Dragon Clan: I am Lu Mingfei, the Intelligence Strategist, the God of Concepts!

Chapter 59 Aspasia Restaurant, Su Jiannan's Vigilance

Fuyuan Teahouse, inside a private room on the second floor.

Despite his bruised and swollen face, Zhou Minhao calmly sipped his green tea.

Nono, standing to the side, grinned and clenched her fists, clearly looking like she hadn't had enough of the fight.

Chu Zihang fell silent.

He couldn't help but wonder if the Zhou family was still the ancient and strict family he had heard about, since the representative they sent out had such a different style...

"So Nuwa really used the word 'casual'?" Nono asked again.

"I went back and analyzed it for a long time, and I'm sure that Nuwa didn't mean anything else; she just wanted me to make my own judgment," Zhou Minhao said.

Nuonuo and Chu Zihang exchanged a glance.

So... casual?
Is it trust in Zhou Minhao, or the confidence of a legitimate leader?

But it's not necessarily a bad thing, since there's the connection with Nono.

Zhou Minhao would never side with the Chen family... even though he was beaten pretty badly just now.

Nono's expression softened considerably.

Actually, what this guy just said wasn't exactly a false imperial edict. 'Casual' doesn't mean 'not taking it seriously.' The Dragon-Slaying Platform in the box, which symbolizes the Zhou family's reputation, can't be faked.

"Speaking of which, how come you, the eldest daughter of the Chen family, would try to trick me into helping Kassel College against your own family?" Zhou Minhao asked curiously.

"Can't I just stand up for my family for the greater good?" Nono said irritably.

"Okay, that's great."

Zhou Minhao grinned from ear to ear, “It’s good to be lively. Peaceful days are just not comfortable. Back when I was studying in England, I could still have some fun with the people from Westminster Abbey and Solomon’s Temple. But after coming back and managing a factory for a year, I can barely breathe even when riding a bicycle.”

"Don't you know how to find something to do?"

"How could I dare! What kind of status do I have? If I go home, I can only keep my head down and behave myself. I guess this is how my life will be for the rest of my days." Zhou Minhao sighed.

Listening to him pour out his grievances, Nuonuo couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Sigh, they're all pretty much the same. Kassel College is just as strict as ever. If you're assigned a job after graduation, you'll be treated like a beast of burden..."

As she spoke, Nuonuo gestured with her lip toward Chu Zihang, who was sitting beside her like a Buddha statue.

“Look, this guy, for example, has already entered the ox-horse stage ahead of time, saving him four years of detours.”

Chu Zihang: "..."

……

In the afternoon.

Lu Mingfei received a text message from Su Jiannan.

The time for the Chen family's visit has been set for 9 PM tonight at the Aspasia restaurant in the east of the city.

The timing was a bit awkward.

It's a bit late for dinner, but a bit early for a late-night snack.

So... the bags and packages I bought at the Binhai Building that morning weren't entirely useless.

An impromptu family dinner was held in the luxurious villa of Peacock Mansion.

Not many people.

Su Jiannan, Lu Mingfei, and Su Xiaoqiang—just three people.

Old Tang is very professional; he went to scout out the area around the restaurant beforehand and didn't just blindly follow along.

Aunt Chen was in charge of cooking, but she didn't sit at the table.

However, as they went back and forth during the meal, the lady from the Oliveira family began to look at Lu Mingfei with increasingly strange eyes.

She truly hadn't expected that in just three or four days, this guy who claimed to 'admire President Su' would actually dress up neatly and come to her house for dinner, chatting happily with President Su! He even brought her a gift!

This is really...you've informed the madam, haven't you?
……

No alcohol was consumed at the table, and not much food was eaten. The main activity was awkward conversation. Su Xiaoqiang, who usually talks a lot, didn't say much this time. She just watched with a smile as Lu Mingfei and her father chatted about everyday matters.

After dinner, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Su Jiannan pretended to suggest that he would take Lu Mingfei to the mine.

Su Xiaoqiang didn't have too many doubts.

Holding an umbrella, she stood gracefully at the garage entrance, watching the two get into the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

In the car, Su Jiannan sat in the driver's seat, and Lu Mingfei sat in the passenger seat.

"I'm sorry, Mingfei, but I need you to play along with me. Xiaoqiang is a clever child, and I'm afraid she'll figure something out beforehand."

The middle-aged man pressed the accelerator and shifted gears with some awkwardness.

"No trouble, no trouble."

Lu Mingfei waved his hands repeatedly, thinking to himself that this meal was eaten cleverly, wonderfully, and deliciously; otherwise, he really wouldn't know how to explain it to Su Xiaoqiang.

Su Jiannan chuckled and said, "You don't need to be too nervous. I asked a friend, and the restaurant was booked out tonight. The chef bought enough top-quality ingredients for more than a dozen people in advance. They probably invited more than just us, so there shouldn't be any major problems."

This mine owner, whose methods were both righteous and wicked, was not as powerless as he appeared. Although it was difficult for him to find out about the world of mixed-race people, he used his extraordinary abilities to analyze some key information from the perspective of an ordinary person.

Countless preparations were made, both inside and out, including what would happen to Su Xiaoqiang if he didn't make it back tonight. "President Su is wise."

Lu Mingfei offered a shallow compliment.

He immediately counted on his fingers in his mind.

Kassel College, the Chen family, the Su family, and the Zhou family (whose inclusion is uncertain), make up about ten people in total. With additional emergency supplies, the number should be sufficient.

So there aren't many companies at all, and they're all considered 'insiders'.

So it seems the problem isn't so... big?
After half an hour,

A Rolls-Royce Phantom drove into the quiet Lake Garden Road.

The rain started to get heavier.

The old red-brick house by the lake was hidden in the rain at the end of the road.

This is the old mansion known as "Lake Garden No. 1". It is the only house on the entire Lake Garden Road. In the early 20th century, it was a villa owned by a French merchant. After Aspasia bought it, she renovated it into a restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. It is currently applying for three Michelin stars and is considered a top-tier establishment in the waterfront area.

It's usually hard to get a seat on weekdays; you have to book at least three or four days in advance, let alone during peak seasons like holidays.

In the afternoon, the Chen family sent someone to make a phone call, canceling all the arrangements for tonight and changing it to a private event.

After verifying the license plate number, the heavy black wrought iron gate opened wide.

The Rolls-Royce drove straight in and stopped in front of the old house.

The interior of the old house was dim and yellowish. Looking through the huge French windows, the dining tables covered with checkered tablecloths were empty. The largest main table was hidden behind a screen. The lamp overhead was the only light source in the dim old house, illuminating the ancient patterns on the screen, which looked like dragons or snakes.

A row of waiters stood under the eaves as the rain fell, each with a polite expression, as if they were all cut from the same mold.

Several waiters in white coats stepped into the rain with umbrellas and kindly opened the car doors for the two.

"Welcome to Aspasia, sir. Ms. Chen is already inside."

Upon hearing this title, a glint seemed to flash inside Su Jiannan's gold-rimmed glasses.

Miss Chen...?
The Chen family member who contacted him was always a young man.

However, he showed no sign of it on his face, handed the car keys to the waiter, and followed another waiter into the room with a normal expression.

Soothing music mingled with footsteps echoing throughout every corner of the restaurant.

Lu Mingfei surveyed the interior with a hint of curiosity; this was his first time visiting a Michelin-starred restaurant. He couldn't quite make out its features, but his instinctive feeling was that it was very high-class.

It can't be anything but high-class.

Looking up, you see a dome that's three or four stories high, with a huge chandelier hanging from old wooden beams that exude a sense of history. In the corner, there's a massive shipwreck that serves as a wine cabinet, its bow reaching all the way to the roof. Combined with the waiter's expression, it inexplicably gives off a pretentious vibe.

Is this what they call a sense of atmosphere? Is a sense of atmosphere just about showing off? Lu Mingfei thought to himself.

I wasn't nervous or afraid... on the contrary, I felt a little excited.

Su Xiaoqiang is right. Men need to be armed with clothes. At least in this environment, wearing cheap jeans and Vans sneakers feels completely different from wearing Ermenegildo Zegna business attire with Ferragamo handcrafted leather shoes.

He's got a sword in his hand now, what's your little restaurant compared to him! The real boss hasn't even arrived yet!

Lu Mingfei's pace became increasingly leisurely, as if he were inspecting this up-and-coming Italian restaurant, which had reached a pinnacle of luxury, with the mindset of reviewing a popular review site.

Su Jiannan noticed Lu Mingfei's relaxed and natural expression, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

The CEO of the Su Group is a regular at such events. In fact, if it weren't for the invitation from the Chen family, he would have long been tired of these things and would rather have a bowl of millet porridge at home. If everything goes smoothly tonight, he will have to have another bowl when he gets back. He has already asked Aunt Chen to simmer it over a low flame.

"You... Lu Mingfei?"

On the other side of the screen, Nuonuo saw the face of the newcomer clearly, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes, before she gave Chu Zihang beside her a strange look.

Who said this morning... that Lu Mingfei probably wouldn't be coming?
Chu Zihang's eyes also showed a hint of surprise, partly because of Lu Mingfei's current appearance, and partly because he didn't expect him to appear here!
However, upon seeing the middle-aged man beside her, she quickly came to her senses and felt relieved.

This is Su Xiaoqiang's father.

There was a brief silence.

Lu Mingfei nodded slightly to acknowledge the greeting, then pulled out a chair and sat down. "Please, sit wherever you like?"

"Whatever," Nono said with a smile.

It's not just Lu Mingfei who has transformed from a student into a high-quality young man.

Her style of dress had also changed. Her dark red hair, which had been loose, was now neatly combed. She wore a burgundy suit, a moon-white silk blouse, elaborate stockings, and a full set of custom-made gold and crystal jewelry, exuding an air of elegance and nobility.

The only one who hadn't changed was Chu Zihang. The senior brother was still dressed like a model student, and of course, the knife was placed at his feet.

His gaze shifted from the faces of the two excessively young and handsome men and women.

Su Jiannan wasn't too surprised.

In the world of Dragonborn, or rather, hybrid races, it is always the young people who are active on the stage.

Without needing an introduction, Su Jiannan understood that the girl in front of him was probably 'Miss Chen'.

only……

Why did she call out Lu Mingfei's name so suddenly?

"And he even seemed quite happy about it?"

A sense of vigilance quietly rose in the middle-aged man's heart. He wisely remained silent, his lion-like eyes constantly scanning the area.

(End of this chapter)