【Introduction】
It was one of the police’s hostage rescue operations. She was the plane’s captain, which made her a very valuable (and noticeable) person. As a result, she became one of the bargaining chips in the hostage exchange.
He was there at the scene, and after some struggle, he took out his phone. When he was about to dial a number, a crisp female voice behind him said, “No need to call, I’m here.”
He looked back, seeing her dressed in a captain’s uniform, walking towards him.
He cooperated with the police to arrange the plane and have the runway cleared. He was only waiting for her, the plane ready to take off at any time.
She didn’t have the slightest bit of fear being a hostage. Instead, she was as calm as on any previous flight, so calm that he wanted to curse.
Seeing his composed face, she was still able to laugh. “Why don’t you just say a few farewell words, don’t hurt yourself holding it back.”
He took some deep breaths, forcefully holding back his temper. “Shut up!”
She laughed heartlessly. “If we don’t succeed, this is our last time talking face-to-face.
Even if your attitude becomes better, nothing’s really going to happen.” Then, as if worried he was going to explode, she put her arms on his shoulders like they were homies. “I have an idea, are you interested in hearing it?”
Deep in his heart, he actually yearned for this moment of physical contact with her, but his eyes were full of anger.
Not noticing his anger, she leaned into his ear and said, “I’m considering your proposal.”
Without waiting for his reply, she let go of him and walked in the police’s direction.
Proposal? She still has this leisurely mood at this time?! Staring at her back, he really felt that this woman was f*cking hopeless, but still couldn’t help calling to her. “Wait!”
Ugh. So annoying.
She looked back. “What?”
He stepped forward, spreading out his arms and pulling her into a hug.
She didn’t push him away like the times before, but instead hugged him back. Only her tone was calm: “It’s okay, there are so many policemen, I can’t actually die…”
“Shut up!” He warned sternly in her ear: “Be smart!”
She patted him on his back. “Hug me gentler, I can’t breathe.”
He let go, staring at her. “I told you to be smarter, did you hear me?”
Her answer, however, was: tiptoeing and briskly kissing him on the lips.
Then turning around and never looking back.
【Main Text】
【Section 1】Appreciation For Not Marrying Me
There is nothing that can be guaranteed success, especially love. Never humble yourself for someone who doesn’t love you. When you work hard enough, and are good enough, you will find someone better. Then, to the person who didn’t know to cherish you, look down on them, and thank them for not marrying you.
*********
Because of the weather, the international flight from Los Angeles was delayed for nearly two hours. As a result, when Cheng Xiao went to City A to change planes and pass the security check, there were only 30 minutes before the flight took off.
Apparently, Xia Zhi didn’t think she was chaotic enough, calling her phone at this time: “I took a trip to his house, the neighbor said he moved away a long time ago.”
Cheng Xiao puts her ID in her handbag, casually stuffing her boarding pass into the pocket of her biker jacket. Not caring that a big half of it is exposed, she quickly walks towards the boarding gate: “Since he wants to play the disappearance game, why would you still make this unnecessary move?”
Xia Zhi’s tone is relaxed: “I just wanted to confirm his betrayal of cheating on you, to not give him a chance to turn over a new leaf.”
Cheng Xiao smiles, her tone so normal, it was like talking about something not related to herself. “I vaguely heard some hints of schadenfreude.” Her pace increases when she hears an announcement saying Flight 1268 is starting to board.
Xia Zhi corrects her. “I just don’t want you to leave things to luck when things come to a head.”
Cheng Xiao’s mood is not affected. Along with the crisp sound of high-heels stepping on the marble floor, her tone is an understatement. “Do I seem to be a person who easily promises love as deep as the sea? Being together means not hating it, not for me to be responsible for being the weak one. I have never thanked him for being able to accept me, a person with such a unique temperament.” While saying this, her boarding pass falls from her pocket, not realizing it.
Landing right at his feet.
Looking at the person who walked past himself, the tall figure quickly walking towards the boarding gate, Gu Nanting stops.
None of the passengers in the boarding queue notices that someone has dropped something.
The information shown on the boarding pass is:
zn, China Southern Airlines code; Flight 1268; Destination is City G; Name —Cheng!
Xiao!
His eyes narrow, a little surprised.
*********
Cheng Xiao is at the end of the boarding queue. Ending her call with Xia Zhi, she reaches into her jacket pocket, discovering her boarding pass isn’t there. Flipping her biker jacket inside and out, and also opening her handbag to check, she finds nothing.
Cheng Xiao turns around to look at the path she came from. The marble floor is clean as a whistle. Except for the hurried footsteps coming and going, there is nothing else.
The ticket inspector sees her rummaging through her jacket and handbag, and asks her, “Miss, is there anything you need help with?”
Cheng Xiao’s eyebrows furrow. “My boarding pass has disappeared.”
It’s not really a big deal, all you need to do is take your ID to the check-in counter and have it reissued. It’s just that time is running out.
To avoid causing the flight to be delayed because of her, Cheng Xiao quickly says, “I’ll be right back.”
Just when she is about to go back and get a replacement, a hand reaches out, handing over a boarding pass.
Cheng Xiao sees her name on the boarding pass, about to thank the other party for returning her pass, when she hears a deep male voice behind her say, “Next time, don’t leave it around.”
The slightly reproachful tone would make one unhappy.
Cheng Xiao takes her boarding pass and hands it over to the ticket collector. Glancing back, she says, “Will remember the reminder, thanks.”
Her indifferent and sexy face, sharp and direct gaze, as well as her sincere words—was like it was touched by something ice cold. Gu Nanting’s eyes darken.
But she has already turned around, taking the boarding pass the ticket inspector has handed back, walking towards the bridge.
“Sir, please show me……” The stereotypic ticket inspector reminder, Gu Nanting hands over his boarding pass, however, his eyes stay lingering on Cheng Xiao’s back, not taking it back.
*********
Gu Nanting is the last person to board the plane. When the flight attendant says “Welcome aboard”, he walks towards the emergency door in the middle of the cabin, taking a seat near the aisle.
Cheng Xiao is on his right, within reach.
Knowing perfectly well that it is rude, he couldn’t help but cast his eyes on her. Fluffy, dazzling, wine-red long hair, an elegant and indifferent profile, a solid colored t-shirt matched with slim-fit jeans, and on her feet, a pair of small high-heels. At the moment, the scene of drooping eyes and no words has an aura that brings its own charm.
He suddenly remembers a person once self-praised: White teeth and bright eyes, slim and graceful.
Describing her at this moment, it is appropriate.
Looking attentively at Cheng Xiao’s beautiful but cold distance between her eyes and eyebrows, a smile tugs at Gu Nanting’s lips.
Maybe it was because his gaze was too direct and forthright, causing the other party to be disturbed. Cheng Xiao turns off her phone, turning to face him. “Do I look very familiar, like your ex-girlfriend, benefactor?”
Benefactor? Gu Nanting’s eyebrows slightly furrow, retorting with forbearance and a deep, confident voice: “You thought too much, young lady!”
Young lady? Under these circumstances, Cheng Xiao does not think being addressed this way is supposed to be a compliment. With a warning in her eyes, she says, “Then don’t stare, it’s very fragile.”
Gu Nanting’s gaze is quiet and deep. After a few seconds of the confrontation, he leans his head against the back of the chair, and closes his eyes.
At this very moment, he really wants to have some silence.
Cheng Xiao looks at him. The man has a full forehead, a straight nose, and clear side face lines making him look healthy and strong. At the moment, he is rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt, revealing his forearm muscles; they are smooth, while not undermining their strength.
If he didn’t talk to herself in such an accusatory tone, if he didn’t “peep” at her like he was staring into her soul earlier, Cheng Xiao would have thanked him for picking up her boarding pass in a timely manner一praising him a “gentleman”, and also maybe not being able resisting the urge to touch his forearm.
Although she has never required herself to live like a lady, she cannot recklessly allow her hidden inner demon to be exposed.
Cheng Xiao buckles her seatbelt, emitting a “pa-pa” sound.
*********
The cabin door closes, and the plane applies for take-off. After taking off, the radio announcement follows the same old pattern: “Welcome aboard to China Southern Airlines, Flight 1268, our plane has already left City A, heading towards City G. The estimated flight time in the air is……”
The plane has already been flying for 10 hours straight. A weary Cheng Xiao wraps her jacket around her, and puts on a sleeping mask, preparing to sleep until the arrival at City G.
Maybe it was because of jet lag, the whole time Cheng Xiao was dreaming. She has been best friends with Xia Zhi since high school, but later, Xia Zhi couldn’t join her in aviation school because Xia Zhi failed her physical examination. Two years later, she went abroad by herself to take an advanced course on flight. So far, she has obtained the required qualifications to complete her studies. The things that have happened in the past few years are still vivid in her mind.
So vivid it wasn’t like a dream, but more like a recollection.
She’s only in her early twenties, a blossoming age, it’s too early for recollection.
Cheng Xiao takes off her sleeping mask, letting the midday sun stimulate her to return to reality.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are expected to arrive at City G and Heping Airport in ten minutes. The plane is currently descending, please sit tight, and turn off all personal electronic devices……”
Cheng Xiao straightens her seat’s backrest. When she reaches out her hand to collapse the small tray table, she sees there is a glass of water on it.
The auntie beside her sees that she is awake, saying in a timely manner, “They were just serving beverages, the gentleman next to you asked the flight attendant to save it for you.”
Cheng Xiao glances at the auntie. “Thank you.”
The auntie smiles, with a kind face. “He has already offered to take the first step, so just forgive him. I saw he was quite concerned about you, even asking the flight attendant to bring you a blanket.” While saying this, the auntie even pats her hand affectionately, her pair of eyes saying: “You don’t have to say anything, auntie has been there, so she knows.”
Cheng Xiao lowers her head, seeing that there indeed was a thin blanket on top of her jacket, the kind that is only used in airplanes. She looks over to her “benefactor” on the other side of the aisle. He currently has his eyes closed, sleeping peacefully. She turns around to face the auntie filled with motherly love, replying, “The privilege of having a girlfriend is that they do not expire, how can I let him off the hook easily?”
The auntie stares blankly for a few seconds, not understanding, and shaking her head.
“You youngsters!”
Cheng Xiao picks up the paper cup. In the eyes of her “benefactor” who woke up at some unknown moment, he is smiling contently.