Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 371: Grand Escape Into the Sunlight (8)

Dragon Raja 3

“Whether the world likes you or not depends on whether your friends like you. Everyone has a few real friends. If they like you, then the world likes you.”

“What is a real friend?” Erii wrote on her notepad.

“A friend is someone who, no matter what, will always believe in you, always stand by your side,” Lu Mingfei said. As he spoke, a deep sadness and a powerful sense of grief filled him. He didn’t know where this emotion came from, but it felt as though he was being overwhelmed by an icy, immense sorrow. He continued, “If the world really doesn’t like you, then the world is my enemy.”

As soon as those cold, defiant words left his mouth, he thought he heard a familiar laugh behind him. The demon, ever contemptuous, mocked him with scornful laughter.

He spun around, but behind him, there was nothing—just cherry blossoms and fallen leaves swirling in the wind. There was no sign of Lu Mingze.

“I want… a real friend.” When he turned back, Erii was holding up her notepad, waiting for him.

Lu Mingfei gently touched Erii’s smooth forehead and thought to himself, no matter what kind of princess you are or what kind of blood flows through your veins, your social experience is truly pitiful. Even though you don’t say it, anyone can see what you really want—it’s written clearly in your eyes.

“I am your good friend, and in the future, you’ll have more friends,” Lu Mingfei said, word by word. “As long as we, your friends, like you, the whole world will like you!”

“And if we’re your good friends, how could we not like you?” he added softly.

Since it was the last day of the trip, and there was no tomorrow or future after this, he had already decided to do everything he could to make this girl happy. They had met due to some crazy devil’s arrangement, and all Lu Mingfei could give her was this trip and some encouraging words. So today, he wouldn’t say anything sarcastic or joke around; every word he spoke was serious, and he looked into Erii’s eyes as he spoke, never avoiding her gaze.

The sunlight slowly faded from Erii’s eyes as the great sun was about to sink below the horizon. The last light turned the clouds in the sky into fiery colors, and in the deepening twilight, Erii’s eyes became brighter than ever.

Like a cautious kitten, she slowly moved toward Lu Mingfei, carefully gauging his expression. If Lu Mingfei rejected her, she would quickly retreat. This was the first time she had gotten so close to someone, and she wasn’t sure if she would be rejected.

Lu Mingfei really wanted to turn and run, but he didn’t want to disappoint this girl whose life was so short. So he steadied himself, breathing deeply and staying completely still, as if he were a monk reaching enlightenment, and stared straight into Erii’s eyes without blinking.

Though it was only a step away, Erii took a long time to cross the distance. Just when Lu Mingfei thought he couldn’t hold out any longer, she opened her arms and wrapped them around his neck. At that moment, the sun set, and the overwhelming darkness swept across the world.

This was no longer the fearful embrace of two people sharing the same fate, like last night. The girl in his arms was warm, trembling slightly.

It was at this moment that Lu Mingfei finally realized the terrible truth—this girl didn’t just trust him, she liked him. But on that foggy riverbank filled with blooming lotus flowers, he had not chosen Erii.

“Did you see that?” Mai asked as she peered through the scope, watching the two figures embracing on the cliff. Their silhouettes against the dark sky looked like statues.

“The resolution isn’t great, so it’s hard to see clearly, but it’s still quite touching. The expert team is already popping champagne to celebrate.”

Su Enxi’s voice came through the earpiece. “The wedding venue is all set up. Do you think they’ll really show up tomorrow morning? According to the latest intel, Caesar has made contact with a human trafficker. Tomorrow morning, a ship will sail from Tokyo Bay bound for Fujian, China. They’ve arranged to meet at the docks at four in the morning to hand over the girl.”

“Whether he takes her to the wedding or to the ship depends on whether he sees himself as the groom or as the beast trainer,” Mai said softly.

“It’s beautiful.” Su Enxi was silent for a long time before speaking.

“Yes, no matter how it ends, this moment is beautiful,” Mai said wistfully. “And that’s enough.”

On the main street of Meitsuji Town, a Toyota family car sat, still smoking. Night had fallen, and the shops along the street had lit their lanterns. The small white lanterns, hanging along the street, looked like scattered pearls.

Caesar stood under the lanterns, eating a large helping of taiyaki rice.

“You’re eating at a time like this?” Chu Zihang slammed the hood of the car shut. “If we don’t find a place to fix this car, it won’t make another 500 kilometers. How did we end up with such a lemon? We’ve also lost track of Lu Mingfei.”

“Because taiyaki rice is a local specialty,” Caesar replied, taking a bite of grilled horse mackerel. “So is cape mackerel. Want to try some?”

“It’s already 6:30 in the evening. They have to be at the docks by 4 a.m. tomorrow, and we’re still 500 kilometers from Tokyo. I don’t have your kind of appetite,” Chu Zihang said coldly.

“What’s there to worry about? They’ve got almost ten hours to drive back to Tokyo. Even on a lightweight motorcycle, they’d make it in time,” Caesar shrugged. “We haven’t lost track of them. Their car is still parked outside town. They’ve just gone up the mountain for a walk, but the mountain cable car has stopped running. We don’t need to wander around in the dark looking for them.”

“They shouldn’t have brought her so far. No one can predict her current state.”

“But it’s beautiful here, isn’t it? If I were planning a trip, I’d also save the most beautiful spot for the last day,” Caesar said, gnawing on the grilled cape mackerel. “That way, once I get there, I’ll feel content. After traveling so far to reach such a town and see the sunset, that girl should feel satisfied, right?”

“That’s what travel is all about. You keep going until you’re exhausted, and then you head home.” He handed Chu Zihang a lunch box. “Try it. The locals grind the fish into a paste, mix it with rice, grill it, and serve it with bonito kelp soup. It’s really good. I’m not kidding.”

Chu Zihang gave Caesar a cold look but took the still-warm lunch box.

Night had fully fallen, and in the distance, Meitsuji Town was beginning to turn off its lights. Rural Japanese towns, like those in China, slept early. The sea was rising, and dark waves with white crests crashed against the pebble beach in front of the small station. Occasionally, tiny shrimp or crabs, their shells gleaming, scuttled across the beach, only to be knocked about by the incoming waves. Yet, after regaining their balance, they continued to crawl determinedly across the stones, their small shells reflecting tiny points of light.