The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Shancheng International Airport.

"Dear passengers, boarding for CA2647 to Yuncheng International Airport is now open. Passengers with boarding passes for this flight, please proceed to gate A26 and queue in order to check in. Have a pleasant journey."

"Linlin, Qi Yu, are you really not coming back to Yuncheng with us?"

Outside the boarding gate, Xu Xi held Zhao Lin's hand, her big, watery eyes sparkling with heartache and reluctance.

Zhao Lin and Qi Yu exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"Yes, I've found my next place to teach. I'm flying to Xinjiang Province soon. The conditions there are even worse than in Meishu Village, so I need to get there and settle in as soon as possible."

Qi Yu's dark face tightened, and he forced a smile, his white teeth standing out against his skin.

He patted Xu Nian on the shoulder: "Brother Xu, when you get married to Xu Xi, remember to send me an invitation. I'll come back even if it means taking an oxcart to sit at the kids' table and give them a big pat on the back."

"screw you!"

Xu Nian rolled her eyes at him, while the girls burst into laughter, and the sadness of parting vanished in an instant.

"Alright, then you all take good care of yourselves."

Xu Xi knew she couldn't keep them, so she sighed, took out a few bags of skincare products from her bag, and stuffed them into Zhao Lin's hands.

"It's windy there, Linlin. Spray on more of this moisturizing lotion and make sure it stays hydrated. Send me your address when you get there, and I'll arrange for some people to come and help you."

"Okay, sure."

Before two best friends part ways, they always have so much to say, from everyday trifles to how much they miss each other.

They reluctantly said goodbye only when the airport announcements began calling out names and urging passengers to board.

Xu Xi and Xu Nian hurriedly checked their tickets and entered the covered bridge.

The jet bridge was long and softly lit, and at the end you could see the huge, unfamiliar airplane parked on the tarmac.

This was Xu Nian's first time on an airplane. He paused, his eyes filled with curiosity, his fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of his clothes, and a hint of unease lurking in his heart.

"Mr. Xu, Ms. Xu, welcome aboard. I am your flight attendant, Xiao Zhou. It's a pleasure to serve you."

The flight attendant smiled warmly, took their backpacks, and led them towards the first-class cabin.

After the two were seated, the flight attendant took out warm towels and handed them to them.

"Mr. Xu, Ms. Xu, today's welcome drinks include warm water, freshly squeezed orange juice, and champagne. Which would you prefer? Also, this flight is 2 hours and 15 minutes long. For lunch, we have Chinese braised beef brisket and Western pan-fried steak. You can choose in advance and I will make a note for you."

Xu Xi was adjusting her seat with her head down, her fingertips still groping on the chair, when Xu Nian subconsciously answered for her.

"Two cups of warm water are fine, and the main course should be braised beef brisket."

After saying that, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and said, "How much? I'll pay you."

The flight attendant smiled and explained, "Sir, since you are a fellow traveler of one of our Gold Card members, the in-flight meals and drinks are complimentary. Please enjoy them without worry. Warm water will be brought to you shortly, and the braised beef brisket has been noted and will be served to you as soon as the flight reaches a stable point."

"Oh...is that so?"

Xu Nian muttered to herself.

The flight attendant patiently explained, "Mr. Xu, Ms. Xu, this flight is bound for Yuncheng International Airport, scheduled to depart at 14:30 and arrive at 16:45. The flight will be smooth throughout and there will be no stops. There are call buttons inside the armrests next to your seats. If you have any needs, such as adjusting your seat angle or getting more drinks, please press the call button and I will come immediately. Also, the seats can be adjusted to a flat position. Would you like me to adjust them for you now?"

Xu Xi looked up and happened to see the embarrassment on her brother's face.

He was probably not used to such thoughtfulness and felt a little uncomfortable.

So she said, "No need, thank you. We'll rest for a bit, and we'll call you if we need anything. Thank you for your help."

"Okay, have a pleasant journey." The flight attendant understood her meaning, said no more, and quietly turned and left.

Xu Nian watched the flight attendant's retreating figure and murmured to herself, "Is airplane service always this enthusiastic?"

Having only ever ridden by train, he had never experienced such treatment before.

Forget about bringing him food and drinks or showing concern for his well-being; sometimes, if he missed his train, the train would just keep going on its own and wouldn't stop to wait for him, leaving him standing alone on the platform, watching the train disappear into the distance.

Xu Xi smiled when she saw the confusion and awkwardness in his eyes, and reached out to help him fasten his seatbelt.

"Brother, for long-distance travel, you can just take a plane. You took the train to this mountain city for more than 30 hours. Your butt must be sore from sitting so long."

"It's alright, the plane tickets are too expensive, not worth it."

Xu Nian couldn't help but feel a pang of pain when she thought about the price of the plane ticket, which was over ten thousand yuan.

Xu Xi sighed and gently pinched the man's waist.

My brother is used to a hard life. Even though life is better now and he no longer has to worry about money, he still can't change his frugal habits and can't bear to part with anything.

She wanted him to enjoy himself, but she also felt sorry for his inherent frugality.

"Dear passengers, welcome aboard this flight. The aircraft is now about to push back. For your safety, please double-check that your seatbelts are fastened and your mobile phones are in airplane mode..."

The aircraft slowly pushed back, taxied gently, then aligned itself with the runway threshold, accelerated, taxied, took off, and lifted off the ground.

Two massive GE-90 engines roared as they propelled the aircraft into the boundless blue sky.

The immense feeling of being pushed back and weightless pressed Xu Nian firmly into her seat, rendering her unable to move.

Cold sweat began to break out on his back, and his legs went weak.

This feeling was so unfamiliar and terrifying.

It felt like sitting on a rapidly ascending roller coaster, my body felt light and airy, yet also like I was being pulled hard, as if I would suddenly plummet to the ground and be smashed to pieces at any moment.

He could only entrust his life and fortune to the pilots in the cockpit, praying again and again that they could steadily control this steel behemoth and ensure safe take-off and landing.

From a young age, he faced the harsh realities of life alone, becoming accustomed to relying on himself and taking control of everything.

But now, sitting on this plane, unable to control his own destiny, this sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him like a tide, and an inexplicable fear rose in his heart, even his fingertips were trembling slightly.

Xu Xi, standing to the side, was not as nervous as him.

She leaned back in her seat, raising her little hands and feet like a relaxed little octopus, her face full of excitement, her eyes sparkling, fully enjoying the thrill of weightlessness.

Having traveled by plane for business years, she was already used to this feeling, and even felt that this weightlessness brought a sense of freedom and pleasure.

Without realizing it, Xu Xi turned her head and noticed the unease in the man beside her.

She smiled slightly and quietly took the man's hand.

Her small hand carried a reassuring warmth, and Xu Nian's pounding heart slowly calmed down.

The tension and fear in my body gradually subsided.

The aircraft gradually climbed to cruising altitude and entered level flight, and the roar of the engines became much softer.

Xu Nian took a deep breath, turned her head, and looked out the porthole. She was instantly speechless with amazement at the view before her.

The tall buildings on the ground have now turned into tiny particles, like grains of sand scattered on a sand table.

The buildings that once towered into the clouds in his eyes now seemed smaller than a finger, pitifully insignificant.

As for the busy pedestrians on the street, they are like a speck of dust, indistinguishable to the naked eye.

As the sun gradually sets and dusk spreads across the sky, it gilds the clouds with a gentle golden edge.

The streetlights on the ground lit up one after another, outlining the contours of the roads. Those crisscrossing roads, like the blood vessels of the city, tightly wrapped around this land, connecting every corner together.

Cars driving on the road, their headlights on, are like blood flowing in veins, hurrying along and injecting life and vitality into the city.

The scenery on the ground kept receding, and even the towering mountains only lingered in the porthole for a brief moment before being left far behind.

Xu Nian slowly raised her hand, placed her palm on the cold porthole, stared wide-eyed in shock, and felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

In the past, travel was slow, and letters took a long time to travel across mountains and seas.

Distance made him forget the past, forget where he came from.

Today, technological advancements have transformed what were once insurmountable barriers into thoroughfares, significantly reducing travel time.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, Xu Nian suddenly understood many things.

He can't stay in the past forever; he needs to adapt to this fast-paced era and the present life as soon as possible.

He shouldn't make those who love him wait too long.