Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Chu Zihang didn't hesitate, stood up and walked to the kitchen. He washed his hands and stood next to Xia Mi.

"Do you know how to make dumplings?" Xia Mi asked curiously, handing him a dumpling wrapper.

Looking at the soft dough in his hand and the generous filling in the plate, Chu Zihang honestly said, "I've seen it, but I've never tried it."

"It's very simple! I'll teach you!" Xia Mi picked up a wrapper, scooped a spoonful of filling into the center, and said, "Look, there can't be too much filling, or it will break; and there can't be too little, or it won't taste good. Then, fold the wrapper in half, pinch the middle tightly, and then squeeze it with the tiger's mouth of both hands. See, a big, round ingot is ready!"

She demonstrated step by step, and a plump, white dumpling took shape at her fingertips.

Chapter 246 Making Dumplings

Chu Zihang imitated Xia Mi, putting in the filling, folding it in half, and pinching it closed. However, when it came to the "squeezing" step, he was a bit clumsy. He didn't use the right amount of force, and the dumplings he squeezed out were flat in shape, with the edges looking stiff because they were pinched too tightly. They were far too different from the round and cute "ingots" that Xia Mi had in her hands.

Xia Mi looked at the object in his hand that resembled a dumpling and chuckled, "Senior brother, are you making wontons? Or steamed buns?"

Even Xia Yan, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Chu Zihang looked at his failed work, his face expressionless, but he still felt a little frustrated. He didn't give up, picked up another piece of leather, and tried again.

"It's okay, everyone's like this the first time." Xia Mi put away her joke and gave serious instructions, "Don't use too much force when you squeeze, be gentle, yes, push a little here."

With Xia Mi's patient guidance, Chu Zihang's third and fourth dumplings finally took shape. Although they were still not very beautiful, at least they could stand up steadily.

Xia Yan silently pushed the rolled-out dough towards Chu Zihang, her eyes filled with encouragement.

The three of them worked together seamlessly, one rolling out the dough and the other two wrapping the dumplings. The kitchen was filled with laughter, mainly Xia Mi talking, with Chu Zihang occasionally responding with a word or two, and Xia Yan listening quietly, occasionally chiming in. They chatted about trivial anecdotes from school, the movies they had recently watched, and Xia Mi even started complaining about Chu Zihang's perpetually expressionless face in class, which made Xia Yan giggle.

Chu Zihang did not refute, but the corner of his mouth twitched up very slightly when no one was watching.

After finishing the dumplings, Xia Mi began to demonstrate another of her specialties: stir-frying. She poured hot oil into the wok, sautéing scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant, then the chopped ingredients sizzled as they slid into the pan, releasing an explosive aroma. Her wok-tossing movements were as practiced as a seasoned chef's, with occasional flashes of flame illuminating her profile. Xia Yan stood by, acting as her capable assistant, handing her seasonings and washing dishes with meticulous care.

Chu Zihang was tasked with setting the table. He watched as the table gradually filled with colorful dishes: golden and tempting braised chicken wings, crisp and vibrant green broccoli with garlic, tender and refreshing steamed shrimp and egg, and a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup sprinkled with scallions. Of course, the stars of the show were the several plates of plump, white dumplings.

Finally, everything was ready.

"Dinner's ready!" Xia Mi announced loudly, taking off her apron. The three of them sat around the small dining table.

"Senior brother, don't be shy, have a taste!" Xia Mi enthusiastically placed a chicken wing on Chu Zihang's plate and a few dumplings on his plate. "Especially the dumplings, these are the fruits of the three of our labor!"

Chu Zihang thanked him softly. He picked up a dumpling, dipped it in Xia Mi's special vinegar and garlic sauce, and put it in his mouth. The dumpling skin was chewy, and the filling was fresh and juicy, with a rich flavor that combined the sourness of the vinegar and the spiciness of the garlic. It was the most ordinary home-cooked food he had ever eaten, yet it was also the most special meal he could remember.

"How is it?" Xia Mi and Xia Yan looked at him expectantly.

"It's delicious." Chu Zihang nodded seriously, giving the highest praise he could think of.

Xia Mi immediately beamed with joy, and Xia Yan also breathed a sigh of relief, revealing a happy smile.

"Eat more if you like it!" Xia Mi put some more food on his plate. "Let me tell you, Xiao Yan is an expert at making fillings. He has a secret recipe!"

Xia Yan lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly and said softly, "It's just that I added a little oyster sauce and a tiny bit of sugar to enhance the flavor."

Chu Zihang looked at Xia Yan and affirmed again, "It's delicious, thank you."

The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious. Xia Mi, a chatterbox, recounted embarrassing moments from her and Xia Yan's lives, such as Xia Yan staining clothes the first time he used the washing machine, or the near-fire she experienced while cooking. Chu Zihang was mostly a quiet listener, but would respond when appropriate. He even briefly answered some questions about his school life, though still concise, which was quite rare.

Xia Yan didn't talk much, but he listened attentively, his eyes filled with dependence as he looked at his sister. When Xia Mi told a funny story, he would laugh along, his smile pure and innocent. Chu Zihang found it hard to connect this boy, whose eyes would crinkle with laughter at his sister's joke, with the dragon that had once brought destruction and despair. At this moment, he was simply Xia Yan, the younger brother Xia Mi needed to protect, a family member striving to learn and adapt to human life.

After the meal, Chu Zihang offered to help clear the table, but Xia Mi told him, "Guests shouldn't do this," and urged him back to the sofa. She and Xia Yan quickly cleared the table, and the sounds of running water and clinking dishes came from the kitchen.

After getting ready, Xia Yan looked at Chu Zihang expectantly and asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother Chu, do you... play games?"

Xia Mi walked over while wiping her hands, and answered quickly, "Play! Of course we play! My senior brother looks like a gaming pro! Xiao Yan, hurry up and get your precious game console, and ask your senior brother Chu to give you some pointers!"

Xia Yan immediately ran over excitedly to fetch the game console and controller, and connected it to the TV. It was a very popular fighting game at the time.

Chu Zihang wasn't particularly enthusiastic about games, but he wasn't completely clueless either. He took the controller Xia Yan handed him and nodded.

The game begins. Xia Yan is a skilled player, adept at maneuvering and displaying impressive movement. Chu Zihang, on the other hand, treats the game as a mission, his expression serious, his eyes focused, each keystroke precise and calm, displaying his unique style. He lacks Xia Yan's flashy combos, but his defense is solid, his attacks timed cleverly, often finding opportunities to counterattack in seemingly impossible situations.

Two players with very different styles are locked in a fierce battle on the screen.

"Hey! Xiao Yan, you're so clumsy! This is the time to unleash your ultimate move!"

"Senior brother! Left! Left! Get out of the way!"

"Yes, yes, that's it! Even him! Even he'll die!"

Xia Mi sat cross-legged on the carpet next to the two of them, holding a cushion in her arms. She was more engrossed in watching than anyone else, constantly giving instructions, sometimes helping her younger brother, sometimes worrying about Chu Zihang, keeping herself very busy.

"Sis, stop arguing! I can't even hear the game sounds anymore!" Xia Yan couldn't help but complain after making a mistake.

Chu Zihang didn't speak, but when Xia Mi loudly warned that "there's a sneak attack from behind," the character he was controlling made a timely dodge.

After several rounds, the game was evenly matched. Xia Yan would cheer happily when he won, and when he lost, he wouldn't be discouraged. Instead, he would pester Chu Zihang to tell him how he executed the moves. Chu Zihang would patiently explain the button sequence and timing to him.

Time slipped away quietly amidst laughter and chatter. The night outside the window had deepened.

Chu Zihang glanced at his watch. Although he was a little reluctant, he still stood up and said, "It's late, I should go back."

Xia Yan's face showed obvious reluctance, but he still nodded obediently: "Goodbye, Senior Brother Chu."

Xia Mi saw Chu Zihang to the door: "Did you have a good day, senior brother?"

Chapter 247 YES OR NO

"Yes," Chu Zihang said solemnly, looking into her bright eyes, "I'm very happy. Thank you for your hospitality."

"Don't mention it! Come again anytime!" Xia Mi smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Next time, I'll have Xiao Yan show you his sweet and sour pork ribs; they're even better than dumplings!"

“Okay,” Chu Zihang replied.

He stepped out of the building, a cool evening breeze blowing, but the warmth of the room still lingered in his body. He glanced back at the window with its cozy light, as if he could still hear laughter coming from inside.

On his way home, Chu Zihang's steps were much lighter than when he left. Opening the door, his mother, Su Xiaoyan, was indeed still nestled on the sofa waiting for him, her face beaming with gossip.

"Son, you're back! How was it?" she asked eagerly.

I hope to find a beautiful daughter-in-law. Zihang is a good boy in every way, except that he is too introverted.

Chu Zihang changed his shoes and sat down next to his mother. He was silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts. Su Xiaoyan, unusually patient, did not urge him.

"The dumplings were delicious," he finally said. "Xia Mi and her younger brother made them together."

Su Xiaoyan's eyes lit up even more: "And then? Did you have a good chat?"

"Yes," Chu Zihang nodded, "Later, I played games with her younger brother for a while."

"That's great!" Su Xiaoyan sighed contentedly, leaning gently on his shoulder. "Our Zihang is a big boy who goes to his friends' houses for dinner and plays games with his younger brother now."

Chu Zihang didn't refute the term "big boy." He sat quietly, letting his mother lean against him. Every detail of the evening floated through his mind—his mother's mischievous smile, Xia Mi's flour-covered face, Xia Yan's shy smile, the aroma of dumplings, the light and shadow on the game screen, and the noise and warmth that filled the house.

For Chu Zihang, who spends his years walking on the edge of a knife, accompanied by loneliness and darkness, this night was like an unexpected piece of candy found in the cold and hard battlefield of his life. The candy wrapper may be ordinary, but the taste inside is enough to sweeten the bitter winter.

Tonight, there is no Dragon King, no mixed-race individuals, no destiny or sorrow. There is only a young man named Chu Zihang, eating a steaming hot home-cooked meal at his classmate's house, prepared by her and her younger brother, Xia Yan.

That's good, he thought.

very good.

Half an hour later.

Kassel College's holiday report form was as meticulously designed as ever, reflecting the executive department's stern style. The parchment form had a soft, faded yellow hue in the sunlight, but the printed black lettering was clear and cold.

Chu Zihang sat at his desk, his back straight as always, meticulous.

He picked up a fountain pen filled with ink and held the nib above the "Main Holiday Activities" section.

Fragments flashed through my mind: the warm yellow light in Xia Mi's house, the white flour on her cheeks, the dumpling wrapper Xia Yan shyly handed her, the braised chicken wings bubbling in the pot and emitting a rich aroma, the game characters jumping on the TV screen and Xia Mi shouting beside me.

He paused for a moment, then wrote in clear and neat handwriting: "Visiting classmates, having dinner together, and engaging in family entertainment activities."

The next section asks: "Did you encounter any dragons or creatures that appeared to be dragons?"

Chu Zihang's gaze remained unwavering. An encounter? Was it that boy who clumsily learned to roll out dumpling wrappers in the kitchen, and who would flash a pure smile after winning a game? The image of Xia Yan's clear eyes, tinged with a mixture of curiosity and timidity towards the human world, flashed through his mind.

He picked up his pen and wrote a simple yet powerful word: "No."

The next section asks: "Have you discovered any dragon relics or unusual alchemical reactions?"

Nibelungen? The depths of the subway that once imprisoned the bones and will of the Dragon King? Or that ordinary apartment in a residential complex now filled with the aroma of food and laughter? He wrote again: "No."

"Have you come into contact with or used any unknown alchemical equipment?"

Rolling pins and game controllers were clearly not included. He continued, "No."

The form was quickly filled out, mostly with negative answers. It looked exactly like a typical college student's unremarkable holiday report. Chu Zihang carefully checked it to make sure there were no omissions, then signed his name at the end. The pen tip scratched across the paper, making a soft rustling sound, marking the end of this "ordinary" holiday.

Putting down his pen, Chu Zihang's gaze fell on the phone lying quietly on the corner of the table. After a moment's hesitation, he picked up the phone, found the number labeled "Caesar Gattuso," and dialed it.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. The voice that came through still carried the languid Italian air and inherent pride, but it was less energetic and a little weaker than usual.

"Chu Zihang?" Caesar was a little surprised. "That's rare. You actually took the initiative to call. Has the academy finally decided to send you to take over my business?"

Even while lying in his hospital bed, he didn't forget to maintain the demeanor of a Gattuso family heir and add a touch of banter.

No. How is your injury?

"Recovering. The doctors here are quite good, though of course, the fees are also very 'Gattuso'," Caesar chuckled. "At least it's better than lying in the academy's medical ward listening to the vice-principal recount his womanizing escapades."

Just then, a clear female voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying a hint of reproach, but more of concern: "Caesar, the doctor said you should talk less and rest more."

It's Nono.

"Did you hear that, Chu Zihang?" Caesar moved slightly away from the microphone, clearly speaking to Nuonuo. "It's Chu Zihang. I have to maintain basic politeness."

Then his voice became clear again, “As you can hear, with professional ‘caregivers’ supervising, I can’t even recover slowly if I want to.”

Chu Zihang could imagine the scene: Caesar leaning against the sickbed, Nono perhaps sitting by the bedside, peeling an apple, or just looking at him.

"That's good," Chu Zihang said. He wasn't good at small talk, and after asking the question he cared about most, he didn't know what else to say.

There was a brief silence on both ends of the phone, but it wasn't awkward. They didn't need much unnecessary talking between them.

Finally, Caesar broke the silence: "How are things on your end? Nothing serious, right?"

“Everything is normal,” Chu Zihang replied. “I just submitted my vacation report.”

"Oh? What did you write? 'Studying 'Advanced Dragon Genealogy' in the library'?" Caesar asked with a hint of mockery.

The warm and cozy kitchen flashed before Chu Zihang's eyes again.

"almost."

Caesar didn't expect to hear any earth-shattering answers. "Peace is a good thing. I hope this peace can be maintained until I return."