Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Lu Mingfei stared at this elusive guy who claimed to be his brother. "Uh, how did you end up here?"

"Just came out for some fresh air," Lu Mingze said, swirling the wine in his glass. "Don't be nervous. I just finished collecting a quarter of my life, so I came to check on the clients."

"Go away, go away," Lu Mingfei waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

Lu Mingze smiled, revealing his sharp canine teeth. "Brother, do you like Frillian or Chen Wenwen?"

He tilted his head, looking a bit like a child asking for candy on Halloween, "even though the answer is pretty obvious."

Lu Mingfei rolled his eyes. "You already know, why are you asking?"

"How heartless," Lu Mingze exaggeratedly clutched his chest. "At least Chen Wenwen was your first love and your white moonlight."

He suddenly moved closer to Lu Mingfei, so close that Lu Mingfei could see the flames dancing in his pupils. "But, well, Miss Elf is definitely more suitable for you now. See you next time~"

With a snap of the fingers, time begins to flow again.

Lu Mingze disappeared, and Chen Wenwen remained in the position where she had been interrupted.

“I like you,” she said, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Damn it, Lu Mingfei remained silent for a moment.

He recalled how he used to secretly watch Chen Wenwen in high school, and how his heart would race at the sight of her smile.

He also recalled his first year at Kassel College, how earnestly Frillian taught him, her long silver hair flying in the wind during battle, and the rainy night when they first met, "Lu Mingfei, I need your help," which was the first time Lu Mingfei had ever been needed by someone.

"Um," Lu Mingfei hesitated, considering how to put it, "I really appreciate your kindness. But..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I already have someone I like."

Chen Wenwen's eyes instantly welled up with tears, but she forced a smile. "Is it Frillian?"

Lu Mingfei nodded slightly, without denying it.

"I wish you happiness." Chen Wenwen trembled slightly, lowered her head, not wanting Lu Mingfei to see the tears that were about to well up in her eyes.

Lu Mingfei took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to him. "Don't cry," he said softly.

Chen Wenwen took the handkerchief, fighting back tears.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Actually, I should have realized it sooner. You two looked like a perfect match during the interview at the Regent Hotel."

Lu Mingfei hesitated for a moment, then took out a small box from another pocket. "The earrings were seen in Chicago's Chinatown."

He opened the box, inside was a pair of exquisite jade earrings, gleaming warmly in the candlelight. "I think these suit you very well."

Chen Wenwen took the box, and the tears she had been holding back finally streamed down her face.

She gently stroked her earrings. "You have excellent taste," she said, trying to keep her voice calm.

Lu Mingfei didn't tell her that Frilian had spent the whole afternoon choosing those earrings.

The elven girl was frowning as she repeatedly compared the items at the counter, looking as serious as if she were studying complex alchemy.

“Chen Wenwen will like this,” she said confidently, pointing to the pair of earrings. “The color is nice and suits her well.”

Dinner ended in a somewhat quiet atmosphere.

Lu Mingfei waved to indicate that he wanted to pay the bill, and the waiter respectfully said that someone had already paid the bill, which was obviously Caesar's doing.

He got up, pulled out a chair for Chen Wenwen, and helped her put on her coat.

Stepping out of the restaurant, a night breeze carrying fine moisture brushed against their cheeks. Lu Mingfei hailed a taxi for Chen Wenwen and opened the car door for her.

"Thank you, I'm very happy today," Chen Wenwen said, standing in front of the car door, her hair ruffled by the wind.

“Me too,” Lu Mingfei smiled. “You can contact me if you need anything.”

Chen Wenwen nodded and got into the car. The taxi slowly drove away and disappeared into the night.

"Brake!" A black Mercedes stopped in front of Lu Mingfei, its tires screeching as they rubbed against the ground.

The car window rolled down, revealing Chu Zihang's perpetually unchanging icy face.

"boarding."

Lu Mingfei opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

Frillie, who was in the back seat, was holding a thin copy of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." When she saw him come in, the elven girl looked up.

"How is Chen Wenwen doing?" she asked, her voice calm as still water.

Lu Mingfei let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back in his leather seat. "It's alright. I hope Chen Wenwen can find someone who truly loves her."

Chu Zihang glanced at him and Frillie in the rearview mirror, said nothing, and simply stepped on the gas.

Chapter 52 Board of Directors

The Italian sunset always arrives unexpectedly. One moment the sunlight is flowing like molten gold on the cobblestone streets, and the next moment shadows creep out from the depths of the alleys, silently engulfing the entire town.

Cesare Gattuso stood on the hotel terrace, tapping on the carved railing. The top floor of this Renaissance-era hotel offered a perfect view, encompassing the entire town square.

"They're here."

A bicycle jingled as it entered the square. The elderly man riding it was wearing a green tracksuit and a headband, looking just like a runner who had just returned from a marathon.

He braced himself on one foot, took out a thermos from the bicycle basket, took a sip, and then casually leaned the bicycle against the fountain.

“This is the Yin-Yang Master,” Percy explained at the opportune moment, “the honorary principal of Kassel College and the nominal head of the Alchemy Department.”

Caesar scoffed, "Bicycles? When did the school board become so frugal? What's the thermos for, for retirement?"

"Mr. Yin Yang doesn't have the habit of riding in luxury cars. He believes that it's better to exercise by riding a bicycle than to put on airs in a luxury car," Percy smiled. "As for thermos cups, Mr. Yin Yang has recently been enjoying watching videos about retirement. He's already ninety-three years old."

On the other side of the square, a hunched old man walked slowly, leaning on a cane, with dark red prayer beads wrapped around his wrist. He had to stop and catch his breath every three steps.

“The ascetic Vanderbilt,” Percy said, “is said to eat only three slices of bread and drink three cups of water a day, and spend the rest of his time in prayer.”

"What are you praying for? World peace?" Caesar asked, picking up a glass of wine.

"May the Dragon King sleep forever."

"Truly magnificent."

A black Mercedes stopped in the square, the door opened, and Frost Gattuso slowly stepped out.

Shiny leather shoes, an expensive suit. Even from this distance, Caesar could sense the familiar, suffocating scent.

“Oh my God, look at my dear uncle,” Caesar said sarcastically, “he’s actually willing to leave his doghouse.”

Percy didn't reply, but poured Caesar another glass of wine.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The fiery red Ferrari charged into the square like an angry bull, screeching to a halt in front of the fountain, its tires leaving long tracks on the ground.

The car door opened up, and a long, slender leg stepped out, wearing red-soled high heels.

Elizabeth Laurent stepped out of the sports car and tossed her long blonde hair.

"The heiress of the Laurent family," Caesar narrowed his eyes, "became the youngest school board member after her father's death?"

"Yes, although many people question her qualifications, the Laurent family's mines in Africa provide 20% of the academy's operating funds."

As soon as Elizabeth regained her footing, a pair of hands wrapped around her waist.

"Oh, welcome, my dear child, I almost didn't recognize you. The last time we met, you were a student at Eton College."

“That’s because you have no sense of time, Angers. It’s been eight years since we last met. You’re still so energetic,” Elizabeth said, giving Angers a hug.

Angers whispered something in Elizabeth's ear, which made the young girl giggle.

"An old lecher," Caesar remarked.

Finally, two elderly men appeared. They did not take a car, but walked.

One person was dressed in an elegant suit, while the other was draped in a medieval robe that looked like it had been stolen from a museum.

“And these two are,” Percy began, introducing the two elderly men.

“I know,” Caesar interrupted Percy, “the old monsters of the Beowulf family.”

The school board members entered the town hall in the square one after another. This Gothic building has pointed arches and stained glass windows.

Caesar glanced around the square: "And what about the other board member? The mysterious person who provides the most funding to the academy every year but never shows his face?"

Passy shook his head: "That school board member has never shown up. Even Principal Angers has never seen his face. The funds were transferred through a encrypted account at a Swiss bank, and the statements were relayed by others."

"Not coming out to share the power, but silently contributing from behind the scenes, what a 'good person'," Caesar sneered.

“No, young master,” Percy said softly, “that school board member controls the financial lifeline of the mixed-race society. He doesn’t need to show his face, because money is his embodiment.”

Caesar snapped his fingers: "These guys, both the board of directors and the secret society, are really something, so high and mighty."

“The board members are the highest authority among the mixed-race,” Passy poured Caesar a glass of wine. “Principal Angers is just a decoration that has been pushed to the forefront.”

"What do you mean? When are you going to call me in?" Caesar stared at the tightly closed doors of the city hall, where security personnel in black suits stood.

Percy glanced at his watch: "The board members need to catch up first. They only get together once a year, and there are many interests to be redistributed."

Inside the city hall, Angers sat at the head of the table, tapping on the table.

“Frost, your nephew is getting impatient waiting outside,” Angers joked.

Frost Gattuso didn't even lift his eyelids: "Caesar needs to learn to wait; it's an essential quality of a king."

"Come on," the geomancer who arrived on a bicycle gulped down a mouthful of hot water. "You Gattuso family just love all this fancy stuff. If you ask me, we should just let that kid in."

The ascetic Vanderbilt counted his rosary beads, his voice hoarse: "Impatience is the original sin. Young people should be tested."

"A test?" Elizabeth chuckled. "You didn't test me like this back then."

“That’s because your father just died, and we pity you,” Frost said coldly.

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Elizabeth's smile froze on her face, and Angers promptly pressed her hand down.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Angers said, looking around at the crowd, "we are not gathered here to quarrel. More and more dragons are awakening, and the academy needs to invest more resources in its students."

"Resource input?" the elder of the Beowulf family asked. "You mean that Chinese student named Lu Mingfei?"

Angers smiled: "Yes, he performed exceptionally well."

"Absurd!" Frost slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "Caesar is the first choice!"

Caesar, sipping red wine on the hotel balcony, felt a chill. "What are the board members discussing inside?"