Тhе wоrd "mаrriаge" felt uttеrlу fоrеign tо Ruan Sixian.
Аt lеast in the first twеnty-six уеаrs оf hеr lifе, she had nеver actively engаgеd with the сonсерt.
Аt this agе, mаnу оf hеr friends wеre indeed disсussing mаrriagе and weddings, and shе had attеnded quite а fеw сеrеmоniеs herself.
Вut рlaсing hеrsеlf within this cоncерt felt hollоw аnd blank, аs if she didn’t truly understаnd what it meant.
Yеt whеn Fu Мingyu sаid "marry him" and uttеrеd thе word "husbаnd," соuntlеss imаgеs suddenlу flоodеd her mind.
Wаking up in the mоrning and ореning her еуеs tо see him.
A lаmp lit for her in the roоm on a rainу evening.
А cоld wintеr daу, snowflakes swirling outside the window, snuggled together on the sofa with the chaotic music from the TV playing in the background.
…
These fragmented, disorderly images collided in her mind, piecing together a vision of the future.
"Wait—"
Ruan Sixian suddenly spoke up, glanced around, then pushed Fu Mingyu aside and ran toward the room.
"What are you running for?"
By the time Fu Mingyu caught up, the door slammed shut, leaving him outside.
"Where are you?"
Fu Mingyu knocked on the door. "Come out."
A voice came from inside. "Don’t say anything!"
One minute, two minutes, three minutes… ten minutes passed.
Leaning against the door, Fu Mingyu heard faint rustling sounds from inside, occasional footsteps, but he had no idea what she was doing.
In the sweltering afternoon heat, without the air conditioning on, a wave of restlessness washed over him, but he cautiously asked, "What exactly are you doing?"
"Just wait a moment!"
The midday sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground that swayed gently with the breeze.
Fu Mingyu paced back and forth in the living room, loosened his tie, tilted his head back, and let out a sigh.
He glanced toward the room, but the person inside still hadn’t emerged.
His phone rang a few times—a call from a friend.
Fu Mingyu glanced at it, hung up, and tossed the phone aside. He took a few more steps, unbuttoned his collar, and tried to ease his breath.
The clock in the living room ticked steadily. The window was open, letting in waves of stifling hot air that made breathing feel tight.
He even began to question her thoughts, wondering if he had moved too fast.
After what felt like an eternity, Fu Mingyu clutched the undelivered diamond ring, paced around the small living room a few more times, furrowed his brows, and stared at her bedroom door. Pausing briefly, he strode over and knocked with more force.
"Open the door!"
The door remained unmoved. Fu Mingyu pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth, fixed his gaze on the door for a few seconds, then raised his hand and said, "Ruan Sixian, you—"
The door suddenly swung inward. Fu Mingyu’s raised hand fell empty. The intense light in his pupils, like the center of a whirlpool in the sea, suddenly spread out silently the moment he saw her, flowing calmly in his eyes.
Ruan Sixian leaned against the door, her white shimmering dress clinging softly to her skin, outlining her graceful figure.
The wind seemed to have suddenly stilled, resting quietly on Ruan Sixian’s shoulders, gently brushing the hair by her cheeks.
She had retreated into the room, spent an hour sitting in front of the mirror meticulously applying makeup, and changed into the new dress she had bought.
To others, it might have seemed unnecessary, but she wanted every memory of this day in the future to be of her at her most beautiful.
She looked up at Fu Mingyu, allowing his gaze to linger on her.
"Let’s start over. That earlier moment doesn’t count."Fu Mingyu kept his gaze lowered on her, his eyes swirling with undercurrents.
"Hmm? What do you want to redo?"
"Hurry up." Ruan Sixian gently tugged at his tie. "Do it again."
Fu Mingyu leaned down, bringing his face close to hers, a smile playing at the corner of his lips as he slowly kissed her.
"What are you doing!" Ruan Sixian pushed against his chest with her hands. "I didn’t mean this!"
But the man before her paid no heed, holding the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss step by step.
"Don’t think you can get away with this!"
Ruan Sixian continued to push him, but he grasped her hands tightly. When she tried to kick him, he took a step forward, pinning her against the door, leaving her unable to move.
The chirping of cicadas rose and fell, mingling with the sound of his breathing, now distant, now close in Ruan Sixian’s ears. This afternoon felt as illusory as a dream, yet his kiss was more real than any before—untainted by desire, it was a devout expression of his feelings.
After a long while, he stopped, resting his forehead against hers and gazing into her eyes.
He opened his mouth to speak but paused when he caught sight of her lowered lashes. Taking a step back, he slowly knelt down on one knee.
Though she had anticipated his next move, seeing him actually kneel on one knee made Ruan Sixian’s chest ache with an indescribable emotion.
She had always thought such a gesture existed only in imagination.
He was such a proud man.
Yet his deep eyes held an unparalleled sincerity.
Ruan Sixian’s mind buzzed, her hands clasped behind her back nervously clutching her clothes, every nerve in her body tense.
The pink diamond nearly blinded her.
"Marry me, and I’ll give you a home."
Hearing these words, Ruan Sixian’s hands suddenly relaxed, and every cell in her body settled into a soft, comforting cradle.
That afternoon, Ruan Sixian took Fu Mingyu to the cemetery.
Before leaving, this overly particular man insisted on going upstairs to change his clothes.
Ruan Sixian looked him up and down. "What’s the difference between this and what you were wearing earlier?"
"I’ve been on a plane all day; it’s a bit dirty."
He took the car keys and headed out, walking leisurely toward the garage before turning back with a smile. "I should be clean and tidy when meeting the parents."
The cemetery remained quiet and desolate.
Perhaps the caretaker had been slacking off lately, as even in summer, there were quite a few dried leaves scattered on the ground.
Ruan Sixian’s father’s tombstone stood in an inconspicuous spot. The man in the photo had gentle features, yet his eyes held a hint of dignified spirit.
Fu Mingyu held a bouquet of lilies and said softly, "Dad doesn’t look like a Chinese teacher."
"He used to be a soldier…" Ruan Sixian suddenly looked up, meeting his calm gaze. She hesitated for a moment but said nothing.
He was calling him "Dad" so naturally.
"Dad," Ruan Sixian placed the lilies in her hands before the tombstone. "Happy birthday."
She leaned over, glancing at Fu Mingyu before whispering, "This is my boyfriend."
"Hmm?" Fu Mingyu said. "What did you just say?"
Ruan Sixian: "…"
"This is my fiancé."
He took Ruan Sixian’s hand and quietly looked at the tombstone.
Most of the time, Fu Mingyu was a man of few words.
Ruan Sixian didn’t know what he was thinking at that moment, so she remained silent, yet they stood there for a long time.
It wasn’t until the sun set behind the mountains that the two finally left the cemetery.
On the way back, Fu Mingyu’s phone kept ringing.
He answered a few calls, saying little. Ruan Sixian only heard words like "Hmm," "Okay," and "Reschedule for tomorrow."Having just returned to the country, there were many urgent matters requiring handover and processing, making this period busier than ever before.
Yet he still postponed some work to have dinner with Ruan Sixian before leaving.
Back home, Ruan Sixian changed her clothes, lay on the bed, and stretched her hand under the spotlight, gazing at the sparkling ring on her ring finger.
Ah.
A diamond ring.
So big.
Ruan Sixian’s expression remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil.
That night, she slept very late. In her drowsiness, she felt the bed dip beside her.
She didn’t open her eyes, but the scent of shower gel reached her nose.
The person beside her lay down gently, pulled up the blanket, and drew her into his embrace.
Once his breathing steadied, Ruan Sixian nestled closer into his arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, curved her lips slightly, and whispered softly, “Husband.”
Her voice was so faint it was almost a breath, seeping out from under the covers, yet it echoed in Fu Mingyu’s ears several times.
He lowered his gaze, looking at the person in his arms by the moonlight.
Her eyes were closed, her breathing long and steady—pretending to sleep as if it were real, unaware that her eyelashes were trembling faintly.
“Which man did you dream about?” Fu Mingyu asked softly above her head. “Mrs. Fu?”
On the afternoon of Zheng You’an and Yan An’s engagement banquet, a heavy rain poured down.
By evening, the sudden rain had just stopped, and the setting sun unexpectedly peeked out, with golden clouds churning at the horizon.
The car carrying Fu Mingyu and Ruan Sixian slowly pulled up to the entrance of the Warner Manor banquet hall.
After they got out of the car, they glanced back to see another vehicle approaching closely behind.
Fu Mingyu lifted his chin slightly and took a step back with Ruan Sixian.
“Let’s wait for them.”
Ruan Sixian, holding onto Fu Mingyu’s arm, looked toward the other car.
Stepping out of it were He Lanxiang and Fu Chengyu.
Since their brief encounter at the airport on New Year’s Eve, Ruan Sixian and Fu Chengyu had hardly interacted.
According to Fu Mingyu, after returning, Fu Chengyu had focused on taking over Hengshi Airlines’ financial leasing company, dividing responsibilities clearly with Fu Mingyu, so there was no truth to the rumors of power struggles.
But because of this, he rarely appeared at the World Airlines building.
During this time, He Lanxiang had invited Ruan Sixian to dinner once at Lakeview Mansion, and when she arrived, Fu Chengyu was just leaving.
Fu Chengyu’s gaze swept over Ruan Sixian and Fu Mingyu before he said, “When are you planning to move out completely? I’ve had my eye on your study for a long time.”
Fu Mingyu replied, “Anytime.”
He Lanxiang, overhearing this from behind, raised an eyebrow and let out a cold laugh.
They say a married daughter is like water poured out, but a son who’s been bewitched simply flows straight to the sea, never to return.
The venue was filled with elegantly dressed guests, brilliantly lit, with Zheng You’an in her golden gown standing out prominently.
With every move, her skirt shimmered with flowing light, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
Beside her, Yan An wore a black formal suit, and the two of them truly looked the part.
“Mr. Yan looks quite handsome today,” Ruan Sixian whispered.
“What?” Fu Mingyu tilted his head to look at her. “Regretting something?”
Ruan Sixian stared straight at them, her expression unchanged, and said, “Even if I regretted it, there’s no chance now.”
Fu Mingyu chuckled softly. “Even if there were a chance, it wouldn’t be allowed.”
Ruan Sixian’s gaze then fell on Zheng You’an’s dress.
Though it was the second time she had seen this dress, she couldn’t help but be dazzled.
Who wouldn’t love something so sparkling?
Especially when it sparkled with such understated luxury.
She let out a soft sigh.
“This dress looks truly beautiful under the lights.”Fu Mingyu wrapped his arm around her shoulder and guided her aside. "Not bad."
As they spoke, Zheng You'an and Yan An walked over with their respective parents.
He Lanxiang, who had just been discreetly observing the couple, immediately changed her expression. "Congratulations, Mrs. Zheng. What a perfect match these two make."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Yan An accidentally stepped on Zheng You'an's dress. She stumbled and nearly fell, only to be hastily steadied by Yan An. With a forced smile, she said, "Be careful, dear. Is the dress bothering your feet?"
Yan An: "..."
Dong Xian’s expression shifted slightly nearby. Fortunately, those on He Lanxiang’s side were well aware of the situation and enthusiastically played along with the facade of harmony, treating the two as if they were a naturally compatible couple who had come together effortlessly.
"Take it slow, take it slow. Yan An, hold your fiancée steady."
Before anyone else could say anything, Zheng You'an’s hand was already resting in Yan An’s palm, the pigeon-egg-sized diamond on her finger flashing brilliantly under the venue lights.
He Lanxiang glanced at it and smiled. "Such thought went into that ring."
Ruan Sixian followed her gaze and was stunned.
"..."
Damn, isn’t that a bit too big? Is she really wearing a pigeon-egg-sized diamond on her hand?
He Lanxiang noticed her look and assumed she was envious.
After the hosts finished greeting guests, He Lanxiang stroked the ring on her own finger and said, "Actually, when it comes to diamonds, bigger isn’t always better. A few months ago, I came across a fancy vivid pink diamond in South Africa—a GIA-certified, radiant pink diamond. In my opinion, an engagement ring like that holds real meaning. It’s all about purity, exquisite cut, and how beautifully it sits on the hand. I tried so hard to buy it, but some bastard quietly snatched it away. I’ll keep an eye out for something suitable and let you know if I find anything."
Hearing this, Fu Chengyu glanced sideways at the little bastard beside him.
The little bastard remained expressionless, raising his arm as if casually escorting Ruan Sixian past He Lanxiang.
And the exquisitely cut and set pink diamond on Ruan Sixian’s finger flashed briefly before He Lanxiang’s eyes.
It took He Lanxiang a moment to realize that the pink diamond looked familiar, and her temple suddenly twitched.
The pigeon-egg diamond on Zheng You'an’s hand truly drew attention wherever she went.
As the banquet neared its end, she could even hear people discussing it in the hallway.
"Little Yan is really extravagant, isn’t he? That ring on Zheng You'an’s hand—I’m almost worried her hand will get tired."
"Tired hands are nothing. What’s ahead for Zheng You'an is heartache."
"Now that you mention it, it’s kind of pitiful. Little Yan is such a playboy, and with the Zheng family being just an empty shell now, he’ll probably do whatever he wants."
Yan An stood beside Zheng You'an, hearing every word clearly.
He noticed Zheng You'an lower her eyes slightly, and a flicker of irritation sparked in his own gaze. He was about to stride over when Zheng You'an grabbed his arm to stop him.
She adjusted her gloves and walked over with a cheerful smile, her pigeon-egg diamond shimmering.
"Pitiful? My fiancé has more money than your husbands, and he’s better-looking too. Even if we divorce, I’ll get more money than any of you could earn in a lifetime. What’s pitiful about that?"
The gossiping women froze, staring blankly at the two before them.
Yan An didn’t spare them a glance, merely giving Zheng You'an a faint look before leading her away from the scene.On the way, he thought of something and scoffed, "We're not even married yet, and you're already talking about divorce."
"Just in case, so no one can call me a discarded wife of a wealthy family later." Zheng You'an looked up at him. "Right, Yan An?"
Meanwhile, He Lanxiang finally realized that the silent bastard who had snatched away her beloved diamond was none other than her own son.
After taking a long time to digest this fact, she accepted it once she remembered it was meant for Ruan Sixian.
Once she accepted it, she began worrying about other things.
"Such a big matter, and you didn’t even discuss it beforehand. With your taste, what if you end up picking something like a pigeon egg? How tacky."
That night, He Lanxiang stayed awake all night.
Early the next morning, she presented a wedding plan to satisfy her long-buried designer spirit.
But the two involved parties glanced at her plan and shook their heads in refusal.
"What’s wrong? Is the setting not beautiful enough or not grand enough?"
He Lanxiang slapped the plan on the table. "Come on, give me one, two, three reasons."
Ruan Sixian naturally pushed the question to Fu Mingyu.
"No rush," Fu Mingyu said. "She wants to wait until she becomes a captain next year."
"Huh?"
He Lanxiang was only stunned for a moment before quickly understanding. "Right, she’s at F3 now, isn’t she? She must be very busy. A wedding is something that needs careful planning. Don’t rush it—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event."
Aside from this, Fu Mingyu did something else.
At the end of September, during Ruan Sixian’s quarterly leave, Fu Mingyu took her to Dior’s Paris atelier for measurements and a custom wedding gown.
A haute couture piece requires the dedication of countless designers and artisans, and the price naturally reflects that.
Every shimmering gold thread and subtle sparkle on the design sketch seemed to scream, "I’m expensive, I’m expensive!"
Even before seeing the finished product, Ruan Sixian was already dazzled.
"This will take a long time to complete, won’t it?"
As they boarded the return flight, Ruan Sixian’s mind was still filled with images of the wedding gown. "When will I get to see the finished piece?"
Fu Mingyu reclined in his seat, smiling faintly. "Are you in a hurry to marry me, or are you in a hurry to wear this gown?"
Wasn’t that a pointless question?
"Is there a difference?"
Fu Mingyu turned to look at her, a slight smile on his lips. "Don’t worry. Even though it will take a long time, it’ll be worth it."
He reached out and brushed her hair. "You’ll have everything others have. I won’t let you envy anyone."
Later, Ruan Sixian belatedly realized that Fu Mingyu was referring to Zheng You’an’s dress.
She lowered her head and hooked her finger around Fu Mingyu’s collar.
"Who’s envying anyone? Don’t talk nonsense."
The wedding gown was far away in Paris, meticulously stitched, thread by thread, slowly taking shape.
Time passed with the movement of the needle and thread.
That year, Ruan Sixian was busy but fulfilled.
She passed her F4 exams, secured resources for high-altitude routes, completed her time as a first officer, and finally faced her solo flight exam in mid-July.
After spending several days on theoretical exams, undergoing retraining, and passing her medical checkup, Ruan Sixian faced her final simulator test.
Before that, she had already seen the name of her ground instructor.
Ren Xu.If He Lanfeng was the pilots' innate nightmare in the sky, then Ren Xu was the disaster on the ground.
This instructor was notorious for being a sadist, earning the nickname "Burger King" for his particular skill in stacking multiple malfunctions like layers of a burger during simulation pod exams.
While simulation pod training was indeed designed to hone pilots' ability to respond to various emergencies, his additions were simply too intense. If such a cascade of failures were to occur in real flight, the plane might as well disintegrate on the spot.
As a result, the pass rate for solo flight certification under his supervision was shockingly low. In the past two years, some had even attempted underhanded methods, such as slipping him red envelopes.
The outcome? They didn't even make it into the simulation pod.
So when others learned that Ruan Sixian's solo flight examiner was this very instructor, they all cast sympathetic glances her way, subtly hinting that she could seek Fu Mingyu's help.
Ruan Sixian lifted her chin at the time.
"Absolutely not."
The looks in their eyes swiftly turned to admiration.
The future CEO's wife certainly had ambition.
Though, ambition was only part of the reason.
Another part was that Fu Mingyu had been relatively idle lately, brimming with excess energy. If she were to ask for his help, the price she'd have to repay might be more than she could bear.
Besides, she had the confidence to pass on her own—why bother asking Fu Mingyu?
At three in the afternoon, Ruan Sixian and her co-pilot stood before the cockpit, listening to Ren Xu's briefing.
Ren Xu was a man of few words, speaking only briefly.
"The first stripe on your shoulders represents professionalism, the second knowledge, the third flying skills, and today your goal is the fourth stripe—responsibility. A captain is not merely the highest authority on the plane but also bears the safety of the entire crew, passengers, and the aircraft itself. To become a captain is to uphold this responsibility, adopting a lifelong attitude of learning and rigor, wielding professionalism, knowledge, and skills as weapons to safeguard safety at thirty thousand meters."
"As for mistakes," he turned to look at the simulation pod, "everyone makes them—it's an objective reality, and that's why we have a two-person cockpit crew. Any environment can loosen the chain of safety, leading to a sequence of accidents. What a captain must do is strive to minimize the probability of accidents before they occur and, when they do happen, turn the tide."
As Ren Xu turned around, Ruan Sixian exchanged a glance with her co-pilot.
—Turn the tide? How turbulent?
—Who knows?
After finishing his speech, Ren Xu's gaze settled on Ruan Sixian.
"Ruan Sixian?" He flipped through the records in his hand. "Ah, last year's captain incapacitation, emergency landing in a rainstorm—that was you."
He raised an eyebrow. "Let me see what you're made of later."
I...
Ruan Sixian wasn't particularly eager to show him.
As soon as the exam began, they experienced firsthand what "Burger King" meant—starting off with a major challenge, gifting them a "roll cloud" package.
After the plane was "forced" into the roll cloud, the fuselage tilted and rolled as if spinning, then tilted and rolled again in the opposite direction.
Just as they managed to stabilize the aircraft, Ren Xu lightly tapped a key on the keyboard. A crack appeared in the hydraulic pipeline, and the entire hydraulic system immediately showed failure. The plane began to dance wildly in the air, like a car without a steering wheel.
To give the trainees a 100% realistic operational experience, the Simulation Pod replicated the actual cockpit at a 1:1 scale, with instruments, equipment, and materials identical to those of a real passenger aircraft. It could accurately simulate everything from takeoff and landing weightlessness to turbulence. Not long after takeoff, Ruan Sixian's partner was already pale from the shaking.
Sweat beaded on Ruan Sixian's forehead, and a queasy feeling churned in her stomach.
She sensed trouble but, relying on her strong will, coordinated with her partner to operate the Engine Thrust Control System, adjusting the thrust on both sides of the aircraft to control ascent, descent, and turns.
However, it wasn't long before Ren Xu, sitting expressionless in the back row, unleashed his second major challenge.
"The aircraft fuselage is damaged. At high altitude, the air is thin and pressure is low. The pressure difference between the cabin and the outside is now too great—we must perform an emergency pressurization," Ruan Sixian said, her voice hoarse. "We must descend to 3,000 meters within 10 minutes, or the oxygen masks won't hold, and the passengers will be at risk of suffocation."
In the back row, Ren Xu nodded like an emotionless machine, still expressionless as he played the role of air traffic controller, engaging in ground-air communication with Ruan Sixian.
These were merely the appetizers Ren Xu had prepared for them. Following the appetizers, he served up the "soup course" with Instrument Malfunction and Cabin Air Leak, before the main dishes of Cumulonimbus Rain and Typhoon arrived in quick succession.
By this point, not only were the two pilots in the front seats struggling, but even Ren Xu, who was accustomed to turbulence in his daily work, was beginning to feel nauseous.
But he was stubborn, he was generous, and he intended to serve Ruan Sixian a Michelin three-star dessert upon landing.
After the Decompression Cycle during descent, Ren Xu fought back his nausea and set up an Engine Blade Metal Fatigue Fracture Leading to Engine Disintegration, along with Hydraulic System Failure.
In such a situation, Ruan Sixian's partner seemed to see a crimson haze before his eyes—a Crash Warning.
Ruan Sixian didn't know how she managed to battle the aircraft for nearly twenty minutes while her stomach churned violently. When the ground slowly came into view, she was almost operating the control stick on pure instinct.
With a "thud," she couldn't even clearly tell whether the impact was a landing or a crash.
When everything around her fell silent, she heard retching sounds from the right and behind her, sharp as blades piercing her nerves.
The light outside the Simulation Pod was blinding, making it impossible to see anything.
That was her only sensation as she stepped out.
Then her vision blurred, her limbs went numb, and she collapsed toward the ground.
But the expected impact with the floor never came.
Before losing consciousness, she caught a familiar scent of fir.
It's over.
I'm done.
That was her last thought.
The evening sunlight had quietly shifted from the center of the room to the corner. In her dazed state, Ruan Sixian heard voices.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around, taking in the pristine white surroundings.
As her consciousness gradually returned, her vision cleared.
Fu Mingyu, who had been speaking with a nurse, suddenly turned around as if sensing something and saw Ruan Sixian's bewildered, open eyes.
He walked to the bedside, leaned over, and gently touched her forehead.
"Awake?"
Ruan Sixian didn't respond, not even moving her eyes.
"What happened to me?"
"You fainted."
Ruan Sixian's heart sank.
It really was over.Yet Fu Mingyu's expression was not so grave. He brushed aside the stray hairs by Ruan Sixian's neck to make her more comfortable.
"What did you have for lunch today?"
"I..." Ruan Sixian's mind was sluggish, answering like a robot, "I mooched off the lunchbox Ni Tong's mom brought."
Fu Mingyu: "Hmm, don't mooch off others' meals in the future."
Ruan Sixian stared at him, not even blinking.
Meanwhile, Fu Mingyu turned and walked calmly toward the cabinet.
"Don't go." Ruan Sixian raised her hand slightly. "Did I... crash?"
"You just fainted from food poisoning at noon. It has nothing to do with the exam."
He spoke calmly.
"Huh?"
Ruan Sixian was a bit dazed. "What?"
"You didn't crash."
Fu Mingyu turned around, holding something in his hand. "You passed."
The hospital room fell into silence. Ruan Sixian stared blankly as Fu Mingyu walked toward her.
He raised his hand and removed the Three-Stripe Epaulette from her uniform.
Then, with his own hands, he replaced it with a new epaulette.
His fingers gently brushed over the Fourth Stripe as he lowered his gaze and smiled.
"Congratulations, Captain Ruan."
Author's Note: Congratulations to Ruan Ruan on becoming a captain!
Some content references Qingbao News' "Pilot Training: 15% of Trainees Eliminated Before Flight" and "A Captain's Ten Thousand Days."
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