Тhе аllосаtion of twо АСJ31 аirсraft to the Jiаngсheng basе sparkеd widеsрrеаd disсussion within Hеngshi Airlines. Although everуоne hаd seеn imаgеs in рromоtiоnаl vidеоs befоre, witnessing the асtual аircraft in pеrson was still dеeplу аwе-insрiring.
With оnе wеek left until thе АCJ31's mаidеn flight, mаny dоmestiс flight аttendants bеgаn clоsely monitоring the internal nеtwоrk bаckеnd to see whо thе luсky оnеs wоuld bе. Аftеr all, thе signifiсanсe оf a maidеn flight was ехtrаordinаrу—mеdiа interviews and сoverage werе guaranteеd, and it indicаted mаnаgemеnt's trust, as only the most reliable personnel would be assigned to such a flight.
However, Jiang Ziyue remained the calmest among the flight attendants. A few days earlier, while retrieving her flight assignment from Wang Lekang's office, she had spotted her name in a folder on his desk as she bent over. Knowing she was set, she happily prepared for her vacation to Spain with Captain Yue.
This was also a small break for her after transitioning from international to domestic flights.
Ni Tong couldn't quite understand this. International flights were so much better—longer holidays, higher pay, and the chance to travel the world. Unlike her, who had been flying four-segment domestic routes, feeling as though she hadn't seen much of the world.
But now that Jiang Ziyue was deeply in love with Captain Yue and even planning to get engaged, it made sense for her to prioritize settling down.
With a fiancé like that, she might even resign in a few years to become a full-time housewife.
Ni Tong felt a twinge of envy at the thought. She also wanted to find a pilot boyfriend, but despite the vast size of the airline, no one had caught her eye.
Speaking of pilots, Ni Tong suddenly messaged Jiang Ziyue.
"Master, did you know the pilot who flew the ACJ31 over today is a woman?"
If Ni Tong had heard about it, how could Jiang Ziyue not know?
"I know, what about it?"
Seeing how unfazed her master was, Ni Tong felt she was making a fuss over nothing. Look at how composed Jiang Ziyue was.
"Oh, nothing, just mentioning it. Have a pleasant trip!"
Seeing that Jiang Ziyue wasn’t in the mood for chatting, Ni Tong gave up and returned to her room to continue drinking with her friends.
The next morning, before the sun had even risen, a gentle, lingering drizzle awakened the city.
The humid season was always like this—the air perpetually filled with an unshakeable mist, and laundry never seemed to dry properly.
Fortunately, Ruan Sixian had just returned to Jiangcheng and hadn’t yet unpacked her clothes into the wardrobe. The undergarments she needed for this weather were still neatly packed in her suitcase, ready to be ironed and worn.
Her newly rented apartment was a high-end complex completed just last year, with excellent moisture-proofing—no trace of dampness on the walls. Moreover, due to its proximity to the airport, many senior executives and pilots from various airlines owned temporary residences here. The pilot who had flown the plane back with her also lived in this building.
The weather was still chilly, so Ruan Sixian pulled out a hoodie and slipped it over her head. As her head emerged, her hair stood on end.
Seeing herself like this, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at her reflection in the mirror.
Thinking back, she realized just how tough she had been on herself.
Back when she first entered flight school, the daily physical training was so intense that even some men couldn’t handle it.
Especially during the fixed-roller training, where they were placed inside an iron frame and spun round and round, accelerating repeatedly. At first, Ruan Sixian would vomit until she felt disoriented, stumbling back to her dormitory not only to rinse her mouth but also to wash the mess out of her hair.Later, she realized that just managing her hair took significantly more time each day compared to the male trainees, so she resolutely walked into a hair salon.
She had nurtured this thick, silky long hair for over a decade. Under her meticulous care, even after perming, it remained tangle-free and without split ends. Even the hairdresser couldn’t help but stroke her hair repeatedly, asking reluctantly, “Miss, are you really sure you want to cut it?”
Ruan Sixian nodded and said, “Cut it.”
Then, hearing the “snip” of the scissors, Ruan Sixian closed her eyes, took a sharp breath, and her brow twitched slightly.
After a few snips, strands of long hair fell to the floor. The weight on her head grew lighter and lighter, and Ruan Sixian’s eyes squeezed tighter and tighter.
When she opened her eyes and saw the ear-length hair in the mirror, she nearly fainted.
Well, at least now she could consider herself someone with broader experiences.
Ruan Sixian looked at her now shoulder-length hair, having just finished reminiscing and was about to head out, when her phone suddenly chimed twice.
She casually picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Bai Yang.
[Bai Yang]: Are you reporting for duty this morning?
[Bai Yang]: The airport expressway is especially congested this morning. You’d better leave early or take a detour.
The two had exchanged WeChats politely when signing contracts at the flight academy. Ruan Sixian had assumed this person was probably just like his boss—someone who would quietly remain in her contact list forever. Unexpectedly, he turned out to be quite considerate, taking the initiative to show concern.
Just as Ruan Sixian was about to type a reply, another message came through.
[Bai Yang]: Where do you live? Want me to pick you up on the way?
Ruan Sixian thought for a moment and asked: Are you alone?
[Bai Yang]: I’m in Mr. Fu’s car, near Mingchen Apartments.
[Ruan Sixian]: Then it’s not on the way.
Not on the way was one thing, but that “then” was quite telling. Bai Yang automatically interpreted Ruan Sixian’s meaning as her route from Mingchen Apartments to World Airlines not being convenient.
“She’s not on the route from Mingchen Apartments,” Bai Yang turned to Fu Mingyu in the back seat and said.
Fu Mingyu nodded without saying anything.
The car slowly stopped at the residential complex exit, waiting for the barrier gate to open. Fu Mingyu glanced out the car window, and his gaze suddenly paused.
Bai Yang noticed Fu Mingyu staring at something through the rearview mirror and curiously followed his line of sight.
Standing tall and straight by the roadside flower bed, holding an umbrella as if waiting for a ride—who else could it be but Ruan Sixian?
A deathly silence suddenly filled the car.
Wasn’t it supposed to be not on the way?
Could she not recognize the glaringly obvious four characters “Mingchen Apartments”?
Bai Yang coughed, opened his iPad, pulled up a meeting record, and handed it to Fu Mingyu, pretending nothing had happened.
“Mr. Fu, this is yesterday’s meeting record.”
Fu Mingyu took the iPad, flipped through a couple of pages, and suddenly said, “Did you offend her when you went to the flight academy?”
Bai Yang immediately recalled his words and actions at the time. He considered himself always graceful, articulate, never one to lose his temper, and reasonably good-looking—how could he have possibly offended anyone?
Before he could answer, Fu Mingyu added, “Pay more attention to your words and actions in the future. Don’t embarrass me.”
Bai Yang: “…”
Alright then. If the boss said it was his fault, then it must be his fault.
“Understood. I’ll be more careful in the future.”Ruan Sixian didn't notice the Cayenne slowly driving away in front of her at all. Seeing that the rain had stopped, she folded her umbrella and put it in her bag. When she looked up again, a taxi slowly pulled over to the curb.
Ruan Sixian checked the license plate and confirmed it was the one she had booked.
Just as she was about to walk over, a woman suddenly rushed out, pulling open the front passenger door before Ruan Sixian could.
Her movements were so abrupt that Ruan Sixian took a step back in surprise.
"Driver, to Hengshi Airlines."
Ruan Sixian was stunned by this series of actions. Once she regained her composure, she immediately grabbed the door before it could be closed. "Excuse me, this is the car I booked."
The woman was busy fumbling with her seatbelt and didn't even look at Ruan Sixian. "Can you let me go first? I'm in a hurry, I'm going to be late for a meeting!"
"No."
Ruan Sixian held the door with one hand and braced herself against the roof with the other. "Please get out."
Ni Tong tugged at her seatbelt, her eyes anxious and her tone impatient. She tried to pull the door shut but found that the woman in front of her was surprisingly strong—she couldn't budge it at all.
Ni Tong was so frantic she didn't know what to do. She clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Could you please wait a little longer? Could you help me out? I really have a very important meeting."
Early this morning, there had been a safety incident with a flight, and World Airlines had immediately sent out a notice organizing a safety lecture, requiring all flight attendants not on duty to attend.
"No." Ruan Sixian blocked the car door, her tone unfriendly. "I also have something very important to do."
Ruan Sixian actually wasn't in a hurry. If the woman had spoken to her properly from the start, she would have given up the car.
But since she had snatched it right away, Ruan Sixian absolutely refused to yield.
"Please, sis, really, help me out this once. Could you just be kind-hearted?"
Seeing that Ruan Sixian showed no sign of relenting, Ni Tong softened her voice, tugged at her sleeve, and unleashed a "green tea" attack: "Sister, please, could you help me out? I had dinner with a few friends last night, drank a little, and overslept this morning."
The coquettish tone didn't move Ruan Sixian, but it did make the driver laugh. "Miss, this is a car booked online. I can't take you, or I'll be violating the rules."
Ni Tong: "..."
At the same time, Ruan Sixian waved her phone at her, pursing her lips as if to say she couldn't help it either.
Ni Tong quickly glanced back but didn't see any taxis coming. Reluctantly, she unbuckled her seatbelt.
As soon as she vacated the seat, Ruan Sixian got in and slammed the door shut.
At that very moment, Ni Tong heard the driver's phone automatically announce: "Passenger with the last four digits 6233 has been picked up, from Mingchen Apartments to Hengshi Airlines."
"Damn it!" Ni Tong watched the car drive away, swallowing a mouthful of exhaust fumes. She stomped her foot angrily. "What kind of person is this?!"
Fortunately, another taxi arrived soon after. Ni Tong flagged it down and urged the driver to step on the gas all the way, managing to arrive just before the deadline.
But she never expected to see that woman again at the elevator entrance of the Hengshi Airlines headquarters building.
Ruan Sixian was also quite surprised.
She glanced sideways at the woman standing next to her waiting for the elevator. Talk about a small world.
Looks like they'll be colleagues from now on?
"What a coincidence, you still made it."
Ni Tong didn't expect the person beside her to speak first before she could say anything.How amusing. She herself was also heading to World Airlines, yet in such a hurry, she couldn't even spare a ride, insisting on leaving her choking on exhaust fumes.
Ni Tong was fuming, her words dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, what a coincidence. You're also going to World Airlines?"
Ruan Sixian smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm here to report to the HR department."
Ni Tong raised an eyebrow, sizing up Ruan Sixian without any attempt to hide it.
Seeing her get into the car earlier with that unyielding attitude, anyone would have thought she was the CEO's wife—
The elevator doors opened. Just as Ni Tong was about to step in, Ruan Sixian beat her to it again.
Ni Tong was truly at her wit's end, letting out a bitter laugh right there at the door.
"Fresh out of school?"
This time, Ruan Sixian nodded.
Ni Tong chuckled softly and stepped inside. "I thought so."
—Only a clueless newcomer would act like this.
The two stood at opposite ends of the elevator, one pressing the button for the 12th floor (HR department), the other for the 14th floor (conference hall).
Ruan Sixian kept her head down, looking at her phone, while Ni Tong stood with her arms crossed, watching her.
"Started your training flights yet?"
"Not yet."
Ni Tong was asking a question she already knew the answer to.
New flight attendants go through a training flight period, where the senior attendant guiding them becomes their mentor. No matter how their positions change later, the seniority hierarchy remains.
Especially since she was a chief flight attendant.
"Even though we had a bit of an unpleasant encounter at the apartment, I'm a magnanimous person. There are some things I feel I must remind you of." Seeing that Ruan Sixian wasn't paying her any attention, she walked over and stood face-to-face with her. "Our industry values seniority. You're about to enter your training flight phase, so keep your eyes open. Learn to be more sensible in the future, understand respect and hierarchy. Seniors are seniors—don't rush to be first in everything, or you'll just make your mentor unhappy."
She pointed at the elevator doors. "Places like the elevator are one thing, but if you try to be the first on board the plane too, what will your mentor think? What will the chief flight attendant think?"
Ruan Sixian looked up and met Ni Tong's gaze for a moment.
Ni Tong felt even more irritated.
What are you looking at?
But before Ni Tong could react, Ruan Sixian let out a soft chuckle.
It took Ni Tong a moment to process it.
That laugh, no matter how you looked at it, felt like someone with superior intelligence looking down on a child.
Ni Tong sighed, thinking that if she didn't spell it out, this person wouldn't understand.
"We'll be working together a lot in the future, so let's introduce ourselves properly."
Ni Tong extended her hand and said solemnly, "Chief Flight Attendant of Cabin Crew Department Four, Ni Tong."
Ruan Sixian didn't move immediately. Her gaze swept from Ni Tong's face to her hand, cool and detached, without much emotion.
Only then did she slowly raise her hand to shake it.
"Pilot of Flight Department Team Six, ACJ30, Ruan Sixian."
Ni Tong's hand trembled slightly.
She stared at Ruan Sixian in disbelief, as if unable to process what she had just heard.
The elevator dinged, arriving at the twelfth floor.
Ruan Sixian withdrew her hand and walked out.
Just before the elevator doors closed, she turned back and added, "By the way, if you ever fly on my flights in the future, it's best not to drink within 24 hours before reporting for duty. I absolutely cannot tolerate flight attendants being late."
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