Chapter 50

Maple Harbor's lighting was cool-toned and meticulously designed, focused on each dining table. Diners' faces appeared clear beneath the soft halo of light, while the surroundings sank into comfortable shadows.

A faint scent of sandalwood and cedar drifted through the air, mingled with the aromas of butter, vanilla, and other food. Low jazz played in the background.

It should have been a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, but to Lu Mingfei, every second felt like walking a tightrope.

The moment he reached the restaurant entrance, a waiter in a perfectly tailored dark uniform opened the door for him. Then Lu Mingfei discovered in surprise that there was not a single other person in the restaurant.

"Mr. Ricardo M. Lu, your table is ready."

Footsteps on the marble tiles were swallowed by the velvet carpet as Lu Mingfei followed the waiter through the empty dining area.

Lu Mingfei's eyelid twitched as he asked:

"Are the other guests... not here yet?"

"The restaurant is closed to all other diners from seven to nine tonight."

The waiter pulled out his chair, a hint of confusion beneath his flawlessly polite smile.

"When your assistant called, they emphasized your need for privacy. We specifically declined all reservations."

Lu Mingfei abruptly grabbed his collar and loosened his shirt a little. Like a fish deprived of oxygen, his breathing grew rapid.

No wonder he had not seen anyone else. No wonder this supposedly booming restaurant had only the two of them as guests. It was all because—

Mr. Ricardo M. Lu had booked the entire place!

He could practically see the string of zeros in his bank account come alive, turning into little birds and slowly flying away one by one.

The waiter brought Lu Mingfei's chilled sparkling wine. Droplets of condensation slid down the glass like someone's shattered sanity.

Lu Mingfei sat opposite Zero, his back straight and his hands properly placed on his knees like a criminal awaiting judgment.

Zero sat quietly, her calm eyes sweeping over the menu while her long eyelashes trembled faintly.

Thanks to his superhuman senses, Lu Mingfei could practically count every one of Zero's eyelashes...

She ordered pan-seared lobster tail, following the waiter's recommendations for all the side dishes. Her voice was as crisp and cool as ever.

Lu Mingfei hurriedly ordered the exact same thing, plus a vegetable salad, praying that the food would arrive soon and fill the suffocating silence.

He secretly glanced at Zero. She was not wearing her uniform today. Instead, she wore a beautiful white evening gown that made her pale gold hair and snow-like skin seem even more crystalline.

"Um... about the last lab class..."

Lu Mingfei gathered his courage and decided to confess his crime.

"I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to forget about it. It's just that I've been really busy lately..."

He spoke so quickly that he practically wanted to tear out his heart and prove how remorseful he was.

"Look, your hair... you can't tell at all now, right? It's still perfect!"

The moment Lu Mingfei finished speaking, he wanted to bite off his own tongue.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Zero's gaze finally left her plate and settled on his face.

"Mhm."

She merely gave a soft acknowledgment, accepting his apology—or perhaps she had never intended to waste any more emotion on the matter.

"About tonight's ball..."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head and said:

"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked you at the last minute and made you turn down the Student Union's invitation."

"Mhm."

The same crisp syllable.

Lu Mingfei felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Why did this Russian girl talk even less than Melina? At least Melina told riddles. This emotionless girl across from him really could not be made to utter a word even with three blows from a stick!

Just when Lu Mingfei thought he would have to endure this agonizing atmosphere all evening, Zero spoke.

Her voice was flat and clear, without a trace of emotion.

"Last time, thank you for saving me."

Lu Mingfei thought he had misheard and raised his head in confusion.

"When?"

"Three Gorges."

Zero was concise.

"Oh, oh, oh..."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head awkwardly.

"It was nothing, just part of the job. Don't the Academy instructors always say, 'Slaying dragons is our destiny'? Whoever had been there then..."

"They would not have faced the Dragon King directly and killed him."

Zero said it lightly.

"It wasn't all my credit."

Lu Mingfei waved his hands in embarrassment.

"Didn't you and Caesar launch the Storm Torpedo and badly wound Norton? If you hadn't weakened him, I wouldn't have had the chance to fight him hand-to-hand. We'd all have died in the flames of Candle Dragon..."

That was the official account of the Bronze Project.

In theory, Norton had abandoned his self-development and rushed to merge with the Dragon Servant Samson in order to temporarily gain enough power to unleash Candle Dragon.

Yet he had not done so. Instead, he had willingly fought Lu Mingfei underwater and ultimately died. The Academy could only conclude that Norton had suffered severe injuries, leaving the fusion unstable and preventing him from releasing that high-risk Word Spirit.

Only Lu Mingfei knew the real truth.

Little Devil's transferred power and cheating command had restrained Norton, limiting his strength in a manner similar to Commandment.

The main course, pan-seared lobster tail, arrived. Two enormous lobster tails had been fried to an enticing golden brown, drizzled with fragrant butter and resting on pristine white bone china.

Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief, picked up his knife and fork, and prepared to turn awkwardness into appetite.

But Zero spoke again.

"Do you think so too?"

"Hm?"

Lu Mingfei blanked for a moment, then realized what she was asking.

Slaying dragons was their destiny... was it?

He suddenly remembered what the old knight had said.

No, that was not his destiny.

Lu Mingfei shook his head.

"Maybe slaying dragons is destined to be tangled up with me for the rest of my life, but it isn't my destiny. It's only one of my duties.

"As for destiny... I think it might be living for myself? It's just that I haven't found my goal yet. I don't believe in fate."

Zero nodded slightly and said no more.

Dinner continued in an even subtler, harder-to-describe atmosphere. Lu Mingfei kept his head down and ate, not daring to look Zero in the eye again. He only watched her from the corner of his vision.

When they left the restaurant, the cool evening breeze dispersed the lingering scents and warmth of the meal. The Academy's streetlights came on one after another, casting dim yellow halos through the dusk.

"So... what happened last time, does that mean... we're even?"

He asked tentatively, with a touch of hope.

Zero stopped and turned to face him. The light outlined her delicate profile, and her eyes gleamed.

She did not immediately answer whether they were even. Her gaze rested on Lu Mingfei's face, as though examining him—or considering something.

The brief silence stretched so long that Lu Mingfei nearly suffocated.

Then she nodded faintly, the movement so small it was almost imperceptible.

"Mhm."

Just when Lu Mingfei thought the evening's ordeal was finally over, Zero spoke again. Her voice was so soft that almost no one could have heard it.

But Lu Mingfei's abilities were equivalent to having Kamaitachi activated all year round. He could hear any sound within ten meters.

"You kept your promise."

She said.

Lu Mingfei did not understand.