Section 1

Of course not! I..." Tang Xiaoxiao cleared her throat, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Well, about what happened last time, I apologize for causing you trouble." As soon as these words left her mouth, she suddenly felt it was strange, as if she were apologizing to Nie Zhuoyang. Clearly, she was on the same side as Chen Ling.

Tang Xiaoxiao stood in place for a moment holding the cup, smiling a little helplessly. Chen Ling is a senior executive, and he most likely does not know that the participants in previous competitions were not self-nominated, but rather recommended by higher-level leaders based on merit. Even if she had that ambition, with her qualifications as a low-level controller, she did not have the eligibility.

Mo Xiaoli was in high spirits, chatting non-stop during dinner: "Xiaoxiao, where did you run off to during the second class break? The question you helped me think of, I asked Captain Nie about it. He said that a qualified captain should be adept at handling various emergencies, while a qualified controller should not allow the aircraft to fly with insufficient fuel..." The question you helped me think of, I asked Captain Nie about it. He said that a qualified captain should be adept at handling various emergencies, while a qualified controller should not allow the aircraft to fly with insufficient fuel...

"Tch, not a single word of truth!" Tang Xiaoxiao ignored him and began to eat the freshly served noodles with great concentration. Nie Zhuoyang suddenly put down his chopsticks, composed himself, and lowered his voice: "Lin Zi is going to the United States for treatment; he leaves the night after tomorrow"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Tang Xiaoxiao was taken aback. It must be said that he possessed a fine singing voice, with a magnetic and rich timbre that also conveyed clarity. When he spoke earnestly, he was quite captivating.

This is a rare opportunity for experience," Chen Ling said, without looking at her, and walked away.

The most impressive pilot in history! So handsome, even more so than in the calendar!" Mo Xiaoli watched with wide eyes, quietly cheering while clapping vigorously.

It must be Mo Xiaoli, she even asked me to go to the meteorological forecasting room downstairs to steal a calendar while I was on the night shift. I ignored her, what a lovesick fool!" Xue Gang said disdainfully. "Lovesick fool," Mo Xiaoli pondered as she walked back to her seat, poking Tang Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, help me think of a difficult question to ask during the next class break." Tang Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and smiled mischievously: "Just ask Captain Nie, what should he do if the plane runs low on fuel and the landing gear won't deploy?" "Lovesick fool," Mo Xiaoli pondered as she walked back to her seat, poking Tang Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, help me think of a difficult question to ask during the next class break." Tang Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and smiled mischievously: "Just ask Captain Nie, what should he do if the plane runs low on fuel and the landing gear won't deploy?"

"Why are you always concerned about whether I can get married or not?" Tang Xiaoxiao forcefully broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks, "You should think about yourself instead. I estimate that when you fly again in the future, if you encounter a female air traffic controller, you will definitely be prioritized for clearance. If you meet a male air traffic controller... heh heh, that could be troublesome! When you were surrounded by girls during the break, didn't you notice the various envious and jealous looks from below..."

"The special aviation class in the morning has changed teachers, you must have heard about it, right?" Mo Xiaoli widened her eyes. The aviation special class is not being held for the first time; previously, it was taught by internal instructors from the Air Traffic Control Bureau Training Center. This time, it is said that people from the airline will come to teach for half a day, but isn't this a bit too much fuss? When did everyone become so eager to learn? Just as Tang Xiaoxiao was about to ask again, the lights in the classroom suddenly went out, and a plane taking off appeared on the projection screen in front. The low, magnetic voiceover slowly began: "On a clear and sunny morning in early autumn, a plane bound for Binhai took off on time. The passengers were all in a cheerful mood, ready to enjoy the next two hours of their aerial journey..."

"I specifically came to wait for you." Nie Zhuoyang raised his head, his voice somewhat heavy, and his eyes lacked the usual teasing glint, appearing as dark as an unfathomable abyss. As their gazes met, Tang Xiaoxiao's heartbeat began to falter, but her mind quickly interpreted his words as a joke. She sat down opposite him and smiled nonchalantly, saying, "Captain Nie's brilliant lecture this morning has certainly stirred the hearts of many."

Tang Xiaoxiao shrugged her lips dismissively. Just a few days ago, he had taken her over the wall in the middle of the night and had fallen off the parallel bars while drunk, causing her to go through a lot of trouble to apologize to the gatekeeper. And now he was up on the podium acting as a teacher? Giving a lecture that felt more like a fan meeting.

"Alright, let us bid farewell here." Sitting in a wheelchair, Lin Yufan gazed deeply at her, suddenly bent down, extended his arm forward, and pulled Tang Xiaoxiao up.

Nie Zhuoyang raised his hands slightly downward, halting the applause from everyone, and scanned the classroom: "It seems that everyone is looking forward to this course. So, what are the main special situations during flight? The student in the middle of the fifth row, please come forward to answer."

A few low gasps were heard around, followed by a burst of enthusiastic applause

"Chen Chen! Are you in elementary school now?" Tang Xiaoxiao squatted down and affectionately pinched the little girl's cheek. Six months ago, she had helped retrieve a kite that was stuck in a tree, which led to her acquaintance with this little girl. All she knew was that the girl's name was Chen Chen, and she had always been raised by her grandparents. She had never seen Chen Chen's parents, and it was likely a "dual-income" family, too busy with work. There were quite a few children like that in the Civil Aviation Community.

"Oh, does that include you as well?" Nie Zhuoyang put down his chopsticks, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, his gaze returning to a playful demeanor, looking at her with a half-smile. "My heart has long been lost somewhere." Tang Xiaoxiao pouted, flipping through the menu, "I won't be having the oil-splashed spicy noodles today, it's autumn and eating spicy food can easily cause heat. Boss, bring me a bowl of tomato and egg noodles, in a large portion!"

Of course. With more time at home during domestic flights, I can see you often," Nie Zhuoyang said with a grin. "Is it your flight attendant girlfriend?" Tang Xiaoxiao said with a pout, "I heard you have a girlfriend, but it seems like your heart is in pieces.

At this moment, how can one still not understand? He is actually just like her, inherently proud yet insecure, which is why he never allows himself to be pitied or sympathized with. He would rather raise all his defenses to keep others at bay, and then in the darkness of night, he licks his wounds alone

The meaning is quite clear; they blame us for poor command, with too many detours and circling while waiting!" Mo Xiaoli pouted, yet her expression was somewhat smug, "Regardless, I believe Captain Nie will definitely remember me! Do you think if I go to the Xinghang cafeteria more often, it will be easier to run into him?"

Tang Xiaoxiao put down the spoon and rubbed her forehead: "Xiaoli, you might as well wait downstairs at the flight attendant's building; it would probably be easier to see Captain Nie that way"

I? '' Tang Xiaoxiao had not yet come to terms with the stark contrast before and after Nie Zhuoyang.

This time, the higher-ups specifically notified us to send some newcomers to participate, instead of always the same old faces," Rao Weifeng said, casting a meaningful glance at her. Tang Xiaoxiao felt inexplicably guilty under his gaze, lowering her head to stare at the form, unsure of how to decline again. Moreover, after receiving encouragement from Chen Ling in the morning, she felt a bit eager to try. "There are three months of preparation time, what are you afraid of? It doesn't matter if you lose; just consider it an opportunity for experience," Rao Weifeng paused and continued, "Of course, you might become a dark horse." Knowing that the matter was settled, Tang Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and straightened her chest: "Director, I will definitely work hard and not bring shame to our Hongchuan Tower!"

After the three morning classes, Nie Zhuoyang drove away in his powerful Land Rover, claiming he was heading back to the Star Navigation Flight Department, much to the disappointment of the girls who were eagerly hoping to have lunch with the "most handsome and impressive captain in history"

The narration continues: "However, just seconds after takeoff, the crew suddenly reported that the aircraft was experiencing abnormal oscillations and was unable to control its flight attitude. The tower controller immediately instructed the aircraft to return, but just a few minutes later, the aircraft disintegrated in mid-air and crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of all 146 passengers and 14 crew members, with debris scattered over several kilometers around the departure airport..."

Seeing her panic-stricken expression resembling that of a little rabbit, Chen Ling slightly shook his head, his gaze softening, even carrying a hint of teasing amusement: "Am I really that frightening?"

Indeed, I am a primary school student!" Chen Chen raised her small face, beaming with a bright smile, full of confidence. Tang Xiao Xiao smiled as she adjusted her school uniform collar and stood up straight: "Then let's go, we can't be late for primary school. " Chen Chen obediently waved her small hand: "Goodbye, Sister Xiao Xiao. " Looking at her rosy little apple face, Tang Xiao Xiao couldn't help but recall her own childhood, thinking she must have been just as adorable. The little girl's innocence and cheerfulness lifted the cloud of gloom that had hung over her for days, and she stepped onto the staff bus with a light and cheerful stride.

"It won't help to go up there; you'll get struck by lightning wherever you go!" Tang Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, smiling carefreely. "Is it really necessary to curse me like that?" Nie Zhuoyang looked innocent, "I'm flying the day after tomorrow." Tang Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up: "Finally lifted from the ban? Or are you flying domestically?"

However, it must be acknowledged that such a striking opening statement, which captured everyone's attention with a discussion of an aviation disaster, is indeed far more interesting than the previous pedantic lectures delivered by academic instructors

Today is the second day of her rest period, and she has to attend an aviation emergency training. She has always been a good student, arriving early at the control tower, where she took a notebook and a water cup from the lounge. Just as she was about to leave, she saw her colleague Mo Xiaoli rushing over in a flurry.

"Very well, please take a seat." Nie Zhuoyang nodded slightly, his expression calm, embodying the demeanor of a teacher. "This student has recited well, but in reality, the special circumstances during flight are far more than these. There may be malfunctions in aircraft components that threaten flight safety, or the flight environment may deteriorate, or there could be situations that endanger flight safety due to crew operational errors. In summary, compared to normal flight, special circumstances mainly exhibit the following characteristics: suddenness, unexpectedness, and complexity... There may be malfunctions in aircraft components that threaten flight safety, or the flight environment may deteriorate, or there could be situations that endanger flight safety due to crew operational errors. In summary, compared to normal flight, special circumstances mainly exhibit the following characteristics: suddenness, unexpectedness, and complexity..."

As the two individuals had just brushed past each other, Chen Ling suddenly turned back and called out to her: "Xiao Tang!"

"You just finished your night shift and you still want to attend?" Tang Xiaoxiao was quite surprised. For such unplanned training sessions, Mo Xiaoli had always tried to avoid them whenever possible. Even when she did attend classes, she would sit as close to the back door as possible, making it easy to slip away at any moment.

Ah?" Tang Xiaoxiao came to a halt.

Experience is very important, and information communication is also very important. Chen Ling was unsure whether she was referring to herself or to others. Changing the subject, she asked, "Have you registered for this control operator competition?"

"You really can eat!" Nie Zhuoyang glanced at her and said, "Be careful not to eat yourself into a little pig and end up unable to get married."

She sat down in the center of the fifth row and glanced around. Wait a minute, why are there only women? The total number of female colleagues in the entire control center doesn't even add up to this many. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that people from other departments had also come, and a few girls sitting in the corner seemed to be temporary workers from the property management and the dishwashing staff from the cafeteria

There were more unusual occurrences beyond this one. Upon arriving at the large conference room next to the control tower, she was astonished to find that the front rows, which were usually empty, were nearly filled, and there was still a full half hour before class began

Tang Xiaoxiao felt a dull pain in her heart and silently reached out her hands to embrace his waist

"Really?" Mo Xiaoli's eyes brightened, but then dimmed again as she said gloomily, "He must have a girlfriend by now, is she a flight attendant?"

Hello everyone, I am Captain Nie Zhuoyang of the Xinghang A320. Flying not only signifies a sense of freedom under the vast sky, but also embodies a mission and passion born for aviation. Safety is always our top priority and the foremost topic for us in civil aviation! Today, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to share and discuss the handling of aviation emergencies with all of you

Tang Xiaoxiao's heart trembled, she closed her eyes and slowly leaned her head against his chest: "Senior Brother, I... I understand everything, you can rest assured."

"Yes, it's you." Nie Zhuoyang smiled faintly, "I noticed you have been looking down at your book, so you must be quite clear about this issue." Was he implying that she had been distracted? Tang Xiaoxiao suddenly stood up, glanced at him, and recited a passage from the regulations of civil aviation flight rules in a clear voice, at a moderate pace.

I?'' Tang Xiaoxiao was taken aback; this was the first national-level competition, and given her abilities, she was afraid she wouldn't even pass the preliminary round in the bureau.

"Xiao Xiao, you are here! That's great! Hurry to the classroom and grab a seat, the closer to the podium, the better!" Mo Xiaoli said as she shoved her notebook into Xiao Xiao's hands

"A large tree attracts the wind, and a handsome man invites hatred; there is nothing to be done." Nie Zhuoyang shook his head helplessly and suddenly blurted out in English, "Request higher level due to CB and turbulence."

"How beautiful it is, a scenery that one can never tire of, isn't it?" Tang Xiaoxiao sat on the beach, turned her head, and with a slight curve of her lips, she clearly wanted to force a smile, yet her eyes felt a wave of soreness. "Senior brother, take care and may your journey be smooth!"

The image on the large screen was filled with thick smoke, a sight too horrific to bear. Everyone was shocked by the scene of the air disaster, falling into a deep silence. The screen gradually dimmed, and at the same time, the classroom lights illuminated from the back to the front, row by row, until all the lights were on. The teacher, who had been waiting nearby, stepped onto the podium.

"Pfft—" Tang Xiaoxiao almost sprayed the soup onto herself, choking several times before raising her head and widening her eyes, "What does he mean by this?"

"Cannot fly, nor can it descend? Such a tricky question, you are quite clever, Xiaoxiao. I never realized how ruthless you could be before." Mo Xiaoli shook her head. After the second class, Tang Xiaoxiao carried her cup downstairs, preparing to go out for some fresh air. In the corridor, she encountered Chen Ling and quickly greeted him respectfully, "Director Chen!" Chen Ling nodded slightly, still wearing a serious expression. Usually, Tang Xiaoxiao held a deep respect for senior leaders, preferring silence when possible. However, during the previous incident where Jiehang and Xinghang planes competed for landing due to fuel shortages, Chen Ling had directed the safe landing of her aircraft. Yet, he received a reprimand for the delayed information report, which left her feeling grateful yet guilty. "Director Chen, thank you!" After more than two months, she finally had the opportunity to express her gratitude in person, and Tang Xiaoxiao spoke sincerely. "Thank you for what?" Chen Ling remained expressionless, but his gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds. "I heard that today's special situation class instructor is a star captain from Xinghang, which is why everyone is so enthusiastic?" Tang Xiaoxiao awkwardly replied, "Yes... yes, the class was very effective." Chen Ling did not say anything further, merely nodding before stepping forward. Tang Xiaoxiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her head as she walked outside.

Upon returning home, Tang Xiaoxiao, feeling disinterested in cooking for herself, decided to go to the Rainbow Restaurant. To her surprise, she encountered Nie Zhuoyang again, who was savoring a bowl of beef noodles with great enjoyment. Unable to pretend she hadn't seen him, she approached and greeted him: "Mr. Nie, why have you been coming here for noodles so often lately? Have you grown tired of delicacies from land and sea?"

"How do I know? However, I have seen him send a flight attendant home more than once. That girl is beautiful and has an amazing figure," Tang Xiaoxiao said, then buried her head and continued to drink soup. Mo Xiaoli stared at her fork in a daze for a while, then stood up with her plate. "Are you leaving? You've only eaten a couple of bites," Tang Xiaoxiao raised her head. "Dieting!" Mo Xiaoli said with determination. Tang Xiaoxiao stood up, stretched her arm, forked a meatball from her plate, and stuffed it into her mouth: "I support you!" After the afternoon class ended, Tang Xiaoxiao was about to go home when she was called by the tower chief, Rao Weifeng. "Xiaoxiao, fill out this form before you leave," Rao Weifeng handed her a few sheets of paper, "Remember to bring two one-inch blue background photos for work tomorrow." Tang Xiaoxiao took it and looked at it in surprise: "Air Traffic Controller Competition? Director, can I do it? Wasn't it always Old Du and the others before..."

The morning sunlight slanted down from the treetops, casting a mottled shadow on the ground. Tang Xiaoxiao walked along the tree-lined path of the Civil Aviation Community and noticed that it was particularly lively this morning, with many children carrying backpacks on the road. It turned out that summer had already passed, and September 1st marked the start of the new school year. "Sister Xiaoxiao!" A clear child's voice rang out beside her. Tang Xiaoxiao turned her head and saw a little girl in a school uniform with her hair in pigtails, holding her grandfather's hand with one hand and reaching out to tug at the hem of her clothes with the other.

"Hey, I didn't come to the wrong classroom, did I? Is this the aviation special situation training or the women's conference?" Tang Xiaoxiao asked a girl from the meteorological department beside her, puzzled. "That's right, it's a class for your control center," the girl replied with a slightly embarrassed smile, "I just came to audit it." Just a few minutes before 9 o'clock, the male colleagues gradually entered the room, and the conference room, which could accommodate over 100 people, was almost full. The course staff also set up a laptop on the podium and turned on the projector. "Excuse me, excuse me," Mo Xiaoli squeezed in and sat down next to Tang Xiaoxiao, letting out a sigh of relief. "If I had known, I should have brought a cup and a book to reserve a seat while having breakfast." Tang Xiaoxiao looked at her rosy cheeks and vividly red lips, momentarily taken aback. "What’s going on today? Is a TV station coming to film?"

Mo Xiaoli stared intently at Nie Zhuoyang and nudged Tang Xiaoxiao with her elbow, saying, "It seems like he is calling you"

"Forget about the other classes, how can we skip this one?" Mo Xiaoli turned and walked into the inner room, "I’m going to touch up my makeup, I’ll be right there!" Tang Xiaoxiao held her notebook and only realized it when she entered the elevator. Touch up her makeup? Mo Xiaoli, like her, had always gone without makeup; when did she start wearing makeup?

Xue Shuai, don't be unconvinced, there are many pilots out there, but there is only one star captain. That is the star effect, and today is essentially a fan meeting. Another controller patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Once the Weibo incident broke out, we lost a page from our Star Airlines calendar in the area control room, and we don't know which fan tore it off."

This is the distance between birds and fish, one forever soaring in the sky, the other forever diving in the depths of the sea

Under the bright lights, his figure is tall and straight, clad in a crisp white shirt, with a light wheat-colored complexion, a pair of slightly upturned phoenix eyes, and a perfectly timed smile, making him appear both spirited and exceptionally handsome.

Having made a solemn pledge, Tang Xiaoxiao felt even more anxious. The Hongchuan Control Tower has always been a leading department within the Air Traffic Management Bureau, having won numerous awards in provincial-level competitions over the years. This time marks the inaugural National Aviation Competition, and if she were to be eliminated in the preliminary round, it would be a tremendous embarrassment for her

A round red sun half-sinks and half-floats between the water and sky, its afterglow casting a layer of rose-colored gold dust on the undulating surface of the sea, resembling a splendid cloud brocade. In an instant, a silver eagle soars into the sky, facing the vast glow of the clouds.

"Who did you hear that from? I am currently single, do you have someone suitable to introduce?" Nie Zhuoyang said half-jokingly. Tang Xiaoxiao continued to pout, "Nie Shao, with so many ex-girlfriends, have you ever truly loved any girl?" Nie Zhuoyang put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and answered seriously, "Yes." Tang Xiaoxiao immediately became interested and curiously asked, "Which one?" Nie Zhuoyang instantly returned to his nonchalant demeanor, smiling as he replied, "The next one." Tang Xiaoxiao continued to pout, "Nie Shao, with so many ex-girlfriends, have you ever truly loved any girl?" Nie Zhuoyang put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and answered seriously, "Yes." Tang Xiaoxiao immediately became interested and curiously asked, "Which one?" Nie Zhuoyang instantly returned to his nonchalant demeanor, smiling as he replied, "The next one."

Lin Yufan lowered his head to look at her, his eyes filled with hesitation and struggle. Finally, he let out a soft sigh and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead