Chapter 0444: Buy Two Get One Free

Li Luo was still looking at Cao Sheng with pity, while the latter boldly followed them into the house like a lost puppy. Li Luo's heart went out to him. Love made fools of us all.

Luckily, I'm awesome, so I won't know what it's like to be rejected.

Bai Mengmeng came hurrying over to serve tea to Yu Hongxi and Lu Qing'er with an adorable smile.

Yu Hongxi nodded in appreciation. "This Li Luo," she said mischievously to her daughter, "spends all his days in the same house as such a cute girl."

She knew that her daughter liked Li Luo. She might acknowledge his abilities, but he was an engaged man. Whether the engagement was real or just a formality, she was still reluctant for him to be too close to Lu Qing'er.

But young girls had a mind of their own. Yu Hongxi knew that forbidding anything would only be counterproductive.

That was why she preferred to drop subtle reminders for her daughter instead.

The apple did not fall far from the tree. Lu Qing'er was equally sharp, and quickly picked up on what her mother was trying to do. "You're overthinking it, Mom. Squadmates are not chosen by ourselves."

"Bai Mengmeng looks like she thinks well of Li Luo," Yu Hongxi said mildly.

"Mom, there are many girls in school who think well of Li Luo."

"Sounds like playboy potential to me."

"Only because your mind is dirty, Mom."

Yu Hongxi coughed irritatedly.

Li Luo showed Mentor Cao Sheng in and seated him opposite Yu Hongxi.

"Mentor." Lu Qing'er greeted him with a smile.

Cao Sheng nodded and gave her a hasty smile back.

Yu Hongxi looked at him as well. Cao Sheng was sitting as straight as could be, and sneaking surreptitious looks Yu Hongxi's way.

"Mentor Cao Sheng, thank you for taking care of Qing'er all this time. I've wanted to pay you a visit for a while now, but could never make the time," Yu Hongxi said.

"Oh, no trouble at all, no trouble... Qing'er is very talented! Just-just like yourself," Cao Sheng added awkwardly.

Li Luo and Lu Qing'er looked at each other. It was their first time seeing Mentor Cao Sheng this flustered.

"Mentor Cao Sheng, some wine?" Li Luo tried to ease the mood.

"Oh! Er... Li Luo! Well!" Cao Sheng stammered. "Don't you know that I don't like wine much? A cup of hot tea will do."

Dafuq?

Li Luo's jaw almost fell through the floor. Mentor Cao Sheng, how can you lie like this and not have your tongue turn black? He is the biggest drunkard in the school. And now he is posing as a teetotaler? You've got to be kidding me.

Of course, he couldn't afford to expose Mentor Cao Sheng on the spot and embarrass him, so he gestured for Bai Mengmeng to set another cup of hot leaf liquid in front of Cao Sheng.

Lu Qing'er was feeling a little embarrassed herself. Mentor Cao Sheng's temperament and favorite drink were all well-known to her. But what could she say at this point? It would be too cruel to expose him.

Mentor Cao Sheng had a soft spot for her mother. He'd probably been on high alert from the moment that Yu Hongxi set foot in school, and set up his "coincidental" meeting.

A coincidence so forced that Lu Qing'er cringed.

Yu Hongxi ate financial politics and maneuvering for breakfast. This sort of childish wooing was blatant as could be to her.

Still, she was polite enough to entertain him with a few exchanges. They chatted pleasantly enough, but the mood was so cool that Lu Qing'er had no doubts about her mother's complete lack of romantic interest in him.

Regardless, Mentor Cao Sheng was lapping it up blissfully.

Lu Qing'er wanted to tell him that no love ever came from a forced relationship. If he hung himself by the neck on the tree, her mother would still not take a second look. "When do you start?" Yu Hongxi asked Li Luo. As Lu Qing'er had predicted, Yu Hongxi had zero interest in Cao Sheng's beverage preferences.

"Er..." He looked uncertainly at Mentor Cao Sheng, not sure if he should discuss this in front of him.

"I've already told Mentor Cao Sheng about your refining. Because both myself and Mentor Chi Chan will be helping you, we will be defenseless. Although the school is quite a safe place, it's always better to be cautious. We should ensure we are undisturbed, and Mentor Cao Sheng has graciously volunteered to defend us," Yu Hongxi said.

Li Luo was amazed. Were the bodyguarding services of a Duke expert so easily gotten for free?

For the first two Dukes' help, he had paid out two King Quintessences. And now Cao Sheng was doing this for free?!

He was a little giddy with happiness. Like a free pizza that had fallen from the sky. Duke level crust, Duke toppings.

Li Luo looked at him with a complex expression. "Mentor Cao Sheng, you are a great man."

Cao Sheng waved it away happily. "Oh, it’s nothing at all, Li Luo. Just tell me about such things earlier! Of course I would have helped you."

Li Luo gave him a grateful smile, but he was screaming inwardly. Mentor Cao Sheng, you crazy bastard. Do you think I don't know what you're usually like? Back when Shen Jinxiao was hammering me into the ground, I didn't see you lift a finger, unless it was to lift your wine cup.

It wasn't that he didn't want to cultivate good relationships with the Violet Vibrance mentors either, but no such opportunity had ever presented itself.

Li Luo did not mind—he did not expect these elites of the Xia Kingdom to give him the time of day as the young lord of House Luolan. Besides, there was nothing to tie them together.

Mentor Cao Sheng deciding to become a kind father was all thanks to the halo of romance that Yu Hongxi had brought.

In any case, a Duke's protection would definitely allow today's refining to go more smoothly than ever.

He chatted with Yu Hongxi for a while more, then Mentor Chi Chan arrived when the light outside just started to dim a little.

Chi Chan showed no surprise at all to see Cao Sheng there. In fact, she almost seemed to have been expecting it. Not one given to gossiping, she greeted both of them simply.

"Well, we're all here. Let's get to it, then."

Li Luo rose accordingly.

Time to forge the Acquired Resonance Godly Forging Wheel.