She Canceled My Train Ticket, I Booked a Private Jet

On the eve of National Day, I pulled three all-nighters and finally managed to secure high-speed rail tickets for my girlfriend and me to go home.

I breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly received a message from her:

“Jason’s in a bad mood, so I gave your ticket to him.”

“See if you can still get standing room tickets. It’s only seven or eight hours anyway.”

I stared at the canceled order on my phone.

After a long silence, I picked it up:

“Mom, can our private jet land directly in front of our school?”

——

There was a two-second pause on the other end.

My mom was clearly shocked by my sudden and absurd request.

But she knew me; I wasn’t the type to act on impulse.

“Sure,” she agreed at once without hesitation.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Don’t be so formal. Talk to me when we get home.”

As soon as I hung up, Emily Walker called impatiently.

“Liam! What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you answering?”

Her voice carried obvious irritation and blame. “It’s just a ticket, isn’t it? Do you have to be so angry? Jason’s in a bad mood, can’t you be understanding?”

I clenched my phone, my fingertips turning pale from the pressure.

“You can just refund my tickets like that? Did you even ask me?”

“My situation was urgent!”

Emily’s tone grew sharper.

“Jason didn’t do well on his exam this time, and he’s really upset. The business-class seat you booked is quieter and more comfortable, perfect for him to relax during the trip.”

“Besides, why didn’t you book an extra ticket when you got it? Why make such a big fuss now?”

I almost laughed at her reasoning.

“Emily, I stayed up three whole nights, staring at the screen without blinking, my fingers nearly breaking, just to get those two tickets.”

“I thought this was our first time going home together, that we wanted to leave some good memories, and now you refunded my tickets to someone else without even asking?”

“What do you mean?”

Emily’s voice rose. “Liam, you’ve become so cold-blooded and petty.”

“Jason is your friend, too! It’s tough for him to study away from home. Shouldn’t we take better care of him? Why are you so obsessed with this ticket?”

“Tough for him?”

I repeated softly, my chest freezing.

“It’s tough for him, but easy for me? You’re making me stand for seven or eight hours, and you don’t even consider me?”

“What’s wrong with standing? Isn’t it just a little harder? When did you become so fussy?”

Emily’s tone brimmed with disappointment.

“I thought you were kind and considerate, but I didn’t expect you to be so shallow! You’re embarrassed just because you’re not in business class? You’re going to ruin everyone’s mood?”

I listened to her words, the irony cutting deep.

Shallow?

Shallow about a business-class ticket on the high-speed rail.

She’d never know that I didn’t truly need that ticket. I just wanted to go home with her, to share that trip together. With one call, my mother could buy not just one seat, but the entire train.

But I didn’t want to explain.

I only wanted to see what little drama she and her delicate “green tea boy” could pull.

I stayed silent for a few seconds, but to Emily, that silence seemed like guilt and surrender.

Her tone softened, though still condescending.