On New Year’s Eve, Fu Mingyu and Ruan Sixian went to Huguang Mansion to celebrate the New Year.

The green plants along the road were still covered with accumulated snow, branches swaying as if about to fall. As they walked past, they could hear the rustling sound of falling snow.

Several red lanterns hung in the living room, and red window decorations were pasted on the floor-to-ceiling windows. Though not many, under the warm yellow light, the Spring Festival atmosphere slowly rose.

When Fu Mingyu and Ruan Sixian arrived, the New Year’s Eve dinner was already set on the table.

He Lanxiang had never been extravagant with food. Moreover, the housekeeper who usually cooked had gone home for the night, and others weren’t good at cooking—they could only help with minor tasks. So she managed alone, making only six or seven dishes before giving up.

However, although there weren’t many dishes, they were exquisite.

During the meal, He Lanxiang glanced at Fu Chengyu and asked, “What are your plans for next year?”

Fu Chengyu talked about a bunch of work plans, but He Lanxiang raised her hand to interrupt him. “Who’s asking about that? Remember Vivian who used to visit you often when you were young? Ran Yuwei—she got married last month. Look at yourself. Who among those who grew up with you is still unmarried? Even your younger brother is married.”

“I remember her,” Fu Chengyu directly skipped the main point. “She once broke your vase.”

Mentioning this incident, Fu Chengyu achieved his goal.

Indeed, He Lanxiang no longer wanted to talk about this girl. She turned to ask Ruan Sixian, “Didn’t you get your driver’s license? Do you want to buy a car after the New Year?”

Ruan Sixian held her chopsticks, choking slightly, not knowing how to respond. Beside her, Fu Mingyu had crab tools arranged in front of him and seemed to be concentrating intently on cutting a crab, yet he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“What are you laughing at?” He Lanxiang asked.

“Nothing. We’ll discuss buying a car later,” Fu Mingyu said, then turned to Ruan Sixian, raising his eyebrows. The laughter in his eyes hadn’t diminished, deliberately provocative enough to warrant a punch. “Right?”

“Oh, yes.” Ruan Sixian lowered her head to eat rice. “There’s no rush. We’ll discuss it later.”

Ruan Sixian had indeed obtained her driver’s license, but the process was incredibly arduous.

Actually, before she went to register, some older captains had warned her—it’s unnecessary, really unnecessary.

Fu Mingyu also said there was no need to get a license. If she needed to go somewhere, she could call a driver.

But Ruan Sixian often rode in Fu Mingyu’s car and saw how skillfully he overtook and changed lanes in traffic. She felt a bit envious and wanted to show off too, so she enrolled in a driving school at the beginning of the year.

However, she never expected that it would take her almost a year to get a driver’s license for a small car.

Not having enough time to practice driving was one factor, but the main reason was that operating a car was too challenging for her.

For instance, when overtaking, she wasn’t accustomed to watching the traffic flow on the left or right—she just wanted to accelerate in a straight line and yank the steering wheel, causing her instructor to clutch his chest in distress.

When encountering a red light, her first reaction wasn’t to brake but to find a place to make a U-turn.

After an aircraft lands and enters the apron, it’s guided by a lead vehicle. So when she learned to reverse park, she wasn’t used to twisting her neck to look at the markings. She always wanted to find a guidance vehicle with a big “FOLLOW ME” written on it to directly tow the car in.

Moreover, when she sat alone in the car without the instructor, she felt unsafe seeing the passenger seat empty.

On the day Ruan Sixian finally got her license after enormous difficulties, the driving instructor who had trained many pilots had long lost his temper. He held a cigarette and joked cheerfully, “Remember, when you go to the gas station to refuel, remember to pay!”

Ruan Sixian: “…”

Well, when our planes refuel, we just sign and leave; there’s no concept of the driver paying out of pocket.

The day Ruan Sixian returned home with her little driver’s license booklet, Fu Mingyu sat on the sofa, also holding a cigarette. When he turned and saw her enter, he smiled and said, “Finished the test? What kind of car do you want? I’ll take you to choose tomorrow.”

But Ruan Sixian collapsed on the sofa and said gloomily, “I’ve been thinking on the way back. For the safety of the general public, I’d better not touch a car.”

Not only did Fu Mingyu not comfort her, but he also laughed so hard on the sofa that ash scattered all over the floor.

And so the driving learning saga came to a close. Ruan Sixian abandoned the idea of driving herself and contentedly enjoyed the services of professional drivers.

“You don’t need to rush to buy a car, but you can practice from time to time,” He Lanxiang said, holding a spoon. “I have one—”

“Ah!” Suddenly hearing Ruan Sixian’s scream, He Lanxiang was startled into dropping her spoon. “What’s wrong?! What happened?!”

Before she could ask questions, Ruan Sixian had already thrown down her chopsticks and was clinging to Fu Mingyu like an octopus. Meanwhile, Doudou had appeared from somewhere and was excitedly circling under Fu Mingyu’s chair, wagging its tail.

“Go away, go away! Get away from me!”

The more intensely Ruan Sixian reacted, the more excited Doudou became, raising its paws to jump up onto the chair.

“Ahhhhhhh!!!”

“How did it get out?!” Although it was her dog, seeing Ruan Sixian’s reaction, He Lanxiang also seemed to think she was facing some terrible beast. “How did this dog learn to open doors by itself?!”

Although Fu Mingyu was thoroughly amused, laughing so hard that his brow trembled, he still hugged Ruan Sixian and stood up to move aside.

He nodded at Fu Chengyu. “Brother, handle this.”

Fu Chengyu put down his chopsticks, got up, grabbed Doudou’s front paws, and half-dragged, half-pulled it upstairs.

But as he turned around, Ruan Sixian saw that he was also laughing.

Even Fu Boting, who rarely smiled at the dining table, had curved the corners of his mouth.

Ruan Sixian: “…”

After the instigator was dragged upstairs, Ruan Sixian took a long time to calm her breathing. Only then did she notice she was still clinging to Fu Mingyu.

She quickly jumped down, sat properly on her chair, straightened her hair, and pretended not to see their laughter.

But Fu Mingyu laughing until now was too much.

She turned her head and said through gritted teeth, “Is it funny?”

Fu Mingyu tugged at the corner of his mouth. “It’s alright.”

Ruan Sixian: “…”

Then you and your dog son can both grow old with white hair together. We can’t go on like this.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, the two stayed overnight at Huguang Mansion.

When the clock struck twelve, this year’s vigil was complete, and all five family members returned to their rooms to sleep.

Ruan Sixian came out after a shower, glanced at Fu Mingyu lying on the bed reading, and sat down on the edge of the bed with her back to him, applying body lotion.

They were silent; only the sound of turning pages filled the room.

After finishing her preparations, Ruan Sixian slipped under the covers, exposing half her face as she looked at Fu Mingyu. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly felt something cool at her neck.

She reached out to touch the pillow and pulled out a red envelope.

Ruan Sixian immediately sat up and opened the red envelope to count the money, her eyes wide open, looking exactly like someone whose eyes light up at the sight of money.

“You still have this this year?”

Fu Mingyu responded with a casual “mm.”

“People would laugh if they knew,” Ruan Sixian said, smiling as she counted the money. “I’m twenty-eight and still getting New Year’s money.”

Fu Mingyu put his arm around her shoulders and said softly, “Every year there will be some, wishing you peace year after year.”

Ruan Sixian repeated softly, “Peace year after year.”

Year after year, wishing for peace every year.

Winter passed and spring came. Before the magnolias had completely faded, summer arrived quietly.

This year brought many rainstorms. The meteorological bureau had early on predicted the typhoon’s landfall period. Although Jiang City wasn’t coastal, it was on the typhoon’s path.

When Ruan Sixian entered the medical examination center at noon, the sky was clear. When she came out at six o’clock, she looked outside and almost thought she had entered the wrong door into another world.

Outside the medical center, fierce winds blew and heavy rain poured. Green trees along the road swayed precariously, construction barriers wobbled, and large potted plants as tall as a person had already toppled over in disarray.

An umbrella would only serve a symbolic purpose in this weather. Ruan Sixian realized she didn’t need to bother when she saw a pedestrian’s umbrella transform into a lotus shape.

While everyone else around her was anxiously making phone calls, she stood quietly to the side. Within her range of vision, a car slowly drove in.

Despite the fierce wind and rain, with thunder and lightning, as if the sky were about to collapse,

When Fu Mingyu stepped out of the car with an umbrella, the dark clouds that hung almost to the ground seemed to rise for a moment, clearing a patch of sky.

Ruan Sixian stood under the eaves, watching Fu Mingyu walk toward her step by step, feeling inexplicably assured.

This year marked their third year of marriage.

Heart-pounding excitement was no longer the most important answer in life; stability was.

“Did you come from the airport?”

“Yes.” Fu Mingyu put his arm around her shoulders, and they walked out together under one umbrella. “During this typhoon, the maintenance crew is securing the aircraft. I went to take a look.”

The rain was too heavy, and with each step Ruan Sixian took, it felt like wading through water. Fortunately, she was wearing flat-strap shoes, so it was like playing in the water.

But when she looked down, she saw that Fu Mingyu’s pants were almost soaked through.

“You didn’t need to get out of the car. It’s not far, I could have walked—”

Before she could finish, she suddenly felt the raindrops hitting her body change direction. The sound of something collapsing rang in her ears.

Before she could react, someone forcefully pulled her in another direction. Her shoe soles stirred up half-meter-high splashes in the water, while simultaneously, an impact transmitted through Fu Mingyu’s body to her.

This was followed by a dull thud and exclamations from all around.

Amid the deafening rain, Ruan Sixian heard her own heavy and piercing heartbeat and the sound of her breathing that she couldn’t adjust.

Workers had already rushed over to lift the construction barrier that had fallen on Fu Mingyu’s back. Only then did Ruan Sixian understand what had happened.

“Are you alright?!”

“Where were you hit?!”

“Did it hit your head?!”

Amid the clamorous voices, Ruan Sixian’s shoulders, held by Fu Mingyu, were trembling, and she couldn’t recover for a long time.

“You—”

“I’m fine.” Fu Mingyu released her and moved his shoulder. “It didn’t hit my head.”

Ruan Sixian’s lips trembled slightly. She raised her hand to touch his shoulder but didn’t dare to make contact.

“Are you alright?”

Fu Mingyu frowned deeply, exhaled, and said, “I’m fine.”

“No, we need to go to the hospital.” Ruan Sixian looked around helplessly, her gaze gradually focusing through the blurry rain curtain. “This is a hospital, let’s go check.”

“This is a medical examination center, not a hospital.” There was a hint of suppression in Fu Mingyu’s voice that only Ruan Sixian could detect. “Don’t panic.”

“How can I not panic! Fu Mingyu, are you out of your mind? Are you stupid?!”

At the hospital, the doctor examined him and said it was nothing serious, just a superficial injury.

“Don’t we need an X-ray?” Ruan Sixian stared intently at the doctor. “Maybe we should get an X-ray?”

The doctor was about to say “No need,” but seeing Ruan Sixian’s expression, he hesitated.

“Let’s do it,” Fu Mingyu took off the jacket he had just put on. “To reassure her.”

Twenty minutes later, the doctor received information from the CT room, adjusted his glasses, and motioned for Ruan Sixian to come over and look.

“See? It’s nothing.”

“Oh.”

When they walked out of the hospital entrance, the rain had lessened considerably, drizzling and washing away the hospital’s unique oppressive atmosphere.

Ruan Sixian held Fu Mingyu’s fingers tightly and spoke irritably, “Luckily, you were fortunate today. If that barrier had been made of PVC, you’d have someone taking care of all your needs in your next life.”

“That would be quite nice.”

Ruan Sixian closed her eyes, took a breath, and when she opened them again, she glared at him.

“I’m not joking with you.”

“Mm.” Fu Mingyu casually moved his shoulder. “I understand. Let’s go home.”

Despite receiving the doctor’s reassurance, Ruan Sixian was still shaken.

Whenever she recalled that moment, besides fear, she felt more sadness.

Sitting in the car, she lowered her head, covered her face, and took deep breaths to calm herself.

“You scared me to death.”

“I—”

Fu Mingyu was about to speak words of comfort when he heard her say, “You’re thirty-two this year, and at this age, people are most likely to have unexpected mishaps. Please don’t do this again, okay?”

Fu Mingyu: “…”

“You’re a college graduate in physics. Please don’t be so superstitious.”

Ruan Sixian buried her head and rubbed her eyes, then tightly grabbed his hand.

“Did you hear me? Don’t do this again.”

Fu Mingyu didn’t give her a definitive answer.

“This kind of accident is unpredictable for anyone.”

If there’s a next time, I’ll still do the same.

Ruan Sixian understood his implication. Her knuckles turned white from gripping so tightly, but she couldn’t say anything more. All words were suppressed to the bottom of her heart by the sourness welling up in her chest.

Perhaps she was superstitious, but as she walked through her long life and looked back on the past, this year was indeed the most frightening year of her life.

In October, Fu Mingyu took senior executives from the marketing department to country N to sign a business contract.

On the third day after his departure, in the early autumn afternoon, the golden breeze was refreshing, and the sky was high and clear.

In the tranquil afternoon, Ruan Sixian sat on the sofa reading a magazine. The TV was playing a variety show, and the carpet’s fuzz was moved by a gentle breeze, tickling her toes.

While turning a page, she casually glanced at the TV. The news ticker displayed, “Today at 2:03 PM, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in country N…”

Two seconds later, Ruan Sixian’s magazine fell with a thud, and her mind instantly went blank.

When Ruan Sixian rushed to the World Airlines building, He Lanxiang, Fu Boting, and Fu Chengyu had also arrived.

Upon seeing Ruan Sixian, Fu Chengyu spoke first.

“Don’t worry, the embassy has confirmed that no Chinese citizens have perished.”

Ruan Sixian had already seen this news on her way, but the absence of Chinese casualties didn’t mean there were no Chinese injuries.

She didn’t speak, sitting quietly to the side, her gaze fixed on the floor, her face pale.

People came and went around her, footsteps hurried, and phone rings rose and fell as if this place were also a disaster area.

At six-thirty in the afternoon, more than four hours after the earthquake, news came from country N that the ground was temporarily confirmed safe, and a scheduled World Airlines flight from country N had begun check-in.

But that day, only ten seats on the flight remained unsold, all given to elderly and weak passengers from subsequent flights.

During these four-plus hours, mobile communications in country N had not been restored, and Ruan Sixian hadn’t even heard Fu Mingyu’s voice.

He Lanxiang brought a cup of hot water and sat down beside Ruan Sixian.

“Drink some water.” She patted Ruan Sixian’s back. “Look, your clothes are soaked with sweat.”

Ruan Sixian tilted her head and drank the entire cup, but her throat still felt parched.

“Mom…”

“It’s alright, they said there were no casualties.” He Lanxiang clutched the fabric on her knees, her expression calm. “Don’t worry.”

At nine in the evening, a passenger plane temporarily reassigned by Jiang City was on standby, about to fly to the capital of country N to bring back stranded passengers.

Ruan Sixian was changing into her uniform in Fu Mingyu’s office.

In the empty office, He Lanxiang paced back and forth, finally stopping at the rest area door and knocking.

“Why don’t we send someone else? I’m worried…”

Ruan Sixian opened the door, already dressed neatly in her uniform.

“Mom, I need to confirm with my own eyes that he’s safe.”

“We’ve already confirmed that he’s not on the injury list. He must be very safe now.”

Ruan Sixian still shook her head, her eyes showing no signs of yielding. “I need to see him with my own eyes.”

“You…” He Lanxiang clenched her hand for a moment, then released it. “Go then, go find him, but be sure to take care of your safety.”

He Lanxiang’s concern was justified. Generally, for such routes, passenger aircraft have a dual-captain configuration. However, due to the special circumstances this time, the crew would include five captains flying simultaneously, each with plateau flight experience.

In the aviation world, there’s an unwritten rule—”No night flights in the highlands.”

A highland route refers to routes in areas with elevations above 1,500 meters, while routes above 2,438 meters are called high-plateau routes. These routes demand much higher requirements from pilots than ordinary routes.

Flying from Jiang City to the capital of country N not only requires crossing the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with an average altitude of 4,000 meters but also passing over Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 8,844 meters.

The difficulty of this route is top-tier among high-plateau routes.

Due to its extreme danger, this route has never had a record of night flights.

At nine-thirty at night, the crew arrived, and the captain lineup, led by the captain-in-command, boarded the plane in succession.

He Lanxiang followed to the boarding bridge, still holding Ruan Sixian’s hand and instructing, “Be very, very careful. During a high-plateau night flight, you can’t be distracted for even a second.”

“Yes.” Ruan Sixian nodded. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll return safely with him.”

Before entering the cabin door, Ruan Sixian looked up at the thick night sky.

The moon was bright, the stars were sparse, and the night sky was endless.

Even if it means flying over a 4,000-meter plateau, a 9,000-meter Everest, or a high-plateau night flight, I will come to find you.

Three and a half hours later, the plane landed at the capital airport of country N.

The airport apron, far from the city center, was silent, but the somber wind seemed to carry the wails from the ruins.

Ruan Sixian was the only captain to leave the cockpit.

While the flight attendants were busy in the cabin, she stood at the cabin door, gazing at the terminal building.

A local maintenance worker walked around in circles under the wing, his attitude seemingly good, jabbering at Ruan Sixian in a long string of words.

Ruan Sixian couldn’t understand a single word, staring ahead without blinking, “My husband is in this country, I’m here to pick him up.”

It’s unclear whether the maintenance worker understood what she was saying, as he continued to gesticulate and talk.

After who knows how long, as people came and went from the airport in waves, Ruan Sixian finally saw a familiar figure at the terminal exit.

Fu Mingyu didn’t know which crew members had come that day.

At this moment, he just wanted to get home quickly.

Someone was waiting for him at home, perhaps now anxious and unable to sleep.

He hurried to the apron, with Bai Yang and others following, also anxious and with heavy footsteps.

Upon reaching the boarding bridge, Fu Mingyu suddenly halted.

He looked up and saw the person standing at the cabin door.

At first, he thought he was seeing things. In the dim night, her face looked unreal, with a mist in her eyes.

Until she spoke.

The wind moved silently around them, dust filled the sky. The joy of escaping death and the despair of losing everything intertwined in this country’s air, forming a dense web that enveloped everyone, making it oppressive to breathe.

But her voice caused this web to collapse instantly.

For the first time, Fu Mingyu heard a hint of grievance in her choked voice.

“Husband, I’ve come to take you home.”