<h4>Chapter 1333: Chapter 1244: The Item, Lost?!</h4>


    Bai Xiaosheng, Lin Weiwei, and Lei Ying passed through security together with other passengers, heading for boarding.


    On the way, Lin Weiwei walked slightly behind and close to Bai Xiaosheng, whispering, "We booked our tickets in a hurry this time. Not only are we not in business ss, our seats in economy aren’t even together. Maybe we can try to swap seats with someone after we board."


    Seventeen hours in economy ss can indeed be torturous!


    Since our seats are scattered, it might be even lonelier.


    But Bai Xiaosheng isn’t some spoiled brat.


    Back in his university days, he used to take the green trains that stopped at every station like a bus, and they were incredibly slow.


    That’s not even the worst of it.


    During the Spring Festival travel rush, it was standing room only, packed like sardines.


    Standing for seven or eight hours at a time!


    It’s not too bad if you’re next to a beauty, but standing next to a rough guy who doesn’t like to bathe? That kind of ’pleasure’ is something only those who have experienced it would know!


    Bai Xiaosheng is someone who’s been through hardships.


    Nowadays, with transportation so developed and high-speed trains running smoothly, it’s hard for young people to imagine the difficulties of travel back then.


    Bai Xiaosheng sighed a little.


    "Economy ss is fine, actually. It’s quite spacious,fortable, and the seats can recline a bit," Bai Xiaosheng reassured Lin Weiwei in a lowered voice with a smile, "Don’t worry, I’m no pampered young master. It’s not that big of a deal if I can’t sit next to others. As for switching seats, there’s no need. It doesn’t make much difference whether we sit together or not."


    With that, Lin Weiwei did not insist any further.


    After all, we have to board the ne first and see what the situation is like.


    Bai Xiaosheng and the others didn’t carry much with them, since they checked in theirrger bags and only brought a small bag each, appearing quite unburdened.


    After boarding, Lin Weiwei’s seat was at the front of the economy ss, in the second row of a three-seat section by the window.


    As passengers were still boarding, Lin Weiwei also had to go to her seat to sit down.


    Bai Xiaosheng’s seat was in the middle section of the economy ss, one of two seats next to the window.


    With a little window brightening things up, Bai Xiaosheng was actually quite satisfied.


    Yet, looking over from Lin Weiwei’s perspective, the distance seemed far, and it was unlikely that the person would be willing to swap their seat.


    She sighed and decided to let go of the idea of switching seats for the time being.


    Lei Ying was in thetter half of the economy ss.


    Their three seats were not just separated; they covered the front, middle, and back sections of the ne,pletely scattered.


    After Bai Xiaosheng sat down, a person who was stowing their luggage in the aisle sat beside him.


    Bai Xiaosheng nced at him unintentionally, but was surprised.


    Isn’t this the African brother who was ahead of him in the security line? He happened to be his travelpanion?


    Noticing Bai Xiaosheng, the African brother’s eyes shed.


    Seeing Bai Xiaosheng’s friendly gaze, he immediately grinned, showing off his pearly white teeth, and greeted Bai Xiaosheng, "Hey, man."


    A very Chinese-style greeting.


    Bai Xiaosheng also smiled back at him, nodding his head.


    After that, both of them went about their own business.


    Before takeoff, the flight attendants gave a safety briefing, and then asked everyone to turn off their mobile phones.


    "Seventeen hours without a phone or inte, oh my goodness," the Africanmented before conscientiously turning off his phone, yet couldn’t help massaging his temples, looking utterly dejected.


    For someone who enjoys live streaming and watching streams, being cut off from the inte is indeed tormenting.


    Bai Xiaosheng smiled slightly.


    He wasn’t bothered; after all, Red Lotus had stored arge amount of audio-visual and literary material. As long as he closed his eyes and had Red Lotus y a movie or read a story, it would be a top-tier indulgence.


    Soon, the airne took off and entered a stable cruising phase.


    Bai Xiaosheng looked at the sea of clouds through the window, then adjusted his seat, closed his eyes, and prepared to nestle in and sleep for a while. If he couldn’t fall asleep, he would enjoy a story from Red Lotus.


    "Hey, man?"


    Bai Xiaosheng suddenly felt someone calling him and a light tap on his shoulder.


    Bai Xiaosheng opened his eyes skeptically to look.


    The African was grinning, revealing his snowy teeth.


    In one hand, he also held a box of Chinese chess.


    "It’s a long journey. Aren’t you bored? How about we y a few games?"


    The African’s smile was eager and his invitation sincere.


    Bai Xiaosheng nced at him and suddenly felt inclined to y, immediately nodding with a smile, "Sure."


    Anyway, there was nothing else to do.


    Thus, between two small tray tables, arge in-flight magazine was ced, upon which they set up the chessboard.


    The little chess pieces just about fit.


    As the African skillfully set up the pieces, he said with a smile, "My name is Sun Jierui, Sun as in Sun Wukong, a Chinese name given by a friend. Twenty-five, currently a student in China."


    The guy introduced himself before asking Bai Xiaosheng, "How should I address you, brother?"


    His Chinese was indeed fluent.


    Plus, with the young man’s earnest demeanor and natural charm, Bai Xiaosheng rather liked him.


    "My name is Bai Xiaosheng," Bai Xiaosheng answered with a smile.


    "Nice name," Sun Jieruimended.


    What was nice about it is something he probably didn’t know himself.


    It must have been just apliment.


    Sun Jierui, joyful and excited, looked at the set-up chessboard, his focuspletely drawn to the tiny board, rubbing his hands together with evident self-assurance—


    "I’m pretty good at Chinese chess; I hold the second ranking in the foreignnguage group of the university chess club! If you can’t beat me, I can even spot you some advantages!"


    Bai Xiaosheng smiled.


    "Impressive, very impressive. I’m not that good. Please be forgiving, be forgiving."


    ...


    Then, by noon, Bai Xiaosheng had won six games in a row.


    Winning to the point where Sun Jierui began to question his life.