Turning to Shu Tong, he was dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt with the top two buttons undone, revealing his collarbones—a wheat-toned display of both sensuality and wildness. Paired with deep blue trousers and a belt cinched at the waist, his 1.83-meter frame stood tall, a beige coat draped casually over his elbow. Anyone who saw him couldn't help but steal a second glance.
The moment Luo Mei caught sight of Shu Tong, her peach-blossom eyes narrowed with delight. She greedily scanned him from head to toe, as if every strand of his hair brought her immense joy.
The company car dropped them off at the airport. As soon as they arrived, Shu Tong handed his luggage to Su Qing and said, "Give me your IDs. I'll handle the check-in for you. If you have any luggage to check, pass it to me."
With that, all three handed their IDs to Shu Tong, though neither Su Qing nor Shu Tong had any checked luggage. The three of them stood to the side, chatting.
"Seems like Xiao Mei has become a key player in our company now. I heard as soon as I got back that you've closed several deals in the past six months. Truly, the younger generation surpasses the old. Xiao Mei, despite her youth, is practically a rising star."
"Oh, stop. It's only because Sister Yuan Hua wasn't around that I got lucky. Sister Yuan Hua is a seasoned pro—one person worth three. How could I ever compare? Sister Yuan Hua, after half a year of training abroad, will surely return as the company's leading heroine, holding up half the sky."
"Xiao Mei, you're exaggerating. We're just employees, doing what the boss tells us. Our job is to run errands and handle our own responsibilities—nothing more," Yuan Hua quickly interjected with a laugh, waving her hand dismissively at Luo Mei.
"Still, Xiao Mei sure knows how to flatter. Everyone loves hearing compliments, even if they're a bit inflated. But then again, don't we all enjoy a little praise?" Su Qing teased with a grin.
"No wonder Sister Yuan Hua succeeds at everything—she's so humble."
Luo Mei smiled sweetly, though her gaze never left Shu Tong.
After a while, Shu Tong returned with the boarding passes and distributed them. He casually took Su Qing's luggage, and they all proceeded through security together.
Once past security, they boarded the plane and found their assigned seats. Yuan Hua and Luo Mei sat together, while Su Qing was seated next to Shu Tong—directly behind the other two.
Noticing the arrangement, Yuan Hua turned and gave Shu Tong a knowing wink and smile. Who would've thought he'd go out of his way to sit beside Su Qing? Well, it was a good opportunity to let them bond.
Passengers gradually settled into their seats.
Soon, a sweet voice announced over the intercom:
"Ladies and gentlemen, our plane is about to take off. Please ensure your seatbelts are securely fastened and all electronic devices are turned off. Thank you!"
At that moment, Luo Mei, seated beside Yuan Hua, suddenly spoke up: "I want to switch seats with Sister Su Qing. I need to talk to Shu Tong about something."
Without waiting for Yuan Hua's response, she unbuckled her seatbelt, bent down, and whispered to Su Qing behind her: "Sister Su Qing, could you swap seats with Sister Yuan Hua? I just need a quick word with Shu Tong. Thanks."
Su Qing blinked in confusion, glancing at Shu Tong, who also looked puzzled. "Why switch seats now? Whatever it is, can't it wait until after the flight? It's not urgent, right? Hurry back—we're about to take off," Shu Tong said, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face.
"Sister Su Qing, come on, hurry up, let's switch!" Luo Mei's smiling face was tinged with urgency. Su Qing had no choice but to stand and let her pass, then sidled into Yuan Hua's seat.
The moment she sat down, Yuan Hua shot her a glare and whispered in her ear: "Why did you give up your seat so easily?"
"What else could I do? She was standing there, insisting. I couldn't just leave her there awkwardly," Su Qing whispered back.
"I knew something was off about that girl today—she's got her eyes on Shu Tong. Didn't you notice? She couldn't stop staring at him. Now you've wasted his effort to sit with you."
"Honestly, they look like a perfect match—talented and attractive. I don't think I'm good enough for him. I can't even imagine a future together. I'm scared he'd regret it. I've already been hurt once in marriage—I really don't want to go through that again." Su Qing's voice was soft, her eyes dimming slightly.
"Don't say that. So what if you're divorced? Does that mean you don't deserve happiness? Don't let one bad experience with a snake…"