Dragon Raja; Chapter 23: Cassell’s Gate (21)

Dragon Raja

“Uncle, are you out of your mind?” Lu Mingfei wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him.

But he didn’t have the strength anymore, so he slowly crouched down next to the screen. After all, no one was paying attention to that “I Love You” anymore; he had become a lowercase “e,” and no one glanced his way.

“Surprised, huh? Sister-in-law,” Zhao Menghua’s friend said heartily.

“Not surprised at all; I guessed you were up to this. It’s just that I didn’t say anything; you guys are just too thick-skinned,” Chen Wenwen said, blushing happily as she shook Zhao Menghua’s hand.

Everyone knew, including Chen Wenwen herself. Lu Mingfei hung his head and quietly walked toward the exit of the screening room. On the screen behind him, Eve pressed her face against Wall-E’s, the music sweet and warm. Chen Wenwen was still Eve, but he was not Wall-E; he was nothing.

Oh no, he was a supporting character, playing an important role in the love story of the male and female leads.

“Don’t run off, don’t run off, even extras get red envelopes!” Zhao Menghua’s friend shouted at him. “Everyone has contributed!”

Lu Mingfei turned back to see Zhao Menghua squinting one eye at him and making a face. He understood what it meant; he felt he should go back and give Zhao Menghua a good punch, but he wasn’t as good at sports as Zhao Menghua, and besides, he had a whole crew of brothers with him. After so many years of misfortune, he had gotten used to it, so he merely said “Oh,” turned back, and continued toward the stage to be his “i.”

A strong light suddenly shone in from behind him, as if lightning were breaking through the dark clouds. Someone forcefully pushed open the screening room door.

In life, there are moments when one feels they have glimpsed the gates of heaven, and after eighteen years of waiting, at his lowest point, the door swung open.

The angel who walked in scanned the room, her gaze sharp as a knife.

Everyone fell silent. This sudden intruder overshadowed everyone present with her brilliance. She was so dazzling, it almost made Lu Mingfei think she had come to steal the spotlight.

“Ricardo, our time is running out. Are we continuing with the event?” Nono walked up to Lu Mingfei, speaking in a clear, crisp voice that everyone could hear.

Her outfit had completely changed; her loose, dark red hair was neatly styled, wearing a deep purple suit, a pale blue silk blouse, and purple stockings. The whole ensemble was adorned with custom jewelry made of gold and amethyst, and she seemed at least ten centimeters taller than usual, exuding a pressure that made Lu Mingfei’s legs feel weak. Nono timely supported him, helping him stand firm.

“Oh, I…” Lu Mingfei stared blankly. He had never felt this way before, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention, as if he were a kettle boiling on a stove, ready to be burned by the gazes of the crowd.

“I told you not to wear those discounted clothes,” Nono waved her hand.

Two impeccably groomed girls pounced on him like wolves, swiftly removing Lu Mingfei’s clothes, though their hands were gentle. Lu Mingfei had no time to react; Nono pulled out a comb from her small bag and turned behind him to style his hair, feeling tender in a way that was between his mother and sister. The two girls, presumably store clerks from a clothing shop, held several suits and pairs of shoes, continuously offering them to Lu Mingfei for fitting and matching.

“This is our Ricardo M. Lu,” Nono said, playfully patting his face, her smile warm and caring.

Facing Lu Mingfei’s classmates, only he understood what she was doing. Nono gleefully pinched Lu Mingfei’s cheeks, shaping them like a fox or a pig. He knew she took pride in his lowly appearance. This little witch was never content with anyone being better than her; she could only overpower and rescue others, never the other way around.

“Zhao Menghua is intentionally messing with you, junior,” Nono whispered.

“How did you know?”

“I just used a bit of charm to make your little chubby friend spill the beans,” Nono replied, looking quite pleased with herself.

“Charm?”

“Just talking to him,” Nono’s grip on his face tightened, “Did you think I treat others with the same loyalty I show you?”

The two female clerks finally tucked a neatly folded handkerchief into Lu Mingfei’s pocket, seeking Nono’s opinion with their eyes.

Nono sized him up after the outfit change, furrowing her brow, “It’s acceptable, but it falls far short of Ricardo’s usual dressing standards.”

“Hello, everyone. Ricardo has an event tonight; we’re leaving now, so everyone enjoy yourselves and have fun,” Nono slightly bowed to Lu Mingfei’s classmates, displaying the flawless smile of a seasoned housekeeper, cold yet impossible to criticize.

“Ricardo?” Zhao Menghua asked.

“Ricardo M. Lu, that’s what we call him,” Nono replied.

“Let’s go! Shoulders back, chin up! Don’t just stand there!” Nono nudged Lu Mingfei at his waist.

Lu Mingfei nodded and obediently walked out, Nono linking her arm with his, a faint scent of perfume wafting from her. Unfortunately, at that moment, Nono seemed to be a little taller than Lu Mingfei, making it feel like an older sister was picking up her younger brother from school. Lu Mingfei thought that at this moment, Chen Wenwen was watching his back, leaning against Zhao Menghua. He had outshone Zhao Menghua, yet gained nothing in return.

Everything felt ephemeral, like fleeting light.

At the cinema entrance was a car, a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, red as flames. Lu Mingfei recalled reading in a car magazine that it cost around five million. He hesitated, glancing at Nono.

“Get in; act natural. They’re watching you from behind, so put on a look like ‘What’s a Ferrari? At home, we have Bugattis and Maybachs!’” Nono’s lips moved.

Lu Mingfei sat in the passenger seat, his hands resting obediently on his knees. Nono started the engine, and the Ferrari surged forward like a wild horse. Lu Mingfei knew he was drifting further away from his past, but he didn’t look back.

In the night, the Ferrari sped along the elevated road, both sides aglow with lights. The rapidly passing lights made Lu Mingfei feel like he was dreaming. He had transformed into a little firefly in this stream of light, surging forward with the other fireflies, unaware if there was an exit ahead.

Series Navigation

<< Dragon Raja; Chapter 22: Cassell’s Gate (20)Dragon Raja; Chapter 24: Cassell’s Gate (22) >>