"First time?"
As Li Haochen nervously gripped the seatbelt, a pleasant voice sounded from beside him. He looked over to see the beautiful woman next to him.
"Uh… yes!"
Li Haochen said a little shyly.
"Don't worry, it's only a bit uncomfortable during takeoff and landing. The rest of the time it's very smooth."
And so, the woman began chatting with Li Haochen. She was quite sociable and good at finding topics, making him feel like he was talking to a very close friend. However, the woman didn't reveal her name, only that she was going home.
During their conversation, Li Haochen secretly observed her. She naturally exuded the aura of a noble young lady, and her attire was quite expensive. Murong Yanran also wore clothes from the same brand, each costing tens of thousands. Especially the jade pendant hanging on her fair, slender neck, a striking emerald green.
Li Haochen was all too familiar with such details. The jade bracelet in his spatial dimension was just like it. Although her pendant was small, Li Haochen knew it was not cheap, likely worth one or two million.
"I never thought such a wealthy young lady would be flying economy class."
As Li Haochen marveled inwardly, the plane had already passed the climbing phase, and the uncomfortable ear ringing gradually subsided.
"Thank you!"
Seeing that Li Haochen had adjusted, the woman simply smiled faintly, then put on her headphones and closed her eyes to rest. She didn't continue talking with Li Haochen, perhaps her earlier conversation was just out of kindness.
Looking out the window, the stunning visual impact sent Li Haochen’s imagination soaring.
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, the azure sky spread out beneath him, sometimes resembling a vast, tranquil lake, and other times an infinitely wide river. The ever-changing clouds were incredibly spectacular, making one marvel at nature's artistry, far more profound than any master painter.
Looking down from the sky, surveying the clouds, he saw a dynamic, fluid beauty – grand yet delicate, clear yet deep.
Normally, from the ground, clouds seemed unreachable. But on the plane, they felt close enough to touch, as if he too had become a drifting cloud.
Gaining altitude offered a new perspective on the world. Appreciating the scenery outside the window made the journey feel shorter and less lonely, bringing forth pleasant feelings and boundless imagination, filling his heart with waves of joy.
It wasn't just about scenery; it applied to life and work as well. Gaining altitude to view the world was a matter of perspective. For the same matter, one might only see immediate gains and losses, while a leader might see it as a promising development opportunity. This was the difference between being a leader and an employee.
By looking at the world from a different angle, we would discover how truly wonderful it is.
With a comfortable seat, soft music, and a subtle, elegant fragrance emanating from beside him, Li Haochen soon drifted off to sleep.
At some point, he felt a touch on his arm and slowly woke up.
"We're almost there, put on your seatbelt!"
The woman's reminder beside him startled Li Haochen into a flurry of activity. Before he could even thank her, the strong vibrations of the landing plane made him feel weightless. The words caught in his throat, unable to be spoken.
Fortunately, the plane quickly stabilized and began taxiing. Li Haochen let out a heavy sigh of relief, muttering with lingering fear, "Damn, it's much more comfortable on the ground."
"Thank you!"
After disembarking and collecting his luggage, Li Haochen encountered the beautiful woman again outside the airport. He walked over, intending to invite her to a meal to thank her for her help on the plane. However, upon seeing a large motorcade arrive to pick her up, he stopped in his tracks and abandoned the idea. It wouldn't be good if her family mistook his intentions.
He hailed a taxi and headed straight for the hotel.
The journey was quite long. It took nearly 30 minutes from Gaoqi Airport to the hotel. Fortunately, he wasn't overcharged, and the fare of 65 yuan seemed reasonable. Xiamen made a good first impression on Li Haochen.
Arriving at the hotel entrance, he was awestruck by the sight of the Shimao Strait Tower, hundreds of meters tall, magnificent and grand.
He smoothly completed the check-in process and took his room card to the room on the 38th floor, where he received a pleasant surprise.
"I thought the room assigned to me as a lucky winner would be quite ordinary, but it's a sea-view room! That's great."
Li Haochen was very pleased with the room. Standing at over a hundred meters high, looking out at the vast, boundless sea through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows was a true indulgence.
While it was an indulgence, the price was shockingly high. The room he was staying in had a retail price of 2,100 yuan. Fortunately, he had won it; he wouldn't have spent this money himself. Wouldn't a guesthouse for over a hundred yuan be more enjoyable? Of course, if he were with Murong Yanran, he would spare no expense, no matter how high the room rate.
Lying on the comfortable bed, he immediately made a video call to Murong Yanran. "Beauty, want to try this bed? It's so comfortable, so soft, and so big~"
Murong Yanran smiled charmingly, leaning back in her office chair, and replied, "Mine at home is also very big and soft, don't you think? Hehe!"
Murong Yanran's words had a double meaning, and Li Haochen caught on immediately.
"You've gotten naughty now."
"If a woman isn't naughty, men won't love her, hehe!"
They continued to pour out their longing for each other across the screen until Murong Yanran had to start working. The process was quite torturous; Li Haochen found himself repeatedly on edge, a real hardship.
"I'll save up my ammunition for now. When I get back, I'll get revenge for this waiting game."
Li Haochen muttered with a smile, changed his clothes, and left with his room card. His destination was Xiamen University, about a kilometer away.
He decided not to take a car, choosing instead to walk along the clean and romantic coastline. A kilometer wasn't far, and it would be wonderful to experience the local customs and culture.
He had to admit, Xiamen had put a lot of effort into its urban appearance. The roads were spotlessly clean, with not a trace of litter, except for the occasional fallen leaves from the trees.
After about ten minutes, Li Haochen arrived outside the famous Xiamen University. He had made a reservation beforehand, and after completing the registration, he was smoothly admitted.
It was the weekend, so there were quite a few tourists visiting. Passing through the grand and imposing entrance, he saw the distinctive Furong Lake not far away, where pairs of black swans could be seen occasionally landing in the water, creating a beautiful scene.
What Li Haochen was most interested in was the Lovers' Valley Reservoir. The tranquil lake and the graceful acacia trees exuded a quiet and leisurely atmosphere.
Looking at the couples on the benches and on the grass, he couldn't help but feel a touch of envy. He and Murong Yanran had never experienced the unique charm of campus romance.