Lu Mingfei slumped his head and continued typing on the keyboard.
Anyway, no one would believe that such a cool thing had anything to do with him. Wasn’t this like Yang Guo wooing Guo Xiang in The Return of the Condor Heroes? At that time, Yang Guo was so cool—a hero with a mysterious eagle, wielding a black iron sword, wandering the martial world. Teasing a young Guo Xiang who hadn’t yet gotten over her teenage years was child’s play. How could Lu Mingfei possibly be involved in anything remotely as romantic as that?
Even if he were somehow Yang Guo, Caesar and Nono would be like the couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong. If he gave fireworks to Huang Rong, the whole world would see it as a gift from Guo Daxia… which would make perfect sense.
“Right, we ate Caesar’s food yesterday, and you also got a flirtatious look from the Freshman Social Chair, Kiran, plus encouragement from Chu Zihang. Have you made up your mind about which gang—uh, club—you want to join?” Finger asked from the top bunk.
“I’ve decided. I’m joining the Student Union’s Club Organization Department. I’m writing to Caesar now.” Lu Mingfei didn’t lift his head.
Finger was dumbfounded for a few seconds. “Oh my god! Did you grow a brain? Do you have even a little bit of political wisdom? I mean, you’ve got a thing for his girlfriend, and you’re joining his club? Caesar would have plenty of ways to make you suffer.”
“I just think it’s good to have my senior covering for me,” Lu Mingfei shrugged. “If you were the brilliant Caesar, would you bother making things difficult for someone like me?” Lu Mingfei clicked ‘Send’ on the screen. “All right! It’s done! My letter of intent to join is sent!”
Someone knocked on the dormitory door. Finger went to open it, and a neatly dressed Student Union officer, Parsi, stood at the door. He handed an envelope to Lu Mingfei, who had approached.
“Your Student Union ID card. Welcome aboard.” Parsi extended his hand. “From now on, we’re friends.”
“This… this efficiency?” Lu Mingfei’s facial muscles twitched as he reluctantly extended his hand. “I… I just sent the letter of intent… I mean, the email.”
“Club Organization Minister Chen Motong said she was confident you’d choose to join the Student Union. Her exact words were, ‘That kid can’t escape my grasp.’ So your card was pre-printed, and we were waiting downstairs this morning. When Chen Motong called to confirm your application email, we came up right away.” Parsi said politely, shaking Lu Mingfei’s hand, making him feel as though he had just joined the Party and received a warm welcome from the Party organization.
“As a new member of the Student Union, Caesar invites you to a meeting at the Amber Hall.” Parsi said.
“What? Are you kidding me?” Lu Mingfei’s eyes widened.
“No mistake. You’ve been assigned to the ‘Bronze Plan.’ After last night’s battle, the principal held a meeting with me. Last night’s incident involved an awakening of a first-generation dragon. More dragons will awaken soon, and in February 2010, we will undertake a dragon-slaying mission on the Yangtze River, codenamed ‘Bronze.’ Originally, this was the work of the Execution Bureau, but they are deployed all over the world, and some must stay behind at school. Due to the shortage of personnel, Professor Manstein will lead the mission, and the Student Union will send some interns. I recommended you.” Caesar was very direct.
“Hey, hey! Caesar! Dragon-slaying… isn’t that supposed to be a specialized task? I just started school a few weeks ago… and you’re talking to me about slaying dragons… I haven’t even submitted my alchemical chemistry paper yet!”
Lu Mingfei never expected to be attending a pre-battle mobilization briefing at the Amber Hall.
“Starting tomorrow, you won’t need to attend classes. Get ready for training.” Caesar studied the massive chart on the workbench beside him, not even turning his head. “You can’t refuse. Everyone here today is participating in the ‘Bronze Plan.’ You’re one of the two first-year students selected. Consider it an honor.”
“An honor, my foot! Has your brain been stuffed with too much honor?” Lu Mingfei thought to himself.
“At least ask for my opinion, right? Like in China, even when the teacher has already decided to push me into something, they still say, ‘Lu Mingfei, we have a glorious and arduous task for you. Are you willing to accept it?’”
“All right then.” Caesar looked up. “Lu Mingfei, we have a glorious and arduous task for you. Are you willing to accept it?”
“No!” Lu Mingfei shouted.
“I knew you’d answer that way, which is why I said you can’t refuse.” Caesar said coolly.
Lu Mingfei was speechless.
“Just accept it. The other first-year student has already accepted it. Can you stop wasting our time?”
“What kind of lunatic would accept this? You’re lying to me, right? You think I’m stupid?” Lu Mingfei said.
“She indeed accepted it calmly.” A voice came from the side.
There was no need for her to say “calmly.” Her voice itself was completely flat, emotionless—so calm it was as if she were just saying she was going to the restroom.
Zero “Ling: in Chinese” stood silently beside Lu Mingfei, wearing her school uniform. It was the first time Lu Mingfei saw her in uniform—it seemed almost like it was child-sized, making her look like a well-behaved tsarist princess.
“Hey! What are you doing here?” Lu Mingfei was stunned.
“I’m a member of the Student Union. Why wouldn’t I be here?” Zero retorted.
“Your cold, indifferent look says ‘I don’t care about anyone.’ Why would you join club activities?”
“No, I actually enjoy club activities. I like being with everyone.” Zero said.
“How can anyone tell you’re ‘enthusiastic’ from that freezing-cold expression?” Lu Mingfei was exasperated. “Hey, have you thought it through? This kind of mission could get you killed! Dead! Look at you—at most you’re eighteen, and by height, you look fourteen… You still have a long life ahead of you. You don’t even have a boyfriend yet, right? Wouldn’t it be a shame to die now?”
Zero glanced at him coldly. “Shut up!”
“I… I just joined today…” Lu Mingfei stammered. “I just submitted my application this morning… Shouldn’t the organization at least check me out first?”