“Honorable investigation team, based on the debate just now, news media are not reliable sources of information. Questioning the lineage of one of our own is a significant matter, and we need stronger examples from you.” King Solomon turned to Andrew.
“Then I request to question some of those involved.” Andrew stood up and walked towards the audience seating.
He stopped beside Lu Mingfei. “Lu Mingfei, you and Chu Zihang performed a mission together in China. What is your opinion of him?”
Lu Mingfei was stunned. He hadn’t expected this twist, and only when Nono stomped on his foot with her heel did he spring up like there was a spring under him.
“Very… very loyal,” he stammered.
Andrew’s momentum was cut in half by this completely irrelevant answer, just as his aggressive entry to Cassell College was met with the unreliable banquets of the vice principal. He had originally thought that a sudden attack on this student would have some effect, but it seemed Lu Mingfei was indeed an S-rank, deeply possessing the shameless essence of this college. He couldn’t be underestimated.
He decided to push harder, placing a file in front of Lu Mingfei. “This is the mission report you signed. According to your report, everything went smoothly, and the mission was very successful. But in fact, Chu Zihang completely deviated from the plan. He acted alone, didn’t he? You had no idea what he did when no third party was present, correct?”
“Absolutely not! We’re all honest people! We keep our word! Chu Zihang really obeys orders and follows discipline!” Lu Mingfei steeled himself. He had no choice but to do so—Nono had pinched his calf threateningly. It was a blatant threat.
“Oh? Do you really have the right to say that?” Andrew sneered, placing another file in front of Lu Mingfei. “When dozens of people were injured and the entire 21st floor of the Runder Building was destroyed, you were having dinner with a girl at the luxurious Aspasia restaurant! You weren’t involved in that operation at all, were you? And here’s your dining bill—it was even paid by the Gattuso family, which I must say, I’m quite impressed with your influence. And after wiping your mouth, you actually wrote such an irresponsible mission report, claiming everything went well?”
“I was just having dinner with a classmate, she was heartbroken and needed some comfort…” Lu Mingfei stammered.
Sweat appeared on his forehead, unsure how to handle this situation. The mission report had indeed been written by Chu Zihang for him, and he signed it without even looking, which got him dragged into this mess. The key problem was that he didn’t even know what had happened at the Runder Building that night, so there was no way to help Chu Zihang out of it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the vice principal just said that the news media’s evidence is unreliable. Should we now also doubt whether our college’s reports are reliable? These seemingly straightforward reports are actually just tools for some people to cover up the truth. What they want to cover up is Chu Zihang’s uncontrollable, dangerous personal style and radical methods during each mission. What they also want to cover up is the lineage problem behind all of this…” Andrew’s voice suddenly rose, resonating through the hall.
“Alright, alright, I admit it.” Lu Mingfei’s voice was even louder than Andrew’s.
The hall fell silent, and everyone looked at Lu Mingfei.
Lu Mingfei cleared his throat. “Alright, I solemnly admit, I tampered with the report. I altered the mission plan, and the actual process differed from what was in the report. In fact, that night I had to have dinner with a classmate, so I let Chu Zihang go retrieve the documents alone. I hastily revised the mission plan, which led to the destruction of the 21st floor of the Runder Building. But throughout the process, I was in constant contact with Chu Zihang, making sure everything was under control. I admit I falsified the report, but it has nothing to do with Chu Zihang.”
“Ridiculous! You have no field experience, what qualifications do you have to make a new plan? Chu Zihang is not someone you can control!” Andrew shouted angrily.
“But I’m the officer,” Lu Mingfei scratched his forehead. “Rank has its privileges.”
He rolled his eyes and stared at Andrew. Just consider this paying back Chu Zihang, and besides… Nono was still pinching his calf! At this moment, he and Nono were in the same camp—other times he could chicken out, but this time he absolutely couldn’t back down.
He turned to look at Nono, wanting to know if what he said had been effective. Nono happened to look at him at the same time, grinning without making a sound. The smile was sinister, but for some reason, he suddenly felt like he was on cloud nine. Lu Mingfei suddenly understood why that idiot King You of Zhou lit the beacons to amuse his concubine—it was worth it if it made the girl he liked smile. If it meant making Nono smile, Lu Mingfei thought he might even be willing to overthrow the School Board.
He was the kind of guy who would go mad for some whimsical reason!
“You mean the discrepancy between the mission report and the actual events was solely your doing?” King Solomon asked.
“Absolutely! I was in charge of that operation, so I take full responsibility.”
“You should be aware that your record is still clean. If you insist on this position, you will receive a serious demerit.”
“Will I be downgraded?”
“That will have to be discussed, but it’s not out of the question. You are currently our only S-rank; you might lose that honor.”
“Oh, it’s just a downgrade. I thought you were going to take my eggs,” Lu Mingfei sat back down firmly.
After a few seconds of silence, the applause was thunderous. The students on the Lionheart Society’s side were in a frenzy. Most of them didn’t understand this Chinese joke, but seeing the vice principal pounding the table, it was clearly some massive mockery, so they all collectively pretended to understand the joke and clapped along. Andrew was suddenly drowned in the applause. He didn’t understand the joke either, but it was apparent that everyone else did, and they were using their applause to mock him. He had no idea how to fight back. The immense anger and humiliation made his eyes bulge with rage.
(Author’s Note: This is a vulgar joke. A village woman went to the market carrying a basket of eggs. Some thugs, attracted by her beauty, intended to assault her. However, she fought back bravely with her rolling pin, beating them bloody. The thugs exclaimed in awe, saying they didn’t expect such a chaste and fierce woman—someone not to be messed with! At that moment, the woman suddenly realized their intent and said, “Oh, I thought you were here to take my eggs!”)
Nono was also pounding the table, laughing. Lu Mingfei turned his head to look at her quietly. Her laughter was so arrogant, but he so longed to see her laugh. It felt like every time she laughed, the distance between them shrank a little.
He was really happy—he had told a joke that caused an uproar, but in fact, he just wanted to make this girl laugh.
w47j7w