Dragons begin with courage

The following night, at the Amber House.

It was a veritable sea of ​​roses. Thousands upon thousands of deep red roses, glistening with dew picked at dawn and bearing their sharp thorns, stretched like a luxurious blood-red carpet from the steps all the way to the gilded gate. The intoxicating fragrance mingled with the dazzling lights of the new student council building, proclaiming the owner's unparalleled wealth and taste. A large group of student reporters, cameras in hand, were gathered at the entrance, eager to capture the figure of the Gattuso family heir tonight.

"What are you doing here?" Lu Mingfei tugged at his rented black suit with slightly worn cuffs and glanced at Fingel, who looked equally presentable (but still had a slovenly demeanor).

"Nonsense, of course I'm here to freeload!" Fingel declared matter-of-factly, his eyes already fixed on the long buffet table faintly visible inside the building. "I heard the student council's meal tonight is a custom-made meal by a three-Michelin-starred chef. Junior, my stomach is counting on you!"

The two mingled with the elegantly dressed crowd. Just as they stepped into the hall, clear and powerful applause echoed from the end of the corridor. Lu Mingfei turned and saw Caesar Gattuso standing there.

A perfectly tailored white tuxedo accentuated his tall and imposing figure, his golden hair shimmering luxuriously under the crystal chandelier. Tiny diamonds arranged in an iris pattern on the snow-white lace handkerchief at his collar sparkled subtly with his breath. A slight smile played on his lips as his icy blue eyes swept over Lu Mingfei, a smile tinged with scrutiny, a hint of appreciation, and a natural, aloofness befitting a superior. It was unclear whether it was a welcome or some form of declaration.

The ball began, and the melody of a waltz flowed through the air. Lu Mingfei, well aware of his own limitations, and Fingel, like two groundhogs who had strayed into Swan Lake, precisely scurried to the buffet area laden with delicacies, launching a fierce attack on the mountain of Maine lobsters. He mechanically chewed the sweet lobster meat while watching the center of the dance floor—Caesar and Nono were dancing gracefully.

Nono changed into a burgundy off-the-shoulder gown, twirling like a leaping flame under Caesar's lead. Her face wore her usual bright yet slightly aloof smile, perfectly complementing Caesar's dazzling presence. They were the focus of the dance floor, the king and queen of this luxurious world.

As Lu Mingfei watched, an old Cantonese song inexplicably echoed in his mind: Eason Chan's "Exaggeration." The lyrics pierced him like needles:

I'll answer if someone asks me, but nobody comes.

I was looking forward to something, but unfortunately, I couldn't get my words loaded.

My feelings were like a bottle cap being lifted.

[But the mouth is growing moss]

That year at my alma mater's dance party, I stood like a lackey.

At that time, I swore through my tears that you all must see me.

There are too many ordinary and mundane paths in this world.

Of course, Lu Mingfei's current situation is somewhat different from that in the lyrics; at least he is being seen.

"That... Asian boy with wasabi on his lips, is he the new 'S' class?" On the spiral staircase, several girls dressed in high-end custom-made dresses whispered among themselves, their eyes sweeping over Lu Mingfei's ordinary-looking rented suit without any attempt to hide it.

"I heard he comes from a very ordinary background, from China."

"China? That kind of place..."

"That suit...tsk tsk, the material looks really bad, probably a cheap 'Made in China' product."

Lu Mingfei heard it, but he simply picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth, his heart unusually calm. Having experienced the "social death" of being treated like background noise after confessing his love in a movie theater, this level of pointing and whispering was like a gentle breeze. He hadn't come here today to fit into this "elite" masquerade ball.

As one song ended, a new tango melody began, and people started exchanging partners on the dance floor.

Just then, a silver figure, like a Siberian cold front, precisely and swiftly sliced ​​through the crowd and stopped directly in front of Lu Mingfei.

She was a petite Russian girl with snow-white skin and delicate, doll-like features. Lu Mingfei remembered her; in exam room 3E, she had sat not far away, as quiet as an ice sculpture. Now, she had changed into a silver cocktail dress, her long, pale blonde hair styled in an updo, revealing her swan-like neck. Her eyes were indifferent, yet she exuded an undeniable aura. Her appearance instantly attracted the attention of those around her.

She said nothing, but slightly raised her chin and looked at Lu Mingfei. The gesture was not an invitation, but more like a silent, queen-like command—you should dance with me.

Fingel nearly choked on his caviar, frantically gesturing to Lu Mingfei with his eyes: Go for it, brother! This opportunity has been delivered right to our doorstep!

However, Lu Mingfei looked at the girl's calm, icy blue eyes, then at the cream puff he had just picked up, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and pondered for a second.

Then, he shook his head politely but clearly:

"Sorry, I don't want to dance. You should find someone else."

I refused!

He actually rejected the invitation from this girl who was like an ice queen!

Fingel stared in disbelief, nearly dropping his plate. The surrounding whispers vanished instantly, replaced by astonished gazes. Even the Russian girl—Zero—showed a tiny crack in her perpetually icy expression, a pure look of surprise. To her, this wasn't even a viable option.

Not far away, Nono was holding a glass of champagne. Seeing this scene, she raised an eyebrow, a genuine surprise and interest flashing in her eyes. This loser… seems to have really changed. Refusing zero? That requires more than just courage; it requires a pure, almost ungrateful, self-assurance.

Lu Mingfei seemed completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere. He even carefully shifted two steps to avoid facing Zero directly, and then continued to focus on his little cake, as if food was the only important truth at that moment.

Zero's face quickly regained its icy calm, as if the ripples from before had never occurred. She nodded slightly, said nothing, turned and disappeared into the crowd, her posture still elegant, as if she had merely completed an insignificant route planning task.

"This year's freshmen are really interesting." Caesar walked up to Nono at some point and said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over Lu Mingfei and then across the direction where Zero disappeared. It was unclear who he was referring to more as "interesting."

At that moment, the music stopped. The student council's discipline minister tapped the microphone on the second-floor platform: "Now, please welcome the student council president, Cesare Gattuso, to give us a speech."

All the murmurs subsided completely. Whether it was the mysterious Russian freshman or the unconventional S-class Lu Mingfei, both temporarily paled in comparison to Caesar's imminent entrance. Caesar handed the crystal glass to a waiter and slowly ascended the spiral staircase, each step steady and powerful. He stood before the microphone, his icy blue eyes sweeping across the room like a hawk's—a dominance he possessed from birth.

"I was very disappointed when I first arrived at Kassel College," Caesar began, his voice carrying clearly and magnetically through the speakers to every corner. He paused, and amidst everyone's puzzled gazes, raised his chin.

"Because there are...too many people here!"

"The true elite," he raised his voice, a sharp glint in his eyes, "will never be the majority!"

He smiled faintly, a smile that was confident and radiant. "Thank you all for coming. I am delighted to see such a distinguished group of people of our age gathered here tonight." He held up one finger, his tone resolute. "Our guests in the Gattuso family are always the elite!"

After a brief silence, thunderous applause erupted! Everyone felt their blood boil; the sense of honor of being recognized and included in the "elite" circle made their faces flush.

"But this academy! The mission we bear!" Caesar's voice suddenly rose, full of fervor. He waved his hand sharply, pointing to the void, as if dragons and destiny were hovering there, "It will ultimately be upheld by the best and the most mad! Now, please allow me, in my capacity as the president of this student council—"

He opened his arms wide, as if embracing a future king:

"Welcome to the ranks of the madmen! Stand shoulder to shoulder with the true elite!"

The atmosphere reached its peak! The cheers were so loud they almost lifted the roof off.

At the height of the excitement, with everyone watching and their blood boiling, Caesar's gaze swept across the crowd, precisely locking onto the figure still "battling" with the dessert. He pointed at Lu Mingfei, his voice coming through the microphone, clear and undeniable:

"Lu Mingfei!"

All eyes in the room, like spotlights, instantly focused on Lu Mingfei. He still had half a piece of cake in his mouth, looking up blankly.

"Please come up," Caesar said, maintaining an inviting gesture, his tone both commanding and friendly, "and stand with me."

This was a coronation, a recognition, an opportunity that countless people dreamed of, a chance to rise to the top in one step. The student council members watched him excitedly, waiting for him to run excitedly up the stairs and shake the president's hand.

Lu Mingfei blinked and slowly swallowed the cake. He glanced at Caesar, who was radiating brilliance on the second floor, then at Nono, who was holding a wine glass not far away, and finally, his gaze swept over the rented suit he was wearing, which looked out of place with his surroundings.

He scratched his head, a shy, slightly dejected smile that seemed all too familiar to Fingel, and began to speak as if quite embarrassed:

"An elite... with a powerful boss protecting him and a beautiful senior sister looking after him, it certainly sounds like the perfect life..."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough in the suddenly quiet hall. Many people wore smiles of "I knew it" on their faces.

However, the shyness on Lu Mingfei's face vanished instantly the next second, replaced by a strange expression that mixed mockery and seriousness. He straightened his back (despite the ill-fitting suit), mimicking a slightly exaggerated pose he'd picked up somewhere, pointed a finger straight at Caesar on the second floor, and said loudly in a clear, almost provocative tone:

"But I refuse!"

"One of the things I, Lu Mingfei, most wanted to do after entering Kassel College—" He paused, as if savoring the earth-shattering effect of his words, then said, enunciating each word clearly, "is to say 'no' to those who think they're on high and can arbitrarily order others around!"

Dead silence.

An absolute, frozen stillness instantly engulfed the entire Amber Pavilion.

The atmosphere, which had been electric just moments before, brimming with enthusiasm and a sense of shared destiny, was shattered by this sudden and blunt rejection. The excitement on the student council members' faces vanished like a receding tide, replaced by shock, bewilderment, and a rapidly rising tide of offended anger. Their leader's invitation had been rejected in public by a freshman?!

For the first time, Caesar's smile truly froze, and his icy blue pupils contracted slightly. His meticulously prepared speech, capable of igniting the passion of any young person, his unquestionable invitation of a king… all seemed like a laughable one-man show in front of this S-class freshman. He had anticipated all sorts of reactions, but this was one he hadn't considered.

Nono's champagne glass swayed slightly, the liquid rippling. Looking at the boy standing ramrod straight in the center of the room, his eyes gleaming with an astonishing light, she realized for the first time that her profiling skills had drastically deviated. This wasn't a little white rabbit at all; he was more like… a wolf in sheep's clothing, daring to bare its teeth at the lion king.

Lu Mingfei stood there, enduring the gazes from all directions, his heart pounding in his chest, but strangely, he felt no fear, only an unprecedented, almost exhilarating clarity.

He knew that from this moment on, his "path" at Kassel College would be completely different.

Lu Mingfei refused, and refused two of them: Zero, who was like a queen, and Caesar, who was like an emperor!

Mingfei's earth-shattering "I refuse" was like pouring a ladle of ice water into a boiling oil pan.

After a brief silence, a sudden, explosive uproar erupted, filled with the anger of those who felt offended!

"Who does he think he is?!"

"A freshman! How dare he! How dare he speak to Chairman Caesar like that?!"

"I've suspected it for a long time! I heard he didn't have any normal 'spiritual vision' during the 3E exam, he was like a wooden doll! S-rank? The evaluation system is probably faulty, or he used some shady methods!"

"Exactly, coming from a place like that, do they even know what true elites and honor are? They're probably never even wearing a suit before!"

Malicious speculation, condescending disdain, anger defending the leader… countless voices surged from all around the dance floor, from the second-floor corridor, and from the shadows cast by the crystal chandeliers, converging into a wave of criticism directed at Lu Mingfei. This was not surprising; this was Amber Hall, the student council's domain. Lu Mingfei's refusal was tantamount to tearing up a royal decree at a king's coronation. He stood alone, in opposition to the sentiments of all the "elites."

Lu Mingfei calmly picked up the wine glass he had just set down. The amber liquid in the glass swirled slightly, reflecting the dazzling lights.

He didn't look at Caesar on the second floor, but instead turned his gaze to Nono, who was next to Caesar and was looking at him with a complicated and unfathomable expression.

Lu Mingfei raised his glass, facing Nuonuo, and a smile suddenly bloomed on his face. The smile was unlike his usual timid demeanor, nor was it deliberately flamboyant; instead, it possessed a strange calmness and seriousness.

"It's more polite to refuse a girl's invitation face-to-face, right, senior?"

He paused, his clear gaze meeting Nuonuo's bright yet now deep eyes, and said, word by word, clearly:

"So, I'm sorry, Senior Sister Nuonuo. I appreciate your 'recommendation' and 'care.'" He raised his glass, gave Nuonuo a slight nod, then tilted his head back and downed the drink in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed, his movements crisp and decisive, carrying a resolve that was unusual for his usual demeanor.

"I have decided to join the Lionheart Society." He put down his empty glass, the bottom of which made a crisp "tap" as it touched the marble tabletop, as if marking the end of his words.

"My own path—" He glanced one last time at Nono, then at the silent Caesar on the second floor, and at the crowd of people with varying expressions. His voice was not loud, but it carried a weight that cut off all retreat. "I will walk my own path."