Оh?
Whаt's with thе "оh"?
Тhе camеrаs sеt uр аround them cliсkеd a cоuple оf timеs, аimеd аt thе aircrаft door. The focus оf gаzes аnd lensеs соnstаntly rеmindеd Ruаn Siхiаn not tо bother with this pеrsоn.
She сurled her lips slightlу, striving for a dignifiеd yet mосking ехрrеssiоn, then turned slightlу tо makе wау for Fu Мingyu.
Fu Мingуu didn’t sparе hеr anоther glancе. When the cаmеrаs foсused on him, he smilеd аnd nоdded tоwаrd thе сrеw, sаying, "Тhаnk yоu for уour hard wоrk."
Hе strоdе straight tоwаrd thе сabin, brushing past Ruаn Sixian. As he did, he рressed the rеsume in his hand аgainst his lеg, mаking it loоk like he was holding an important document.
Several assistants hurried after him, with only Bai Yang glancing back at Ruan Sixian.
He didn’t know what Fu Mingyu’s former secretary had said, and his understanding was still stuck at the fact that Ruan Sixian had once been a flight attendant for World Airlines.
He also didn’t understand why Fu Mingyu’s full-blown anger after answering a phone call had turned into a simple "oh."
Of course, it could also be that extreme anger had led to calmness, like the stillness before a storm.
Thinking this, Bai Yang’s gaze grew even more complicated.
After welcoming Fu Mingyu, the crew naturally had to return to the cockpit.
Ruan Sixian turned and met Bai Yang’s probing gaze, only to see him hurriedly avert his eyes as if caught red-handed, then quicken his pace to catch up with Fu Mingyu.
After some thought, Ruan Sixian felt that Bai Yang’s gaze had held a hint of admiration, a touch of sympathy, and also confusion.
Judging by Bai Yang’s reaction, Ruan Sixian felt that her hostility toward Fu Mingyu had indeed been expressed so blatantly that it was about to pierce the heavens, to the point where even Bai Yang couldn’t handle it.
But so what?
She had come to World Airlines for the sake of money anyway. If Fu Mingyu couldn’t stand it, he could just break the contract and fire her. After all, plenty of airlines were open to her, and there was a hefty penalty fee to collect.
Thinking this, Ruan Sixian felt much better.
The simplest verbal jab, the ultimate enjoyment—that was exactly how she felt.
But not everyone understood her feelings, and witnessing her risking her life to confront the boss gave someone a glimmer of relief.
Jiang Ziyue, standing behind the crew, let out a long sigh.
Ruan Sixian curled the corners of her lips and followed the captain and co-pilot into the cabin.
Fu Mingyu was the first to board, so at this moment, the first-class cabin was occupied only by him and his entourage.
From afar, Ruan Sixian could see Fu Mingyu’s back.
As she followed the captain past the aisle beside him, she heard a low voice call, "Ruan Sixian."
Ruan Sixian pretended not to hear and strode away, entering the cockpit last. As she turned, she saw Fu Mingyu still watching her.
She tilted her head slightly, closed the door, and locked it—a seamless series of actions.
Fu Mingyu’s expression darkened once again.
Bai Yang, who had been too afraid to speak, saw Fu Mingyu pick up the resume again.
Thinking he no longer needed it, Bai Yang reached out to take it.
But Fu Mingyu unfolded the second page, scanned it from top to bottom once more, and then leisurely handed the resume over.
"Put it away," Fu Mingyu said, handing it to Bai Yang. "Where’s the maintenance support report for the routes this month from the engineering department?"
Bai Yang was taken aback for a moment. He took Ruan Sixian’s resume, tucked it into a folder, and pulled out another document.
Fu Mingyu lowered his head to read it, saying nothing more.
Bai Yang glanced at the corner of the resume, then looked at Fu Mingyu’s expression.He didn’t seem to be looking at the report at all. His gaze was fixed on one spot, unmoving for several seconds, the irritation in his eyes almost overflowing.
Will this storm come or not? Give me a straight answer!
Bai Yang unconsciously shifted a little to the side, thinking that the seating design of this new aircraft model was truly reasonable—the first-class seats were spaced far apart, so even if the storm did hit, it wouldn’t reach him.
Before long, passengers began to file in.
Since many were industry professionals and media personnel who had been invited, quite a few knew each other. They chatted along the way, all while holding their devices to take notes.
In addition, a model of the ACJ31 was placed on each seat, transparently packaged, allowing a clear view of its interior.
The passengers were delighted to see this gift upon boarding, their faces lighting up with smiles as lively discussions broke out.
In this environment, Bai Yang remained silent, still anxiously awaiting the storm.
However, even after all passengers were seated, the cabin checks were completed, and the flight attendants announced the imminent takeoff, the storm beside him still hadn’t arrived.
After a while, Fu Mingyu spoke again, “Bring me the resume.”
Bai Yang: “Huh?”
Fu Mingyu: “The resume, don’t you understand?”
“...”
Bai Yang, looking aggrieved, took out the resume and handed it to Fu Mingyu.
Fu Mingyu held it in his hands, reading it over and over again.
The person in the resume photo wore a standard eight-tooth smile, eyes curved, gradually evoking memories from the past.
“Want to be the boss’s wife?”
“You might as well dream.”
“...”
Even the details that had long been buried in his mind surged back. Fu Mingyu even remembered the room card he had handed over that day on the yacht on the Thames.
“I’ll give you a chance.”
The alcohol must have gone to his head.
Fu Mingyu took a deep breath, his fingers unconsciously crumpling the resume.
“President Fu...”
As Bai Yang spoke up beside him, Fu Mingyu suddenly flipped the resume face-down on the table, loosened his tie, and a wave of heat seemed to spread through his body.
He stared heavily at the seats and tables ahead, saying nothing.
But Bai Yang could clearly sense the restless energy emanating from him.
Bai Yang instinctively shrank back, praying silently that Fu Mingyu wouldn’t take out the anger he’d gotten from Ruan Sixian on him.
But as fate would have it, Fu Mingyu turned to Bai Yang, his gaze sharp and severe.
Bai Yang asked nervously, “Is... is there a problem?”
Fu Mingyu remained silent. Bai Yang swallowed hard and was about to voice the reasons he’d prepared to persuade Fu Mingyu not to clash with Yan An and simply fire Ruan Sixian when he heard Fu Mingyu ask, “Have you ever comforted a woman?”
In the cockpit at this moment, Captain Fan had finished checking the manifest and said, “Requesting clearance.”
In the back row, Ruan Sixian took a deep breath, her back pressed tightly against the seat as she softly repeated after Co-pilot Yu, “World Airlines 1569, requesting clearance, holding at point H.”
Immediately, a voice from the tower crackled through the headset.
“World Airlines 1569, cleared to enter the runway.”
The sensation of ground friction set in, and the air in the cockpit seemed to freeze for a moment.
Ruan Sixian stared at the instrument panel ahead, tightened her grip, and once again softly followed Co-pilot Yu’s lead.
“Entering the runway, World Airlines 1569.”
“World Airlines 1569, prepare for departure.”
A faint crackle sounded in her ear: “World Airlines 1569, cleared for takeoff, runway 36L. After takeoff, contact departure on 118.60. Goodbye.”Captain Fan ahead smoothly pushed the thrust lever, and with a roar of the engines, the plane immediately accelerated down the runway.
The inertia caused Ruan Sixian to lean forward slightly, her heart leaping into her throat.
Her back pressed tightly against the seat, and even through her headphones, she could hear the rumbling noise.
"V1 reached."
"V2 reached."
"Vr reached."
As Co-pilot Yu finished speaking, Ruan Sixian looked up at Captain Fan.
His gaze was calm as he slowly opened his mouth.
Following him like a primary school student reciting pinyin alongside her teacher, she whispered softly, "Rotate, takeoff."
The nose lifted, and a sense of tilt washed over her.
The moment the plane left the ground, Ruan Sixian felt every cell in her body awaken, every pore screaming with excitement. Even after the landing gear retracted, she hadn’t yet shaken off that exhilaration.
Fu Mingyu, Jiang Ziyue, annual salary or not—all were tossed to the far ends of the earth.
The city below grew smaller and smaller, the magnificent runway gradually shrinking into winding, river-like lines.
Ruan Sixian’s fingertips tightened around the shoulder strap of her seatbelt, her vision slowly blurring.
She remembered four years ago, when another kind-faced captain, much like Fan Mingzhi, was piloting a flight over the Arctic Ocean.
Back then, she was still a flight attendant, delivering steak to the cockpit for the chief purser. As she bent down to set it down, the captain suddenly said, "Look up, young lady."
In that instant, she looked up.
She saw glaciers floating and sinking, crisscrossing like fields, stretching grandly toward the horizon.
In what seemed like an endless distance, the aurora borealis erupted from the ground, bursting forth in a riot of colors, turning the night sky into a backdrop.
She had seen the aurora through the cabin windows before, like a boat passing under a bridge, catching only a glimpse.
But in the cockpit, she could take in the full spectacle of the aurora through that meter-wide window.
It was a view only the cockpit could offer.
When she vomited in the fixed-roll trainer, when her arms felt like they were about to break during pull-ups, when she grew dizzy from somersaults in the trampoline net—that aurora had flashed before her eyes.
And today, with dark clouds ahead, Ruan Sixian seemed to see the aurora again.
She rubbed her eyes, steadied herself. Captain Fan ahead didn’t turn around but raised a thumb toward her.
Ruan Sixian whispered softly, "Master."
Captain Fan smiled slightly and refocused on the instrument panel.
Half an hour later, the plane entered cruise mode, and autopilot was engaged.
Captain Fan turned sideways and said, "Xiao Yu, take the pilot’s seat. Xiao Ruan, you take the co-pilot’s seat. I’m going to use the restroom."
"Me?" Ruan Sixian pointed at herself. "I can take the co-pilot’s seat today?"
"Just sit for a bit. Your Senior Yu is here, so don’t worry." Captain Fan had already unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up. "I’ll be right back."
Ruan Sixian sat in the co-pilot’s seat, fastened her seatbelt, and cautiously, gently touched the instrument panel before her.
Once autopilot was engaged, the cockpit became much more relaxed. The captain and co-pilot usually chatted a little.
Co-pilot Yu put on his oxygen mask and chuckled, "The way you look at the instrument panel reminds me of how my girlfriend looks at handbags."
Ruan Sixian immediately withdrew her hand.
"I’ve only ever sat in the pilot’s seat on a simulator before. This is my first time, so I’m a bit excited. Don’t laugh at me, Senior."
"Not laughing at you." Co-pilot Yu tilted his chin. "Want something to drink?"
Ruan Sixian nodded, and Co-pilot Yu dialed the PA to call for Jiang Ziyue.She pushed open the cockpit door and asked, "Do you need anything?"
"I'd like a glass of mineral water." Co-pilot Yu turned to Ruan Sixian. "How about you?"
Ruan Sixian's attention was entirely on the instrument panel, and she didn't even look back. "I'll have a cup of coffee."
Jiang Ziyue glanced at Ruan Sixian's back, frowned, pursed her lips, and left.
A few minutes later, she returned carrying a tray.
"Co-pilot Yu, your mineral water."
Then she looked at Ruan Sixian, opened her mouth, unsure how to address her. "Your coffee."
Ruan Sixian took it, said "thank you," took a sip, and immediately turned around. "It's too hot. Get me another cup."
Jiang Ziyue was taken aback, reached out to take the cup, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Not long after, she returned with another cup of coffee.
Without a word, Ruan Sixian took the coffee from her hand, took a sip, and smiled. "This one's just right. Thanks."
Jiang Ziyue forced a stiff smile and turned to leave.
"Why does she seem a bit off?" Co-pilot Yu stroked his chin. "Was she giving the passengers a hard time?"
"Who knows." Ruan Sixian set down her coffee and said no more.
Captain Fan returned within ten minutes, bringing three small cakes with him.
"Today's commemorative cakes. I grabbed three on the way—one for each of us."
After handing them out to Co-pilot Yu and Ruan Sixian, he added, "There are so many media people in the cabin. It's quite lively."
Ruan Sixian showed little interest. "I'm going to the restroom."
She quietly opened the cabin door. Flight attendants were pushing carts with cakes, creating a lively scene, and no one noticed her.
A few minutes later, as Ruan Sixian opened the restroom door, she unexpectedly saw Fu Mingyu standing outside.
He had taken off his jacket and was wearing only a smoke-gray shirt, standing tall and straight, his figure slender and pleasing to the eye.
But no matter how handsome someone is, it's still strange to find them waiting outside the restroom right after you finish.
Ruan Sixian held onto the door, not stepping out.
Fu Mingyu looked at her, silent, a subtle shift of emotion in his eyes.
"Something else?"
Ruan Sixian asked.
The word "else" grated on Fu Mingyu's nerves, especially since she was still standing inside the restroom, looking at him as if he were some kind of pervert.
If he hadn't caught sight of her in the crowd earlier, why would he have been standing outside the restroom door, waiting for her like this?
"Come out."
Fu Mingyu said in a low, urgent tone.
Ruan Sixian looked him up and down, her brow tightly furrowed.
"In such a hurry? Mr. Fu, are your kidneys not up to the task?"
"..."
No way to coax her.
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