Chapter 69 – A Good Night’s Sleep Today

Despite Bian Ji’s decisive invitation today, Yan Ankuo ultimately did not stay in the bedroom. He had cradled Bian Ji in his arms for a long time, finally managing to lull him to sleep, before tiptoeing out to the living room and lying back down on the couch.

Yan Ankuo had previously thought that Bian Ji had merely developed an overly independent streak from a young age, never expecting that there was such a thick psychological barrier behind it.

Thinking about it now, asking Bian Ji to meet his friends, to stay at his place, and even to share his family and social circle with him were all daunting challenges for Bian Ji.

Despite the difficulty, Bian Ji was making an effort, even letting his last line of defense slip tonight.

Yan Ankuo turned over, his heart aching, anxiety, worry, self-reproach, and moved all mingling together, making it hard for him to fall asleep. He strained his ears to listen to the steady breathing coming from the bedroom.

— Melting ice was indeed no easy feat, but he didn’t want to simply hack it open either. He was afraid it would hurt.

In the wee hours of the morning, Yan Ankuo finally felt a light drowsiness coming over him, just as he was about to close his eyes, when he suddenly heard rustling sounds from the bedroom.

“Bian Ji?” Yan Ankuo whispered through the wall.

There was no response. Worried something might have happened, Yan Ankuo tiptoed to the bedroom door and peered inside.

The door wasn’t fully closed, swinging open with a gentle push.

The room was pitch black, so dark that one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face. All he could hear was Bian Ji’s soft, hurried breathing.

“It’s alright.” Bian Ji sat up, curling into himself and hugging his legs. “I had a nightmare.”

Yan Ankuo asked, “Can I come in?”

Bian Ji nodded, “Mm.”

Yan Ankuo walked to the bedside, taking a towel to wipe away the sweat on Bian Ji’s forehead, then pulled him into his arms, singing softly as he comforted him. “Dreams are fake, they’ve passed.”

“Mm.” Bian Ji was still in a daze after waking from his nightmare, responding sluggishly.

Yan Ankuo hummed softly, recalling the lullaby his mother used to sing when he was a child, gently kneading his hair.

As Bian Ji drifted off to sleep again under the melody, he asked quietly, “I’ve been wanting to ask you, what song is that?”

“A lullaby,” Yan Ankuo switched from his local dialect to Mandarin, the lyrics saying,

“Even the insects rest, while the soft breeze sighs.”

“No need for tears, I wish you only smiles.”

“My sweet little one, it’s time to close your eyes.”

Bian Ji opened his eyes slightly. “Have I heard this song many times before?”

“Yes,” Yan Ankuo smiled. “When we played games, and I lost, the punishment you set was for me to sing a song.”

Bian Ji chuckled, “So you sang this to me back then too?”

“Yes.”

“Sneakily calling me darling, you’re too bad.”

“Mm, I’m bad.” Yan Ankuo rubbed his hair again, as if stroking a fluffed-up Samoyed. “Go back to sleep.”

He kissed Bian Ji on the forehead, using the tune of the lyrics, “Very good, very cute… baby.”

Yan Ankuo had a faint fragrance that had a calming effect on Bian Ji. In his arms, Bian Ji slowly closed his eyes. Perhaps due to the exhausting nightmare, he quickly fell asleep again.

Seeing his breathing become steady, Yan Ankuo laid him gently on the pillow, tiptoed back to the couch, and lay down under a blanket.

The next morning, Bian Ji woke up groggily, rubbing his head. He subconsciously reached out to feel beside him, finding it empty.

“Where is he?”

Bian Ji got out of bed barefoot, rushing out of the bedroom in panic, only to find Yan Ankuo curled up on the couch.

The man, standing at 186 cm tall, was squeezed onto a two-seater sofa barely 180 cm long, unable to stretch his legs. Perhaps due to not getting much sleep throughout the night, Yan Ankuo was still fast asleep, his eyelids fluttering lightly like those of a sleeping infant, with stubble sprouting on his chin.

Bian Ji suddenly felt a pang of heartache, squatting down and gently touching the new stubble on his face.

Yan Ankuo woke up soon after, smiling when he saw Bian Ji in front of him, stretching leisurely.

“You should go to bed,” Bian Ji said tenderly. “Get some more sleep.”

Yan Ankuo shook his head, his eyes still half-closed, yawning. “No more sleep, I have to go to the office today.”

Aren’t you tired? Your dark circles are really heavy.” Bian Ji sat on the edge of the couch, concerned.

“Tired,” Yan Ankuo flipped over, pulling Bian Ji to sit beside him, wrapping his arm around him. “That’s why I need some motivation from you.”

Bian Ji straddled the couch, sitting on Yan Ankuo’s lap, leaning forward to kiss his chin.

“This is called motivation?” Bian Ji laughed. “You sound like a thug.”

Yan Ankuo didn’t back down, lowering his head to nip at his lips. “I’ll be a thug then.”

Their lips brushed against each other gently, occasionally someone would use their teeth or tongue to make the other wince.

The morning intimacy didn’t last long, one of them was in a rush to get to the law firm, while the other’s phone was ringing insistently.

After Yan Ankuo left, Bian Ji answered the call, hearing Tang Xiaoge urging anxiously, “Are you out yet? President Gao will be here in half an hour!”

“Don’t rush me, I’m on my way.” Bian Ji calmly pulled out a few washcloths, starting to clean the water off the countertop. “What’s the hurry? I’ll definitely be there before him.”

Tang Xiaoge scoffed. “Oh really? Since when do streets outside your house have running water sounds?”

“Ah, can’t it just be raining?” Bian Ji laughed. “I’m the one who caused trouble and I’m not worried, why are you so nervous?”

A long sigh came from the other end of the line. “You’re so carefree! Aren’t you afraid that this matter will drag on for half a year or more, and eventually end up in court?”

“It definitely won’t.” Bian Ji joked, balled up the facial wipes, threw them in the trash, and took the garbage bag out. “You’re the golden-tongued speaker of X Airlines, who could argue better than you?”

Tang Xiaoge was speechless, urging him to leave immediately before hanging up the phone.

Bian Ji and Tang Xiaoge waited in the reception area for twenty minutes before Gao Jian finally finished his meeting.

An assistant walked over to Tang Xiaoge, saying, “Manager Tang, President Gao wants you to come in.”

Bian Ji wondered, “He didn’t call for me?”

The assistant apologized. “President Gao said he’ll call for you later, he has something else to do first.”

Tang Xiaoge, having lost her ally, could only enter alone, describing their purpose in the most concise and efficient language possible, emphasizing that the team had already intervened multiple times with the patient’s family. She explained that the current outcome was the result of everyone’s efforts, delivering her appeal passionately and reasonably, begging for the leader’s approval.

Gao Jian was a kind person. After listening, he merely smiled faintly, telling her not to worry and that he would help coordinate resources.

Tang Xiaoge hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly, saying happily, “Thank you, President Gao,” and walked out with a light step.

Seeing her expression, Bian Ji knew the matter was settled. He asked softly, “President Gao agreed just like that?”

Tang Xiaoge said mysteriously, “He said he’ll handle it, it should be fine!”

Bian Ji gave her a thumbs up. “I told you, your mouth is unbeatable.”

Tang Xiaoge clicked her tongue. “Hurry in, less chatter, he’s calling for you.”

Bian Ji was puzzled. “Isn’t everything solved? Why does he still need me?”

Tang Xiaoge shrugged. “How would I know?”

Confused, Bian Ji followed the assistant in, knocked on the door, and called out, “President Gao.”

The office was decorated in a grand yet old-fashioned style, with a pot of lucky bamboo on the rosewood desk. President Gao looked up from behind the potted plant, saying, “Sit down.”

Bian Ji sat across from him, greeting cautiously, “Hello, President Gao.”

Gao Jian crossed his hands, placing them on the table, asking, “Do you know why I called you here this time?”

Bian Ji tilted his head slightly, thinking for a moment before answering, “It should be to understand the proposal I submitted previously, right?”

Gao Jian narrowed his eyes, leaning forward with a somewhat oppressive demeanor. “You’re quite smart.”

“I was worried the whole time I was coming in that you might be hesitant to publicly apologize due to the company’s reputation. But since you chose to agree to the apology, it proves that you have more thoughts on the matter.” Bian Ji took a bold guess. “Think about it, the only thing related to this recently was that hearing.”

Gao Jian looked at him with interest, neither confirming nor denying. “I wasn’t present at that hearing, only Old Xing went. When they returned, they only told me that the timing for reform wasn’t ripe yet, and the proposal was put on hold. The others didn’t loosen their lips, so I didn’t ask further.”

Bian Ji, as a party involved, nodded in understanding.

Gao Jian continued, “But you also know that there have been more and more accidents involving cabin services recently, and headquarters is increasingly concerned about this issue. So this time, I called you here to ask about the specifics of that proposal.”

Old Xing handled financial management duties and was one of the people who strongly opposed the reform of cabin services during the hearing at that time. Rumors had it that he was part of General Zuo’s faction. The matter involved the division of interests among higher-ups, resource competition, and intricate twists and turns. Bian Ji wasn’t interested and didn’t bother to figure it out. He only cared about achieving what he had consistently pursued.

Bian Ji reported truthfully, “In the report I submitted previously, I did list the risks of short-staffed flight attendants and scarce emergency equipment on flights. At the time, the review committee probably felt that they met medical standards, so they shelved it along with the other proposals.”

Gao Jian frowned, pondering the complex relationships behind this outcome. After a long while, he shook his head with a frown. “Enough, let’s move on.”

“President Gao, you also mentioned earlier that since the AD801 incident, the proportion of penalties for the cabin service department has increased by 20% compared to last year. Just from me alone, I received two complaints, all related to service quality.”

Bian Ji tried to phrase his words tactfully. “I’m not saying I’m completely blameless, but looking at both the third-party investigation results and external feedback, they all reflect that the disciplinary outcomes were excessively harsh.”

Gao Jian had been transferred to this position from the group for five years, having seen countless roundabout ways of seeking favors, forming cliques, and scheming. He was impressed by Bian Ji’s straightforward approach to fighting for his interests. He patiently kept his hands in his pockets. “So, your proposal is to make cabin service a bit easier?”

“Not easier,” Bian Ji emphasized. “It’s about putting more focus on safety.”

As he spoke, Bian Ji found the process he had once submitted on the intranet, downloaded the self-inspection report from it, and presented it to Gao Jian, explaining each point he had listed during the hearing.

Gao Jian looked at him with an approving gaze.

“Of course, this is just a survey of the flight attendants’ thoughts, there must be immature aspects.” Bian Ji said modestly. “I just think that leaders should want a more comprehensive understanding of frontline work.”

After hearing this, Gao Jian threw his head back and burst out laughing. “You’ve said all the good and bad things, showing me so much, isn’t it just to accuse us?”

Bian Ji hurriedly said, “How could that be? President Gao agreeing to have the company take the lead this time, you’re protecting me, I should thank you.”

“Tsk, such eloquence.” Gao Jian shook his head helplessly. “Alright, don’t get too worked up about the cabin service system. The old experience has been used for so many years, it’s not a simple matter to suddenly change it.”

Bian Ji nodded. “I understand.”

Gao Jian smiled kindly. “About this matter, how about leading a survey? Can you handle it?”

Bian Ji was taken aback for a moment, realizing what he meant and said, flattered, “I only understand a small part of cabin management, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to lead?”

“You’ll work with Old Li.” Gao Jian was always good at utilizing people’s strengths. Director Li and Tang Xiaoge were both soldiers he had brought up, and this was no exception for Bian Ji. “You’ll be responsible for the groundwork on the frontlines, Old Li will handle the top-level design, and Little Tang will take care of legal matters. Before the end of this year, I want to see new rules that can actually be implemented. Can you do it?”

Bian Ji jumped up, his voice rising a few decibels. “Yes! Thank you, President Gao!”