The makeup flight that day was scheduled to depart at three in the afternoon, with an Airbus 330 assigned to the route.

Although passengers still grumbled in the complaint, their emotions gradually calmed after receiving appropriate monetary compensation.

As for the troublemaking passenger’s complaint, it naturally had no effect, and he was taken away by the police for intentional assault.

The burn on Ruan Sixian’s neck wasn’t serious, but since it was boiling water after all, losing a layer of skin was unavoidable.

Fortunately, she had just reached her quarterly flight hour limit during these few days and had several days of rest time, allowing her to properly heal her burn at home. Otherwise, it would’ve used up her available flight hours.

But having time off to recover didn’t mean she could just lie in bed all day.

Facing intensive exams, simulator training, and aircraft-type recertification tests, Ruan Sixian was practically meditating at her desk.

She was busy, but her boyfriend was even busier. After dealing with the troublemaking passenger yesterday, he received a phone call and flew off to Fudu.

Fly, fly, fly. Flying every day, always on airplanes—he might as well become a captain himself.

Ruan Sixian poked her book a couple of times with her pen, switched to prop her chin up with her other hand, flipped a few pages, and her thoughts drifted back to yesterday afternoon.

She began to feel something wasn’t quite right.

This person Fu Mingyu, when it came to taking action, was indeed quite efficient. Even when pursuing her, everything he did was quite satisfactory.

Despite being so busy, he could still make time to drive her home, have a meal together, or call to chat about random things.

But he just couldn’t say a single “I like you.”

It wasn’t that Ruan Sixian had to fixate on this point, she just found it strange.

Logically speaking, her acquaintance with Fu Mingyu had been rather complicated.

Given how many times she had trampled on Fu Mingyu’s head with her wildness, shouldn’t a normal man be furious and enraged?

Could it be that CEOs prefer women who are “refreshingly natural and daring to defy me”?

Well, Ruan Sixian thought that at this point, she shouldn’t be obsessing over whether her boyfriend liked her or not.

Why would he chase after you if he didn’t like you?

Why would he hold you down and kiss you if he didn’t like you?

But without hearing him say it personally, Ruan Sixian sometimes lacked confidence when doing certain things.

For example, she was feeling a bit bored now and wanted to send him a message.

Nothing important, just some casual chat.

But she couldn’t naturally disturb him like others who could ramble about trivial matters such as losing a few extra strands of hair—that came from the support of mutual understanding.

While she needed to find a reason to send Fu Mingyu a message.

The more Ruan Sixian thought about it, the more she felt she was a bit thick-headed, having carelessly agreed to be his girlfriend.

She even reasonably suspected that Fu Mingyu was just tired and bored with work and wanted a woman’s company to alleviate his loneliness.

Otherwise, yesterday when she tugged at his tie, he already looked like he couldn’t take it anymore.

If it weren’t for Bai Yang knocking and coming in midway, he might have done something inappropriate in broad daylight.

—Stop right there.

She couldn’t think any further.

Ruan Sixian adjusted her sitting posture and pushed aside those messy thoughts.

You’re already his girlfriend, I’ll text whenever I want. If he does not reply to my message, he can expect to kneel on the instrument panel.

With that thought, Ruan Sixian grabbed her phone and sent Fu Mingyu a message.

[Ruan Sixian] — Boyfriend.

Fu Mingyu, who was far away at the aviation show in Fudu, surprisingly replied very quickly.

[Fu Mingyu] — Hmm?

Ruan Sixian tapped her finger on the screen, pondering what to say to appear casual and not like she was making conversation out of nothing.

[Ruan Sixian] — What are you doing?

[Fu Mingyu] — Missing me?

Ruan Sixian “…”

The CEO’s confidence was unyielding in this area.

[Ruan Sixian] — Not really, I just wanted to ask when exactly the quarterly bonus will be paid.

Fu Mingyu didn’t reply. A few minutes later, Ruan Sixian received a bank transfer notification.

[Fu Mingyu] — Enough?

Looking at this message, Ruan Sixian’s feelings were a bit hard to describe.

Modern superficial couples struggle with normal communication. Did she look like a woman who could be easily bought with money?

[Ruan Sixian] — I wasn’t asking you for money, and I’m not short on money.

[Fu Mingyu] — Then you must be missing me?

Ruan Sixian “…”

This logic, this thinking.

[Ruan Sixian] — Your logic is amazing, I can’t understand you, go talk with Einstein.

Putting down her phone, she propped her chin and sighed, feeling neither up nor down, unable to describe the feeling.

Trying to read, Fu Mingyu’s face kept floating before her eyes, lingering like a restless ghost.

Two minutes later, Fu Mingyu sent a photo.

[Fu Mingyu] — I’m here.

Ruan Sixian casually glanced at it. The photo showed a corner of the aviation exhibition center, taken from a casual angle, with mostly various aircraft models in the frame.

But in the upper right corner, Ruan Sixian stared intently and zoomed in.

[Ruan Sixian] — Is that a Cessna 172 in the upper right corner?

Fu Mingyu hadn’t noticed the single-engine four-seat piston general aviation aircraft in that area. Seeing Ruan Sixian’s message, he walked over to take a look.

[Fu Mingyu] — Yes.

[Ruan Sixian] — I did my first solo in that one.

The first solo refers to when a flight student separates from the instructor and takes the test of operating the aircraft alone for the first time.

Ruan Sixian would never forget that day when she piloted the Cessna 172, soaring over the training field’s waves of wheat and greenery, following the surging clouds, chasing after the southward migrating wild geese.

After joining the airline, she faced unchanging SOPs and standardized call-outs that had to be strictly followed, making the memory of that solo flight particularly vivid, since it might be one of the few solo experiences in Ruan Sixian’s life.

The Cessna 172, nicknamed “Sky Hawk,” was hailed as the world’s most successful general aviation aircraft and the most popular small private plane. Precisely because of this, not many people paid attention to it at this aviation exhibition.

Fu Mingyu hadn’t paid much attention to it either, but now he stared at it for several minutes.

In his mind, he pictured Ruan Sixian soaring through the clouds during her solo flight.

Turning his head, he noticed the Diamond DA50 RG Super Star nearby. Fu Mingyu suddenly called Bai Yang over.

Bai Yang approached, “What is it?”

Fu Mingyu pointed to the Diamond DA50 RG Super Star and gave him some instructions.

Bai Yang nodded in agreement, though inwardly he was extremely confused.

He’d seen men buy diamonds, jewelry, and bags for women, but this was the first time he’d seen someone buy an airplane.

[Fu Mingyu] — I’m going to eat.

Alright then.

Ruan Sixian thought, this must be what superficial couples are like. Eagerly sending him messages, and getting a total of twenty characters in response.

She couldn’t be bothered with him anymore, so she got up to change clothes and prepare to go out.

She had previously promised to visit Dong Jing at the hospital when she had time. She’d been busy lately, but today she finally had time.

This winter seemed fond of rain, often greeting her with gloomy skies upon waking.

Ruan Sixian put on a coat before leaving and bought a bouquet of carnations at the flower shop near the hospital entrance.

She had called Dong Jing beforehand and knew that only a caregiver was with her that day.

After entering the ward, the caregiver’s auntie poured Ruan Sixian a cup of water and then left.

Dong Jing was almost ready to be discharged and was in much better spirits. Since she and Ruan Sixian rarely met over these years, she pulled her into conversation for quite a while.

One moment asking how she became a flight student, the next inquiring about her current job benefits and conditions—over an hour passed without them noticing.

This should have been a relaxed conversation.

—If Zheng You’an hadn’t suddenly appeared.

When there were two knocks on the ward door, Ruan Sixian turned to see Zheng You’an standing at the doorway, momentarily confused.

Zheng You’an was even more confused than her.

After standing at the door for two seconds, she stepped back out to check the ward number.

Only when she saw Dong Jing lying in the hospital bed did she confirm she hadn’t gone to the wrong room?

Compared to Zheng You’an’s surprise, Ruan Sixian was much calmer, though she didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Dong Jing hadn’t expected Zheng You’an to suddenly arrive either, but it was fine—there was nothing between the children. So she waved to Zheng You’an and said, “An’an is here? Why are you standing at the door? Come in quickly.”

Zheng You’an walked in like a robot, examining Ruan Sixian up and down, “You…”

Dong Jing glanced at Ruan Sixian and said, “This is Ruan Ruan. I’ve mentioned her to you before. You can call her sister.”

Zheng You’an “…Sister?”

Dong Jing didn’t directly say “This is your mother’s biological daughter,” but Zheng You’an understood.

Because she understood, she was even more confused.

Ruan Sixian didn’t know what to say, so she just let her stare.

Zheng You’an stood with her mouth half-open, also not knowing what to say.

Why was she the only one shocked?

It took Zheng You’an nearly ten minutes to process this, and she felt that Ruan Sixian had known about their relationship all along—she was the only one kept in the dark.

Later, the facts proved this to be true.

When Ruan Sixian said she had to leave for something, Zheng You’an chased her to the corridor outside the ward, grabbed her, and asked, “Did you know all along?”

Ruan Sixian helplessly nodded in admission.

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“You never asked me.”

Zheng You’an “…”

She felt that sooner or later, she would be toyed to death by Ruan Sixian.

“No, I think you have so many tricks up your sleeve. Was that Fu Mingyu thing deliberate too, just to make me give up on him?”

?

Ruan Sixian was caught off guard by her train of thought, “Aren’t you overthinking?”

“Wasn’t it you who said he was arrogant and overbearing?”

“Wasn’t it you who said there was something wrong with his brain?”

“Wasn’t it you who said he was full of flaws?”

Ruan Sixian couldn’t deny a single word—it was all true.

Zheng You’an asked her final question, “Then how much must you like him to overlook so many flaws and be with him?”

Ruan Sixian, “Don’t talk about my boyfriend like that.”

Zheng You’an “…?”

She nearly fainted on the spot—they wouldn’t even need an ambulance, just carry her directly to the second-floor emergency room.

Ruan Sixian had been led astray by Zheng You’an’s last question.

Before this, she had never even considered whether she liked Fu Mingyu or not. It felt like she’d been led by him the whole time, carelessly ending up together.

So Zheng You’an’s words today made Ruan Sixian realize that she probably did like Fu Mingyu after all.

Otherwise, how could they have come to this point?

The problem was that Ruan Sixian herself didn’t know what she liked about him.

Wasn’t he just a bit handsome, a bit good-tempered, a bit gentle, and with a family that owned quite a few airplanes… Well, that was quite nice.

After thinking about all this, Ruan Sixian’s mood inexplicably improved, and that hazy fog-like confusion gradually dispersed.

She did like him! She liked that he was handsome, good-tempered, and gentle, and his family owned many airplanes.

—If only he weren’t so narcissistic.

After returning home that evening, Ruan Sixian didn’t resume her studies but opened her iPad to watch a variety show.

The hottest male idol competition of the season, 101 Handsome Guys, kept Ruan Sixian too entertained to think about Fu.

Meanwhile, at the Hongyi Club in Fudu.

Fu Mingyu held a glass of wine, circulating among the crowd.

Since he hadn’t had time for dinner, his stomach was uncomfortable, and each glass of wine only worsened the discomfort.

Today’s reception was a private affair. He originally hadn’t planned to attend, but he had met that old acquaintance at the aviation exhibition and, as Fudu’s host, had exchanged such thorough pleasantries that he couldn’t refuse.

However, the Fu family had never expanded their territory here, so most people at the reception weren’t work-related associates. Fu Mingyu found an excuse to sit in the rest area without seeming discourteous.

With symphony music surrounding him and a dazzling array of elegant people before his eyes, Fu Mingyu closed his eyes briefly and took out his phone to send Ruan Sixian a message.

[Fu Mingyu] — I’m coming back the day after tomorrow at noon. Have lunch with me?

After waiting more than ten minutes, she replied with just an “oh.”

Quite cold indeed.

[Fu Mingyu] — What are you doing?

[Ruan Sixian] — Picking a brother.

[Fu Mingyu] —?

Ruan Sixian sent him six or seven photos.

[Ruan Sixian] — I pick these brothers.

[Fu Mingyu] — How old are you, and how old are they? Aren’t you embarrassed to call them brother?

[Ruan Sixian] — …What do you know? It’s a universal term of endearment.

Fu Mingyu smiled, then saw she sent another photo.

[Ruan Sixian] — How about this one? He looks a bit like you.

[Fu Mingyu] — Then pick him.

[Ruan Sixian] — Never mind, he looks too similar to you. That’s boring. I want to pick someone different.

[Fu Mingyu] — How many more brothers do you plan to pick?

While looking down at his phone, Fu Mingyu didn’t notice someone approaching him.

[Ruan Sixian] — What do you know? More friends mean more paths and more brothers mean more homes.

“Mingyu?”

An uncertain voice sounded above his head.

Fu Mingyu looked up to see a woman in a black long dress standing in front of him, smiling brightly.

“I heard you were coming. I looked around but couldn’t find you. So you’re hiding here.” Li Zhihuai spoke while handing him a glass of wine, “Long time no see.”

Fu Mingyu stood up, accepted the wine she offered, and nodded, “Long time no see.”

At the same time, his phone buzzed again.

[Ruan Sixian] — As long as I change brothers quickly, there’s no sadness, only love 🙂