Chapter 280: Even a Loser Dog Can Be a Savior

Chapter 280: Even a Loser Dog Can Be a Savior

"Come on, Lu Mingfei," Lu Mingfei cheered himself on in the bathroom of Wanda Cinema, his reflection revealing a haggard and pale face with dark circles under his eyes—the aftermath of a night spent gaming.

Old Tang was particularly stubborn about certain things. Last night, he kept pulling Lu Mingfei to climb the leaderboard, saying that brothers are like limbs and women are like clothes. While Lu Mingfei might not have a chance with the goddess, Old Tang could be his gaming partner for life. Lu Mingfei had to weigh the importance of each.

Lu Mingfei claimed he could live without arms or legs, but he couldn't go out without clothes; that would be running naked. The police would arrest him for violating the Public Order Law and put him in jail. He was still young and didn't want a criminal record.

Old Tang, on the other hand, wanted to slap Lu Mingfei to wake him up and educate him about the legal consequences of running naked, which didn't leave a record.

This made Lu Mingfei wonder if he should write a death certificate for himself, letting go of his inhibitions after a possible confession rejection and creating an unforgettable memory for his youth.

However, considering his skinny monkey-like figure, his not-so-impressive assets, and the increasing number of netizens and the emerging live-streaming industry, Lu Mingfei abandoned this potentially tempting idea to a pervert.

But he still stayed up all night with Old Tang.

He had no choice; losers had too few friends.

So few that even a stranger online could keep him up all night gaming despite the pressure of confessing to Chen Wenwen the next day.

Part of it was also his inability to refuse people; being kind often led to being taken advantage of.

The vibration of his phone brought Lu Mingfei back to reality. He patted his face with trembling hands, trying to add a hint of color to his pale complexion.

In his haste, he hadn't had time to rent a suit, and confessing in this sorry state was like a nine-death-one-life situation. But with a glimmer of hope, he had to take action! Go, go, go! A real man doesn't back down; he had been timid for long enough; it was time to rise.

Lu Mingfei picked up his phone, and a strange number sent him a text message: "You're good at gaming. Want to be my henchman?"

Henchman? Who still wanted to play the mafia game these days? The wave of 'Triad Gangsters' had long passed. Digging holes in pants, piercing ears, and walking and talking in a cool manner wouldn't make others think you're cool; they'd think you're a mentally unstable young man. Brother, don't be so different!

Lu Mingfei didn't get angry; this wasn't the time to lose his temper. He sent back a smiley face and a request: "Brother, I'm confessing today. Wish me luck."

Soon, he received a brief reply: "Okay."

"Thank you!"

A good start?

Even a prankster was willing to give him face; there was no reason for Chen Wenwen to refuse. Although he wasn't Red-Haired Shanks with the Face-Face Fruit, he was still Lu Fei plus the sun and moon.

Just two words: Awesome!

Lu Mingfei put away his phone, straightened his chest, and lifted his chin, trying to look more imposing in the mirror.

Classmate Zhao Menghua walked into the bathroom, "What are you doing?"

"Um... my neck is a bit sore; I want to stretch it a bit. Do I look like Jingke (the protagonist of the second season of 'Jojo's Bizarre Adventure')?"

"You look like Don Quixote."

Menghua handed him a bag, "Here are some clothes. Change into these for your speech later. Chen Wenwen said to dress formally for the speech."

Inside the bag was a two-button Korean-style black suit, a white shirt, and a thin black tie, all in Lu Mingfei's slim size.

He was touched. Zhao Menghua had always been among those who looked down on him, but today, he was offering assistance. What a good person!

After Menghua left, Lu Mingfei quickly changed into the suit. The cheap, one-size-fits-all clothing didn't fit perfectly, but it was much better than what he had worn earlier.

A great start x2!

The advantage was his!

"What are you doing?" A female voice startled Lu Mingfei, and he turned to see Su Xiaochang, the "Little Fairy" of the class, standing at the bathroom door, looking at him coldly.

He was so startled that he cried out, hugging his chest with both hands and lifting his right leg, looking like a virtuous woman caught in an awkward situation by a bully.

"When did you get here?"

"Before you changed clothes, for sure."

"Then I must have been seen by you."

Lu Mingfei blurted this out, feeling a bit embarrassed, and silently thanked Zhao Menghua for not including underwear in the outfit.

Su Xiaochang didn't respond; she just looked at Lu Mingfei with disdain, her beautiful eyes expressing her disapproval of his skinny figure.

"I hope you can win Chen Wenwen's heart, but you have no chance in your current state."

"Yeah, I know. I also wish you success in pursuing Zhao Menghua."

Lu Mingfei smiled, and this non-threatening response left the usually haughty Little Fairy speechless. She could only hum and leave in frustration.

He entered the screening room and saw Xu Yanyan and Xu Miaomiao, the twin brothers, staring at him with an indescribable expression. They were also wearing the same suit as him, and their plump figures filled out the suits, making them look like two small 'o's.

"You'll stand here for your speech," Zhao Menghua pointed to a copy of paper in front of the screen, "Stand right here, don't block the screen. Later, the literary society's photos will be displayed on the big screen."

Lu Mingfei felt a knot in his heart; the first mistake of the day had occurred.

He had swapped his uncle's Zhonghua cigarettes for two packs of fakes, intending to return one and give the other to the projectionist grandpa, hoping the grandpa would play a touching scene at the right moment. But now, his plan had fallen through, and he had no idea what to do next.

His head was already throbbing from staying up late, and now it felt completely blank. He was pushed onto the stage, feeling helpless, and his grand ambitions instantly diminished by half.

What should he do? Should he continue with the plan and shout to the world, "Chen Wenwen, I like you"?

Suddenly, the bright light came on, and the projector started.

Lu Mingfei instinctively closed his eyes, but the light wasn't as dazzling as he expected. He lifted his head, and the projector adjusted its angle, shining the bright light onto the top of the projection room. The light illuminated the dark room, creating a soft and gentle ambiance.

At the same time, he heard Zhao Menghua's angry roar.

"What the hell are you doing?! The spotlight should be on the stage!"

Lu Mingfei turned to look, and saw Zhao Menghua, holding a large bouquet of roses, his face turning dark as he scolded the projectionist for unprofessionalism and demanded to know his intentions.

Lu Mingfei turned his gaze, and saw Xu Yanyan and Xu Miaomiao standing like bowling pins on his left, while a huge English letter "L" stood motionless on his right.

I Love You!

The carefully arranged English letters, combined with Lu Mingfei and the Xu brothers, formed the words "I Love You" in English. Together with Zhao Menghua's words about "spotlighting the stage," it all made sense.

Lu Mingfei looked at Chen Wenwen; the maiden was as serene and beautiful as ever, with a puzzled expression on her face, and a hint of unease, as if she was also wondering what had gone wrong.

He glanced around at the others, and everyone seemed confused by the situation, except for him and the giant English letter that shouldn't have been on the stage.

Lu Mingfei felt his body gradually growing cold, from his heart to his fingertips, and his consciousness began to fade, as if nothing in the world mattered anymore.

He finally understood.

This wasn't a farewell to the Literary Society, but Zhao Menghua's grand confession to Chen Wenwen. It seemed that they had rehearsed or informed the actors beforehand, as everyone else knew what was going to happen, except him.

Amidst the commotion, a loud "Wow" of crying brought Lu Mingfei back to his senses. He lifted his head, and saw "Little Fairy" covering her face and running out. Only then did he realize that not only himself, but also the proud Little Fairy, had been kept in the dark.

Two idiots.

Two losers.

The only difference was that the female loser was beautiful, academically excellent, from a wealthy family, and had loving parents. She could regain her pride as the Little Fairy if she stopped liking Zhao Menghua.

As for Lu Mingfei, he had nothing.

Lu Mingfei managed a bitter smile, knowing that Zhao Menghua and Chen Wenwen were indeed a better match. He was average-looking, with an average build, and his grades hovered around the passing line. He was a semi-otaku...

His parents were often away, unable to support him. The money they sent back each year was divided among his uncle and aunt's family, funding his uncle's new BMW, his aunt's gambling habit, and Lu Mingze's extravagant spending at school. Lu Mingfei did chores and ran errands, earning just enough to scrape by.

A wave of exhaustion hit Lu Mingfei, and his spine seemed to collapse for a moment.

I know you're busy, flying all over the world, but your son is being bullied here. Can't you occasionally come back to support me? Even if you can't, can't you at least give me a hug and let me cry? Is that so difficult? I understand your situation, why can't you understand mine?

Lu Mingfei felt his eyes stinging, and he forced himself to look up at the illuminated ceiling to avoid crying. It would be too pitiful.

For this confession, he had turned down the offer from Cassel Academy, rejected Professor Guderian and Nonno, and possibly missed a turning point in his life. But in return, he was mocked.

Perhaps the only consolation was that Zhao Menghua's confession also went wrong. But why did it go wrong?

Lu Mingfei thought sadly and wearily, and from the corner of his eye, he saw a few staff members approaching. They moved the letters beside him and shooed away the chubby Xu brothers.

"Stop it, don't touch us!"

Xu Yanyan and Xu Miaomiao protested, but the staff members were firm. Zhao Menghua, already frustrated, became angrier, his veins popping out.

"What's going on? I paid for this!"

A middle-aged man in a well-fitted suit approached and offered a polite yet formal smile to Zhao Menghua.

"I'm sorry, the contract is void, and your money will be refunded."

"What do you mean, you're breaching the contract?!"

Zhao Menghua's eyes widened, feeling humiliated under the gaze of his classmates. His face turned red.

Shilan High School was an elite institution, filled with privileged young masters. Zhao Menghua was among the best, excelling in academics, sports, and coming from a wealthy family. He couldn't bear such an insult.

"Get your manager over here right now!"

"I'm very sorry."

The middle-aged man's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled without sincerity as he spoke, "Not long ago, someone acquired this cinema, and the new owner does not accept venue rental services. The breach of contract fee will be transferred to your account, but please understand that we can no longer serve you."

Zhao Menghua was so angry that his lips trembled. "Do you know who my father is?"

"You're welcome to introduce yourself. The new owner would be delighted to pay a visit and apologize."

The middle-aged man remained calm and unhurried. His actions caused Zhao Menghua's surging anger to subside instantly, and he looked at the man with uncertainty, gradually regaining his composure.

Wanda Cinema is a cinema chain under the Wanda Group, an important part of the cultural industry. Even if someone wanted to acquire it individually, they would have to go through a tedious process of applications and negotiations with the Wanda Group headquarters.

He had just booked the venue yesterday, and within less than a day, the acquisition was completed. The background of the buyer was probably not to be underestimated. Offending them might not be a wise choice, especially considering the middle-aged man's attitude...

Although Zhao Menghua might not live up to the honor of being the "Second Chu Zihan," he wasn't brainless. His cheeks twitched, and he apologized to his classmates with a sullen face.

"Sorry, everyone. Something unexpected came up. Let's change the venue, and I'll cover all the expenses."

The students below the stage were stunned by this sudden change, but they quickly recovered and started chattering.

"Zhao, you're so generous and open-minded!"

"It's okay, it's okay. It doesn't matter where we gather."

"Actually, we've been wanting to change the venue, but we didn't want to inconvenience the class representative..."

As soon as these words were spoken, many eyes turned to Chen Wenwen. The girl with a literary temperament blushed, appearing slightly embarrassed, but she didn't refute. She just lowered her head slightly, looking gentle and fragile, like a picture of serenity.

Zhao Menghua felt a little relieved by the support from his classmates. He looked up, and on the stage, Lu Mingfei was still standing there, looking dazed. The staff who had just come to clear the stage and usher people out seemed to have forgotten about him, which was normal because Lu Mingfei was so inconspicuous.

Zhao Menghua's momentarily calmed emotions flared up again, perhaps because he had found a scapegoat? He glared at the middle-aged man standing nearby with a smile.

"Let's go, Lu Mingfei! Are you an idiot? Can't you see they're asking us to leave? Pack up and let's go."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I think you might have misunderstood something."

The middle-aged man, who had been indifferent to Zhao Menghua, smiled slightly. Then, to everyone's astonishment, he bowed respectfully to Lu Mingfei and raised his voice.

"Mr. Lu Mingfei is the only customer here."

His words seemed to freeze time, and everyone in the hall fell silent, including Lu Mingfei, who stood on the stage in a daze.

The lights in the projection room lit up one by one, and the central computer, comparable to an ultimate battle weapon, exerted its power. From a thousand miles away, it forcefully hacked into the control system, adjusting the direction and angle of the lights. The beams shone on Lu Mingfei, making him glow.

As the lights shifted, everyone's attention followed, and before they could react, a melodious violin melody filled the air.

Multiple violinists, dressed in elegant suits, gracefully played their instruments, performing the famous piece "Meditation" from the opera "Thais" by the French composer Jules Massenet. The tune was soothing and uplifting, capable of calming one's heart while evoking a subtle sense of melancholy and deep emotion.

Unbeknownst to them, the sides of the theater had filled with people, each holding different kinds of flowers—roses, tulips, lilies, lilacs, roses, and violets.

Each flower had its unique language, but they all formed a bouquet suitable for confessions.

The word that summed it up was, love.

A young man in a cinema staff uniform stepped forward and handed the middle-aged man a bouquet of roses that far surpassed the one Zhao Menghua held. The middle-aged man then turned and passed it to Lu Mingfei.

"The nearby flower shops didn't have much in stock, and due to the time constraint, this is all we could manage. If you're not satisfied, we can arrange for Bulgarian roses to be flown in. Bulgaria is the country of roses, and we'll surely find flowers that meet your expectations, though it might take a little longer."

"No...no need, this is fine."

Lu Mingfei stammered as he took the roses, his mind in a complete jumble. His brain had crashed.

What the heck was going on? How did this happen? What was he supposed to do?

Why was the world that had always treated him with indifference suddenly bowing down, with everyone catering to him?

Everyone in the audience turned to stone, collectively speechless in the face of this surreal scene, questioning their own existence. Even Chen Wenwen stared blankly at the boy in the spotlight, her face filled with astonishment.

Is this... something Lu Mingfei could pull off? Were they dreaming? Even if Tokyo Broadcasting System wasn't airing anime, surely this was more realistic than that?

Lu Mingfei's phone vibrated in his pocket, and he answered it in a daze. A deep, steady voice, tinged with enthusiasm, came through the line.

"Your blessing has been delivered. Please check."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end