Lu Mingfei: What? They're all real!

"It's just literary imagery!" Lu Mingfei rebuked angrily. "You don't think our Pretty Girls Book Club's name was chosen for nothing, do you? You'd better improve your literary skills! Look at Ling, she never forgets to read, no matter where she is. I order you to write a hundred book reviews when you get back!"

"If reading romance novels counts as improving one's literary skills, then the two of us are discussing the ultimate truth of the universe!"

……

“But what you said just now was quite insightful.” Xia Mi leaned back in her chair and whispered to the boy next to her, “Everything in this world is fake. Only power and strength are the most real things. There are no meteorites falling from the sky, but there are approaching shadows. The Supreme One might come back to life one day. Ragnarok…maybe everyone will die.”

Will it?

“Of course it will, it’s a divine decree.” The girl leaned against him quietly, her head drooping limply to his side. “No one, human or anything else, can stop his will.”

"Then he's a really violent bastard. Why would he destroy such a beautiful world?" Lu Mingfei cursed, pursing his lips.

He desperately wanted to know the answer; sometimes he feared such a thing would happen, and sometimes he secretly hoped it would.

Therefore, he needs to pursue what he cares about and find the answer.

“The world has wronged him,” the girl said. “It’s understandable. If I were asked to do the same, I would burn the world to ashes, leave nothing behind, and then swallow everything whole.”

“Then you’re pretty jerk too,” Lu Mingfei said.

"You bastard, you're flirting with other girls and putting your arm around them, shameless." Xia Mi snorted, wriggling up to him and speaking eloquently, "Listen up, your description of the past is very touching, and I understand your feelings, but you're not allowed to go to that girl's house again, I'm afraid she'll eat you up."

"She doesn't eat people."

"And no pretending you lack literary knowledge and can't understand metaphors!" the girl announced a new rule. "Also, from now on, no more talking to Nuo—"

She paused suddenly, mindful of Zero beside her. Although she knew it was pointless to be wary of Zero, she still maintained this attitude.

The girl covered her mouth, leaned close to Lu Mingfei's ear, and whispered, "You're not allowed to exchange glances with Norton anymore, or it'll be betrayal, and I'll get angry. If I get angry, I really will eat people!"

She always acts like a clingy little girl, but she keeps saying things like "Don't betray your allies."

“There was no flirting. He’s a man, and I’m not gay.” Lu Mingfei shook his head solemnly.

“Even private exchanges are not allowed.” The girl emphasized, “Just remember this, whatever you do, I will follow you and will not give you the chance to betray me.”

"You sound like some kind of controlling freak right now," Lu Mingfei said sullenly. "What if I find that girl I mentioned, and she really is my wife? You wouldn't forbid me from having an affair with her either, would you?"

"Then let's wait until you find it." The girl scoffed dismissively, as if watching a fool's dream. "If you can actually find it."

The aircraft floated ten thousand meters above the ground, the blue world below remaining unchanged, but they were getting closer and closer to their destination every moment.

Lu Mingfei turned to look out the window, silently repeating... "If I could really find it..."

Chapter 130 She was probably traumatized.

"Ugh—" Lu Mingfei clutched his chest, looking uncomfortable.

He was being supported by two girls, although Xia Mi was actually carrying most of the weight—Ling was rather short, and helping others was beyond her capabilities, but she still diligently supported Lu Mingfei's arm and asked him how he was doing.

"Are you airsick?" Zero asked. "How come you're like this as soon as you get off the plane?"

As she spoke, she gently patted his back with her small hand, offering a tender reassurance.

"Hmph, he's just getting excited about finding a 'wife' soon, isn't he?" Xia Mi said sarcastically. She had been opposed to the trip from the planning stage, as if she was afraid that someone would get their wish.

Lu Mingfei shook his head intermittently, looking like he was about to die. He seemed to want to say something, but he couldn't even open his mouth to speak.

The two girls barely managed to drag him through the customs process, then quickly found a place to sit down. Xia Mi handed him a bottle of water, but he only took one sip before choking. He then found it extremely difficult to breathe, coughed several times, and ended up soaking wet and looking utterly pathetic.

After being cared for for a while, he finally calmed down a bit, with large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, as if he had just escaped death.

"You...you're all completely unharmed?" His first words after recovering were filled with shock.

"No, motion sickness is rare for us." Zero unscrewed a new bottle of water and handed it to him.

Xia Mi stood to the side with her hands on her hips, not saying a word. To be honest, she didn't really believe that this guy would get airsick. She found it strange. Recalling his heartfelt words on the plane, she even thought that he might be too immersed in the human role he was playing, causing his brain to malfunction due to synchronization with human thoughts.

The problem is, the expression on his face was so painful that he really looked like he was about to die.

She snatched the water bottle from Ling, squatted down in front of Lu Mingfei, and fed him small sips of water from the bottle.

“I said, if you don’t think it’s going to work out, let’s go back after two days. Don’t forget we still have some things left in the Three Gorges, we need to find a time to move them.”

The beautiful Miss Xia Mi played the role of Zhu Bajie (a character from Journey to the West) very well during this journey, always trying to persuade her senior brother Lu Ming to return home without asking for his ill-gotten gains.

"No, no... this place is strange." Lu Mingfei took several sips of water, and his condition finally improved. He shook his head, took a deep breath, and then became clear-headed.

He thanked Xia Mi, and then asked the two girls again if they really didn't feel anything strange.

"No, not at all," Xia Mi replied earnestly.

“But I always feel like this place has a bit of a Nibelung feel to it,” Lu Mingfei said in a low voice. “I had this feeling as soon as I stepped out of the plane, and it became even stronger after my feet touched the ground.”

“Nibelungen?” Xia Mi squinted. “How is that possible?”

Ling remained silent, straining her delicate nose to sniff, trying to use all her senses to understand Lu Mingfei's words. She never doubted what he said, even though sometimes she didn't quite understand...

"Where do you think it is?" Xia Mi asked, "This airport?"

“Not here…not here…” Lu Mingfei still shook his head. “I can’t explain it. This place is too chaotic. There are no boundaries at all. It’s like…it’s like the whole city is shrouded in a distorted barrier…”

"Uh……"

Xia Mi was completely speechless. From a rational point of view, she thought the guy in front of her was probably just a typical otaku having a fit of teenage angst, but from an emotional point of view, she felt she should trust him...

“The Nibelungen region shouldn’t be that large,” Xia Mi said. “At least we don’t have that kind of capacity. The Tokyo metropolitan area is one of the largest metropolitan areas in human history; such a vast area—”

The girl paused, then her voice became low, "I'm afraid only a god could do that."

“God.” Lu Mingfei repeated the word. He slowly recovered and sat up straight, looking into the girl’s eyes.

“But I don’t think he would leave any relics here. His throne is in the North Pole, which is far away from this place… But if we’re really talking about it, this place is somewhat related to his mistress in the rumors. I heard that the ‘execution ground’ or something like that is located in the north…” Xia Mi pondered, stroking her chin. “Maybe she is also a demigod?”

"Don't use such harsh language! What do you mean by 'paramour'?" Lu Mingfei protested loudly against this derogatory term.

"Why are you getting so worked up? It's like I'm talking about you. You're not a woman." Xia Mi grinned. "Do you only become a super sweetheart whenever you hear news about women? Why don't you care about me?"

"I'm cold, I'm as cold as an ice cube," Lu Mingfei said, pretending to put on a stern face.

"Just don't be cold to me."

The girl observed his expression, confirming that he was no longer as desperate as before. Finally, she straightened her legs and stood up. From her elevated position, she reached out and deliberately patted his head.

Lu Mingfei slowly stood up and patted Zero on the shoulder beside him. "Let's find a place to stay first. Booking a hotel is quite troublesome."

“No trouble at all.” Zero suddenly contradicted herself, pounding her chest loudly—a gesture that wasn’t really appropriate for a petite girl like her.

But she still assured me confidently, "Leave it to me and it won't be a problem. You don't need to worry."

"Oh...oh oh." Lu Mingfei hesitated slightly. He sensed that something was off about Ling, but not in a negative way. She seemed a little too proactive, like Ma Su, who was eager for quick success and instant benefits, rushing to go to Jieting.

He didn't doubt Zero's abilities, but he felt that... Zero seemed to be in a state of extreme anxiety, perhaps influenced by a girl who had displayed "gentleness" and "competence"...

After leaving Su Xiaoqiang's room that day, Zero kept inexplicably falling into a daze... Perhaps Zero harbored deep resentment towards Su Xiaoqiang, so she received some stimulation.

"Have you chosen a location yet?" he asked.

"No," Zero shook his head honestly. "But I have friends who can help, so don't worry."

"Friends?" Lu Mingfei immediately thought of those two strange characters and couldn't help but feel that it was a bit unreliable.

"Don't worry, I'll handle everything." Zero continued, saying something that didn't quite fit her image, and started moving by pulling on Lu Mingfei's arm.

Actually, she was always the kind of girl who would take care of everything, but she never publicized it like that... Lu Mingfei was being pulled along, and now he was 100% or even 90% sure that Zero had definitely been provoked by someone...

“Zero.” He patted the girl’s head. Actually, he wanted to pat her shoulder, but he felt he should be more affectionate now.

"What?" Zero turned her gaze and blinked quietly.

Don't force yourself.

Lu Mingfei tried his best to make his tone sound gentle, believing that the girl would receive his concern.

But in Zero's sight, a strange flame ignited, her gaze hardened, and her steps became firm.

Lu Mingfei felt that she must have suffered quite a shock.

Chapter 131 Zero Wants to Be Useful

Early in the morning, Lu Mingfei came out of the hotel, then looked up at the sky like a country bumpkin, put his hand to his chest and sighed deeply.

This place is really awesome...

Even his interjections sound like those of a country bumpkin.

Although no one knew what was wrong with Zero, her promises were quite reliable. She and the two of them had just left the airport when they got into a long, black Toyota Century and sped off, heading straight for the most luxurious area of ​​Shinjuku, the Park Tower in West Shinjuku.

Above it stands the Park Hyatt Hotel, exuding a classic old-money vibe, designed by renowned architect Kenzo Tange... Lu Mingfei spent a long time looking at the information plaque at the entrance with his mediocre Japanese, then pulled Zero's hand and whispered to her that they couldn't afford to stay there, as a regular room here costs 120,000 yen a night!

Xia Mi, standing to the side, counted on her fingers and finally figured out that according to the exchange rate, 120,000 yen was about 9300 yuan. She clutched her chest and wailed, shaking Lu Mingfei's shoulder and shouting that she wanted to leave, as if it was her money that was about to be spent.

Zero, however, didn't react at all. She just grabbed Lu Mingfei's hand and strode inside, not even stopping at the front desk to ask about available rooms. She went straight up to the 51st floor, a height from which one could overlook the entire Tokyo skyline. It was so impressive that Lu Mingfei, leaning against the window, almost thought he was going to have acrophobia—of course, he was mostly excited.

Looking in the other direction, Mount Fuji with its white top stands quietly. A waiter carrying a plate and towel explained that this was a privilege of the southwest-facing room, hence its exceptional value. He added that the fifty-first floor, where they were located, offered the best view, unmatched throughout the entire hotel, and that the guest was truly blessed.

The waiter could easily tell that the blonde European lady was the patron, and he could also easily tell that the other two country bumpkins who could barely walk were her guests.

She could tell that the blonde woman wanted to win the man's praise, so she tried her best to flatter Lu Mingfei, saying that the person who chose this seat must have excellent taste. She also said that he should marry the girl who brought him here, and then she looked at Zero slyly, hoping to get some tips.

Zero was overjoyed by the flattery and generously handed out a 10,000 yen note. The waiter rubbed his hands together and came closer, his eyes filled with money.

Lu Mingfei looked at the money with a heart full of sorrow, his eyes almost welling up with tears. Ling noticed his gaze and couldn't bear it, so she quickly stuffed the money back into Lu Mingfei's pocket. The waiter missed his target and walked away with the typical Japanese indifference.

"Will you marry him?" Lu Mingfei asked blankly, staring at the departing waiter.

“I think it’s okay.” Zero rarely spoke up on this kind of issue.

Fortunately, Zero was just saying it; she booked three rooms but did not use it for personal gain.

However, Lu Mingfei still couldn't sleep that night. He realized for the first time how noisy it was up high up. Even the faintest sounds on the street would become clear at high altitudes. He wished he could invent a reverse "Kamaitachi" that could block out his hearing.

Now, standing beneath the tall building, he can only feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both emotion

"Didn't you sleep well?" Zero asked with concern as he came out of the hotel.

“No, not good at all.” Xia Mi followed closely behind, complaining that the hotel didn’t even offer breakfast, making the 340,000 yen a day a complete waste of money.

She looked visibly jealous, constantly glancing at Ling's purse, as if she wanted to become a robber.

……

"Zero." Lu Mingfei walked down the street, hesitating for a long time before finally deciding he needed to ask, "How exactly was this hotel booked?"

"A friend ordered it." Zero was very honest and frank, not feeling there was anything wrong with it at all. "The money was also given by a friend."

"Give? Isn't it a loan?" Lu Mingfei was shocked.

He spent the whole night doing the math. Based on the $300,000 or so he got from Lao Tang, and after deducting the money for gathering information and other miscellaneous expenses, he now had about 20 million yen. That number sounds like a lot, but at their current spending habits, it would cost more than a million yen for three people to stay one night. If they stayed for 20 days, they wouldn't even have enough money for their return tickets!

"Oh, so it's a loan." Zero nodded, then changed his words. "Don't worry, I'll pay it back."

But she's not going to pay back some guy who only eats potato chips.

“I don’t think you have any intention of doing this at all. Where did you get the money…” Lu Mingfei was very worried. He tugged at Ling’s shoulder, moved closer, and advised her with concern, “You can’t be vague about money. Even brothers have to keep clear accounts.”

Although his father's own brother was a prime example of the opposite, he never kept accounts and ended up embezzling his living expenses for many years...

But he had this habit since childhood: he didn't like owing anyone anything. Whenever he owed someone something, he would feel restless and uncomfortable, always thinking about repaying the favor or money as soon as possible. He was the same way with Chen Wenwen. He never had the mindset of building relationships through interactions.

He naturally felt that his position was aligned with Zero's, so if she owed money, it meant that he owed money.

"We'll do the math then and pay your friends back. The cash I have, plus the amount my student card can cover, should be enough to cover these expenses..." Lu Mingfei counted on his fingers—

Ling suddenly grasped his hand. Her hand was small, but very strong. She pulled his hand to her heart and held it tightly. She looked like she had a lot to say and had been holding it in for a long time.

“Let me play a role sometimes,” she said softly. “I have to be a useful person.”

Lu Mingfei suddenly felt a shock from something in his mind. He was a little dazed, and his body began to feel cold. It was as if he was not standing on the bustling, sunlit streets of Shinjuku, but in an endless expanse of ice and snow. At that moment, he seemed to be jokingly telling the girl to be a useful guy, or he would abandon her.

He seemed to finally understand. During this time, Zero had always been left behind, almost "ignored," even though he never forgot to take her with him wherever he went. Yet, she seemed to have lost her place and purpose... She was always preoccupied with that vow and began to worry that she would be left behind...

The girl stood quietly in front of him, her sorrow, which had always been lingering, now seemed even more profound.

"Okay." Lu Mingfei is no longer the wretched kid who would worry about owing someone even a dollar; he has become more at ease.

He applied pressure with his wrist, touched the girl's chest with his palm, and whispered, "But don't go too far, don't waste too much money, or your friends will get angry."

The icy expression on Ling's face finally melted away, and she nodded lightly. This small recognition was a treasure to her.

But she wouldn't "go too far." The thought of herself always braving wind, rain, fire, and water, while someone who only munched on potato chips always stayed at home sleeping, made her feel that she should spend more!

As long as the money isn't spent directly on "finding women," it's fine.