Dragons begin with courage

A tall, slender figure walked in against the bright light streaming into the corridor, stepping through the silence. Her pace was not fast, yet it carried a rhythmic air of control over the entire space. Her gaze swept around like cold lightning, and no one dared to meet her eyes. Her excessively beautiful face was expressionless, radiating an almost indifferent coldness that was more oppressive than any anger or contempt.

Everyone, including Zhao Menghua who was about to declare victory, Chen Wenwen who was nestled in his arms, and the Xu brothers who were about to drive Lu Mingfei away, were all frozen in place, staring in astonishment at this uninvited guest.

It's too dazzling.

Her long, dark red hair was meticulously tied up, revealing her smooth forehead and graceful neck. She wore a finely tailored deep purple suit, a pale white silk blouse, and matching purple stockings that encased her long, straight legs. On her feet were a pair of high heels with heels as sharp as weapons. A full set of gold jewelry inlaid with amethyst shimmered with a cold, luxurious luster under the lights. Her style was completely different from before; her height, amplified by the higher heels, gave her an even more imposing presence, and her demeanor shifted abruptly from bright and unrestrained to an unattainable nobility and aloofness.

Lu Mingfei's legs went weak, and he almost lost his balance. He thought that after their parting at the hotel a few days ago, this mysterious "senior sister" had already left.

Nono's eyes swept across the entire audience, and in an instant, she understood the melodramatic scene unfolding on stage. She knew all too well how to break the deadlock with these eighteen-year-olds who were immersed in their own little world of joys and sorrows and took pride in wearing foreign designer brands.

She slightly raised her chin, her gaze landing precisely on the swaying Lu Mingfei. Her red lips parted slightly, and a pure, elegant English, seemingly imbued with the misty atmosphere of London and the old-world charm of a college, flowed out smoothly, echoing clearly in the silent screening room:

"Mr. Lu," her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power, "I'm afraid this is not the time for amateur theatricals."

She paused for half a second, her gaze sweeping over the stiff Zhao Menghua and the bewildered Chen Wenwen. A faint, almost pitying smile curved her lips as she continued, her speech steady, yet each word seemed to strike a chord deep within.

The academy has dispatched me to retrieve you. Your presence is required.

She emphasized the last sentence slightly, her gaze returning to Hui Lumingfei, carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"Mr. Lu, the world has more pressing matters than this."

Even if they couldn't understand English, the clear "Mr. Lu" and the resolute tone were enough for everyone to understand who the visitor was. Moreover, top students like Zhao Menghua, Chen Wenwen, and Su Xiaoqiang naturally understood.

Those who understood looked at Lu Mingfei in astonishment. This woman had come to see him?!

The college... could it be the Kassel College from the US that I interviewed with a while ago?! He passed the interview!!

After speaking, Nuonuo calmly walked down the steps, her high heels clicking crisply and rhythmically on the marble floor, each step seeming to tread on the tense heartstrings of everyone present. She walked to Lu Mingfei, who was almost unsteady on his feet, and seemingly casually but steadily supported his elbow, helping him to regain his balance, the movement as natural as brushing away a speck of dust.

Then, she continued forward, heading straight to the very front of the stage, to the row where Zhao Menghua and Chen Wenwen were. As she passed them, her steps didn't falter or deviate in the slightest; her gaze remained straight ahead, as if the newly formed "protagonists" were merely two insignificant stage props. Only in the fleeting moment of brushing past them did she glance almost imperceptibly at Chen Wenwen.

That glance held no emotion, no jealousy, no comparison, only a condescending indifference, purely based on species differences… as if a phoenix were gliding over a patch of grass, too lazy to even distinguish whether the creature beneath its feet was a pheasant or a quail.

That one glance made Chen Wenwen involuntarily shrink back, instinctively snuggling even closer into Zhao Menghua's arms. The sweetness and sense of security she had felt earlier vanished, leaving only a feeling of humility and helplessness crushed by an invisible pressure.

Nuonuo stood in front of the stage, turned around, and faced Lu Mingfei. She saw the dandelions scattered at his feet, already somewhat wilted, and his empty, helpless hands.

She suddenly smiled.

That smile, like a firework suddenly bursting on a frigid ice field, was dazzling and instantly illuminated the entire dim and oppressive screening room, blinding everyone. She gently raised her hand, not to take it, but with an effortless elegance, lightly lifting Lu Mingfei's hand, which seemed unsure where to place it. Her gaze fell on the remaining bouquet of flowers, and her voice, still clear and crisp, had softened strangely by a fraction:

"Are these for me? How… quaint."

She paused, her red lips parted slightly, and uttered two clear Chinese characters, a hint of playfulness in them, which strangely diluted the suffocating aloofness she had just displayed:

"Thanks."

Lu Mingfei was stunned by the sudden change in Nuonuo's aura. The overwhelming dizziness and shame from his failed confession seemed to have been abruptly cleaved and dispelled by an invisible blade. Like a nocturnal animal suddenly exposed to a bright light, he stood there dumbfounded, his lips moving as he tried to explain the meager bunch of dandelions: "This... is actually..."

Nono didn't give him a chance to finish speaking.

She reached out naturally, her fingertips touching the haphazardly knotted tie around Lu Mingfei's neck. Her movements weren't gentle; they even carried an undeniable efficiency. In a few swift motions, she untangled the embarrassing mess, straightening, tightening, and smoothing it out. Her deep purple nails contrasted beautifully with the black silk tie, creating a cold, detached aesthetic.

"From now on," she looked up at him slightly, close enough to see his bewildered face reflected in her eyes, her voice low but carrying an undeniable authority, "don't touch this kind of cheap, mass-produced stuff. Kassel College," she paused, her red lips curving into a smile that was somewhere between instruction and teasing, "has standards for students' appearance. After all, we represent more than just ourselves."

Her words, light and airy, were like a fine needle, precisely piercing the fragile bubble that had just formed between Zhao Menghua and Chen Wenwen in the screening room. She deftly removed Lu Mingfei from the role of the "failed confessor" who made him feel ashamed, and placed him into another, seemingly distant and mysterious framework—"a student of Kassel College."

And they were all losers rejected by Kassel!

Before Lu Mingfei could process those words, Nuonuo's fingers had already slid down, deftly wrapping around the neat hem of the tie and giving it a gentle tug.

It's not holding hands, nor linking arms. This gesture carries a peculiar intimacy and an undeniable sense of control, like an owner picking up the leash of a pet, or a dance partner giving a clear guiding signal.

"The college's chartered plane has been waiting at the airport for several days, and the fuel costs are quite high." She turned her head and gave Lu Mingfei a smile that, to others, could be described as charming, but which sent a chill down his spine. "Since we've said our goodbyes—" she glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Zhao Menghua and Chen Wenwen, who were clinging to each other, "then let's not dawdle. Come back to the college with me to register. You can't be late for your 'welcome party'."

After saying that, she actually took the tie and, as if leading a doll that hadn't yet come to its senses, turned and walked towards the exit. Lu Mingfei was pulled along by her and stumbled, almost involuntarily following her steps.

As she passed the group of petrified classmates, Nono didn't even stop completely. She merely tilted her head slightly, nodded in their direction, and wore the perfect, yet cold, standard smile that only a well-trained butler from an ancient family would have:

"Dear students, I apologize for interrupting your enjoyment. Lu Mingfei has an important event at the academy tonight, so we'll have to take our leave now."

Her tone was polite and considerate, and her words were appropriate, but she was as cold as the wind blowing across a frozen lake.