The Rise of the White Lotus

"Ethan Lu, you better not ride that plane if you still want to live!" Churu disregarded the shock she had caused him, as she reminded him like a mad mother. 

Ethan Lu peered at her in disbelief and his eyes scrutinized her small floating figure. "A bun ghost..." He whispered in bafflement as he couldn't believe in his eyes and ears that a bun was talking to him. 

"Haha! Hahaha!" After a second, Ethan Lu loudly laughed as he looked around. His peals of laughter caught some the attention of passersby as he was acting weird. "Now, I'm reminded that I haven't eaten anything. Haha! Guess I'm starving that I am seeing a talking dumpling..." Ethan Lu tried to rationalize the reason why he suddenly saw a talking dumpling before he returned his attention to Churu's direction. 

He thought that he was hallucinating for a moment due to hunger. Hence, he was certain that when he looked at the dumpling's direction again, Churu would be gone. However, the moment his eyes laid on Churu for the second time, he gasped in distress. 

Churu arched her nonexistent brows as she watched him go in denial, and then shock once again took over his face. Understandable because Churu's first encounter with Ethan Lu was entirely different from how she abruptly appeared in front of him. 

"I'm real, alright?" 

"No way..." Under his breath, Ethan Lu took a step back as his heart pounded to an extent. A dumpling was really talking and... floating! It doesn't even have wings!

"Master!" Just then, Ethan Lu snapped from his daze as he heard Lyrick Jiang from a distance. Turning to his assistant's direction, he knitted his brows as Lyrick Jiang approached. 

"You left this in the car." Relieved as he panted, Lyrick Jiang handed out Ethan Lu's gifts for Lexi and the twins that he left in the car. 

Actually, he didn't need to catch up to Ethan Lu as Lyrick Jiang could just bring it with him on his flight. However, he was truly worried and anxious about this flight for some unknown reason. 

"Rick, can you see this?" Ethan Lu glanced at the small pouch in Lyrick Jiang's hand before he looked up. Instead of receiving the present he forgot, he pointed at Churu and asked. 

"Huh?" Lyrick Jiang followed the direction his master was pointing at but he saw nothing. 

"Rick, you really can't see the dumpling? Is it possible that the last thing you ate will come and hunt you?" Blinking many times, Ethan Lu asked as fear slowly clouded his heart. For a moment, he was thinking that stress was finally taking a toll on him and affecting the tranquility of his mind. 

"Master, are you alright? Should I get you something to eat?" Although confused at the nonsensical query, Lyrick Jiang offered worriedly. 

"No one can't see me aside from you. So, you will only sound weird to others, duh?" Just as Churu rolled her eyes, the last call for all the passengers to go to the departure area was heard over the microphone once again. 

When Ethan Lu heard it again, he was reminded that he has a flight to return to his beloved family. However, just before he could panic and head to the departure area, Churu spoke. 

"I said you can't get on the plane if you truly want to return to Lexi in one piece!" Adamant to stop him, Churu flew closer to his face which made him leaned back and step back. "This flight will kill you and everyone that you cared about— do you want that, ha?!" 

*****

In the end, Ethan Lu had the urge not to listen to the talking dumpling which he still couldn't believe he was seeing. But, for the sake to calm the cute turned violent dumpling, he listened. Therefore, he decided not to go and delay his flight for the next day. 

Now, back to his hotel room, Ethan Lu sat on the dining table while Churu perched on top of the table. He wasn't saying anything, neither did Churu utter a word as she let him stare at her for like forever. 

"So, you're saying that you're real?" Breaking the silence, Ethan Lu asked. 

"Yes!"

"And only I can see you?" 

"Yes, chu~."

"And I'm not crazy or hungry?" 

"You are not and you are." Sounding mature and elegant little dumpling she was, Churu gave a precise answer to his series of questions. 

"Oh god..." In great distress, Ethan Lu heavily sighed as he massaged his aching temples. How could she answer all his questions as if she was truly real? 

How could that be possible? A talking and flying dumpling? Was he dreaming? 

Ethan Lu pinched himself enough to wake him up to this ridiculous dream, he thought he was trapped in. Sadly, he was wide awake and he was in reality. 

"This is impossible... I can't believe Lexi's favorite plushy has come to life." Ethan Lu looked at Churu that was followed by a disbelief sigh, then repeat several times. 

Was this because he accidentally destroyed one of Lexi's collection that until now, he kept a secret while he sent it away for it to be repaired? Did the plushy eventually die? 

Ethan Lu's mind was too mind-blown that he has to take other possibilities in — even if they were ridiculous, he has to look at them to have a logical reason. 

"First of all, I am not a plushy — I'm a beauty! Second, everything will make sense if you look up!" In a matter-of-fact tone, Churu corrected before giving him instructions for him to understand. 

"What...?" Out of instinct, Ethan Lu looked up before his eyes widened. There, written words floating above him! What the heck? 

"Since I haven't introduced myself, let me do the honor." Slowly, Churu smiled as she stood. "I am Churu, your fairy guide mother of the Battle of Life system! Nice to meet ya~!" Just like how Churu introduced herself to Lexi back then, she did the same but this time, stating a different system she was tasked to be its guide.