Since summer vacation had started and the guys in the dorm had all gone home, Chen Yang didn't go back for lunch either. He had a simple lunch near Luhang Residential Area, and after resting for a while in the villa, feeling the heat, he went to the spacious balcony on the third floor, where there was a small swimming pool. Not having swimming trunks, and seeing no one around, Chen Yang simply stripped naked and jumped into the pool for a swim.
He swam until about 2:30 PM before emerging from the pool, taking a refreshing shower in the bathroom of the master bedroom on the third floor, and then heading to Rongda University. Chen Yang had originally wanted to ask Yang Liuyi to go with him, but after contacting her, he learned that the flight crew needed to arrive at the airport early for a preparatory meeting. She quickly finished lunch and got on the crew car, leaving the residential area.
At 4:30 PM, Professor Yan arrived at Rongcheng Yongle Airport with Chen Yang and Liu Xinyao. This time, for reasons unknown, Liu Xinyao didn't come alone. Instead, she first met up with Chen Yang and Professor Yan at the Fuzhou University's expert and professor building, and then they went to the airport together.
The airline had given Chen Yang a special VIP card, but this time he didn't need the free treatment. He had simply changed his economy class tickets, which the school had bought for them the day before, to regular tickets.
However, a ground service staff member from Luhu Airlines had received word while Chen Yang was checking in and was waiting at the security checkpoint. They led the three directly through the VIP check-in lane, without having to queue at all. After entering the restricted area, the staff member led the three to Luhu Airlines' VIP lounge, which was much better than the regular lounge. The seats were soft first-class sofas, and complimentary drinks and pastries were provided.
"Chen Yang, we're all benefiting from your hospitality!" Professor Yan said with a smile.
"Professor, please don't tease me. You could have enjoyed this treatment anyway; you only bought economy class tickets to accommodate us," Chen Yang said with a wry smile as he put down his luggage.
Professor Yan, a senior expert enjoying special allowances from the State Council, was entitled to travel in first class according to regulations. First-class passengers also enjoy VIP treatment while waiting for their flights. However, he didn't want to travel alone in first class, leaving Chen Yang and Liu Xinyao in economy class, so he insisted that the school's logistics department staff buy him economy class tickets.
"That's different," Professor Yan said with a hearty laugh. "Paying economy class prices but enjoying first-class service makes me feel much better!"
The usually serious professor was joking with Chen Yang, showing that he was indeed in a very good mood.
The three of them sat on the soft sofa and chatted. Liu Xinyao, unusually, didn't stay far away but sat quietly next to Chen Yang, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.
After sitting for a while, an airline ground staff member approached, smiling, and said,
"Mr. Fang, your flight is ready for boarding. This way, please!"
Passengers in the VIP lounge can board a few minutes early, avoiding the hassle of queuing. Chen Yang stood up and politely said,
"Thank you!"
Then, picking up his simple luggage, he thought for a moment and then casually picked up Liu Xinyao's bag. It's only natural for a boy to help a girl with her things, and Chen Yang didn't think much of it. However, Liu Xinyao's face inexplicably flushed, but she didn't object, lowering her head and following Chen Yang and Professor Yan towards the boarding gate.
There were very few people in the VIP lounge for this flight; only Chen Yang, Professor Yan, and Liu Xinyao. They quickly passed through the boarding gate and walked via the jet bridge to the aircraft door.
The same flight attendant from two days ago was there with Yang Liuyi greeting guests at the cabin door. Boarding hadn't started in the regular waiting area yet, so only the flight crew was on board. Seeing Chen Yang and his companions pass by, Yang Liuyi smiled and called out loudly:
"Our hero's here! Sisters! Let's give him a round of applause!"
Chen Yang had just stepped into the cabin when he was immediately stunned by the scene before him. All the flight attendants stood in two rows, clapping enthusiastically, their faces beaming, their eyes fixed on Chen Yang.
Chen Yang waved his hand slightly awkwardly and chuckled dryly:
"Hehe, this is... a bit too enthusiastic!"
"Mr. Fang, this is everyone expressing their respect and gratitude!" At this moment, the purser, accompanied by Yang Liuyi, came over and said with a smile, "You saved our lives, what's a little welcome?"
Yang Liuyi chimed in:
"Chen Yang, from now on you'll definitely be our crew's most welcome passenger, sisters, am I right?"
"Yes..."
The flight attendants all laughed and shouted. Chen Yang suddenly felt overwhelmed and quickly gestured for a pause, saying,
"Thank you all for your enthusiasm! Uh... may I find seats first?"
"Of course!" the flight attendant winked at Yang Liuyi.
Yang Liuyi immediately understood and walked to Chen Yang, smiling, saying,
"This way, please!"
With that, Yang Liuyi led the way, guiding the three of them towards the front cabin. "Wait! Wait!" Chen Yang called out, checking his boarding pass as he spoke. "Sister Liu Yi, you've come to the wrong place, our seats are over there!"
Yang Liu Yi walked to the first-class entrance, lifted the curtain, and said with a radiant smile:
"You've come to the right place, Chen Yang. You're our company's highest-level VIP guest to date. President Lu instructed yesterday that as long as there are empty seats in first class on your flight, we will upgrade you for free, including up to two accompanying persons. You're in luck today; not a single first-class ticket has been sold! So… please, all three of you!"
Such a good deal?
Chen Yang, Professor Yan, and Liu Xinyao exchanged glances. Liu Xinyao frowned slightly and said:
"Let's go! What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear this flight attendant say it's free? Why not take it?"
With that, Liu Xinyao squeezed past Chen Yang and entered the first-class cabin first.
Chen Yang gave a helpless wry smile, shrugged, and said to Professor Yan,
"Professor, let's go then!"
The comfort of first class far surpassed that of economy class. Not only were the seats much more spacious, but they were all soft leather seats with surround sound systems. Each person had an individual LCD screen in front of them to watch their favorite movies, surf the internet, and even make international calls.
After putting away their simple luggage, Chen Yang and the others sat down. Professor Yan sat in the middle, with Chen Yang and Liu Xinyao on either side. Liu Xinyao sat by the window, while Chen Yang naturally had to sit in the aisle seat.
As soon as they sat down, Chen Yang saw the cockpit door open from the inside. A middle-aged man in a four-stripe captain's uniform stepped out and walked straight towards Chen Yang. Chen Yang's eyes narrowed. This captain was unfamiliar; he was certain he had never seen him before. He wondered what business the captain had with him. The captain extended his hand from afar, smiling broadly, and said:
"Hello, Xiao Fang!"
Upon hearing the voice, Chen Yang was both surprised and delighted. He quickly stood up to greet him, excitedly saying:
"You must be Captain Yuan Fang! Hello! Hello!"
It turned out that this was Captain Yuan Fang, who had piloted flight NG8136 the previous night and provided technical guidance to Chen Yang and Yang Liuyi in the air. Chen Yang immediately recognized the familiar voice; the two had a long radio conversation the night before, and Chen Yang remembered it vividly.
Yuan Fang warmly shook Chen Yang's hand, saying:
"Xiao Fang, I want to thank you! Not only because you saved the company and the passengers' lives and property, but more importantly, Lao Gu and I have been brothers for many years. Hearing about his accident on the radio that day, I was frantic with worry! Thankfully, you successfully made an emergency landing!"
Yuan Fang and Gu Xinmin had served in the same unit when they were young, and their friendship was very deep. Yuan Fang transferred to civilian work a few years earlier than Gu Xinmin and quickly rose to the position of captain instructor at Xiamen Airlines. Gu Xinmin's transfer to Xiamen Airlines was also inseparable from Yuan Fang's strong recommendation. Therefore, Yuan Fang was truly grateful to Chen Yang for saving Gu Xinmin's life.
"Captain Yuan, you're too kind!" Chen Yang said with a smile. "I should be thanking you. If it weren't for your technical guidance the other day, I would never have been able to successfully land such a huge aircraft!"
Yang Liuyi smiled and said,
"Captain, Chen Yang, stop thanking each other! Captain, aren't you at your flight time limit and going to stay in Sanya for a day? Why don't you treat Chen Yang to a drink after we land?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Yang is right!" Yuan Fang nodded repeatedly. "Fang, it's agreed that we're not going anywhere after landing. I'll take you to a nice place for seafood and beer!"
Chen Yang also had a good impression of the generous Captain Yuan Fang, so he smiled and nodded in agreement. He glanced at Professor Yan and Liu Xinyao sitting beside him and couldn't help but slap his forehead. "Captain Yuan," Chen Yang said, "my memory's gone completely wrong! I forgot to introduce you! This is Professor Yan Jun, my international law professor in university. This is my classmate, Liu Xinyao. We went to Sanya together for the international law forum! Professor, this is Captain Yuan Fang, the captain who gave me technical guidance the other night. Thanks to him, we were able to land safely!"
Yuan Fang also warmly greeted Professor Yan and Liu Xinyao, then turned to Chen Yang, pointed to the cockpit, and asked, "Xiao Fang, would you like to experience the world's most beautiful office?"
Chen Yang was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood. The cockpit of a commercial airliner is often called "the world's most beautiful office," especially on night flights, where one can enjoy stunning views rarely seen otherwise.
Chen Yang's heart skipped a beat. Although he had been in the cockpit the other night, he had been incredibly tense the entire time. He hadn't even had time to appreciate the beautiful Yang Liuyi sitting in the co-pilot's seat, let alone the scenery outside the window. Recalling his past life piloting fighter jets, Chen Yang felt a sudden surge of desire.
"This... isn't that against the rules?" Chen Yang asked hesitantly.
"Haha! Of course, others can't, but you can be an exception. I'll just have someone join the crew! But you have to get back to your seat before landing," Yuan Fang said with a smile.
Chen Yang glanced hesitantly at Professor Yan and Liu Xinyao. He really wanted to go to the cockpit, but the three of them were traveling together, and leaving them behind seemed a bit awkward.
Liu Xinyao pouted and said:
"The captain invited you, so go if you want! Why are you looking at us?"
Chen Yang's courageous act during the life-or-death situation on the plane two days ago had changed Liu Xinyao's impression of him considerably. However, for some reason, every time she spoke to Chen Yang, Liu Xinyao still had that cold expression, especially when she thought about Chen Yang flirting with that beautiful flight attendant in first class. She felt a surge of resentment in her heart.
"Womanizing men are truly despicable!" "Rather than that, it's better to let him go to the cockpit; out of sight, out of mind!"
Professor Yan nodded with a smile.
Yuan Fang, seeing that Chen Yang was already interested, laughed and patted Chen Yang on the shoulder, saying,
"Let's go! Xiao Fang, we should prepare for takeoff!"