The plane skimmed through the clouds.
On the screen diagonally ahead, the time was displayed.
Lin Yi knew that in another hour, the plane would land.
But the place he had once desperately longed to return to now filled him with a hint of fear.
Near home, yet homesick.
Failing to return in glory was a knot in his heart.
He didn’t know how to face Zhang Long’s aging parents.
Sambalo still had a mother, stranded overseas.
As a failure, Lin Yi couldn’t bear to face them.
“Sir, would you like something to drink?”
During his silence, a young flight attendant approached, wearing an airline-customized cheongsam, flesh-colored stockings over her legs, bent slightly as she spoke to Lin Yi.
“You’ve asked me this four times already. Don’t you ever stop?”
The flight attendant froze, surprised by Lin Yi’s cold tone.
He had been polite during earlier encounters—why was he suddenly acting like this toward her?
“I’m sorry to disturb you.”
The flight attendant forced a professional smile and turned to leave.
But as she walked away, her expression cooled and she returned to the break area.
“Just because he’s good-looking, he acts like he’s above everyone else!”
“Alright, let’s stop trying—we can’t do much if he isn’t interested,” another flight attendant offered.
“I think he’s just pretending to be aloof!”
“Calm down. After all, he’s sitting in first class—he’s not your average guy.”
“Tch, looking at him, he doesn’t seem wealthy. Maybe some rich mistress bought the ticket for him.”
“Anyway, clearly we don’t stand a chance. Let’s just stop engaging with him.”
Since the flight attendant left, Lin Yi’s surroundings quieted down significantly.
The other female passengers in first class gave up on attempting to make conversation with Lin Yi.
They shared the flight attendants’ opinion: this man was putting on airs.
More than an hour passed before the plane landed at Yanjing Airport.
As Lin Yi disembarked, the Central Guards Brigade was already waiting below the aircraft.
A fleet of over ten vehicles, all bearing the black background and white-lettered plates, lined up uniformly.
At the head of the group were Liang Xianghe and Ning Che.
Passengers exiting the plane were startled by the scene.
It was the first time any of them had witnessed vehicles parked directly beneath an aircraft!
And all sporting such distinctive black-and-white plates!
Faced with this spectacle, it was impossible not to be astonished.
For these onlookers, this was unquestionably a major event.
“What happened? Why are so many military personnel here, with cars pulled up right to the airplane?”
Witnessing the scene, people began quietly discussing.
“Probably here to pick someone up.”
“But who would merit such pomp and circumstance?”
“Hard to say. Let’s just watch the show for now.”
Even Lin Yi was taken aback by the display. Had they gone overboard?
What truly surprised and delighted Lin Yi was seeing Liang Ruoxu among the crowd.
Nearly three months had passed, and her belly had grown significantly larger.
Lin Yi calculated—her due date was very near.
At this stage, it wouldn’t be surprising if she went into early labor and needed to be rushed to the hospital at any moment.
Out of courtesy, Lin Yi stepped forward to greet Liang Xianghe first.
“You coming personally to pick me up—it’s making me feel a bit embarrassed.”
Witnesses exiting the plane were astonished by this exchange.
No one had expected the seemingly arrogant man to command such privilege.
Especially the flight attendants who had tried to chat him up—their reactions were tinged with self-consciousness now.