Dragon Raja: Reboot

Chapter 93 The Love Story of Kassel (Part 1)

"By the way, I remember you used to brag about being a Casanova, right?"

Inside the cafeteria, Lu Mingfei looked up from his meal at Fingel.

Fingel put down the pig's trotter, casually grabbed a napkin from the table to wipe his hands, then swept his hair back with both hands, his eyes filled with affection.

"Junior brother, have you forgotten the freshman dance?"

"...Let's not talk about those embarrassing past events, okay? Dark histories should be erased from the root!"

"No, I just wanted to emphasize my 'King of Dance' side. Do you think an ordinary person could reach that level of dance skill without hundreds of hours of practice?"

Lu Mingfei recalled that day and had to admit that although Fen Gou was so unfortunate that he had to be his dance partner, his dancing skills were indeed first-rate, and he was a good dancer.

"Before I moved into the dorm, you were secretly practicing alone in the dorm?" Lu Mingfei muttered. "Then didn't I hinder your path to becoming a dance superstar?"

Fingel puffed out his beard and glared, emphasizing, "I practiced with a junior! A junior!"

"Senior, have you really dated a lot of female students?" Lu Mingfei's smile was intriguing.

"When..." Fingel suddenly became alert, and his words came to an abrupt halt.

He cautiously scrutinized his junior brother's smiling face, always feeling that a knife was hidden behind that smile.

In the past, he would have readily taken the lead and started boasting about his glorious love history. For example, he had many touching romances with female students back then, and each romance made him want to break free from the shackles of feudal ethics. The only regret was that there were no feudal ethics to bind him at all.

So what if you're bragging? Is bragging illegal? What's there to be afraid of if it's not illegal?

Anyway, Lu Mingfei couldn't possibly go and ask each of his former female classmates one by one. Besides, even if he did go and ask them...

That's true, but Fingel's intuition tells him that the current situation is: high risk!

Fingel cleared his throat, his gaze sincere, and said, "Junior brother, what's wrong? Having relationship troubles? Don't hesitate to ask; your senior brother will analyze it for you perfectly!"

"No, I'm just really curious about your past love life, senior brother." Lu Mingfei put down his knife and fork, his gaze sincere.

"My past love affairs, after all these late-night snacks, I'm not exaggerating... have I told you everything?" Fingel asked cautiously.

"I just want to ask, among all those girls who could easily form a group, have you ever truly loved anyone, senior?"

"That's a very insightful question! No rush, let me take some time to recall my past experiences with the female students, and then I'll give you the answer!"

"Alright, there's no rush," Lu Mingfei shrugged. "Let's discuss something else. Do you know an old Chinese saying?"

"You can easily come up with a few thousand Chinese proverbs, even if you don't have tens of thousands of them, right?" Fingel wiped his sweat, feeling that he had temporarily escaped a disaster, and said disdainfully.

"He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding," Lu Mingfei said seriously.

pat.

Fingel dropped the pig's trotter from his hand onto the plate.

Just as he was about to get up and run away, his junior brother, who was already on guard, leaned over the table, placed his hands on his shoulders, and shoved the snorting Fen dog back into its seat.

"Why are you running!"

"So that's why you were so generous in inviting me to dinner today, it turns out it was a trap!" Fingel grinned.

"Huh? This meal wasn't on me." Lu Mingfei said innocently, looking like he didn't know what he was talking about. "In the dorm, I said someone was treating us to dinner, and asked if we wanted to go. I didn't say I was treating you."

"What? If it's not you, then it must be Chu Zihang?" Fingel asked, dumbfounded.

"It's me! It's me!"

A slender, pale hand was raised, and a girl with an almost flawless face peeked out from behind Lu Mingfei. She stuck out her tongue and then smiled in a way that was adorable and charming.

Fingel fell silent.

Just like when Chu Lu first saw Xia Mi at the Chicago train station, he was filled with awe for beauty.

He had seen Xia Mi's photo in the internal communication group of the news department before; there was no information that the news department couldn't get at the Kassel school.

But photos and real people are two different things. After eight years of living in Kassel, Finger had seen all kinds of beautiful women, but this almost flawless girl was truly a first for him.

"Senior Brother Fingel, I've heard so much about you!" Xia Mi extended her hand. "I am Xia Mi!"

Fingel, with a deep gaze, shook her hand with composure.

Can humans really possess such a flawless appearance?

It feels like a meticulously crafted sculpture by an artist, where every inch of proportion has been calculated beforehand to achieve theoretical perfection.

This junior sister... is quite something.

Fingel released his grip and glanced at Lu Mingfei while Xia Mi sat down, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

Finn: [What are you doing?]

Lu: [You came of your own accord; I didn't force you.]

Finn: [Get lost! I'm asking you what you want!]

Lu: [Helped a single, lovestruck young woman successfully find her other half.]

Fen: [What? Why didn't you help me look for it?]

Lu: [Senior, let's be realistic. Who in the academy doesn't know the name of G-class Fen? Do you really think you can still find a partner in the academy?]

Fen: [Damn, you don't hit someone in the face!]

Lu: [You're so shameless, you just have to put your face right in front of me, there's nothing I can do about it!]

"Senior brothers, are your eyes twitching?"

Xia Mi looked curiously at the two guys whose eyes were blinking like they were typing Morse code.

The two burst into laughter, rubbed their eyes, and Lu Mingfei handed the untouched orange juice to Xia Mi, asking with concern, "Junior Sister, are you thirsty? Drink some orange juice."

Xia Mi picked up the orange juice, clenched her little fist, and gestured to him.

Lu Mingfei gave an OK sign, indicating that everything was going according to plan.

"Senior, let me briefly introduce you. This is Xia Mi, a freshman, and our next 'employer'." He rubbed his hands together and introduced her to Fingel.

"Hey, hey, hey! Wait a minute!" Fingel's scalp tingled, and he quickly waved his hand to interrupt, "What the hell is this 'boss'?"

"Huh? Is that too academic? In China, '东家' simply means 'boss'," Lu Mingfei said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Don't explain that to me, you idiot! I'm asking why she became our boss?!" Fingel glared.

Lu Mingfei's gaze slowly moved down, sweeping over the leftovers of Fingel's food, and he sighed, "Didn't I tell you? You're beholden to those who help you, senior brother. Remember this next time, not everyone will spoil you like I do."

Fingel stared in disbelief. "Just for this one meal, I sold myself?"

"That's the situation right now," said Lu Kassel's roommate, Mingfei, sympathetically.

"What the hell?!" Fingel roared. "You actually betrayed me with the help of outsiders!"

Lu Mingfei fell silent. Fingel's eyes lit up with joy, thinking that he had finally touched the last vestiges of his junior brother's conscience.

"Senior brother, you've got it wrong. Junior sister and I are family. You're just an accident." Lu Mingfei tried his best to be tactful.

Then, as if reading his mind, he grinned wickedly, "Besides, after living with you for a year, how could I possibly still have any conscience?"

Fingel was in despair.

What on earth did this bastard go through this summer?!

"Um...did this bother Senior Brother Fen?"

Xia Mi timidly raised her hand, her clear, watery eyes filled with apology and self-reproach. She suddenly stood up, bowed deeply, and said loudly,

"I'm so sorry! I only asked for your help because I heard from Senior Brother Lu that Senior Brother Fen is a very helpful person who likes to assist his juniors. I didn't expect to cause you any trouble, I'm really sorry!"

Lu Mingfei sighed, his expression filled with pity. He patted her small hand and said with a sigh:

"It's not your fault. It's all my fault for not explaining clearly. No, it's all my fault for misjudging people and mistaking one for another. Oh well, let's go find someone else."

Having said that, he pulled Xia Mi up, and without even looking at Fingel, turned to leave.

"sit down."

A deep male voice rang out.

"Who told you two to leave? Sit still, your senior brother Fen is going to give you a good lesson in relationships today!"

Fingel snorted, picked up the pig's trotter from the plate, and took a big bite.

Seeing this, Lu Mingfei was taken aback and asked, "Still eating?"

"Nonsense, we've already fallen for your trap, might as well take advantage of it!" Fingel rolled his eyes and mumbled, "Besides, with your terrible acting skills, you should save your breath."

Lu Mingfei and Xia Mi readily complied, sitting obediently opposite him with their hands on their knees like good children listening attentively.

"Junior sister, who are you planning to pursue? It's not Chu Zihang, is it?" Fingel raised an eyebrow.

"Mmm!" Xia Mi nodded obediently, looking incredibly cute.

"Tsk tsk, is having a blank expression so appealing these days? Has a sunny, cheerful guy like me already disappeared from the market?"

"She's like a childhood sweetheart sent from heaven, invincible from the moment she appears. What makes you think you can compare, senior brother?"

Fingel asked the two of them, "Let me ask you a question: what do you think is the first sign of love?"

"I know! The first sign of true love is that the boy is timid and the girl is bold!" Lu Mingfei patted his chest, his eyebrows dancing with excitement.

Fingel scoffed, "Tell me, who borrowed this from? You dare utter such words?"

"Lu...you've got the wrong story. It was Hugo who said it," Lu Mingfei shrugged. "Haven't you read Les Misérables?"

"Where is Junior Sister?" Senior Brother Fen asked kindly and gently, completely ignoring the fierce look on Lu Mingfei's face.

Xia Mi pressed a single finger against her cheek, lost in thought, before finally slamming her right hand into her left palm.

"I want to take him home!"

"Great! That's a very insightful summary!" Fingel exclaimed in praise. "Junior sister, you're very perceptive! It seems your senior brother must give you a hand so you can win the heart of your beauty!"

Lu Mingfei covered his face and said, "Please, have some shame..."

Xia Mi said earnestly, "Senior Brother Fen, I will try my best!"

"Very good!" Fingel looked at the spirited Xia Mi with satisfaction. "Then, your senior brother will guide you through the maze!"

He pushed aside the plate containing pig's trotters and bones, dipped his finger in the orange juice in his glass, and drew a line on the long table.

"As the saying goes, 'It's like climbing a mountain for a man to pursue a woman, but piercing a thin veil for a woman to pursue a man.' Junior sister, you have a natural advantage!"

Senior Brother Fen began his tireless explanation with great enthusiasm.

"Generally speaking, liking someone, whether it's lust at first sight, attraction to their wealth, or even a nobler love for their soul or admiration for their excellent qualities... it's all categorized as 'a turtle eyeing a green bean' (meaning two birds with one stone are attracted to each other)!"

"And to conquer a woman... oh, our target is a man, that's even simpler. Don't let Chu Zihang's expressionless face fool you. Based on my observations and experience, this guy is definitely all bark and no bite, the kind who's cold on the outside but warm on the inside."

"I support him!" Xia Mi raised her hand high. "Senior Brother Chu is actually super sweet!"

Fingel coughed a few times, his teeth aching, and said, "Junior sister, don't interrupt. Listen to my analysis."

"Okay!" Xia Mi obediently lowered her hand.

"To win over this kind of man, you have to take it step by step, without being impatient. Start with small things and let him gradually get used to having you in his life. For example, bring him homemade breakfast every day. By the way, does anyone know what Chu Zihang's favorite food is?"

Xia Mi pondered, "When he was at my house before, he drank the white fungus soup I cooked and gave it a good review."

"...What's going on?" Fingel's eyes widened, and he stammered, "We're not even together yet, and he's already at your house drinking white fungus soup?"

Lu Mingfei leaned back in his chair and said lazily, "I already told you, when someone suddenly becomes your childhood sweetheart, there's no reason for you to lose."

Fingel and Xia Mi stared at each other, and the former was the first to give in, raising his hands in surrender, saying, "Alright, alright, that makes it even simpler. Your advantage is too obvious. As long as we play steadily and take it slow, we'll definitely win!"

Xia Mi said seriously, "Senior Brother Fen, is there any other way besides delivering breakfast? It feels like the progress is too slow!"

Fingel scratched his head, thought for a moment and said, "Yes, to improve relationships, it's all about spending more time together. There's a masked welcome party after the semester starts, and many senior students will be attending. Chu Zihang... it's okay, I'll have my junior brother go and recruit people."

"A ball? I know that all! I'm a great ballerina!" Xia Mi's eyes sparkled.

"Junior sister can dance? You're so talented." Fingel's teeth ached even more. "But the welcome ball isn't ballet. Kassel College is a German-style college, and we have top-notch court dance teachers. But since you have a dance background, you'll definitely be fine. Just find a senior to guide you."

"Uh-huh!"

"Oh right, Freedom Day is starting soon this year." Fingel remembered something. "As the president of the Lionheart Society, Chu Zihang will definitely participate in Freedom Day. Junior sister, have you joined any clubs yet?"

No.

"Then I suggest you don't join the Lionheart Society."

Why?

"Although it's said that it's easy for a woman to pursue a man, it's still important to maintain some distance. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and sometimes being too close isn't necessarily a good thing."

"Got it!"

"Don't worry, your senior brother won't take this meal for nothing. I'll definitely arrange everything perfectly so you can win over your Senior Brother Chu as soon as possible!"

Fingel patted his chest and guaranteed it.

Xia Mi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she muttered a few words softly.

"Next, let's give this operation a catchy name. I suggest 'The Kassel Love Story'!"

Fingel applauded enthusiastically.

"I am unworthy to serve as the chief person in charge and director of this operation."

Lu Mingfei propped his cheek up with one hand, squinting and smiling as he looked at the two people having a heated discussion.

The sunlight near dusk was wonderful, streaming through the skylight above the restaurant and giving it a warm, wintery feel.

Lu Mingfei looked up and saw that the ceiling painting above the restaurant was still magnificent, depicting "Twilight of the Gods".

Nidhogg, representing the end of the world, rose from the roots of the World Tree, its wings adorned with the skulls of the dead. As the sun was about to sink below the horizon, Odin, the king of the gods, rode his eight-legged steed and hurled his spear of victory at the black dragon.

He tilted his head, looking thoughtfully at the majestic king of gods depicted on the ceiling.

Fen Gou is absolutely right; the best way to strengthen a relationship is to spend more time together.

So what could be better for strengthening a bond than going through life-and-death situations together and taking down the mastermind behind the scenes?

For the sake of "greater good," someone always has to make a sacrifice.

Lu Mingfei has a deep understanding of this.

(End of this chapter)