hotmtlnovel Chapter 47 Caesar's Demeanor
Chapter 47 Caesar's Demeanor
"But..." Lu Mingfei said with difficulty, "I don't have a suit."
That's the truth. When he came to Kassel, he only brought a few ordinary clothes. The sets Nono bought for him later were mostly destroyed during the Bronze City quest. All that was left were his school uniform and a few casual clothes.
"That's easy!" Fingel slapped his thigh. "Rent! There are suit rental shops near the college, $100 a day, a complete set including a suit, tie, and dress shoes! The quality isn't great, but it'll do!"
One hundred US dollars...
Lu Mingfei patted his pocket. The credit card Nono had given him was still there, with ten thousand US dollars in it. One hundred US dollars wasn't much, really.
But he still hesitated.
It's not about money, it's about... courage.
Would he dare to go?
How dare you walk into that banquet hall full of elites wearing a cheap rented suit?
How dare he walk up to Nono under the watchful eyes of Caesar and all the student council members?
Are you brave enough to face those curious, mocking, or hostile gazes?
Lu Mingfei closed his eyes.
He thought of the Bronze City, of that enormous bronze gate, of Samson's burning golden eyes, and of the reckless madness with which he sang the Rhine.
If you're not even afraid of death, why would you be afraid of a banquet?
If you dare to face even the Dragon King, why would you be afraid of a group of students?
He opened his eyes and looked at the second email on the screen.
Nono's email.
Simple, direct, and without any explanation.
But he knew she was waiting for him.
Let him go.
Wait until he stands beside her.
Wait until he... faces all challenges like a true S-class.
Lu Mingfei took a deep breath, placed his finger on the touchpad, and tapped it twice.
First, reply to Caesar's email:
Received, will attend on time.
—Ricardo M. Lu
The second step is to reply to Nono's email:
it is good.
What color clothes are most suitable to wear?
send.
Then, he turned to Fingel and said, "Senior, come with me to rent clothes tomorrow."
Fingel paused for a moment, then grinned, a smile that Lu Mingfei couldn't decipher: "That's more like it! Don't worry, I have excellent taste, I'll definitely rent you the most stylish one—even though the budget is only one hundred US dollars."
Lu Mingfei smiled too, and for the first time, his smile contained a kind of almost relieved ease.
Go ahead.
Face it.
Go stand by her like a man.
---
Inside the Golden Curtain: The Future World, October 5th, 6:40 PM
Amber House, located in the northern part of Kassel College, is a typical Victorian building. It features dark red brick walls, white arcades, and a soaring spire adorned with bronze eagle statues. In front of the building lies a wide lawn, now meticulously arranged—long white tables are laden with champagne and refreshments, and waiters in sharp black uniforms carry silver trays among the guests.
But what's most eye-catching is the sea of flowers at the entrance.
9999 roses.
Deep red, like congealed blood, the blossoms stretched from the steps of the Amber Pavilion all the way to the edge of the lawn, shimmering with a luxurious and romantic glow in the afterglow of the setting sun. Each blossom was full and dewy, its petals still adorned with glistening dewdrops, clearly freshly air-freighted.
The air was filled with the rich scent of roses, mixed with the aromas of champagne, cigars, and expensive perfumes, creating a slightly intoxicating atmosphere unique to high society.
Guests have been arriving one after another.
The students were dressed in various formal attire—the boys all wore black or dark blue suits, while the girls wore evening gowns of various colors, their long skirts fluttering gently in the evening breeze, their jewelry sparkling under the lights. They gathered in twos and threes, talking quietly, occasionally letting out restrained laughter.
Everyone's gaze was subtly drawn to the doorway.
She turned her gaze toward the man standing in the middle of a sea of roses.
Caesar Gattuso.
Today he wore a white, custom-tailored suit, the cut so perfect it felt like a second skin. His golden hair shimmered softly in the evening light, and his blue eyes reflected the sunset and roses, making him look like a prince who had stepped out of a classical oil painting.
He stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of champagne, his posture calm and elegant. Even if he did nothing but stand there, he naturally became the focus of the entire scene.
Behind him stood a row of ministers from various departments of the student union—the minister of discipline, the minister of publicity, the minister of finance, the minister of sports, and so on—a total of twelve people, each wearing a black suit and with a serious expression, like a well-trained honor guard.
But Nono wasn't among them.
This is very conspicuous.
Everyone knows that Nuonuo used to be the Minister of Organization in the Student Union, everyone knows about her relationship with Caesar, and everyone knows... that she is now with Lu Mingfei.
So, in what capacity will she attend tonight?
Which side are you on?
What clothes should I wear?
Who are you coming with?
The answers to these questions have cast a subtle, tense anticipation over tonight's banquet.
"President," the head of the disciplinary department said in a low voice, "time is almost up."
Caesar glanced at his watch—a custom Patek Philippe with the Gattuso family crest engraved on the dial. 6:45.
"Wait a little longer," he said calmly, his gaze fixed on the path in the distance.
Who is he waiting for?
Everyone already knew the answer.
6:50.
At the end of the path, three figures appeared.
Nono was walking at the very front.
She was wearing all purple today.
It wasn't a gaudy bright purple, but a deep, dark purple, like the night sky. The tailoring of the suit was exquisite; the upper body was a fitted blazer with a perfectly low neckline, revealing delicate collarbones and a stretch of fair neck; the lower body was a matching knee-length skirt, the hem swaying gently with each step. On her feet were a pair of purple-gold high heels, the slender heels making a crisp "tap, tap" sound on the cobblestones.
Her long red hair wasn't tied up today; instead, it cascaded naturally over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled, swaying gently in the evening breeze. She wore light makeup, her lipstick a shade of purple slightly lighter than her dress, which made her skin appear even whiter.
She walked slowly and calmly, each step seemingly meticulously calculated. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed her in a warm golden glow, gilding her purple dress, making her appear to glow.
Stunning.
That was everyone's first reaction upon seeing her.
Even those who usually envy her, hate her, and speak ill of her have to admit at this moment—Chen Motong, the red-haired witch, the most unconventional girl at Kassel College, is breathtakingly beautiful tonight.
She didn't come alone.
She was holding a boy's hand with her left hand.
Lu Mingfei.
He was wearing a dark gray suit today—clearly rented, the cut not particularly fitted, the shoulders a bit broad, the trousers a bit long. His tie was a conservative dark blue, tied slightly crooked. His hair was obviously styled carefully, but the stiffness from nervousness was still evident.
He walked uncomfortably, his eyes darting around, his lips slightly pursed, betraying his inner turmoil. But even so, he tried his best to straighten his back, to steady his steps, and to... not let down the hand that Nuonuo was holding.
Nono's right hand was holding another person's hand—
Fingel.
The press secretary was unusually dressed today—though his suit was wrinkled, his tie was loose, and there was a stain that looked like ketchup on his shirt collar. He wore his usual smirk, his eyes darted around, and he had a toothpick in his mouth, completely ruining the aesthetic of the whole scene.
But this peculiar trio appeared before everyone just like that.
In the middle, Nono held Lu Mingfei's hand with her left hand and Finger's hand with her right, like leading two children, as they slowly walked towards the sea of roses at the entrance of the Amber Pavilion.
The entire room fell silent.
All conversations ceased, and all eyes were fixed on the three of them.
Shock, curiosity, mockery, envy, jealousy... a variety of emotions intertwined and collided in the air.
Lu Mingfei could feel those gazes, like needles pricking him. His back began to sweat, and his palms were wet. If Nuonuo hadn't been holding his hand, he might have already turned and run away.
But he did not run away.
He looked ahead, at the sea of roses, at the blond man in the center of the flower field, and at the group of serious-looking student council ministers behind Caesar.
Then, he took a deep breath.
He held Nono's hand tightly.
Keep going.
One step, another step.
Finally, they reached the edge of the sea of roses and stopped in front of Caesar.
The distance was less than three meters.
Eyes facing each other.
This was the first time Lu Mingfei had seen Cesare Gattuso so closely and so clearly. He was indeed very handsome, as handsome as the sun, so dazzling that one dared not look directly at him. There was an innate pride in his blue eyes, not something deliberately feigned, but a noble arrogance flowing in his blood.
But at this moment, there was no hostility, no mockery, and none of the negative emotions that Lu Mingfei had anticipated in those eyes.
Only peace.
There was even... a hint of appreciation?
Caesar's gaze lingered on Nono for a few seconds, then slowly moved to Lu Mingfei, finally sweeping over Fingel before returning to Nono's face.
He smiled.
It was a very elegant and impeccable smile.
"You look great in that outfit," he said to Nono, his voice gentle and sincere. "Purple suits you very well."
Nono nodded and returned a polite smile: "Thank you."
Then, Caesar did something that surprised everyone.
He stepped forward, opened his arms, and gently hugged Nuonuo.
It wasn't a lover's embrace, but a polite, friend-like hug, a fleeting touch. Then, he took Nuonuo's hand, lowered his head, and gently kissed the back of her hand.
A standard hand kiss.
Elegant, gentlemanly, impeccable.
But in Lu Mingfei's eyes, this action was like a knife stabbing into his heart.
He suddenly understood something.
Now I understand why Nono wore purple.
Now I understand why Caesar laid out 9999 red roses.
Now I understand the true meaning of tonight's banquet.
Purple is the color of "farewell" in the etiquette of Western nobility.
The red rose was once a symbol of the love between Caesar and Nono.
A kiss on the hand is a gentleman's greeting to a lady, and also... a formal farewell to the past.
This is not a trap.
This is a farewell ceremony.
In this way, Caesar bid farewell to Nono, to their past love, and also to... all the onlookers:
His story with Nono has come to an end.
It ended gracefully, dignifiedly, and irrevocably.
And now, the person holding Nuonuo's hand is Lu Mingfei.
That loser, wearing a cheap rented suit, his palms sweating with nervousness, but still standing here.
Lu Mingfei looked at Caesar, at those calm blue eyes, and suddenly felt... that he had never truly understood this man.
He is not the narrow-minded person one might imagine, the kind who would seek revenge for failure.
He has his pride, his dignity, and his... demeanor.
Even though he lost, even though his girlfriend was "stolen," he still chose to say goodbye in the most dignified way.
This made Lu Mingfei feel ashamed.
I also feel ashamed of my petty mind.
Caesar released Nuonuo's hand, turned to Lu Mingfei, and extended his hand: "Welcome, Lu Mingfei."
Lu Mingfei was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening. He hurriedly reached out and shook hands with Caesar.
Caesar's hand was warm and strong, but there was no hint of provocation in it.
"Thank you for coming," Caesar said calmly. "I hope you have a good time tonight."
Then he turned to Fingel, raising an eyebrow: "Fingel, you're actually wearing a suit today."
Fingel grinned: "How could I not wear this to the president's banquet? It cost me fifty dollars to rent this outfit for a day, and it really hurt my wallet."