The Rise of the White Lotus

The next day...

"Ahh... that was a weird dream." Ethan Lu mumbled. He had been awake for almost half an hour and yet, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling with his arms open wide. 

Last night, Lyrick Jiang's emotional breakdown lasted for an hour or two. Hence, he has to babysit him until he calmed down. 

Now, Ethan Lu realized the weight of taking care of a troublesome big guy. In short, he somewhat understood what it was to be like in his assistant's shoes. 

Still, Ethan Lu could not believe that he was talking to a dumpling. The reason why he was contemplating about his state of mind. He thought of reasons why he failed to board the plane despite that he clearly remembered that a dumpling stopped him. Indeed, he was still in denial until now. 

Moreover, he hadn't seen a dumpling around the moment he woke up. Thus, Ethan Lu was more or less convinced that Churu was just a figment of his imagination. 

"Silly me... of course, it's impossible to have a talking dump—"

"Wow~ I can't believe foreigners are so damn hot~" Just as Ethan Lu chuckled at his "silliness" last night, Churu appeared with a 'poof' in front of him. 

"Say, can we go to the gym as a reward for helping you~?" Flying closer to him, causing his eyes crossed, Churu suggested with a sly smile on the side of her lips. 

Ethan Lu helplessly closed his eyes as he heavily exhaled. "She real..." He murmured in distress. 

He wasn't shocked that Churu appeared in front of him and even suggesting a sleazy idea. Perhaps, deep down, he knew that he was seeing a living dumpling and he was just denying it. 

"Did you say... yes~?" Slowly, Churu's radiance shone brighter as she blinked her eyes numerous times. 

"No," Ethan Lu whispered as he rolled to his side and buried his face on the pillow. "Damn it, she's real..." He added through his gritted teeth, sounding in great distress. 

"Hey, hey, Ethan Lu~ stop sulking~" Churu bounced, up and down on Ethan Lu's broad back as she comforted him. 

She must admit though, Ethan Lu was more stubborn, unlike Lexi. Perhaps, it was because she didn't meet him in the checkpoint where Churu first met Lexi. 

Regardless, how can he be so in denial? And neglect her cute existence?

"Ah... she's even jumping on my back." Bearing the same distress tone, Ethan Lu could feel her small little feet and her weight on his back. 

"Sure, you can sulk all day and stay here forever~! Don't go home and just stay here, sulking until you grow old and die~!" She said, using his back like a trampoline, though in this case, Churu's body was the reason she was bouncing. 

"Right!" Ethan Lu suddenly raised his head as he recalled that he booked another flight today. Without further ado, Ethan Lu hurriedly sat up, ignoring that there might be a dumpling that would fall. 

"Ouch!" As expected, Churu was tossed to the side of the bed and shrieked. 

"Sorry, Chacha! I forgot my flight is in two hours!" Without looking back on Churu, Ethan Lu hastily took off his t-shirt as he rushed to the bathroom. 

He didn't really think that Churu would get hurt as she could literally fly. Hence, he didn't think it would hurt her. Still, for some reason, he got the gist that she was faking it. 

After all, she had been joking and laughing at her own jokes last night. Therefore, for an observant person like Ethan Lu, he could more or less gravitate what kind of personality this small dumpling has. 

"Hey, that's rude!" Upon the shutting of the bathroom door, Churu growled. "How can you only take off your shirt?! If you get undress in front of me, do it all the way~!" 

Of course, her remarks somehow got through the door. Hence, Ethan Lu's whole body shuddered. 'Pervert!' was the first word that entered his thought process. 

Another emotion about the dumpling instantly added to his heart: Fear. Not the type of fear that he usually has but the fear that Churu might molest him!

Not to mention, no one would believe him if that happened. What a poor future for him, but he wouldn't let that happen— never! He must think of ways to bribe her.

*****

"Are you sure I'm safe today?" As he boarded the plane, Ethan Lu asked for the nth time. 

Actually, even if he managed to survive yesterday without Churu's help, Ethan Lu was certain that it would have an impact on him.

"Don't worry~! Didn't I tell you as long as I'm here, you won't die?" Flying on his side, Churu made a peace sign, as her almost nonexistent brows playfully moved up and down. 

"Jeez... how can you even do that?" Whispering so he could not catch too much attention, Ethan Lu acted normal as he found his place to seat. 

"For example, while you were walking your way here, I inspect this specific plane's engine three times. I even look through the pilots and FA's background and emotional stability — even all the passengers!" Like a proud detective, Churu giggled as she stated what she had done in a short amount of time and worked at a supersonic speed.  

Upon hearing her great measures as Churu continued to tattle her merits, Ethan Lu stopped for a moment as he stared at her. He was in awe. She was too detailed and precise; she even did things in a short amount of time. 

Whether she was telling the truth or not, Ethan Lu didn't even think that she was lying. He didn't know why but, he actually believed her deep in his heart. 

"So, in short, this flight is very much safe. Even if I happen to overlooked anything, I still have a trump card. Hehe~" With confidence, Churu ended her detailed report. 

"Thank you," Ethan Lu didn't give any thought of his action and patted her small head that has the same size of his fist. Despite the sudden awkwardness from the gazes around, Ethan Lu just smiled. 

"You know, you can talk to me telepathically..." Churu said as she pursed her lips while her cheek slightly blushed, and her heart heated. 

Surely, Ethan was just like Aki; well, he was his reincarnation after all.