The Rise of the White Lotus

"In the flight BN XXX, we are still confirming if the CEO of Lu Corporation was one of the victims..." Ethan Lu, though mortified upon watching the tragic news and hearing his name being dropped, his focus was on the fact that he just escaped death. 

Was he just fortunate and lucky to have a flying dumpling stop him? Was the accident just a coincidence? Was the cause of the deaths of hundreds of people were because of the plane's engine malfunction or, they were used as mere casualties to conceal whatever shreds of evidence for his death?

His mind has a series of questions that rendered him speechless. He couldn't muster any words to say as they were all stuck in his throat. And he could not even care to the giggling dumpling while rolling on the table like a piece of dough. 

Just then, Ethan Lu snapped from his trance as his phone rang. Turning his eyes, searching for his phone, he instantly spotted it and rushed to pick it up — unable to see the caller. 

"Ethan!" The instant the call was picked up, Lexi's worried voice came out from the other end. "Love, are you alright?!" She added. By the sound of her voice, Lexi must've had heard the news and utter fear laced on her tone. 

"Love... yes, I am." 

"Ah, thank God!" Upon hearing his voice, Ethan Lu heard her heave a sigh of relief as if a torn was pluck out from her throat. "God... I thought I lost you." After a beat, Lexi said in between her heavy breaths, her voice cracked as she sniffed. 

Lexi wiped the tears of joy as she never felt this kind of relief in her entire life. At the same time, her tears were mixed with fear of losing her love ones out of blue. 

It was just crazy. Just the thought that she was just talking to him, and then hearing the shocking news after several hours — how could she keep her heart at bay? She didn't even know what she would do if Ethan Lu didn't pick up her call. 

"Me too..." Ethan Lu's eyes softened as he was relieved to hear Lexi's voice once again. Similar to her worries, Ethan Lu had the same thought because he would have died if not for the great Churu.

"Why was your name even on the flight? Didn't you say you'll be back in two days?"

"I just wanted to surprise you — that's all. Luckily, something unexpected happened so I failed to board the flight." Ethan Lu smiled a little as another sigh of relief escaped from his mouth. 

Glancing at the smug grin on Churu's face, Ethan Lu cleared his throat. "Anyways Love, as much as I want to talk to you longer, I am currently in the middle of a formal meeting so," 

"Alright, I understand. I'm just relieved to hear your voice. I also have something to do. I love you." Nodding in understanding, the corner of Lexi's lips could finally stretch upward, and her pounding heart settled at a stable rate. 

"I love you more. I'll call you later and the twins, alright?" Hearing that Lexi's voice slightly calmed, Ethan Lu was relieved. 

He was never been this grateful to live another day. Sure, Ethan Lu was well-aware that his life might be in danger every day but, today's example was truly an eye-opener. 

In an instant, it magically changed his views, perception, and matured about valuing his life. He has been too focused on protecting Lexi and everyone he cared about — slightly neglecting his own security. 

But today, he realized things he couldn't see or rather, he neglected to take into account. 

"You're welcome," Just as Ethan Lu ended the call and laid his eyes on Churu, the little dumpling magnanimously waved her hands off, even before he could say the word 'thank you'.

"How did you know that there will be a plane crash? And, what do you want from me?" Ethan Lu solemnly asked as he placed down the phone to the side, ignoring how cute of a dough she was, or how cheerful she looked. 

"Huh?" Churu tilted her head to the side and blinked three times. "I just told you, because I am your reliable guide of the system, and I will certainly make sure you will live." In a matter-of-fact tone, Churu said. 

"If you are having silly thoughts about why I didn't stop those passengers from boarding, unfortunately, even if I want to heroically inform them that the plane will crash, only you can see me." Guessing one of the heedless thoughts he has in mind, Churu stated. "In simple terms, even if you instantly believed me, no one will believe you and you might place yourself in a tight position as it will make you a suspect for the accident." Churu shrugged. 

It was a pity that a hundred of lives were on the way to hell or heaven. However, that's just life. After all, her question before: 'why the creator made them and then let them die' was never answered. 

"Then, why me? Why do I have the system?" As Ethan Lu listened to Churu's reasoning, he must admit that she was right. No one would believe him and neither would he believe that he was seeing a dumpling until now. 

Still, although he was emphatic for the passengers' lives, and felt a little shame to feel relieved that he failed to board the flight, Ethan Lu was intrigued why he was chosen as the system's host. 

"Why you? Hmm..." Churu pondered on what to answer. "Oh! Want to hear a fun fact?" After a second, Churu's lightbulb shone as an idea struck her. 

Although she has upgraded skills and additional props, Churu still has some restrictions on the information she must say. Since she could not say that he was chosen to protect the system's original host, it was not stated that she could not let him see. 

"Fun fact?" Ethan Lu knitted his brows at her sudden offer. He watched him slowly fly, closer and closer to him. 

"Did you know the world was on a pause for 4 years and only resumed earlier?" Churu, who was now several inches away from his face, grinned — her lips from side to side. 

With that said note, Churu then performed a head butt — catching him off guard as her soft head crash on his forehead, making him glimpsed on what would happen if he died.