It seemed Malaya's return came with a new assignment: accompanying Li Haojun on a trip to Las Vegas for an industry exhibition, while also transporting specialized testing and maintenance equipment. Li Haojun found this somewhat puzzling. At the same time, Qin Wenjing and Casey were assigned to travel together to fulfill their previous mission in the northern region. The area had decent public security, and having them work together would allow them to support each other while fostering their bond—a development that pleased Li Haojun greatly.
This Las Vegas trip was a long-term assignment, though Li Haojun himself wasn't entirely sure why an industry expo would require such an extended period. The afternoon was spent traveling. After lunch, he sat across from Qin Wenjing at the small square table by the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping afternoon tea while waiting for the transportation arranged by Malaya to pick him up.
The summer sun hung high, casting light only through a narrow strip by the window. A strand of hair brushed Tan Wenjing's cheek, illuminating her face. The shifting sunlight and the familiar features seemed to whisper of the passage of time.
“Has that little girl captured your heart this time?” Tan Wenjing stared at her teacup, gave it a gentle shake, then looked up at Li Haojun and asked.
“Heh,” Li Haojun gave a sheepish smile before continuing,
"It’s been nearly half a year since we last met. She’s grown so much—her looks, her figure have changed significantly, but most of all, it’s her aura that’s transformed. “Hey? Why don't you meet her when she comes to pick me up?”
“Sure,” Qin Wenjing replied briefly and readily, then lowered her head to sip her tea in silence.
Li Haojun reached under the table to take Qin Wenjing's hand, cupping her fingertips in his palm to gauge if her hands felt cold.
“It's good that Casey will be joining you on the business trip tomorrow. Otherwise, leaving you home alone again—I'd worry you'd feel lonely.” As he spoke, Li Haojun tugged her hand, hoping to cheer her up.
“Mhm,” Tan Wenjing glanced at Li Haojun across from her and smiled.
“Don't worry. I know I hold a special place in your heart.”
Qin Wenjing seemed to be reassuring herself. Li Haojun, watching her serene face bathed in the afternoon sunlight, hurriedly replied,
“Yes.”
Seeing him rush to affirm her, Qin Wenjing giggled and teased playfully,
“What? Have you remembered everything?”
Li Haojun pondered her question before admitting, “Oh, no.”
Hahaha, both of them laughed.
“Then tell me!” Li Haojun pressed on,
“Tell me how special you really were in my heart back then? How I...”
Before he could finish, the roar of jet engines outside interrupted their conversation.
"Alright, your sweetheart's here to pick you up. Hurry up!" Tan Wenjing teased loudly.
“You still haven't told me how special you were to me back then?” Li Haojun grabbed Tan Wenjing's hand with one arm while pulling his luggage with the other, still asking reluctantly as they walked.
"I'm not telling you. Tan Wenjing beamed, playfully throwing a tantrum again.
Stepping out of the courtyard, they saw a four-engine vertical takeoff and landing jet parked on the road. Its nose dipped downward, its rear wings tilted upward, and viewed head-on, it resembled a flattened X. The wing tips housed rotatable jet engines.
From afar, Li Haojun recognized Malaya sitting in the cockpit. He had initially assumed she'd arrive via a mature, unmanned commercial aircraft, but now it seemed she was piloting it herself—a thought that stirred a flicker of unease.
Qin Wenjing approached the cockpit, opened the door, and exchanged greetings with Malaya. After all, it had been ages since they last met.
Malaya wore her braids twisted into a low French-style bun atop her head, meeting pilots' requirements for neatness and simplicity. She was clad in a silver-gray, form-fitting jumpsuit adorned with black decorative stripes along the sides—apparently some kind of functional suit—which hugged her youthful figure, making her appear even more alluring and seductive.
Li Haojun felt something was off. He recalled how men had ogled Kasiya in her tight leggings days ago, leaving him with a sour taste in his mouth. While Malaya's uniform was acceptable for flying, wearing it in the exhibition hall would essentially turn her into the exhibit. He excused himself, fetched two of Qin Wenjing's coveralls from the room, and returned.
Just then, Tan Wenjing was walking back from the aircraft and passed Li Haojun. She gave him a slight smile, said nothing, and walked past.
Li Haojun quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her back around. He whispered,
“You be careful too.” Then he gently kissed her lips.
“Aren't you afraid your little sister will get jealous?” Tan Wenjing asked with a laugh. At that moment, Li Haojun blocked Malaya's line of sight, and Tan Wenjing didn't peek in Malaya's direction.
“I'll placate you first, then go placate her, okay?” Li Haojun said, gently pinching Tan Wenjing's cheek.
“Go on already,” Tan Wenjing laughed, giving him a playful shove. She met his eyes briefly before turning back.
As the two boarded the aircraft and ascended, Tan Wenjing waved goodbye from the doorway.
Malaya piloted the aircraft, climbing and turning until they swiftly reached the clouds and leveled off.
“Current cruising altitude twelve thousand feet, heading 175, speed four hundred sixty knots. Welcome aboard Malaya Airlines' maiden flight. Scared?” Malaya turned to ask Li Haojun in the rear cabin.
“Not scared.”
“Really? Then why are you sitting back there?”
“Counterweight. Plus, I didn't want to distract you.”
“Distract me? Afraid I'd get nervous?”
“A little. I get nervous when people are watching me.”
“So you were scared after all.”
“Hahaha,” Li Haojun laughed helplessly.
Malaya engaged autopilot, reclined her seat, and turned to face Li Haojun beside her. Seeing him silent,
this eerily familiar scene reminded Li Haojun of their trip to New York last year. She had flown with him then too, murmuring incomprehensible words about adventures together. In an instant, scenes of the younger Malaya seemed to replay before his eyes.
“Did you really like the old me? Is it because you lost me, and can never find me again, that you still hold onto me like this?” Malaya asked softly.
Was I too greedy? Li Haojun questioned his own heart but found no trace of ever wanting to possess Malaya. Why then did he still cling to memories of her from back then? Pondering, he found no answers and replied,
“I don't know. Maybe it's nostalgia for the past.”
“Don't you miss the past with my sister?”
“Of course I do,”
“Then why can't you miss the past with me?”
Li Haojun's eyes lit up as he gazed into hers. This was still that Malaya, as sharp as ever, piercing straight to the depths of his soul.
Had he always liked that quirky little girl? But she left so suddenly, before he'd had a chance to say goodbye in his heart.
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and then Add to home screen.