Vol2 Chapter 23: Small talk
Bai Ci was waiting by the vent entrance for Lu Mingfei when, unexpectedly, Xia Mi showed up and handed her a bowl of silver ear soup.
Bai Ci could cook—she was a pro at instant noodles. In the culinary world, Zero was Cassell’s undisputed master, and even her picky palate had to praise “Chef Bai’s” noodle skills.
As for other dishes, Zero’s verdict was “edible.” For Xia Mi’s silver ear soup, Bai Ci had nothing but admiration.
“Thanks, it’s delicious.”
“Hehe, Senior Sister, I’ll make it for you again next time!”
Xia Mi stuck out her tongue playfully, then aimed her camera at the vent, as if waiting for something.
When a figure finally emerged from the vent, click—the flash blazed.
A second figure appeared, and she snapped another shot.
“What were you two seniors doing in the vent? Some shady business?” Xia Mi giggled, covering her mouth. “Or do you have some unspeakable secret?”
Lu Mingfei felt an inexplicable twinge of guilt.
“Junior Sister, did the photos come out nice? Let Senior see!”
“No way! I know what you’re up to, Second Senior!”
Second Senior? The nickname was so quirky, Lu Mingfei suddenly felt like he’d turned into Zhu Bajie.
“No!” Xia Mi dodged nimbly, her movements agile.
“Senior, Senior Sister, save me! Senior Lu’s trying to steal my camera!”
Xia Mi circled Bai Ci and Chu Zihang like they were pillars, shouting dramatically. The hotel’s drowsy security guard perked up, watching the playful young group with a wistful smile, marveling at youth’s vibrance.
A whistle blew—the sailing race began. Chu Zihang called them to stop and led them to watch.
Xia Mi and Lu Mingfei sat far apart. Chu Zihang meant to sit by Lu Mingfei, but Xia Mi dragged him to her side, claiming she feared Lu would snatch her camera.
“Xia Mi probably won’t give the photos to Fingel,” Bai Ci said, offering Lu Mingfei a bag of chips. “Want some?”
“I know, just teasing her.” Lu Mingfei grinned, taking the chips. “Got tomato flavor?”
“Nope.”
“Why no tomato flavor?” Lu Mingfei protested.
“Because Lay’s doesn’t make tomato flavor. I like lime or cucumber—pick one,” Bai Ci said, sitting beside him and tossing him the bag.
“Lime, then.” Lu Mingfei grabbed a pack.
“Didn’t you buy a ton of snacks earlier?”
“Ate ‘em all. They say ‘grab a bite,’ and I really grabbed a bite,” Lu Mingfei wailed. “Plus, Xia Mi made silver ear soup for you and Senior, but not me. So biased!”
“I could make you some,” Bai Ci said casually, opening a cola.
“You only know instant noodles,” Lu Mingfei said, tossing chips into his mouth, crunching as he spoke.
“I can learn.” Bai Ci took a sip and passed him the can. “Worst case, I’ll ask Xia Mi to teach me.”
“Oh.” Lu Mingfei took it. “Pepsi’s too sweet. Coke’s better.”
“My choice. Don’t like it, give it back.” Bai Ci glared.
“I’ll take a sip. Dry chips are choking.” Lu Mingfei drank, then handed it back.
“Eating that much at once will choke you,” Bai Ci said, taking a sip.
“More is better—tastes great.” Lu Mingfei opened a cucumber-flavored pack.
“No taste. One chip at a time is best,” Bai Ci shot back, snatching a chip from him. “Don’t eat them all.”
“There’s tons at the convenience store. It’s an American brand.”
“These are from China. They taste different.”
“How?”
“China’s are fresher, more fragrant.”
“Maybe they add more chemicals?” Lu Mingfei stuffed a handful in his mouth.
“Some say instant noodle sauerkraut is foot-pickled by old ladies. You believe that too?” She passed him the cola again.
“Don’t jinx it. I got sick after eating some once,” Lu Mingfei said, taking a sip.
“Your body’s weak. I eat it all the time, no problem.” Bai Ci grabbed another chip.
“Maybe it’s the dragon blood. Professor Guderian said higher bloodlines mean less sickness.”
“By that logic, you’d never get sick.” Bai Ci leaned close, whispering, “You’re a Dragon King, after all.”
Lu Mingfei blushed, shrinking back.
“A Dragon King as pathetic as me? Plus, I’ve done nothing in a year at school.”
Bai Ci sat back, munching chips.
“No rule says a king has to do anything. A brave knight proves himself with countless victories, his glory shining in their eyes. A king doesn’t need that—he just sits there, and the glory shines for him.”
“Bit much.” Lu Mingfei’s mouth twitched. “Should I get crowned back at school?”
“It’s cold, General Lu. Time to bundle up.” Bai Ci thought for a moment. “You’d better make me a high official—I’ve got merits for supporting the dragon.”
“What should I call you? Consort?”
“Consort, my ass.” Bai Ci rolled her eyes. “I’m your ride-or-die, your sworn sibling, and you’re brushing me off?”
“Then Zitong.” Lu Mingfei dug into his literature club trivia. (Zitong, from the Spring and Autumn period, was a lord’s term for his wife, derived from “small child” in The Analects, with “zi” symbolizing auspicious heirs and nobility.)
“What’s that?”
“More important than any general—second only to the emperor.”
“That big? Fine, you be emperor, I’ll be Zitong.” Bai Ci sipped her cola. “The great Emperor Lu Mingfei will be crowned at Cassell.”
“Don’t dream. If anyone’s crowned, it’s Caesar, with Nono as his queen.”
“Everyone gets their moment. I read a novel with a great line: ‘Thirty years east, thirty years west—don’t mock a poor youth.’”
“Battle Through the Heavens? That guy had a ring grandpa to guide his training. I don’t.”
“You’re a Dragon King. Why need a grandpa?” Bai Ci pulled out a thermal bag, handing him a popsicle. “A true king doesn’t need that. A perfect ant is still an ant. A flawed king is still a king.”
“Too many novels making you this chuunibyou?”
“Also watched a lot of anime.”
“You know I’m dangerous, yet you keep hanging around. Not scared I’ll snap and take you out?”
“Not scared.” Bai Ci licked her popsicle. “If you snap, I’ll knock you out.”
“Please, Sister, don’t kill me.”
“Then I’ll beg Brother not to kill me first.” Bai Ci turned, flashing a radiant smile.
Lu Mingfei grinned, turning to the race. Caesar, unsurprisingly, took the championship…