"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Eh... she's asleep," he murmured to himself.

Lisan looks beautiful while she's asleep...

''I can say she resembles the sleeping princess,'' he thought to himself.

The young man continued to gaze at her for a moment, a smile forming on his face.

"How can she sleep so soundly even when I held her wrist tightly?" He was momentarily surprised but then resolved, "I'll apologize to her later."

The journey from Paris to Beijing continued. Most passengers dozed off during the long flight. However, their slumber wouldn't last as long as Lisan's.

The young man noticed this and became concerned.

"Is she alright?" he wondered as he gently tried to feel her pulse. Just then, Lujain, seated in the adjacent seat, spoke up, reassuring him, "Don't worry, she's fine. That silly girl acts like she's in her own home, unbothered by anything. She'll wake up before we arrive."

"Are you her friend?" he asked.

Lujain introduced herself, saying, "Hello, I'm Lujain, Lisan's friend, the young lady next to you."

"Hello, I'm Bibars," he replied.

Their conversation ended quickly, as Lujain wasn't one for extensive chitchat. The flight was nearing its end, with only an hour left until arrival in Beijing. As the plane landed, Bibars, due to his phobia, tightly held onto Lisan's wrist. However, Lisan remained fast asleep. Passengers began to disembark, and Lisan abruptly woke up, disoriented as she saw people bustling around her.

Lisan exclaimed, "It seems we've arrived at our destination. Time has passed so quickly."

Bibars looked momentarily shocked but didn't get a chance to respond before Lisan left, leaving him no opportunity to apologize.

"And finally, we're back. I can't stand being in Paris," Lisan declared.

Lujain questioned, "Didn't you study there? If you hate it so much, why did you go?"

Frounda chimed in, teasingly saying, "She just hates anything that disrupts her sleep... laughs."

Lujain jokingly added, "Lisan the koala, hahaha."

After completing the airport procedures, the girls exited the airport at 6:00 PM. Waiting for them was a handsome man in a black Mercedes, dressed in a tailored black suit, tall with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"I'm here solely for my girlfriend, Frounda," he announced cheerfully.

Lisan, leaving her bag in his hands, hopped into the backseat of the car and retorted, "Go to hell, you scoundrel."

Lujain quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, but I'll also get in. I don't have a boyfriend like Frounda, but I'm her friend."

Lisan, from inside the car, added, "Iyas, please don't exchange excessive kisses. I want to get home soon."

Iyas, the man, responded, "I'm not your driver, Koala."

Frounda and Iyas exchanged a hug and a kiss. Iyas then opened the front door for Frounda and warmly said, "Welcome back."

After Frounda got in, Iyas followed suit. Lisan, observing their interaction from behind, remarked, "We've only been gone for four days, not years."

Iyas turned towards Lisan and playfully responded, "What does it matter to you, silly koala?"

He started the car and headed first to Lujain's house to drop her off, then towards the shared residence of Lisan and Frounda, as they lived in the same area.

Lisan, Frounda, and Iyas were not only neighbors but also childhood friends. Despite coming from wealthy families, they led unassuming lives.

Lisan, 27 years old, worked as a dentist.

Frounda, also 27, is a music teacher at one of her father's schools.

Iyas, also 27, held a senior position in his father's private company, specializing in the sale of car parts.

As for Lujain, she met Lisan in Paris and, at 26 years old, worked as a painter.

Iyas dropped off Lujain first and then made his way to Lisan's house, which was located next to Frounda and Iyas' residence. They lived in an upscale neighborhood, home to wealthy individuals and prominent figures in society. Lisan lived with her parents, and their close bond extended beyond friendship.

As Lisan arrived home, she exchanged warm hugs with her parents, exclaiming, "I'm back! I missed both of you so much." Her parents smiled and kissed her on both cheeks, saying,

"Welcome back Lilac."