Chapter 23 – Tomorrow’s Meeting

Because they had agreed to meet the next day, the two ended their evening early.

Bian Ji didn’t linger in the city center for too long. Before leaving, Yan Ankuo said to him, “We’ll meet tomorrow” — he unintentionally slipped in some Shanghai dialect, which Bian Ji found pleasant to hear, so he asked him to repeat it.

Yan Ankuo asked how one would say the phrase in his native tongue, so Bian Ji tried his best to mimic it. Thus, a simple “goodbye” was exchanged three times between them, each with a strong implication that they would indeed see each other the next day.

However, Murphy’s Law never fails to disappoint. Just as Bian Ji was humming a tune on his way home, their plan to meet the next day was shattered.

People from his company group chat started tagging him, throwing multiple links his way, urging him to check the news immediately.

At first, Bian Ji thought he might have committed a grave error, causing him a momentary scare, but upon opening the link, he realized it was about an incident from over a month ago.

The AD801 flight incident — the company had already released its investigation results, which initially caused a minor stir but didn’t generate significant public reaction. This time, however, it resurfaced due to a similar mid-air fire event involving another international airline. After landing, there were multiple flare-ups of fire, leading to passenger panic and stampedes, taking seven whole minutes just to evacuate the aircraft, unfortunately resulting in five fatalities. As a result, AD801, the flight where no lives were lost, was once again brought to the forefront of public attention, trending on social media platforms.

The news article forwarded to Bian Ji contained a video of the cabin crew coordinating the evacuation of passengers during the incident.

In the footage, the purser, dressed in a dark blue uniform, forcefully pulled a passenger attempting to retrieve luggage toward the escape slide, clearing a safe passage for those behind him while systematically guiding others through alternative exits. Flight attendants at various positions quickly took their places; some hoarsely shouted instructions despite their condition, while others sustained multiple abrasions from managing the crowd.

Many aviation enthusiasts, along with individuals who had never flown before, praised the efforts of the crew in the comment section.

[“The fire looked scarier than today’s incident! Thank goodness for the professionalism of the crew and the cooperation of the passengers!”][The flight attendants were all so calm! I’d probably be terrified out of my wits if I were them! One of the flight attendants had her uniform torn and was barefoot, yet she stood her ground with a fire extinguisher to contain the fire source.][“I was on that flight. They were truly remarkable. They put out the fire promptly and kept us informed. Despite the severe turbulence, they managed to stabilize the situation. With only six of the eight cabin doors operational, they still evacuated everyone swiftly. And, they only disembarked after ensuring everyone else was safely off the plane.][Thumbs up to the crew][Who is that purser? He’s handsome. Three minutes, contact information, you know what I mean?] Bian Ji was taken aback for quite some time before realizing that the “purser” they were referring to was himself.

After exiting the group chat, he received a call from the company. The administrative department inquired if he was available the next day to participate in an interview regarding the fire accident.

Initially, due to the pending investigation results, the crew members couldn’t make public appearances. Now that everything was settled, it was the perfect opportunity for positive publicity. However, Bian Ji had to decline due to his prior commitment. “Sorry, I have plans with a friend tomorrow. Could we schedule it for another time?”

The administrator was also in a bind since the journalist had other companies to visit the next day. The subsequent video production and review process needed to adhere to a tight release schedule. Moreover, Bian Ji had a flight scheduled for the day after, and he wouldn’t return until the following week. By then, the optimal promotional window would have passed. Additionally, the other crew members involved had already cleared their schedules for the next day, making further adjustments inconvenient.

Despite attempts to find a suitable time, the media company’s coordinator had no choice but to approach Bian Ji again, asking if he could possibly postpone his meeting with his friend. After much hesitation, Bian Ji reluctantly explained the situation to Yan Ankuo via screenshots.

“It’s alright,” Yan Ankuo reassured him, “you should take care of your business first.”

“I sincerely apologize. I didn’t anticipate this happening,” Bian Ji repeatedly apologized. Eventually, even Yan Ankuo couldn’t bear it anymore, mentioning that he also had work to do at the office, urging Bian Ji not to worry.

The next morning, Bian Ji arrived at the company for an overtime shift. This wasn’t his first encounter with the media. In the past, he had been frequently called upon for company promotional videos, but it was his first time reviewing the incident alongside the crew.

The accident had been meticulously analyzed countless times during the investigation period, so recounting it in front of the camera wasn’t particularly challenging. Bian Ji possessed a commendable appearance and eloquence, which led to him being assigned more questions than others. The session finally concluded in the afternoon.

“Thank you, Mr. Bian.” The reporter shook hands with him, smiling. “Sorry for taking up your time.”

“No problem, you’ve also worked hard,” Bian Ji politely responded. Tentatively, he asked, “May I ask… can I leave now?”

The reporter appeared hesitant. “I’m sorry, but you’ll need to wait a bit longer. Mr. Nie and the others haven’t finished yet. We have a few group shots that require reshoots later.”

Bian Ji glanced anxiously at his watch.

The reporter inquired, “Do you have something urgent to attend to?”

“It’s fine,” Bian Ji smiled. “I’ll wait.”

Bian Ji wasn’t sure why he felt so eager to leave work. After all, his plans with Yan Ankuo had been canceled, and there was nothing particularly appealing waiting for him at home after work. Perhaps it was simply because the sunlight outside was quite nice, Bian Ji reasoned with himself.

Nie Hang’s interview concluded at 1:00 PM. The team then went to the iconic aircraft location to reshoot several routine scenes. It wasn’t until 3:00 PM that they finally wrapped up.

Before leaving, Nie Hang asked Bian Ji if he wanted to grab dinner together, suggesting they visit Qiao Yuan.

Bian Ji hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

“Why not?” Nie Hang asked, “Do you have other plans?”

Bian Ji vaguely replied, “Yeah, I want to go home first.”

“In that case, I’ll go alone,” said Nie Hang.

“Okay, please convey my greetings to him. Let’s gather again after the trial concludes,” Bian Ji bid farewell, quickly pressing the elevator button and pointing at his watch. “Shall I be on my way then?”

“OK, see you later.”

Due to the interviews, Bian Ji had originally worn his uniform, which he needed to change out of in the locker room before leaving. By the time he hit the road, it was already 3:30 PM.

To the right was the route back to his apartment, and to the left was the inner ring road. Bian Ji glanced at his watch, hesitating for three seconds before turning left, switching lanes, and continuing his high-speed drive on the elevated road.

As he approached BFC, Bian Ji sent a message to Yan Ankuo.

Bian Ji: [Where are you?]

Yan Ankuo replied promptly: [Working overtime.]

Bian Ji was surprised: [You really had something to do?]

Yan Ankuo: [What else?]

Bian Ji’s guilt over canceling their date was slightly alleviated. He looked up at the familiar law firm billboard, feigning ignorance as he asked: [Can I come find you then?]

Yan Ankuo played along: [Why?]

The ambiguous question left Bian Ji uncertain whether Yan Ankuo was merely inquiring or subtly rejecting him.