Chapter 55: Good Looks Are His Only Virtue

The director called out, “Everyone, get ready to board!”
All the suitcases were handed over to the staff for check-in.
As Bai Lu picked up her own backpack, Lin Ye, ever the sycophant, snatched it away. “Sister Lu, let me help you!”
Bai Lu reassured him, “Don’t worry, little Ye, your sister will always look out for you!”
Qiao Xianyi strode past them with her head held high, clutching her Hermès crocodile skin bag. She glanced disdainfully at the twenty-yuan backpack from the street market. “How shabby!”
Bai Lu patted Lin Ye’s shoulder. “She’s calling you shabby.”
Lin Ye whispered, “But it’s your backpack, Sister Lu…”
Bai Lu replied, “But you’re the one carrying it.”
Zu Xin’en, cool and aloof, spoke calmly, “Let’s go.”
Di Jia’er slowed his pace and added, “Ignore her. It’s just a second-hand bag. Nothing to brag about.”
Bai Lu’s smile was dazzling.
Before even boarding the plane, Miss Qiao had already offended all her teammates.
Such was Qiao Xianyi’s nature. No wonder she met such an end in her past life.
She’d befriended Shen Xinluo, only to be ruthlessly manipulated by her. After the Qiao family’s bankruptcy, she tried acting to pay off debts, but she had already alienated everyone in the industry; no one wanted to help Qiao Xianyi.
Shen Xinluo was cunning. To her, Qiao Xianyi was just a maid, a follower.
When Shen Xinluo became Miss Lu, she would never let Qiao Xianyi off. The Qiao family’s bankruptcy wasn’t enough for her; she even schemed to make Qiao Xianyi star in a third-rate film.
Just as Shen Xinluo ruined Bai Lu, she also destroyed Qiao Xianyi.
By then, Bai Lu was already in a psychiatric hospital. The last news she heard about Qiao Xianyi was that she had been caught soliciting, and soon after, took her own life.
Qiao Xianyi brought it upon herself.
Bai Lu saw no reason to help her.
Shen Xinluo bore grudges, but Bai Lu’s grudges ran deeper.
Bai Lu and Lin Ye bounced along beside Zu Xin’en, looking for all the world like a father taking his two young children on a trip.
Huo Yan Fang followed behind them at a steady, unhurried pace.
Lin Ye craned his neck to see Bai Lu’s plane ticket. “Wow, the production team is biased—they only gave Sister Lu a first-class ticket. Brother En and I are in economy!”
Di Jia’er was already seated next to Shen Xinluo. He commented, “I’m in economy, too. Miss Qiao is loaded—she paid to upgrade herself to first class.”
Hearing this, Bai Lu promptly handed her ticket to Shen Xinluo. “Let’s swap.”
The first stop was Osaka—a flight of just over three hours.
Bai Lu would rather have her backside suffer than sit next to Qiao Xianyi.
Shen Xinluo was shocked. “Lu?”
Bai Lu pulled her up. “Come on, hurry up. For this ticket’s sake, please stop spreading rumors that I want you out of the show.”

Shen Xinluo was speechless.
Once Bai Lu sat down, Di Jia’er handed over a notebook and a sheet of paper. “Lu, my parents and grandparents are all your fans. Please sign a few for me. I grew up watching your shows.”
Bai Lu gritted her teeth. “Di Jia’er! I’m two years younger than you!”
Across the narrow aisle, Huo Yan Fang pressed a hand to his lips, the corners of his mouth lifting.
Bai Lu glared at him fiercely. “What’s so funny? I debuted at seven!”
Huo Yan Fang lazily lifted his eyelids. “Didn’t you say you don’t know me?”
Bai Lu snapped back, “Only a fool would know you!” and angrily signed Di Jia’er’s family’s names.
Lin Ye, sitting behind her, hugged the back of her chair. “Sister Lu, why are you mad at Brother Asui?”
Brother Asui?
Bai Lu shrugged. “You’re so familiar with him, I guess you’re not hungry. Give me back my pudding.”
That pudding was made by Uncle Gu, intended for her to eat on the road.
Lin Ye hugged his snack bag tight and whispered in her ear, “Sister Lu, I’m yours. I’ll definitely join you in resisting him.”
Bai Lu snorted coldly. “Then give back the snacks he gave you.”
Don’t think she hadn’t noticed!
After much hesitation, Lin Ye decided pudding was tastier and returned the chocolate Huo Yan Fang had given him. “Brother Asui, I’m siding with Sister Lu.”
Huo Yan Fang replied, “It wasn’t for you.”
Lin Ye was baffled. “???”
Huo Yan Fang explained, “I meant for you to give it to Bai Lu.”
Lin Ye, exasperated, grabbed Zu Xin’en’s sleeve and complained, “Captain!”
Zu Xin’en said, “Little Ye, quiet down. There are other passengers.”
Lin Ye leaned in to Bai Lu, whispering, “Sister Lu, I get why you’re angry. He’s so annoying!”
Bai Lu agreed, “Exactly. Would I ever harm you? Stay away from him. He’s nothing but trouble. Looks aside, he’s got nothing going for him.”
Lin Ye nodded vigorously. “Absolutely! That handsome face is wasted!”
Huo Yan Fang was silent.
After takeoff, most passengers chose to sleep.
Rest up, and you could go shopping straight off the plane.
Bai Lu closed her eyes, sensing someone gently bumping her arm.
She turned her head and squinted open an eye. “What is it?”
Di Jia’er said nothing, just nodded toward the seat behind her.
Bai Lu was annoyed. “Ignore him. I told you, he’s not a good person.”

Di Jia’er shook his head. “Huo Yan Sui doesn’t look well.”
Bai Lu immediately turned around and saw his long legs awkwardly positioned, nowhere to put them. Then she noticed his pale face, a hand pressed to his forehead, cold sweat tracing his sharp jaw.
Bai Lu spoke brusquely. “Where does it hurt?”
Huo Yan Fang lifted his head to look at her, his complexion truly pale, but his lips strikingly red.
Was that really a man’s lip color?
Yes—it was, for Asui was a celestial man.
The aisle was narrow, so Bai Lu reached out to check his forehead, worried. “Why didn’t you say you had a fever?”
Lin Ye overheard and said, “Captain, didn’t you buy medicine before we left?”
Zu Xin’en shook his head. “It’s in the suitcase, checked in.”
Bai Lu waved sweetly. “Flight attendant!”
The attendant clearly recognized her. “Lu, do you need anything?”
“Upgrade—first class, please.” Bai Lu held up two fingers. “Are there seats?”
The attendant nodded. “Yes. Who’s upgrading?”
“Me and him,” Bai Lu pointed to herself and then to Huo Yan Fang.
The attendant kindly arranged for them to sit together.
Bai Lu turned toward him, worried by his pale face. “Didn’t you realize you had a fever? Is it a cold? Does your throat hurt? Have you seen a doctor?”
She’d noticed his voice was off earlier.
Huo Yan Fang replied, “Caught a chill two days ago—just a cold.”
Indeed, his voice was a bit hoarse.
Bai Lu cupped his cheeks in both hands. “Asui, open your mouth—ah—”
Huo Yan Fang’s gaze deepened.
Her soft hands, as she drew near, carried the sweet scent of milk.
She loved sweets and milk; her whole person seemed steeped in cream.
Soft, milky.
Bai Lu felt his cheeks growing hotter. “Asui! Your fever’s getting worse! Your ears are red!”
Huo Yan Fang remained silent.