RNP Chapter 49 The Banquet in Progress
Chapter 49 The Banquet in Progress
Lu Mingfei gripped the plate tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white.
He knew this would happen.
He knew someone would come to humiliate him and remind him that "he is not good enough for her".
But when I actually faced it, I still felt...very uncomfortable.
"I think it looks quite harmonious."
A calm voice broke in.
Lu Mingfei turned his head and saw Chu Zihang.
He was dressed formally today—a simple black suit, a white shirt, and no tie. But standing there, he was like a drawn sword, sharp, cold, and exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay.
Chu Zihang walked to Lu Mingfei's side, glanced at Lancelot, and looked at him with the indifferent expression one might give a piece of furniture:
"The value of clothes is not measured in money. Nor is the value of one's character."
Frank's expression changed.
Chu Zihang is a unique figure at Kassel College. He is the president of the Lionheart Society, possesses a Super A-grade bloodline, and wields the Word of Power, the Flame of the Sovereign; his strength is unfathomable. More importantly, he never participates in any factional struggles and never cares about the opinions of others. He is like an isolated island, detached from all conflicts.
But now, this isolated island is actually speaking up for Lu Mingfei?
"President Chu," Frank forced a smile, "I was just joking..."
"It's not funny." Chu Zihang interrupted him, his tone still calm. "If there's nothing else, you can leave. Lu Mingfei and I have something to discuss."
Frank's face darkened further, but he dared not retaliate and could only leave dejectedly.
The onlookers dispersed.
Chu Zihang's deterrent power is top-notch in Kassel.
"Thank you, senior brother," Lu Mingfei said softly.
Chu Zihang glanced at him and nodded: "No need to thank me. I just don't like seeing people bully the weak."
Lu Mingfei choked.
The weak...
Although it's true, it still sounds a bit hurtful.
"However," Chu Zihang paused, "you can actually handle it yourself."
"Me?" Lu Mingfei asked blankly.
"You're S-rank," Chu Zihang said. "The victor of a day of freedom. The hero of Bronze City. You have enough to do without anyone's protection."
He looked at Lu Mingfei, and in his ever-burning golden eyes, Lu Mingfei's somewhat flustered face was reflected:
"Be confident, Lu Mingfei. You are stronger than you think."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Lu Mingfei standing there alone, blankly digesting his words.
Be more confident.
You are more powerful than you think.
really?
Lu Mingfei looked down at his hands.
These hands have wielded folding knives in the Bronze City, sung the Rhine, and triggered an explosion equivalent to 50,000 tons of TNT.
These hands, perhaps... aren't really that weak?
"Hey, junior brother!"
Fingel suddenly appeared out of nowhere, carrying two plates, one piled high with lobster and the other with caviar. He handed the lobster plate to Lu Mingfei: "Eat up! Eat up! I just calculated that if we eat twenty lobsters, we'll break even on the suit rental!"
Lu Mingfei took the plate and looked at the golden-brown, steaming lobsters. Suddenly, he felt... it wasn't so unbearable after all.
At least, there's free lobster to eat.
At least, I have a carefree senior like Fingel to keep me company.
At least, there's Nono... who likes him.
He picked up a lobster and began to peel it.
The movements were still clumsy, but at least the hands were no longer shaking.
Halfway through the banquet, Caesar walked onto the small stage in the center of the banquet hall.
The musicians stopped playing, and everyone fell silent, looking at the stage.
Caesar stood under the lights, a microphone in hand, his white suit gleaming softly. He scanned the banquet hall, his gaze lingering on Nono for a second before shifting away.
"Thank you all for coming tonight." His voice, calm, elegant, and full of leadership charisma, resonated throughout the banquet hall through the sound system. "The student council holds this banquet every year to enhance understanding among members and to welcome new members."
His gaze turned in Lu Mingfei's direction:
"This year, we have a special new member—Lu Mingfei. S-class bloodline, winner of the Day of Freedom, hero of the Bronze City mission."
All eyes were on Lu Mingfei.
Lu Mingfei froze, the lobster claw in his hand falling into the plate with a crisp sound.
"Although Lu Mingfei has not officially joined the student council yet," Caesar continued, "I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the student council, to extend my welcome and congratulations to him."
He raised his champagne glass:
"Respect to Lu Mingfei. Respect to courage. Respect to...a new beginning."
Everyone raised their glasses.
Lu Mingfei hurriedly put down the plate, picked up the champagne glass handed to him by the waiter, and raised it as well.
"Respect Lu Mingfei!" someone shouted.
"Respect Lu Mingfei!" More people echoed.
Applause erupted.
Lu Mingfei stood there blankly, looking at the people around him raising their glasses, at the smiles on their faces, whether sincere or insincere, at Caesar's calm gaze on the stage, at Nono smiling at him from not far away...
Suddenly, I feel that this world is truly magical.
An hour earlier, he thought this was an insult directed at him.
Now, however, he has become the focus of the banquet, being toasted by everyone.
Is this...Kassel?
Is this... the world of hybrids?
Complex, contradictory, full of calculation, but also... a little bit of warmth?
Lu Mingfei tilted his head back and downed the champagne in his glass in one gulp.
The liquid was icy cold, with a stimulating sensation from the bubbles, as it slid down my throat and into my stomach.
A bit bitter.
But the aftertaste is sweet.
Beyond the Golden Screen: The Real World - Kassel College Training Ground
In the real world, Lu Mingfei was lying on the ground, panting heavily.
Sweat soaked his training clothes, his hair clung to his forehead, and his hands trembled slightly from holding the knife for so long. Opposite him, Chu Zihang sheathed his sword, his golden eyes gleaming coldly under the training ground lights.
"That's all for today," Chu Zihang said, his voice still calm. "Your foundation is too weak; you need to start from scratch."
Lu Mingfei struggled to get up, feeling as if every muscle in his body was protesting.
From eight in the morning to six in the evening, for a full ten hours, he trained—physical training, swordsmanship training, firearms training, dragon chanting training… each one pushing him to his limit.
Chu Zihang was a terrifyingly strict instructor.
He won't curse or mock you; he'll simply point out your mistakes in the most direct way and ask you to repeat them a hundred times until you get it right.
After ten hours, Lu Mingfei felt as if he had been disassembled and reassembled.
"Thank you, senior brother," he said, panting.
Chu Zihang nodded, turned to leave, but stopped and looked back at him:
"In the light screen, you will be attending the student council's banquet tonight."
Lu Mingfei was stunned.
Dinner?
He had only trained for a day and his whole body ached. All he wanted to do was go back to his dorm and lie down. He had no energy to attend any banquet.
"There's no banquet in real life," Chu Zihang said. "But you can go and see it."
"What are you looking at?"
"Look at the screen," Chu Zihang said. "See how another version of you faces that situation."
He paused, then added:
"That's also a form of training."
After saying that, he left the training ground.
Lu Mingfei stood there, processing what he had just heard.
Seeing another version of yourself attending a dinner party?
What would that look like?
He couldn't imagine it.
But he knew that Chu Zihang must have his reasons for showing it to him.
Lu Mingfei dragged his tired body out of the training field and headed towards the central square.
He wanted to see.
See what I am doing in another world.