Dragon Clan: Lu Mingfei Returns from Japan

Chapter 717 Arranged Marriage...and Seduction?

"origin?"

"Shanyan's teacher was Lin Fengnian, the grandson of Lin Zexu. He married his teacher's daughter, who was your great-grandmother. Lin Fengnian also had a daughter who married the eldest grandson of the Zhou family and later became the matriarch of the Zhou family. Of course, that matriarch has now passed away. Therefore, in a sense, the Lu family and the Zhou family still have some sister-in-law relationship. Although there is not much relationship by your generation, the Zhou family may still be willing to give you face."

Lu Mingfei blinked upon hearing this. He was surprised that he could be related to such a powerful ancient mixed-race family in China. So the Lu family was once a powerful clan? How come they had fallen to the status of ordinary people in his generation?
But that makes sense. His great-grandfather, Lu Shanyan, was an S-class hybrid. S-class hybrids in this world are probably rarer than pandas. You can't just find one on the street. They all come from well-established hybrid families with a long lineage.

“You are a direct participant in the ‘Eye of Kuimen’ mission, and you have a certain connection with the Zhou family. In addition, given the academy’s relationship with you, it would be most appropriate for you to represent the Zhou family and borrow Samson’s severed tail,” Angers said.

Lu Mingfei gave a soft "hmm".

Although he didn't know if his extremely distant relationship with the Zhou family could actually make any difference, he was willing to give it a try for Erii's sake.

"When?"

"Well, there's no rush for now. After all, the 'Nibelungen Project' hasn't been officially put on the agenda yet. Norma will let you know once everything is arranged. Try to resolve this matter while you're in your preparatory class and don't bring it into the academy."

"And the second thing?" Lu Mingfei nodded and then asked. The vice principal had just said there were two things he needed to do, and borrowing Samson's severed tail from the Zhou family was clearly only the first thing.

The vice-principal replied, "The second matter. Erii is probably not the only candidate for the 'Nibelungen Project.' Mixed-race individuals with excellent bloodlines and resumes may be considered for the 'Nibelungen Project' after the academy's evaluation. However, only one person will ultimately be selected for the 'Nibelungen Project.' The board of directors will decide who will be the final candidate for the 'Nibelungen Project.'"

Lu Mingfei was naturally aware of this matter as well. In his previous life, both Caesar and his stoic senior brother Chu Zihang had been candidates for the 'Nibelungen Project' and had even competed head-on for a spot in the project.

“That’s it,” Angers said. “So, what we need to consider is how to ensure that this spot ultimately goes to Erii.”

Hearing this, Lu Mingfei understood somewhat. Could it be that the second thing required him to campaign for votes?
Thinking of this, Lu Mingfei suddenly felt fortunate that he had met Charlotte in Portugal. Given his relationship with Charlotte, it shouldn't be difficult to get her to cast a vote of support for Erii.

And then there's Louis, who's practically my uncle, so I'm sure I can get his vote too.

With the principal seemingly holding one more vote, that makes a total of three votes. If they can secure just one more vote from the school board, they can guarantee that Erii will get the spot in the 'Nibelungen Project'.

However, Angers seemed to have read Lu Mingfei's mind and slowly spoke.

“The nomination of candidates for the Nibelungen Project is not a single-candidate election. It doesn’t mean that if you get more than half of the votes at the board meeting, you will get a spot in the Nibelungen Project. If Erii gets four board votes, but another candidate gets five, then the other person will be given priority over Erii.”

Angers continued, "So, if we want to ensure that Erii gets this spot, we must ensure that we get as much support as possible from the board of directors. Kassel College has seven board members, one of whom is clearly on my side; the other two are on my side."

"Only one board member is clearly on our side?" Lu Mingfei frowned.

He knew that the school board members standing against them were probably the Gattuso family. Considering the Gattuso family's interests, they would certainly spare no effort in recommending Caesar as the candidate for the 'Nibelungen Project'. That's what they did in his past life.

But Louis and Charlotte, is there anyone who wouldn't stand by their side?

Angers said:
“The Valentine and Gottingen families have always been neutral on the board of directors. Louise and Charlotte will certainly vote for Erii, but for the sake of their family interests, they may not refuse to vote for other candidates as well.”

"Therefore, we also need to win over the remaining school board member. If we can get her vote, Erii will be invincible. When there are more than two candidates with the highest number of votes, the voting process will be restarted to select a single winner from the two candidates."

Lu Mingfei said:

"In other words, if we want Erii to be successfully selected for the 'Nibelungen Project,' we need to ensure that we consistently receive five votes in every round of voting?"

Ang Respond nodded and said:

"Yes. The last neutral board member is Elizabeth Laurent, the current head of the Laurent family, who is only a few years older than you, Mingfei. The Laurent family is also one of the wealthiest mixed-race families in Europe, and its influence in the Secret Service is second only to the Gattuso family."

“I actually have a good personal relationship with her. Logically speaking, we shouldn’t have to worry about her vote. But I’ve recently heard some rumors that a school board family that’s on the opposite side of us is planning to form a marriage alliance with the Laurent family. Their heir is very outstanding and about the same age as Elizabeth Laurent.”

"Marriage alliances are not uncommon among mixed-race families. If there's any indication that our two families are going to form a marriage alliance, then we'll be at a disadvantage in this matter... That's the second thing I need you to do, Mingfei."

Lu Mingfei had been listening attentively to the principal's words.

As I listened, I couldn't help but frown and freeze in shock.

Why did he feel that... there was something strange about what Angers was saying? Headmaster, is there something you haven't finished saying? What do you mean by the second thing I need to do?

I wonder if the outstanding heir of the rival family that the principal mentioned is Caesar. It's just that the two families are going to form a powerful alliance, which is like rain in a foreign country or someone else's daughter getting married. You can't stop it, and it doesn't really concern you.

But judging from the principal's tone... it was as if he was being asked to intervene between the two of them, to seduce the complete stranger, Miss Elizabeth, and to stop this century-long marriage between two mixed-race families.

Just as his thoughts turned to this, Lu Mingfei heard the vice principal laugh: "It just so happens that this Miss Elizabeth seems to be quite interested in you. A few days ago, she took the initiative to approach Angers and asked if she could have an afternoon tea with you. She's very curious about you, the S-class student that Kassel College has admitted again after decades."

“…” Lu Mingfei’s heart skipped a beat.

They're actually sending him to seduce that school board member? That doesn't seem right!
Not to mention that he is now a married man, and not just one; although he was a gigolo, Miss Elizabeth didn't sound like a lovesick fool. After all, she was a young girl who could hold power in a family, and her mind must be very deep. In addition, people from large families value profit the most.

Okay, okay, let's disregard all the above conditions. That Miss Elizabeth is a lovesick, infatuated girl with a very simple and straightforward mind, and she doesn't care about family interests... but what can he possibly do in the time it takes to drink an afternoon tea?
The vice principal grinned mischievously: "The Laurent family is not only one of the largest syndicates in Europe, and tycoons in the mining and finance industries; they are also famous among mixed-race people for producing beautiful offspring. Miss Elizabeth is an absolute beauty, Mingfei, you'd better seize this opportunity."

What a load of rubbish! My Miaomiao's family is one of the biggest financial syndicates in our area; Xiaotian's family is one of the biggest mining tycoons in our area. His two girlfriends' families are enough for him to live off them for the rest of his life, he doesn't care about that damn European syndicate, okay? He'd be more interested in Ultraman Tiga. Let whoever wants to go on this mission go!
How about I recommend someone to the two principals? He was one of your school's most outstanding students in the past. Fingel von Frings! A former rising star of your school, his A-grade lineage is absolutely excellent. He would certainly be happy to undertake this arduous task!

Lu Mingfei, loyal to his girlfriends and indignant, was about to refuse Angers's offer in defiance of the powerful.

Angers, however, pushed up his tortoiseshell glasses and spoke first:
"Mingfei, you don't want to see Erii... fail to be selected for the Nibelungen Project, do you?"

"..."

Killer.

Who knows if it's because Angers recently returned from negotiations in Japan, but he still speaks with some of the linguistic habits of Japanese netizens. However, his method of using leverage to force compliance is remarkably similar to that of Japanese netizens.

Seeing Lu Mingfei sitting silently on the stool, the vice principal stood up and said, "Since Mingfei hasn't refused, then this matter is settled. The second thing should come sooner than the last. Angers and I will help you choose an auspicious day for afternoon tea with Elizabeth."

...Could you please stop talking like it's a wedding? Auspicious day...

And so these two things were decided hastily. Mainly because Lu Mingfei had no room to refuse, since it was all for Erii... Even if he had to sacrifice his looks to return to his host profession, he had no choice but to do it.

However, Lu Mingfei still felt that Principal Angers and Vice Principal's ideas were a bit far-fetched.

Although he wasn't from a prominent family, he knew that within such families, marriage wasn't simply a matter of mutual affection. Interfamilial marriages often involved numerous vested interests. The essence of such marriages was an exchange of benefits.

Generally, news of a marriage alliance is only released to the public after all the preliminary interests have been agreed upon and both parties have agreed to such an exchange of benefits. In other words, when Angers heard that Elizabeth might be going to marry him, both sides had probably already made a decision.

Do you expect him to change anything in the time it takes to have afternoon tea? Please, this isn't some mindless romantic comedy from a light novel where a few words can make the heroine's parents look at you with new eyes and change their minds.

Although he did indeed come back from the light novel world...

He followed Angers out of the room. The vice-principal remained inside, probably because he was either unwilling or too lazy to show himself in front of everyone.

The two went up and down the spiral staircase, and Angers, without turning his head, asked, "Do you feel pressured?"

Lu Mingfei knew, of course, that the principal was asking about the two things he had just been told. He thought for a moment, then finally couldn't help but complain, "The first thing is fine, but the second thing..."

"Don't overthink it. Just treat it as a date with a pretty girl and relax. We don't need you to do much. We just want you to meet Lisa, chat casually, and make friends. You're both young, and it's always good for young people to have more friends. You'll both need friends someday."

"Oh……"

Lu Mingfei always felt that there was more to Angers' words than met the eye, that there was something else going on. But then he thought back, hadn't the principal always spoken in such a profound way? Like an ancient long poem, every sentence of which left a lasting impression.

After descending the stairs, there's a fork in the corridor ahead; it was here that they separated from the others. Walking back into the fork, they returned to the corridor leading to the living room.

Upon seeing Angers and Lu Mingfei appear in the corridor, Su Xiaoqiang's eyes flashed. Before Lu Mingfei even got close, she couldn't wait to ask:
"Mingfei, where did you go just now? You left without telling us, and we were worried about you for so long." Su Xiaoqiang asked, pouting slightly.

Lu Mingfei said, "There's nothing to worry about at home... It's impossible to get lost in a villa."

Angers smiled: "Mingfei wanted to use the restroom, but he didn't know where it was, so I took him there, which is why we're only just arriving now."

Although it took a bit too long to go to the toilet, after all, half an hour had passed from when Lu Mingfei and Angers suddenly disappeared until they returned to the living room.

However, this explanation was clearly only accepted reluctantly by Lu Mingfei's girlfriends.

Liu Miaomiao, who was originally sitting next to Su Xiaoqiang, naturally moved to the side, making room for Lu Mingfei in the middle.

Lu Mingfei sat down next to the two girls. Liu Miaomiao stared at Lu Mingfei with her almond-shaped eyes and instructed, "Next time, no matter where you're going, you have to tell us in advance, okay? Even if it's just to go to the bathroom."

"Understood." Lu Mingfei nodded in response to his girlfriend's instructions, earnestly replying, "I promise it won't happen again."

That's what he said, but Lu Mingfei was thinking helplessly: Should I tell Miaomiao when I go to have afternoon tea with Miss Elizabeth?

……

(End of this chapter)