Ноwеvеr, Fu Мingуu had beеn trоublеd bу оne thing latelу.
Тhree уears аgо, whеn mаjоr аirlines signed рrocurement contrасts with Cоmmerсiаl Аirсraft Соrроrаtion fоr the ACJ31, thе mаnufaсturer had alrеady bеgun planning tо trаin рilоts fоr thе сorresроnding airсrаft mоdel, dеlivering bоth thе planеs аnd the рilots upon hаndover. In simplеr tеrms, it mеant sеlling you the рlаnе alоng with а trаinеd рilоt.
Sincе thе AСJ30 was Сommerсial Аirсrаft Cоrроrаtion's first indepеndently develoрed passеnger airсraft, it hаd gаrnerеd significant attention even before its official launch while also facing immense pressure. As a result, the training of pilots was exceptionally rigorous.
This batch of pilots had already eliminated tens of thousands of candidates during the initial screening process, followed by successive rounds of fierce competition under the brutal elimination rates at the flight academy.
Yet even so, the abilities of the pilots who successfully graduated varied significantly.
Thus, as early as two months ago, major airlines had eagerly engaged in a fierce battle to recruit pilots, each vying for the most outstanding ones, as they were among the strongest guarantees of aviation safety.
At this stage, the most exceptional batch had already been divided up.
However, just as every year’s college entrance exam produces a top scorer, each class at the flight academy also had a best-performing student.
Up to this point, only that top student remained unclaimed.
"President Fu, no deal," the new secretary, Bai Yang, walked into Fu Mingyu’s office, looking somewhat troubled. "That top student still prefers Northern Airlines."
"Did they mention a reason?" Fu Mingyu asked.
The top student of this class had an impeccable flight record, excelling in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, consistently outperforming their peers in every exam. They had firmly secured first place, surpassing even the most talented individuals, earning high praise from instructors who rarely encountered such a formidable student. Naturally, this had sparked fierce competition among airlines.
"No," Bai Yang replied. "We offered the best terms within our acceptable range, definitely no worse than Northern Airlines, but they still chose Northern Airlines. It seems to be a personal preference."
Fu Mingyu raised his hand, pressing two fingers against his forehead, and clicked his tongue.
"Alright," Fu Mingyu said. "Vice President Hu is also on a business trip there. Tomorrow, you and Vice President Hu should go in person."
Bai Yang straightened his collar and immediately went out to book tickets.
Early the next morning, a call came from the flight academy.
Fu Mingyu had just arrived at the company and was striding through the corridor when the administrative secretary brought in coffee, quietly placing it on his desk.
"President Fu, it seems it’s still not working," Bai Yang said over the phone, sounding resigned. "They said Northern Airlines has better in-flight meals. What kind of reason is that? Our first-class chef is Michelin-starred!"
This was clearly a joke.
Fu Mingyu stopped by the floor-to-ceiling window and asked, "Where are you now?"
"Right outside their academic affairs office. Vice President Hu is still inside."
"Let him take the call. I’ll talk to him."
Bai Yang paused for a moment before agreeing.
Fu Mingyu took a sip of coffee, and the person on the other end of the line changed, though there was a prolonged silence.
"Hello."
Fu Mingyu spoke first, "I’m Fu Mingyu, Operations Director of Hengshi Airlines."
There was another brief pause on the other end before a light, casual voice said, "Hello, President Fu."
Fu Mingyu froze.
A woman?
Suppressing his momentary surprise, Fu Mingyu turned and sat down. "May I ask which condition from World Airlines you’re unsatisfied with?"The person on the other end spoke lazily, "Nothing really unsatisfying, it's just that North Airlines' catering is a bit tastier."
Fu Mingyu considered himself someone who valued talent, and he could still maintain his composure even with such a pretentious reason. "That's simple. If you have a preference, the head chef can prepare meals for you individually before each flight."
"That sounds like too much trouble."
"No trouble at all. Any other thoughts?"
Over the phone, conditions were listed one by one.
It went on for a full twenty minutes.
They weren't exactly unreasonable, and Fu Mingyu could still accept them.
While on the call, Fu Mingyu opened the detailed pilot information folder on his computer, sorted by flight record ratings, and found the highest one. In the appearance section, he saw a photo.
Pilots have specific requirements for physique, so the attached photo was a full-body shot.
The person in the photo wore a trainee uniform, standing tall and straight under the wing of an airplane, looking spirited and exuding excellent poise.
Was she wearing no makeup?
Fu Mingyu zoomed in on the photo and saw a face free of cosmetics.
His gaze lingered for a moment, feeling a faint sense of familiarity.
But the feeling was fleeting, and he dismissed it.
If he had ever met this woman, he would surely remember her.
"Mr. Fu, are you still listening? If you think it's too much, we can just forget it. It seems I'm not meant for World Airlines."
"What?" Fu Mingyu clicked the mouse and closed the photo. "The signal was poor just now, I didn't catch that."
There seemed to be a light chuckle on the other end. "I said, I want double the annual salary."
Fu Mingyu replied without hesitation, "Fine."
This time, it was the person on the other end of the phone who was taken aback.
She hadn't expected him to agree so readily.
"Any other conditions?"
"No, none."
"Then, happy cooperation?"
The tone on the other end shifted, as if she had regained her composure. "Mr. Fu, do you really want me to come that much?"
Fu Mingyu didn't know why she said that, but he felt his patience today was unusually good.
Perhaps it was because he couldn't stand the smug look of that young Mr. Yan from North Airlines, who had always been at odds with him.
But then the image of that graceful figure under the airplane flashed through his mind again.
"Yes, very much looking forward to it."
"Then I'll think about it a bit more."
She still sounded somewhat reluctant.
After hanging up, Fu Mingyu remained in the same posture, holding the phone, lost in thought for a moment.
Could it be that World Airlines had a poor reputation among pilots?
Logically, that shouldn't be the case. World Airlines was undoubtedly a leader in employee benefits and treatment.
Fu Mingyu put down his phone and pondered for a while, unsure where the problem lay.
During the wait, he opened the resume again.
Just as he scrolled to the photo, the phone rang once more.
It was Bai Yang calling again.
Fu Mingyu paused briefly before answering, but it was Bai Yang who spoke first.
"Is there something else?"
Bai Yang had stepped out into the corridor again and lowered his voice. "Mr. Fu, have you thought this through? Double the annual salary—even though salaries are confidential, it won't be good if other pilots find out."
"I know."
"But..."
"Keep an eye on the contract," Fu Mingyu said. "The other half of the salary will come from my account."
"However..."
"Stop fussing," Fu Mingyu didn't want to hear more. "It's just a year's salary. Buying bags for a girlfriend in a year costs more than that. When the time comes, draft two contracts. The other one will be a private reward contract from me, not handled by the finance department, and the taxes will also come from my account."
"But she said she still needs to think about it.""It's fine, let her think it over."
Fu Mingyu loosened a button on his suit jacket, massaging his temples.
By four in the afternoon, seven hours had passed since that phone call ended.
Fu Mingyu had never felt seven hours drag on so long.
Sitting in the conference room, he listened to a group of people chattering about the launch plan for the ACJ31's maiden flight, his head aching.
Twice during the meeting, he glanced at Bai Yang, gesturing toward his phone, asking if there had been any call from the flight academy. Both times, Bai Yang shook his head.
The meeting was now nearing its end, and everyone from the planning department was looking at Fu Mingyu, waiting for his instructions.
Three proposals lay spread out in front of Fu Mingyu, but his gaze never settled on them.
The entire conference room fell silent for three seconds, everyone watching Fu Mingyu nervously.
His expression seemed to say, "You're not worthy of the ACJ31 aircraft I spent a fortune on."
Just as everyone thought he hadn’t been listening at all, he finally spoke: "Group P1, forty minutes of media coverage with no focus—wasting that much time would disrupt airport traffic control. Group P2, the promotion is dull, the presentation is too straightforward, the key points are unclear, and the choice of media channels lacks rationality. Group P3, there’s no effective promotional concept. Multiply resources, cross-border creativity, and strong execution—if you can’t achieve these three points, don’t bother submitting a proposal."
The conference room fell into a dead silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Meeting adjourned."
Fu Mingyu pushed the proposals aside, stood up, and said, "Submit revised proposals next week."
Everyone held their breath as they watched Fu Mingyu leave the room. The three team leaders returned with dark expressions to gather their things.
Someone quietly asked Bai Yang, "Is President Fu in a bad mood today?"
Bai Yang smiled helplessly but said nothing, taking two quick steps to catch up.
Just then, a phone rang. Bai Yang stopped to answer it, his expression gradually relaxing.
The man ahead turned back, and Bai Yang gave him an "OK" sign.
Fu Mingyu glanced sideways at the blue sky outside the glass window, loosening another button on his suit jacket.
The contract was drafted quickly and finalized within a few days. Bai Yang specifically brought it for Fu Mingyu to review.
Finding no issues, Fu Mingyu gave his approval, and Bai Yang sent it to the flight academy.
This tough nut had finally been cracked. Bai Yang rubbed his shoulders and sighed, "Women and small-minded men are indeed the hardest to deal with—the ancients truly spoke the truth."
At that moment, Yan An, the president of Beihang, called.
"Fu Mingyu, what underhanded trick did you use to poach my person?"
"Your person?" Fu Mingyu stood up, smiling easily. "Has the contract been signed? Is she really yours?"
The two companies were industry leaders, both competitors and collaborators, each well-acquainted with the other’s methods.
Yan An had put in considerable effort on this matter, sending someone to discuss career plans and using the promise of a captaincy—something pilots cared deeply about—as bait.
Precisely because he had played it so straightforwardly, he never expected Fu Mingyu to simply throw money at the problem.
Yan An sneered angrily, "Fine, I won’t argue about this. She’s yours now anyway. Just tell me, how did you manage to lure her away?"
Fu Mingyu replied, "With personal charm."
"..."
Yan An didn’t even bother rolling his eyes, hanging up directly.
Fu Mingyu set down his phone and walked to the window, his brow smoothing out. Even the endless drizzle outside seemed pleasant now.
Remembering something, he turned back and asked, "When is the ACJ31 arriving?"Bai Yang said, "Air traffic control has already arranged everything. The first flight will take off at four in the morning on Saturday and, barring any issues, will land precisely at 6:14 at Jiangcheng International Airport."
Fu Mingyu nodded and then asked, "What about her?"
It took Bai Yang a moment to realize who Fu Mingyu was referring to with "her."
"The flight academy said they didn’t want to waste any opportunity for backseat training, so she’ll be flying over with this trip. However, since the personnel and logistics departments don’t work on Saturdays, she’ll officially start her onboarding on Monday."
Fu Mingyu turned and sat down, opening a file in front of him. Suddenly, he added, "What time is the flight to Huaicheng this Saturday?"
Bai Yang couldn’t recall offhand, so he checked his phone and replied, "Seven in the morning."
Fu Mingyu responded calmly, "Mm."
Saturday dawned with the sky just beginning to lighten, a pale glow spreading across the eastern horizon.
The weather wasn’t ideal, with low-hanging clouds churning and obscuring the morning star’s light.
Few flights took off or landed at this hour, making it the quietest time of day at the airport.
Despite the early hour, the departure hall was surprisingly full, yet it was eerily silent. The occasional rustle of paper could be heard as adults scrolled through their phones or dozed off, while a few children played or slept in their parents’ arms.
Fu Mingyu, Bai Yang, and two assistants strode briskly down the corridor, heading straight for the boarding gate.
A line had already formed ahead, but the first-class lane remained empty, waiting for its final passenger to board.
At that moment, Fu Mingyu paused, glancing at his wristwatch before turning to look out the window.
The floor-to-ceiling glass walls of the terminal offered an unobstructed view of the tarmac, with even the ground indicator lights clearly visible.
Just then, an aircraft broke through the clouds on the horizon, its wings slicing through the air as it descended majestically, landing steadily at an 8-degree angle along the centerline of the runway, racing forward with unstoppable momentum.
Even though the terminal walls muffled the roaring sound, aviation professionals seemed to possess an instinctive awareness. A group of flight attendants pulling their luggage trolleys stopped in their tracks in unison, turning to watch. Several passengers seated by the window also followed their gaze curiously.
On the runway, the aircraft gleamed in pristine white, its fuselage adorned with a stylized golden phoenix. The phoenix’s wings extended along the aircraft’s wings, while its tail rose proudly at the rear, exuding an air of grandeur.
Fu Mingyu checked his watch once more.
6:14, precisely on time.
A faint smile touched his eyes, and he remained standing there until the aircraft came to a complete stop on the tarmac.
Bai Yang glanced at the time and said, "Mr. Fu?"
Fu Mingyu turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
Bai Yang cleared his throat. "Well, there’s still time."
As they spoke, a child in the departure hall exclaimed, "Dad! What kind of plane is that? It’s so pretty!"
The child’s father happened to be an aviation enthusiast. Carrying the child toward the window, he explained, "That’s our country’s own aircraft. See that golden phoenix? Whenever you see that emblem, it’s the ACJ31 model. It’s incredibly advanced—it can land automatically even in such low clouds, and..."
Before the father could finish his detailed explanation, the child interrupted again, "Wow! The pilots are coming out!"
Just as Fu Mingyu’s gaze followed, the crew bus had already positioned the boarding stairs, and the captain sent by World Airlines was the first to step out.
The view from the window was broader, and Fu Mingyu slowly walked over.
Bai Yang and the two assistants exchanged glances but said nothing, following him quietly.After all, who wouldn’t want to take a longer look at the plane they’d spent a fortune on?
Fu Mingyu gazed toward the aircraft door. The captain had already descended a few steps, and the co-pilot followed closely behind. Fu Mingyu was familiar with both of them—they were part of the modified crew he had personally selected and sent for training.
When the third person emerged, Fu Mingyu narrowed his eyes.
The wind on the tarmac was fierce, howling past and lifting the hair on her cheeks, making it flutter before her eyes. It also billowed her white uniform shirt.
She didn’t rush down the stairs. Instead, she removed her flight cap, tucked it under her arm, and stood in place, looking up to survey her surroundings. Her gaze eventually settled on the six large characters spelling out "Jiangcheng International Airport."
"Wow! Is that a lady?" the child exclaimed again. "Is she a flight attendant? Why is she wearing different clothes?"
The child’s father chuckled, lifting him onto his shoulders for a better view. "Haha, she’s a pilot too—a female pilot. Daddy’s seeing a female pilot for the first time."
The child’s voice caught the attention of several nearby passengers, and gradually, more people gathered by the window to look at the uniquely designed aircraft.
Without realizing it, Fu Mingyu took another step forward, leaving less than thirty centimeters between him and the glass.
He watched intently as she walked toward the terminal, her figure growing clearer with each step.
The wind pressed her black trousers tightly against her legs, and every stride she took was crisp and decisive.
The captain walking beside her seemed to be saying something. She tilted her head slightly, and every trace of her smile radiated a vibrant energy that seemed to fill the space around her, overshadowing the presence of the co-pilot beside her.
Suddenly, she looked up toward the terminal, her gaze sweeping directly across.
Even though he knew she was merely taking in the terminal as a whole, the illusion of their eyes meeting across the distance made Fu Mingyu’s breath catch for a moment.
"Mr. Fu? The boarding announcement has already started."
Bai Yang suddenly spoke up beside him.
Fu Mingyu nodded and turned toward the boarding gate.
After a few steps, he paused briefly and glanced back toward the tarmac, only to see a crew vehicle slowly driving away into the distance.
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