quietly covered her face, feeling she couldn't bear to look... The idea of ​​the evening gown was naturally hers; clothes make the man, and this saying applies to both men and women!

This move has a bit of a "uniform fetish" feel to it.

The good news is that it was very effective; Lu Mingfei was definitely stunned for a moment. The bad news is that Lu Mingfei quickly recovered and launched a rather high-quality counterattack… That's the problem!
"You should at least exchange a few more moves... Lu Mingfei is clearly a man of his word; he didn't get carried away in that situation. If you don't go toe-to-toe with him, you'll never make any breakthroughs! How could you just reveal all your secrets like that?"

Aunt Shan sighed wearily, feeling rather disappointed in her son.

"Miaomiao, your speed in giving away freebies seems a little too fast!"

(End of this chapter)