The F4 private jet left the runway in the early morning sunlight. The engine roared for a while, then the deep blue sky opened up before their eyes. Inside the luxurious cabin, Aurora sat by the window, her chin resting on her hand, her green eyes looking far away at the clouds that were layering outside.
Blacke took off his coat, stretched:
"Every time I fly, the best feeling is when I take off. It's like all the burdens are left behind."
Zane leaned back on the leather sofa, sighed:
"Yeah, but unfortunately there are some burdens… that can't be left behind."
Easton raised his eyebrows:
"What do you mean?"
Knox sat up straight, his eyes bored:
"It's the fiancée that my family arranged for me. Ruby. She's nothing more than a commercial contract."
The cabin fell into a brief silence. Then Blacke chuckled, but it was a sad laugh:
"All families are like that. Political marriages… bound by power, not heart."
Easton nodded, his voice low:
"We are all forced to follow that path. Who in the F4 doesn't know the feeling of having their happiness used as a bargaining tool."
Zane leaned his elbows on the chair, glanced at Aurora who was still silently looking out the window:
"Aurora, what do you think? Do you like political marriages?"
Aurora slowly turned her head. Her soft black hair was loose, her green eyes were sparkling but cold:
"No. I don't like it."
Blacke smiled, his eyes flashing with amusement:
"Oh, so cold? What do you think about love? Believe it or not?"
Aurora leaned back in the chair, her voice calm:
"I don't believe in love. And I hate political marriages."
Knox tilted his head slightly, curious:
"Don't believe in love? Then you've never… loved anyone?"
Aurora pursed her lips, smiling faintly:
"Never. And maybe never will. Love is fragile, easily broken. I'm not suited for it."
Zane raised his eyebrows, half-jokingly:
"If there was no love, then your parents were just a political marriage?"
Aurora was silent for a moment, then replied softly but firmly:
"No. They're not. I… although I don't believe in love, I believe in its power. It's just… maybe I'm not suited to have it for myself."
After Aurora's words, the plane fell into a brief silence, each F4 had their own emotions.
Easton broke the silence, mentioning that tomorrow was Columbus Day, the school would be closed.
Zane joked that then they would have more time in China, resting until Monday.
Knox leaned back in his chair and sighed, saying that at least they had a chance to escape the pressure of school and family for two days.
Aurora still rested her chin on her hand and looked at the white clouds outside, but her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. A vague feeling of discomfort rose in her heart, the thought of "hanging out with humans" for two days made her cold heart feel like it was being disturbed.
She sighed softly, then turned to look at F4, her voice low and steady but full of determination:
"I have a request… not a small one. Can you help me?"
F4 all turned their eyes towards her. Blacke raised his eyebrows, interested:
"What request? Just say it. We're listening."
Aurora sat up straight, her clear green eyes reflecting the light outside the window:
"I want to meet a lot of people. Get in touch with them. But each person must have a different personality, the more diverse the better. That's what makes me interested. I want to try… on the second day, when we're in China. As for going to the top of Baifeng… take the cable car."
She paused for a moment, then looked straight at F4:
"Can you help me?"
Zane laughed, somewhat surprised:
"Wait… What did you just say? You want to meet a lot of people? If I remember correctly, you really hate crowded places."
Easton also nodded, his voice warm:
"That's right. You don't like to interact with anyone. But now you actively want to meet a bunch of different people?"
Knox crossed his arms, puzzled but unable to hide his curiosity:
"Aurora, you… are really strange. Saying you want to learn about humans, I don't know what you're planning to do. But…"
Blacke interrupted, smiling half-heartedly:
"Aurora, you're probably the first girl to make this F4 nod in unison to a request that we don't understand at all."
Aurora just looked at them, her face as calm as a calm lake.
"You don't need to understand. Yes or no. That's it."
The F4 looked at each other, then burst out laughing. No one objected, nor did anyone refuse. Zane shook his head, his eyes still following Aurora as if he wanted to decipher a mystery:
"Alright, the princess is difficult to please. We'll arrange it. Consider it a game for the next two days."
Knox added, half-teasingly, half-seriously:
"Aurora… you make us want to know more and more: who is the real you after all."
Aurora did not reply, only turned back to look at the clouds outside the window, her sparkling green eyes seemed to hide something beyond their imagination.
The flight attendant pushed the serving cart closer, smiling politely:
"What would you like for lunch?"
Blake, Easton, Knox, and Zane took turns choosing their dishes, chatting comfortably while looking at Aurora.
Aurora shook her head slightly, her voice calm:
"I'm not hungry."
Four gazes immediately focused on her at the same time, as if looking at a stubborn child who refused to eat. Aurora clearly felt that protection, her brows furrowed slightly, but did not react further.
Easton tilted his head, smiling half teasingly, half coaxingly:
"Have you forgotten? Eat well. We'll go support the poor and hungry after landing, okay?"
Aurora was silent for a few seconds, her eyes flashing with confusion, then slowly turned to the flight attendant:
"Give me the French Ratatouille… and the Vietnamese vegetarian spring rolls."
The flight attendant nodded, quickly taking note.
Blake chuckled, leaning back in his chair:
"What a special choice. You always surprise us."
Knox tapped his hand on the table, his eyes half serious and half curious:
"Usually, I hate eating with a lot of people. Why are you breaking the rules today, or are we your exception?"
Aurora glanced at him, but didn't answer right away. She just pursed her lips slightly, then slowly cut a piece of Ratatouille, the flavor gradually permeating the tip of her tongue.
Zane chuckled softly, turning to the group:
"Well, don't make things difficult for her. After all… it's interesting to see Aurora eating with someone else for the first time."
The atmosphere at the dining table was both strange and warm. Aurora sat in the middle, quietly enjoying her lunch, while F4 ate and chatted comfortably, occasionally glancing at her with eyes as if trying to read something hidden deep inside that mysterious person.
After eating, Aurora silently leaned her head against the plane window, her eyes looking out at the blue sky dotted with white clouds. The endless scenery made her feel like she was immersed in her own world.
Easton leaned closer, his voice gentle but patient:
"Aurora, you should rest a bit, we still have a long way to go."
Aurora shook her head, her eyes still not leaving the glass window.
"I don't want to sleep. If I sleep, I'll miss this view."
That calm but firm statement made the four boys glance at each other. Knox sighed, resting his hand on his forehead, while Blacke slightly curled his lips into a helpless smile. Zane propped his chin up, his eyes filled with curiosity and amusement as if he was watching a little girl who was sulking.
Easton still did not give up, reaching out to gently pull the small blanket and placing it on Aurora's lap:
"You're really stubborn... But if you don't want to sleep, at least close your eyes and rest for a bit. We'll watch over you."
Aurora turned around, her eyes clear but defiant:
"I'm not a child. I just want to enjoy everything… my way."
At that moment, all four men burst into small laughter. Blacke said as if to conclude:
"Yes, that's right. You're not a child… but you make us treat you like the most difficult child in the world."
Aurora frowned, not answering. But in those deep eyes, the sparkling light of the sky reflected seemed to be hiding a trace of emotion that was hard to name.