After enjoying the scenery and fresh air at the top of Mount Baiyun for quite some time, Jiu Fan and his parents decided to return to the hotel where they were staying. The sky was starting to dim, covered in a golden orange color that reflected the twilight light through the windows of the tall buildings in Guangzhou city. The afternoon wind blew softly as they entered the hotel lobby, their steps accompanied by the soft sound of instrumental music from hidden speakers.
As soon as they arrived at the hotel room, his mother looked at Jiu Fan gently and said, "Fan'er, take a rest if you're tired."
But Jiu Fan shook his head slowly, touching his stomach that had been empty for a long time. "I want to find something to eat first. Surely this hotel has a restaurant or dining room, right?"
His mother smiled and nodded. "Okay. But you still have to be careful, okay? This is a big hotel, and there are many people you don't know."
"I know, Mom. Don't worry." Jiu Fan smiled reassuringly, then stepped out of the hotel room.
The hotel corridors looked quiet, but long and confusing. Jiu Fan walked down the various floors, checking every signpost, but found no trace of a restaurant or dining room.
"Doesn't this hotel have a restaurant or dining room?" he muttered tiredly, his breathing a little heavy from walking for quite some time.
Just as he was about to turn around to give up and return to his room, a woman suddenly appeared from the intersection of the hallway. The woman walked confidently, wearing an elegant black suit and short skirt, her hair light purple, flowing gently like a waterfall falling from the sky. Unintentionally, the woman bumped into Jiu Fan's shoulder, making him lose his balance and fall down.
The woman immediately turned her head back, her expression shocked. "Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!" she said quickly.
Jiu Fan got up while patting his clothes. "It's okay. I'm fine."
The woman stared at him for a moment, then smiled. "You're looking for a place to eat, right? How about I treat you? Just think of it as an apology."
"Do you know where the place to eat is?" Jiu Fan asked in surprise.
"Of course." She replied lightly. "The dining room is upstairs. Many people misunderstand and only look downstairs."
"No wonder I didn't find it." Jiu Fan said softly, feeling a little stupid.
"Okay, let's go." The woman said as she grabbed Jiu Fan's hand and pulled him without further ado.
Jiu Fan was surprised for a moment, but followed the woman's steps until they arrived at the top floor via an exclusive elevator. The dining room on that floor turned out to be very spacious and luxurious, decorated with crystal chandeliers, the tempting aroma of cooking filled the air. Only a few people were eating there, making it feel quiet and exclusive.
After sitting down, Jiu Fan only ordered roast chicken and a glass of apple juice. The woman looked at him in surprise. "Are you sure you only ordered that?"
Jiu Fan nodded. "Yes, I was afraid of bothering you. You only accidentally bumped into me and I wasn't hurt."
The woman smiled warmly. "Ah, it's nothing."
She then leaned back casually on the chair, looking at Jiu Fan. "Oh yeah, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Lin Rubi. I come from the Land of Violets. And you?"
"My name is Jiu Zhefan. But just call me Jiu Fan. I'm from Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. Nice to meet you." He extended his hand, and Lin Rubi returned it with a sweet smile.
"Shenzhen City?" Lin Rubi said. "I want to visit there someday."
"Really?" Jiu Fan asked, a little surprised.
"Of course." Lin Rubi replied with a smile.
Jiu Fan stared at her for a moment, speechless. "Wow… This girl is so beautiful. Even her smile is so sweet… But—no! I mustn't forget Wu Lixue." he thought, trying to calm himself down.
Before long, Lin Rubi noticed something on Jiu Fan's chest.
"Oh yeah, I was wondering about the star brooch you're wearing on your shirt. There must be some hidden secret in it, right?"
"Nothing. It's just an ordinary brooch." Jiu Fan replied, trying to look calm.
Lin Rubi chuckled. "Do you think I can be fooled that easily? Don't worry, I don't want your brooch. I just want to know the secret."
Jiu Fan sighed. "Alright. This brooch does have a hidden power. It gives me the power of light. I can teleport millions of miles, even faster than the speed of light… But I mostly use it for short-distance teleportation."
Lin Rubi's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow… How interesting!"
"Also, this brooch can also transform into a weapon. But I haven't learned all of them. There are many abilities that I still don't know."
"So your power is identical to light, huh?" Lin Rubi muttered.
"Right. What about you? Do you have powers too?"
Lin Rubi smiled and nodded. "I have powers related to violets. My power flows from the beauty and poison of the flower."
"Even you are great." Jiu Fan praised.
Lin Rubi chuckled. "Haha… Alright, I have to go now. Hopefully we'll see each other again sometime."
Before leaving, she glanced at Jiu Fan's plate. "Finish your food, okay? Don't worry, I've paid for everything."
Then she stood up, walking lightly out of the dining room. Jiu Fan could only stare at the woman's back, his feelings mixed between admiration and confusion.
But far away from that place, outside of planet Earth…
A giant space fleet floated quietly among the stars. Inside the main ship, aliens were staring at a holographic screen displaying Jiu Fan's image.
One of them, a hideous creature with gray skin and glowing red eyes—who had once taken over Xiao Zhen's body—laughed coldly.
"Hahaha… I've found you… Jiu Fan."
To be continued…