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

Chapter 202 Even the toughest lips are soft when you kiss them.
At midnight, the hour hand of the wall clock slowly glides to the "1" position.

The villa area outside the window seemed to have sunk into a silent and dark seabed, with only a few slightly dim streetlights shining like lanternfish waiting to feed. Further away, the city's dazzling neon lights began to go out one by one.

[Warning, it's time for [sleep]...]

Lu Mingfei paused for a moment, pulling himself out of his study mode, and a slight feeling of reluctance unconsciously surfaced in his heart.

He first looked at the proficiency panel.

As a ruthless scheduler who adheres to "utilitarian learning philosophy," he temporarily abandoned [Foreign Languages] after upgrading it and turned to other projects that were easier to upgrade in a short time.

As of now, the only three items that haven't been upgraded to LV2 are [Chinese Language], [Chemistry], and [Music].

This three-choice question... it can't really be called a choice, because there's actually only one answer.

Without a doubt, it's Chinese language!

The LV1 "Words become law" entry is already ridiculously powerful; I wonder what kind of surprise LV2 will bring?
Lu Mingfei wasn't sure, but he had high hopes for it. The vocabulary entries from the foreign language section weren't exactly useless, but they didn't really help improve combat power. However, if the Chinese section provided a powerful one, it would make up for it.

His requirements weren't high; he just wanted something with a similar strength to [Words Become Law]!

So, after returning home, he unhesitatingly devoted all his energy to studying Chinese.

Compared to the previous English learning, which only involved vocabulary, grammar, and arithmetic, there is so much more to learn in Chinese.

Ancient poems, classical Chinese texts, and various famous articles can all improve his proficiency. What lies before him are various classic works that have been passed down through thousands of years of selection. Lu Mingfei has no need to worry about the situation of "having nothing left to learn".

During the few hours of dedicated study he had just completed, he truly experienced how significantly the "JuanGou" entry improved his learning efficiency.

Although the explanation of the effect only says "slight improvement"... the increase in proficiency does not lie.

Chinese Language Level 1 - Proficiency 100/200!

Although he had accumulated some proficiency through self-study over the past few days, he gained dozens of points in just a few hours. At this rate, he might only need another day of study to level up!

As for tomorrow... oh no, it's already past 12 o'clock, so today's operation is probably not helpful. But this operation is only a preliminary exploration. Apart from the "Hunter Market" team that Old Tang infiltrated, nothing major is expected to happen. Therefore, the existing entries should be sufficient.

Lu Mingfei examined the entries he currently possessed and made a brief assessment.

Even ignoring the bug-level attributes like "Words Become Law" and "Explosive Sprint," with all other attributes unlocked, I should now be considered someone with the strength of a B-rank hybrid, right? The kind who's vaguely touching the threshold of A-rank?

For Lu Mingfei, the only two A-level fighters he had ever witnessed in action were Chu Zihang and Zhang Shanfeng. Therefore, in his understanding, A-level hybrids were incredibly powerful. Without using those overpowered abilities, he would have virtually no chance of winning, and even achieving a draw would be difficult.

Of course, if he used it, Lu Mingfei felt he was quite strong. Putting everything else aside, just one burst of speed would be enough to make him invincible.

After all, among all martial arts, speed is the only thing that cannot be broken. Extreme speed is equivalent to being linked to time, and the only thing that can defy time is probably the legendary god, right?
Looking at the nineteen entries and one title on the proficiency panel, a sense of accomplishment welled up inside him. Suddenly, his backache and leg pain disappeared; the reward for all the torment he had endured these past few days was right in front of him, and it was all worth it.

He closed the proficiency panel.

On the desk, the warm yellow light, like a thin veil, softly enveloped the reference books and exam papers in front of him. Lu Mingfei was immersed in the center of this halo of light. The weariness or heavy, leaden eyelids that would normally appear on most people due to the late hour did not show on him. Instead, he appeared energetic and seemed capable of staying up a little longer.

But he also knew that this was just an appearance... When a person is awake, the brain is a machine that runs non-stop. Although with [Stamina Recovery] and [Stamina Boost] as energy sources, it is difficult for him to be in a situation of "not getting enough", but "metal fatigue" will still occur, and he needs to rest when he needs to.

The schedule is the most stringent and scientific in terms of time. It somehow figured out Lu Mingfei's limits, so he still had to sleep for three hours every day, even if he wasn't being electrocuted. This way, when he woke up, all his fatigue would be gone, and he wouldn't have to control it with [Vitality Micro-Management] like before, which would only make the fatigue accumulate more and more.

"Wait a minute, if my physical fitness improves further in the future, won't my sleep time shorten even more?"

Upon realizing this, Lu Mingfei's expression changed slightly, and then he scratched his head helplessly, because it seemed there was no need to doubt this matter at all.

The future is bleak!
but……

His gaze shifted to the side.

Ling sat quietly on the edge of his bed. Her posture was as upright as a textbook illustration, her back straight, her legs together, and her hands gently folded on her lap. Her moon-like silver hair flowed with an almost unreal glow under the dim light of the desk lamp.

She didn't read or do anything; she simply tilted her head slightly, calmly watching him and waiting for his next move.

Her existence is like an ancient iceberg; it seems that whether you look at her or not, she is always there, quietly waiting for you.

Behind her, on the bed that belonged to Lu Mingfei, Su Xiaoqiang was already fast asleep.

She occupied half of the bed, curled up on her side, her head buried in Lu Mingfei's pillow, a few strands of her dark hair playfully clinging to her smooth forehead and cheeks.

Her sleeping face was completely unguarded, her stunning beauty blooming without any concealment. The pride that was unique to the "Little Fairy" had vanished without a trace, leaving only a girlish softness. Her lips were slightly pouting, as if she was still sulking with someone in her dream.

Lu Mingfei turned around again, his gaze passing over the huge floor-to-ceiling window, through dozens of meters of darkness, and landing on the room opposite the window.

Liu Miaomiao yawned as she gathered the piano sheet music she had just organized. As if by telepathy or as if she had been planning it for a long time, she looked this way, then her well-behaved eyes narrowed noticeably, she pouted, and pointed angrily in one direction.

The meaning of the gesture was ambiguous, but Lu Mingfei subconsciously understood who she was referring to and what she wanted to say.

For some reason, he thought of a cat in the neighborhood when he used to live with his aunt. It was lazy and easy to bully. If you gave it something, it would eat it, but if you didn't give it anything, it wouldn't chase after you and meow for it.

But one time when he "favored" another cat and then went to pet it... the situation was very similar to what it is now.

The kitten is hissing.

He laughed, a natural and reassuring laugh, but for a moment he couldn't quite explain what he was laughing about.

He nodded slightly and turned around.

"Good night."

Ling calmly got up, replied with "Goodnight," and did not leave as usual. Instead, her gaze lingered on Su Xiaoqiang, who was fast asleep.

She didn't speak, but Lu Mingfei didn't dare wait for her to actually say it. Queen Zero's skill in saying something shocking was astounding. If she said something like, "Does the landlord want this guest to stay for the night? How much does it cost to cut in line?" he would be in big trouble!
So he went to Su Xiaoqiang's side and gently pinched her nose.

Su Xiaoqiang woke up shortly after. At first, she yawned, still a little sleepy. After seeing her surroundings, she was clearly taken aback. She wasn't surprised enough to shout out, but just mumbled something like "It's so late." She didn't make things difficult for Lu Mingfei by saying anything like "Don't know the way? Take me to my room." After saying "Goodnight," she and Ling left one after the other.

Lu Mingfei gave a "goodnight" gesture to the pretty piano girl who had stopped breathing on the window. Seeing that she was also too sleepy to stay awake any longer and was finally ready to go to sleep, he used the little time he had left to finish his pre-sleep routine, turned off the light, and lay down in bed.

He had barely lain down when he realized why Su Xiaoqiang hadn't done much after waking up. Because she had already done everything she needed to!

The girl's body heat seemed to still linger in the soft mattress and bedding, and that pleasant and familiar scent enveloped Lu Mingfei. For a moment, he had a strange feeling—that the girl had never left, but was right here, in his arms, accompanying him as he fell asleep.

"She really..."

In the darkness, his body, exhausted from twenty-one hours of toil, finally received the command to rest. The accumulated fatigue surged from all directions, and without even needing a warning from the schedule, Lu Mingfei fell asleep with his last unfinished thought.

……

In a daze, the dream unfolds silently.

It was a summer afternoon, and I was a freshman in high school, having just started school.

Lu Mingfei, exhausted after a morning of military training, lay drowsy on his desk. Outside the window, the cicadas chirped incessantly, showing no sign of stopping, as if waiting to offer a "gift from nature" to passersby.

Just then, a pleasant smell wafted from the side.

It wasn't the smell of food, nor was it perfume; it was just a very faint fragrance, but because the distance was close enough, it slowly spread and enveloped him.

Lu Mingfei sniffed and looked up, somewhat bewildered.

He was greeted by a pretty face with a half-smile, looking down at him. Shilan Middle School truly lived up to its reputation as a prestigious school; even the military training uniforms they provided fit him perfectly.

Lu Mingfei's mind went blank for a moment. He recognized the girl, so his drowsiness vanished instantly, leaving him only bewildered.

"Su...Xiaoqiang?"

He subconsciously lowered his voice, stammering as he leaned back, trying to create some distance. But his seat was by the window, and he always slept with his head turned away from the window... How far could he possibly back up?

The girl showed no sign of stopping. As Lu Mingfei tilted his head back, she leaned closer, her flawless, stunningly beautiful face growing ever more intimate.

Four words subconsciously surfaced in Lu Mingfei's mind: "using beauty to deceive people." So there really are people who are so beautiful that they can leave people speechless... How come I didn't notice this before?
"Sir...do you want to rob me of my money or my virtue?" In his nervousness, he blurted out a vulgar question.

He expected that Su Xiaoqiang would show undisguised disgust upon hearing these words and then back away. This would give him breathing room, allowing him to use his extensive experience with empty talk to bring the other party down to the same level before defeating him securely...

This was the second day since he met Su Xiaoqiang. Yesterday, during the news report, he did something rather... well, you know. He said in front of Su Xiaoqiang, a girl, that Chen Wenwen was probably going to be the class beauty in the future... This directly offended her, to the point that she started picking fights with him at every turn.

Fortunately, the little fairy was frighteningly well-mannered; she neither told her parents nor her teachers, but simply argued with him... and still couldn't win.

Actually, if the other party were willing to spend money, Lu Mingfei would definitely kneel down in a second, no doubt about it! But as a boy, he still has a little bit of dignity and feels that he can't talk to a girl like that, so he can only tough it out.

However, Su Xiaoqiang's response next completely surprised him.

"joke."

Su Xiaoqiang smiled contemptuously, "If I can rob you, why would I need to choose one or the other? I want them both!"

Lu Mingfei: "???"

That sounds like something only I could say!
He swallowed subconsciously, gulping, "You're so magnanimous, please forgive me..."

"Oh, so it seems you do know where you offended me?"

Su Xiaoqiang asked with a half-smile.

“Uh…” Lu Mingfei was speechless for a moment.

"I heard from classmate Lu Mingfei that I'm not as pretty as classmate Chen Wenwen."

She was talking to herself when she suddenly reached out, her slender fingers pinching Lu Mingfei's chin, slowly lifting it up, and leaning closer.

"Since that's the case, why don't we take a closer look?"

In the previous sixteen years, Lu Mingfei had never been so close to a girl, let alone such a beautiful girl... especially in the classroom, in front of everyone!

He instinctively tried to lower his head, but the hand that Su Xiaoqiang used to lift his chin was inexplicably strong, rendering his efforts futile.

"you you……"

Lu Mingfei steeled his resolve, closed his eyes, and said, "I'm telling the truth..."

He hadn't really looked at Su Xiaoqiang closely when he said that yesterday, but now, at such close range, he had to admit that Su Xiaoqiang was prettier, and that the difference might even widen in a few years.

But how can we admit to such a mistake?
"Open your eyes."

He instinctively opened his eyes, but the next second, that beautiful face drew closer and closer until there was no distance between them anymore.

It was an extremely domineering kiss, yet unexpectedly soft, and the pleasant scent enveloped him without any distance between them.

Su Xiaoqiang stepped back, smiling as she looked at Lu Mingfei, who was completely stunned and had no idea where he was.

"Sure enough, even the toughest lips become soft when you kiss them!"

[Warning, it's time to get up...]

A sudden warning struck, and the body instinctively roused its consciousness.

"She really..."

Lu Mingfei opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, which was outlined with faint patterns by the light from the window. He couldn't help but recall the bizarre dream he had just had. He smelled the lingering scent of Su Xiaoqiang and continued the thought he had before falling asleep.

If it weren't for this flavor, that dream would never have happened, right?

"You're so good at it."

(End of this chapter)