Chapter Ten: Oh, Mercy

Nono’s heart skipped a beat.
He could hear her?!

Lu Mingfei answered proactively:
"And what if I can? Don't you know that our 'Geshai' [handsome leader] is someone who cannot be looked upon directly nor defined?"

Mind-reading was not a high-level skill worth making a fuss about. It was simply that the human heart, much like the starry sky above, was something that should not be directly probed. That was why Lu Mingfei had always preferred divination over mind-reading.

Nono had truly treated him like dough to be kneaded at will. It was one thing to peep at his privacy, but to come and test him so brazenly—these 'Jiemei' [sisters/girls] really lacked any sense of boundaries.

However, Lu Mingfei considered that he had no sordid thoughts in his heart that couldn't be revealed. If she wanted to eavesdrop, let her; it was nothing more than sacrificing a few unlucky souls, inviting a few alien gods to Earth to throw a party, and shearing a bit of wool from the cosmic flock.

Lu Mingfei was always so generous with his secrets, even though no one had ever lived a happy life after learning them.

This was still less interesting than Chen Motong’s secrets.

An average person, no matter how strong, would be languishing in bed for days after such a mental shock. Yet, Nono was energetic enough to engage in an online argument with him that very night, and today she had even arrived in full makeup, ready to probe his secrets in peak form.

Her performance convinced Lu Mingfei even more that she wasn't gifted, but rather host to an abnormal presence.

This was not a good sign. Abnormalities did not appear out of thin air; the greatest probability was that she was being used by others as a "vessel" or something similar, waiting for the harvest once she matured.

Aside from a certain friendly race with unimaginable technological advancement, Lu Mingfei had never heard of anyone surviving a parasitic infestation.

This couldn't help but bring a playful expression to Lu Mingfei’s face. He would have to lock horns with the people behind Chen Motong and see who would end up plucking the final peach.

As for Nono’s act of offending him earlier, he would send her some mythological knowledge that would cost her a few nights of restless sleep; that would settle the karmic debt.

How merciful.

Lu Mingfei extended a finger and, with lightning speed, tapped Nono on the forehead, dark and ominous magic flowing into her.

At this moment, Nono’s arm was still draped affectionately over his shoulder; the two looked very much like a bickering couple.

Nono’s forehead took the surprise hit, and she felt a wave of dizziness. Lu Mingfei seized the opportunity to give her slender waist a firm pinch, then twisted his body and slipped out of her embrace.

The waist was a sensitive area. Nono let out an "Aiya!" and was just about to lose her temper when she realized Lu Mingfei had already retreated some distance away.

"I'm off. I'll message you when the party is almost over; come pick me up."

***

Taking advantage of her and then trying to treat her like a lackey—Nono didn't hesitate to retaliate:
"Don't worry, big sister will definitely make sure you 'leave' in grand style."

From start to finish, Lu Mingfei hadn't shown a trace of nervousness or hostility. He wasn't pretending, which made Nono relax a little, and she began to wonder if the problem lay with her.

Could there really be such an ugly dragon? Could the data provided by NOMA be wrong?

This mystery still lingered in her heart, but Nono knew one thing: she had truly blundered this time.

Investigating Lu Mingfei's anomalies should be a long-term project; she shouldn't have been so impatient, trying to achieve everything in one move.

Chen Wenwen, who had observed everything, was greatly shocked, her soft lips slightly parted. She couldn't believe that the loser who used to stick to her heels all day had quietly found such a tall, radiant beauty.

"Mingfei, isn't your girlfriend coming with us?"
"She's not going. Let's go."

...

Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Since Lu Mingfei was leaving tomorrow, Chen Wenwen had notified everyone days ago to set the movie date for today.

Having just learned that Lu Mingfei had a girlfriend even more beautiful than herself, she had been acting a bit reserved.

Chen Wenwen deeply felt that Lu Mingfei had changed.

Although his physique, appearance, attire, and habit of speaking plain vernacular remained the same, the self-deprecation he used to feign nonchalance had been swept away. His conversation now revealed a profound cultural refinement and an indifference to worldly affairs.

Although it was strange to describe a person this way, it was the most appropriate adjective Chen Wenwen could think of.

He was strangely frank, never faking anything. Whether it was a kind thought or a desire, he would blurt it out without hesitation, as if there was no one left in this world he cared about.

It was strange, but it had character. No wonder he could find such a beautiful girlfriend.

Was Chen Wenwen happy for Lu Mingfei?
If you asked her directly, her answer would certainly be "yes."

But her true thoughts were hard to say. After all, with Lu Mingfei gone, who would fill the role of the sycophant she had lost?

***

Lu Mingfei had no time to attend to the psychological needs of a literary girl. He discovered that the movie theater's private room actually had a separate restroom, which pleased him:
"I'm going to the restroom."

Chen Wenwen nodded and went to find her seat first.

In the men's restroom of the Wanda Cinema, Lu Mingfei calmly set up an incense burner on the vanity. After lighting three sticks of incense, he found a stall with a toilet, sat down, and waited quietly for the person he was expecting.

The external environment was part of ritual magic; even simple ritual tools provided a boost to the upcoming magic.

As time passed, the smoke from the incense filled the ceiling of this enclosed area. The scent of sandalwood mixed with the odors of excrement, mothballs, and disinfectant—it was quite nauseating.

Every person who came in to use the restroom complained about it, but no one took the initiative to remove the items. Lu Mingfei didn't move an inch, tilting his head and idly sending text messages to Nono.

Until Zhao Menghua, who had come looking for him, appeared:
"Lu Mingfei, did you fall into the toilet?! *Cough, cough*, damn it! Who is burning incense in our private room's men's restroom? It's choking me to death!"

The latch on the innermost stall clicked open. As Lu Mingfei slowly pushed the door, the poorly maintained hinges emitted a painful and drawn-out creak.

"Squeak—"

The person who walked out was thin, wearing cheap street-market clothes that cost thirty yuan at most, with messy hair and a pair of knock-off sneakers on his feet.

He was even carrying a stuffed shopping bag, looking exactly like a shut-in who had come downstairs to buy snacks.

But anyone who saw his face would find it hard to maintain that thought. His features were refined, his demeanor calm and sincere, and his eyes were as clear as a mountain stream.

It was Lu Mingfei, who had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing that Lu Mingfei no longer looked like the roadside weed he used to be, Zhao Menghua felt an instinctive annoyance and tossed his suit jacket over:
"Your clothes. Put them on when you give your speech in a while. Chen Wenwen said to dress formally for the speech."

Lu Mingfei didn't reach out to catch it, letting the suit fall to the floor. He stared straight at the handsome and wealthy young man in front of him, his lips curling into an exaggerated arc.