Dragon Raja: Oh no! Lu Mingfei has been diagnosed with depression!

July 17th is just an ordinary day for many people, but what's special is that they've repeated this day many times.

But soon the people living in the city realized something was wrong. Someone started a post on Weibo and uploaded several photos.

The photo shows dozens of vans driving in a long line down the street, their cargo beds ostentatiously covered with bright flowers, looking like mobile flowerbeds from a distance.

"Who's this rich guy wooing someone? Making such a big fuss?"

Someone asked this in the post.

"Didn't you see the banner on the car? It's someone's birthday, and these cars are just used to transport gifts."

The person who replied attached photos showing that these vans clearly belonged to different employers, separated by a huge red banner with several large, flamboyant characters:

Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei.

Who is Lu Mingfei? A celebrity or an entrepreneur?

"It's said that the owner of an internet cafe gave these to him by his former classmates and friends."

Someone quickly found out Lu Mingfei's identity and posted it online. This person also took a photo of Lu Mingfei from the honor wall at the entrance of Shilan Middle School. Lu Mingfei's photo occupied the most conspicuous position, followed by a dazzling array of suffixes.

"Outstanding graduate of Shilan High School, outstanding graduate of Kassel College... Wait, what's with the honorary principal and honorary board member of Kassel College? How did he suddenly go from being a graduate to a principal and board member? Didn't he just graduate not long ago?"

Some people questioned this, because the two identities sounded too impressive. He found the official website of Kassel College online, which is said to be a private elite university in the United States, with students mostly from different countries. Many famous entrepreneurs and politicians are said to have graduated from this college.

Logically speaking, the honorary president and honorary trustees of such a university should have achieved financial freedom long ago, frequented high-end venues, and associated with high-society figures. How could they possibly be living in a small city and running an internet cafe?

But the person quickly shut up and silently deleted the comment, because someone else had taken new photos. They showed several helicopters with large, conspicuous words painted on their fuselages in black paint:

"Kassel College - China Branch"

The helicopters split up and flew off in different directions at high altitude. Everyone in the city could see a huge banner that made their vision go black as soon as they looked up. The banner still bore that familiar name.

At this moment, it felt as if the whole world was saying Happy Birthday, Lu Mingfei.

"Did none of you go to see this event?"

"What activity?"

Those still marveling paused for a moment, then returned to the event's homepage. The initiator was an account named Cesare Gattuso, and below it was a line of small print:

"Anyone who wishes Lu Mingfei a happy birthday will receive a beautiful souvenir."

"Is this a scam?"

Some people didn't believe it, but others showed off the so-called exquisite souvenirs.

It was a gold badge. The front of the badge featured a flamboyant but muscular blond Italian man, while the back was inscribed with the words "Happy Birthday, Caesar Gattuso to Lu Mingfei".

"It really is just a souvenir? I thought it would be something else. Let's move on."

"I just had the 5-gram pure gold badge tested at a jewelry store."

"..."

"So what! A mere 5 grams of gold, would I really sell my integrity?"

Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei!

This reply came from user "Flame Poet".

Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei!

This reply came from user "Flame Poet".

The netizens in the post stared blankly as this user, named "Flame Demon Poet," flooded the screen.

"I don't sell my integrity just because the price isn't high enough. Obviously, Mr. Caesar is a man who understands integrity very well. He's very generous, and I think selling my integrity to someone like him would be a very worthwhile deal."

The Flame Poet said, but the next second his account was banned.

The thread fell silent for a short while.

Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei!

This reply came from user "万道归一者".

Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei!

This reply came from user v丘山.

Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei!

This reply came from user z downstairs.

In an instant, a flood of replies propelled the event to the top of the list.

A gentle breeze blew, and Lu Mingfei's gaze followed the rise and fall of the curtains. Looking at the few flashy vans parked downstairs, his face twitched.

The workers were busy carrying boxes upstairs. In less than half an hour, the room was filled with gifts of all sizes. Neighbors stood at the door and peered inside, marveling at how successful the Lu family's children were, knowing so many friends.

"Get lost! What's so interesting about it! Haven't you ever seen someone celebrate their birthday before?"

Wearing an apron and wielding a spatula, Qiao Weini rushed out of the kitchen, waving away the onlookers.

"Happy birthday, son! Mom's cooking you a big meal!"

Qiao Weini, on the other hand, was beaming with pride. Her son was so popular, and as his mother, she felt proud of herself.

"It's okay, Mom, just eat a little bit."

Lu Mingfei shook his head.

"That won't do! My son's birthday can't be simple!"

Qiao Weini frowned, pulled out a knife, and handed it to Lu Mingfei. "Son, you open your presents first. I'll go call your dad. Does it really take this long to pick up a cake? If I find out he ran off to watch people fishing again, I'll give him a lesson and teach him what his place in the family is!"

The so-called family status is that in this family, Qiao Weini is the boss, the emperor, and her words are imperial edicts. Lu Mingfei is the crown prince, and as for Lu Lincheng, he is only one step away from becoming the Grand Eunuch.

Qiao Weini angrily ran off to make a phone call. Lu Mingfei looked at the room full of gifts, hesitated for a moment, and decided to unpack them first, otherwise he might not even have a place to sleep that night.

The first gift was a brand new PSP game console, and the greeting card was signed Nono:

"Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei! This isn't just any ordinary game console. How could I possibly give you such a tasteless gift? This was specially commissioned by Sony. You'll absolutely love it! PS: There's a surprise on the back."

Lu Mingfei flipped the game console over and, sure enough, saw the so-called surprise on the back.

There were several chibi-style Erii figures, huddled together in various adorable poses. Each figure had a text box above its head with the words "I love you the most" written inside.

Lu Mingfei was silent for a few seconds before putting the game console away.

The second box contained a scarf, a gift from Chu Zihang, with a message written on the greeting card:

"Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei. Since I didn't know what gift to give you, I asked Xia Mi. Xia Mi said that the most important thing about a gift is not its value but the sentiment behind it. I took her advice and knitted this scarf for you. I hope you like it."

A sentence was added afterward that was clearly not in Chu Zihang's handwriting:

"There's a surprise inside the scarf!"

Lu Mingfei raised an eyebrow, and suddenly the image of Chu Zihang sitting upright in a rocking chair, holding a crocheted scarf with a murderous look in his mind flashed into his mind, and his eyes twitched slightly.

It must have been tough on him.

Lu Mingfei sighed inwardly, unfolded the scarf, and a huge portrait of Erii appeared before his eyes. The weaver was clearly a perfectionist, and the portrait was lifelike.

Lu Mingfei fell silent again, staring at the scarf for a while before folding it up again and opening the third box.

The box contained very little: a car key signed Caesar.

"Happy birthday, Lu Mingfei. I'm sending you a Bugatti sports car. A man should drive the fastest car! PS: The car should have been delivered to your building by now. You can see it from your window."

Although it's cheesy, at least it's more respectable.

Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief, stood up and looked outside. The people from the 4S store were unloading the sports car. He glanced at it and felt like he was about to have a heart attack.

Damn it! The car is indeed a Bugatti sports car, very cool and stylish, but what's even more stylish is that the car wrap is made with Erii's portrait!

Looking down from above, it's as if you see a beautiful red-haired girl winking at you.

How many times has Lu Mingfei fallen silent?

He continued unwrapping the gifts: a mechanical watch from Su Xiaoqiang, a ceramic doll from Ling, a game controller from Lao Tang, a Cuban cigar from Finger, an antique sword from Yuan Zhisheng, a kimono from Yuan Zhinu, and perfume from Angers…

As Lu Mingfei dismantled the box, he felt more and more that he might be able to open a general store. In the end, only one box, about the height of a person, remained in the room, with Erii's name written on the outside in black marker.

Is this some kind of life-size doll modeled after Erii? Do these guys think I'm that weird?

Lu Mingfei suddenly began to question the meaning of life.

But the next moment he was stunned, because the box was opening by itself.

"Happy birthday!"

A girl dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit jumped out of the box, her body bound with red ribbons that tied a pretty bow at the back of her body.

"Eri, why did you pack yourself inside a box?!"

"Because I didn't know what gift to give you, I asked Xia Mi. She said that as long as I give myself to you as a gift, you will be happy."

Erii answered honestly, showing Lu Mingfei the bow on her back:

"The gifts haven't all been opened yet."

"It's Xia Mi again!"

Lu Mingfei's expression was somewhat broken, but seeing Erii's innocent expression, he suppressed his anger, untied the bow on Erii's back, and a note fell out.

"This is my gift to you! Do you like it?"

The signature is Xia Mi, and even through the words, one can imagine the girl laughing wildly with her hands on her hips.

"Xia Mi! Don't let me catch you!"

Lu Lincheng, who had just returned and was still standing at the door, shivered and exchanged a glance with Lu Mingze:

"Let's wait a bit before going in. I'm afraid your brother will take his anger out on us."

Lu Mingze nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

(I've only glanced at the feedback, so let's treat this extra chapter as an "what if" scenario for now. It's also a slight spoiler for the later plot. If you find anything unreasonable, please leave a comment, and I'll revise the subsequent plot based on everyone's expectations.)