Dragon Clan: Lu Mingfei Returns from Japan

Chapter 683 Transfer Order... and the Impending Separation (Added Words! Major Revisions!)

Summer is the most transparent season in the city. The glass is clear and the sky is so clear that there is not a single blank space in the sky. The pure blue is like the entire ocean reflected in the sky.

"Two ice cream cones!" Su Enxi said.

"It costs four yuan and fifty cents in total."

The McDonald's female clerk in her red uniform smiled politely and said, "One ice cream cone is three dollars, but the second one is half price."

Su Enxi took out a coin and placed it on the cashier's counter at the dessert station with a "clatter," took the ice cream, left the line, slurped one up herself, walked to the bench next to her, and handed the other one to Jiu De Mai.

Mai took the ice cream: "Did you eat too many sweets today? You had two croissants and a cup of milk coffee this morning, and now you're eating ice cream. Last night after you took a shower and weighed yourself and found out you'd gained weight, didn't you still swear you'd control your sugar intake?"

Why bring up something you don't want to talk about?

Su Enxi looked dejected as she sat down next to Jiu De Mai, crossing her legs. "It's okay. I spent the whole morning shopping, and the calories I burned definitely offset the calories from the ice cream and croissants. Besides, how could I possibly resist buying a cone when I passed by a McDonald's dessert station? Long legs, haven't you heard the saying, 'Summer and ice cream go hand in hand'?"

“Never heard of it. Is it a famous saying you made up yourself?” Mai Shude replied.

Su Enxi chuckled: "Long legs, you really understand me."

Su Enxi wore a Korean-style white bubble top with a navy blue denim skirt and a pair of Ferragamo soft-soled white sneakers; Jiu De Mai wore a gray knitted short-sleeved top with a flowing suit trousers, going all out in a cool gray tone.

The two sat on a bench by the roadside, slurping McDonald's ice cream cones, looking like two female college students who had just finished shopping on the weekend. This attracted the attention of passersby, who couldn't help but turn around and stare, but the two ignored them.

"Did you know that Aki went home with Lu Mingfei today?" Su Enxi asked after finishing her ice cream, leaving only the cone. Subconsciously, she had already assumed that Su Xiaoqiang's house was Lu Mingfei's house.

"I know." Mai Shude slurped her ice cream and said calmly, "I even helped Aki choose the lip gloss she's wearing today. It's pink and matches her skin tone perfectly, and it even has a fruity scent."

"Huh? Didn't you used to really want to stop Aki from getting close to Lu Mingfei? How come you're even helping her choose lip glosses now?"

"What can we do? It's going to rain, and my sister is going to get married. If I could control it, I would definitely keep Aki far away from Lu Mingfei. But no matter how much I get annoyed by that guy, who Aki likes or dislikes is not something I can decide. Since Aki has made her decision, I will not stop her anymore."

Su Enxi stared at her best friend's profile, her beautiful eyes blinking secretly, thinking to herself, "Your tone right now sounds a bit like an old mother whose daughter is about to get married."

"Speaking of which," Su Enxi said, taking a bite out of her ice cream cone, "Mai, why do you hate Lu Mingfei so much? You always seem angry when he's mentioned."

"Why?" Mai paused, her long sideburns tilting to the side as she shook her head. "I don't know. Do I need a reason? There's always that one person who makes you feel uncomfortable just by looking at them, right? Haven't you ever met someone like that, Potato Chip Girl?"

"No. But I did discover something."

"what's up?"

"It's every time Mai gets angry with Lu Mingfei."

Su Enxi crossed her legs and said, "It's always when you mention or see Lu Mingfei with other girls. It seems that when you and Ma Yi are alone with Lu Mingfei, you don't dislike him that much, right? Before, when the boss assigned one of us to be Lu Mingfei's secretary, it was you who volunteered. Even though I have more experience as a secretary."

After all, if Mai truly disliked Lu Mingfei, how could she possibly be alone with him? Not to mention that every time they were alone, they would inexplicably end up hugging and kissing. This left Mai, who was watching from afar with binoculars, completely dumbfounded. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the two of them had some kind of relationship!

Mai Shude was also stunned by what she heard, because she realized that she couldn't find a way to refute Potato Chip's words...

"That's just because you can't disguise yourself, Potato Chips." Mai Shude thought of a way to explain. "Lu Mingfei has seen you before. If you went to be his secretary directly, Potato Chips, you would definitely be exposed. To avoid some unnecessary trouble, that's why I said I was going to be that guy's secretary."

This explanation makes sense, but for some reason, the cold and aloof aura emanating from Mai Shude gradually weakened, and even her voice became a little softer, making her explanation sound somewhat unconvincing.

"So that's the reason?" Su Enxi blinked.

"Of course that's the reason, what else could it be?"

"It's nothing. I was just wondering if Mai, you actually like Lu Mingfei."

What seemed like a half-joking remark was actually a cover for Su Enxi's eyes as she secretly glanced at Jiu De Mai, observing her best friend's reaction.

It wasn't until Mai Shude exclaimed "...Huh?" that her alluring face contorted with rage, veins bulging on her forehead.

Su Enxi finally felt relieved and withdrew her observing gaze.

"How could I possibly like that guy?" Mai Shude looked utterly bewildered and furious.

Su Enxi immediately covered her slightly chubby, adorable cheeks, but the expected scene of Mai pinching her cheeks in anger didn't happen. Had Mai changed her ways today?

Su Enxi, however, did not get carried away by this. Instead, she quickly slid down to apologize to Jiude Mai: "Just kidding, just kidding, Mai, don't be angry! I'll treat you to lunch today. Michelin or Black Pearl, it's up to you! Omakase is fine too."

Su Enxi paused for a moment, then continued, "I was worried about how to bring this up, but since you don't like Lu Mingfei, it's easy to talk about. Your transfer order has been issued; the boss sent me an email this morning."

"A transfer order?" Mai Shude looked puzzled.

"Didn't you say before that you couldn't stand it anymore? You said that you got annoyed every time you saw Lu Mingfei and couldn't carry out the task of monitoring Lu Mingfei anymore. You even took the initiative to write a transfer application to the boss, saying that you wanted to switch positions with the girl with no job, no connections, and no connections. That way, you'd be happy and she'd be happy too, and everyone would be happy."

As Su Enxi spoke, she took out her phone, opened the email app, and handed the phone screen to Jiu De Mai.

"Your transfer order has been approved. Tomorrow you can take over the work of Sanwu, secretly following Aki's team to investigate the historical events of the 'Tunguska event.' There are very few direct records about the 'Tunguska event.' However, the Gypsies have always had the habit of passing down important events orally. To understand the truth about the 'Tunguska event,' the Gypsy tribe that has been wandering on the Siberian Plateau is probably one of the few entry points. This is also what Aki and Professor Guderian have been doing. However, the conditions are a bit harsh, after all, it's on the tundra, Mai, you'll need to bring several thick clothes..."

Su Enxi paused mid-sentence: "Huh, Mai, why aren't you saying anything?"

Why are you not saying anything? Mai Shude couldn't quite explain the answer to that question.

It felt like the whole world had quieted down after hearing from Chip Girl that her transfer order had been approved and that she would soon be replacing Three-No Girl. Even the irritation she felt towards Lu Mingfei earlier suddenly disappeared.

It was strange; this was the first time she had ever had such a strange feeling.

……

It was dusk, and the setting sun burned the clouds intensely, even turning the sky into the color of night. Traffic on the road thickened. Another day had come to an end.

The taxi stopped at an intersection, and Lu Mingfei and Yaji got out together.

"We're not at the Regent Hotel yet, are we?" Aki asked Lu Mingfei. She wasn't very familiar with the city's roads, but she could tell that the surrounding buildings didn't look like they were near the Regent Hotel.

“It’s rush hour now, and we’ll get stuck in traffic if we go any further,” Lu Mingfei said. “We’re not far from the Regent Hotel, let’s walk the rest of the way back.” Aki was already quite familiar with her boyfriend’s personality and knew that Lu Mingfei getting off here definitely wasn’t because of the traffic jam. But she still tacitly refrained from pointing it out.

After all, she really wanted to spend more time with Lu Mingfei and walk a little further.

She reached into Lu Mingfei's palm; now, when she was with Lu Mingfei, she had gotten into the habit of actively seeking his hand.

The two held hands, just like any ordinary couple in the world, walking side by side on the road.

"Are you happy today?" Lu Mingfei asked Aki.

"Hmm..." Aki's eyes darted around mischievously: "What will you do, Akira, if I answer that I'm unhappy?"

"Eh, that shouldn't be the case, right?"

“It’s hard to say.”

“I don’t think you, Aki, would answer that you’re unhappy. You seem pretty happy today? I thought it would take you a while to get to know Qiangqiang and the others, but I didn’t expect that when I came back after I went out, you were calling them ‘Qiangqiang’ and ‘Wenwen’. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were best friends.”

"Then why are you asking me if I'm happy today?"

Aki pouted, "Besides, Qiangqiang and Miaomiao and I are already good friends. We were already very close back in Tokyo."

That being said, Aki was also somewhat surprised at how quickly she had gotten used to being with Gorilla and the others. She had been so nervous thinking about it last night that she almost couldn't sleep.

It was probably the initiative and generosity of Qiangqiang and the other girls that touched her and eased her nervousness. She discovered that she could actually get along with Qiangqiang and Miaomiao without any barriers at all.

Is it because girls who like Mingfei are compatible in other aspects as well?
As for Lu Mingfei, seeing that Aki could get along so harmoniously with Miaomiao and Qiangqiang, he naturally felt relieved. Nothing is more reassuring than a harmonious harem.

Aki held Lu Mingfei's hand, leaned against him, and slowly walked the last leg of their journey together today.

Then he suddenly stopped walking and let out a soft "Eh".

"Wait a minute..." Aki blinked blankly.

"You found out?" Lu Mingfei asked, noticing Aki's somewhat stunned expression.

Of course I noticed it. The scenery ahead looked strangely familiar.

Logically speaking, this should be an unfamiliar city for her, and there shouldn't be any familiar scenery in this unfamiliar city.

But the silhouettes of the buildings outlined by the setting sun in the distance were clearly familiar to her.

It was the neighborhood where Lu Mingfei used to live... and also the place where she first confessed her feelings to Lu Mingfei.

Lu Mingfei suddenly pulled Aki's hand and stood opposite her: "I thought you might not remember, but I didn't expect you to recognize me so quickly."

“…How could I forget?” Aki said, her head down, her hands swaying gently with the boy’s, as soft and leisurely as her voice.

After all, this place is very important to her... it's where her relationship with Lu Mingfei began. If she hadn't mustered up the courage that day, her relationship with Lu Mingfei might still be stuck in the stage of being more than a senior sister but less than lovers.

"Is this the trick you were plotting? Saying there was a traffic jam, then getting off the bus early..."

Aki looked up at Lu Mingfei and asked, the setting sun shining into her eyes, which were brimming with tears, "Was it just to bring me here?"

Lu Mingfei said with a smile, "Well... I'm going to the preparatory class soon, and I don't know if I'll have a chance to come back. So I'll take you, Aki, on this 'pilgrimage'."

“…So cunning.” Aki lowered her head, biting her lip to hide her misty eyes from Lu Mingfei.

She roughly understood why so many girls liked Lu Mingfei... his boyfriend-like qualities were simply too unfair.

As for Lu Mingfei, he had already noticed Aki's red eyes, but he didn't point it out. Instead, he held Aki's smooth and delicate little hand in his own and played with it: "When will the mission in Siberia end?"

"……do not know."

Aki shook her head, her hands lying obediently in Lu Mingfei's palm, letting him knead them. She should have answered the question with a smile, but her voice couldn't help but be heavy with nasal sounds, her delicate nose twitching slightly as she tried hard not to cry.

"Don't worry... I applied for the preparatory course internship program. Even if the project isn't finished, I'll still go back to school and then do my internship in the preparatory course."

Lu Mingfei said with a smile, "Then she won't be Senior Sister Aki anymore, she'll be Teacher Aki."

For some reason, the thought of Aki becoming his teacher stirred up some subtle emotions in Lu Mingfei's heart... as if the forbidden teacher-student relationship that he had always lacked had finally been filled.

"Pfft."

Even though parting was imminent, and even though her heart was still filled with a bittersweet feeling that made her want to cry, Aki couldn't help but burst into laughter through her tears after hearing Lu Mingfei's words.

She raised her face, her bright red eyes looking at Lu Mingfei, and pouted her cute little mouth, saying, "Then you'd better listen to your teacher from now on."

Lu Mingfei grinned mischievously and said nonchalantly, "Give me a kiss and I'll listen."

Before he could finish speaking, Aki had already tiptoed, wrapped her arms around Lu Mingfei's neck, and gently pressed her lips to his.

Moved by the scene, she couldn't help but kiss him even without Lu Mingfei saying so. Despite being a girl embodying the ideal of a Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman), she possessed a straightforward passion and courage in love.

Even Lu Mingfei was somewhat surprised by the sudden kiss on his lips. Was this the initiative from his older sister-type girlfriend?

But then he felt a warm liquid soaking his cheek.

Lu Mingfei didn't keep the girl waiting any longer. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, holding Aki tightly as if he wanted to embrace her as one with himself. He closed his eyes and gently and proactively guided her.

As the sun sets, the night curtain slowly falls between the faces of the young men and women, marking their farewell.

……

(End of this chapter)