Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei Returns from Sekiro

Chapter 128 The Freeloader

Lu Mingfei looked down at the audience; almost everyone was wearing a mask.

Caesar displayed his innate oratory skills, filling the hall with a powerful voice. The student council members stood tall and proud, looking at their leader with pride.

Lu Mingfei simply stood aside and smiled. According to the plan, after Caesar finished his speech, he would say "Have fun, everyone" and then leave.

Ye Sheng's marriage proposal will take place at 8:30, ten minutes before the end of evening classes, during the final game.

Lu Mingfei hadn't eaten dinner and his stomach was empty. He arrived at Norton's at 4 o'clock and spent two hours getting his hair styled, getting his hair permed and changing clothes. After all that, thinking about the buffet later, he didn't put anything in his mouth.

The aroma of roasted meat wafting from the dining table made my salivary glands work hard.

Man is made of iron, food is made of steel; you'll get hungry if you skip a meal!

Caesar was still speaking, talking about his "elitist theory," but he didn't see Nono. Her wine-red hair was very eye-catching; if she were here, she would be spotted immediately. However, among the female guests present, there were quite a few blondes, but not a single red-haired one.

Why isn't Nono, Caesar's girlfriend, attending the ball? Does she have class tonight?

Lu Mingfei took in the entire view of the Norton Hall lobby.

At this moment, only the stage lights are on inside the venue, but there are flashing colored lights outside the windows, and the faint light shining in through the windows is enough to see things clearly.

Everyone's eyes were on the stage, except for Lu Mingfei and Caesar on stage, and a couple secretly kissing in the corner.

Lu Mingfei immediately recognized the two men. He had worked with Ye Sheng on his styling, and he clearly remembered what style of suit Ye Sheng was wearing.

The identity of the woman he kissed is obvious; who else could it be but Aki Shutoku?

"Is it really that exciting?" Lu Mingfei thought to himself. "Having a girlfriend is really different. Oh, no, I should call her my fiancée now."

They say marriage is the grave of love. I wonder what Ye Sheng will feel when he gets married and has children.

Lu Mingfei recalled his uncle's submissive manner in front of his aunt, and the sighs he heard when discussing family matters like tuition fees and tutoring classes with his aunt during meals.

How did Uncle and Aunt fall in love back then?

I've never heard of my uncle and aunt's romantic love story. Maybe they met through a matchmaker, had a child together, and just made do with their life.

Lu Mingfei had vowed never to become like his uncle, a greasy middle-aged man with a big belly who did nothing but play cards and drink tea.

Looking back now, my uncle's life was actually quite fulfilling. He had a wife, children, and no mortgage to pay. His child was even a promising candidate to get into Tsinghua or Peking University. He spent his days at work idly, and in his free time, he would go to a hotel lobby with some friends to drink tea and chat, or go to a mahjong parlor to play for an entire afternoon. What's wrong with such a relaxed and leisurely life?

A life full of dramatic events may be exciting, but a simple and ordinary life is the true essence of life.

Lu Mingfei glanced at the corner again.

Good heavens, they're still kissing! This is never going to end! They should be put under a spotlight so everyone can see what these two are doing in broad daylight!

Was Caesar really that charismatic? Did he attract everyone's attention? Didn't anyone even glance over there?

At that moment, Lu Mingfei felt a light touch on his elbow, and he knew that it was time for him to make his appearance.

"Have fun, everyone." He smiled and bowed.

The next second, the crystal chandelier in the venue lit up again, and the soothing piano music started playing once more.

After Lu Mingfei and Caesar stepped back onto the stage, it was time for ballroom dancing, and various small activities officially began. This was a masquerade ball with many games suitable for couples, and single guests could also participate, with the host matching them with opposite-sex partners.

If you're looking for a romantic relationship, this is a rare opportunity to participate in a game with a masked person of the opposite sex whose identity you don't know. If you both develop feelings for each other, you can remove your masks, exchange contact information, and gradually develop the relationship.

However, Lu Mingfei had no interest in that; he just wanted to eat meat and fill his stomach first.

"I heard that Chu Zihang invited you to join the Lionheart Society." Caesar picked out a golden mask and put it on.

"How did you know...?" Lu Mingfei also casually picked one up; it was pink.

Pink is fine, it means his lucky color is pink today, and peach blossoms are also pink, so maybe he'll have some luck in love.

He took off his blue suit jacket and put on a less flashy black suit to avoid being recognized later.

"There's news on the forum; paparazzi have taken photos of you talking to Chu Zihang," Caesar said.

"No way, they managed to film this?" Lu Mingfei opened his phone and had Norma connect to the academy forum. As soon as they entered, they saw the top headlines.

[Chu Zihang and Lu Mingfei are actually old acquaintances from high school. Let's uncover the secrets of Shilan High School, which produced a Super A-level and an S-level student.]

[Chu Zihang extends an olive branch, Caesar hosts a ball for him, but who will ultimately win the heart of the S-class Lu Mingfei?]

The latest trending topic has dazzled Lu Mingfei's eyes.

The red-haired little witch disappeared from the ball; who was she jealous of?

"Holy crap, these reporters are so unethical!" Lu Mingfei pointed at the outrageous text: "Senior Brother Caesar, they actually said you and I were having an affair! They said you dumped your girlfriend for me!"

“In a sense, they weren’t wrong,” Caesar said. “I invited Nono to the ball. She was picking out a dress, but when I told her that tonight was actually Ye Sheng’s proposal party, she said she had a stomachache and didn’t want to come.”

“A good boyfriend should be by his girlfriend’s side at this moment, even if she’s pretending.” Caesar spread his hands. “But she said she was already in bed, ready to sleep.”

"Is he really jealous...?" Lu Mingfei said.

"Who knows? I've never been able to figure her out. She's like an enchanted book; every time you open it, it's a new story. That's what makes her so fascinating." Caesar shrugged. "Let's not talk about that. How did Chu Zihang invite you? Did he use your high school friendship to play the emotional card?"

"No, Senior Brother Chu Zihang just talked to me about his experiences when he first came to Kassel. He said that the Lionheart Society is a big family and that we shouldn't take it too seriously. If we join here, everyone can help us if we encounter difficulties."

“Only mediocre people crave help from others; elites only cooperate. Those who yearn for something for nothing will not want to contribute their strength.” Caesar sneered. “Chu Zihang’s standards for selecting Lionheart Society members are too low. That’s why he can never beat me in Freedom Day. Even if the Lionheart Society has many people and ace snipers, if the people under his command cannot unite enough to execute, then it’s just a disorganized mess.”

“They never adapt to changing circumstances; they only act according to Chu Zihang’s instructions. Even if his judgment is sharp enough, he cannot control the overall situation in a second.” Caesar crossed his arms. “One Zhuge Liang cannot lead Shu to unify the world.”

"Senior Brother Caesar, you also read 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'?" Lu Mingfei was somewhat surprised. He didn't expect that Caesar, a complete foreigner, would also read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." However, since everyone in Kassel communicates in Chinese, reading a book like "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" didn't seem like a big deal.

"One of China's Four Great Classical Novels, which I have only recently begun to study. I admire Cao Cao's attitude of valuing talent." Caesar nodded. "Especially his treatment of Guan Yu, capturing him alive and treating him generously, only wanting to bring him under his command."

Lu Mingfei felt that Caesar's words had a hidden meaning.

Guan Yu, after warming wine, beheaded Hua Xiong and killed Yan Liang and Wen Chou. Amidst a vast army, he was like a tiger among sheep, displaying unparalleled bravery. Cao Cao treated him generously, even bestowing additional rewards upon him, hoping that Guan Yu would forget Liu Bei and work under him. However, in the end, Guan Yu abandoned him to pursue his elder brother.

Is this an indication that he should join the student council?

It means: What did Chu Zihang do for you? What did I, Caesar, do for you? If you still care about the brotherly relationship with Chu Zihang from high school, what about all the hard work I've put into it?

"Did you accept Chu Zihang's invitation?" Caesar suddenly asked.

"No," Lu Mingfei answered truthfully.

"Then how about joining the student council?" Caesar and Lu Mingfei locked eyes, their icy blue pupils beneath their masks gleaming sharply.

This was the first time he had formally extended an invitation to Lu Mingfei.

Last time, when I invited someone to the stage at the Amber Pavilion, he managed to get away with it by claiming someone as his "big brother." Today, however, there's no "big brother" to claim. If anyone's going to claim someone, it has to be Caesar.

"Well... I'm sorry, Senior Brother Caesar, I don't have any plans to join any organization at the moment."

Lu Mingfei clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and used the same excuse he gave Chu Zihang, saying that he was busy with his studies and taking extra classes.

Caesar said, "If you change your mind, you can come to me anytime."

"Nono said she's at the entrance of the Norton Building, I'm going to pick her up." He glanced at his phone, then turned around, leaving behind a dashing silhouette.

Lu Mingfei saw the red-haired girl in a white dress through the floor-to-ceiling window. It seemed that this female guest, who had said she had a stomachache and was about to go to sleep, had gotten out of bed again and wanted to dance.

Whatever, it has nothing to do with him, a single guy.

Let's go grab something to eat before we go find Ye Sheng and the others.

Lu Mingfei patted his belly, stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, then walked straight to the dining table.

Men and women were already swaying in the dance floor. The girls had bare, snow-white arms, and the boys placed their hands on the girls' slender waists. They looked at each other and danced elegant, slow steps.

Some bolder men also began to reach out to women who were standing alone.

The air was filled with a faint scent of perfume that made you want to sneeze.

Lu Mingfei picked up a bone china plate and silver cutlery, cut off the crispy skin of the roast suckling pig, tore off a whole roast duck leg and dipped it in the special sauce. He wandered among the delicacies, his plate filled with food.

As he ate and walked, he suddenly saw a familiar figure: a petite, flat-chested woman with almost cold blonde hair. She was wearing a silver dress inlaid with crystals and was not wearing a mask, but she was sitting on a chair at a rest table with another woman wearing a purple mask.

Lu Mingfei didn't recognize the woman. The loose purple dress couldn't hide her graceful curves at all. There was a hint of red in the corners of her eyes, and her clear black pupils were captivating. Her rose-red lips opened and closed as if she were whispering the most intimate secrets between lovers.

The wide-open neckline revealed a small strapless top and slender, straight collarbones; her long, jet-black hair shone brightly and flowed down her back like a waterfall.

Even without looking at her face, she seemed like a stunning beauty. Many men were staring at her, mesmerized by her deep eyes. When a man stepped forward to invite her, she would just smile lightly, and the man would blush.

However, no lucky gentleman was able to invite the lady to leave her seat. Those who went returned dejectedly, and after several people failed, no one bothered her anymore.

“He’s looking at you.” Zero picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

The white liquid is transparent and free of impurities, and looks like tasteless water, but it is actually high-proof vodka. It will feel hot as soon as you drink it.

"He's gone." The woman brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, picked up a crystal-clear red grape with her slender fingers, put it in her red lips, bit down with her pearly white teeth, and the sweet juice burst in her mouth.

“He’s not interested in you,” Zero said.

"If I were wearing tight clothes, do you think he would give me a second glance?" the woman asked.

"No," Zero said calmly.

"Men are all animals that think with their lower bodies, what makes you so sure he wouldn't?"

"intuition."

"Well, actually I don't think he would either. To him, those sizzling, oily roasted pork skins seem more appealing than me," the woman laughed self-deprecatingly.

Zero didn't reply, but simply took another sip from her wine glass. Her face was slightly flushed, and a faint blush appeared on her fair skin.

"Alcohol can stimulate blood circulation, but drinking too much can lead to poisoning," the woman said, taking a sip of red wine.

“We are mixed race,” Zero said. “Why are we here at the dance today? I’ve only checked my homework five times.”

"Because I'm bored," the woman sighed. "The boss gave us a long vacation until the end of the year. But I'm different from Chip Girl. If the boss doesn't assign me any work, then I won't have to do anything."

"You can go to Dubai to find the prince."

"We've broken up. He deserves better."

"Is that so?" Zero's gaze shifted to a couple playing a game of "throwing a bridal bouquet" nearby.

This is a very simple game. There are three teams of two. One person carries a basket on their back, while the other person throws a ball while blindfolded. A "river" separates them. The person carrying the basket needs to catch the ball thrown by the person throwing it. The person who catches the most balls within the time limit wins.

The couple clearly had great chemistry, and the balls in the basket were accumulating at a visible speed.

"Isn't this ball very interesting?" The woman downed her glass of red wine in one gulp. "I might regret it if I missed it."

The glass reflected the couple; they had won and were receiving their prize—a teddy bear—from the host with bright smiles on their faces.

The boy picked up the girl and spun her around, her skirt fluttering in the wind. Even after her feet touched the ground, they held each other tightly, as if they were embracing the whole world.