UAAG CH80

There weren’t many vehicles on the road. Dense, lush camphor trees covered the sky, and dim yellow streetlights filtered through the gaps in the leaves, falling on the ground and forming mottled patterns of light and shadow.

When Zhuo Huan and Fu Cheng walked back from their stroll, it was already eight in the evening.

The two walked side by side. When they reached the residential complex entrance, they saw that a white ticket had been conspicuously stuck on the window of the Ferrari parked by the roadside. Walking closer, Zhuo Huan clicked his tongue lightly and tore off the ticket.

After getting in the car, Zhuo Huan rolled down the window and looked up at the young man outside.

Fu Cheng stood by the car, looking down at him. His elegant features were backlit by the warm lights behind him, outlining his handsome, refined face. He looked quietly at Zhuo Huan, his gaze calm and peaceful.

Zhuo Huan: “Are you taking leave again tomorrow?”

Fu Cheng: “My sister wants me to stay home a few more days.”

“Oh.” Zhuo Huan paused. “I know a few good doctors in America.”

“It’s fine. It’s not very serious.”

Zhuo Huan glanced at his thin wrist, as if his fingers still retained the sensation from earlier when he grabbed that wrist—the feeling of being pressed against by the prominently protruding wrist bone. “Fu Cheng.” He reached out his hand.

Fu Cheng was slightly startled.

Inside the car, the man leaned by the window, looking up at him seriously, reaching out his hand.

Fu Cheng reached out and held his hand.

Zhuo Huan: “Lower your head a bit.”

Fu Cheng lowered his head. As if anticipating it, when this person looked up to kiss him, Fu Cheng parted his lips and gently kissed back. The kiss was ambiguously entangled yet brief. After their lips separated, Zhuo Huan held his hand, his gaze following the slightly open T-shirt collar downward. Fu Cheng had already straightened up and let go of his hand.

“Going to COMAC the day after tomorrow?”

“Mm.” Fu Cheng nodded. He didn’t want to take three consecutive days off. “I’ll go the day after tomorrow.”

The two exchanged a few more words before Zhuo Huan closed the window and drove away. As he left, Fu Cheng saw him light a cigarette in the car. Without turning to leave immediately, Fu Cheng stood in place, watching the car gradually drive away. The streetlights on both sides of the road and the neon lights from shops made his eyes feel somewhat dazed and confused.

He couldn’t distinguish the feeling in his heart—hesitant and bewildered—as he walked all the way home.

When he got home and opened the door, he heard the sound of rushing water from the bathroom. He hadn’t expected Fu Xiao to be taking a shower.

Fu Cheng returned to his room. He buried his face deeply in his palms. Suddenly, he heard his phone ding. He picked it up and looked.

[Zhuo Huan: Have you ever said you like me?]

Time abruptly stopped.

The next moment, the screen flashed with the two characters “Zhuo Huan.” Fu Cheng instinctively pressed the answer button. The man’s low voice came through the current, initially somewhat surprised. “So fast?”

Answering the phone so quickly?

Fu Cheng: “I just picked up my phone.”

Zhuo Huan said flatly, “Oh.” Just from hearing his voice, you could imagine him smoking, looking calm and annoyingly smug. “Did you see my message?”

“…”

“When exactly did you start liking me?”

Fu Cheng didn’t react immediately. “Did I ever say I like you?”

Zhuo Huan: “Do you think I’m blind?”

“…”

After a few seconds, just as Zhuo Huan was about to speak again, Fu Cheng’s voice sounded. “Teacher Zhuo, I remember you seem to be nearsighted.”

“Huh?”

“You wear glasses. I often see them when you’re working.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just not nearsighted.”

Civil aviation pilots could be nearsighted, but Air Force pilots absolutely couldn’t be—and all had exceptional vision.

Zhuo Huan: “What?”

Fu Cheng’s voice was calm. “So if I must say, your eyesight might really not be very good.”

Zhuo Huan: “…”

Fuck.

Zhuo Huan asked him, “Tsk, dare to make fun of me now?”

Only after being reminded did he realize his mood seemed much happier. Fu Cheng slowly withdrew the smile from his face and said calmly, “No.”

Zhuo Huan let out a meaningful “oh,” about to speak when Fu Cheng suddenly said quickly, “My sister’s here. Hanging up now.”

“…?”

The next second, the phone emitted a busy tone. Zhuo Huan, who had just returned home, looked at his darkened phone screen. After a long moment, he let out an incredulous “Huh?”

Fu Cheng hung up on him!

This was the first time in his life anyone had hung up on him!

By rights, he should call back immediately. Who cares about sisters or whatever. But Zhuo Huan looked at his phone, snorted coldly, threw it on the sofa, changed clothes, and walked into the bathroom.

On the other side, after hearing the bathroom door open, Fu Cheng immediately hung up on Zhuo Huan. Not long after, Fu Xiao came to knock on his door.

After opening the door, Fu Xiao was drying her hair. “Ah Cheng, there’s food in the kitchen. Want to eat?”

Fu Cheng nodded. “Mm, I’ll go eat in a bit.”

Fu Cheng put the dishes from the kitchen into the microwave to heat them. As he sat at the dining table eating, Fu Xiao had also finished blow-drying her hair. She walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair and sat down. She appeared to be looking down at her phone but was actually supervising Fu Cheng’s meal.

Fu Xiao: “After eating, don’t forget to take your medicine.”

Fu Cheng: “…Alright.”

After finishing the entire bowl of porridge and taking his medicine, Fu Cheng was clearing the dishes from the table when Fu Xiao, still looking at her phone without raising her eyes, suddenly said casually, “Your friend from earlier looked a bit familiar.”

The hand clearing the chopsticks paused. Fu Cheng looked up at her.

As if just mentioning it casually, Fu Xiao raised her eyes from her phone. “Have I met him before?”

After a moment of silence, Fu Cheng said, “Mm, he’s Zhuo Huan. Sis, do you remember?”

“The head investigator for Rogg 318?”

“Yes.”

“So it really was him.”

Five years ago, right after the Rogg 318 air disaster, Zhuo Huan joined the investigation team. He wasn’t the team leader then. At that time, the victims’ families were still immersed in grief with no mind to care about the accident investigation. But later, gradually, they paid attention to the air disaster’s developments every minute of every day, and thus came to know Zhuo Huan, who was in charge of the accident investigation.

Fu Xiao still remembered that two years ago, the NTSB held a press conference. She was on a business trip in Australia at the time and really couldn’t spare the time, so she had Fu Cheng go to the scene alone.

At that time, no one knew the press conference was to announce they would no longer salvage Rogg 318 and would stop the investigation.

After learning about this, besides being shocked and pained, Fu Xiao hadn’t had time to feel much more sadness before receiving word from the military that Fu Cheng had fallen ill.

Fu Xiao: “Two years ago at the NTSB press conference announcing they wouldn’t salvage the wreckage, he was the spokesperson, right?”

Fu Cheng asked in surprise, “You still remember?”

Fu Xiao smiled. “How could I not remember? You really hated him, didn’t you, Ah Cheng?”

After a long silence, Fu Cheng asked back, “Did I?”

Fu Xiao: “How could you not? Before, every time I was sad and suffering, you’d comfort me saying there was a particularly capable person investigating Mom and Dad’s air disaster, and if it was him, he’d definitely find out the truth. But after that press conference, you never mentioned that person’s name to me again. That person was Zhuo Huan, wasn’t it?”

Setting down the dishes, Fu Cheng looked at his sister as countless images flashed through his mind.

Finally, he sat down. “Yes, I was indeed very disappointed in him at that time. Actually, I knew it wasn’t his problem. Giving up salvaging definitely wasn’t a decision he made alone—it was a decision made jointly by the US government, the airline, and the aircraft manufacturer. And in fact, rationally speaking, trying to salvage Rogg 318 really was too difficult.”

So much time had passed, and people always had to continue living. Fu Xiao had also come to terms with it. Unlike five years ago when she could barely mention that air disaster, now although she felt distressed, she could speak about it. “Mm, but knowing and understanding is one thing. I really didn’t want to just give up like that and never care again.”

Seeing his sister’s sad yet helpless expression, Fu Cheng said, “Sis, actually there might still be a chance.”

“What?”

“Teacher Zhuo… that is, Zhuo Huan, he’s still salvaging Rogg 318.”

Fu Xiao’s eyes widened in shock, her lips slightly parted.

Fu Cheng clenched his fingers. “Actually, he never stopped caring. He’s always cared about that air disaster. So he’s been privately spending money to salvage it.”

For the entire evening, Fu Xiao listened to her younger brother talk about what had happened over the past year.

Only then did she learn that besides the victims’ families, there was someone else who had never given up on Rogg 318.

She heard Fu Cheng softly talk about being transferred to UAAG a year ago, joining forces with Zhuo Huan and others to investigate various air disasters, then learning that Zhuo Huan had never given up on Rogg 318—and that to salvage this plane, he had nearly gone bankrupt.

Looking at her younger brother’s gentle, calm face, Fu Xiao’s heart stirred. She seemed to realize something.

Fu Xiao: “Ah Cheng, I thought you always hated this Zhuo Huan.”

The voice stopped. After a long while, Fu Cheng answered, “Mm. Because I had too many expectations and too much trust in him, when Teacher Zhuo suddenly announced they wouldn’t salvage Rogg 318 anymore, I was a bit sad. Reason told me this matter had nothing to do with him, but I just couldn’t help blaming him. But later I learned I had misunderstood Teacher Zhuo. He’s more worthy of respect than I imagined.”

Looking steadily at Fu Cheng, after a long moment, Fu Xiao smiled. “Ah Cheng, you seem to really like him.”

Fu Cheng froze. After a few seconds, he stood up. “Sis, I’ll go wash the dishes.”

“Alright.”

While washing dishes, Fu Cheng closed his eyes. Before his eyes appeared the scene from two years ago.

He held the victim’s family entry permit, standing at the back of the crowd.

Cameras clicked incessantly. Flashbulbs lit up the conference hall like daylight. His heart hung in his throat, pounding rapidly in his chest, making his ribcage shake with panic.

Every victim’s family member who came to the press conference realized that today, three years later, something would definitely happen at this NTSB press conference.

And it was destined to happen.

Then that man’s cold, almost cruel voice came through the speakers to everyone present.

“I announce that as of June 13, 2019, all investigation into Rogg Airlines Flight 318 is terminated.”

Breathing stopped in that moment.

Sounds of wailing and shouting erupted in the venue.

Blood froze. Bone-chilling disappointment and disbelief plunged Fu Cheng into an ice cave. His mind could no longer hear any sound. He used all his strength to push through the crowd, wanting to see that person with his own eyes, wanting to verify it wasn’t that person who said to abandon the investigation. However, when he used all his strength to finally push through the crowded masses and saw that man for the first time, he stopped.

This was the first time he had been so close, looking at Zhuo Huan.

Those clear, cold, indifferent eyes casually swept over him without even a second’s pause. Zhuo Huan’s eyes were full of irritation and impatience. The noisy environment and the reporters’ rapid-fire questions made his slender eyebrows knit tightly together. Fingers running through his short hair, finally, Zhuo Huan slammed the table and stood up. He yanked off the investigation team badge hanging from his neck, slammed it on the table, and strode away.

As he left, he happened to pass right by Fu Cheng.

Fu Cheng slowly raised his head, watching this man suppress the irritation and hostility in his eyes, walking closer step by step, then walking away step by step.

Then the NTSB spokesperson stood up and said, “The investigation has now been terminated. All investigators are withdrawn from the Rogg 318 investigation team as of this moment, including the team leader, Mr. Patrick. If there are any other questions, you can ask me.”

Just like knowing he shouldn’t suspect his teacher but couldn’t help it—he was a disgusting, dark person who more than once viciously suspected whether his teacher had hijacked the plane and committed suicide.

Just like knowing Zhuo Huan shouldn’t be held responsible for this air disaster—he wasn’t the one who caused it.

But it was Zhuo Huan.

Why, of all people, Zhuo Huan?

He had placed all his hopes on this person. For three years, every time he felt desperate and broken, he would think of this person’s name in his heart, then embrace courage to live on. He piled endless hope into a tower. The broken ruins at the bottom of his heart were the foundation stones that built that tower, supporting him through those 1,095 days.

In that moment, hope condensed into a sharp, cold sword that pierced his heart, stabbing him bloody and broken, shattered to pieces.

His faith completely collapsed.

Closing his eyes, Fu Cheng took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he turned off the faucet.

Dr. Zhao said to find a psychologist—heart illness requires heart medicine. Only by completely moving on from that air disaster could he recover. But actually, there was no need to find a psychologist. He had always known what he felt guilty about, what he was avoiding.

“Ah Cheng.”

Fu Cheng turned around to see Fu Xiao standing at the kitchen doorway, asking him, “The internet at home is down. Can you fix it?”

Fu Cheng dried his hands. “The internet’s down? Let me take a look.”

Life always had to go on, and he had more reasons to live.

After recuperating at home for two days and getting his sister’s permission, Fu Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and took a taxi to the COMAC factory.

There were only three days left until the sixth test flight. After returning to COMAC, Fu Cheng immediately caught up with the lab’s progress, learning about the latest aircraft component data modifications.

At lunchtime, Fu Cheng brought his own lunchbox. When a familiar lab technician saw it, they asked in surprise, “Major Fu, you made your own food?”

Fu Cheng glanced at the bento on the table and smiled. “No, my sister made it.”

Lab technician: “Wow, your sister is amazing. It’s so abundant.”

After chatting a bit more, several lab technicians went to get food. Fu Cheng lowered his head to eat the nutritionally balanced meal in his lunchbox when suddenly a shadow fell over him. He was slightly startled. Before he could look up, a long, thin hand directly picked up a piece of chicken from his lunchbox.

Zhuo Huan chewed twice and raised an eyebrow. “Looks decent, but doesn’t taste that great.”

Fu Cheng: “…”

When Zhuo Huan reached out to steal food again, Fu Cheng moved the lunchbox aside, leaving Zhuo Huan’s hand frozen in mid-air.

Zhuo Huan: “What? I’m just eating two bites. You won’t let me eat?”

Fu Cheng looked up at him, enunciating each word. “No.”

Zhuo Huan: “…”

Laughing through his nose, Zhuo Huan said, “In your heart, I’m not even as important as the food your sister made?”

This time Fu Cheng was truly angry. He didn’t even acknowledge him, just lowered his head and continued eating.

Zhuo Huan: “Really angry?”

Fu Cheng kept his head lowered.

Zhuo Huan: “Tsk, it really isn’t that good. What I make tastes much better.”

Fu Cheng looked up. “…?”

“You don’t believe me?”

“No.”

Zhuo Huan scoffed. “Wow, come to my place this weekend. Let you see whether what your sister makes is actually bad.” As he spoke, Zhuo Huan reached out again to take food from Fu Cheng’s lunchbox. Fu Cheng held his lunchbox and dodged again.

Zhuo Huan: “…”

“Fuck, you’re mine. What’s wrong with me eating your food?”

Fu Cheng looked at him and said flatly, “The person can be yours, but the food still can’t be eaten.”

Zhuo Huan was amused by his anger. He stood up to leave, then suddenly realized what Fu Cheng’s words meant. He sat back down. Propping his chin with one hand, he looked at the young man across the table, asking casually, “When exactly did you start liking me, Fu Cheng?”

Fu Cheng ignored him.

Seeing him like this, Zhuo Huan smiled lightly. Too lazy to tease him further, he simply opened his mouth. “I’m hungry.”

Fu Cheng looked up at him and picked up a strand of potato for him.

Zhuo Huan: “…Fuck.”

Lord Zhuo really did slam the table and leave.

However, this departure wasn’t just because Fu Cheng annoyed him, but also because something happened in the lab that required him to go back and look. When returning to the lab, Fu Cheng thought about it and went to the food bar to buy a sandwich.

The automatic sensor door opened before him. After returning to the lab, Fu Cheng saw from afar that Zhuo Huan and Chief Designer Wu were standing in front of a whiteboard. The two seemed to be arguing, loudly refuting each other’s viewpoints. Midway through, Zhuo Huan cursed under his breath, directly grabbed a marker from the table, quickly drew a model of the wing’s upper surface on the whiteboard, then smoothly filled it with formulas.

Fu Cheng walked over and placed the heated sandwich on the table.

Zhuo Huan glanced at him, then turned back to continue discussing the new airfoil improvements with Wu Hui.

“If you modify it this way, the aircraft’s ultimate load factor definitely won’t be enough. The design dive equivalent airspeed Vd must equal or exceed 130% of the design cruise equivalent airspeed Vc…”

Days passed one by one. Soon it was September.

COMAC’s sixth test flight was very successful, yet still didn’t produce flight data satisfactory to the design team.

A few days later, Fu Xiao had to return to England.

At Shencheng Airport, Fu Xiao looked at her younger brother and sighed helplessly. “Your birthday is in a few days. I originally wanted to stay in China to spend your birthday with you before leaving, but there’s really something urgent at the company. Ah Cheng, after I leave, you must eat properly, understand? Don’t just eat well when I’m here, then start misbehaving as soon as I leave.”

“…” Fu Cheng said with both amusement and exasperation, “I’m not misbehaving.”

Fu Xiao reproached him. “You just don’t know how to misbehave. Since childhood, when will you learn from others and misbehave a bit more? Also, if you encounter anything that makes you unhappy in the future, you’re not allowed to bottle it up by yourself. You must tell me, understand?”

Fu Cheng: “I understand.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I don’t believe you.” Fu Xiao said coldly, “You, since childhood, never tell me or Mom and Dad anything. In high school when you needed money for supplementary classes, you actually went to work instead of asking the family for money. What wouldn’t you do?”

Fu Cheng said helplessly, “Sis, how can you still remember such things!”

Fu Xiao: “How could I not remember? I’m telling you, if you fall ill again next time and don’t tell me, Fu Cheng, you’re finished. I’ll sever our sibling relationship.”

Fu Cheng: “I won’t. There definitely won’t be a next time.”

“I’m serious.”

Slightly startled, Fu Cheng looked down at his sister.

Under the airport’s bright floor-to-ceiling windows, the short-haired woman stared at him seriously, saying word by word, “If you dare do this again, Fu Cheng, I’ll act like I don’t have you as a younger brother.”

After a long while, Fu Cheng said, “Alright.”

After accompanying Fu Xiao to check in and check her luggage—

Just as he was about to see her through security, after the siblings said goodbye, Fu Xiao turned toward the security checkpoint.

“Sis.”

Fu Xiao stopped and turned to look at her younger brother.

Fu Cheng looked at her quietly. After a long while, he said, “Actually, Mom and Dad weren’t originally going to take Flight 318. They decided to change flights because they heard my teacher was the captain of that plane.”

Hearing this, Fu Xiao first froze, then showed a strange expression. “Huh? With that life-or-death expression on your face, I thought you were going to tell me why you fell ill this time. And you’re telling me this?”

Fu Cheng looked at her in astonishment.

Fu Xiao: “I’ve known this for ages. Mom and Dad told me after they changed flights. You didn’t think I didn’t know, did you?”

All the nervous, guilty feelings instantly disappeared. Fu Cheng stared blankly at his sister.

Fu Xiao thought about it. “Wait, you didn’t think I knew, so you hid it from me, didn’t dare tell me, and blamed yourself alone?”

Fu Cheng: “…”

Fu Xiao: “When will you change this habit of yours? You really are going to anger me to death…”

“Sis.”

A warm embrace silenced all of Fu Xiao’s complaints and reproaches. She reached out and patted Fu Cheng’s back.

Fu Cheng: “Thank you.”

After seeing off Fu Xiao, Fu Cheng returned home.

After changing shoes, he prepared to return to his bedroom to charge his phone. Walking past the dining room, he suddenly stopped and turned to look.

In the center of the clean dining table sat a small, exquisite gift box. Under the gift box was a card. Opening it revealed Fu Xiao’s handwriting.

‘Early happy birthday to my dearest younger brother the day after tomorrow.
Eat more!
If you’re not 140 jin next time I come back, you’re finished!
Fu Xiao. 9.5.’

Fu Cheng: “…”

He had never reached 140 jin, not even at his heaviest!

Opening the gift, arranged in the box was a Montblanc “Little Prince & Aviator” series fountain pen. Taking out the pen, Fu Cheng looked at it and remembered when elementary school opened a calligraphy class and the teacher required everyone to buy fountain pens. He asked Fu Xiao if she had any old pens she’d used. Fu Xiao didn’t think much of it and gave him an old fountain pen.

At that time, before their parents started their business, the family wasn’t very well-off. He really didn’t want to spend money carelessly. Later, when their parents learned about this, they bought him a new pen and scolded Fu Xiao. Fu Xiao was angry at him for a long time. Only after Fu Cheng secretly gave her his snacks for two weeks did she finally stop being mad.

Taking out his phone, he photographed the pen and sent it.

[Fu Cheng: I really like it. Thank you, sis. [Image]]

Author’s Note:

Zhuo RIP: Fu Cheng liked me first!
Fu Chengcheng: …I don’t think so.

[Looking at Author Together]

Fú Wá: To be honest, it’s hard to tell with you two. Fu Chengcheng definitely admired RIP early on, but admiration isn’t love, Teacher Zhuo! As for who actually fell for whom first—that’s hard to say~

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