Chapter 4 Encountering Xiang Yun Again
"Sister Xu!"
A warm embrace enveloped Xu Songning.
Xu Songning patted her on the back, "Happy birthday, little birthday girl."
When the sunflower was handed to Lu Xiaomeng, she jumped up and down with joy, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
Tucked among the sunflower blossoms was a gift box. When Lu Xiaomeng opened it, she found it was a necklace from a niche designer that she had mentioned to Sister Xu before, available for pre-order.
She herself couldn't get one, but Xu Songning actually managed to buy it!
"Sister Xu! I love you so much! Ahhh, why am I not a man? Otherwise, I would definitely marry Sister Xu!" Lu Xiaomeng hugged her and acted coquettishly.
Xu Songning laughed along, "I'll put it on you."
"OK!"
Lu Xiaomeng turned around and let Xu Songning do as he pleased. She remembered that she had also prepared a surprise for Xu Songning!
"Sister Xu, although today is my birthday, I also prepared a gift for you~"
Lu Xiaomeng spoke very softly, and judging from her expression, it didn't sound like anything good.
"You didn't secretly share my WeChat with eighteen pilots behind my back, did you?" Xu Songning fastened her necklace.
Lu Xiaomeng quickly grabbed her hand, "How could that be! Am I the kind of person who would betray Sister Xu?"
Under Xu Songning's probing gaze, Lu Xiaomeng chuckled and winked, "The surprise is..."
A commotion arose at the entrance, and a large group of people walked in. The ones at the front were all over 1.8 meters tall, and their superior height made them hard to miss.
The bar quieted down for a moment, then became lively again.
"Looks like a surprise is coming! Sister Xu, don't be shy later!" Lu Xiaomeng whispered, waving towards the door. The people came over and greeted them.
"And who is this?" The captain leading the group was gentle and approachable.
"Hello, captains! Let me introduce you. This is my best friend—Xu Songning! He's also our airport's approach officer; you might have seen him on the radio." Lu Xiaomeng chuckled.
"Oh, it's Sister Xu! It's so lucky to run into Sister Xu directing us; she always gives us the best track."
"I didn't expect there to be such a beautiful woman in the neighborhood. Xiaomeng, you should have introduced her to us sooner."
"Don't stand there talking, sit down first. Come on, Mengmeng, I've saved the biggest booth for you! I guarantee you'll have a great time." Zhou Qiao came back carrying the wine, hooked her arm around Lu Xiaomeng's neck, and walked forward.
"Well done, Mengmeng! You actually knew to find a boyfriend for your Sister Xu." Zhou Qiao gave her a big thumbs up.
"I tried every possible way to screen all the unmarried single captains I know, and these few who came are all quite eligible!" Lu Xiaomeng secretly looked back.
They deliberately left Xu Songning a step behind, while the captain leading the group was walking alongside her.
"Miss Xu, how long have you been in this line of work?" the man asked.
Xu Songning looked up at him. The man who spoke was about 1.8 meters tall and had a somewhat frivolous smile.
"It's been a long time, and I still don't know your name."
"I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Song Qing'an, I am thirty-two years old, and currently... single."
Xu Songning raised an eyebrow. Was this a birthday party for him, or a blind date for him?
"Captain Song doesn't look thirty-two years old at all; he looks quite young," Xu Songning said with a smile.
Her relaxed eyebrows and eyes resembled distant green mountains, unlike the cold indifference she displayed when she didn't speak at first meeting.
Song Qing'an felt more confident and started talking more, "Everyone jokes that flying a plane is like working out in an airborne gym, which is why you don't look old. Miss Xu looks about the same age as Xiao Meng?"
“No, I’m 27, almost 28,” Xu Songning replied.
The man's surprise was genuine. "It's quite unexpected. If I didn't know that it takes several years of internship in air traffic control before you can fly solo, I would have thought you just graduated."
"Sister Xu is amazing! She only studied with her master for a year and can now direct on her own." Lu Xiaomeng was busy at work, but she didn't forget to praise Sister Xu.
"Miss Xu is really amazing. Let's add each other on WeChat. We can hang out together sometime." Song Qing'an smiled and handed over his phone.
Xu Songning didn't hesitate, and the two scanned the QR code to add each other as friends. The other captains also joined in the fun, as having more friends meant having more options. Those who didn't have any friends on the show took the opportunity to add each other as friends.
Zhou Qiao and Lu Xiaomeng opened the bottles, and the first bottle was handed to Xu Songning.
"Sister Xu, you're off tomorrow too, you can't refuse this drink!" Lu Xiaomeng chuckled.
"Happy birthday, Xiaomeng. I wish everyone here a safe journey." Xu Songning raised the wine bottle.
The captain, who has another flight tomorrow, held up a non-alcoholic beverage and said, "Since we can't drink alcohol 12 hours before the flight, we're using a beverage instead."
Song Qing'an probably didn't have any tasks, so he picked up the wine bottle on Xu Songning's left.
After clinking glasses and drinking freely, Lu Xiaomeng received everyone's blessings in the center of the crowd. As the bottles clinked, she, who looked small, had an amazing capacity for alcohol, and finished a bottle of wine with her hands on her hips.
"How is Miss Xu's alcohol tolerance?" Song Qing'an asked.
Xu Songning took a sip, the clear and spicy liquor rushing into her mouth and coating the taste buds on her tongue.
She shook her head and laughed, "Not very good."
"Then let's drink less. What would you like to eat?" Song Qing'an put the bottle on the table, stood up, and planned to go to the bar to order food.
Xu Songning thought for a moment, "Oranges."
Song Qing'an went to the bar, and soon a waiter brought over the food. In addition to the oranges that Xu Songning had ordered, there were also many other heartwarming dishes.
"Wow, our Captain Song is so thoughtful! Is it for Miss Xu's sake?" someone nearby teased.
Song Qing'an remained silent, but smiled and handed the orange to Xu Songning.
The cut orange revealed its bright orange segments, and its sweet and sour juice exuded a refreshing aroma.
Xu Songning peeled and ate a few pieces, her hands covered in sticky juice. She wiped her hands with a tissue, but still felt uncomfortable.
"I'm going to wash my hands." Xu Songning got up. Her outfit today didn't have pockets, and her phone was on the table.
"Are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to come with you?" Song Qing'an stood up.
"No need." Xu Songning waved his hand and walked out in his comfortable flat shoes.
She knew the bar so well that she could find the restrooms even when the lighting was dim.
As Xu Songning passed by the bar, someone came in. A gust of cold wind blew in from outside, shaking the wind chimes. The clear sound of the wind chimes rang out. Xu Songning looked over and met a pair of light-colored eyes.
The man standing at the door took off his trench coat, his expression indifferent. His striking features were so captivating that everyone in the bar was drawn to him.
The man saw Xu Songning in a simple black dress and tilted his head slightly in surprise, as if he were sizing her up.
Xu Songning withdrew his gaze, calmly walked over, and gently pinched them together with his thumb and forefinger. The gelatinous residue made them stick together, and he had to use force to separate them.
After she left, the man smelled a fresh orange scent on the wind, which brushed against his face.
"Brother Yun, over here!" Someone waved to the man.
Xiang Yun then came to his senses, rubbed his temples, and realized that he had made a fuss over nothing and must have mistaken the person for someone else.
The warm water washed over Xu Songning's slender, white hands, and as she rubbed them together, she felt somewhat uneasy.
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