Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Frillie didn't answer; her gaze was fixed on something.

Lu Mingfei followed her gaze.

At the corner of the alley, a black-haired girl squatted on the ground, holding a small bag of cat food, gently coaxing an orange cat: "Sweetie, just one more bite~"

Lu Mingfei was distracted and tripped over a small pebble.

"Clap."

A pebble rolled to the girl's feet, and she looked up.

Eyes facing each other.

The girl blinked, her eyes widened, and she jumped up in surprise: "Oh my! You must be Senior Lu Mingfei! I've heard so much about you, and seeing you today, you truly are extraordinary!"

Lu Mingfei swallowed the last candied hawthorn: "Huh?"

He looked blankly at Frillie, who frowned slightly.

The girl smiled and extended her hand: "Let me introduce myself. My name is Xia Mi. I'll be enrolling at Kassel College after the holidays. I'll be an A-level freshman!"

She tilted her head, her ponytail swaying gently, and her eyes gleamed with a mischievous light: "I never expected to run into Senior Lu Mingfei here, what a coincidence!"

Lu Mingfei held her hand blankly: "Uh, hello Xia Mi, junior?"

Xia Mi's smile widened as she looked at Frilian: "And who is this beautiful lady?"

Frillian calmly uttered three words: "Frillian".

Xia Mi exclaimed, "Wow! Is that the 'Great Magician' Frillie from the forum? Hello, senior!"

Lu Mingfei felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Frilian stared at Xia Mi for a few seconds before speaking, "Your magic fluctuations are strange."

Xia Mi's smile remained unchanged: "Really? Maybe it's because my bloodline is rather special~"

Lu Mingfei scratched his head; the atmosphere was a little awkward.

The orange cat rubbed against Xia Mi's ankle and meowed.

Xia Mi bent down to pat its head, then looked up and smiled, "Senior, since we've run into each other, how about we go eat roast duck together? I know a fantastic restaurant nearby!"

Before Lu Mingfei could answer, Frillie spoke up: "Okay."

Xia Mi's eyes lit up: "Great! Let's go!"

Lu Mingfei: "?"

Why did things unfold so naturally?

He glanced at Frilian, then at Xia Mi, and had a bad feeling.

This holiday is unlikely to be peaceful.

Chapter 35 My name is Xia Mi, and I'm a freshman!

Xia Mi walked ahead, her steps as light as a cat's.

She turned into a narrow alley with practiced ease. The aroma of fried noodles wafted through the gray brick and tile alley, and colorful sheets hung on the clothesline, swaying gently in the wind.

"Over here!" She turned around and waved to Lu Mingfei and Frilian, her ponytail casting a long, shimmering beam in the sunlight. "This alley isn't even on tourist maps; only old Beijinger knows about it!"

Lu Mingfei followed behind her, looking around.

The alley was narrow, with low courtyards on both sides, faded Spring Festival couplets pasted on the lintels, and honeycomb briquettes piled up in the corners.

Several old men were sitting on stools drinking tea and playing chess. When they saw them passing by, they glanced up at them, then lowered their heads to continue pondering the game.

"This place is really nice," Lu Mingfei exclaimed. "It's much more interesting than those commercial streets."

Xia Mi raised her chin smugly: "Of course! The places tourists go to are all rip-offs; the real gems are hidden in these alleyways."

She stopped in front of an inconspicuous little shop with a sign that read "Wang's Sugar Figurines" written crookedly.

"Boss! Three sugar figurines, please!" Xia Mi shouted from the window.

The old man slowly walked out, holding a bamboo skewer in his hand. He turned it in the syrup pot, flicked his wrist a few times, and a lifelike little rabbit was formed.

"Wow!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed, his eyes wide. "This skill is amazing!"

Xia Mi took the sugar figurine and handed it to Lu Mingfei and Frilian: "Try it, it's a traditional craft, sweet but not cloying!"

Frillie stared at the sugar figurine in her hand for a while, then took a small bite.

"How is it?" Xia Mi asked, leaning closer.

Frillie nodded: "Not bad."

Xia Mi smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons: "I knew you'd like it!"

Lu Mingfei licked the sugar figurine, the sugar threads melting on his tongue, making him squint his eyes from the sweetness.

Xia Mi looked at him and reached out to wipe his mouth: "Senior, your table manners are terrible!"

Lu Mingfei was taken aback, his ears burning slightly. Frillie glanced at them but didn't say anything.

At noon, Xia Mi led them into a hole-in-the-wall restaurant hidden deep in a hutong.

The shop is small, with only four or five tables. Steam rises from the copper pots, and the aroma of mutton wafts through the air.

"This restaurant has the best hot pot lamb in all of Beijing!" Xia Mi found a seat familiarly, picked up the menu and quickly scribbled a few lines. "Boss! Three plates of freshly sliced ​​lamb, one serving of cabbage, one serving of frozen tofu, and two bottles of Beibingyang soda!"

Lu Mingfei looked around curiously. There were yellowed old photos on the wall, boxes of beer piled up in the corner, and folded newspapers on the corner of the table.

"Is this place really reliable?" he asked in a low voice.

Xia Mi glared at him: "Senior, don't you believe me?"

"No, no!" Lu Mingfei quickly waved his hand, "I just think this shop is so down-to-earth."

The copper pot was brought out, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, and a few slices of ginger and scallions floated in the clear broth.

Xia Mi picked up a slice of mutton as thin as a cicada's wing, dipped it twice in the boiling soup, dipped it in sesame sauce, and stuffed it into her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction: "Mmm, this is the taste!"

Lu Mingfei copied her method of cooking meat in the hot pot. The mutton was so tender that it almost melted in his mouth. The aroma of sesame sauce mixed with minced garlic made him sweat.

"Is it delicious?" Xia Mi asked with a grin.

Lu Mingfei gave a thumbs up: "Delicious!"

Frillie slowly and deliberately cooked the cabbage in the broth, completely out of place with the noisy surroundings.

Xia Mi rested her chin on her hand and looked at her: "Sister Frilian, don't you like to eat meat?"

Frillie shook her head: "I like it, but I'm used to eating vegetables first."

Xia Mi said "Oh," and picked up a slice of mutton and put it in her bowl: "Then you should try this, dip it in this sauce, it's super delicious!"

Frillie paused for a moment, then picked it up and ate it anyway.

Xia Mi winked triumphantly at Lu Mingfei: "Look!"

Lu Mingfei couldn't help but laugh.

Halfway through the meal, Lu Mingfei casually asked, "Xia Mi, do your family know about your trip to Kassel?"

Xia Mi paused for a moment as she put the frozen tofu into the pot.

"I don't have a mom or dad," she said casually, as if discussing the weather. "I only have an older brother."

Lu Mingfei was taken aback: "Ah, sorry."

"It's alright!" Xia Mi waved her hand. "Although my brother isn't very bright, he's a really, really good person."

She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze drifting into the distance: "He was very strong. When I was little, I was bullied, and he rushed over and chased those bad kids away, even though he himself got beaten up and his face was bruised and swollen."

Lu Mingfei listened quietly.

"Later, when I went to school, he would wait for me at the school gate every day. He would bring me an umbrella when it rained and hot roasted sweet potatoes in the winter," Xia Mi smiled. "Although he couldn't even write his own name well, he remembered what I liked to eat the most."

The rising steam from the hot pot blurred her expression.

Lu Mingfei didn't know what to say, so he asked softly, "And what about your brother now?"

"He's back home," Xia Mi said, her tone lightening as she finished cooking the tofu. "I asked my neighbor to take care of him. Once I graduate, I'll bring him to live abroad!"

Lu Mingfei didn't know what to say.

Xia Mi leaned closer to him, her eyes sparkling: "Senior, do you want to come and stay at my current place? It's just sitting empty anyway, and it'll be more lively with more people!"

Lu Mingfei almost choked on the mutton: "Huh? This isn't a good idea."

"What's wrong with it!" Xia Mi pouted. "Do you guys want to stay in hotels forever? How boring!"

Frillie replied, "Okay."

Xia Mi cheered, "Great! Let's get our luggage after we finish eating!"

Lu Mingfei: "Wait, did you ask for my opinion?"

Xia Mi and Fulilian both looked at him.

Lu Mingfei: "Okay."

Xia Mi's rented courtyard is hidden deep in the alley. It has blue bricks and small tiles, and there is an old locust tree in the courtyard. Under the tree, there are rattan chairs and small tea tables.

"How about it? Not bad, right!" Xia Mi pushed open the mottled wooden door, proudly displaying her "territory".

Lu Mingfei looked around in surprise: "This place must be expensive, right?"

Xia Mi blinked: "It's a secret~"

Xia Mi showed them the room; the guest room was empty, perfect for Lu Mingfei and Frilian.

"The sheets and duvet cover are all new! I bought them as spares," Xia Mi patted the fluffy blanket. "Don't worry, stay here!"

Lu Mingfei was a little embarrassed: "Thank you so much."

Xia Mi waved her hand: "Don't mention it! By the way, I'll take you guys for a stroll around Houhai tonight, the night view is beautiful!"

She rushed out, saying she was going to buy drinks.

Lu Mingfei and Frilian stood in the courtyard, the shadow of the locust tree swaying on the ground.

"Xia Mi is so enthusiastic," Lu Mingfei said, scratching his head.