“Brother Lu, what a coincidence, you’re eating here too,” He Feixiang said with a dry laugh.
“Yeah, I’m used to this place, it’s pretty good,” Lu Zheng nodded, seeming quite at ease. After all, why would he feel awkward?
“Mr He said Mr Lu had something on today?” the young man beside him said. His Chinese was slightly awkward but fairly fluent.
Lu Zheng looked at the man, dressed in a casual suit, stylishly put together, with a handsome face and a pair of fox-like eyes watching him. His expression was a half-smile, his tone sincere but with a hint of accusation.
“Yeah, I had something on,” Lu Zheng nodded. “Dinner with my girlfriend.”
The young man realised then that Lu Zheng didn’t care about him at all.
The woman gracefully extended her hand. “Yoko Matsuno, also a magician. Hello, Mr Lu!”
Her Chinese was surprisingly fluent too.
“Hello,” Lu Zheng shook Yoko Matsuno’s hand, noticing her little finger lightly brush his palm as they parted.
“Mr Lu, you’re amazing. That magic trick of yours left a deep impression on me. I studied it privately for ages and still couldn’t figure out how you did it,” Yoko Matsuno said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“Just a small trick,” Lu Zheng smiled, unfazed.
A soft “ding” sounded as the lift doors opened on the third floor.
Lu Zheng nodded, took Lin Wan’s hand, and stepped out of the lift, followed by He Feixiang and the other two.
“Let me introduce you. Brother Lu, Lu Zheng, you both know him,” He Feixiang said. “Brother Lu, this is the Japanese magician I mentioned before, Hikoichi Yamada.”
Yoko Matsuno, having already introduced herself, chimed in, “Mr Lu, since we’ve run into each other, why don’t we eat together?”
Lu Zheng gave a faint smile, not rejecting outright. “We’re not keen on Japanese food. We’re heading to Tayar for lamb chops. If you can handle that, join us.”
Hikoichi Yamada’s eyes narrowed, about to speak, but Yoko Matsuno smiled and said, “Since we’re in China, we’ll follow the host’s lead. We’ll try the delicious Northwest lamb chops.”
He Feixiang frowned slightly, glancing at Hikoichi Yamada, who seemed to go along with it, so he could only smile and say, “Alright, let’s have Northwest cuisine today.”
A glint flashed in Lu Zheng’s eyes. From what He Feixiang said, this was a rising Japanese magician with a decent reputation and, from their brief interaction, quite a bit of pride.
If that was the case, it was odd that he could suppress his irritation at Lu Zheng’s coldness.
After some thought, only one possibility came to mind.
Sure enough, when Lu Zheng glanced at He Feixiang, he saw him frowning too, giving him a subtle look and an apologetic glance.
He Feixiang had also sensed something was off. They weren’t just here to make friends with Lu Zheng; they had an agenda.
They entered the restaurant, ordered food, and were served tea.
While waiting for the food, Yoko Matsuno smiled and started the conversation. “Mr He says you’re not interested in becoming a professional magician, Mr Lu?”
Lu Zheng nodded and asked, “Are you two senior and junior disciples?”
Hikoichi Yamada nodded proudly. “We studied under Mr Yusuke Shimada.”
Lu Zheng smiled politely but didn’t respond.
Hikoichi Yamada’s mouth twitched, realising Lu Zheng hadn’t heard of his master. Well, he clearly wasn’t part of the magic circle.
“So, what do you do, Mr Lu?” Yoko Matsuno asked with a delicate laugh. “With such exquisite magic skills, yet you discard the idea of being a star magician. Your job must be even better, right?”
“Exactly, much better,” Lu Zheng nodded. “I’m unemployed.”
He Feixiang put his hand to his forehead, while Yoko Matsuno and Hikoichi Yamada looked puzzled.
“I don’t lack money, so there’s no need to work,” Lu Zheng said matter-of-factly.
The audacity of this rich second-generation heir!
They’d seen from videos that Lu Zheng had a good aura, but his clothes were ordinary, so they assumed he was just a regular guy. They hadn’t expected him to be a low-key rich kid.
Lu Zheng looked to be in his early twenties, and after some cultivation, his complexion was so good he could pass for a university student. So, Yoko Matsuno and Hikoichi Yamada never considered he might have earned his money himself.
This meant their original plan might not work. After all, a rich heir wouldn’t lack money.
Still, they had to try. Perhaps flattery would cloud his judgement?
So, Hikoichi Yamada toned down his attitude, and Yoko Matsuno’s smile grew even sweeter.
The waiter served the food, and they chatted while eating.
“That video, Mr He’s cameraman was very dedicated. The camera never left you two,” Yoko Matsuno said. “So, that copper ring was always in the frame.”
“Yeah,” Lu Zheng nodded. “And?”
“So, unless it was scripted with Mr He’s cooperation, it was just an ordinary copper ring,” Yoko Matsuno said. “But Mr He told us it wasn’t scripted, and the copper ring stayed in his hand afterwards. It was indeed his ring.”
“Exactly,” Lu Zheng nodded, as if it were obvious.
He Feixiang looked exasperated. Brother, this is a remarkable feat. Could you not act so nonchalant?
“Mr Lu, you’re incredible. Mr He’s skills are great, but you performed the trick right in front of him and completely fooled him!” Yoko Matsuno stared at Lu Zheng with glowing eyes, full of admiration.
Lin Wan narrowed her eyes. Flirting right in front of her? Did they think she was just a decorative trophy girlfriend?
“Just a small trick,” Lu Zheng said, unbothered.
“To you, it might just be a little trick to amuse your girlfriend, but to us, it’s a technique we rely on for a living,” Yoko Matsuno said, glancing at Lin Wan with envy in her tone. “Your girlfriend is so lucky.”
Lin Wan gave a dry laugh, not responding. She tore off a piece of lamb chop, dipped it in spices, and fed it to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng grinned smugly at Lin Wan, who rolled her eyes and handed him a drink.
Yoko Matsuno’s eyes flickered, and she made a seemingly casual request. “Since you’re not planning to enter the magic world and don’t care about this trick, how about selling us the secret to it?”
Yoko Matsuno looked at Lu Zheng with misty eyes, clasping her hands in front of her chest, looking pitiful. “I have no reputation in the magic world. Mr Lu, can you help me? With your trick, I could establish myself.”
She blinked, her voice soft and pleading. “Please, Mr Lu. I’ll make it worth your while.”
Hikoichi Yamada’s cheek twitched, but he said nothing.
He Feixiang blinked, looking between them, not daring to say a word.
Lin Wan sipped her yoghurt, unbothered, then picked up a beef skewer, biting into it and chewing slowly.
Lu Zheng smiled faintly and, under Yoko Matsuno’s expectant gaze, said two words: “Not selling.”
