r18novel Page 75
Page 75
Zero didn't hesitate at all.
Upon hearing the call, she immediately slipped on her flat leather shoes and followed quickly and silently.
Liu Miaomiao looked up and watched the two figures disappear into the shadows at the corner of the stairs before slowly lowering her head and letting out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
Seeing her daughter's expression, Liu's mother also stood up, walked to Liu Miaomiao's side, and gently put her arm around her shoulder:
"Miaomiao, Mommy also has some things I want to talk to you about. Shall we go to my room?" Her voice was warm and comforting.
Liu Miaomiao nodded gently and obediently followed her mother towards the master bedroom on the other side of the second floor.
In the spacious and luxurious living room, only Liu's father remained.
Watching his wife and daughters quickly leave and the young man walk away, the head of the family awkwardly scratched the back of his head, looked around the empty, huge space and the expensive sofa, and muttered helplessly to himself:
"Tsk, so I'm the only idle person standing here, completely superfluous."
……
Inside Lu Mingfei's room, he gently locked the door behind him.
Zero was clearly uninhibited, walking straight to his large bed covered with light gray sheets and sitting down gracefully and naturally, as if it were a place he knew all too well.
Lu Mingfei took a deep breath, walked to the bedside, and looked down at Zero's face, which was as expressionless as ever.
He suppressed the ripples in his heart, his tone more solemn than ever before:
“Zero, like I said downstairs just now, I do have romantic feelings for you.” He admitted frankly.
“But,” he changed the subject, his eyes becoming unusually serious, “if you are not willing to accept my feelings now, then you’d better… leave me as soon as possible, the farther away the better.”
Ling slightly raised her eyes, her clear gaze meeting Lu Mingfei's eyes, which were filled with complex emotions: "Why?"
"Can I tell her the truth?" Lu Mingfei asked in his heart.
[System Notification: Prohibited Activities! This information is for the host's information only!]
The cold, mechanical sound was like shackles falling.
Lu Mingfei shook his head helplessly:
"I really can't say the specific reasons, but trust me, listen to me, this is the best thing for you, you absolutely won't go wrong."
Actually, he didn't like riddle-makers like System Bro or Xuanling.
But he knew they must also have many concerns, such as his inability to tell Zero the truth about the system.
Some things cannot be said directly; the person involved needs to understand them.
After he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Then, something happened that left Lu Mingfei dumbfounded.
Zero showed no sign of disappointment or displeasure.
She simply bent down naturally, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, and smoothly removed her small flat shoes, followed by white cotton socks, revealing a pair of delicate, fair feet.
Then, completely ignoring Lu Mingfei standing in front of her, she lightly raised her arm and naturally lifted a corner of the blanket. Her slender body, like a cat familiar with the place, smoothly slipped into Lu Mingfei's still warm blankets, even adjusting her position to find a comfortable spot.
After doing all this, she looked up at Lu Mingfei, who was frozen in place, her eyes still calm and unwavering.
Lu Mingfei: "???!!!!"
What... what kind of development is this?!
Did she not understand her warning? Or did she simply not care?!
Do you really think Lu Mingfei is some kind of saint who can remain unmoved by temptation?
Or is it just a paper tiger that can only stare blankly and dare not do anything?!
Chapter 68 Going to Japan to see your princess
The thought had barely crossed his mind when Lu Mingfei decisively activated the "Forced Calm" skill in his consciousness.
In an instant, all the heat and impulse that had arisen from Zero's bold actions vanished, leaving only a frozen expanse of absolute rationality.
However, he only maintained this state for less than five seconds before deactivating the skill.
This is precisely the clumsy method he figured out to combat that damn "emotional amplification" ability:
Once you realize that your emotions are about to get out of control, immediately activate "forced calm" and forcibly suppress them;
Then quickly release the tension, allowing the emotions to return to a "level" that has been temporarily suppressed.
The reason I was able to quickly regain my composure and figure out a strategy after killing the thugs was also because of this method—activating my skill to gain absolute rationality and formulate a plan.
After turning off the skill, the amplified "calmness" is just enough to execute the plan, rather than falling into unnecessary panic or impulsiveness.
Unfortunately, this method only worked for him.
He was completely powerless to control the emotional fluctuations of the people around him.
The only thing he could do was to restrain his words and actions as much as possible and avoid provoking the malice of others.
Thinking of this, a complex emotion swept through Lu Mingfei's mind.
This method was, in a roundabout way, a way out that the system had pointed out to him.
Why did he acquire the skill "forced calmness"?
Because this is the most suitable skill for him, the only skill that allows him to protect himself within the system's capabilities.
Lu Mingfei's gaze calmly swept across the bed.
Zero remained quietly nestled in his blanket, only half of his face and smooth platinum blonde hair visible. His icy blue eyes appeared hazy in the dim light, making it impossible to discern his expression.
Reason was clearly warning me: staying any longer is absolutely not an option!
The restlessness that is suppressed now will instantly retaliate if it is amplified.
He took a deep breath and turned around decisively.
"Get some rest tonight," he whispered, then quickly closed the door, locking that unsettling atmosphere inside the room.
He slowly walked downstairs and returned to the brightly lit first-floor living room.
In the vast space, only Liu's father was comfortably leaning back on the huge dark brown leather sofa, his legs crossed in a relaxed posture, holding a glass of deep red wine in his right hand, leisurely sipping it under the light.
The warm yellow light shone on his face, revealing a sense of leisure and profundity beyond the usual cutthroat competition of the business world.
Upon seeing Lu Mingfei, a knowing smile flashed in Liu's father's eyes. He gently placed the crystal glass in his hand on the elegant mahogany coffee table in front of him, the bottom of the glass making a crisp sound as it hit the table.
"Mingfei, did your talk with Ling go smoothly?" he asked subtly, but his eyes clearly held a probing look.
Lu Mingfei paused, momentarily feeling a bit awkward.
You can't exactly say that Ling usurped his place and kicked him out of his own room, can you?
His eyes darted around unconsciously for a moment, and he mumbled, "Uh...it's alright..."
Fortunately, the Liu family home is large enough with plenty of guest rooms. If all else fails, the luxurious sofa in the living room can make do for one night.
Liu's father had clearly figured it out.
His smile deepened, and he didn't press the slightly embarrassed young man further, simply raising his hand to wave casually:
"Come, sit down. They probably have a lot to talk about. Perfect, let's have a chat too."
Lu Mingfei was actually relieved.
After spending the past few days together, Liu's father had long since transcended being just a wealthy elder landlord in his mind.
More like a wise mentor who understands the ways of the world and can offer guidance.
He obediently walked to the sofa and sat down next to Liu's father.
In the past few days, Liu's father has indeed opened a window for him to glimpse the complex world through his words and deeds.
Mr. Liu picked up the wine bottle and elegantly poured a little more of the deep red liquid into his glass.
Lu Mingfei simply sat quietly, waiting for Liu's father to speak.
Every time this "mentor" spoke, he was always given a different kind of impact and something to think about.
What he needs now is something more practical, something that will help him see the fog ahead more clearly.
Mr. Liu did not rush to speak.
He took a sip of wine, his gaze seemingly admiring the deep color through the glass, or perhaps lost in some distant memory.
The only sound in the living room was the regular ticking of the clock.
After a long while, Liu's father put down his wine glass, turned to Lu Mingfei, and his previous gentle and leisurely demeanor disappeared, replaced by a sharp gaze.
“Mingfei,” Mr. Liu said frankly, “even if Miaomiao and you don’t become husband and wife, we will still support you.”
He paused, "But this trust is not based on blind optimism or dependence, but on an assessment of your potential. You need to remember this."
“I understand, Uncle Liu,” Lu Mingfei said solemnly. “I will not let this trust down.”
"Good." A hint of approval flashed in Liu's father's eyes, then he changed the subject, "You possess immense strength and have unimaginable beings assisting you, but in this world, strength alone is not enough to survive."
"Even a tiger needs its claws and teeth; you need... allies."
Lu Mingfei nodded and said, "I understand."
After all, one of the ten elements of a villain is that they need to build their own organization.
He has established his own organization, "Paradise," although it currently only has three members.
But it will grow stronger in the future.
Mr. Liu gave an approving smile: "Very good, recognizing the problem itself is the first step towards progress. As for how to begin..."
He hesitated for a moment, put down his wine glass, and gave instructions:
"The first step is that you need money, lots and lots of money. Money isn't everything, but in this mortal world made up of humans and hybrids, you can't do anything without it."
"It is the most basic and effective passport for establishing bases, cyber intelligence, recruiting talent, acquiring equipment, and even winning over allies."
"Whether you want to build an organization or find a safe foothold somewhere, sufficient start-up capital is a prerequisite for all of this."
"The second step is to build your own 'eyes' and 'ears'."
“You need an independent intelligence network to gather information.”