Аftеr dismissing Ваi Yаng, Ruаn Sixian turnеd hеr gаzе tо Jiang Ziyue.
“Whаt wеre yоu saying аbоut Рrеsidеnt Fu еarlier?”
Jiаng Ziyue was equally bеwildеred bу the сurrеnt situаtiоn.
She nоtiсеd thаt Ruаn Sixiаn wore a fаint smilе at thе corner оf her lips, hеr voicе gеntlе аnd sоft, аs if thе persоn shе had саsuаlly dismissеd momеnts аgo wasn’t thеir bоss but just somе random pаsserby.
“N-nothing.”
Sеvеrаl flight attеndants urged them tо hurrу uр, so Ruаn Siхiаn didn’t рrеss furthеr. With a smilе, shе walkеd ahеad.
Seеing that Jiаng Ziуuе hadn’t fоllоwеd, shе even turned bаck and waited a сouple оf steps. “Нurry uр, Sistеr Jiang.”
Jiаng Ziyue had been forcing smiles all day, her face nearly stiff from the effort. She had no choice but to put on a show of harmonious camaraderie with Ruan Sixian, and it was utterly exhausting.
She even wished Ruan Sixian would confront her head-on, demanding to know why she had spread rumors despite knowing the truth back then.
At least then she would have her prepared excuses ready, and she could easily shift the blame to a few colleagues who had already left the company.
But Ruan Sixian pretended not to care, occasionally flashing a meaningful smile that felt like a soft punch, leaving Jiang Ziyue so anxious she felt her blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol spike.
However, Ruan Sixian truly had no intention of confronting Jiang Ziyue, even though Jiang Ziyue’s behavior throughout the day had already exposed her guilt.
Mainly, Ruan Sixian felt that making a scene wouldn’t solve anything. The root of the rumors lay in the widespread misunderstanding that she had tried to seduce Fu Mingyu, failed, and resigned in anger. Arguing with Jiang Ziyue wouldn’t resolve that issue.
Besides, three years had passed. World Airlines had seen waves of new hires, and few people even brought up the matter anymore. She couldn’t be bothered to cause herself unnecessary trouble.
As long as these people didn’t act like the culprit Fu Mingyu, occasionally showing up in front of her to provoke her, she could easily ignore the hidden whispers.
Unfortunately, Ruan Sixian underestimated her colleagues’ memories.
Just one week later, media reports about the inaugural flight were released, and World Airlines had also done considerable internal promotion. As the newly appointed female pilot for the inaugural flight, the name “Ruan Sixian” frequently appeared in various internal documents and reports. The long-dormant rumors gradually resurfaced.
At this point, Jiang Ziyue was also panicking. This time, it really wasn’t her who spread the rumors. It was just that some people who still remembered the incident were reminded of it. With just a mention, the topic quietly spread again within the flight attendant department.
Of course, these words would never reach Ruan Sixian’s ears.
The reason she had a vague sense of it was that the flight attendant she met on the day of the inaugural flight, while having lunch with her, seemed hesitant to speak several times.
Ruan Sixian asked directly at the time, “Is there some kind of legend about me going around lately?”
The flight attendant was taken aback by Ruan Sixian’s straightforwardness and stammered, “Well… they were just chatting, it’s nothing. I don’t believe it anyway.”
Alright, it seemed that was indeed the case.
That day, Ruan Sixian ate an extra piece of mousse cake. The ample calorie intake left her in a pleasant mood.
However, the effect of that cake only lasted until the next day.
With a flight scheduled for 9 a.m. and the pre-flight briefing at 7 a.m., Ruan Sixian arrived twenty minutes early. She went to the dispatch office on behalf of the captain to sign the flight task sheet while the captain and co-pilot went to refuel.
When Ruan Sixian returned to the meeting room, before even pushing the door open, she heard hushed whispers inside that included her name.
After listening at the door for a while, it was indeed the topic she had anticipated.
—“Really? That’s so bizarre?”-"From what a few senior flight attendants said, it sounded quite convincing, so it's probably true."
-"Oh my god, her life story is really something, coming back as a pilot."
Hearing this, Ruan Sixian was still telling herself, forget it, they're colleagues, and they might be assigned to the same flights from time to time.
Endure for a moment, and the storm will pass; take a step back, and the sea will be vast.
She raised her hand to knock on the door and remind the people inside, but just then, the conversation inside took a deeper turn.
-"Then why did she come back to World Airlines? Weren't other airlines trying to recruit her too?"
-"Yeah, wouldn't it be awkward? If it were me, I'd probably never show my face at World Airlines again."
-"Unbelievable, could it be that she's still obsessed with President Fu?"
-"If you put it that way, doesn't everything make sense?"
"...?"
That was the last straw.
The only man she was ever obsessed with in her life was her "cloud husband," okay?
Ruan Sixian forced a smile, her chest aching with anger. It really was true—like boss, like employees.
And she was supposed to endure them?
Endure for a moment, and you'll get ovarian cysts; take a step back, and you'll develop breast hyperplasia.
"So curious? Why not ask me directly?" Ruan Sixian pushed open the conference room door, crossed her arms, tilted her head, and said with a fake smile, "I'm good at communication. As long as you ask, I'll tell you everything I know."
The group of people caught gossiping behind her back immediately shrank like frightened chicks, their faces red to the tips of their ears, not daring to say a word.
"As for why I came back to World Airlines," Ruan Sixian took two steps inside, her voice growing clearer, "the director's office on the 18th floor of headquarters is always open for you to go and ask for an explanation."
The room fell silent. The next half minute felt as long as holding a plank, with no one daring to breathe too loudly.
Finally, the chief flight attendant awkwardly tried to smooth things over: "Vice Captain Ruan, we were just..."
"Is everyone here?"
The captain's sudden appearance interrupted the chief flight attendant.
When he realized the atmosphere was a bit off, he asked again, "What's going on?"
The chief flight attendant stammered without answering. Ruan Sixian smiled and said, "Nothing, I just arrived too."
The captain looked suspicious but didn't press further. He never dared to pry too much into women's thoughts.
On the same day, Fu Mingyu, who had been on a business trip for nearly two weeks, boarded his return flight.
By the time he left the airport, it was already late. Neon lights flickered outside the car window, the world clear and bright, with faint glimmers of light flowing in the darkness—the most beautiful time of day on Airport Road.
Fu Mingyu leaned back in his seat, loosened his tie, and the weariness between his brows gradually spread.
"President Fu, are we heading back to Huguang Mansion?"
Bai Yang turned around from the passenger seat to ask.
Fu Mingyu didn't open his eyes, rubbing his temples. He didn't answer directly. "What time is it?"
"Nine fifteen."
Fu Mingyu thought for a moment. "Let's go back to Mingchen Apartments."
The driver naturally heard this and would head to Mingchen Apartments, but Bai Yang continued, "Your phone was off during the meeting this morning, and your mother called me. She said you haven't been home in many days."
"Hmm." Fu Mingyu replied casually. "It's too late today. I'll go back tomorrow."
The car sped toward Mingchen Apartments, slowing down as it approached the entrance.
By now, Fu Mingyu's drowsiness had faded. He looked out the window as a figure slowly came into view.
"Stop here."Fu Mingyu was already putting on his suit jacket as he spoke. "Have someone bring my luggage up later."
Without waiting for Bai Yang's reply, Fu Mingyu got out of the car.
An early summer evening was perfect for a stroll. At this hour, the residential area was filled with elderly people taking children out for walks, as well as others walking their dogs.
Ruan Sixian pulled her flight case along, walking cautiously the whole way, constantly mindful of avoiding the dogs on the path.
Even so, she couldn't quicken her pace.
Today's flight schedule had four legs, all local, flying from eight in the morning until eight at night.
Back when she was a flight attendant, she had always envied the pilots in the cockpit who could sit throughout the entire flight.
Only when she finally sat in that seat herself did she realize that physical stamina was secondary—the intense concentration required for the entire duration was truly exhausting.
Fortunately, a few gardenias had bloomed along the roadside. Their fragrance, carried by the evening breeze, drifted faintly, dispelling some of her fatigue.
As Ruan Sixian reached the steps of her building, she noticed her shoelace had come undone.
She crouched down to tie it, and when she stood up to lift her flight case, someone had already beaten her to it.
Fu Mingyu picked up her flight case, took two or three steps up the stairs, and turned to look at her.
"Just got off the plane?"
Ruan Sixian wasn't particularly in the mood to talk, so she gave a soft "Mm" in response.
She was still bothered by what had happened that morning, feeling she had truly witnessed the saying "When those above behave unworthily, those below will do the same."
Three years later, this man could still come out with, "I think she's quite interested in me."
And the employees below, knowing nothing, could also say, "She's still infatuated with President Fu."
Does Hengshi Airlines power its planes with imagination?
At this thought, Ruan Sixian was already trying hard to control her temper as she reached for her flight case.
But Fu Mingyu didn't hand it over.
"Let me carry it for you."
"Do I not have hands?"
"..."
A sense of helplessness welled up from the depths of Fu Mingyu's heart, leaving him stuck in an awkward position, filled with nothing but frustration.
And just then, the person in front of him reached out to grab the flight case, her fair hand waving back and forth before his eyes.
It was truly irritating.
Fu Mingyu directly grabbed the hand in front of him. "Ruan..."
The sensation in his palm felt unusual, and he didn't finish the remaining two words.
He paused for a moment, and to confirm, his fingers subtly brushed over her palm.
A thin yet distinct layer of calluses.
Lately, the memory of the first time he saw her had been surfacing in his mind. The more it appeared, the clearer it became.
She was beautiful, wearing a fitted flight attendant uniform, with a graceful figure and smooth skin. Any man who saw her would think she was a delicate, refined woman.
Calluses like these shouldn't have been on her palm.
In the brief moment Fu Mingyu was lost in thought, Ruan Sixian abruptly pulled her hand back, wiping it on her clothes as she looked at him with an expression that said "pervert."
"What are you doing?! I'm telling you, if you keep touching me, even if you're the boss, I'll dare to report you for workplace sexual harassment!"
She even took two steps back.
"..."
Fu Mingyu truly didn't know what to say.
Touching her?!
Sexual harassment?!
A suffocating anger built up in his chest as he lowered his voice and said, "Ruan Sixian."
He enunciated each of the three words heavily, almost through gritted teeth.
Ruan Sixian looked up and met his gaze.
They stood less than half a meter apart, each other's reflections visible in their eyes. It should have been a romantic scene, but instead, the air was thick with tension.
"Don't keep testing my patience."
Testing your patience?
Ruan Sixian was so angry she almost laughed.Who exactly is testing whose temper?
"Finished talking?"
Ruan Sixian's anger made her tone turn light instead, "Then that phrase will be engraved on your tombstone."
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