"Асhоо!"
Аs shе stepреd оut оf thе cafetеriа, Ruan Sixiаn sneezеd аgаin.
Тhis timе shе was cеrtain—someone was dеfinitеly сursing her bеhind hеr bасk, most likеlу Jiаng Ziуuе.
What а lunatic, telling hеr tо staу away frоm Yue Chеn.
Had shе dоnе аnуthing?
Fоr thе better раrt of thе уеar, shе had аvоided Yue Сhеn whenеver she saw him, bаrely eхсhаnging a fеw words. What morе did thеу want frоm hеr? Shоuld shе just stау airbоrnе forеver аnd never lаnd?
If she rеаllу wantеd sоmеthing with Yuе Chen, she сould just chat with him over thе radio evеn while flying.
Тo рut it bluntlу, Jiang Ziуue thought too highly of her man, treating him like some treasure everyone wanted to snatch at a glance. She never considered Yue Chen’s reputation at World Airlines—who didn’t know him? Any girl serious about settling down would dare marry him, not to mention saving money on hats after the wedding.
Ruan Sixian felt she shouldn’t have been so direct earlier. Instead, she should have put on a pitiful act and said, "I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you’d misunderstand. There’s nothing between me and Captain Yue. We were just catching up and reminiscing. I’ll try to keep my distance from him in the future. Please don’t let this cause any rift between you two."
With just those words, she could have guaranteed Jiang Ziyue a sleepless night.
But maybe this was for the best.
Ruan Sixian knew other colleagues had been receiving wedding invitations one after another and had been worried Jiang Ziyue might send her one out of politeness.
Now that she knew how threatened Jiang Ziyue felt by her and that they’d already fallen out, she no longer had to worry about that.
What did this mean?
It meant Jiang Ziyue was, in another way, complimenting her beauty.
While Ruan Sixian was thinking all this, she had no idea she was receiving a wave of direct and blunt praise online.
"Do they still hire models for promotional videos now? Can’t they use their own employees?"
Two hours earlier, just after the promotional Weibo post went live, someone commented this under World Airlines’ official account. The editor specifically reposted it to reply: "Not a model—this is one of our pilots."
Immediately, the usually sparse comments on the official account surged past a thousand.
"Pilot sister! I’m in! I’m in!"
"May I ask if looks are part of the recruitment criteria? If so, I’m out."
"Sister is too beautiful! Tell me the flight number—I want to book a seat!"
"No wonder she flies in the sky—she’s a celestial fairy!"
"Seriously… female drivers are bad enough, but a female captain? Can her plane even be trusted?"
"Ha, some losers still look down on women. Did your mom give birth to you just so you could discriminate against her? Why don’t you take a good look at yourself and see if you could even become a pilot? Oh wait, I forgot—pilots don’t accept disabled people, and brain damage counts as a disability."
"The other captains are great too! Anyone know their Weibo handles?"
After a night of buzz, the Weibo post was shared tens of thousands of times, and "World Airlines Female Pilot" quietly climbed into the top twenty trending topics.
When Ruan Sixian woke up in the morning, her phone nearly froze from the notifications.
Her usually quiet Weibo was suddenly flooded with comments and private messages, and her follower count had skyrocketed overnight.
Still a bit dazed, Ruan Sixian traced the source through the content of the private messages.
But with so many comments, she couldn’t figure out how all these people had found her Weibo account.Her profile picture was a half-body photo taken by the Seine River a few years ago, and her Weibo username, "Shoulder to Shoulder with the Sun," had a bit of a chuunibyou vibe at first glance, so everyone was certain it was her.
Ruan Sixian opened her private messages and browsed through them, most of which were from girls.
Some wanted to get to know her, some simply came to confess their admiration, and there were also those who only knew how to scream "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" like a squeaky chicken.
Of course, there were also private messages that were straightforward and blunt in expressing their intentions, usually just two words—"Wanna hook up?"
Ruan Sixian was genuinely curious about where such people got their confidence from. Curiosity led her to click into one of their Weibo profiles, but her survival instinct made her immediately exit and block them entirely.
After being showered with so much flattery from strangers, what woman wouldn’t be happy?
Ruan Sixian gleefully took screenshots and was about to send them to Bian Xuan and Si Xiaozhen when her screen was suddenly interrupted by an incoming call.
She hadn’t saved the number, but she knew who was calling.
After answering the call, Ruan Sixian remained silent, and the other end was quiet for a moment too.
"Ruan Ruan, is that female pilot on World Airlines’ official Weibo account today you?"
Ruan Sixian was still sitting on her bed, legs crossed, tilting her head as she let out an "Mhm."
Dong Xian’s voice immediately softened.
"Why didn’t you tell me? I always thought you were still working as a flight attendant."
"You never asked."
The sound of Dong Xian sniffing came through the phone. "Ruan Ruan, you’ve achieved your dream. Mom is very happy."
Hearing this, Ruan Sixian felt no emotional stir and had nothing to say.
This was how their phone calls always went—filled with inexplicable silences.
Dong Xian didn’t understand why Ruan Sixian had gradually become like this, so cold toward her, sometimes even harboring a hint of hostility.
"Ruan Ruan, it’s your birthday today. Let me cook for you."
"No need," Ruan Sixian said. "I’ve made plans with friends."
Having been rejected countless times for a meeting, Dong Xian had grown accustomed to it.
But today was different. The photos online had left her stunned for a long time, and she could hardly believe that her once-taciturn daughter had changed so much. She desperately wanted to see her. "Then, can I at least send you a cake?"
"My friends will order a cake for me. Ah, I can’t talk now. I have to work."
Dong Xian took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "Alright, I won’t disturb you anymore."
After hanging up, Ruan Sixian lay back down and continued sleeping.
Meanwhile, after Ruan Sixian’s sudden rise as the lucky charm for World Airlines’ publicity department’s KPI, the official Weibo account quickly seized the momentum to release a second wave of promotional posts, thoughtfully including several more photos of Ruan Sixian.
Fu Mingyu scrolled through the Weibo comments, his expression calm, but he suddenly let out a light chuckle. "Truly loved by everyone."
Bai Yang chimed in from the side, "Anyone with eyes would love her."
Fu Mingyu glanced at him, and the other immediately lowered his gaze, pretending he had said nothing.
He then clicked into Ruan Sixian’s Weibo, glanced at her follower count, and instructed, "Tell the publicity department to know when to stop. Don’t overexploit her."
"Understood."
As Bai Yang turned to leave, Fu Mingyu called him back. "Have all the things been moved over?"
"Someone was assigned to handle it. It should be done by this afternoon."
Fu Mingyu nodded, and Bai Yang turned and walked out.
At the same time, Fu Mingyu’s phone rang with an incoming call.He frowned, somewhat surprised, not knowing why Dong Xian would suddenly call him.
"Auntie, is something the matter?"
"Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask a small favor."
"Mm, go ahead."
"That female pilot featured on World Airlines' promotional Weibo today—could you tell me her flight schedule? I need to find her for something."
"Sorry, Auntie, I can't disclose that."
As he spoke, Fu Mingyu had already pulled up today's flight information.
Ruan Sixian had reached her flight hour limit for the month and was off today.
Dong Xian hesitated for a moment before asking again, "Then you don't have to tell me the specifics, just let me know roughly when she gets off her flight."
Fu Mingyu chuckled, "Auntie, I have so many pilots under me. How would I know each one's exact landing time?"
Then he added, "Do you know her?"
Dong Xian hummed in acknowledgment.
Fu Mingyu said, "If you know her, you could just call her directly. Don't you have her contact information?"
"Mm," Dong Xian pretended to agree. "Sorry to trouble you. I won't disturb your work any further."
"Alright."
The dial tone sounded in the phone. Fu Mingyu held his phone, the screen automatically returning to the photo of that little pitiful one—
In the evening, dark clouds swept in before the sun had even set behind the western hills, hinting at an impending downpour.
Fu Mingyu didn't let the driver take him and drove himself back to Mingchen Apartments.
On the way, raindrops as big as beans began to fall.
Before entering the underground parking garage, he saw a black Porsche parked outside the main gate. A middle-aged driver sat in the driver's seat, while a woman stood beside the car, holding an umbrella in one hand and a cake in the other.
Fu Mingyu hadn't met Dong Xian many times, and the rain made it hard to see clearly, but she looked familiar. It wasn't until he got into the elevator that he remembered who she was.
Although he didn't know much about Ruan Sixian and Dong Xian, Fu Mingyu could roughly guess: if Ruan Sixian wanted to see her, why would Dong Xian specifically call to ask about her flight schedule?
Only because she hadn't gotten any information from him did she go through the extra trouble of finding out her address.
Fu Mingyu's finger was about to press the button for the 16th floor, but thinking of this, he moved it down slightly and pressed the 14th floor instead.
The elevator slowly came to a stop.
Before the doors fully opened, Fu Mingyu heard someone outside singing so off-key it could have reached Siberia.
As the gap between the doors widened, Ruan Sixian, dressed in a red dress, gradually fell silent.
She coughed, masking the awkwardness of her terrible singing, and put on a dignified smile.
"Finished work, President Fu?"
"Mm," Fu Mingyu looked her over. "In a good mood today?"
"Not bad."
Ruan Sixian stepped in and pressed the button for the first floor. The doors slowly closed.
As the elevator began to descend, she suddenly asked, "Were you going up or down?"
"Down."
"Oh."
Ruan Sixian hadn't been in a great mood earlier today. A couple of days ago, Bian Xuan's grandmother had fallen ill, so she closed her shop and went back to her hometown. She still hadn't returned, leaving only Si Xiaozhen to celebrate her birthday with her. Midway, she also received a call from Dong Xian. Her concern didn't exactly ruin her mood, but it didn't bring joy either—hovering in that middle ground, neither here nor there.
But in the afternoon, she received countless rainbows of praise from netizens, almost drowning her in compliments, making her feel like she truly was a fairy descended to earth.
And fairies naturally shouldn't be troubled by worldly matters.It wasn't the right time to sing in front of Fu Mingyu, but happiness couldn't be suppressed—her mind spontaneously started a concert, and her fingers tapped rhythmically behind her back.
However, the heavens always mete out a little punishment to fairies who descend to the mortal realm.
When the elevator stopped on the eighth floor, Ruan Sixian had a premonition: Erlang Shen had sent his celestial hound to drag her back to the heavens.
The dog hadn't arrived yet, but its sound came first.
Ruan Sixian's mental concert instantly short-circuited.
So, this is why it's better to be rich.
If she didn't live in a standalone villa, Ruan Sixian would never be able to demand that residents in the same building not keep dogs.
She silently retreated to the corner, holding onto the railing, trembling with fear as she stared at the dog.
Ruan Sixian's nerves were tense, her palms cold, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the reflections of the two people in the elevator doors drawing closer and closer until they overlapped.
The crisp scent of fir on him also grew nearer—Ruan Sixian's line of sight was gradually blocked by his figure, and before her eyes were his shirt and collar.
Ruan Sixian looked up at him, blinking, as if she didn't understand what was happening.
She stood in the corner, and Fu Mingyu's body almost trapped her in that right angle.
The only difference from before was that he was facing Ruan Sixian, not turning his back to her.
The narrow space suddenly felt so cramped that even breathing seemed difficult.
He was still looking down, staring straight at her.
His gaze was particularly calm, as if he were merely maintaining his habit of not looking around.
But his eyes were fixed unwaveringly on her face!
Ruan Sixian couldn't handle it; she couldn't look Fu Mingyu in the eye like this.
She turned her face away, but her heartbeat still uncontrollably quickened.
Wait, if you're blocking the dog, why are you standing facing me?
Sure, the dog is blocked, but this posture is just too weird.
If she had known, she would have rather faced the dog directly—it would have been much easier than facing this dog of a man.
Apart from the sounds of the dog moving around, Ruan Sixian could only hear her own breathing and heartbeat.
When she lowered her eyes, Fu Mingyu could clearly see the brown eyeshadow on her eyelids, the upward-sweeping eyeliner, and the long, exceptionally curled eyelashes.
He recalled that this seemed to be the first time he had seen her wear makeup in over half a year.
"Dressed up so beautifully—who are you going to see?"
Ruan Sixian: "..."
The only words she caught in the entire sentence were "beautiful."
Moreover, she realized that she had calmly accepted thousands of flattering compliments today and even forwarded them to Si Xiaozhen and the others.
But with Fu Mingyu's single word "beautiful," she actually blushed.
She softly uttered two words: "A friend."
"Male or female?"
Ruan Sixian's voice grew even softer: "None of your business."
"Just asking casually," he said slowly. "Male or female?"
Who casually asks the same question twice?
Ruan Sixian didn't want to answer, but the shadow looming over her head carried a sense of pressure, weighing her down so heavily she couldn't lift her head.
"Male."
"Oh." Fu Mingyu seemed to know Ruan Sixian was deliberately saying this and asked again, "Will you be coming home tonight?"
"No."
"Then I'll take you there."
His tone was too direct; it wasn't a discussion at all.
"No need."
"Are you sure?"
At that moment, the elevator stopped on the first floor, and the doors slowly opened. The sound of "pitter-patter" rain from outside drifted in.
Ruan Sixian: "..."
She had closed the windows before leaving, focusing entirely on her makeup, completely unaware that it had started raining outside.The dog owner pulled the dog out, but after taking two steps, he froze again.
Ruan Sixian had a mischievous thought and immediately pressed the door close button.
By the time the dog owner reacted, the elevator doors had already shut.
But Fu Mingyu remained standing motionless.
Ruan Sixian reached out and pushed his chest while pressing the button for the basement level, urging him, "Hurry, hurry!"
Once they reached the parking lot, Ruan Sixian got into the passenger seat. As she pulled the seatbelt to buckle it, she suddenly thought of something and let out a soft laugh.
Fu Mingyu asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," Ruan Sixian replied. "It's just that your passenger seat is surprisingly comfortable."
"Hmm," Fu Mingyu nodded. "Not just anyone gets to sit here."
Ruan Sixian turned her face away without responding.
If the conversation continued, it would inevitably head in only one direction.
Sometimes, a man's passenger seat did carry a special meaning.
Just then, Si Xiaozhen suddenly called.
Due to the heavy rain and sudden weather changes, many flight routes had to be altered. As a dispatcher, Si Xiaozhen couldn’t leave and had to work overtime.
"..."
It wasn’t intentional—work was just like that. Ruan Sixian understood, but she still felt disappointed.
Fu Mingyu rested his hand on the steering wheel and turned to look at Ruan Sixian.
"Your friend isn’t coming?"
He sounded almost gleeful.
Ruan Sixian turned away without answering.
Fu Mingyu began unbuckling his seatbelt.
"Let’s go back then."
Ruan Sixian said nothing and offered no objection.
With the heavy rain outside, if she had to eat alone at the restaurant on her birthday, the loneliness factor would be off the charts.
Back in the elevator, Ruan Sixian’s mood had sunk, and the excitement she’d felt when leaving home earlier had completely vanished.
She lowered her head to press the button for the 14th floor but was suddenly stopped by Fu Mingyu pulling her hand away.
"Come upstairs and eat with me."
Without waiting for her response, he pressed the button for the 16th floor.
Fine.
Feeling down, Ruan Sixian didn’t want to argue or talk.
She didn’t want to spend her birthday eating alone.
Fu Mingyu could sometimes pass for decent company—good enough, at least.
On the 16th floor, Fu Mingyu pressed his fingerprint to unlock the door while unbuttoning his coat.
As the door opened, he suddenly thought of something, turned back, and smiled. "You dressed up so beautifully today, but in the end, I’m the only man who gets to see it."
Ruan Sixian forced a smile. "Yeah, lucky you."
Once inside, he took off his coat, draped it over the sofa, and walked toward the kitchen in his shirt.
Ruan Sixian peeked in. "Aren’t we ordering takeout?"
"No."
"You know how to cook?"
"Passably."
Fu Mingyu opened the refrigerator, looked at the fresh groceries the housekeeper had stocked for him, and asked, "What do you want to eat?"
"A full imperial banquet."
Ruan Sixian raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Can you manage that?"
Fu Mingyu ignored her, rummaged through the fridge, then turned to look at her. "Longevity noodles. Want some?"
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