Vol2 Chapter 0: On the plane

Lu Mingfei sat on the plane home, glancing at the date on his phone, mentally calculating—her birthday was coming up, just a few days after his own.

He hesitated over what gift to get.
A brand-new laptop?
But he couldn’t afford that…

On paper, he was rich, but the college had strict rules: scholarships required passing tests, submitting papers on time, and excelling academically.
Aside from acing one practical course, Lu Mingfei’s grades were abysmal.
He’d only received four months of his twelve-month scholarship, and his credit card was overdrawn by a few thousand bucks…

After weighing his finances, he scrapped the laptop idea.
Food, maybe?
But he didn’t know what Bai Ci liked.
Her taste was so casual—anything not outright awful, she’d eat.

He could barge into her room, yank off her earphones, and demand, “Spill it—what do you like to eat, or I’ll spank you silly!”

With her personality, she’d probably tell him calmly and stare back unfazed.

But that wouldn’t be a surprise!

Chasing a girl was such a skill, especially when it was someone as familiar as her.
It made saying certain things awkward.

Lu Mingfei suddenly envied Caesar—that suave guy could just stand there and make girls swoon.
His noble aura and effortless charm drove them wild.

Meanwhile, if Lu Mingfei stood still, he’d look like a pathetic loser, only earning the disdain of nearby kids and stray cats.

Regular food felt too cheap.
Bai Ci was practically a little rich girl now—her scholarship had come through, enough for a worry-free life.
She’d even booked this flight for him.
But fancy food was beyond his budget…

“Ugh, headache.”
Lu Mingfei sighed, resting his head against the seat, glancing at Bai Ci sleeping beside him…

She wore a white dress with thin straps, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Her long, toned legs, shaped by regular training, were pressed together, covered in white stockings for sun protection.

She looked beautiful, brimming with youthful energy.
Her delicate feet rested on the footrest, pale and slender…

He’d heard stockings made feet smelly…

The thought crossed his mind.
First class was spacious, and taking off shoes to rest was normal, but looking at her, he couldn’t help but wonder.

Bai Ci stirred, rubbing her eyes and opening them groggily.
She glanced at him, then tapped the screen in front of her, scrolling through a drama while waiting for the in-flight meal.

She didn’t know why he was staring at her feet but didn’t care.
Let him look—it was just feet.

First class was comfy.
Economy?
Lu Mingfei had no fond memories—cramped seats, miserable, occasional brushes with strangers, awkward and uncomfortable.

But economy was fine by him.
Cheap, practical, and they even gave you free food!

He figured Bai Ci might have a touch of social anxiety, maybe even a bit of a clean streak?

Though social anxiety fit better.
If she were a clean freak, she wouldn’t have spent so much time in that grimy internet café.

Her personality was odd.
If no one showed her kindness first, she’d shut out all external input.

Lu Mingfei once read an article about a whale named Alice—the loneliest whale in the world.

Whales communicate through song, typically at 15–25 Hz.
But Alice sang at 45 Hz.

In her pod, she was essentially mute.
No one could hear her.

Surrounded by crowds, yet utterly alone.

An eternal loneliness.

Over time, loneliness becomes a habit—living without presence, dying silently.

Like a drowning person…

When he first met her, she barely acknowledged him, like he didn’t exist.

But he was stubborn back then.
Every time he saw her, he’d barrel in like a reckless kid, ignoring everything, until she finally spoke to him.

Like he was determined to drain the river drowning her.

“Heh.”
Lu Mingfei chuckled to himself.
Good thing he was so stubborn back then.

Bai Ci glanced at his goofy grin, her fingers subtly adjusting in her pocket to angle her phone’s camera.
She tapped the screen lightly.

Sometimes, a phone camera was way more convenient than a real one…