After the Top Idol Omega and I Started Living Together - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Floating clouds passed over clean glass, and the oval window was filled with the deep blue of the sky.

The land shrank into a corner of the window frame. After heavy rain, the world was washed anew. Flickering lights were divided by crisscrossing lines, like countless stars falling onto a chessboard.

Lu Zhao, like a child who had never seen the world, leaned sideways on one leg, ungracefully pressed against the window, gazing at the scenery outside.

No one dared to scold her.

She was sitting on a private plane, with only her, Sheng Jingyu, and a small crew entirely dedicated to serving them.

At noon, Sheng Jingyu took Lu Zhao’s hand and asked her to follow. Lu Zhao went without hesitation.

She trusted Sheng Jingyu, letting her lead her anywhere.

But at first, Lu Zhao thought Sheng Jingyu was only taking her somewhere nearby.

She never expected the driver, under Sheng Jingyu’s direction, to take them straight to the airport.

The check-in process was both familiar and unfamiliar compared to Lu Zhao’s past plane trips.

She knew airport security could involve staff checking guests in a VIP lounge, but she didn’t expect this level of privacy. From home to the airport, then onto the plane, Lu Zhao saw no strangers, only staff.

The noisy environment of rushing to catch a flight felt far away. When she came to her senses, she was already escorted onto the plane.

So, in some ways, this wasn’t even rushing to catch a flight.

The plane was waiting for her, respectfully welcoming her, this Ms. Lu who was borrowing Sheng Jingyu’s prestige.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhao secretly glanced at Sheng Jingyu beside her.

The soft sound of turning pages was calm. Sheng Jingyu lowered her eyes, seriously reading an article in a magazine.

Her slightly tilted back rested against the seat. Even in this relaxed, familiar private setting, she never let her guard down, as if it were a long-formed habit, naturally noble.

Inevitably, a question arose in Lu Zhao’s heart.

Who exactly was her teacher?

How could she afford a small private plane and a crew always at her command?

As Lu Zhao secretly pondered, the plane suddenly jolted.

As if punishing her wandering thoughts and improper posture, she nearly slid off due to the turbulence.

At that moment, a cool, familiar touch landed on Lu Zhao’s skin.

Sheng Jingyu moved quickly, grabbing Lu Zhao’s arm and steadying her before she fell.

The magazine was carelessly tossed aside, its newly turned pages creased.

Sheng Jingyu calmly helped Lu Zhao sit properly again, without scolding: “The weather’s been bad lately. There’ll be turbulence.”

“I understand,” Lu Zhao said obediently, sitting properly next to Sheng Jingyu again. She stopped leaning against the window to look at the scenery, but her curiosity persisted: “Teacher, where are you taking me?”

Sheng Jingyu raised her eyes to glance at Lu Zhao, putting down the book she had just picked up.

She skillfully pulled out a built-in tablet from the side of the seat, unhurriedly opening a real-time satellite map. Under Lu Zhao’s gaze, she zoomed into the southeast sea.

Islands of different shapes and sizes clustered together, forming an archipelago.

Lu Zhao recognized the place: “M Country?”

“Next to it.”

Sheng Jingyu calmly gestured, zooming in on the sea area further.

Until it filled most of the screen, until a small island appeared in the center.

Lu Zhao looked at this isolated island, not too close to the archipelago, and asked curiously: “If we’re going there, why doesn’t it have a name?”

Sheng Jingyu: “It’s a private island. Maps don’t show its name.”

Her explanation was calm but couldn’t hide its extraordinary nature.

Lu Zhao was surprised: “Teacher’s island?”

Sheng Jingyu nodded, her gesture casual: “My family bought it. It was cheap back then.”

Such humble words might fool others, but not Lu Zhao.

She remembered in middle school, her family once planned to buy an island for vacations, but after Lu Xu and Qin Xi calculated the ongoing costs, they chose a vacation house instead.

Buying an island was like buying a private plane—the initial cost was just the tip of the iceberg. The maintenance costs were enormous, hidden underwater.

Everything on the island required huge investments, plus a professional team to serve it. Maintaining an island visited only a few times a year wasn’t something ordinary wealthy people could afford.

“Is that so?” Lu Zhao tilted her head, seeming thoughtful as she walked to the nearby dining area. “I feel like Teacher is hiding many secrets from me.”

A plump purple grape touched Lu Zhao’s lips, and she bit into it.

The faint juice stained her lips with a glossy sheen, spreading a grape-like flavor instantly.

Their eyes met. Sheng Jingyu could tell Lu Zhao was probing her.

But her lowered hand didn’t rise to respond.

Indeed, she had many stories Lu Zhao didn’t know.

Including the fact that her decision to live with Lu Zhao was a secret she couldn’t let her know.

Sheng Jingyu slightly lowered her eyes.

Her thick eyelashes, like cicada wings, hid her pupils, which were filled with obscure gray-silver.

Their unfamiliar relationship had gradually become close, even crossing a line in a moment.

Life had been too smooth, making one forget it all started with that selfish decision.

This child had been used and betrayed by too many people.

Sheng Jingyu knew how much she hated it.

In the quiet space, rhythmic footsteps sounded. A flight attendant noticed Lu Zhao at the dining area and brought her a fresh fruit platter.

The playful, probing question was interrupted by the sound of the platter placed on the table.

Lu Zhao looked at the dazzling, beautiful fruit platter and gave the flight attendant a professional smile: “Thank you.”

The overhead light shone brightly, making Lu Zhao’s eyes sparkle.

This rare Alpha brightness made the flight attendant’s gaze flicker, and her practiced smile became genuinely warm: “You’re too polite. It’s our job.”

She was very attentive and asked: “We just prepared fresh juice. Would Ms. Lu like some?”

Lu Zhao wasn’t interested in fruit in another form and shook her head: “No, I prefer plain water.”

“How about snacks? We have freshly baked cookies in the back, butter coconut flavor. They’re delicious,” the flight attendant suggested.

That hit Lu Zhao’s taste. She nodded: “I’ll try those. Please bring me some.”

“Please wait a moment,” the flight attendant said, giving Lu Zhao a slight bow. Her heels clicked lightly on the floor.

The light fell, and a figure briefly passed in front of Lu Zhao.

Sheng Jingyu’s gaze on her magazine paused slightly.

She looked to the side and saw the flight attendant who had just spoken to Lu Zhao walk to the back of the cabin.

The private plane was small, so normal conversation could be heard clearly by others.

Sheng Jingyu put down her magazine and slowly raised her hand.

The chief attendant, perceptive, approached respectfully: “Ms. Jing.”

“No one’s needed here. Go rest,” Sheng Jingyu ordered calmly.

The chief attendant knew Sheng Jingyu liked quiet and didn’t think much of it.

She nodded, signaling the other flight attendant in the cabin to leave with her, adding: “Call us if you need anything.”

The curtain was lifted. The flight attendant preparing cookies saw her colleague return and eagerly shared: “This Alpha is really beautiful. I’m smitten.”

The chief attendant tapped her: “Don’t get smitten. She’s Ms. Jing’s student.”

The flight attendant was surprised: “Student? Ms. Jing disappeared for nearly a month after her retirement announcement. I thought she was really gone, but she secretly took a student!”

Her face showed disappointment, but her smile shifted to her colleague: “Suddenly, it feels kind of shippable.”

She was excited, like discovering a new world, clutching her hands tightly: “An Alpha-Omega teacher-student forbidden romance is the best!”

One was calmed, but another rose.

The chief attendant looked helplessly at her subordinates, interrupting: “Deliver the cookies and come back quickly. Ms. Jing doesn’t like being disturbed.”

“I know,” the flight attendant nodded, her excitement slightly subdued.

She knew how coveted her job was and only planned to glance at Lu Zhao one last time.

Her standard smile carried a touch of sweetness as she unhurriedly placed the cookie tray before Lu Zhao: “Ms. Lu, the cookies.”

“Thank you,” Lu Zhao said, reaching for one, but the flight attendant stopped her: “These are freshly baked, Ms. Lu. Wait a bit, careful with your hand.”

Heat rose from the cookies. Lu Zhao felt relieved.

Past experiences made her always return kindness to those who were kind to her. She looked up, smiling slightly at the flight attendant, grateful and considerate: “Thank you. Be careful when you handle them too.”

“Oh,” the flight attendant said, her smile growing sweeter at such politeness. “I’ll go now. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay,” Lu Zhao nodded politely, ending the conversation.

A figure passed under the light again. Rhythmic footsteps went from far to near, then far again, disappearing in the cabin.

The surroundings grew quiet again. The warm, buttery scent of cookies spread layer by layer through the air, intangible yet teasing at Sheng Jingyu’s nose.

The silence stretched long, each second seeming to double.

Sheng Jingyu still looked at her magazine, her eyes lingering on one sentence repeatedly.

She had never found an article so obscure and hard to grasp, unable to sink into her heart after several reads.

Awkward.

“Teacher, want a cookie?”

Sheng Jingyu coldly assessed her indescribable mood when Lu Zhao’s voice reached her ears.

Lu Zhao, holding the cookie tray, sat back beside her. Her bright eyes looked at her eagerly, expectantly.

But this time, Sheng Jingyu wasn’t moved by those eyes.

She calmly shifted her gaze away, refusing: “No, thank you.”

Her tone was faint, slightly distant.

Lu Zhao hadn’t felt this aura from Sheng Jingyu in a long time. It left her unsettled, even empty.

“Buzz…”

Inconveniently, Lu Zhao’s phone suddenly rang.

Zhou Huanyin’s unfamiliar name flashed on the screen, initiating a video call.

Lu Zhao was surprised: “Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Huanyin skipped pleasantries and asked: “Lu Zhao, how are you? Are you okay physically?”

Lu Zhao paused, then realized Zhou Huanyin was likely referring to yesterday’s events.

She was probably calling because she heard about it.

“I’m fine,” Lu Zhao said, flattered, skillfully hiding Sheng Jingyu in her explanation. “Teacher Chen Annie was there. She handed me to my manager.”

“That’s fortunate in misfortune,” Zhou Huanyin said, relieved after hearing Lu Zhao and seeing her current state.

She was always full of justice, especially since this involved Lu Zhao, whom she admired greatly. Her tone was bitter: “If someone like that were on my side, I’d kick them out immediately, force them to withdraw. Such bad character!”

Zhou Huanyin condemned angrily. Lu Zhao felt much better hearing it.

Good voices always arrived later than bad ones.

But late was fine.

Lu Zhao’s heart warmed. Though she was the one who should be comforted, she comforted Zhou Huanyin: “Teacher Zhou, don’t waste energy on such people. They’ll never reach high places.”

“That’s a good mindset,” Zhou Huanyin approved of Lu Zhao’s attitude. “That’s great. You’ll go far.”

Lu Zhao smiled shyly.

At first, she wanted to deal with Si Liaoliao and Chen Ruozhi herself and felt bad for a while.

But she had Sheng Jingyu.

With her teacher, she was much better.

As she spoke, Zhou Huanyin’s gaze slowly settled on the background behind Lu Zhao.

For some reason, the place felt familiar. She asked: “Lu Zhao, where are you right now?”

“I… I’m at a friend’s place,” Lu Zhao said hesitantly, selfishly not wanting to tell others about her teacher. She glanced around, looking for an excuse to brush it off.

But as she looked around, her phone’s camera shifted slightly.

“Ah…!”

A familiar exclamation came from Zhou Huanyin. Sheng Jingyu’s page-turning froze.

She turned sharply and saw Zhou Huanyin on the screen, staring in shock at her half-visible figure.