Upon hearing the news that Cen Yao had returned, Cheng Xue was happier than if she had won a million-dollar jackpot.
She really hadn't been accustomed to the days without Cen Yao.
"Yao Yao, I don't have a flight this afternoon. Shall we go out for a meal to celebrate your reinstatement?"
Cen Yao nodded, but before that, she needed to go see Manager Zhou first.
She knocked on the office door and only entered after receiving a response.
Inside the office, Manager Zhou was on the phone with someone, his shrewd face filled with flattery.
"Okay, okay, okay, please rest assured, I will take care of it."
After hanging up the phone, the flattery on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his usual indifference.
He crossed his hands and glanced up at Cen Yao.
"You should be grateful for your good luck. The higher-ups conducted a thorough investigation and, considering you were thinking about the bigger picture, they've decided not to hold you accountable this time. However, in the future, you must not be so rash. Good fortune doesn't come around every time."
"Why did the company suddenly..."
"Enough, why ask so many questions? Aren't you happy that the punishment was revoked?"
"No..."
"In any case, it's the decision of the higher-ups. If there's nothing else, you can leave."
Cheng Xue had booked the company cafeteria for the meal, not because she was stingy. It was just that the chefs in the company cafeteria were specially hired from abroad at great expense, and their cooking skills were much better than those of any five-star hotel outside.
Going out of her way was definitely not her style.
Adhering to the principle of having a lively atmosphere, she also invited Gu Chinan and a few other colleagues from the same flight. Unfortunately, Gu Chinan dragged Shao Xichen along as well.
"Yao Yao, I really didn't expect Gu Chinan to invite Shao Xichen," Cheng Xue explained in a low voice, worried that Cen Yao might misunderstand.
Since the incident, she had changed her address of Shao Xichen from Senior Brother Shao to Shao Xichen, making her stance clear.
Naturally, Cen Yao understood. They all worked together; how could Cheng Xue invite everyone else and leave out Shao Xichen?
"Sister Yao Yao, congratulations on your reinstatement."
Li Li was the first to raise her glass.
"Thank you." Cen Yao smiled slightly and downed her drink in one go, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Shao Xichen.
His face was cold, and he hadn't spoken a word since sitting down. Regardless of how others celebrated Cen Yao's reinstatement, he remained indifferent.
He seemed to have been dragged here for no reason, even looking somewhat reluctant.
If he was so unwilling, it would have been better to refuse outright rather than come.
"Captain Shao, which airline did you work for before?"
Li Li finally mustered the courage to speak to Shao Xichen, emboldened by the alcohol.
"I was in the Air Force."
"A lot of people in the company are ex-Air Force. Where did you come from?"
"937."
"Wow, that's the most elite unit in the country, which has flown many major missions!"
"Mhm."
Shao Xichen was economical with words, his expression cold. As he spoke, his dark eyes glanced towards Cen Yao's direction.
Li Li was excited and wanted to continue chatting with Shao Xichen, but he fell silent.
When Cen Yao heard Shao Xichen mention retirement, she was momentarily lost in thought, remembering back to the years...
Cheng Xue's expression was somewhat provocative as she deliberately said, "Captain Shao, aren't you going to congratulate Yao Yao?"
Without his help, Yao Yao was fine anyway! Hmph, jerk!
Cen Yao subtly tugged at Cheng Xue's sleeve and gave her a look.
Suddenly, the air around them became awkward.
Shao Xichen glanced at Cen Yao, about to speak, but his phone rang.
He looked down and said, "Sorry, I need to take this call."
It had to be said that the call came at just the right time.
"Sister Yao Yao, do you know Captain Shao from before?" Li Li leaned over to Cen Yao and asked in a faint voice.
"No, I don't."
Li Li was skeptical and didn't quite believe it.
A dozen minutes later, Shao Xichen returned and said he had something to attend to before leaving.
Before he left, he cast a meaningful glance at Cen Yao, but Cen Yao pretended not to notice as she continued to eat and drink.
It was Cen Yao who had been reinstated, yet Cheng Xue seemed happier than she was. Overjoyed, she inevitably drank a bit too much.
"Cen Yao, why don't I help you take Cheng Xue back?"
Among those present, Gu Chinan was the only man, and it was only natural for him to take on the responsibility of ensuring the safe return of the female colleagues.
"No need, Xiao Xue's boyfriend will pick her up later. I'll wait with her for a while, but I'll trouble you with those few over there," she said, glancing towards the others who had passed out drunk on the sofa.
At night, the cold wind whistled sharply, and Cen Yao couldn't help but shiver.
By the roadside, Cheng Xue hung limply on Cen Yao like a sloth, completely unconscious.
In a short while, a black sedan stopped smoothly in front of the two.
"Why did you drink so much?"
Fang Shaoqing got out of the car and hurriedly took Cheng Xue from Cen Yao's arms, carefully holding her in his embrace. Despite his scolding tone, his concern was evident in his eyes.
"It's rare for everyone to get together, and she got carried away with the excitement."
Fang Shaoqing had been dating Cheng Xue for three years, and during this time, he had taken meticulous care of her, meeting all her requests.
Cen Yao had seen all this with her own eyes, and as a friend, she was truly happy for Cheng Xue, even envious of her having such a relationship.
However, she assumed she would never meet such a person in her life.
"You should take her back quickly, and remember to make her some hangover soup."
"And you? Get in the car."
"No need to trouble you."
They weren't going the same way, and she didn't want to bother Fang Shaoqing, lest she disturb their romantic time.
It was late at night when she returned home. Cen Yao leaned tiredly against the elevator wall, closing her eyes for a moment of rest, though it was fleeting.
The moment the elevator doors opened, she was met with darkness. The corridor lights had been broken for months, and despite mentioning it many times to the landlord, no one had come to replace them.
She took out her phone and turned on the flashlight to illuminate the dim light.
As she walked in, she suddenly saw a tall, dark shadow standing at her doorstep, clearly the outline of a man.
Instantly, her mind began to imagine a scene of a serial killer in the dead of night. Although she couldn't see his face clearly, she could still feel his burning gaze.
Without thinking, she turned and headed towards the elevator entrance.
After taking only a couple of steps, the man behind her caught up, grabbing her wrist in three strides.
[The text ends here. If there is more content, please provide it for translation.]