Lu Mingfei: What? They're all real!

The person who came to Lu Mingfei's table was Chen Wenwen, a rare guest, but not so rare as to be completely uncommon. Lu Mingfei had always felt that she was special to him. Apart from Zhao Menghua, he was the only boy who had been personally invited by Chen Wenwen to join the literary society.

It was precisely because of those meager availability that Lu Mingfei, like a puppy craving a bone, always followed Chen Wenwen around.

Of course, perhaps Brother Meng Hua thinks the same way, which is why he always treats Lu Mingfei as a threat and tries to provoke him whenever he has a chance... Lu Mingfei is actually aware of all this, but he is often unwilling to admit reality. Reality is not good enough, and if he doesn't admit it, at least he won't get hurt.

However, most of the time, Chen Wenwen rarely chats with Lu Mingfei. Even if he initiates a conversation, it won't last more than three sentences. She always replies briefly and then quickly ends the conversation. She might reply to something he says, but it's rare for her to take the initiative to show concern like this.

"Fortunately."

Lu Mingfei's head was still turned towards the window; he wasn't in the mood to chat with the girl.

"Oh."

Chen Wenwen responded but didn't make a sound afterward. However, she didn't leave. She just waved her hand to ask the guy in front of Lu Mingfei to give up his seat, as if she wanted to say a few more words.

The scene suddenly became somewhat bizarre, with the two people's positions inexplicably reversed. Lu Mingfei, who used to chase after her wanting to chat, didn't even turn his head, while Chen Wenwen was incredibly enthusiastic.

"It was so high, were you hurt after falling?" She seemed very worried about Lu Mingfei's health, and asked repeatedly, "Are your legs okay? Some fractures seem to take a while to show, shouldn't you go to the hospital to get them checked out?"

"It's nothing. I ran several kilometers yesterday. I can't run if I have leg problems."

Lu Mingfei was indeed answering the girl's question, but his attitude was somewhat unpredictable. He spoke in the same tone as he did when talking to other classmates, as if he no longer had any special attitude towards Chen Wenwen.

"Oh."

The girl responded again, shrinking her head, looking somewhat bewildered by Lu Mingfei's calm attitude towards her.

But she still didn't give up on saying anything more. She chatted casually, mostly asking about Lu Mingfei's health, and occasionally complaining that Zhao Menghua had gone too far. It wasn't until just before class was about to start that she finally revealed her true colors.

"Mingfei, do you know that girl from earlier?" She poked her head out, as if she were very curious about it, but she tried her best to make her tone sound casual. "She's quite pretty. Is there something she needs from you?"

Lu Mingfei felt that he might be a little wicked. He couldn't help but guess that Chen Wenwen probably came to chat with him because of this. Maybe she realized that the loser she always ignored was being actively sought out by such a radiant girl because this loser had some hidden merits that she didn't want to miss.

But he knew that Jormungandr wasn't looking for him because of any of his features. Judging from the fact that she had run away twice as if fleeing, she seemed to be just afraid of being called "Jormungandr".

"It's nothing, she just wanted to talk to me, nothing serious." He didn't want to tell Chen Wenwen too much about his own affairs, so he shrugged and replied with a hint of distance.

"Oh."

The girl responded many times today. She responded again, but she didn't seem disappointed at all. It was as if she wanted to continue chatting with Lu Mingfei. However, she was then dragged away by the ringing school bell.

"But you rejected her, right?"

Before leaving, she blinked expectantly, but before Lu Mingfei could answer, she smiled and ran off quickly, her white dress billowing in the wind.

Chapter 13 A red-haired girl came to ask you about you.

Lu Mingfei's life underwent a dramatic change. Before he could even react, he suddenly became the person he had always wanted to be.

His classmates began to look at him with envy; he was no longer the loser who hid in the corner and was only mentioned when he wanted to find someone to make fun of; even Chen Wenwen, whom he had waited for for nine hours a few days ago and only managed to exchange three sentences and seven words with in the end, would now take the initiative to talk to him.

Wow, you're like a celebrity now! You should be grinning from ear to ear, right?

Lu Mingfei tried to convince himself to be happier, at least to smile when faced with the attention he usually craved. But in the end, he couldn't muster any energy and felt very bored.

What's even more boring is that these guys who surrounded him interrupted his original thoughts. Their chattering made it difficult for Lu Mingfei to calm down and think.

"Brother Lu, Brother Lu."

People called him by names they had never uttered before, and rushed enthusiastically to him. There were more than one people. Lu Ming's usually empty seat was strangely crowded with people today, just like Zhao Menghua's usual treatment.

But Lu Mingfei didn't want to become the second Zhao Menghua, otherwise he would become the third Chu Zihang. Although he still didn't think that Xiao Lu was some kind of awesome character, he still wanted to be himself... Lu Mingfei is Lu Mingfei, a name given to him by his parents. He can't be the second or the third of someone else, and that's very important to him.

But he couldn't resist his own little vanity. Although he felt bored from the bottom of his heart, he didn't try to drive the crowd away, and a smile that he couldn't shake off lingered on his lips.

The students chattered about trivial matters, but mainly inquired about the girls.

Lu Mingfei himself didn't know how to answer such a question. He didn't know why Jormungandr had come to find him, nor could he explain why Chen Wenwen had taken the initiative to come to him today. As for Su Xiaoqiang, he did know why she was willing to stand up for him yesterday afternoon, but he couldn't just open his mouth and tell everyone that she suspected he had gone mad...

He maintained a forced smile, praying that he could have some quiet time alone.

"But Brother Lu, I actually discovered this a few days ago." A said something cryptic. "A few days ago, a girl secretly inquired about you, and that's when I realized you're really hiding your true abilities. So, can you teach me some real skills?"

Lu Mingfei now realized what kind of life Zhao Menghua usually led; it was like a king and his many jesters playing around in the palace.

But my friend, how did you manage to say such shameless compliments so easily in front of so many people?

"What girl?" But when it came to curiosity, Lu Mingfei was more concerned about who would inquire about him, especially since it happened just a few days ago.

If there was anything he did a few days ago that warranted being tracked down, it was that he failed to hide his IP address when he was hurling insults online, which led to him being found offline...

If that's the case, he'll never talk nonsense online again.

"Well... she's very pretty." The man was at a loss for words, gesturing wildly as if trying to draw the girl's appearance. After a long while, he finally managed to utter a few words: "By the way! She has very bright red hair, but she was wearing a hat, so I couldn't see clearly whether it was dyed or not."

Lu Mingfei's weariness was instantly dispelled by the strong wind.

"Redhead?" He darted forward, grabbed Brother A's shoulder and shook him repeatedly, confirming the information. "Are you sure it really is Redhead?"

"Yes, you read that right."

What did she say to you?

As Lu Mingfei asked this question, the flame in his heart was inexplicably extinguished. He suddenly thought that if it were the cute yet pitiful girl in his memory, she probably wouldn't open her mouth to speak.

"Well... he was asking me about you..." A guy chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head as if reflecting on his actions, then waved away the other curious students and whispered in Lu Mingfei's ear, "He asked me how you usually behave, what you care about, and well, everyone knows you like Chen Wenwen, so I told her..."

Then he saw Lu Mingfei's face, colder than ice, and a chill instantly ran through him. He knew something was wrong, so he shrank back two steps and quickly disappeared into the crowd. The others were confused, but no one wanted to make a fool of themselves, so they also dispersed.

Lu Mingfei quietly retreated to his seat. Although he was no longer the king surrounded by court jesters, he at least had the leisurely space and time to think about things.

He didn't hear what he wanted to hear, which inevitably made him feel a little frustrated, but he felt he should still be happier. This girl sounded like the girl in his memory who was even more pitiful—according to Su Xiaoqiang, she was the one who was often confused with the diva, "Freya," whose purpose in being born was only to pave the way for others.

But what puzzled him more was why a girl like this would ask him about him, especially since she happened to be in this city.

This is indeed too much of a coincidence.

But what a coincidence!

The sun was just peeking out from the clouds, and Lu Mingfei felt the dawn shining on him. At least he wasn't a headless fly anymore. Maybe this red-haired girl who looked just like him would know where the person he was looking for was!

He grinned foolishly, organizing his phone and emails, completely unaware of the girl who had come to stand beside him.

"Are you alright? Your phone is great, and the girl who gave it to you was really high-end. I never thought you'd end up like this. It seems even the best people can be blind sometimes."

Su Xiaoqiang's tone was icy cold today, with a hint of hostility. Her old self had returned. Lu Mingfei thought that she probably realized he wasn't mentally unstable and hadn't died from jumping off the building, so she suppressed her fleeting pity.

However, instead of verbally attacking the annoying guy or turning away after saying goodbye, she was drawn to something and, as if they were old friends, picked up the envelope on his desk to examine it.

"You got invited too?" She poked Lu Mingfei's back. "That's great! Are you going for an interview?"

"I don't really want to go," Lu Mingfei confessed honestly. "It doesn't seem very interesting. It sounds like a low-quality school, not a good thing... Wait, what does 'also' mean? Are you going too?"

"Didn't anyone tell you that a lot of people were invited?"

Su Xiaoqiang's finger swept across the classroom, calling out one name after another. Lu Mingfei had never expected so many people to accept the invitation, and his earlier doubts about "what connection this school has with Jormungandr" vanished. He felt his enthusiasm waning, and he couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the spot Su Xiaoqiang was pointing to.

It was just a coincidence that Su Xiaoqiang's finger landed on Chen Wenwen, who was frowning and looking in his direction, and coincidentally, his sigh seemed to be directed at Chen Wenwen as well.

The girl didn't seem to understand what he meant, but as Lu Mingfei sighed, her brows furrowed even deeper. After gazing at him for a long time, she sat down, pursed her lips, and turned her head sharply to the other side, as if she were sulking with someone.

Zhao Menghua, who was not far away, also witnessed everything from the shadows. He was panting heavily, becoming increasingly agitated.

But the culprit still has empty eyes, agonizing over whether to waste time on this interview, completely oblivious to all the changes around him.

Chapter 14: Just looking around doesn't count as cheating.

Lu Mingfei arrived at the interview on time, though he didn't have high hopes. He was worried, though.

If it just so happens that the person he's looking for is in that very place—but he misses them, resulting in him taking many years of detours until he finally realizes that they were actually very close—he would be so angry he'd vomit blood.

Anyway, I'm not a very busy person, so trying my luck everywhere is the right way to go.

But he still didn't have much hope. Lu Mingfei had never experienced anything related to the word "luck" in his life. After the initial excitement wore off, he gradually calmed down.

He still believed he was the god who sat high in the heavens in his memory, but he would never tell anyone these thoughts now. In the past two days, he felt that Su Xiaoqiang, who had heard these words, would look at him with a disdainful smirk, as if he were mocking him.

Actually, he himself felt a little embarrassed. After all, it was really childish of him to keep kicking Lu Mingze out of the room and then try to unlock all sorts of superpowers like a child. What was even more embarrassing was that he got no results. Maybe he was stronger now, but he didn't have that kind of cool, high-flying ability that made him look cool.

As a result, he hasn't turned on his computer for several days.

Honestly, if he hadn't witnessed those extraordinary things with his own eyes that day, he would probably be doubting himself by now. He mostly believed what he remembered—he was convinced that power was not a good thing, associated with sacrifice and loss, and could never be something cool or desirable.

Perhaps it's a good thing to have no power!

Lu Mingfei pouted and muttered like Ah Q, his hands in his pockets, as he slowly entered the hall. Although he had already labeled the Kassel group as "unreliable" in his mind, just looking at the interview location they chose, one had to admit that they had some resources, probably some money, and good taste. The Regent Hotel they chose was the most luxurious hotel in the city.

My uncle always comes here to drink tea, acting like a rich old man whose family has been wealthy for centuries.

He'd only heard about it; this was his first time inside. Although Lu Mingfei had repeatedly lamented how good it was to be rich, seeing it with his own eyes still made him unable to control the stream of profanities that welled up inside him—

It's fucking good to be rich! The waitresses are all beautiful women, their high heels clicking on the floor. Lu Mingfei used to "just happen to pass by" the CBD and then "just happen to" catch a brief but eager glimpse of these urban beauties.

For the sake of the pretty lady who greeted him, he decided to temporarily refrain from mentally vilifying the organization as a complete fraud.

Lu Mingfei used to have a problem with being shy in front of beautiful women, and he would even stutter when he spoke. He once thought that this was his true nature, and that he might have to live with this problem for the rest of his life. He even wondered how he would face Chen Wenwen if he were lucky enough to win her over. Even if she became his girlfriend, he would definitely not be able to be confident and open in front of her.

Does he have to be nervous even when facing his own wife?

That was a major problem in Lu Mingfei's life, but now that problem has disappeared without a trace. His desire to be with Chen Wenwen has also disappeared. There is no hatred, nor has he solemnly declared it in his heart. It just no longer stirs up any ripples.

But it seems that the principle of "rejecting those who come and letting those who leave" applies not only to electromagnetism but also to interpersonal relationships. His wish disappeared, but the girl's wish seemed to slowly rekindle.

"Mingfei, over here!"

Chen Wenwen, dressed in a white dress, waved to him. She was sitting in the seat closest to the door, with an empty chair next to her and a different distance from the other seats. Lu Mingfei had reason to believe that the staff of this top-tier luxury hotel wouldn't be so unprofessional. He guessed that Chen Wenwen might have pulled up the chair herself.

She usually dressed casually, but today she had carefully coordinated her outfit. It was hard to say whether it was because of the important occasion or something else, but her white lace-trimmed stockings under her dark skirt still caught Lu Mingfei's eye...

He felt that he was still as superficial as ever.

This is not good... Strictly speaking, it's considered infidelity...

Lu Mingfei put on a serious face, averted his gaze, and quickly sat down on the stool. He actually wanted to avoid Chen Wenwen today, but it seemed that he was the only one who didn't care at all. Although he arrived on time, there was only this one empty seat left.

Zhao Menghua sat on the other side of Chen Wenwen, dressed formally. His suit was clearly custom-made, unlike the ready-made suits that Lu Mingfei would only dream of, the kind only insurance salesmen would wear. However, Zhao looked somewhat melancholy today, his eyes fixed straight ahead, not looking anywhere else, perhaps because he was very concerned about this interview.

Lu Mingfei surveyed the examination hall. There were a fair number of people, about a dozen. He began to mentally assess the situation. Some of them were students from his school; he didn't recognize them, but their faces were somewhat familiar. Lu Mingfei figured he could probably rule out the possibility that this school was a scam organization. Even if it were, it wouldn't be targeting him.

Lu Mingfei didn't recognize the people a little further on; they seemed to be students from other schools. Su Xiaoqiang and Liu Miaomiao were hiding behind Chen Wenwen, dressed formally and with serious expressions. However, he was somewhat curious; he had thought Su Xiaoqiang would sit next to Zhao Menghua...

However, considering that Su Xiaoqiang had given Zhao Menghua a severe dressing-down because of his previous actions, Lu Mingfei felt that this was normal.

What a sin...

He silently chanted to himself, but his eyebrows were practically drooping with joy. Lu Mingfei admitted that he was a petty person, and he was happy to see Zhao Menghua in trouble.

"Ha~"

He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Lu Mingfei, keep your voice down. The examiners are inside right now. Be careful it doesn't affect your impression score." Chen Wenwen pointed to the conference room inside with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, reminding him as if she were blowing on him.

"It's okay, I definitely won't get the job anyway." Lu Mingfei shrugged, not caring at all.

He wanted to say that he actually came here to see if the academy suited his tastes, but that would be too arrogant. Besides, he no longer had the desire to confide everything to Chen Wenwen, so it was better to remain silent.

But the boy's silence always seemed to be associated with frustration; he hung his head, looking more like he was somewhat lost.

So Chen Wenwen, who is usually gentle but never shows her gentleness to Lu Mingfei, now gently comforts the insecure Lu Mingfei. She lowers her voice and whispers to him to be more confident, saying that his English grades are so good, and that interviews are his forte.

Lu Mingfei immediately followed up with a round of mutual flattery, praising Chen Wenwen's spoken English as definitely better, a perfect Oxford accent, which was at least ten times better than his own thick Northeastern accent.

The girl was amused and smiled a few times. Before, she seemed to have never smiled at Lu Mingfei, always maintaining a calm and elegant demeanor. But now she smiled awkwardly, covering her mouth to hide her face, while tilting her head and blinking repeatedly. Even her body seemed to be closer to him.

Lu Mingfei seemed to have moved a little further away from her, but then again, she didn't. Chen Wenwen wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt a little anxious and wanted to say something more.

But her attempt to say something more was interrupted when the conference room door was pushed open, and a young man walked out, introducing himself as "Ye Sheng." He then got to the point, mentioning Liu Miaomiao's name.

Chapter 15 Isn't that the World Tree?

Liu Miaomiao was a confident girl. Her fingers never trembled when she played the piano in front of thousands of students, but now she was completely flustered. She stood up as if she had been launched into the air, and her voice trembled slightly.

All of this can be attributed to the man who came out of the conference room, whose aura was simply too powerful.

He was wearing a dark green suit, which at first glance looked like some kind of standard uniform, with silver trim on the collar and a badge on his chest—presumably the badge of their school.

This outfit was so exquisite and gorgeous that it overshadowed everyone else present with its sheer presence. Zhao Menghua's custom-made high-end suit looked like an extra selling insurance compared to this uniform. The other well-dressed beauties and handsome men were no better off. In fact, only Lu Mingfei, dressed casually, avoided direct comparison and appeared more composed.

But Lu Mingfei's expression was more serious than the others.

World Tree.