Only when the elevator reached the fourteenth floor did Ni Tong finally come to her senses.

Ruan Sixian?

She silently repeated this name several times, and finally remembered just as the elevator doors closed again.

Ruan Sixian, the one who made her become the “low-budget version” of Ruan Sixian.

But how could she possibly be back?

And as a pilot in the Flight Department?

Lost in these thoughts, the elevator had already descended to the ninth floor. By the time Ni Tong reacted, she frantically pressed the floor buttons, but it was already too late.

When she finally returned to the fourteenth floor, the safety briefing had already begun.

Sure enough, she was late after all.

Ni Tong felt annoyed as she forcefully scanned her fingerprint on the attendance machine by the door, then quietly slipped in through the back entrance and sat in a corner seat in the last row.

The colleague beside her whispered, “Why are you late?”

Ni Tong felt irritated as she rummaged through her bag for her phone while saying, “Don’t even ask, it’s so annoying.”

After finding Ji Ziyue’s WeChat, she immediately typed: Master, is Ruan Sixian back?

After sending the message, she remembered that Ji Ziyue had gone on vacation to Spain a few days ago and should have just taken off not long ago.

The colleague beside her continued talking, “You should have seen it. Wang Lekang noticed you were the only head flight attendant missing, and his face turned black with anger.”

Putting down her phone, Ni Tong turned and asked, “Is Ruan Sixian back?”

Her colleague was taken aback. “Who?”

She had no idea who this person was.

“Never mind,” Ni Tong didn’t bother to explain further.

She just thought, perhaps the person earlier had said “Ruan Sixian,” or maybe “Ruan Sixian,” or even “Ruan Sixian.”

After all, it wasn’t such a unique name, what if it was just someone with the same name?

Otherwise, according to Ji Ziyue, how could Ruan Sixian possibly return to Hengshi Airlines after what had happened?

Especially to the Flight Department under Fu Mingyu’s management.

If it were her, she wouldn’t return to World Airlines even if her life depended on it.

While Ni Tong’s mind wandered, Ruan Sixian had already completed her onboarding procedures at the Human Resources Department.

During the break as HR entered her information into the internal network, Ruan Sixian looked around the place.

From the moment she stepped into World Airlines, she noticed many changes.

On the right side of the spacious lobby on the first floor, there was now a large ACJ31 model, standing prominently like a landmark.

The reception desk had increased from four to six people, with new uniforms replacing the old dreary black suit jackets.

The HR department had also moved from the sixth floor to the fourteenth floor.

And throughout her journey, Ruan Sixian hadn’t seen a single familiar face.

Though she hadn’t encountered many people at all.

“I’m all set here.” The HR staff handed Ruan Sixian two forms, one small and one large. “The small one has your internal network account and employee number, along with other login passwords. The large one is a process form. Take it to the Flight Department on the sixteenth floor to report and get a stamp. After that’s done, go to the Logistics Department to collect your uniform.”

Ruan Sixian thanked her and left the office, only then examining her new employee number.

Even now, she could still recite her old employee number by heart; only the prefix letter had changed.

World Airlines assigned employee numbers with department prefixes based on organizational structure, starting with the Board of Supervisors and cascading down. The Cabin Crew Department’s prefix was “E.”

Now her employee number prefix had changed to “D” for the Flight Department.

The HR staff in the Flight Department was a young woman who occasionally glanced at Ruan Sixian while stamping her documents, with two shallow dimples in her cheeks.

“This is the first time I’ve met a female pilot,” the young woman said, efficiently signing and stamping documents without interrupting her casual chat. “And for the ACJ31 model too! I heard everyone in this batch is amazing, the competition was incredibly fierce. Some of the pilots our company hired would be first officer candidates at other airlines.”

She shyly glanced at Ruan Sixian again. “And you’re the top student. That’s so impressive.”

Then she took out her phone. “Can we add each other on WeChat? Personal accounts, is that okay?”

“Sure,” Ruan Sixian took out her phone but noticed an incoming call.

The screen displayed only the number, indicating it wasn’t a familiar contact.

But Ruan Sixian had a good memory for numbers, and this one wasn’t unfamiliar. She must have contacted it recently.

“May I take this call first?”

The HR staff nodded with a smile. “Of course, go ahead. I still have a lot of information to enter here.”

Ruan Sixian stepped outside with her phone, turning right into a long glass corridor.

This corridor connected the Flight Department’s international conference room with the Administrative Department. It was about seven or eight meters wide, with sunlight streaming through the seamless glass, giving off a cold feeling while reflecting a sense of technology, making the place seem more serene. It also had an echo effect, with footsteps from afar resonating halfway through the corridor.

Ruan Sixian felt that the atmosphere here resembled someplace, but she couldn’t quite recall where.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Miss Ruan, this is Yan An.”

Oh, Yan An, the CEO of North Airlines, who had contacted her using this number recently.

“Hello, CEO Yan. What can I do for you?”

“Nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you’ve reported to World Airlines yet. If not, would you like to reconsider my offer?”

He spoke with a hint of playfulness, somewhere between being flippant and teasing, completely different from Fu Mingyu’s serious and cold tone.

It sounded like a joke, making it easy for people to relax.

“You just missed your chance. I’m currently at HR, and my information has already been entered. CEO Yan, thank you for your kind intentions.”

“Ah…”

Yan An sighed heavily.

Is he that disappointed?

Ruan Sixian didn’t know that Yan An and Fu Mingyu had always disliked each other. She only felt that she was in such high demand; if she had known, she would have extorted more from Fu Mingyu.

Perhaps he would have accepted even three times the annual salary.

“Then, Miss Ruan, I’m curious. I remember you were about to sign a contract with us. Why did you ultimately choose World Airlines?”

Why?

When Ruan Sixian signed the contract, she specifically counted the decimal points, three times.

Now her salary before tax was almost as much as her entire flight attendant salary had been.

Who would turn down money?

Moreover, half of it was coming from Fu Mingyu’s account.

Thinking about how he had used the money to beg her, Ruan Sixian felt every cell in her body tingle with satisfaction.

Double the annual salary, ten times the joy.

But she couldn’t say that to others—it would sound vulgar.

“Well…”

Yan An immediately followed up with an irrelevant question: “What kind of love potion did Fu Mingyu give you? Did he seduce you with his good looks, hmm?”

Since the person had already been stolen away, Yan An didn’t bother with futile struggles. He was just interested in this woman herself, and his words carried a teasing tone.

Ruan Sixian seemed to understand Yan An’s meaning and laughed, “Why would CEO Yan say that?”

The person on the other end of the phone became even more relaxed, sarcastically saying, “Isn’t it true? Fu Mingyu usually goes around flaunting that face of his, deceiving quite a few young ladies.”

Indeed, he probably looks in the mirror every morning thinking he’s irresistibly handsome.

Ruan Sixian inexplicably pictured Fu Mingyu admiring himself in the mirror and couldn’t help but laugh. “Director Fu is indeed a man of talent, elegant as jade, imposing and distinguished…”

Halfway through her words, she saw a large group of people reflected on the LED screen, led by none other than…

But Ruan Sixian’s train of thought didn’t break; she continued her flattery.

“Cultured and refined, dignified and proper…”

The figure behind her stopped moving. Over a dozen gazes shot over, with one particularly burning.

Ruan Sixian’s voice grew quieter and quieter.

No.

This wasn’t how she had imagined their reunion.

She had only meant to mock Fu Mingyu together with Yan An, but now being caught, who knew if he would misinterpret it as her expressing admiration.

She urgently needed to make a sharp turn.

“Romantic, unrestrained, and free-spirited—none of these apply to him at all.”

“…”

The final sentence fell with resounding clarity, an abrupt turnaround that caught the eavesdroppers off guard. Collectively, they momentarily wished they were deaf.

They quickly turned around, pretending they hadn’t heard anything, and continued walking forward, though their steps were noticeably stiff.

The glass corridor now held only Ruan Sixian facing the wall and Fu Mingyu facing her from behind, along with Bai Yang and four assistants who kept their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Down the lengthy glass corridor, it seemed as if gusts of cold wind were blowing through.

Ruan Sixian suddenly remembered why this place felt so cold—it reminded her of a morgue.

On the phone, Yan An was laughing unrestrainedly, sounding like a honking goose.

“Miss Ruan, you spoke the truth. I like your unique perspective…”

Suddenly, the call was cut off, and a mechanical female voice came through the receiver: “Please wait, the other party is on another call. Please do not hang up.”

At the same time, a male voice sounded from behind.

“Yan An, are you that idle lately?”

Without even turning around, Ruan Sixian already knew who was speaking. She first saw an elongated shadow on the ground.

In the shimmering daylight, he held his phone and stepped forward forcefully, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ruan Sixian. Yet his gaze didn’t fall on her but stared straight ahead out the window.

His voice carried no warmth, blending perfectly with the ambiance of the glass corridor. “If you have nothing to do, consider first how to handle that internet celebrity who just broke up with you and is cursing you on Weibo. Don’t disturb my people for no reason, and don’t even think about poaching them.”

At this point, he glanced briefly at Ruan Sixian before looking away again. “Please respect industry rules, otherwise I won’t hesitate to snatch the Bali tourism contract from your hands. Then you can see if your old man would let you rest in peace a few decades early.”

With that, he hung up the phone. Fu Mingyu turned to face Ruan Sixian, the entire sequence of movements executed seamlessly as if Yan An had been disconnected along with the call.

His voice softened considerably, “Miss Ruan, this is our first meeting. Do you have some misunderstanding about me?”

If it were any other woman, seeing Fu Mingyu’s gentlemanly gaze and sensing the favoritism flowing through his shifted tone, she might have fallen for him on the spot.

But Ruan Sixian just wanted to roll her eyes.

What did he mean by “first meeting”?

Dog of a man, have you forgotten Ruan Sixian from the banks of the Thames?

Have you forgotten the woman you waited for all night?

Seeing Ruan Sixian’s puzzled and confused expression, Bai Yang, who had been holding his breath, finally had a chance to release it. He stepped forward and said, “This is Director Fu.”

“Oh!” Ruan Sixian feigned surprise and took a step back, “You heard what I just said? I’m so sorry, I was only repeating what I’d heard. I didn’t know Director Fu was so…”

“Hmm.” Fu Mingyu anticipated that Ruan Sixian was about to repeat those seven idioms to showcase her vocabulary, so he interrupted her promptly, “Who told you that?”

Ruan Sixian paused, “A friend who wishes to remain anonymous.”

—Her surname is Ruan.

Seeming to see through Ruan Sixian’s fake and hypocritical act, Fu Mingyu automatically blamed Yan An for badmouthing him behind his back and didn’t bother to pursue it.

Just then, Bai Yang mentioned the time, and Fu Mingyu turned to leave.

He’s leaving?

Ruan Sixian was so frustrated. How could he have forgotten her?

Whose face was she supposed to slap now?

She was the woman from the banks of the Thames whom he once looked down upon but now paid money to bring back!

“Director Fu!”

Ruan Sixian suddenly called out to him.

Fu Mingyu stopped and turned back, “Anything else?”

Forget it.

The moment she called out, Ruan Sixian regretted it, feeling like an idiot, but she was always quick to pivot.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have repeated rumors and spoken ill of you. I should get to know you genuinely first.”

—And then continue to speak ill of you.

His expression relaxed slightly, “It’s alright.”

Listen to that, how magnanimous, how gentlemanly.

Those who didn’t know better would surely fall to his suit-clad knees.

Ruan Sixian said, “Then I’ll go first. I still need to collect my uniform.”

Uniform…

Fu Mingyu’s mind suddenly flashed to that photograph: Ruan Sixian in a pilot’s uniform, the crisp shirt cinched sharply at the waist, barely encompassing it, the curves suddenly flowing gracefully outward, with sleek black pants below.

He nodded slightly and turned to leave.

Speaking of uniforms, Ruan Sixian hadn’t expected that Hengshi Airlines had thoughtfully changed their system again, issuing two sets each for spring, summer, and winter, piling up to make a large package.

Fortunately, pilots generally had good physical fitness, so even though Ruan Sixian was a woman, carrying it wasn’t difficult, just not very elegant. She felt her contrast with the passing beautiful flight attendants was even more apparent.

At this moment, the thoughtful Bai Yang appeared. He smiled and took Ruan Sixian’s bag, “Let me help.”

They had met at the flight academy, and Ruan Sixian liked him quite a bit, feeling that as Fu Mingyu’s secretary, he hadn’t picked up any of those bad habits. So she smiled at him as well.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Bai Yang led her outside, “Director Fu sent me. He said the uniforms are heavy, and it’s difficult for a woman to carry them.”

Ruan Sixian: “…Director Fu is so kind. I’m deeply touched.”

Bai Yang: “Yes, I’ll convey your gratitude to him.”

…

Who asked you to convey anything???

It seemed he had picked up that mind-reading bad habit after all.

The two exited the elevator together, and Bai Yang saw Ruan Sixian to her car before returning to the company. This scene was coincidentally witnessed by Ni Tong, who had just come out of a meeting.

Ni Tong took a photo with her phone and sent it to Ji Ziyue.

“Look, it’s her.”

Ji Ziyue, far away in Spain, zoomed in on the photo for a while before concluding:

“It’s not her. How could she possibly have such a good relationship with the Vice President’s secretary?”