Flight to You Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Flight to You Synopsis
Gu Nanting is the deputy head of the passenger flight department of Luzhou Airlines and is known for his strict self-discipline.
Due to an accidental reforming of the company, he became superior and mentors of Cheng Xiao who has a valiant and unrestrained personality.
When faced with a variety of unexpected aviation incidents, they worked together to fight against and turn danger into success.
Although in the way of solving the crisis, Gu Nanting, who has always pursued stability and order, was often disrupted by Cheng Xiao, who did not follow the usual rules.
But they were still able to successfully solve the difficulties, and gradually overcome their own shortcomings, all the way towards their dreams!
Flight to You Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Cheng Xiao, a co-pilot for Luzhou Airlines' freight department, was on the return leg of a ten-day mission from Switzerland. Piloting the Owl flight to Luzhou Airport, she playfully broadcasted to the animals in the cargo hold that strong showers were expected. While her co-pilot Song Song was exhausted, Cheng Xiao remained enthusiastic, claiming she could fly for another ten days. After a challenging landing, Song Song expressed his admiration for her skill.
Her instructor, Cai, the Chief of the Freight Department, also praised her. When Cheng Xiao later expressed excitement about accumulating 2,700 flight hours, enough to qualify for captain, a burdened Cai postponed further discussion, suggesting they talk at a meeting the following day. He had been on the verge of sharing critical news but decided against it, not wanting to dampen her high spirits.
Meanwhile, Gu Nanting, the meticulous Deputy Director of Luzhou Airlines' Flight Department and a seasoned Boeing 787 captain, was also on a flight, assisted by co-pilot Lin Yicheng and Jiang Tao, the Chief of the Flight Department. Lin Yicheng reminded Jiang Tao that he and President Xu Ce would be attending the airline's award ceremony next week. Jiang Tao, in turn, commended Gu Nanting for his excellent leadership.
As their flight approached Luzhou, facing strong showers and a typhoon predicted to land in nearby Mingzhou, they were instructed to go around. Gu Nanting used this moment to impart a lesson to Lin Yicheng, stressing the extreme caution and responsibility required of a pilot. Luzhou Airport was experiencing heavy rainfall. Gu Nanting's flight, Luzhou 826, had to terminate its approach and perform a go-around, holding at an altitude of 900 meters.
Similarly, Cheng Xiao's flight, Luzhou 838, also faced the adverse conditions. However, after observing the cloud cluster begin to move, Cai gave the order to land. Despite the tower reporting that a preceding aircraft had gone around, Cheng Xiao’s crew confirmed their decision to continue the approach. Gu Nanting skillfully landed his aircraft safely.
Moments later, after the tower announced the airport’s impending closure in ten minutes, Gu Nanting's crew was surprised to see another plane daring to land so late. They realized it was their own airline's freight department flight, with Cheng Xiao bringing her plane down just in the nick of time. After landing, Cheng Xiao headed to the cargo hold to take photos with the animals before changing her clothes.
It was her birthday, and she received belated wishes from her friend Xia Zhi. Simultaneously, her mother pressed her to return home for a blind date that weekend. Cheng Xiao firmly refused, citing a scheduled flight. Her father then took the phone, reassuring her that he would handle her mother and telling Cheng Xiao not to worry about coming back.
Exiting the restroom, Cheng Xiao ran into Gu Nanting, to whom she enthusiastically recounted her landing as so stable it could be "recorded in her personal history." Gu Nanting immediately confronted her, asserting that her landing was ill-advised. He highlighted the 15-meter-per-second crosswind, which was at the company manual's limit, and the risk of hydroplaning. Cheng Xiao fiercely defended her professionalism, insisting she had expertly controlled the aircraft and not violated any regulations.
Gu Nanting cautioned her that while she was lucky this time, luck would not always protect her, emphasizing that pilots must adhere to the strictest standards. The typhoon's strong winds continued to batter the airport. Cheng Xiao, shivering from the cold, found herself waiting for a ride-share that was significantly delayed. Gu Nanting, noticing her predicament as he headed back to the office, offered her a ride, which she politely declined.
After a prolonged wait, she went to the underground parking garage to seek a ride. There, she encountered Ni Zhan from the Maintenance Department, who had just returned from a business trip in America. Recognizing her uniform, Ni Zhan readily agreed to give her a ride to the city, even helping with her luggage. En route, Cheng Xiao chatted with Ni Zhan, discovering they were colleagues.
Ni Zhan noted that she was on her way to becoming a captain and that Luzhou Airlines didn't yet have a female captain. She directed him to the Crow Bar, a frequent haunt for pilots. Inside, she ordered a non-alcoholic Cuba Libre and made a birthday wish to become a captain before 30, fly four million kilometers, visit sixty countries, and own her own home.
Recalling Gu Nanting's critique, she called Cai, who affirmed her judgment, praising her high-level landing skill and reassuring her that her operation was flawless. Content, Cheng Xiao returned home late to her pet parrots. Meanwhile, Gu Nanting also arrived home after working overtime, meticulously pruned his green plants, and set an alarm for 7:08 AM before bed.
The next morning, Gu Nanting encountered a pilot, Zhang Ming, whose hair he deemed "not in line with flight requirements," promptly grounding him for a week. Later, two flight attendants, including Qi Yu, discussed Gu Nanting's renowned strictness. Qi Yu openly expressed her admiration, wondering if he was married.
Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao received the keys to her newly purchased house and met with a designer, determined to create her dream home regardless of the budget, confident her imminent promotion to captain would bring a higher salary. At a strategic meeting, President Xu Ce announced to Jiang Tao and Cai that due to strategic adjustments, the Freight Department would be officially abolished.
He noted that the company had ceased taking new freight orders three months prior, a fact Cai confirmed, admitting he hadn't informed his pilots to avoid dampening their spirits. Xu Ce offered Cai the position of Deputy Director in the Passenger Transport Department, but Cai subtly referred to the retirement report he had already submitted. Unaware, Cheng Xiao excitedly brought her documents to Cai to apply for her captain assessment. It was then that Cai delivered the shocking news.
Cheng Xiao reacted with disbelief and anger, expressing her deep attachment to freight flying. Cai calmly persuaded her, highlighting the advantages of the Passenger Transport Department, playfully mentioning the abundance of single men, and revealing his own intention to retire. Saddened by his decision, Cheng Xiao praised him as her lifelong inspiration—a five-star captain with zero errors. In a tender moment, Cai acknowledged the hardships she had endured as a woman in freight aviation.
Cheng Xiao insisted she loved her work and felt no grievance. Finally, she accepted the change, promising Cai she would work diligently and not embarrass him, sealing the promise with a vow to treat him to dinner once she became a captain.
Episode 2 Recap
Jiang Tao, the director of the Passenger Transport Department, approached President Xu Ce to express his reluctance to accept pilots transferring from the Freight Department. He argued that the freight pilots, influenced by their carefree mentor Cai, lacked the discipline required for passenger transport and would negatively impact the department's image. Gu Nanting, the deputy director, countered that the department needed more pilots for its new routes.
He believed the freight pilots, being well-trained by the airline, deserved a chance provided they passed a strict evaluation. Jiang Tao then specifically objected to transferring Cheng Xiao, citing her "unmarried and childless" status, and suggested recommending her to another airline's freight division. Gu Nanting firmly dismissed this discriminatory view, presenting industry statistics showing that female pilots are in no way inferior to their male counterparts in flight hours, safety records, or availability.
He also noted that his own proposal to recruit female pilots had been stalled for a year. Ultimately, Xu Ce sided with Gu Nanting, emphasizing that all pilots must be treated equally. Defeated, Jiang Tao agreed to proceed with the original plan but insisted that the interview process be exceptionally strict. Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao visited the hangar for a sentimental farewell to "Little Seven," her beloved Boeing 737.
She fondly recalled their first flight together and subsequent missions, feeling a deep reluctance about its impending transfer after renovations. Before leaving, she inscribed her name alongside a heart on the plane's wing. Shortly after, Ni Zhan arrived in the hangar and noticed her signature on the aircraft. Later, Cheng Xiao arrived at the Passenger Transport Department for her interview.
Encountering Gu Nanting, she immediately defended her recent crosswind landing, asserting that her operation complied with all regulations and was well within her capabilities. Gu Nanting conceded she hadn't broken any rules but stressed that pilots should avoid such extreme maneuvers unless absolutely necessary, informing her that he would revise the safety manual to prohibit such actions in the future.
During the interview, Cheng Xiao stated she became a pilot for the freedom, the unique perspective, and the economic independence it provided. Gu Nanting challenged this, emphasizing that the profession demands sacrificing personal freedom for strict adherence to rules and discipline. In response, Cheng Xiao confidently listed her qualifications: 3,500 flight hours over seven years with a perfect record and an Aviation English Level Five certificate.
When Gu Nanting again questioned her judgment regarding the crosswind landing, Cheng Xiao passionately argued that her skill saved the company significant financial losses by avoiding a diversion, and reiterated that her actions violated no existing manuals. Xie Zetian, Director of the Security Department, intervened to table the discussion. Unconvinced, Gu Nanting expressed reservations about her joining the department.
Cheng Xiao then retaliated by pointing out a safety lapse she observed on a recent flight from Hokkaido, where the copilot, Lin Yicheng, failed to make a required in-flight announcement. After verifying the records, Gu Nanting sternly reprimanded Lin Yicheng—who was also Jiang Tao's brother-in-law—and ordered him to write a self-criticism report. Despite proving her point, Gu Nanting concluded that based on her attitude, Cheng Xiao would have to start as an observer if she joined the department.
Cheng Xiao vehemently protested the demotion. Xie Zetian intervened again, suggesting that demoting a pilot qualified for a captain upgrade was inappropriate and proposed an additional flight test. Jiang Tao agreed, arranging a simulator test for the next day to assess her true skills. The following day, Gu Nanting supervised the test. The simulation began with a flight to Shanghai, but a bird strike caused the left engine to fail.
Simultaneously, the simulated captain (played by Gu Nanting) suffered an acute stroke and became incapacitated. Cheng Xiao immediately took command, issuing a PAN-PAN call for an emergency return. Moments later, the right engine also failed, leaving the aircraft without power. Following Gu Nanting's instruction, she moved to the captain's seat while the observer, Song Song, removed the incapacitated pilot.
After a failed attempt to restart an engine, she determined they could not reach the airport and opted for a forced landing on a nearby grassland, correctly judging it safer than the turbulent conditions over the Dongpu River. She calmly instructed the cabin crew to prepare for impact and successfully executed a gear-up landing. In the debriefing, despite the successful outcome, Gu Nanting criticized her performance.
He argued that attempting to restart the engines was a waste of precious time and that Song Song should have been monitoring flight parameters instead of moving the pilot. Cheng Xiao countered by citing the famous "Miracle on the Hudson," where Captain Sullenberger succeeded by adapting procedures, and argued for the importance of mental composure. Gu Nanting retorted that procedures are written in blood and must be followed strictly by most pilots.
He condemned her casual "barbecue" comment during the emergency as a sign of a dangerously unserious attitude. He concluded that she unequivocally needed to start her training from the beginning, leading to a heated argument. Afterward, Gu Nanting informed Jiang Tao that after gathering more information, he found Cheng Xiao to be a hardworking and talented pilot. Retracting his earlier assessment, he recommended her for the 787 conversion training.
Though Jiang Tao worried about the cost of the two-month training in Australia, Gu Nanting insisted that any potential talent was a worthy investment. Summoned to the office, Cheng Xiao was informed by Gu Nanting that she would begin 787 conversion training immediately, with her final post determined by her performance. Resentful, Cheng Xiao asked if this was just another test.
Gu Nanting stated it was standard company policy, and Jiang Tao announced that Gu Nanting himself would be the dedicated instructor for her group. When Cheng Xiao’s request for a different instructor was denied, she stormed out, vowing to Gu Nanting that she would outperform him in training. Later, Ni Zhan, having just returned from a study trip to Boeing headquarters in Seattle, met Gu Nanting in the parking lot.
He offered to share his new insights on the 787's engine and stability characteristics, but they struggled to schedule a time to meet due to Gu Nanting’s upcoming two-month trip to Australia. Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao returned home to find her friend, Xia Zhi, temporarily moving in after losing her job. Xia Zhi excitedly showed Cheng Xiao a recruitment ad for flight attendants at Luzhou Airlines.
Though Cheng Xiao was skeptical, she saw her friend's determination and agreed to help her apply. The next morning, Cheng Xiao and the other pilots gathered in Gu Nanting’s office, where Gu announced they would leave for the airline's Australian base the next day to begin training. At the same time, Xia Zhi arrived for her flight attendant interview. Feeling nervous among the many polished candidates, her confidence wavered further upon seeing the poised and elegant Li Yuheng. The interview, conducted by Cabin Department Chief Liang Yueru and Manager Ai Jia, began with Li Yuheng, who impressed them with her graceful answers. Finally, Xia Zhi was called in.
Episode 3 Recap
Following the interviews, the flight attendant recruitment results are announced. The successful candidates include the elegant Li Yuheng and the cheerful, down-to-earth Xia Zhi. Ms. Ai, the department head, is particularly impressed by Xia Zhi's infectious personality and composure, believing her resilience will be an asset in a high-pressure job. Ms. Ai informs the new recruits of a strict three-month training period, where failure to pass assessments will lead to elimination.
She then gives specific instructions: Li Yuheng is reminded to keep her hair properly in an updo, while Xia Zhi is advised to refine her speaking style, practice her posture, and lose weight. Despite the strictness, Xia Zhi and Li Yuheng quickly bond and exchange contact information. At the airport, Li Yuheng runs into Gu Nanting, revealing they are old acquaintances and that she became a flight attendant to surprise him.
They catch up, with Li Yuheng mentioning that her mother misses Gu Nanting and his mother. Gu Nanting, learning Li Yuheng is new to the area, offers his help. Elsewhere, Cheng Xiao rushes to congratulate Xia Zhi. When Xia Zhi tells her about the upcoming training, Cheng Xiao reveals she is also being sent away for a two-month closed training in Australia, lamenting that she feels "kicked to the bottom of the pyramid" but vowing to handle the situation herself.
Later, Gu Nanting visits his mother, a re-employed designer passionately working on aerodynamic designs for domestic aircraft. She declines his offer to move in with him, preferring her familiar home. She also reminds him about his rental property, which he manages via email with a tenant he's never met but considers responsible. Concurrently, Xia Zhi gossips with Cheng Xiao.
After praising Li Yuheng's new "Captain Gu" boyfriend, she speculates that Cheng Xiao's landlord, who communicates solely through "old-fashioned" email, must be a "boring, introverted, single man." Unbeknownst to them, Cheng Xiao's landlord is Gu Nanting. The 787 transition training begins in Melbourne, Australia, led by Gu Nanting. Upon arrival, he encounters Captain Kain, a rival instructor who immediately challenges him to a rematch, alluding to a past competition. Gu Nanting coolly dismisses him, stating he is there to work.
The rigorous training starts immediately. During an outside check, Cheng Xiao and Song are caught applying sunscreen. Gu Nanting sternly reprimands them for their lack of discipline, arguing that personal preparations must be done beforehand to maintain a serious learning environment. Cheng Xiao retorts that they are pilots, not soldiers, and protecting themselves is essential for flight safety. As a punishment, Gu Nanting makes them stand and reflect in the sun while the rest of the class continues.
Afterward, a frustrated Cheng Xiao calls Gu Nanting "Thanos," criticizing his rigid, mechanical approach. Gu Nanting's demanding methods continue to exhaust the trainees. When Cheng Xiao tries to lighten the mood with a joke, he cuts her off, warning that the lowest-scoring trainee will be demoted. That night, he visits her room to return her earrings and proceeds to lecture her on maintaining a professional image, even in her personal space.
He insists she fold her blanket into a perfect "tofu block" and demonstrates the technique himself. When Cheng Xiao tries to secretly record him, he catches her and forces her to delete the video. She accuses him of being a formalist, but he maintains that meticulousness in all aspects of life is crucial for ensuring flight safety. Meanwhile, during flight attendant training, Ms. Ai uses Li Yuheng as an example of perfect posture and a sincere smile.
Xia Zhi struggles to meet the high standards, feeling inadequate. Li Yuheng patiently encourages her, teaching her facial muscle exercises to achieve a more natural smile. Later, in a cabin service test, Xia Zhi fumbles when a difficult passenger repeatedly changes her drink order. Ms. Ai scolds her for trying to decide for the passenger. Li Yuheng then steps in, deftly resolving the situation by politely suggesting an order in which to enjoy both drinks, impressing Ms. Ai.
The pilot trainees discover that Kain was once severely defeated by Gu Nanting in a simulator competition, which they believe is the source of their instructor's current harshness. They conspire to provoke another competition between the two, hoping to create a distraction. They urge Song to approach Kain and fan the flames. Kain eventually confronts Gu Nanting and publicly challenges him to a rematch.
When the trainees cheer him on, Gu Nanting refuses and instead punishes the entire group with a ten-kilometer run. Later, Ni Zhan calls Gu Nanting to inquire about Cheng Xiao's progress. Gu Nanting acknowledges her incredible work ethic, detailing her intense daily schedule, but expresses doubt about her suitability for the role, calling her "crazy." He finds Cheng Xiao still practicing in the simulator, having skipped her meal.
He advises her to balance her training with rest and stops her from practicing alone without an instructor. As she leaves, Gu Nanting brings her a box of siu mei rice. Famished, she devours it, mistakenly assuming it was a kind gesture from Song.
Episode 4 Recap
As Cheng Xiao's conflict with Gu Nanting intensified, she believed he was deliberately targeting her. In response, she committed to a grueling training schedule to give him no reason to find fault. Her fellow trainees, worried they would be held to her extreme standards, had Song ask her to ease up, but Cheng Xiao refused to relent. During a training session, Australian pilots made disparaging remarks about the Chinese trainees and their instructor.
Unable to tolerate their insults, Cheng Xiao confronted them and demanded a formal apology. The confrontation escalated until Cheng Xiao proposed a challenge: a flight simulator test. If her performance surpassed theirs, they would have to apologize to all the Chinese trainees. If she lost, she would apologize and accept double the punishment.
The Australian pilots agreed, with one named Eric confidently telling his instructor that his 200 hours of simulator experience guaranteed an easy victory over Cheng Xiao, whom he assumed had none. Cheng Xiao began an exhaustive simulator training regimen, pushing herself to the brink of collapse. Meanwhile, Ni Zhan took a walk with Gu Nanting, gently urging him to move past his grief and enjoy life beyond his strict routine of work, study, and exercise.
Gu Nanting dismissed this, claiming he was simply fulfilling his duties, though in private moments he continued to mourn his deceased girlfriend, speaking to her memory and expressing his profound longing. The next day, Gu Nanting noticed Cheng Xiao was absent from training. Song informed him she had been training all night and was not answering her phone. A memory of his girlfriend's tragic death sparked a sense of panic in Gu Nanting, and he rushed to Cheng Xiao's dorm.
He found her unconscious on the floor, having collapsed from severe fatigue compounded by her menstrual period. He immediately carried her to the infirmary, blaming himself for not recognizing the signs of her overwork sooner. Seeing Gu Nanting's unusual distress, Ni Zhan offered to stay and watch over Cheng Xiao so he could return to his duties. Upon waking, Cheng Xiao felt better.
After eating a sandwich Song had left, she accepted a cup of brown sugar ginger tea from Ni Zhan. When she learned he was attending the Silong Aviation Exhibition, she pleaded with him to take her, insisting it would be the best form of rest. Despite his hesitation and worry about Gu Nanting's reaction, Ni Zhan agreed.
When Gu Nanting called to check on her, Ni Zhan, at Cheng Xiao's urging, lied that she needed to remain at the infirmary for observation. Later, Gu Nanting went to her dorm with apples but found her room empty. He ran into her in the elevator lobby and gave her the fruit, urging her to rest. Concurrently, Ai Jia led a training session on cabin fire emergencies, where trainee Xia Zhi showed exceptional composure and problem-solving skills.
After the exhibition, Ni Zhan gave Gu Nanting a limited-edition Su-57 model. As he showed Gu Nanting videos of the airshow, Gu Nanting noticed the exhibition bag and realized Ni Zhan had taken Cheng Xiao with him. That night, he wrote a "Letter of Resolution," a personal recommendation for Cheng Xiao to withdraw from passenger pilot training.
He argued that while her skills were excellent, her recklessness and rule-breaking demonstrated a lack of self-discipline unbefitting a passenger pilot, suggesting she teach at a flight club instead. Furious, Cheng Xiao tore the letter to pieces, declaring he had no right to control her life. Later, during water landing training, Li Yuheng, who couldn't swim, panicked.
Xia Zhi jumped in to save her, but her wig came off in the process, revealing short, silver hair—a style forbidden for flight attendants. Ai Jia sternly questioned Xia Zhi's commitment. Xia Zhi confessed she hadn't initially taken the job seriously but had grown to understand its importance and, after many past failures, couldn't afford to give up on herself.
Moved by her sincerity, Ai Jia advised her to dye her hair back, noting she could be on a flight roster within two months if she passed her assessment. Instead of discarding it, Cheng Xiao pieced together Gu Nanting's torn letter and taped it to her wall as a source of motivation. She confronted him, stating she would persist regardless of his opinion.
Gu Nanting clarified that the letter was his personal view and would not affect her official evaluation, emphasizing the importance of discipline and regulations. Cheng Xiao vowed to prove him wrong. Inspired by her own renewed purpose, Xia Zhi dyed her hair black and dedicated herself to mastering her cabin service duties.
Episode 5 Recap
At the conclusion of the training phase in Australia, Gu Nanting informed the trainees that they would have half a day off that afternoon. The following day, they were to transfer to China for the final step of their 787 pilot transition training, which involved a field training program. Despite the announcement, Cheng Xiao and the Australian pilots had already arranged a private simulator competition for that afternoon.
Her fellow trainees tried to keep the plan from Gu Nanting, but he was already aware. He approached the competitors, stating that since their scores were excellent and they desired a decisive outcome, he had officially arranged a half-hour simulator session for them, setting identical flight conditions in a best-of-three competition. Kain, one of the foreign pilots, messaged Gu Nanting, acknowledging he knew about the match.
When Gu Nanting expressed concern, Kain encouraged him to let it proceed, stating that pilots need both calmness and passion. Gu Nanting then observed the entire process from the observation room. The first round was a steep turn. Eric Dane went first, managing the altitude and speed deviations well.
When it was Cheng Xiao's turn, she disconnected all automated systems and performed exceptionally, with an altitude deviation of only 20 feet and zero speed deviation, leading Kain to remark on her genius. Cheng Xiao won the first round. The second round was a CAT II blind landing, requiring manual control without flight director guidance.
Though Eric's landing point was slightly closer to the runway's aiming point, earning him the win, it was revealed that Cheng Xiao had flown manually for the entire approach, even before intercepting the glideslope, which surprised everyone. This left the score tied at one-to-one. Before the final round, originally a wind shear competition, Gu Nanting instructed the referee to change the conditions to a landing in strong wind and turbulence. Shortly after the round began, the aircraft encountered significant turbulence.
Cheng Xiao calmly operated the aircraft, correcting deviations. As the plane approached for landing, the crosswind increased, causing the plane to veer. Remembering the critical importance of passenger safety, Cheng Xiao decisively initiated a go-around, aborting the landing despite the competition's objective. Eric Dane, however, successfully completed his landing. Gu Nanting, watching from the observation room, displayed a subtle smile. After the competition, he approached Cheng Xiao and asked why she chose not to land.
She simply stated, "This was my choice." Eric, though he had won, was impressed, remarking that she had lost the competition but did so with honor. True to her word, Cheng Xiao accepted the ice bucket punishment, enduring three buckets of ice water poured by the Australian pilots. She refused her friends' offers to take her place, earning applause for her resilience.
Later, Song visited Cheng Xiao with a soup that Gu Nanting had personally prepared to prevent her from catching a cold, claiming it was a local remedy. Cheng Xiao drank it, repeatedly warning Song not to let Gu Nanting know about the competition. Song later reported back to Gu Nanting, confirming she drank the soup, with both of them maintaining the pretense that she was unaware of his knowledge.
Gu Nanting then led the trainees back to Wuxi for their final field training, requiring them to complete thirty take-offs and landings and warning that failure would result in a return to the simulator. Cheng Xiao performed meticulously, and with her encouragement, a nervous Song also completed his tasks successfully. Meanwhile, cabin crew members like Xia Zhi and Li Yuheng officially passed their tests, and Ai Jia presented them with their work permits.
With all trainees having passed their tests, Gu Nanting instructed them to rest for three hours before the employment results were announced. He then submitted the assessment reports to Jiang Tao and Xie Zetian. Jiang Tao expressed significant dissatisfaction with Cheng Xiao, showing a video of the Australian trainees mocking their instructor and implying Chinese pilots were weak.
Jiang Tao vehemently asserted that Cheng Xiao had provoked the private competition and was responsible for the inflammatory video being posted online, which led to a formal protest from the Australian airline and subjected their trainees to online criticism. He questioned whether such an aggressive "fighter" was the type of pilot Luzhou Airlines needed. Gu Nanting defended Cheng Xiao, highlighting her hard work and progress. However, Jiang Tao remained resolute.
Xie Zetian suggested assigning Cheng Xiao to a junior first officer position, but to "teach her a lesson," Gu Nanting proposed demoting Cheng Xiao to an observer. Jiang Tao agreed, placing Cheng Xiao entirely under Gu Nanting's supervision. Meanwhile, Song showed Cheng Xiao the viral video of the foreign pilots being criticized. Believing it was wrong to post internal matters online, Cheng Xiao found out that their fellow trainee Shaohui had filmed it and asked him to take it down.
Finally, Gu Nanting announced the recruitment results. The other trainees were successfully hired as Boeing 787 first officers. Cheng Xiao, however, was demoted to an observer. She was required to complete 100 hours of observation under a senior instructor, accumulate 200 hours of flight experience, and complete 30 flight segments before being eligible to reapply for a first officer assessment. Cheng Xiao protested vehemently, listing her excellent test results and questioning the unfair punishment.
She accused Gu Nanting of prejudice and declared her intention to file a complaint. Cheng Xiao went directly to Jiang Tao, accusing Gu Nanting of bias. Jiang Tao questioned her about the video. Cheng Xiao denied posting it but admitted to initiating the competition, calling it a "reasonable return" to the others' provocations. While acknowledging her mistake, she felt the demotion was too harsh and threatened to quit.
Jiang Tao urged her to reconsider and informed her that Gu Nanting would be her exclusive instructor. Later, Xie Zetian remarked to Gu Nanting that his quick thinking to propose the demotion had at least saved Cheng Xiao's job, given Jiang Tao's firm stance. Worried she might still resign, Xie Zetian offered to speak with her. At home, Cheng Xiao vented to Xia Zhi, reiterating her desire to quit.
Xia Zhi advised against it, pointing out that the civil aviation industry is a small world and that Gu Nanting's influence might follow her. She urged Cheng Xiao to reconsider, given her seven years of dedication to the airline.
Episode 6 Recap
Following her demotion, a frustrated Cheng Xiao drafts a resignation letter. The next morning, as she attempts to deliver it to Director Jiang, she is intercepted by Flight Department Director Xie, who invites her to the rooftop. Mr. Xie reflects on the pressures of being a pilot, sharing his own past struggles, and reminds her of the significant financial penalties for breaking a pilot's contract.
He then reveals that her former mentor, Captain Cai, had asked him to look after her. He recalls how he used to boast to Cai about his best student, Gu Nanting, only for Cai to later praise Cheng Xiao as a pilot with great potential. Cheng Xiao admits fault for initiating the unsanctioned competition but insists she was not the one who leaked the video.
Willing to accept responsibility for others, she asks if the person who sent it will also be demoted. In response, Mr. Xie discloses the full story: Gu Nanting had already learned from Song Song that Cheng Xiao didn't send the video. To protect her, Gu Nanting voluntarily requested a formal punishment for himself and offered to bear full responsibility for the entire incident, marking the first disciplinary action against him in his career at Luzhou Airlines.
Stunned, Cheng Xiao is advised to understand the complete picture before making a rash decision. Shaken by this revelation, Cheng Xiao confronts Gu Nanting, taking full responsibility and stating he shouldn't be punished for her actions. Gu Nanting coolly informs her that the matter is closed. Cheng Xiao accepts her new flight schedule as an observer and vows to earn her way back to the First Officer position quickly.
Shortly after, a nervous Li Yuheng confides in Gu Nanting about her anxiety for her first flight as a cabin crew member, worried about difficult passengers and a past experience with severe turbulence. Gu Nanting reassures her of the pilots' skill and encourages her to trust in her training. Facing financial strain from her demotion, Cheng Xiao is forced to ask her contractor, Mr. Sun, to pause the renovation on her new house.
Meanwhile, since he will be flying on New Year's Eve, Gu Nanting prepares handmade dumplings for his mother. She worries he works too hard, like his father, and expresses guilt that his choice to become a civil pilot instead of an Air Force pilot—his childhood dream—was to stay close to her. Gu Nanting reassures her that he now finds his role just as meaningful. Back at her apartment, Cheng Xiao's best friend, Xia Zhi, tries to lift her spirits.
After playfully scolding her for not sharing her house purchase, Xia Zhi offers financial support and shares exciting news: she has found a new place to live by taking an open room in Li Yuheng’s apartment. She also reveals that their first flight after the holiday will be together, and they will spend New Year's in the sky.
Later, a call from Cheng Xiao’s father turns tense when her mother, a lawyer, gets on the line and berates her for choosing aviation over law school, a career that causes them constant worry. When her quarterly rent is due, a broke Cheng Xiao messages her landlord to apologize and request an extension, blaming a "cosmic-level drawback" and a "devil leader" for her financial trouble. The landlord, who is secretly Gu Nanting, kindly agrees to a three-month deferral.
Overjoyed, Cheng Xiao calls him the "best landlord" and offers to treat him to a meal, but Gu Nanting politely declines, preferring to maintain distance. A week later at the airport, Song Song, rushing to a meeting while on the phone, accidentally collides with Xia Zhi, spilling coffee all over her uniform. He hastily apologizes and promises to cover the dry-cleaning costs before running off.
As Xia Zhi crouches to find her dropped earring, she is reprimanded by the cabin manager, Ai Jia, for unprofessional posture while in uniform. Before their flight to Sanya, Gu Nanting briefs the crew. He is the Captain, with Song Song as First Officer and Cheng Xiao as Observer. He warns of potential turbulence and heightened security for the holiday period.
On the tarmac, they meet Ni Zhan, the head of Maintenance, who teases Cheng Xiao about a meal she owes him. She retorts by calling him a "traitor" for allegedly bad-mouthing her to Gu Nanting back at their Australian flight school, leaving Ni Zhan confused. In the cockpit, an excited Song Song, on his first passenger flight, takes a selfie, earning a swift reminder from Gu Nanting to maintain emotional composure during flight operations.
As passengers board, Gu Nanting discovers a faulty wiper on his side, a critical issue that must be repaired immediately, causing a significant delay. Passengers grow agitated about missing their New Year's Eve dinners. During meal service to placate them, a male passenger in seat 48C sexually harasses Li Yuheng, touching her inappropriately. A distraught Li Yuheng breaks down, and Xia Zhi immediately confronts the man, who denies everything. As Ai Jia tries to de-escalate, Cheng Xiao steps in.
She calmly threatens to report him to the police, declaring they have preserved the evidence—his fingerprints on Li Yuheng's uniform—for a judicial evaluation that would lead to his detention. Faced with this bluff, the panicked passenger abandons his denials and, under pressure from Cheng Xiao, offers a reluctant but clear apology to Li Yuheng. Just then, maintenance confirms the wiper is fixed, and Gu Nanting receives clearance for takeoff.
Episode 7 Recap
Following the onboard harassment of Li Yuheng, the offending passenger offered an apology. Li Yuheng seemed to accept it, but as the passenger walked away, Cheng Xiao overheard him mutter, "So unlucky this time." Realizing the apology was insincere and driven by fear, and suspecting he was a repeat offender who could pose a safety risk during the flight, Cheng Xiao decided to act.
Despite flight attendant manager Ai Jia’s reluctance and fear of causing a delay, Cheng Xiao, who had recorded the initial confrontation, called the airport police, arguing that silence condones wrongdoing and that the issue needed to be handled before takeoff. As Captain Gu Nanting prepared for departure, the control tower informed him that a police report had been filed from his aircraft, forcing him to cancel the pushback order.
He sternly confronted Cheng Xiao for overstepping her authority and bypassing the proper chain of command—flight attendant, security officer, then captain. Cheng Xiao defended her impulsive action by recounting the passenger's dismissive remark and arguing for the need to eliminate any potential threat, pointedly adding that the victim was "his" Li Yuheng. The police arrived shortly after.
When the passenger refused to cooperate, Ai Jia revealed they had an audio recording of his confession, which convinced him to comply and leave with the officers. Due to the incident, the flight missed its slot and was delayed by an hour. As they waited, a thick fog began to form.
Co-pilot Song tried to ease the tension by explaining that Cheng Xiao, used to the autonomy of flying cargo planes, had good intentions, and Cheng Xiao admitted her approach was inappropriate. The delay, compounded by the worsening fog, led to passenger unrest. Soon after, the tower informed Gu Nanting that the airport had closed due to low visibility. Following a consultation with dispatch, the company canceled the flight and rescheduled it for the next morning.
Gu Nanting's announcement caused an uproar. Amidst the chaos, a passenger named Ni received a call that her father was critically ill and might not survive the night. Distraught, she initially refused to deplane and angrily blamed Cheng Xiao for the cancellation, citing her police report as the cause of the initial delay. Ai Jia and Xia Zhi managed to calm Ms. Ni down and escort her to a lounge, where she tearfully explained her situation.
Sympathizing, Cheng Xiao found a late-night flight to Sanya from the nearby city of Quanzhou and used her own money to buy the 4,000 RMB ticket for Ms. Ni. However, with all high-speed rail tickets sold out and taxis scarce due to the mass cancellations, getting Ms. Ni to Quanzhou became the next hurdle. Cheng Xiao found Gu Nanting, who had stayed to support Li Yuheng through her police statement, and asked for his help.
Although his car was back at the company, Gu Nanting rented a car and personally drove Ms. Ni to Quanzhou Airport, waiting until she had safely passed through security. Cheng Xiao called to thank him profusely, promising to make it up to him. She then got his contact information, added him on WeChat, and arranged for a designated driver to take him home so he could rest. The next morning, Gu Nanting briefed the crew for the rescheduled flight.
Cheng Xiao noted his detailed instructions to Li Yuheng, whom he had asked to prepare comfort items for passengers who were distressed the previous day. During the flight, when Cheng Xiao made a casual remark about a past trip, Gu Nanting sharply redirected her to focus on flight preparations, quizzing her on emergency procedures. As they approached Sanya, the aircraft encountered turbulence.
Gu Nanting initially planned to detour right, but Cheng Xiao argued a left detour would be smoother, despite being longer. Gu Nanting conceded and instructed Song to request the left detour, but Air Traffic Control denied the request as the airspace was occupied, forcing them to fly through the bumpy weather. During the turbulence, Li Yuheng felt dizzy and nauseous while assisting passengers and was escorted to rest by Ai Jia.
After landing safely, Gu Nanting approached Li Yuheng to offer words of comfort, a gesture that Cheng Xiao and Song observed with a knowing smile. That evening, for New Year's Eve, the company provided the crew with sea view rooms and a presidential suite for their celebration dinner, though Gu Nanting opted for a standard room. During the festivities, Gu Nanting declined alcohol, citing a childhood allergy, but Li Yuheng playfully revealed he was no longer allergic.
Xia Zhi, learning that the two were childhood friends, whispered to Cheng Xiao that Li Yuheng's affection for Gu Nanting was obvious. Later, an inebriated Li Yuheng excused herself. Gu Nanting, concerned, asked Xia Zhi to help her back to her room. Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Xiao feigned dizziness and clung to Xia Zhi, forcing Gu Nanting to personally escort Li Yuheng back to her room.
Episode 8 Recap
Following the chaotic New Year's Eve flight, Cheng Xiao called her father for holiday greetings, telling him she was in warm Sanya and would bring her parents for a vacation the following year. She quickly ended the call when he offered to get her mother, whom she didn't feel like talking to.
Meanwhile, Gu Nanting sat by the sea, ignoring the fireworks as he called his own mother to wish her a Happy New Year, informing her his return was delayed. After the call, Ai Jia joined him. She mentioned that Gu's mentor, Master Qin, was already asleep but that she had already told him the "good news"—that after many years, Gu had finally matured, which would be a relief to them both.
When other crew members invited them for a group photo, Gu Nanting declined, claiming he had work to do. The next morning, Li Yuheng found Gu Nanting at the restaurant and offered him lemonade, admitting she had drunk too much the previous night and it could help with a headache. She noted that everyone was heading to the beach and asked if he disliked the sea, as he hadn't requested a seaview room.
Uninterested, Gu Nanting stated he was returning to his room. As he walked away, he spotted Cheng Xiao speeding across the water on a jet ski. His concern intensified when she suddenly leaped into the sea. Shouting her name, Gu Nanting immediately rushed into the water, with Li Yuheng calling out after him. Cheng Xiao surfaced from the water, exhilarated, only to be confronted by Gu Nanting, who forcefully pulled her ashore.
He reprimanded her for swimming in the dangerous sea, but Cheng Xiao, who grew up by the coast, dismissed his concerns. Gu Nanting sternly forbade her from swimming, riding jet skis, or engaging in any high-risk sports, citing his responsibility as her instructor. Cheng Xiao retorted that he had no right to control her entire life, accusing him of seeing her as merely a component—like an engine or a wing—that he feared would malfunction and cause him trouble.
Gu Nanting insisted he was responsible for her as his student and that she needed to be responsible for herself, specifically advising her to wash her ears to prevent an infection that could affect her flying. Exasperated, Cheng Xiao told him she didn't need his overbearing sense of responsibility and stormed off. Having witnessed the argument, Li Yuheng directed Gu Nanting towards the nearby freshwater showers.
Two days later, back in Luzhou, Gu Nanting addressed Cheng Xiao about the incident on the New Year's Eve flight. He stated that in addition to mishandling the police call, she had involved herself in cabin affairs without his permission and engaged in high-risk watersports while abroad, demonstrating a lack of a serious attitude. He suspended her for one week and deducted her monthly bonus.
Cheng Xiao challenged him, asking which of his directives was explicitly stated in the operational manual. Gu Nanting countered that his standards for pilots were higher than the manual's baseline and that he would apply to add more rules based on her negative examples.
Separately, Director Jiang informed Gu Nanting of two formal complaints against Cheng Xiao: one from a passenger blaming her for the flight cancellation, and a more serious one from a First Class Platinum card user accusing her of negligence. Citing a previous complaint from Australia, Jiang declared Cheng Xiao an "unstable factor" and proposed transferring her to the Ground Handling Department for "training."
Despite Gu Nanting's protests that pilots are never transferred to Ground Handling, Director Jiang was adamant, stating that "special methods" were needed for "special people" and that the decision would be announced at the next meeting. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi moved out of Cheng Xiao's apartment, leaving her various membership cards to help with her friend's financial difficulties.
At the disciplinary meeting, Cheng Xiao admitted her procedural error in calling the police led to a delay but maintained that the action itself was a standard safety measure. Gu Nanting then interjected, taking full responsibility as the flight's captain and offering to accept the same punishment. Upset, Cheng Xiao told him to stop "pretending to be nice," as he had already punished her.
Ultimately, Director Jiang announced the company's decision: Cheng Xiao was to be temporarily transferred to the Ground Handling Department. After the meeting, the Chief of Security, Xie Zetian, explained to Gu Nanting that Director Jiang's harsh decision was motivated by the complaints reflecting poorly on him. Xie wryly commented that Cheng Xiao seemed to "jinx" Gu Nanting, as this would be his second formal punishment since becoming her instructor, but Gu Nanting accepted it as part of his duty.
Feeling defeated, Cheng Xiao decided to resign and slipped her resignation letter under Gu Nanting's office door. Later that night, she sent him a message, explaining her decision and how her dream felt shattered. Gu Nanting encouraged her to reconsider, reminding her of her passion and advising her not to make a choice she would later regret. His words gave her renewed hope. The next morning, she rushed to his office to retrieve the letter before he arrived.
As Gu Nanting opened the door, he found her struggling to pull the letter back out. To save her from embarrassment, he quickly picked it up and dismissed it as a prank by Song and the others, before telling her to report to Ground Handling the next day. Later, Cheng Xiao reassured Xia Zhi and Song that her new assignment was only temporary.
Vowing not to give up, she declared that one day she would make Gu Nanting personally admit she was fully qualified to be a pilot and a captain. In a separate conversation over basketball, Song, who works in Maintenance, offered to treat Gu Nanting to a meal to celebrate his department's recent outstanding contribution award. The two reminisced about college, with Song recalling his first pair of authentic sneakers—a gift from Gu Nanting—which sparked his dream of achieving "sneaker freedom."
Meanwhile, Xia Zhi moved into a shared apartment with Li Yuheng. Prone to nightmares, Li Yuheng asked to share a room, and Xia Zhi readily agreed, then teased her about Gu Nanting. Blushing, Li Yuheng explained they were just childhood friends who had recently reconnected, insisting "nothing" was happening yet. The next morning, Cheng Xiao pinned a small airplane emblem from her pilot's uniform onto her new Ground Handling uniform. At her new post, she was welcomed by Dai Wei, the department head, who assigned a colleague named Yu to guide her.
Episode 9 Recap
Following the decision to transfer her, Mr. Dai, the Director of the Ground Handling Department, assigned Cheng Xiao to train under Qiao Zhengyu, a model employee. Qiao Zhengyu instructed Cheng Xiao to memorize all ground handling workflows and weekly flight schedules, emphasizing that thorough knowledge was essential for handling daily tasks smoothly and adapting to unexpected changes.
As passengers began boarding Luzhou Airlines flight XD853 to Bangkok, Qiao Zhengyu efficiently managed ticket checks while Cheng Xiao quietly assisted, learning to organize ticket stubs into stacks of twenty with alternating orientations for easy reference. She also learned the importance of keeping the desk tidy and turning off the computer before leaving. Cheng Xiao and Qiao Zhengyu worked late into the evening, too busy for dinner with another flight boarding in half an hour.
Observing their dedication from afar, Gu Nanting went to a nearby fast-food restaurant and ordered two takeaway meals. Meanwhile, Li Yuheng, on her day off, visited Gu Nanting's mother, Auntie Qin, at home. Noticing Auntie Qin limping, she learned she had fallen due to weakness from a cold. Concerned, Li Yuheng immediately called Gu Nanting. Gu Nanting asked the restaurant server to deliver the food to the staff at Gate 72, but was told they could not leave the premises.
Anxious about his mother, Gu Nanting abandoned the food and rushed home. Upon arriving, Gu Nanting was relieved to find his mother recovering under Li Yuheng’s attentive care. Li Yuheng had even carefully gathered the shards of a broken photo frame to prevent injury. Feeling she had let Nanting down, Auntie Qin recalled how he used to wait by the door for his father, a pilot, even long after he had passed away.
Gu Nanting suggested hiring a part-time cleaner to reduce her workload, but she firmly refused, especially concerning her important design drawings. She explained that their domestic aircraft project was at a critical stage and she was dedicated to making "imperfection get close to perfection." Li Yuheng offered to help whenever needed, noting Gu Nanting's busy schedule. When Auntie Qin hinted at a romance between him and Li Yuheng, Gu Nanting quickly clarified they were just old acquaintances.
Working late, Cheng Xiao told her colleague Qiao Zhengyu that she would sleep in the office. Her home was far from the airport, making a taxi for her early 5:30 AM flight too expensive. She mentioned she was used to it, having often slept in cargo cabins when she flew freighters. A week passed, and Cheng Xiao quickly adapted to the demanding work, becoming exhausted but proficient.
Having witnessed her dedication, Gu Nanting approached Mr. Jiang Tao to request her transfer back to the Flight Department. However, Mr. Jiang rebuffed the request, arguing that her assignment was for learning purposes and sending her back so soon would make their arrangements appear frivolous. He insisted she remain in Ground Handling for at least a full month. While directing transiting passengers, Cheng Xiao was surprised by the sudden appearance of her father.
To hide her situation, she vaguely explained she was engaged in "flexible learning" to exchange work experiences. She learned that both her parents were in town for a university reunion; her mother, who never flies, and her father, whose bad back couldn't handle a long high-speed rail journey, had traveled separately. Cheng Xiao gave her father the keys to her apartment and implored him not to tell her mother about her temporary post, as she didn't want to explain it.
Undeterred, Cheng Xiao directly asked Mr. Jiang Tao about returning to the Flight Department. Mr. Jiang deflected, suggesting she first address her concerns with Gu Nanting, her designated instructor, and dismissed her feeling that Gu Nanting was trying to embarrass her. Later, Song, while assisting Gu Nanting with new flight safety regulations, offered to become his official assistant. After Gu Nanting accepted, Song cautiously asked when Cheng Xiao could be transferred back.
Gu Nanting vaguely stated that the "company would arrange it" and quickly sent Song to deliver documents, sidestepping the issue. Cheng Xiao, waiting outside for news, was disheartened to learn her return was still not approved. Returning home dejected, Cheng Xiao found her mother, Xiaoyun, had discovered the ground service manual in her room and guessed she had been transferred.
A heated argument ensued, with Xiaoyun urging Cheng Xiao to quit and return to Qingdao to study for the bar exam. Cheng Xiao vehemently refused, asserting her independence. The argument escalated, causing Xiaoyun's blood pressure to spike. Though upset, Cheng Xiao gave her mother water and her medicine before retreating to her room without eating. When Gu Nanting called later, she ignored the call and deleted his contact. Her father then had a heart-to-heart with her.
Cheng Xiao explained her transfers from Freight to Passenger Flights, and now temporarily to Ground Handling due to a mistake, but assured him she would eventually return. Her father encouraged her, telling her she was tough and would overcome this challenge. A flashback revealed Cheng Xiao's lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. After her exams, her mother insisted she study law and secretly altered her university application. Cheng Xiao defiantly refused, accusing her mother of forcing her choices.
Unbeknownst to Xiaoyun, her father secretly helped Cheng Xiao transfer to an aeronautics university. Deeply moved, Cheng Xiao vowed to become a captain and never disappoint him. In the present, Ni Zhan from the Maintenance Department saw Cheng Xiao assisting passengers and realized she was working in Ground Handling. He later visited Gu Nanting's office, bringing him a coffee prepared just as he likes it—no sugar, no milk.
Ni Zhan asked directly about Cheng Xiao, questioning why a single incident would lead to a transfer to Ground Handling. Gu Nanting confirmed it was Mr. Jiang Tao's decision and admitted he disagreed with it. He revealed his plan to speak directly with the senior manager, Mr. Xu Ce, upon his return, effectively going over Mr. Jiang's head. Ni Zhan cautioned him that this might not be appropriate and suggested a more tactful approach.
Later, passengers on flight XD8311 to Guangzhou grew agitated over a delay. Cheng Xiao patiently explained that there were active thunderstorms on the flight path and that air routes are fixed with little room for detours. As frustrations mounted, Qiao Zhengyu distributed complimentary meals for the delay. An announcement then declared the flight was further delayed due to a mechanical malfunction that could not be repaired quickly.
Passengers erupted, accusing Cheng Xiao of lying about the weather to avoid paying compensation, which is standard for mechanical issues but not for weather. Cheng Xiao reiterated that while thunderstorms were present, the mechanical issue was just announced. Her explanation of compensation policies and potential repair timelines—two hours for a computer issue versus three for an engine problem requiring a new aircraft—fell on deaf ears. An enraged passenger splashed a cup of water in her face.
As she stood in stunned silence, he lunged to grab her, but Gu Nanting arrived just in time to intervene. Airport police responded swiftly, informing the passenger his actions constituted endangering public safety and taking him to the station for investigation. They also asked Cheng Xiao to provide a statement, and Qiao Zhengyu granted her leave to do so.
Episode 10 Recap
Following the incident with the passenger, Gu Nanting goes to the police station asking about Cheng Xiao, inquiring about "the female ground staff who had a dispute at the departure hall." He learns she has already left after giving her statement. Meanwhile, a distressed Cheng Xiao messages her roommate Xia Zhi, who replies that she just signed in for an overnight flight and is unavailable. Gu Nanting also tries to call Cheng Xiao, but her phone is busy.
After completing her flight preparations, Li Yuheng is on her way home when a colleague receives distressing news about her mother falling ill. Li Yuheng lends her umbrella to the colleague, who rushes to the hospital. While Li Yuheng waits for a taxi in the rain, Gu Nanting drives by and offers her a ride home. During the ride, Li Yuheng asks Gu Nanting about his late working hours, to which he replies he is used to it.
Gu Nanting then asks Li Yuheng if she knows where Cheng Xiao lives. Li Yuheng offers to ask her roommate Xia Zhi, who used to live with Cheng Xiao, but Gu Nanting dismisses the idea. When Li Yuheng presses him about his interest in Cheng Xiao's address, he vaguely attributes it to a missing detail in her staff records. Cheng Xiao, looking lost, arrives at a cafe where retired pilot Xie Zetian is helping his friend, the owner.
Xie Zetian notices her sitting forlornly and messages Gu Nanting. After dropping Li Yuheng off, Gu Nanting politely declines her invitation for tea, stating he has other matters to attend to. At the cafe, Xie Zetian comments to the owner about how difficult things are for the "little female pilot" and recalls being "stuck at home for a month" after his own retirement. The owner assures him "a savior" will come for her.
Gu Nanting soon arrives, his expression pained as he sees Cheng Xiao staring blankly through the window. As the cafe prepares to close, the owner instructs his staff not to disturb Cheng Xiao, who has fallen asleep at a table. He tells Gu Nanting that waking her now would only cause her insomnia. Gu Nanting quietly drapes his jacket over her and then leaves.
The next morning, Cheng Xiao wakes up and learns from a staff member that the owner had them watch over her in shifts. She discovers Gu Nanting's jacket, realizing he had been there. Later, at the company, she shares breakfast with Qiao Zhengyu, who brings homemade buns from his father's shop. He apologizes for leaving her alone during the incident, but Cheng Xiao reassures him not to worry.
Gu Nanting calls the cafe and learns Cheng Xiao has gone to the company. He prepares a sandwich for her and goes to the office, but upon hearing Cheng Xiao already having breakfast with Qiao Zhengyu, he quietly leaves. Separately, Ni Zhan meets Cheng Xiao before his flight.
Noticing her low spirits, he shares his own story of being rejected from flight school due to laser eye surgery and finding a new path in maintenance, encouraging her that challenges can be opportunities. Inspired, Cheng Xiao asserts her resolve to overcome Gu Nanting's "oppression." Ni Zhan corrects her, revealing that her transfer to Ground Handling was Jiang Tao's decision, not Gu Nanting's.
Surprised, Cheng Xiao wonders why Gu Nanting never explained, and Ni Zhan notes that he "never gives too much explanation." He also informs her that he has arranged for her to handle a flight to Beijing the next day, which he and other company leaders will be on. Cheng Xiao returns Gu Nanting's jacket, which she has washed. He tells her it was unnecessary, as he uses a specific dry cleaner.
She sincerely apologizes for misunderstanding him, having learned the truth about her transfer from Ni Zhan. She asserts her determination to keep working hard and never give up. Gu Nanting then asks why her home address is missing from her records. Cheng Xiao explains she was planning to move and intended to update it later. The next morning, Gu Nanting arrives early for his flight to Beijing and finds Cheng Xiao and Qiao Zhengyu at gate 72.
Qiao Zhengyu praises Cheng Xiao's diligence. Cheng Xiao makes a boarding announcement for a different flight to Shenzhen, urging passengers Zhang Jingya and Hu Guoping to proceed to gate 73. Gu Nanting tells Cheng Xiao he came early to see her. When Cheng Xiao notes the two passengers haven't arrived and discusses removing them from the flight with Qiao Zhengyu, Gu Nanting volunteers to inform the captain.
As the Shenzhen flight is about to depart, Hu Guoping rushes up, frantic because he cannot find his wife, Zhang Jingya. Cheng Xiao explains the plane cannot wait, and while Qiao Zhengyu suggests consulting the captain, she insists on prioritizing the search and rebooking their tickets to avoid delaying all passengers. Hu Guoping then reveals that his wife has a mental illness and doesn't know her own name.
He provides a photo and a description: a purple shirt, purple shoes, and a basket of grapes. Hearing this, Gu Nanting takes a walkie-talkie and volunteers to search for her. Cheng Xiao immediately joins him, first using the public address system to broadcast a detailed description of the missing woman. Gu Nanting finds Zhang Jingya in the amusement arcade, clinging to a young man she mistakes for her son, Manman. He gently separates them and calls the others.
Hu Guoping arrives and calms his wife by reminding her they are going to Shenzhen to see their son. As Cheng Xiao offers a tissue, Hu Guoping reveals the heartbreaking truth: Manman died from gas poisoning in Shenzhen twenty years ago. Zhang Jingya's mind broke from the grief, and she insists on going to Shenzhen for her son's "birthday," which is actually his death anniversary.
Deeply moved, Gu Nanting arranges new tickets to Shenzhen for the couple in first-row economy seats and has fresh grapes and a new shirt delivered to them. Hu Guoping gratefully gives Gu Nanting a box of grapes, noting that his son would have been Gu Nanting's age. Gu Nanting gives the box of grapes to Cheng Xiao, thanking her for her hard work.
Ni Zhan and Xu Ce board their Beijing flight, and Ni Zhan points out to Xu Ce that the diligent ground staff member is Cheng Xiao, the transferred pilot. Jiang Tao arrives late and sarcastically asks Cheng Xiao if she has adapted well. She retorts that she is learning a lot and won't disappoint the leadership. On the plane, Xu Ce questions Jiang Tao about the transfer.
Jiang Tao claims it was due to complaints, but Xu Ce criticizes the decision to misuse an expensively trained pilot. Jiang Tao concedes the arrangement was inappropriate and promises to transfer her back to the Flight Department soon. Overhearing them, Gu Nanting realizes Ni Zhan prompted Xu Ce to intervene. The emotional encounter with the elderly couple inspires Cheng Xiao to call her father and invite her parents to dinner, wanting their family to spend more time together.
Episode 11 Recap
After her shift, Cheng Xiao happily planned to treat her parents to dinner, but she received a call from Jia's Real Estate, discovering that her mother had unilaterally listed the house she had diligently saved to buy. Cheng Xiao immediately confronted her mother at home. Her mother asserted her maternal authority, insisting Cheng Xiao sell the house and return to Qingdao.
Cheng Xiao adamantly refused, declaring she left Qingdao to distance herself from her mother and would rather be homeless than go back. Enraged, her mother left for the train station, threatening her father to come along or never return to Qingdao himself. Cheng Xiao’s father apologized for her mother’s actions. Heartbroken, Cheng Xiao explained that she had been planning to surprise him by renovating the house and inviting him to stay.
He comforted her, agreeing to visit alone after the renovation. To prevent further arguments, her father decided to stay at a hotel near the train station, urging Cheng Xiao to take care of herself and to confide in him if she faced any difficulties. The next morning, Cheng Xiao, feeling dejected, initially told the real estate agent to keep the house listed, saying she would decide later based on offers.
Shortly after, Gu Nanting appeared, confronting her about blocking his number. When she feigned an accidental button press, Gu Nanting informed her she could return to the Flight Department. Overjoyed, Cheng Xiao exclaimed her "engine was about to fail" while in Ground Handling, to which Gu Nanting wryly reminded her of her ability to recover from a double-engine failure. He instructed her to pick up her flight schedule the next morning.
Ecstatic, Cheng Xiao immediately called the agent to withdraw the listing for her house. She then shared the good news with her father, who congratulated her warmly. Back at the Flight Department, Cheng Xiao received a demanding flight schedule. Gu Nanting assured her the schedule was designed to guarantee sufficient rest, but also required her to keep meticulous flight records. Eager to make up for lost time, Cheng Xiao vowed to comply.
Gu Nanting explained he had deliberately assigned her to different captains to foster her adaptability, warning that these captains would also act as his "eyes and ears," reporting any missteps that could lead to immediate suspension. He expressed his expectation for her to quickly become a mature captain, proving that female pilots could be equally outstanding. Cheng Xiao confidently replied that she would strive for even greater excellence.
Their conversation was cut short when Xu Ce called Gu Nanting away, leaving Cheng Xiao curious. Later, Xu Ce revealed to Gu Nanting that while the public relations department had removed the video of his altercation with a passenger, the negative impact remained. Gu Nanting apologized for mishandling the situation.
Xu Ce then announced Gu Nanting's suspension from his position as Deputy Director of the Flight Department, though he would retain his role as a pilot instructor and continue his flight duties, with Jiang Tao temporarily assuming his responsibilities. Meanwhile, Lin Yicheng visited his brother-in-law, Jiang Tao, and mentioned the widespread discussion about Gu Nanting's incident and the Flight Department's unanimous support for him.
Jiang Tao sternly advised Lin Yicheng to stop gossiping and confirmed Gu Nanting's removal from his post. Distraught, Gu Nanting secluded himself at home, ignoring calls. Ni Zhan visited, finding him drinking heavily. Ni Zhan advised Gu Nanting that the title of Deputy Director was not essential and that he was ill-suited for a bureaucratic career path. Gu Nanting admitted that individual excellence was insufficient; the industry needed a continuous succession of outstanding captains, which required a superior system.
He confessed that for the past two years, he had dedicated himself to perfecting the operating manual, but now, suspended, he felt his goals slipping away. Ni Zhan pointed out that while Gu Nanting might dismiss the title, the position itself was crucial for realizing his ambitions, making it a path of "no retreat." He suggested the temporary suspension might be a chance for Gu Nanting to relax from his intense self-pressure, but Gu Nanting responded that he couldn't.
Ni Zhan’s words triggered a memory for Gu Nanting, flashing back to their university days in 2010. He and Ni Zhan were playing basketball when Ni Zhan introduced his cousin, Luo Yi. Luo Yi immediately expressed her admiration for Gu Nanting, later admitting she had transferred to their university specifically for him.
In a video call, Luo Yi, then an exchange student in San Diego, excitedly showed Gu Nanting a green plant she sent, dreaming of a future home filled with greenery. She mentioned her upcoming solo flight, a graduation requirement that made her nervous. Gu Nanting offered to fly to the U. S. to support her. He reassured her, revealing he had already submitted her internship application to Luzhou Airlines and arranged for his own mentor to guide her.
The day before her flight, Luo Yi told Gu Nanting she wasn't nervous knowing he would be watching. He replied that he had meticulously designed her flight path and they "must take a picture together." During her solo flight, Luo Yi flew too low. The investigation revealed she had violated rules by flying at a low altitude, where she encountered sudden air turbulence.
Her improper operation—pulling the stick too quickly—caused the plane to stall, and despite a recovery attempt, it was too late. In the present, Gu Nanting recalled his inconsolable grief and overwhelming guilt. He explained to Ni Zhan that the meticulous Luo Yi must have flown low to prove to him how quickly she was improving. He believed if he hadn't been there or agreed to her changing the flight path, the accident wouldn't have happened.
He revealed that after her death, he swore that all pilots under his watch would strictly adhere to flawless procedures. He had dedicated his entire being to building this system, but now felt his efforts were stalled. Ni Zhan reassured him that his hard work would not be in vain. Later, Song Song brought a specially made "motivation-boosting" bento to Gu Nanting, who asked him to continue helping organize safety documents, offering payment.
Song Song refused the money, stating the assistance was part of his learning. While flying with Captain Xie Zetian, Song Song casually mentioned Gu Nanting's suspension to Cheng Xiao. Shocked, Cheng Xiao defended Gu Nanting, arguing he shouldn't take the blame for the passenger's actions. After landing, she couldn't reach Gu Nanting by phone and, worried the blow might cause the constantly tense man to "break," she found him running at a track.
She playfully poured out his water, urging him to stop "torturing himself" and blaming herself for his suspension. Gu Nanting calmly corrected her, stating he would have acted the same for anyone and was merely training for a half marathon. When she warned him against internalizing his problems, he changed the subject, reminding her to meticulously record her flight data and send it to him for review, stating that her performing well was his greatest comfort.
Episode 12 Recap
Two months later, after a flight, Cheng Xiao meticulously tidied the cockpit and organized the flight data before leaving, a routine she consistently followed. Captain Xie acknowledged her significant improvement in all aspects, crediting Instructor Gu's effective guidance. Meanwhile, Song Song, having completed a flight with Gu Nanting, was instructed to come to the office to sort out case materials for an upcoming monthly meeting, which Gu Nanting stressed was crucial for pilot safety awareness.
Song Song attempted to ask for leave to celebrate his girlfriend Yueyue's birthday, but Gu Nanting firmly refused, insisting on the thorough completion of the case data. During the monthly meeting, Gu Nanting had Song Song assist in presenting a flight case study from another airline, detailing an incident where a golden retriever escaped from the luggage section and ran onto a runway, forcing a landing plane to execute a go-around.
He explained the minimal reaction time pilots had and the risks involved. Cheng Xiao noticed Song Song's evident unhappiness and learned from him that Yueyue had ended their relationship because he had missed her birthday for three consecutive years, including the previous day when Gu Nanting made him work until midnight. Song Song blamed himself, not Gu Nanting.
Concerned by his emotional state, Cheng Xiao insisted that Song Song was unfit to fly and confronted Gu Nanting, informing him of the breakup and the reason behind it. Gu Nanting, who had been unaware it was Yueyue's birthday, explained his goal was to complete the safety training. Cheng Xiao criticized him for being an "emotionless working machine" and imposing such demands on others.
For safety reasons, she urged him to find a replacement for Song Song's flight, and Gu Nanting agreed to take the shift himself. In a departmental meeting, Xu Ce, after a thorough investigation into the online video incident, affirmed that Gu Nanting's actions had been appropriate and considered reinstating him to his former position as Vice Minister of the Flight Department.
However, Jiang Tao publicly objected, arguing that Gu Nanting was too young for the role and that his excessively strict management style had generated considerable resentment among pilots. Xu Ce acknowledged hearing this feedback and decided to reconsider the reinstatement. Following this, Xu Ce praised Cheng Xiao's rapid progress, noting that several captains had commended her performance, and instructed Jiang Tao to prioritize her training. Later, Gu Nanting gave Song Song a treasured J-20 fighter jet model.
He explained that while the older J-7 planes were becoming obsolete, the J-20 represented excellence, intending the gift as encouragement. He also advised Song Song to communicate clearly about any future requests for leave. Confused by the metaphor, Song Song later had it explained by Cheng Xiao, who interpreted Gu Nanting's words as philosophical advice to move past his previous relationship and embrace new opportunities.
Cheng Xiao then learned that Song Song had been kicked out of his girlfriend's home and was staying in a nearby hostel, sending most of his salary home for his ailing grandmother's medical expenses. Cheng Xiao offered her spare room, but Song Song politely declined, not wanting to interfere with her personal life.
Meanwhile, Ai Jia informed Li Yuheng of a special opportunity to be considered for the Business and First Class cabin crew, owing to a shortage on the 787 aircraft. Despite just completing her internship, Li Yuheng eagerly accepted, understanding it would involve rigorous assessments.
When she inquired if Xia Zhi was also being considered, Ai Jia indicated that Xia Zhi might have a chance in the future, prompting Li Yuheng to hide the news from her friend for the time being. Cheng Xiao visited a coffee shop owned by Captain Xie's friend, where Xie, on his day off, was practicing bartending.
He concocted a blue and white cocktail, which Cheng Xiao named "Flight to You," explaining that the deep blue represented Luzhou Airlines while the blue and white symbolized the sky. At the same time, Li Yuheng was helping her neighbor by putting up a "for rent" notice. Song Song, searching for a new place, saw the notice and, finding the house perfectly suitable, quickly decided to rent it.
Gu Nanting arrived at the coffee shop to meet Captain Xie, causing Cheng Xiao to quickly find an excuse to leave. Xie provided Gu Nanting with old flight case materials, emphasizing their value for the new operational manual Nanting was creating. As Gu Nanting was about to drive home, Cheng Xiao, unable to find a taxi, asked for a ride to the flower market.
During the drive, Cheng Xiao tried to engage him in conversation, teasing him about his car's air conditioner temperature being the same as in the cockpit and for not replying to her messages. Gu Nanting remained reserved and eventually asked her to be quiet. That evening, Xia Zhi, wearing a black face mask while taking out the trash, unexpectedly collided with Song Song. Startled, Song Song cried out, and they both realized that he had just become her next-door neighbor.
Later, after landing from a flight, Cheng Xiao saw Gu Nanting dining alone and joined him, offering her spicy chili sauce. She then updated him on her flight hours, eager to take the first officer test. Gu Nanting corrected her calculation, revealing he closely tracked her progress, and praised her dedication. She presented him with her detailed notes on the flight cases he had sent, which she had completed swiftly. Impressed, Gu Nanting cautioned her against complacency.
Two weeks later, Cheng Xiao successfully completed 200 flight hours. At a ceremony, Gu Nanting congratulated her and other trainees on their promotion to first officer, emphasizing their responsibility to assist captains in ensuring flight safety. He presented them with new metal badges symbolizing their professional identity. While he pinned the badges on the others, he instructed Cheng Xiao to pin her own. She playfully insisted he do it for her like he did for everyone else.
With a slight smile, Gu Nanting carefully pinned the badge on her, much to her amusement. Separately, Li Yuheng confessed to a perceptive Xia Zhi that she had passed the evaluation for the Business and First Class cabin crew. Xia Zhi was genuinely happy for her, reassuring her friend that she was content with her own progress and held no resentment, which relieved Li Yuheng. Cheng Xiao's first flight as a first officer was to Kuala Lumpur with Gu Nanting.
Before the flight, Xia Zhi revealed she had swapped shifts to fly with Cheng Xiao on this important day and had also persuaded Li Yuheng to change shifts to be on the same flight, as it was Li Yuheng's first flight since her promotion and she felt more at ease with Gu Nanting. Xia Zhi also clarified her previous misunderstanding, confirming that Gu Nanting and Li Yuheng were not dating.
Before boarding, Cheng Xiao tried to take a selfie to commemorate her return to the first officer position. Gu Nanting, seeing this, took her phone and snapped a quick photo for her. On board flight XD2235, a passenger, Ms. Wang, was visibly nervous, flying only at her son's insistence. Flight attendant Li Yuheng comforted her. When the plane entered a period of smooth flight, Ms. Wang panicked, mistakenly thinking the plane had stopped.
Li Yuheng calmly explained they were flying normally. Moments later, the plane hit turbulence, terrifying Ms. Wang. Li Yuheng immediately reassured her that it was normal and guided her through deep breathing exercises to help her calm down.
Episode 13 Recap
During Cheng Xiao’s first flight as a co-pilot, her excitement was palpable. The flight, under Captain Gu Nanting’s steady command, was operating smoothly until Cheng Xiao spotted a child, Zhou, on the monitor banging on the cockpit door. When questioned by Gu Nanting, she stammered an excuse. Zhou, eager to visit the cockpit, had slipped away from his mother, Ms. Wang, who was overwhelmed by airsickness.
Flight attendant Li Yuheng found Zhou during her cabin rounds and gently persuaded him back to his seat, much to Cheng Xiao's relief. Li Yuheng noticed Ms. Wang’s pale face, a clear sign of her intense fear of flying, and offered her comfort. As the plane began its descent for a layover at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Ms. Wang felt dizzy and nauseous.
Li Yuheng quickly provided a disposal bag, then knelt and held Ms. Wang tightly to reassure her until the plane landed safely. After disembarking, Li Yuheng escorted Ms. Wang and Zhou to rest, but the boy, distressed by his mother's state, began demanding to fly the plane himself to protect her. Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao emerged from the cockpit and saw the commotion.
To calm Zhou, Cheng Xiao took him to the cabin entrance for a quick look inside the cockpit. She explained that she and Gu Nanting were highly skilled pilots who would protect him and his mother. Hearing that Zhou wanted to visit Kuala Lumpur to see where his late father once worked, Gu Nanting gently intervened. He instructed Zhou to close his eyes and imagine his father watching over them from the sky. The boy complied, his emotions gradually settling.
Cheng Xiao was impressed by the usually reserved captain's unexpected thoughtfulness. With half an hour before the flight to Kuala Lumpur, Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting drew diagrams explaining the principles of takeoff and landing to help alleviate Ms. Wang's fear. Before departure, Li Yuheng delivered the drawings to her. Reviewing the illustrations, Ms. Wang's anxiety subsided, and she and Zhou were soon chatting happily. Upon their smooth arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Ms. Wang stayed behind to thank the crew.
Cheng Xiao pulled Gu Nanting and Zhou together for a photo, for which Gu Nanting placed his captain's hat on Zhou's head. Ai Jia also gave Zhou a model airplane as a souvenir, a heartwarming scene that left Li Yuheng feeling a pang of envy. On the return flight to Luzhou Airport, Cheng Xiao encountered Ai Jia in the restroom and asked about her fondness for children.
Ai Jia admitted she and her husband, Xie Zetian, had forgone having children for their careers, a choice she sometimes regretted. She mentioned Xie had already landed and was waiting to go home with her. After landing, Li Yuheng suffered a leg cramp from kneeling for so long and had difficulty walking. Xia Zhi was helping her when Gu Nanting drove by and offered them a ride.
Since Xia Zhi had dinner plans with Cheng Xiao, Gu Nanting ended up driving Li Yuheng home alone. While waiting for Xia Zhi for dinner, Cheng Xiao repeatedly looked at her photo with Zhou, a sense of admiration for Gu Nanting growing. Xia Zhi arrived late and immediately began gushing about Gu Nanting’s attentiveness toward Li Yuheng, speculating they were spending the evening together. Annoyed, Cheng Xiao served Xia Zhi undercooked pork brains to shut her up.
Later that night, Cheng Xiao tossed and turn, unable to stop thinking about Xia Zhi's words. Xia Zhi returned home much later and, seeing a captain's shirt, mistakenly assumed Gu Nanting was in Li Yuheng's room. She snuck in, only to find the shirt belonged to their colleague Song Song, who had come to check on Li Yuheng. Xia Zhi promptly sent him away.
Still unable to sleep, Cheng Xiao transferred her rent payment to her landlord, Gu Nanting, and used the opportunity to ask for advice on a romantic dilemma. She described a man who was strict with everyone but exceptionally kind to one woman, yet had also been protective of another. Unaware she was talking about him, Gu Nanting advised her to stay away from such a "two-timer," calling him a potential scumbag, a conclusion with which Cheng Xiao ruefully agreed.
Luzhou Airlines received a mission to fly leaders and engineers from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China to Xi'an for a test flight of the D191, a crucial domestically-developed aircraft. Jiang Tao volunteered to be the captain. When he suggested upgrading the guests' seats, Gu Nanting and the director, Xu Ce, disagreed, deeming it inappropriate. Xu Ce assigned Gu Nanting to assist, but Jiang Tao made excuses to refuse the help.
When Xu Ce then proposed Cheng Xiao as co-pilot, Jiang Tao was again hesitant, but with strong recommendations from both Gu Nanting and Xu Ce, he had no choice but to agree. Ms. Wang’s commendation letter, along with the group photo, was published in the Luzhou Airlines magazine. Xie Zetian congratulated Cheng Xiao, remarking that he had never seen Gu Nanting smile so genuinely and that she was clearly a positive influence on him.
Meanwhile, Ai Jia assigned Li Yuheng and Xia Zhi to the same high-profile flight, much to their delight. Later, in the crew lounge, Li Yuheng asked Gu Nanting for advice on handling turbulence, presenting her notes for his review. As he was pointing out areas for improvement, Cheng Xiao arrived.
Gu Nanting then told Li Yuheng to go home and that he needed to discuss work with Cheng Xiao, prompting Cheng Xiao to jokingly ask if his "dear Yuheng" would be angry.
Episode 14 Recap
Following Gu Nanting's decision to have her co-pilot an important flight with Captain Jiang Tao, Cheng Xiao observed Gu Nanting dismiss Li Yuheng. Mistakenly thinking he had upset her, Cheng Xiao intended to say something but ultimately changed the subject. Gu Nanting officially informed her about the upcoming mission: transporting experts for the test flight of the D191 commercial aircraft to the Xi'an base, with Jiang Tao as the captain.
Cheng Xiao voiced her strong displeasure, reminding Gu Nanting that Jiang Tao was responsible for her transfer to the Ground Handling department. Gu Nanting stressed the importance of professionalism and leaving personal emotions aside, assuring her he would be monitoring her performance closely. Shortly after, Cheng Xiao pretended to have a leg cramp. When Gu Nanting offered to take her to the infirmary, she feigned a quick recovery and sarcastically remarked on his considerate nature towards everyone, leaving him bewildered.
One week later, the flight to Xi'an, led by Captain Jiang Tao, proceeded smoothly. Upon arrival at Xi'an Xianyang Airport, the crew greeted the expert team. Among them was Gu Nanting's mother, Engineer Qin. She spoke with Cheng Xiao, noting the rarity of female pilots and offering encouragement. Later, when Gu Nanting called his mother, she mentioned being impressed by a driven female pilot on her flight.
Gu Nanting proudly identified Cheng Xiao as his trainee, and his mother advised him to treat her well, acknowledging the difficulties for women in aviation. During the flight, chief flight attendant Ai Jia instructed Li Yuheng to serve red wine to Mr. Wei, a lifelong platinum card passenger in first class. Mr. Wei persistently tried to engage Li Yuheng, asking for her phone number. Li Yuheng politely declined, using the excuse of a "strict husband," which Mr. Wei found uncreative.
Nearby, the celebrity passenger Duan Chao was sleeping. When Li Yuheng approached to offer him a menu, his assistant brusquely told her not to disturb him and to wait to be called, causing Li Yuheng some embarrassment. Meanwhile, on the tarmac, Gu Nanting and Song conducted a stringent, hour-long spot check of a different crew's documents and equipment. Song suggested they finish, complaining that Gu Nanting's strictness was making them unpopular.
Unfazed, Gu Nanting insisted on maintaining vigilance and even noted a minor issue with Song's uniform for a potential report, despite Song's protests. On the return flight, a male passenger consumed a beer and repeatedly asked for more. Ai Jia and other attendants tried to limit his intake, explaining the heightened effects of alcohol at altitude and the limited supply. Though he seemed to comply, he later acquired more alcohol and became intoxicated.
In the cockpit, Cheng Xiao confronted Captain Jiang Tao about her transfer to ground handling. Jiang Tao evasively framed it as a "learning exchange program" for elite pilots, citing her recent feature in the company magazine as proof of its success. As the plane began its descent, Li Yuheng reminded Duan Chao's assistant that the celebrity needed to fasten his seatbelt. The assistant dismissed her, warning that persistence would lead to a complaint, so Li Yuheng backed off.
On the ground, Gu Nanting and Song noted the approach of flight 8252. Suddenly, the control tower issued an urgent warning: another airline's flight, Youji 3604, had suffered brake failure and was rolling onto their runway. While Jiang Tao ordered braking, Cheng Xiao took decisive action, executing a sharp turn to divert their aircraft onto the C3 rapid exit taxiway, narrowly averting a collision. The sudden maneuver threw the cabin into chaos.
The intoxicated passenger panicked and tried to force his way off the plane. Li Yuheng attempted to stop him but was violently shoved, hitting her head and causing it to bleed. Ai Jia managed to help Li Yuheng and calm the passenger down. In the cockpit, Jiang Tao angrily questioned Cheng Xiao for disobeying his command to brake, but before she could explain, a fire alarm blared from the rear cargo hold.
Suspecting that shifted cargo had caught fire, Jiang Tao ordered an immediate emergency evacuation. During the chaotic evacuation, Ai Jia delegated the final cabin sweep. Xia Zhi volunteered, as the injured Li Yuheng had to deplane. While checking, Xia Zhi found and helped an elderly woman with a leg injury. She then discovered the drunk passenger vomiting in a lavatory and urged him to leave.
Hearing what she thought was a baby's cry, she found it was just a phone ringtone. Believing the passenger had left and finding the lavatory lock broken, Xia Zhi exited the aircraft. Outside, Ai Jia and Su Miao did a head count and discovered one of the 277 passengers was missing. By then, the shuttle buses had already departed with other passengers needing medical attention.
Gu Nanting and Song arrived anxiously as the fire alarm continued, learning that Cheng Xiao and Jiang Tao were still on board. Inside, Jiang Tao and Cheng Xiao found the missing passenger was the intoxicated man, still in the lavatory. He was distraught, revealing his company had gone bankrupt and he wanted to die. He then shattered a bottle and threatened to kill himself. Cheng Xiao urged Jiang Tao to call for special police.
Jiang Tao, fearing he would further agitate the man, told Cheng Xiao to go, but she refused to leave him alone. Jiang Tao deplaned and informed Gu Nanting that Cheng Xiao was still inside trying to calm a suicidal passenger. As firefighters assessed the cargo hold fire from outside, no one was allowed to re-board, forcing a worried Gu Nanting to wait.
Inside, Cheng Xiao calmly approached the passenger, offering water and sharing her own story of being demoted to ground handling to build rapport. Her words seemed to calm him. However, as she guided him to the exit, he deliriously mistook her for a debt collector, shoved her violently, and caused her to hit her head on a seat armrest, knocking her unconscious. The passenger stumbled off the plane and was immediately apprehended.
Realizing Cheng Xiao was still on board, Gu Nanting rushed onto the aircraft without hesitation. He found her unconscious and gently carried her out, reassuring her that he was there. Medical personnel moved her to an ambulance. Ai Jia instructed the injured Li Yuheng to accompany Cheng Xiao to the hospital while the rest of the crew reported for their debriefing.
Episode 15 Recap
Following the incident on Luzhou 8252, the fire alarm is determined to be false. Ni Zhan confirms that a sudden turn caused powdered cargo in the rear hold to shift and leak, triggering the smoke detector. With no fire hazard found, the alarm is lifted, and all units retreat from the tarmac. The Aviation Regulatory Authority arrives to investigate, and the scene is secured. Cheng Xiao, who remains unconscious, is taken for medical care.
A preliminary check reveals only a bruise on her head with no other obvious injuries. Gu Nanting stays by her side, holding her hand. When she awakens, she is dizzy from hitting her head on an armrest and immediately asks about the plane. Gu Nanting calls Jiang Tao, who confirms it was a false alarm caused by colliding powdered cargo. He also notes that the Aviation Regulatory Authority is investigating and that Youji Airline is responsible for the near-collision.
Gu Nanting explains to Cheng Xiao that he had to execute the sharp turn to avoid another aircraft that had not stopped at its designated waiting line. Worried that her head injury might prevent her from flying again, Gu Nanting reassures her and urges her to rest. Meanwhile, Ai Jia and Xia Zhi arrive at the hospital in plain clothes to avoid drawing media attention.
They attempt to speak with an injured passenger, celebrity Duan Chao, who is wearing a cervical collar. However, he ignores their inquiries and leaves with his assistant. Li Yuheng then appears and informs Ai Jia that Cheng Xiao is undergoing a CT scan with Gu Nanting and seems to be fine. After checking on Yuheng's minor scratch, Ai Jia has Xia Zhi stay with her while she tends to other passengers.
After a full examination, doctors confirm Cheng Xiao has no intracranial injuries, only a mild soft tissue contusion, and recommend she stay overnight for observation. Still feeling weak, she leans on Gu Nanting for support. She thanks him for rushing onto the plane to save her, but he dismisses it, claiming he did so because she is his trainee.
In the crowded elevator to her ward, they are pressed closely together, and Cheng Xiao leans against him, a moment that brings her a sense of happiness and visibly affects Gu Nanting. In the ward, while Gu Nanting calls Ni Zhan for a ride, Cheng Xiao begins to question him. She first confirms he has no romantic feelings for Li Yuheng, then presses him on why he risked his life for her.
When he repeats that he is responsible for all his trainees, she challenges him, pointing out that he broke safety regulations by boarding the plane before it was cleared by firefighters. His strict adherence to rules leaves him momentarily speechless. Their tense conversation is interrupted by Xia Zhi, who rushes in and profusely thanks Gu Nanting for his heroism, with Cheng Xiao chiming in, much to Gu Nanting's embarrassment.
Jiang Tao calls Cheng Xiao, instructing her to align her account of events with the company's and to refuse all media interviews. Cheng Xiao notes that his order to brake came almost at the same time as her decision to turn, but Gu Nanting advises her to wait for the official investigation. Soon after, news reports detail the near-collision, mentioning an injured male passenger and a female pilot hurt while rescuing someone.
Her concerned parents call, and Cheng Xiao lies, claiming she is fine and that the injured pilot is a new colleague named "Gu Tingting." To prove she is well, she borrows Gu Nanting's captain shirt and, with help from him and Xia Zhi, stages her hospital room to look like an airport lounge for a video call, successfully quelling her parents' fears. Ni Zhan arrives to pick up Gu Nanting.
As he enters, Cheng Xiao reports to him that the rear restroom lock seemed to be broken, which might explain how the passenger got locked inside. After they leave, Cheng Xiao receives a call from Ni Zhan, who informs her that an inspection found nothing wrong with the lock.
Faced with this fact, a distraught Xia Zhi confesses the truth to Cheng Xiao: during her final cabin check, she was distracted by a phone ringtone she mistook for a child crying. While she investigated the sound, the drunk passenger entered a different restroom, and she failed to re-check it before finishing her sweep. Cheng Xiao insists that Xia Zhi must report her mistake to the company.
Terrified of losing her job, Xia Zhi refuses and accuses Cheng Xiao of not being a true friend for pressuring her. Cheng Xiao stands firm, explaining that true friendship means encouraging her to face the truth and take responsibility for her actions. Reluctantly, Xia Zhi agrees to confess. Meanwhile, on the drive home, Ni Zhan questions Gu Nanting's uncharacteristic decision to risk his life for Cheng Xiao, suggesting he has developed feelings for her, which Gu Nanting denies.
Later, alone, Gu Nanting reflects on Cheng Xiao’s questions and his own actions. Unable to sleep, Cheng Xiao texts her "landlord"—who is secretly Gu Nanting—confessing that she has fallen for her "devil leader" and that her previous judgments of him were wrong. She tells him she had a "magical day." Receiving her message, Gu Nanting replies that he also had a magical day, one that was both exhausting and worthwhile.
Episode 16 Recap
Engineers were instructed to work overnight to replace all tires on the B-925Q aircraft involved in the incident. Cheng Xiao arrived at the scene to check on the plane, which she affectionately called “Q.” She apologized to the engineers for causing them to work late, but they reassured her it was part of their job. Ni Zhan arrived and complimented Cheng Xiao on her timely turn during the incident, stating that otherwise, “Q” would have been severely damaged.
He advised her not to blame herself, as the conflict was largely deemed Youji Airline's responsibility. He also encouraged her to prepare for the upcoming investigation and told her to call him "Zhan" instead of "Mr. Ni." A simulation engineer arrived early to assist Jiang Tao and Lin Yicheng in a simulated recreation of the accident. Their simulation showed that braking would have stopped the plane with a safe distance of approximately 30 meters from the other aircraft.
Jiang Tao believed this proved his judgment that braking was the safer option that would have completely averted the incident. Meanwhile, Li Yuheng accompanied Xia Zhi to report a problem with a restroom door lock to Ai Jia. Later, Gu Nanting called Xie Zetian for a private meeting. Xie Zetian, having just concluded an accident investigation meeting that confirmed Youji Airline's brake system malfunction was at fault, expressed surprise that Gu Nanting had called him.
Gu Nanting admitted to violating company rules by rushing onto the plane to save Cheng Xiao. Xie Zetian remarked that while he normally held safety paramount, Gu Nanting had finally learned that safety protocols, no matter how meticulously designed, could be rigid and fail to account for human factors. He recognized Gu Nanting's actions were driven by an uncontrollable impulse.
Xie Zetian then probed Gu Nanting about Cheng Xiao, noting he had previously thought Gu Nanting was close to Li Yuheng, whose choice to become a flight attendant in Luzhou was clearly motivated by feelings for Gu Nanting. Gu Nanting explained he viewed Li Yuheng as a younger sister, while Cheng Xiao was merely one of his students.
Xie Zetian, however, urged Gu Nanting to look into his heart and address such personal "life lessons," warning that indecisiveness could hurt everyone involved. That night, a restless Gu Nanting got up to exercise. The next morning, he asked Song to return a medal to Cheng Xiao, with Song noting that Gu Nanting had saved her the day before yesterday.
In turn, Cheng Xiao sent Gu Nanting a thank-you breakfast consisting of a glutinous rice ball and a waffle, delivered by Song. Gu Nanting initially balked at the high calorie count but promised Song he would eat it and run five extra laps. Meanwhile, Ai Jia brought Xia Zhi to report the cabin door lock issue to Liang Yue Ru. Xia Zhi apologized for her negligence, admitting she had not stayed to perform a final cabin check.
Liang Yue Ru was furious, highlighting Xia Zhi's inconsistent performance and suggesting she change positions or even companies. Ai Jia, despite receiving a major demerit herself for her lack of control over the crew, fiercely pleaded for Xia Zhi. Liang Yue Ru finally relented, suspending Xia Zhi from flying for a week and placing her under the supervision of Inspector Liu upon her return. Devastated, Xia Zhi was comforted by Li Yuheng, who offered to take her out for skewers.
The Joint Investigation Team concluded that Youji Airline was fully responsible for the accident. However, the incident, which resulted in an injury to a public figure, Duan Chao, had caused significant negative social impact, prompting an internal meeting at Luzhou Airlines. Jiang Tao recounted the events, claiming Cheng Xiao had violated his "maintain middle line, immediately brake" command by turning, which led to the injuries and aircraft damage.
Cheng Xiao immediately refuted this, asserting that she had begun her turning maneuver almost simultaneously with Jiang Tao's command. She requested the cockpit recording be played, which confirmed that less than a second had elapsed between the two actions. Jiang Tao then presented a recording of his simulation, demonstrating that braking would have stopped the plane safely 30 meters away.
When asked for his opinion, Gu Nanting praised Cheng Xiao's courage for saving a passenger but stated he could not judge her flight actions based on the current information. Xie Zetian announced that the investigation would continue and suspended Cheng Xiao from flying for a week. Cheng Xiao accepted the suspension but firmly maintained her decision was correct and vowed to prove it. Later, Gu Nanting caught up with Cheng Xiao, reassuring her not to feel burdened.
Cheng Xiao expressed her desire to use the simulator to verify her actions with data, and Gu Nanting agreed to assist her. Cheng Xiao also spoke with Ai Jia, asking her to continue guiding Xia Zhi, to which Ai Jia agreed. The incident gained further public attention when Duan Chao posted on Weibo about his fractured neck, blaming the "terrible" skills of the Luzhou Airlines pilot. Reporters swarmed the company entrance.
Jiang Tao, seeing the commotion, instructed Lin Yicheng to take him out through the back door, dismissing the need for a public relations response. Gu Nanting accompanied Cheng Xiao to the simulator, where they carefully recreated the incident's conditions, with Gu Nanting instructing Cheng Xiao to wait for his "conflict" cue to replicate Jiang Tao's delayed reaction. Despite three attempts, the simulations all replicated Jiang Tao's results. Feeling disheartened, Cheng Xiao worried she might be reassigned.
Gu Nanting, however, affirmed her choice, explaining that simulators cannot perfectly replicate a pilot's instinctive reactions in a real emergency. He then revealed that he had requested the cockpit voice recorder data be combined with the flight data recorder. He explained that this could precisely prove her claim that she initiated the turn simultaneously with the braking command, meaning she hadn't violated any orders.
Relieved, Cheng Xiao playfully joked that in ancient times, she would have had to marry him for saving her life, much to Gu Nanting's flustered amusement. Meanwhile, Li Yuheng and Xia Zhi found Song moving out of his apartment due to a water leak. Li Yuheng offered him their spare room. A reluctant Xia Zhi agreed but set three strict conditions: Song must do all household chores, collect their deliveries, and never touch her food. Song readily agreed.
The next morning, Li Yuheng went to the company early to study, admitting to Song that she worried her presence would make the grounded Xia Zhi feel awkward. While suspended, Xia Zhi started a live stream to interact with her followers. Cheng Xiao tried to transfer money to Gu Nanting for the simulator fees, but he declined. Later, Ni Zhan visited Gu Nanting, informing him that someone had posted the flight's land-air communications online.
Aviation bloggers were interpreting the audio to suggest Cheng Xiao had "acted without permission," causing the passenger's injury. Ni Zhan expressed concern that the incident could escalate and be detrimental to Cheng Xiao.
Episode 17 Recap
Xia Zhi conducted a live stream, showcasing various products like river snail rice noodles and Besunyen, while her flight attendant hat lay discarded on the floor. When Li Yuheng returned home, she was disheartened to see Xia Zhi seemingly giving up on her career.
Li Yuheng expressed sadness over the hat being on the floor, but Xia Zhi, feeling her flight attendant path was bleak, explained she was seeking an alternative by trying to become an online influencer, believing she could earn more than a flight attendant. Li Yuheng gently encouraged her, reminding her that no one is naturally suited for the job and highlighting Xia Zhi's own strengths, like her quick, calm reaction during a recent rapid evacuation.
Moved by the encouragement and their shared goal of becoming excellent flight attendants, Xia Zhi promised to make a genuine effort in the cabin for at least another month. Later, Song alerted Xia Zhi and Li Yuheng to a major incident: online aviation bloggers were accusing Cheng Xiao of changing the aircraft's direction, causing an accident and injuring the celebrity passenger Duan Chao. Keyboard warriors had already doxxed Cheng Xiao, spreading malicious rumors.
Li Yuheng recalled the actual incident, remembering how she had repeatedly asked Duan Chao to fasten his seatbelt before landing, only for him to refuse. She also distinctly saw him sprain his neck when the plane turned. Worried about extreme fans exposing Cheng Xiao's address, Xia Zhi immediately began using her alternate accounts to defend Cheng Xiao online.
Both Song and Gu Nanting sent messages to Cheng Xiao, advising her to be careful, ignore the online negativity, and avoid responding to protect herself. Cheng Xiao visited the aviation doctor, but her examination results still required her to rest for a few more days. Ni Zhan found her at the airfield and, sensing her eagerness to return to work, took her to Uncle Hu's bar for lunch.
He revealed that Uncle Hu was a former Luzhou Airlines captain who had retired early due to health reasons but opened the bar to stay connected to aviation. Ni Zhan then treated Cheng Xiao to freshly baked soufflés, a special dessert made by Uncle Hu. Ni Zhan explained that he often arranged for these treats for the female staff in the Maintenance Department, who, unlike other working women, rarely had time for such indulgences.
Cheng Xiao thoroughly enjoyed the dessert, praising Ni Zhan's thoughtfulness and remarking that Gu Nanting should learn from him. During a company meeting, Jiang Tao proposed not recruiting female pilots for the upcoming year, citing Cheng Xiao's recent incident as an example of a female pilot causing injuries and damaging the company's image. Gu Nanting immediately voiced his disagreement.
Jiang Tao argued that female pilots were prone to emotional issues and had a lower utilization rate due to factors like pregnancy, which impacted the company's efficiency. Gu Nanting countered with data showing female pilots were not inferior to their male counterparts and stressed the importance of recruiting excellent female candidates who would otherwise be lost to competitors. He also emphasized Luzhou Airlines' social responsibility beyond mere profit. However, when a vote was called, most attendees supported Jiang Tao's proposal.
After the meeting, Gu Nanting spoke to Xie Zetian, a senior instructor, who confirmed that while data analysis cleared Cheng Xiao of violating orders, the company felt someone needed to take responsibility for the celebrity's injury due to intense public pressure. Xie Zetian added that the second investigation hearing was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, with potentially unfavorable results for Cheng Xiao.
Upon returning home, Gu Nanting was surprised to find Li Yuheng at his mother's house, having cooked a variety of dishes for her. Li Yuheng eagerly tried to serve Gu Nanting, but he politely kept his distance. After dinner, as Gu Nanting drove Li Yuheng home, she hesitantly confessed the truth about Duan Chao's injury.
She revealed that during her pre-landing safety check, she found Duan Chao had not fastened his seatbelt despite her repeated reminders, and later witnessed him sprain his neck when the plane turned. Gu Nanting was dismayed, questioning why she hadn't reported this. Li Yuheng admitted her fear of retaliation from Duan Chao's manager and fans, as well as the risk of suspension.
Gu Nanting sternly reminded her that all people in the cabin are simply passengers and that her silence had damaged the company's reputation and allowed Cheng Xiao to be unjustly attacked. Feeling remorseful, Li Yuheng asked what she could do. Gu Nanting instructed her to immediately report the truth to the company and to recall any other passengers who might have witnessed the event. Li Yuheng remembered a platinum card passenger who sat in the same row as Duan Chao.
Gu Nanting gave her only one day to contact this potential witness, stressing that he might be the only one who could clarify the situation. Back home, while Xia Zhi was live streaming, Li Yuheng called Mr. Wei, the platinum card passenger. Mr. Wei, currently in Luzhou, suggested they meet at a hotel to discuss it. Apprehensive about going alone, Li Yuheng was accompanied by Xia Zhi for protection.
At the hotel, Li Yuheng introduced Xia Zhi as her colleague, much to Mr. Wei's surprise. She got straight to the point, asking him to be a witness, and he readily agreed. As they prepared to leave, Mr. Wei stopped them and asked Li Yuheng for her internal flight portal account number so he could book flights she was working on. Despite Xia Zhi's silent disapproval, and after a moment of hesitation, Li Yuheng agreed to send him the information.
Mr. Wei then offered her a gift, insisting that friends should exchange presents and suggesting she could treat him to dinner once the matter was resolved. Meanwhile, Song alerted Gu Nanting that someone had hacked the company's database and leaked Cheng Xiao's personal information online, including her home address. Gu Nanting realized the address was for a property he rented out. Soon after, Cheng Xiao's apartment lost power.
She messaged her landlord for help and then discovered the main circuit's wires had been intentionally cut. As Cheng Xiao tried to fix the wires, Gu Nanting arrived to help. She quickly realized he was her landlord and playfully teased him, calling him an "evil boss." She then confronted him, asking what he thought of her, and a flustered Gu Nanting awkwardly replied that she was a "good tenant," prompting her to laugh it off as a joke.
While he fixed the wires, Gu Nanting warned her that her address was online and that the perpetrators might escalate their actions. He explained he was concerned because she was his trainee. He also revealed that "Auntie Qin," who collected her rent, was his mother. He then informed her about the upcoming investigation, reassuring her that Li Yuheng had found new evidence about the passenger not wearing a seatbelt and was contacting a witness. As Gu Nanting left, he mentioned he lived nearby and she could call him for help, but she had to call him back immediately as he had forgotten his phone.
Episode 18 Recap
Following her exciting discovery that Gu Nanting is her landlord living directly opposite her, both Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting spend a restless night, with Gu Nanting resorting to an intense workout to exhaust himself into sleep. At the second investigation hearing, attended by President Xu, Cheng Xiao presents a comprehensive report detailing her decision to steer the aircraft.
She explains her judgment that steering was the only way to avoid a collision, a conclusion the investigation team's experts concur with. Captain Jiang Tao questions her about the risk of a side-slip, and while Cheng Xiao admits the thought crossed her mind, she asserts her confidence in her skills. Jiang Tao presents his simulator results, which indicated braking would have also prevented a collision. Though simulators cannot perfectly replicate reality, the team accepts his findings.
The core issue becomes whether Cheng Xiao disregarded the captain's order. Flight data reveals Cheng Xiao initiated the steering maneuver within 0. 1 seconds of the command, suggesting an instinctive reaction. The investigation team concludes that she did not violate regulations but instead took the safest evasive action in an emergency. Jiang Tao then raises the issue of the injured passenger, Duan Chao, suggesting the company issue an apology and compensation to mitigate the public backlash.
However, Chief Attendant Ai Jia clarifies that Duan Chao's injuries resulted from his failure to fasten his seatbelt, not the aircraft's maneuver. She admits the on-duty flight attendant was at fault for not enforcing the rule but reveals that a Platinum card holder, Mr. Wei, has agreed to be a witness. President Xu immediately decides to hold a press conference to clarify the facts and restore the company's image.
He commends Cheng Xiao for her courage in saving a suicidal passenger, declares her exempt from liability, and arranges for her to be featured in a special interview in "Luzhou Airlines Magazine." A delighted Cheng Xiao playfully demands that Gu Nanting express his pride in her. Flustered, Gu Nanting deflects, telling her to cooperate with the Legal Department regarding the threats made against her, which he has already reported.
Undeterred, Cheng Xiao privately vows to make him admit his feelings for her one day. Meanwhile, Jiang Tao expresses strong dissatisfaction with the company's decision, criticizing Cheng Xiao's actions as self-righteous. When Lin Yicheng tries to pacify him, Jiang Tao urges him to focus on his own career and work towards becoming a captain. Li Yuheng submits a self-criticism report to Ai Jia, who advises her that flight attendants are "hosts of the cabin," not servants.
She stresses that while passenger comfort is important, safety is paramount, encouraging the gentle-natured Li Yuheng to be firmer when necessary. Later, Cheng Xiao has Song retrieve Gu Nanting's flight records, intent on "studying" him to learn how to handle him. She plans a celebratory dinner and asks Song to invite Xia Zhi, sensing tension between them.
Song admits they quarreled, and Cheng Xiao defends Xia Zhi as a deeply loyal friend, prompting Song to joke that she only ever "stabs" him. That night, Cheng Xiao meticulously maps out Gu Nanting's flight routes and messages him simply, "Look at my house." The next day, she passes her medical examination and is cleared for flight.
The doctor then surprises her by asking for an autograph on a copy of "Luzhou Airlines Magazine," which features Cheng Xiao on the cover. The next morning, Xia Zhi rushes to work and squeezes into a full elevator, causing it to sound an overload alarm. A colleague's sarcastic comment about her not being fit to be a flight attendant mortifies her. Song arrives and tries to help, but a dejected Xia Zhi opts to take the stairs.
Song follows, attempting to console her, but his clumsy compliment about her "unique" appearance only makes her feel worse, reinforcing her self-doubt. While playing basketball, Ni Zhan notices Gu Nanting's unusually good mood but gets only a smile in response to his questions. Later, everyone gathers for the celebratory dinner. Ni Zhan brings gifts for the three women, and both he and Gu Nanting coincidentally present Cheng Xiao with copies of the magazine featuring her.
During dinner, Cheng Xiao toasts everyone and apologizes to a quiet Xia Zhi for not considering her feelings recently. She then proposes an idea to Ni Zhan: creating an animated video to explain the incident, clarify the celebrity's injury was his own fault, and promote aviation safety to counter negative press.
Ni Zhan is skeptical about getting company budget for it, but to everyone's surprise, Xia Zhi volunteers, claiming she has contacts in advertising and the PR department who might help for a small price. Cheng Xiao eagerly agrees to cover the costs. After dinner, Ni Zhan leaves, and Gu Nanting drives the rest home. Xia Zhi maneuvers Li Yuheng into the front passenger seat. In the car, Cheng Xiao pointedly announces she is Gu Nanting's tenant.
Li Yuheng, displeased, tries to assert her own closeness by mentioning how Gu Nanting's mother, Auntie Qin, often invites her over. Cheng Xiao expresses a keen interest in meeting her, recalling an encouraging female engineer from a past flight. Gu Nanting confirms that engineer was his mother. Gu Nanting drops Li Yuheng, Song, and Xia Zhi off first, leaving Cheng Xiao for last and causing Li Yuheng visible disappointment.
In private, Xia Zhi urges Song to help set up Li Yuheng and Gu Nanting, but is stunned when Song points out that Cheng Xiao also seems to have feelings for Gu Nanting. After arriving at their building, Cheng Xiao invites Gu Nanting up to her apartment, promising to give him something not convenient to bring to the office. Intrigued, he agrees. Inside, Gu Nanting finds his apartment transformed by Cheng Xiao's colorful, personalized style.
She introduces her pet parrot, Polly, and her collection of plane models. On the wall, she reveals a meticulously detailed map showing every flight route Gu Nanting has flown in his career, even identifying his first flight as a 787 captain to Rome. Cheng Xiao then presents him with a separate map, tasking him with charting her future routes on it after each flight.
She challenges him to track her progress, wondering aloud how long it would take for her to catch up to his experience, and makes him promise not to miss a single one.
Episode 19 Recap
That night, Gu Nanting found himself restless in bed. He rose and wandered around his home, eventually finding peace only after carefully taping Cheng Xiao's hand-drawn flight route map onto the large glass pane in his plant room before finally going to sleep. Three days later, Song Song confided in Cheng Xiao about his growing affection for Li Yuheng. He admitted his insecurity, feeling vastly inferior to Gu Nanting, especially after sensing Li Yuheng's deep feelings for him.
Cheng Xiao vehemently encouraged Song Song, asserting that Gu Nanting only saw Li Yuheng as a "sister." During their conversation, Cheng Xiao openly declared her own affections for Gu Nanting, much to Song Song’s relief. Following the tireless efforts of Ni Zhan and his engineers, "Q," the aircraft Cheng Xiao had flown during a critical incident, was restored to service. Understanding Cheng Xiao's lingering guilt, Ni Zhan specially arranged for her and Gu Nanting to pilot its first flight post-repair.
Cheng Xiao was overjoyed, and Ni Zhan personally oversaw their departure from the tarmac, watching proudly until "Q" ascended and vanished from sight. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi's animated short film on flight safety, created through resource exchanges with the PR Department and collaborations with advertising companies, was released on Luzhou Airlines' official social media account. It quickly garnered immense popularity, racking up over 200,000 reposts, thanks in part to celebrity Duan Chao's prompt sharing, which Xia Zhi skillfully leveraged.
The airline's social media following soon surpassed one million, prompting the PR Department to celebrate with a cake. While Xia Zhi's colleagues joined in the cheer, Qi Yu expressed her disdain, sarcastically suggesting Xia Zhi transfer to the PR Department. Unfazed, Xia Zhi expressed keen interest in such a role, seeing it as an opportunity to promote the company using her strengths. Later, Xu Ce and other mid-level executives reviewed the animated film, praising the PR Department.
Xu Ce specifically commended the PR Department and suggested that Liang Yue should effectively utilize Xia Zhi's unique talents. Turning to Jiang Tao, Xu Ce inquired about the Flight Department's stance on recruiting female pilots, pointing out that Luzhou Airlines hadn't hired any in five years. Jiang Tao maintained that, with the exception of Xie Zetian and Gu Nanting, the entire department opposed the idea, attributing Gu Nanting's differing view to his subjective experience training a female pilot.
Xu Ce then sought Ni Zhan's opinion. Ni Zhan acknowledged the principle of majority rule but suggested a more rigorous, data-driven analysis was needed. Impressed, Xu Ce assigned the comprehensive research on female pilot recruitment to Gu Nanting. However, when Gu Nanting requested a month to conduct thorough investigations, Jiang Tao immediately limited the research period to one week.
Soon after, Song Song attempted to assist Gu Nanting with the extensive data required for the research by secretly taking a file, but Gu Nanting insisted he return it and refrain from interfering. When Cheng Xiao arrived at the company to submit her task letter, she encountered a frustrated Song Song, who informed her that Gu Nanting was pulling an all-nighter for the report.
Cheng Xiao promptly offered her help, boldly asserting that as a female pilot, she was uniquely qualified to contribute. Despite Gu Nanting's initial reluctance and a reminder about mandatory rest hours, Cheng Xiao insisted she could compensate for sleep later. Unable to deter her, Gu Nanting conceded, albeit with a firm warning that there would be no extra pay and that it would not happen again.
Concurrently, after a flight, Xia Zhi launched a live stream, introducing her viewers to the daily activities aboard an aircraft, from cleaning staff to mechanics. Later, Ai Jia approached Xia Zhi, acknowledging her newfound online popularity. Ai Jia informed her that Liang Yue and the PR Department held her in high regard and offered her a part-time position.
While Xia Zhi was reluctant to abandon her flight attendant role, Ai Jia reassured her of her potential and proposed a flexible arrangement where Xia Zhi would have fewer flights and dedicate the remaining time to working with the PR Department. Xia Zhi gratefully accepted, likening herself to an "amphibian" balancing two roles.
As Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting worked through the night, Gu Nanting showed his concern by arranging a designated driver to take Cheng Xiao home, leaving her with a warm feeling. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi's creative endeavors flourished. Collaborating with Li Yuheng as a model, Xia Zhi produced short videos documenting the authentic daily lives of flight attendants. The series rapidly gained traction, propelling their fan count to 250,000.
Over the following week, Cheng Xiao and Song Song dedicated their free time to assisting Gu Nanting with the research. They meticulously compiled data on female pilots from various airlines and aviation schools. Gu Nanting then synthesized this information into a detailed recruitment proposal. At the presentation, he highlighted that female pilots had a significantly lower dropout rate of 5% compared to the 10-15% for male pilots, and also possessed a slightly lower error rate.
He cited Cheng Xiao's calm response during a recent incident as an example. Jiang Tao dismissed Cheng Xiao as a "controversial exception" and questioned the feasibility of recruitment given the stark disparity in aviation graduates, with only 25 females compared to 389 males. Gu Nanting countered with survey data showing strong interest from female students in related fields and proposed recruiting 5-8% female pilots.
However, Jiang Tao presented his own data revealing that over 90% of other airlines planned to recruit only men, arguing it was a strategic move to "protect profits" and avoid "unknown management risks." Despite Gu Nanting’s plea for a more open approach, Jiang Tao rejected the plan for the next year. Waiting anxiously outside, Cheng Xiao was deeply disappointed upon learning of the rejection. Soon after, she received an invitation from "New Insight," a public speaking program.
Recognizing an opportunity, she proposed that Gu Nanting appear on the show to discuss female pilots, believing that leveraging media and public opinion could pressure the company. Gu Nanting initially suggested Cheng Xiao would be more suitable, but she argued that a male pilot speaking for women's rights would be more convincing. Convinced, Gu Nanting agreed. Later, Cheng Xiao attempted to invite him to dinner by fabricating a story about her gas and stove being broken.
Missing her hint completely, Gu Nanting instead pulled out his phone to call property management for repairs, leaving Cheng Xiao exasperated. Separately, Xia Zhi began documenting Song Song’s daily life for her video series. During filming, his mother called to urge him home for a family gathering, which Xia Zhi correctly guessed was a blind date and playfully teased him by calling him "Song Xiaoni." Later, Xia Zhi filmed Xie Zetian in the cockpit.
While they waited for takeoff, Li Yuheng brought them food. Song Song expressed his admiration for Xie Zetian and Ai Jia's marriage and his own desire to find a flight attendant wife. Xie Zetian reflected on the challenges and benefits of "dual-flight families," acknowledging the frequent separation but emphasizing the mutual understanding that comes from shared professional experiences, subtly encouraging Song Song's line of thought.
Episode 20 Recap
Following his decision to advocate for female pilots on a television program, Gu Nanting meticulously prepared a speech titled "Discussion on the Dialectical Relationship between Pilot Plasticity and Gender." However, Cheng Xiao found his presentation overly technical, arguing that the general audience, lacking an aviation background, would not comprehend or resonate with such professional details. She stressed the importance of using public opinion to shift societal perceptions.
Gu Nanting, insistent on a rigorous approach, maintained that professional matters demanded serious treatment. Cheng Xiao urged him to adopt a more accessible style, suggesting metaphors to engage the audience. Despite his initial reluctance, he agreed to revise the speech. Cheng Xiao then offered to accompany him the following day, an offer Gu Nanting accepted. Later, in the lounge, Cheng Xiao was still struggling to conceptualize the speech. When Song Song arrived, she sought his help.
Before assisting, Song bought a ticket for the Mercury Dance Troupe's performance, admitting his childhood dream was to be a dancer. He recounted how he abandoned this dream due to ridicule and family circumstances, eventually becoming a pilot. This story, emphasizing the importance of pursuing one's passion despite societal prejudice, deeply inspired Cheng Xiao. Feeling she had gained enough insight, she headed home to outline her new ideas.
As Cheng Xiao worked late into the night, Gu Nanting noticed her lights were still on and messaged her to rest. She turned off her lights, and after seeing his go dark, she secretly continued her work in another room. The next day, Cheng Xiao accompanied Gu Nanting to the venue. She took his USB flash drive, ostensibly to give it to the production crew, but discreetly swapped it with her own revised materials.
The director informed her the episode would be recorded in an hour and aired that same night due to the topic's popularity. Gu Nanting, feeling nervous, expressed concern that his script might have been too dull, but Cheng Xiao reassured him. As the program commenced, the host introduced Gu Nanting, drawing enthusiastic cheers. When the title slide "Profession and Gender" appeared, Gu Nanting was shocked to see it was not his plan.
He courageously proceeded, using Cheng Xiao's simplified slides, and captivated the audience with a humorous and engaging delivery. He challenged the stereotype that piloting is a male-only profession, asserted that individual differences far outweigh gender distinctions, and highlighted that out of 70,000 pilots in China, fewer than 1,000 are female.
He praised Major General Liu Xiaolian, a decorated female air force pilot, and then, implicitly referring to Cheng Xiao, spoke of an eight-year veteran female pilot in his company whose performance consistently surpassed her male counterparts, commending her courage and persistence. He concluded by advocating for equal opportunities, earning a standing ovation. The director, ecstatic, then revealed the recording was live-to-tape and would air that night as planned. After the program, Cheng Xiao apologized for the unauthorized swap.
Gu Nanting, however, sincerely thanked her, praising her script and his own impromptu additions. Noticing her exhaustion, he urged her to rest before leaving to have dinner with his mother. Watching the broadcast, his mother immediately sensed the speech wasn't his work and perceived the special connection between him and Cheng Xiao. She advised Gu Nanting to let go of his guilt over his past with Luo Yi and embrace a new relationship.
The program's broadcast generated a massive public reaction. Song Song, Xia Zhi, and Li Yuheng watched it together, and Song quickly recognized Cheng Xiao's style, playfully claiming to be her muse. He urged Xia Zhi, now a social media influencer, to promote the cause online before the official recruitment plan was released.
Meanwhile, an impressed Lin Yicheng tried to persuade Jiang Tao to reconsider recruiting female pilots, but Jiang Tao, unwilling to yield, preemptively had the recruitment office release the next year's plan, which explicitly stated "Gender requirement: men only." He then smugly informed a stunned Gu Nanting in the elevator, revealing that his efforts had been undermined. Upon returning from a business trip, CEO Xu Ce was intercepted by Cheng Xiao in the elevator.
She showed him the video of Gu Nanting's speech and explained the overwhelming public response. Impressed, Xu Ce summoned Gu Nanting to that afternoon's executive meeting. There, he announced that while Jiang Tao's initial plan was approved based on cost concerns, the public's reaction had changed the board's perspective. He declared that 5% of the next recruitment quota would be allocated to female pilots, instructing a protesting Jiang Tao to recall and amend the already-distributed brochures.
Citing the company's commitment to positive social values, Xu Ce reinstated Gu Nanting as Deputy Director of the Flight Department, commending his vision. Ni Zhan congratulated Gu Nanting, who admitted the speech was Cheng Xiao's. Gu Nanting then eagerly called Cheng Xiao to share the news about the 5% quota. Thrilled, she insisted they celebrate that night at the best restaurant, reasoning that she deserved it for staying up all night writing his script.
Gu Nanting agreed to meet her and Song Song in the garage after work. Meanwhile, Li Yuheng also called to invite Gu Nanting to a celebratory dinner, but he politely declined. Later, as Gu Nanting called Ni Zhan to cancel their dinner plans, Cheng Xiao, who was secretly waiting in the garage, overheard. Her spirits soared as she also heard him decline Li Yuheng's invitation.
She emerged from her hiding spot and cheerfully joined Gu Nanting in his car, where he confirmed that tonight was a celebration for just the three of them—him, her, and Song Song.
Episode 21 Recap
Following his reinstatement and the successful push for recruiting more female pilots, Gu Nanting accompanied Cheng Xiao to a simple roadside stall. She explained it was a spot she frequented after long flights, calling it the best and most expensive meal for her stomach from her early days as a pilot. After returning from international trips, often in the middle of the night, a bowl of porridge was her first stop to soothe her stomach.
The owner recognized Cheng Xiao and, mistaking Gu Nanting for her boyfriend, praised him for being handsome and capable. Gu Nanting quickly clarified that he was her instructor, but Cheng Xiao gleefully added that their leader was very popular. They ordered two portions of seafood porridge, boiled Chinese kale, and a spicy crab. Cheng Xiao then produced a bottle of wine, insisting Gu Nanting drink with her to celebrate his grand plan finally being realized.
Though Gu Nanting initially hesitated, citing he had to drive, he eventually agreed to call a designated driver. As Cheng Xiao enjoyed her meal, her hair fell into her face, and her hands were covered in seafood sauce. She asked Gu Nanting to remove the hair tie from her wrist. When she requested a wet tissue from the owner, he playfully claimed to have just run out and suggested Gu Nanting help tie her hair.
Despite his awkwardness, Gu Nanting carefully tied Cheng Xiao's hair back, much to her inner delight. Their attractive appearance drew the attention of a group of girls at a nearby table, who made getting Gu Nanting's WeChat a game. One girl, having lost a round of Truth or Dare, approached Gu Nanting for his contact. Cheng Xiao swiftly moved closer to Gu Nanting, declaring him her boyfriend and suggesting the girl add her WeChat instead.
She then firmly clutched Gu Nanting's arm, asserting her claim, which led the girl to walk away sheepishly. Cheng Xiao then insisted they play Truth or Dare. She won at rock-paper-scissors and dared him to eat a spicy crab with his bare hands. Gu Nanting, unaccustomed to such spicy food, found it unbearable and cried for water, but Cheng Xiao made him eat three pieces.
Meanwhile, Li Yuheng, worried after not hearing back from Gu Nanting, decided to wait for him downstairs at his apartment building. She had been waiting for an hour when Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao arrived in a designated driver's car. Li Yuheng, seeing them together, couldn't hide her disappointment. Noticing Li Yuheng's long wait, Cheng Xiao invited her upstairs for tea. Once inside Cheng Xiao's apartment, Li Yuheng commented on the convenience of Cheng Xiao living directly opposite Gu Nanting.
Cheng Xiao jokingly attributed it to company-provided housing. She then took a pen and added a new flight path she had just completed to a large map on the wall, explaining that it represented all the routes Gu Nanting had flown and her own future goals. Gu Nanting took the opportunity to commend Li Yuheng for her recent improvements and encouraged her to seize the upcoming refresher training to enhance her professional skills.
Cheng Xiao, picking up on the conversation, teased Gu Nanting, labeling him a "devil instructor" for the training, a title he modestly denied. As Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao chatted and laughed, Li Yuheng felt increasingly out of place. Citing that her friend Xia Zhi was waiting for her opinion on some short videos, Li Yuheng made an excuse to leave.
Before she left, Cheng Xiao asked about Xia Zhi, expressing a desire to reconcile, to which Li Yuheng vaguely replied that Xia Zhi was doing well. Gu Nanting offered to walk Li Yuheng to where she could get a taxi. While waiting for the ride-hailing car, Li Yuheng tentatively asked Gu Nanting about his relationship with Cheng Xiao. Gu Nanting steered the conversation, expressing his long-held view of Li Yuheng as his "best sister" and his hope for her success.
He also asked why she chose to be a flight attendant after graduate school, encouraging her to find a career she would be willing to devote herself to. Li Yuheng then directly asked if he also considered Cheng Xiao a sister. Gu Nanting, caught off guard, became momentarily speechless. The arrival of the car provided a convenient escape, and Gu Nanting quickly urged Li Yuheng to get in.
Later, back in her apartment, Cheng Xiao fumed, wondering if Gu Nanting was a "central air conditioner"—someone who is nice to everyone—which left her frustrated. The next morning, at the company, Cheng Xiao encountered Gu Nanting and Ni Zhan. She explained that she was heading into a week-long refresher training and asked Ni Zhan if he could look after her pet parrot, Polly, for a few days, to which he readily agreed.
Cheng Xiao then casually mentioned her address, noting it was in the building directly opposite Gu Nanting’s. Gu Nanting, slightly exasperated, had to admit that Cheng Xiao was his tenant. That afternoon, Ni Zhan arrived at Cheng Xiao's apartment to pick up the parrot. He brought her a thoughtful gift: a set of pour-over coffee equipment and a unique ceramic cup he had crafted himself, explaining it was a "rehearsal" for his own desire to keep a bird.
While there, he tidied up, tightening a loose pot handle and adjusting a noisy refrigerator, attributing his actions to a professional habit. He even brewed a cup of coffee for them, impressing Cheng Xiao with his technique. After work, Gu Nanting drove home and noticed Ni Zhan's car parked outside. He waited in his car until Ni Zhan finally emerged as it got dark. Gu Nanting then feigned having just arrived, exchanged brief pleasantries, and went home.
The sealed refresher training officially began. Inside the training base, flight attendants like Li Yuheng received diligent instruction from instructors like Ai Jia on essential qualities, while pilots underwent rigorous assessments. During the pilot training, the focus was on complex maneuvers like approaching the runway with crosswinds. Lin Yicheng, however, failed his assessment.
He approached his brother-in-law, Jiang Tao, for help, admitting he had previously taken unauthorized leave using Jiang Tao's name and had worn his oxygen mask improperly during a simulation. Jiang Tao sternly refused to intervene, emphasizing the critical importance of proper oxygen mask usage and stating that Lin Yicheng's demotion to observer was well-deserved. News of Lin Yicheng's failure spread as other trainees celebrated their successful completion, including Cheng Xiao and Li Yuheng, who both achieved excellent scores.
Cheng Xiao, having secured an "excellent" overall performance for the first time, playfully declared that she would now "bow down" at Gu Nanting's "gate" in admiration, acknowledging that his strict instruction was for their benefit. On the occasion of his mother's birthday, Gu Nanting sent her a congratulatory message. His mother had planned a walk at Binhai Park with Li Yuheng and invited Gu Nanting to join them.
At the park, Li Yuheng fondly recounted a childhood memory of Gu Nanting catching a doll for her at an arcade, a memory he couldn't recall. His mother laughed, pointing out his lifelong focus on studying, sports, and now, work. Li Yuheng also mentioned having booked a restaurant for dinner and bought his mother a scarf. Gu Nanting offered to buy Li Yuheng a treadmill since she disliked running outside alone.
When Li Yuheng suggested taking a photo, Gu Nanting's mother insisted they all take a group photo. Later, Cheng Xiao hosted Ni Zhan for dinner at her apartment to thank him for caring for Polly. Meanwhile, Song Song visited Li Yuheng, gifting her a bottle of perfume and fabricating a story about it being a promotional item.
As Ni Zhan stepped out to take a work call, Cheng Xiao scrolled through her phone and saw Li Yuheng's recent post: the group photo with Gu Nanting and his mother. Her expression soured, and she quickly put her phone away as Ni Zhan returned. Observing her sudden change in mood, Ni Zhan glanced at her phone and seemed to understand the reason for her distress before excusing himself.
Episode 22 Recap
Following the photo Li Yuheng posted on her Moments with Gu Nanting and his mother, gossip spreads through the company, with colleagues assuming they are a couple. The next morning, Gu Nanting notices his colleagues whispering about him, while Cheng Xiao gives him the cold shoulder, pointedly ignoring him by watching videos on her phone. Puzzled by the strange atmosphere, Gu Nanting’s confusion is cleared up when Song shows him Li Yuheng’s post.
That night, Gu Nanting calls Li Yuheng to discuss the photo. She admits she saw the comments and, worried about the misunderstanding, considers posting a clarification. Gu Nanting advises against it, suggesting it would only draw more attention. He reassures her that taking a photo together was not wrong but cautions her to be more mindful of posting private pictures to avoid future misinterpretations.
When she offers to delete it, he tells her not to, as it would seem like they have something to hide. Later, Song brings homemade soup to Li Yuheng’s apartment, an act of kindness she appreciates. Gu Nanting gives two talk show tickets to Song, claiming he has a flight and cannot go. However, Song checks the schedule and discovers Gu Nanting is free, deducing the tickets are meant for Cheng Xiao.
He then gives the tickets to Cheng Xiao, playfully exposing Gu Nanting's ploy and suggesting Gu Nanting wants to go with her, which leaves her both amused and flustered. Later, Gu Nanting picks up Cheng Xiao and casually asks about the talk show, but she gives him a deliberately evasive answer. Song, after preparing bird's nest soup for Li Yuheng, is disappointed to learn her flight was diverted to Harbin for an overnight stay.
He then notices a familiar perfume on Xia Zhi, who reveals that Li Yuheng, who dislikes perfume, gave it to her. Crestfallen, Song explains that he had painstakingly chosen that specific scent for Li Yuheng. While trying to get the bottle back from Xia Zhi, he accidentally spills some into her eye. As an apology, Song lets her keep the perfume.
Seeing his feelings, Xia Zhi advises him to give up on Li Yuheng, who she believes only has eyes for Gu Nanting. Song retorts that Gu Nanting already likes someone else but stubbornly refuses to say who, despite Xia Zhi's pestering. Cheng Xiao volunteers to help Gu Nanting with his new safety plan, but he declines, citing the difficult nature of the work and her already heavy flight schedule.
Unfazed, Cheng Xiao humorously tells him to either assign her a boyfriend or a role in the safety plan. Faced with her persistence, Gu Nanting relents, on the condition that she guarantees she gets enough rest. A persistent platinum cardholder, Mr. Wei, books a seat on Li Yuheng's flight and insists on having dinner with her after landing. Uncomfortable, Li Yuheng confides in Gu Nanting, Song, and Cheng Xiao.
At the airport exit, Song confronts Mr. Wei, warning him to stop harassing Li Yuheng. With Gu Nanting and Song's support, Li Yuheng falsely introduces Gu Nanting as her boyfriend and returns a gift Mr. Wei had given her. Feeling misled, Mr. Wei angrily berates her for not being honest about her relationship status sooner and storms off. Worried about a potential complaint, Li Yuheng reports the incident to her manager, Ai Jia.
Ai Jia gently chides Li Yuheng for not setting clear boundaries earlier and giving Mr. Wei false hope. Sensing Li Yuheng's feelings for Gu Nanting, Ai Jia shares her own relationship experience with Xie Zetian, advising her on the importance of clear communication and principles in both love and life. Meanwhile, severe flooding has devastated Lanshan County, an area supported by Luzhou Airlines' poverty alleviation program. At a management meeting, Xu Ce proposes a volunteer mission.
Jiang Tao argues for donations instead, citing staff shortages during the peak summer season. Gu Nanting insists that the disaster area urgently needs physical supplies, proposing they airlift them directly. He acknowledges that this would require converting a passenger plane by removing seats, a costly process since the cargo department was disbanded. Despite Jiang Tao’s insistence that donations are more practical, Gu Nanting argues that money would take too long to reach the victims.
Xu Ce sides with Gu Nanting, deciding to form a rescue team for deployment within two days. Gu Nanting immediately volunteers to lead the mission, and Ni Zhan also signs up. Hoping to help him redeem his reputation after a poor retraining evaluation, Jiang Tao instructs Lin Yicheng to join the rescue team and learn from Gu Nanting. Gu Nanting, in turn, recruits Cheng Xiao and Song, who eagerly agree to join.
Ni Zhan and his engineering team work through the night, removing seats from a passenger jet to make room for cargo. As they finish, it begins to rain. Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao arrive early to inspect the plane and, seeing Ni Zhan and another engineer working without raincoats, give them their own. The two then stand side-by-side in the intensifying rain, sharing smiles, a quiet moment that is witnessed by Ni Zhan.
Episode 23 Recap
Gu Nanting personally piloted a 787 aircraft, laden with 52 tons of disaster relief supplies, including food, clothing, masks, blankets, tents, boots, medicine, and medical equipment. The aircraft's entire cargo bay and part of the cabin, where seats had been removed, were filled. Thirty volunteers from various departments of Luzhou Airlines were also on board. On the flight, Xia Zhi streamed live, showcasing the volunteers and leading them in a "Lanshan, fighting!" slogan.
Gu Nanting meticulously recorded the time and fuel consumption of each way-point, noting that wind speed and direction were not of primary importance for his records. Upon arriving in the disaster-stricken area, the volunteers immediately began the challenging task of preparing and counting the immense amount of supplies. A local representative informed them that Wangjiaping and Shidong Village were severely affected, with power and communication outages.
He noted that Luzhou Airlines' supported Cangshui Elementary School was in Wangjiaping, and reaching it would be very difficult. Gu Nanting, however, emphasized that the greater the difficulty, the greater the need for help, assuring him that plans were in place to deliver the supplies. The volunteers were offered accommodation in a basic local guesthouse, which they accepted with gratitude. Later that evening, while resting at the guesthouse, Gu Nanting found Ni Zhan sitting alone, deep in thought.
Having noticed Ni Zhan's quiet demeanor on the drive, Gu Nanting asked what was on his mind. Ni Zhan revealed a painful memory from a severe flood in his hometown during middle school, where his family had to climb onto their rooftop to await rescue, watching as animal carcasses and human figures drifted by. He shared how his parents' small store, their hope for funding his and his brother's education, was swept away, leaving him unable to afford school fees.
This experience instilled in him a deep desire to leave his hometown and reshape his destiny through education. Song then arrived, offering them a local specialty, "romantic baked tofu," which both men enjoyed. The next morning, Gu Nanting, Ni Zhan, Song, Cheng Xiao, and Lin Yicheng set out for Cangshui Elementary School. Song tried to encourage a reconciliation by suggesting Xia Zhi ride in Cheng Xiao’s car, but Xia Zhi chose to ride with Gu Nanting instead.
Ni Zhan rode with Cheng Xiao, playing a song she liked, and they shared a friendly conversation, agreeing to switch driving if needed. Gu Nanting reminded everyone to follow his car closely as the mountain roads were rough and signals were unreliable, relying on car radios for communication. Upon reaching Cangshui Elementary School, they found it in disarray from the flood.
Ms. Guo, six months pregnant, was staying in an undamaged classroom with several children whose parents worked far away and couldn't be contacted. She revealed she had been walking long distances to get food for them. After giving medicine and candy to a sick child, Gu Nanting and Ni Zhan decided the team should stay overnight.
They drove to a nearby mountaintop where their phones finally got a signal, allowing them to call the county rescue command center and request additional volunteers for a handover the following day. That night, Song and Lin Yicheng entertained the children with songs and dances. Xia Zhi observed the growing closeness between Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao and quietly advised Song to keep it from Li Yuheng to spare her any heartbreak.
As the team prepared for sleep, they gave most of their groundsheets to the teacher and children. Lin Yicheng kindly arranged for the women to sleep inside while the men slept outside, a gesture Ni Zhan found thoughtful. Later, as Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao were tidying the schoolyard, a loud rumble from the mountain startled them. Gu Nanting immediately suspected a landslide.
At the same time, Ms. Guo began experiencing severe abdominal pain, and a child named Xuan Xuan alerted them that another boy, Xiao Le, had gone up the mountain to collect firewood. Concerned for Xiao Le’s safety, Gu Nanting assembled a search party with Cheng Xiao, Song, Ni Zhan, and Lin Yicheng, leaving Xia Zhi to care for Ms. Guo and the other children. The five-person team ascended the mountain, following the only path for firewood collection.
They located Xiao Le trapped inside a forest keeper's wooden hut, which had been crushed by the landslide. Gu Nanting wanted to rescue the boy but hesitated, fearing the unstable structure would collapse further. Cheng Xiao volunteered for the dangerous task of climbing onto the hut to secure a main beam with a rope. With a rope secured around her waist, she carefully climbed onto the structure.
She slipped once but recovered, and Gu Nanting immediately went up to help her down to safety. The team then worked together to move the main beam. As they pulled, the structure became even more unstable. Without hesitation, Lin Yicheng rushed in and pulled Xiao Le out just as the hut completely collapsed, injuring his hand in the process. As Xia Zhi bandaged his wound, Cheng Xiao apologized, admitting she had previously misunderstood him.
Lin Yicheng explained that his wife had left him and their daughter, Dou Dou, and with his mother now ill, he was raising his daughter alone, which affected his focus at work. Cheng Xiao, Song, and Xia Zhi, understanding his struggles, pledged their support. Later, Ni Zhan, Song, and Gu Nanting repaired the basketball hoop and played a game. Cheng Xiao then encountered Xia Zhi, who initially turned to leave.
Cheng Xiao called out to her, prompting Xia Zhi to express her concern over Cheng Xiao's dangerous actions during the rescue. Cheng Xiao apologized for a past misunderstanding and recounted their long-standing friendship, from their first meeting as strangers on a mountain road to Xia Zhi caring for her during a high fever. Xia Zhi admitted her own fault in their recent conflict, and they reconciled, their friendship renewed.
That night, Cheng Xiao found herself unable to sleep, her gaze fixed on the sleeping Gu Nanting beside her. She quietly leaned in and gently kissed him. Gu Nanting tensed, holding his breath. Cheng Xiao then subtly took his hand, and Gu Nanting, seizing the moment, tenderly tightened his grip on hers.
Episode 24 Recap
Following their rescue efforts in Lanshan County, Gu Nanting awoke one morning to find his fingers intertwined with Cheng Xiao's. He gently untangled their hands, placing hers back under the covers before quietly observing her as she slept. Ni Zhan, who was also awake, witnessed the tender moment before feigning sleep, remarking to himself that he was "second again" to wake up. Later, as Gu Nanting prepared breakfast, Ni Zhan joined him and directly questioned him about Cheng Xiao.
Gu Nanting admitted that while he didn't know most trainees' preferences, he knew Cheng Xiao favored coffee or black tea on morning flights. He insisted, however, that she was merely his favorite trainee and nothing more. Relieved, Ni Zhan asked for Gu Nanting's support in pursuing Cheng Xiao, suggesting that Gu Nanting himself would be a better match with Li Yuheng, given their shared history and her affection for him. Uncomfortable, Gu Nanting abruptly left to check on their vehicle.
When Cheng Xiao tried to bring Gu Nanting a bowl of soup, concerned about his pale complexion, he coldly refused her, stating he needed to plan their return route for safety. Seeing Gu Nanting ignore her continued inquiries, Xia Zhi and Song deliberately created a distraction, allowing Cheng Xiao to retreat. Before the team departed, Ms. Guo and the local children gathered to bid them farewell.
A child named Xiao Le tearfully made a pinky promise with Gu Nanting to study hard, attend a top university, and one day fly on a plane piloted by him. The group then took a commemorative photo, with Ms. Guo playfully reminding a somber Gu Nanting to smile. Back at the company, Cheng Xiao sought out Gu Nanting to discuss her ideas for safety analysis, but he curtly told her to submit a written report.
Sensing his distance, she confronted him directly: "I like you. You know that, right? Why are you avoiding me?" Gu Nanting apologized for any misunderstanding, asserting she was "just my trainee." Cheng Xiao recounted their shared experiences—his rescues, their collaboration—asking if she had misinterpreted everything. He replied that it was "for work." When she asked about the previous night, he emotionlessly stated he had "never had any cross-boundary feelings" for her.
Still unconvinced, she asked if he had truly never liked her, "not even for a minute, a second?" He decisively replied, "No." Deeply hurt, Cheng Xiao concluded it was her "own wishful thinking" and walked away. Xia Zhi and Song returned to their apartment to find a note from Li Yuheng, who had volunteered for the company's longest route, "Madrid-Sao Paulo," a flight lasting over ten days.
Xia Zhi correctly guessed this was Li Yuheng's way of dealing with her emotional turmoil. She confided in Song that in Lanshan, she noticed Gu Nanting's gaze towards Cheng Xiao was full of tenderness, while his look towards Li Yuheng was "without any waves." Song advised her not to meddle, trusting their friends to resolve their own issues.
Meanwhile, Gu Nanting's mother sensed his distress as he intensely sharpened a pencil but chose not to pry, trusting he would make the right decision. Later, Gu Nanting deliberately drew his curtains and removed two flight route maps from his wall; seeing this from her apartment, Cheng Xiao angrily did the same. The next morning, Cheng Xiao presented Gu Nanting with a detailed safety report. He then instructed her to hand over the task to Song in the future.
He also informed her that due to the company acquiring new aircraft, she had been selected for the first batch of "left seat" (captain) upgrade assessments. When she asked if he would be her instructor, he claimed he was "tied up" and would not be. Realizing he was still avoiding her, Cheng Xiao asserted she wasn't training for him and, as a professional, would not let personal matters affect her career.
Two weeks later, President Xu announced that the company would promote a new vice president. He nominated three candidates: Jiang Tao, Head of the Flight Department; Ni Zhan, Head of the Maintenance Department; and Gu Nanting, whose nomination was secured by his commendable leadership during the Lanshan disaster relief. The candidates were given four months to prove their capabilities.
Jiang Tao's brother-in-law, Lin Yicheng, expressed concern about the competition, noting Ni Zhan's popularity and mentioning a rumor that Gu Nanting was developing a new safety system, which Jiang Tao viewed as a challenge to his authority but arrogantly dismissed as "childish."
Later, Gu Nanting confessed to Ni Zhan that he wasn't interested in the title itself but saw the position as an opportunity to achieve his long-term goals: revising the operations manual, establishing a new safety management system, and building the company's own aviation academy to ingrain safety from the ground up. Understanding his friend's vision, Ni Zhan pledged his full support regardless of the outcome, affirming their friendship would remain unaffected.
Gu Nanting later informed Cheng Xiao she had passed her left-seat assessment with excellent results. She would now complete 200 hours of flying as a senior first officer, with him as her instructor for the first flight. At a small celebration, Song toasted "Captain Cheng" but expressed pessimism about Gu Nanting's chances in the VP election, calling him a "running mate." Cheng Xiao claimed to be indifferent.
Shortly after, Li Yuheng returned from her long-haul flight, sporting a new short haircut and a transformed, confident demeanor. She told Xia Zhi she had done a lot of thinking and decided to "change myself." Gu Nanting congratulated her, noting her positive "state," as Xia Zhi marveled that she seemed to be "shining."
Episode 25 Recap
As Cheng Xiao prepared for her first flight in the left seat, Ni Zhan presented her with a custom-made fountain pen. He explained its unique nib design prevents ink from leaking during drastic changes in air pressure, a problem Gu Nanting frequently encountered. He mentioned the pen was specially sourced from an aircraft material company and difficult to mass-produce.
Later, before takeoff, when a ground crew member needed a pen to sign off on flight data, Cheng Xiao lent him hers, an act Gu Nanting observed with a hint of jealousy. Li Yuheng revealed she had specifically switched shifts to be on this flight, stating she couldn't miss Cheng Xiao's first time as acting captain. Also part of the cabin crew was Qi Yu, a trainee chief flight attendant.
Qi Yu readily helped a male passenger with his luggage in first class. A female passenger from economy class, who had mistakenly wandered into the first-class cabin, witnessed this. Upon returning to economy class and struggling with her own heavy luggage, she asked Qi Yu for help. However, Qi Yu refused, citing other duties, leading the passenger to accuse her of differential treatment.
Xia Zhi quickly stepped in to assist the passenger, but the heavy luggage fell and injured her hand. Li Yuheng wanted to report the injury, but Xia Zhi urged her not to, wanting to avoid causing trouble for Cheng Xiao on her inaugural left-seat flight. Enduring the pain, Xia Zhi hastily bandaged her hand and continued working. After the flight landed in Hong Kong for a three-hour layover, Xia Zhi was visibly struggling with pain.
Li Yuheng insisted on taking her to the airport's emergency center. When Cheng Xiao learned of the injury, she expressed immediate concern and instructed Li Yuheng to take Xia Zhi to the hospital. Upon their return, Li Yuheng detailed the entire incident to Cheng Xiao, revealing Xia Zhi had sustained a minor fracture. Cheng Xiao was highly displeased with Qi Yu's actions.
During their confrontation, Qi Yu remained unrepentant, arguing that the passenger was not "old, weak, or disabled" and could handle her own luggage, accusing her of "picking a fight." She insisted her priority was flight safety, not catering to every passenger's demand. Cheng Xiao sternly rebuked Qi Yu, emphasizing the importance of empathy and pointing out that her negligence led to a colleague's injury. As the acting captain, Cheng Xiao declared she would report Qi Yu's misconduct to the company.
Following the successful flight, Gu Nanting commended Cheng Xiao's performance and her handling of the incident with Qi Yu, giving her a score of 90. He then informed Cheng Xiao that she would no longer be his student, explaining that as a left-seat pilot, she needed to learn from various captains to broaden her experience, as only flying with him would hinder her progress. Cheng Xiao was visibly disappointed by this revelation.
Ten days later, Xia Zhi and Li Yuheng discovered malicious rumors about Cheng Xiao circulating on the company forum, accompanied by magnified surveillance screenshots. The posts falsely accused Cheng Xiao of seducing both Gu Nanting and Ni Zhan to get ahead and of interfering in Gu Nanting's relationship, claiming he was already engaged to flight attendant Li Yuheng. Enraged, Xia Zhi vowed to find the slanderer. The rumors spread rapidly, leading to widespread online criticism.
Ni Zhan investigated but could not trace the source, as the registered phone number was turned off. Gu Nanting publicly refuted the claims on the forum, asserting Cheng Xiao was his capable and virtuous student whose achievements were solely due to her own hard work. He clarified that she was merely a tenant in another property he owned, not living in his house, and explicitly stated he was neither engaged nor in a relationship.
Cheng Xiao called Gu Nanting, apologizing for getting him involved. She asked if his public clarification was for his own reputation or for her. Gu Nanting admitted it was for her, but then tried to use her status as his student as a justification. Cheng Xiao saw through his pretense, letting him know she understood his true feelings. During a company-wide meeting, Jiang Tao, the head of the Flight Department, publicly apologized for the "scandal," vowing a strict investigation.
Cheng Xiao interrupted, identifying herself as the pilot in question. She challenged her detractors to confront her directly and threatened legal action if the defamatory posts were not removed. To counter accusations of leveraging her connections, she presented her complete career record and high assessment scores, asserting her success was based purely on merit. She produced a four-year-old rental contract to prove she had rented her apartment long before she even knew Gu Nanting was connected to the property.
She then confessed her feelings for Gu Nanting but stated the "scandal" was baseless because he had never reciprocated. With that, she dramatically tore up her rental contract, declared she would move out, and left her supporting documents on the table as she walked out of the stunned meeting.
After the meeting, Gu Nanting tried to discuss the situation with Ni Zhan, who interrupted him, stating that while Cheng Xiao's feelings for Gu Nanting were her own business, his own feelings for Cheng Xiao were his to have, acknowledging his affection for her. Meanwhile, Qiao Zhengyu texted Cheng Xiao his support.
Xia Zhi and Song caught up with Cheng Xiao, trying to dissuade her from moving, but she was resolved, not wanting to implicate Gu Nanting and Ni Zhan further. Ni Zhan soon arrived and offered a "one-stop moving service," which Cheng Xiao politely declined. Jiang Tao later revealed to his brother-in-law that he was relieved by Cheng Xiao's public outburst, as it implicated both Gu Nanting and Ni Zhan, his rivals for the vice president position, making them appear compromised.
He acknowledged her competence and strong backing, expressing curiosity about whether she could maintain her position. Later, Cheng Xiao arrived at her small, unrenovated apartment to find it completely transformed. A designer on-site revealed that her father had secretly restarted and paid for the renovation as a surprise. Overwhelmed, Cheng Xiao tearfully called her father to thank him, moving him deeply when she told him "I love you."
At a bar, Xie Zetian told a conflicted Gu Nanting that he had missed his chance with a good woman like Cheng Xiao and advised him to be decisive. Later, Gu Nanting went to Cheng Xiao's apartment to handle the handover. He was formal and distant, instructing her to leave all items behind as per the rule of restoring the property to its original state, adding that he would hire a housekeeper as a new tenant was moving in soon.
Just then, Ni Zhan arrived with the moving service he had arranged. Seeing Ni Zhan's comprehensive assistance, Gu Nanting felt he had no role to play and promptly left, telling Cheng Xiao not to worry about the keys as he would be changing the locks.
Episode 26 Recap
Following up on the company-wide meeting where she defended herself, Cheng Xiao begins moving out of the apartment she rented from Gu Nanting. She is deeply reluctant, rushing to save a flight route map from the movers, but it gets torn in the process. After moving into her own smaller, newly-renovated house, she tapes the map together but puts it away instead of on the wall. She retreats to her bathroom, quietly shedding tears.
Meanwhile, Li Yuheng and Gu Nanting visit his mother. Learning the apartment is vacant, she suggests Li Yuheng move in, but Gu Nanting states he doesn't want to rent it out for now, offering to find another place for her. Puzzled by his refusal, Li Yuheng casually remarks that the previous tenant must have left a deep impression on him.
Later, Gu Nanting returns to the empty apartment and finds Cheng Xiao's earring in the sofa, triggering a memory of their first flight together. His mother, noticing his pensive mood when he returns, suspects his feelings for Cheng Xiao and calls a real estate agent to get her contact information, recalling that she was his student. Xia Zhi and a junior pilot, Song, discuss the ongoing rumors about Cheng Xiao, with Xia Zhi convinced an enemy is behind them.
Just then, Qi Yu arrives and formally apologizes to Xia Zhi for the trouble her outburst caused. She admits that while her demotion was frustrating, she now realizes Li Yuheng's intervention prevented her from making a bigger mistake. Qi Yu then jokingly vows to be promoted to chief flight attendant before Li Yuheng. After she leaves, Xia Zhi remains suspicious that Qi Yu could be the one spreading the rumors.
One week later, Gu Nanting, who had requested not to be scheduled on flights with Cheng Xiao, receives a call that Captain Fan, scheduled to fly to Xi'an that evening, is sick. Since Cheng Xiao is the co-pilot and no other qualified captains are available, Gu Nanting reluctantly agrees to take the flight. Cheng Xiao is visibly surprised to see him but remains professional.
During boarding, a maintenance engineer, Wang Fan, slips while walking back from the restroom and accidentally disconnects the ground power cord. The cabin plunges into darkness, causing alarm among the passengers. Cheng Xiao immediately uses the captain's broadcast to calm everyone down. Within two minutes, power is restored via the aircraft's auxiliary power unit. Wang Fan explains he slipped while going to retrieve his earphones.
Gu Nanting, citing flight safety protocols, insists the operational error must be reported to the company. Worried Wang Fan could be fired, Cheng Xiao calls Ni Zhan for help. Ni Zhan rushes to the scene and finds Wang Fan has injured his foot, sending him to get it checked. He then confronts Gu Nanting, but Gu Nanting has already reported the incident to the security department. With passengers still anxious, Gu Nanting goes to the cabin.
Using a flashlight and a power bank as an analogy, he clearly explains that the brief outage did not compromise the aircraft's safety, successfully reassuring them. At the hospital, Ni Zhan learns Wang Fan suffered an ankle fracture requiring surgery. Wang Fan, though in pain, is prepared to be dismissed for his mistake. Later, the security department calls Gu Nanting for details.
Gu Nanting accepts a majority of the responsibility for the incident, citing a lack of oversight as the lead captain, and asks for leniency for Wang Fan, knowing this will result in his own monthly performance bonus being docked and a formal reprimand. Unaware of this, Ni Zhan confronts Gu Nanting again, heatedly accusing him of reporting Wang Fan to eliminate a rival for the upcoming vice president election and highlighting Wang Fan's difficult financial situation.
Gu Nanting maintains that his actions were based purely on safety principles. Cheng Xiao silently witnesses their tense exchange. Later, Gu Nanting visits Wang Fan in the hospital. Wang Fan’s wife is hostile, complaining about the disparity between pilots and maintenance crew. Wang Fan defends Gu Nanting, insisting the fall was his own fault. Cheng Xiao arrives with gifts and tries to explain, but Gu Nanting stops her, saying the family's reaction is understandable.
Wang Fan tells Gu Nanting he understands why the incident had to be reported. As Gu Nanting leaves, Wang Fan remarks that despite his cold exterior, he is a very caring person.
Episode 27 Recap
Following up on his visit to the hospital, Cheng Xiao went to the cashier to inquire about Wang Fan's hospital fees, only to learn that Ni Zhan had already settled all of them. As she prepared to leave, Gu Nanting, who had also come to pay, offered her a ride home, but she politely declined. Later, Gu Nanting, suspecting Wang Fan’s old shoes contributed to his fall, had new high-top antiskid boots delivered to the maintenance department.
A maintenance worker noted that the new boots were far more comfortable than the stiff, company-issued ones. Hearing this, Ni Zhan instructed everyone to switch to the new boots. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi and Song Song headed to Cheng Xiao's housewarming party. Xia Zhi carried a blanket as a gift, live-streaming their journey and insisting that Song Song try some milk tea. Unwilling to refuse her kindness, Song Song drank it despite his milk product allergy.
Upon arriving, Song Song asked if Gu Nanting was invited, but Cheng Xiao said she saw no reason to. Ni Zhan soon arrived uninvited, having seen Xia Zhi’s social media post. Cheng Xiao welcomed him, and he immediately offered to help in the kitchen. Observing Ni Zhan's helpfulness, Xia Zhi remarked to Song Song that he seemed like a promising match for Cheng Xiao and criticized Gu Nanting for not recognizing her worth.
Feeling bad for Gu Nanting, Song Song secretly texted him, fabricating a story that Cheng Xiao had badly scalded her hands with hot oil. Alarmed, Gu Nanting immediately asked for the address. Moments later, Gu Nanting knocked on the door and rushed to check Cheng Xiao’s hands. Confused, she assured him she was fine. As an excuse for his sudden arrival, Gu Nanting returned an earring of hers that he found on his sofa.
Cheng Xiao invited him to join the party, but as he sat down, he noticed the two flight route maps he had drawn with her discarded in a bucket, leaving him disheartened. During the party, Ni Zhan presented Cheng Xiao with a model airplane he had personally crafted from the skin of a retired Boeing aircraft. He had etched her birthday, CX0920, and a red lip print on the wing, a detail referencing a past memory of hers.
Cheng Xiao was delighted with the unique gift, while Gu Nanting sat silently, feeling out of place. As the evening progressed, a drunk Song Song and Xia Zhi fell asleep on the sofa. Cheng Xiao stood up and accidentally bumped her knee on the table, prompting both Gu Nanting and Ni Zhan to show immediate concern. Ni Zhan quickly retrieved an ice pack for her. Feeling it was late, Gu Nanting excused himself.
Cheng Xiao encouraged Ni Zhan to head home as well, assuring him she would clean up the next day. After they left, she covered the sleeping Song Song and Xia Zhi with the blanket Xia Zhi had brought. In the car, Ni Zhan confronted Gu Nanting about his presence at the party, reminding him that he had twice denied any romantic feelings for Cheng Xiao. Gu Nanting maintained that she was merely his student.
Back at the apartment, Xia Zhi woke up to find Song Song’s face covered in itchy red rashes from his allergic reaction to the milk tea. Feeling responsible, she promised to take care of him and ran out to buy medicine, for which he was grateful. That night, a sleepless Gu Nanting composed a message to his deceased ex-girlfriend, Luo Yi, confessing his growing feelings for Cheng Xiao but expressing his dilemma, as her brother, Ni Zhan, also liked her.
Meanwhile, Song Song encouraged Cheng Xiao not to give up on Gu Nanting, but she was frustrated by his hot-and-cold behavior, stating that if he truly liked her, he wouldn't deliberately avoid her. Over the next month, Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting immersed themselves in work, flying different routes. In his office, Gu Nanting was seen updating a map with her new flight paths. A month later, Jiang Tao fast-tracked a meeting with newly recruited female pilots.
Gu Nanting remembered it was Ni Zhan's birthday and offered to treat him to dinner, but backed off when Ni Zhan said he wanted to invite Cheng Xiao. Gu Nanting met with the new female pilots, and as he spoke, Cheng Xiao walked past on her way to an aircraft. The new recruits openly admired her, aspiring to be as brilliant as her. Gu Nanting watched her intently until a student's voice snapped him back to reality.
Elsewhere, a new executive, Mr. Sun, officially joined Luzhou Airlines and was welcomed with a company dinner. Ni Zhan, who was in attendance, discreetly texted Cheng Xiao to reschedule their birthday dinner. During the meal, Mr. Sun mentioned he had seen Cheng Xiao's profile on the company website and expressed a strong desire to meet her.
Jiang Tao immediately called Cheng Xiao, who had just landed, and insisted she join them, noting that Gu Nanting was unavailable and she needed to represent the company's female pilots. Cheng Xiao reluctantly agreed. At the same restaurant, Li Yuheng and Qi Yu were also having dinner. Qi Yu urged Li Yuheng to find a good husband and asked if Cheng Xiao had "snatched" Gu Nanting from her, leaving Li Yuheng speechless. Shortly after, they ran into Jiang Tao.
Episode 28 Recap
Li Yuheng and Qi Yu arrive at a restaurant where Jiang Tao is having a meeting with several board directors. Jiang Tao expresses surprise that only the two of them are there, and Qi Yu quickly interjects, fabricating that their third friend couldn't make it. Jiang Tao then invites them to join the dinner, which Qi Yu enthusiastically accepts. Li Yuheng tries to explain that the entire crew was meant to be gathering there, but Qi Yu pulls her away.
Inside, Cheng Xiao is introduced to Mr. Sun, a new director from Xingyuan Group. Mr. Sun, praising Cheng Xiao, insists she sit next to him, making Ni Zhan switch seats. When Mr. Sun proposes a toast, Cheng Xiao declines alcohol, opting to toast with tea instead. Ni Zhan, noticing her discomfort, smoothly interjects that a toast with tea is still a gesture of goodwill, preventing any further issue.
Later, Li Yuheng messages Gu Nanting, seeking assistance with downloading cabin data, and mentions she is at a dinner with the company's directors. She further expresses concern about being pressured to drink by Mr. Sun, revealing that Cheng Xiao is also present and seems upset. Upon hearing this, Gu Nanting immediately heads to the restaurant. After the dinner concludes and the directors begin to leave, Ni Zhan, having shielded Cheng Xiao from drinking throughout the evening, is heavily intoxicated.
Cheng Xiao and Li Yuheng stay by his side. Cheng Xiao arranges a taxi for Li Yuheng, telling her to go home. As Li Yuheng's taxi departs, Mr. Sun, still under the influence, attempts to grab Cheng Xiao. Gu Nanting arrives just in time, grabbing Mr. Sun's arm. Jiang Tao quickly steps in, defusing the situation by repeatedly claiming it's a misunderstanding and ushering the director away.
Gu Nanting then turns his anger towards Ni Zhan, demanding to know why he brought Cheng Xiao to such a gathering. Cheng Xiao clarifies that Jiang Tao was the one who insisted she attend, and that Ni Zhan had been protecting her by drinking on her behalf. She confronts Gu Nanting, questioning his right to be angry or to interfere. Ni Zhan suddenly begins to vomit uncontrollably, and Gu Nanting helps him to the restroom.
In his inebriated state, Ni Zhan confronts Gu Nanting, revealing his understanding of Gu Nanting's feelings for Cheng Xiao. He accuses Gu Nanting of deliberately rejecting Cheng Xiao, giving her hope only to let her down, all while trying to "give her away" to him. Ni Zhan insists he likes Cheng Xiao and will treat her wholeheartedly, rejecting Gu Nanting's attempt to sacrifice his own feelings. Gu Nanting is left speechless, unable to refute Ni Zhan's words.
Unbeknownst to them, Cheng Xiao is standing just outside the restroom, overhearing their entire conversation. As Gu Nanting drives a drunk Ni Zhan home, Cheng Xiao confronts him directly about the conversation she overheard. She sarcastically challenges him, asking about the "great thing" he did by "giving her away" to Ni Zhan. Gu Nanting stammers, unable to articulate his true feelings, insisting that Cheng Xiao is a good person and the issue lies with him.
Frustrated by his evasiveness, Cheng Xiao angrily leaves. Gu Nanting ensures Ni Zhan is settled at home before departing. That night, both Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting find themselves unable to sleep, each grappling with their unspoken thoughts and emotions. Li Yuheng returns home very late to find Song Song waiting for her, having prepared hangover soup. Li Yuheng engages in a frank conversation with Song Song, explaining that she views him only as a good friend and roommate.
She expresses her current desire to focus solely on her work and life, free from emotional entanglements. Song Song understands her clear rejection and decides to move out of the apartment. However, when he goes to pack, Xia Zhi, who lives with them, reveals she has already rented out the apartment across the hall without consulting him.
Xia Zhi then presents Song Song with a "renewal gift," a water flosser, playfully declaring that the three of them—Li Yuheng, Song Song, and herself—are now like family, effectively compelling Song Song to continue living there. The next morning, Gu Nanting prepares longevity noodles for Ni Zhan, who wakes up at Gu Nanting's place with no memory of the previous night's events.
Gu Nanting explains it's to make up for his uncelebrated birthday and presents him with a pair of limited-edition basketball shoes. He then invites Ni Zhan for a game, which Ni Zhan happily accepts. Meanwhile, Li Yuheng arrives at Gu Nanting's office with printed cabin training materials, concerned that he didn't receive her email from the previous night. Gu Nanting mentions he hadn't seen her at the dinner.
Taking this opportunity, Li Yuheng confesses her long-standing feelings for him, acknowledging that his heart belongs to someone else. She describes her unrequited affection as an endless climb up a mountain and declares her decision to let go of her obsession. Gu Nanting gently wishes her well, hoping she finds someone suitable in the future. Li Yuheng, with a heavy heart, leaves, reminding him that he can always confide in her.
Later, Ni Zhan visits Cheng Xiao to apologize for his behavior the previous night. Cheng Xiao, however, expresses gratitude for him having protected her by taking all the drinks at the dinner, calling him a "real man." Ni Zhan attempts to confess his feelings for her, but Cheng Xiao subtly deflects by emphasizing how accustomed she is to calling him "Brother Zhan," implying that a more formal or romantic address would feel awkward.
Ni Zhan, understanding her subtle rejection, accepts her decision and leaves. At the company, Cheng Xiao's father arrives to meet Gu Nanting. He reveals the strained relationship between Cheng Xiao and her mother, which stems from her mother's past traumatic experience in a 2004 Fanhai Airlines depressurization incident, where a flight attendant died beside her. Since then, her mother has developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder, making her hypersensitive to anything aviation-related and leading her to never fly again.
Cheng Xiao's father explains that her mother recently saw photos of Cheng Xiao's plane veering off the runway on the company's official website, which caused her blood pressure to spike, leading to her hospitalization. He pleads with Gu Nanting to persuade Cheng Xiao to quit flying. Gu Nanting acknowledges the mother's suffering but firmly refuses, stating that losing her passion for flying would devastate Cheng Xiao.
He highlights Cheng Xiao's exceptional dedication and strong sense of responsibility, asserting that no one is more suited to be a captain. He also offers to help find a psychologist for her mother. Cheng Xiao's father is surprised by Gu Nanting's deep understanding of his daughter and asks him not to tell Cheng Xiao about her mother's condition.
Soon after, Cheng Xiao's father visits her at home and convinces her to quit her job, revealing that her mother has been hospitalized due to the news of Cheng Xiao's recent incident. Overwhelmed with guilt, Cheng Xiao seeks out Gu Nanting to request a week of leave to care for her mother. Gu Nanting, while granting the leave, expresses concern about pilot deployment during the peak season. He also subtly probes whether she has any thoughts about changing jobs. Cheng Xiao directly asks if he fears she will resign. Gu Nanting avoids a direct answer but encourages her to discuss any uncertainties with him, showing his support.
Episode 29 Recap
Following his mother's hospitalization due to stress over her job, Cheng Xiao is visited by her father. Overcome with guilt, she buys numerous local specialties, intending to take them home to make amends. While she and her father wait for a taxi outside the mall, Ni Zhan, the Head of the Maintenance Department and a close friend, happens to drive by and offers them a ride.
During the car ride, Cheng Xiao's father notices Ni Zhan's clear affection for his daughter and hatches a plan. To placate his wife and prevent Cheng Xiao from quitting her beloved career, he proposes telling her mother that Cheng Xiao and Ni Zhan are a couple. Cheng Xiao strongly objects, insisting they are just friends and that the lie is unsustainable.
However, her father, understanding her passion for flying, persuades her it's a necessary temporary measure, promising to clear up the misunderstanding later. With no better alternative, Cheng Xiao reluctantly agrees, and her father immediately helps her cancel her flight home. Shortly after, Cheng Xiao informs Gu Nanting she is canceling her leave. Gu Nanting is visibly relieved and happy to learn she is staying.
His mood is a stark contrast to an earlier conversation with his mother, where her inquiries about Cheng Xiao had left him despondent over the possibility of her departure. Later, Gu Nanting celebrates his parents' wedding anniversary with his mother. Knowing Cheng Xiao has decided to stay, he is now receptive as his mother encourages him to move past his old pain and not miss the chance to pursue his own happiness with Cheng Xiao. He smiles and agrees.
At Luzhou Airlines, employees cast their votes for the new Vice President. President Xu also announces the launch of the new Luzhou-Singapore route, with a signing ceremony scheduled for the following Wednesday. Since he will be at a forum in Seattle, he appoints Mr. Feng from the parent group to attend. Jiang Tao, Ni Zhan, and Gu Nanting are to accompany him.
President Xu specifically authorizes Jiang Tao to sign the contract alongside Mr. Feng, and tasks Gu Nanting with piloting the inaugural flight, telling him to select an excellent first officer. Ni Zhan believes the VP position is now all but guaranteed for Jiang Tao, feeling disheartened for both Gu Nanting and himself.
He recalls that Jiang Tao was the first officer to Gu Nanting's master during the infamous Fanhai Airlines depressurization incident and was one of the first employees when President Xu founded Luzhou Airlines. Gu Nanting, however, expresses genuine respect for Jiang Tao's long service and contributions. While Ni Zhan urges him to fight harder, Gu Nanting maintains that his only method for competing is through his proposed safety system overhaul, stating he has no interest in office politics.
He then calls Cheng Xiao and invites her to be his first officer for the inaugural Singapore flight, an opportunity she eagerly accepts. On the day of the flight, Lin Yicheng privately tells Jiang Tao that his promotion to Vice President seems certain, though Jiang Tao cautions him to remain discreet. Before takeoff, Jiang Tao brings Cheng Xiao and Lin Yicheng to greet Mr. Feng in the cabin. Cheng Xiao is put off by Jiang Tao's excessively flattering demeanor.
Afterward, Jiang Tao advises her that a good pilot needs interpersonal skills as much as technical ability. Cheng Xiao retorts that she prefers to emulate Gu Nanting, focusing solely on flying proficiency to ensure passenger safety and comfort, and has no interest in other matters, leaving Jiang Tao speechless. During the flight, a call from air traffic control warns of a severe thunderstorm over Singapore's Changi Airport, making a landing impossible. Cheng Xiao immediately suggests diverting to Guangzhou.
Jiang Tao, worried about delaying the signing ceremony, initially hesitates, preferring to circle and wait for a break in the weather. However, Cheng Xiao insists on the severity of the forecast, and Jiang Tao reluctantly agrees to divert. After landing safely in Guangzhou, Jiang Tao personally apologizes to Mr. Feng for the delay. The next morning, the flight resumes its journey to Singapore. Flight attendant Li Yuheng discovers a passenger, Guo Xiaoliang, unconscious in a lavatory.
The lead flight attendant, Ai Jia, confirms there are no doctors on board and reports the medical emergency to the cockpit. Jiang Tao immediately decides to divert to the nearest airport, Saigon, and Cheng Xiao contacts air traffic control to make the request. Soon after, Guo Xiaoliang regains consciousness. He tells Ai Jia he has no prior medical conditions and believes he fainted from exhaustion and lack of sleep.
When asked about diverting, his father, unfamiliar with the procedure, defers to the crew's judgment. Hearing that the passenger is awake and was able to walk to a first-class seat to rest, Jiang Tao decides to cancel the diversion. Cheng Xiao argues that without a doctor, they cannot be sure of his true condition and that passenger safety must come first. Jiang Tao dismisses her concerns, attributing the incident to airsickness.
Meanwhile, Mr. Feng, a passenger on the flight, expresses his reluctance to divert again. He places a call to Gu Nanting, who is on a separate flight, to get his opinion. Gu Nanting states that if he were the captain, he would divert. He then contacts Cheng Xiao, urging her to convince Jiang Tao to stick with the plan to land in Saigon.
Cheng Xiao passionately pleads with Jiang Tao, arguing that the passenger is in a weakened state and cannot make a sound decision, and that it is their duty as the crew to prioritize his life. However, Jiang Tao is resolute. Fearing that another diversion will cause a multi-hour delay, jeopardize the signing ceremony, and damage the airline's reputation, he overrules her.
Confident that Singapore's superior medical facilities are the better option, he confirms the cancellation of the diversion with air traffic control and orders Cheng Xiao to increase to maximum speed to reach Singapore as quickly as possible.
Episode 30 Recap
After deciding against an immediate diversion for a passenger, Guo Xiaoliang, who had briefly fainted but seemed to recover, Captain Jiang Tao instructed his co-pilot, Cheng Xiao, to request a direct flight path to Singapore to save time. Gu Nanting, a passenger on the flight and the airline's deputy head of the flight department, became concerned about the passenger's condition. He used a cabin phone to contact the cockpit, urging Jiang Tao to reconsider diverting.
Jiang Tao sternly reprimanded Gu Nanting for interfering with cockpit affairs and for the unauthorized use of cabin communication devices, threatening to have him restrained by air police. When Cheng Xiao tried to defend Gu Nanting, Jiang Tao harshly warned her that her co-pilot position could be at risk. He then ordered the chief flight attendant, Ai Jia, to secure the cabin's communication devices and assigned First Officer Lin Yicheng to handle all subsequent communications.
As the plane approached Singapore, Jiang Tao instructed Lin Yicheng to request an ambulance upon arrival as a precaution. On final approach, a flight attendant checked on Guo Xiaoliang, who seemed stable. However, upon landing safely at Changi Airport, the crew found Guo Xiaoliang unresponsive, with no pulse or breathing. Gu Nanting helped carry the passenger to a more open area in the cabin, and Ai Jia immediately began performing CPR while the other flight attendants managed the passengers.
Alerted to the emergency, Jiang Tao and Cheng Xiao rushed out from the cockpit. Paramedics soon boarded and took over CPR, but they could not find any signs of life. Guo Xiaoliang was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. His father was overcome with grief. Jiang Tao instructed Ai Jia to have the relevant crew members complete detailed incident reports and strictly warned everyone not to speak to the media, stressing the need to protect Luzhou Airlines' reputation.
Later, while Jiang Tao, Gu Nanting, and Ni Zhan were with their business partner, Mr. Feng, for a contract signing, Gu Nanting received a text from flight attendant Li Yuheng confirming Guo Xiaoliang's death. The news visibly shook Cheng Xiao, who excused herself to get some air. Subsequently, Guo Xiaoliang's grieving father confronted Cheng Xiao, blaming her and the crew for not flying faster to save his son.
He cried that his life was now meaningless and demanded they "pay for his son." Jiang Tao arrived and offered condolences, but the distraught father only grew more agitated. Jiang Tao instructed the crew to monitor the father closely to ensure his well-being. That evening, a stressed Jiang Tao declined food from Lin Yicheng, privately wondering to himself if diverting the flight would have changed the outcome. Gu Nanting found a distraught Cheng Xiao sitting alone.
He advised her against dwelling on "what-ifs," sharing the story of a tragic accident from ten years prior, where a female pilot he trusted crashed during her first solo flight after he allowed her to deviate from standard procedures. He explained that this loss is why he is so uncompromising about safety regulations. His story helped Cheng Xiao understand his perspective.
He urged her to process her emotions, warning that he would not let her fly as his co-pilot for their return flight if she remained in an unstable mindset. Two days later, back in Luzhou, Jiang Tao reported the incident to President Xu Ce, taking full responsibility. Xu Ce, however, stated that an initial review deemed it an accident for which the crew was not at fault. Soon after, a lawyer, Mr. Zhuang, representing Guo Xiaoliang's father, confronted Jiang Tao.
Mr. Zhuang presented an autopsy report confirming the cause of death as sudden cardiac arrest and argued that Jiang Tao's decision not to divert had deprived Guo Xiaoliang of a crucial window for survival. Jiang Tao cited a civil aviation law absolving the airline of responsibility if a death is due to a passenger's pre-existing health condition.
Mr. Zhuang then subtly threatened Jiang Tao by mentioning his candidacy for the airline's vice president position, implying a lawsuit could damage his career. Unfazed, Jiang Tao directed them to the company's legal department. To generate public pressure, Mr. Zhuang filmed Guo Xiaoliang's father in front of the airline's headquarters, where he emotionally accused the captain and the airline of negligence. The video went viral, with many online commentators, some posing as experts, condemning the decision not to divert.
While Jiang Tao was furious, believing it was a tactic to extort money, Cheng Xiao confided in her friends that she felt the father wasn't seeking money, but rather a sincere apology he was unlikely to receive. The escalating situation prompted the company's Safety Supervision Department to form an investigation team, scheduling a full review of the incident. That night, Jiang Tao summoned Cheng Xiao for a meeting.
On her way, she met Gu Nanting, who sensed Jiang Tao's agitated state and offered to accompany her, advising her to listen more than speak. Cheng Xiao declined, wanting to handle it herself. In the meeting, Jiang Tao pleaded with Cheng Xiao to omit any mention of the Saigon diversion possibility during the review, fearing it would complicate matters and harm the crew and the company.
Cheng Xiao refused, insisting his decision was compliant with regulations and that as a member of his crew, she was prepared to face any consequences alongside him. Her unwavering stance left Jiang Tao frustrated and speechless.
Episode 31 Recap
Following the in-flight death of a passenger, Jiang Tao, worried that the incident would jeopardize his campaign for Vice President, flew to Saigon to orchestrate a cover-up. Subsequently, Director Xie Zetien initiated a formal investigation, interviewing the involved flight and cabin crew, including Li Yuheng, Ai Jia, Lin Yicheng, Cheng Xiao, and Jiang Tao himself.
Cheng Xiao gave a truthful account, explaining that she found the passenger, Mr. Guo, unconscious, broadcast for a doctor, and requested a diversion to Saigon, which air traffic control was coordinating. She stated that Captain Jiang later canceled the diversion, claiming the passenger's condition had improved, and proceeded to Singapore. In contrast, Jiang Tao and First Officer Lin Yicheng presented a unified story, denying that any diversion was seriously considered.
They claimed the primary reason for not landing was that Saigon Airport, the only viable option, was closed due to foreign object debris on the runway. Jiang Tao substantiated this with a ground-to-air recording which stated that Saigon Airport was closed, instructing two other aircraft, Gaosha 263 and Mille 221, to enter a holding pattern. Cheng Xiao insisted she never heard this transmission.
Jiang Tao dismissed her, claiming the communication occurred while she was in the cabin attending to the passenger. However, Cheng Xiao distinctly remembered hearing Jiang Tao report that "the patient's condition has improved" upon her return to the cockpit—a line notably absent from the recording presented. Jiang Tao denied ever saying it and accused her of misremembering. As further proof, he presented flight data showing the two foreign aircraft orbiting over Saigon, seemingly confirming the airport closure.
Undeterred, Cheng Xiao openly challenged Jiang Tao, reminding him that he had previously asked her to conceal the diversion request. Jiang Tao flatly denied this, reframing their conversation as a well-intentioned warning against being influenced by online rumors. He then questioned her motives for doubting the recording and his authority as a senior captain. Director Xie concluded the meeting by absolving Luzhou Airlines of responsibility, attributing Mr. Guo's death to his pre-existing condition.
Wracked with guilt, Cheng Xiao confided in Gu Nanting, sharing her suspicion that the recording was fabricated. While finding the accusation hard to believe, Gu Nanting acknowledged its gravity and the need for evidence. Meanwhile, he confronted Lin Yicheng about the cockpit communications, but Lin was evasive. A flashback revealed that Jiang Tao had secured Lin's complicity by showing him falsified documents about the runway closure and arranging for his daughter's admission to a prestigious private school.
Determined to find the truth, Gu Nanting flew to Saigon. An archivist, Mr. Nguyen, confirmed a brief, unannounced 15-minute runway closure and provided a copy of the official ground-to-air recording. However, he could not supply the contact information for the captains of the other two aircraft. Immediately after Gu's departure, Nguyen called Jiang Tao to inform him of the visit. At the same time, Cheng Xiao and Xia Zhi went to see the Guo family.
They overheard Mr. Guo's parents in distress, realizing they had been scammed by their lawyer, Mr. Zhuang, who took their life savings, told them the case was unwinnable, and then disappeared. Compounding their despair, Cheng Xiao realized the cockpit voice recorder, which would have captured the conversation she remembered, had long been overwritten. Moved by the family's plight, she resolved to find them a new lawyer and track down the two foreign pilots who could serve as witnesses.
Upon his return, Gu Nanting went directly to Jiang Tao, formally requesting that the flight department send official letters to Gaosha and Mille airlines to verify the events of that night. Jiang Tao refused, arguing it would imply wrongdoing and damage the company's reputation. Later, Gu visited Cheng Xiao, giving her the recording from Saigon and a list of all 6,577 pilots from the two airlines.
He intended to find the pilots himself, but she took the files, urging him not to get further involved. While Cheng Xiao sought legal help from her father, Director Xie met with Jiang Tao. Citing Jiang's chronic back pain as a potential career-ender, Xie reminisced about a flight emergency 17 years prior, praising Jiang's legendary composure. In his office, Gu Nanting listened to the Saigon recording repeatedly, sensing an anomaly.
Unbeknownst to him, Jiang Tao was escalating his deception; a separate scene shows him instructing a technician to fabricate the exact audio line Cheng Xiao remembered—"The patient is getting better. Thank you"—and digitally alter it to sound authentic, preparing a new piece of false evidence.
Episode 32 Recap
Gu Nanting secretly arranged for Mr. Liu, a legal aid consultant, to meet with Cheng Xiao, having Li Yuheng act as the intermediary to conceal his involvement. Cheng Xiao, wanting to prevent Li Yuheng from getting entangled, asked her to leave. Despite Mr. Liu's offer of pro bono work, Cheng Xiao insisted on paying the lawyer's fees herself, acknowledging the hardship faced by Mr. Guo's family.
Li Yuheng later informed Gu Nanting that Cheng Xiao had sent her away to avoid involving him, which Gu Nanting understood, recognizing Cheng Xiao's tendency not to burden others. Mr. Liu advised Cheng Xiao that winning a lawsuit against Luzhou Airlines would be extremely difficult due to a lack of critical evidence. He explained that her testimony as a witness during mediation was their best chance, as it could pressure the airline into an out-of-court settlement.
He emphasized that without her presence, the chances of a settlement were zero. Meanwhile, the legal department informed President Xu that they had received a lawyer's letter from the deceased's family. President Xu instructed his team to respond proactively. Lin Yicheng, concerned, warned Captain Jiang that the situation would become very complicated if the opposing lawyer discovered evidence of the altered recording.
After learning from Lin Yicheng that Gu Nanting was assisting Cheng Xiao with her investigation, Captain Jiang grew even more incensed at what he perceived as disloyalty. Confident his tampering was undetectable, he dismissed Lin's concerns and subsequently contacted Ms. Fang, Cheng Xiao's mother. Citing his desire to protect Cheng Xiao, he explained that she was siding with the plaintiff. Ms. Fang, who desperately wanted her daughter to quit flying, offered to represent Luzhou Airlines as their attorney pro bono.
She reasoned that her presence would psychologically unsettle Cheng Xiao, giving Luzhou Airlines an advantage, an offer Captain Jiang readily accepted. Five days later, Cheng Xiao attended the mediation meeting alongside Mr. Liu. She attended as a witness for the plaintiff, hoping her testimony could pressure Captain Jiang into a settlement, despite the risk of being seen as opposing her own company.
Just as the meeting began, Ms. Fang arrived and was introduced as the attorney representing Luzhou Airlines, leaving Cheng Xiao stunned. Mr. Liu stated the plaintiff's primary demand: a public apology from Captain Jiang. Ms. Fang countered with an offer of a private condolence payment, stressing that Luzhou Airlines would not admit fault.
She then presented medical records revealing Mr. Guo's history of insomnia, anxiety, and heart conditions, along with evidence of his demanding work schedule, arguing that his death was caused by overwork and that his employer, not the airline, was responsible. Mr. Liu cited civil law, arguing Luzhou Airlines failed its duty to provide aid.
When Ms. Fang detailed the crew's rescue efforts, Mr. Liu pressed the issue of why the plane did not divert to Saigon as Cheng Xiao had requested, costing the passenger his best chance at survival. Ms. Fang dismissed this, asserting no causal link and highlighting the captain's legal authority to make the final decision. Cheng Xiao then directly confronted Captain Jiang, asking why he altered the Saigon ground-to-air recording.
Ms. Fang denied the accusation, demanding proof and suggesting Cheng Xiao's claim was slander born from a workplace grudge. Cheng Xiao retorted that her memory of the conversation, which included Jiang Tao stating the patient's condition had improved, differed from the recording, proving it was modified. Ms. Fang dismissed this as speculation and the meeting ended in a stalemate. After the mediation, Ms. Fang confronted Cheng Xiao privately, demanding she drop her support for the plaintiff.
When Cheng Xiao refused, her mother retorted that as a lawyer, she had the freedom to choose her clients. Ms. Fang then issued an ultimatum: if Cheng Xiao resigned from being a pilot, she would withdraw as Luzhou's counsel. Cheng Xiao defiantly refused, accusing her mother of trying to control her life and expressing deep disappointment in her lack of support.
Meanwhile, Gu Nanting reported his suspicions about the tampered recording to Xie Zetian, who, disappointed in Jiang Tao, resolved to investigate the matter thoroughly. Department Head Tan from the legal department also summoned Cheng Xiao, subtly advising her to prioritize the company's interests given her promising career, but she stood her ground. News of Cheng Xiao suing her own company spread, and she became the subject of office gossip.
In a lighter moment, Song accidentally walked in on Xia Zhi showering. After her initial shock, Xia Zhi was further infuriated when Song cheekily complimented her recent weight loss, confirming he had seen everything, and she chased him out of the room. Later, Cheng Xiao was on the rooftop when Captain Jiang approached her.
He suggested her string of misfortunes meant she was not suited for the Passenger Transport Department and offered to help her move to another airline, waiving her termination fee and providing a strong recommendation. Cheng Xiao saw this as a sign of his guilt, stating his attempts to get rid of her only made her more suspicious. Citing her "unstable mental state," Captain Jiang suspended her from all flights indefinitely, telling her to use the time to reconsider her future.
Gu Nanting, who was diligently investigating the case, received the notice of Cheng Xiao's suspension. He immediately confronted Captain Jiang, finding him on the phone with Ms. Fang and confirming their "agreement" regarding the suspension. Gu Nanting criticized him for escalating the matter and urged him to retract the decision, but Jiang Tao refused. That night, Li Yuheng, Song, and Xia Zhi took a distraught Cheng Xiao to a bar, where she quickly drank herself into a stupor.
Song called Gu Nanting for help, explaining the suspension and her mother's involvement in the case. After Gu Nanting arrived, Song prepared to take the equally drunk Xia Zhi home, who continued to tease him about the bathroom incident as he carried her out.
Episode 33 Recap
Cheng Xiao, deeply affected by her suspension, was found drinking heavily by Gu Nanting. Despite her low spirits, Cheng Xiao declared she had no regrets about her actions. Seeing her pain, Gu Nanting stayed to comfort her, affirming his belief that she would always be an exceptional pilot. As Cheng Xiao became completely intoxicated, Gu Nanting carried her home.
Though disoriented, she recognized him and expressed her frustration, accusing him of caring for her only to reject her later and demanding he leave before stumbling. Gu Nanting gently put her to bed, where he noticed a photo on her nightstand that had fallen over. It was an image of himself, Cheng Xiao, and a young passenger, Zhou. He carefully righted the photo, silently vowing to seek justice for her.
That same night, he urgently contacted Mr. Liu to meet immediately. In the car, Gu Nanting shared his findings from the air-ground communication recordings. By analyzing the pilots' voices, he had identified a senior Japanese pilot named Fred from the Gansa 263 callsign by his accent, and a female pilot named Camille from the Merians 221 callsign, who he deduced was the only female A350 pilot for Merians Airlines.
Gu Nanting stated his intention to travel to find both pilots and persuade them to testify about the real reason for the flight's rotation. He also asked Mr. Liu not to inform Cheng Xiao, fearing her disappointment if his efforts failed. The next morning, Cheng Xiao awoke to find the photo upright, recalling Gu Nanting's presence the night before. Meanwhile, Gu Nanting boarded a flight to Frankfurt.
Before departure, he sent a final message to Luo Yi, announcing his decision to win Cheng Xiao back. He also messaged Cheng Xiao, using a business trip as an excuse for his absence and encouraging her to recover quickly. Ni Zhan visited Cheng Xiao, worried because he couldn't reach her by phone and she wasn't home.
He proposed a plan to help her: he would withdraw from the vice-president election to appease Jiang Tao, on the condition that Cheng Xiao withdraw her lawsuit against the company and make a sincere apology. Cheng Xiao was adamant that Jiang Tao had tampered with the recordings. Ni Zhan acknowledged she could investigate this, but warned her that suing the company without concrete proof could jeopardize her entire flying career. His words made her waver.
Upon arriving in Frankfurt, Gu Nanting learned that Fred was on annual leave in Tokyo. After obtaining Fred's contact information, he immediately flew to Tokyo. However, Fred refused to testify without official written permission from his company, which Gu Nanting could not provide. Disappointed, Gu Nanting prepared for his next step. At the same time, Mr. Liu called Cheng Xiao to inform her that he had officially filed the lawsuit.
The court accepted the case for expedited processing, with the trial scheduled for the following week, and he hoped she would testify. This left Cheng Xiao in a dilemma. She then received a text message from Xie Zetian, inviting her to his retirement ceremony and to fly with him on his final flight.
After failing to secure Fred's testimony, Gu Nanting flew to Paris to find Camille, only to discover she was on a flight to Panama City and would not return for four days. Unable to reach her by phone, he decided to travel to Panama. When Ni Zhan finally reached the out-of-contact Gu Nanting, he briefly explained he was busy gathering evidence for Cheng Xiao. He politely declined Ni Zhan's offer of assistance to avoid implicating him.
Arriving at Camille's hotel in Panama, Gu Nanting learned from her co-pilot that she was cycling in the countryside and would be unreachable for three days, typically returning just in time for her flight back. Gu Nanting had no choice but to wait. Meanwhile, Jiang Tao, having learned that Gu Nanting was on sick leave, grew uneasy and asked Ni Zhan about his whereabouts.
Ni Zhan seized the opportunity to speak favorably of Cheng Xiao, and Jiang Tao agreed to consult with President Xu regarding her case. On the day of Xie Zetian's final flight, Song Song and Lin Yicheng served as his co-pilots. Ai Jia, Xie Zetian's wife, was the chief flight attendant, having specially requested the assignment to support him. Cheng Xiao boarded as a passenger, where she was greeted by Xia Zhi, who was filming the event for the PR department.
Cheng Xiao felt a mix of emotions about being there. During the flight, Xie Zetian made a heartfelt announcement, reflecting on his 37-year, 20-million-kilometer career and thanking the passengers for their companionship. After a safe landing, he stood at the aircraft door to shake hands with each departing passenger. Unable to attend, Gu Nanting called to explain his absence and asked Xie Zetian to encourage Cheng Xiao.
When Xie Zetian shook Cheng Xiao's hand, he urged her not to give up and invited her to his official retirement ceremony in the small auditorium. There, Ai Jia presented her husband with a bouquet as they shared an embrace. As Cheng Xiao entered, she overheard colleagues whispering about Gu Nanting's prolonged absence due to his supposed illness.
Episode 34 Recap
At Xie Zetian's retirement ceremony, which Xia Zhi recorded, he recounted a pivotal moment from 2004. As captain, with Jiang Tao as first officer, he landed a damaged aircraft in a rice field after its body was breached at an altitude of 101 meters, saving all passengers. This act earned their crew the "Hero Team" title but also shaped his philosophy.
Xie expressed his hope that such "heroes" would not be needed, as it would signify that every flight was perfectly safe. He emphasized that protecting passenger safety was his sole responsibility, superseding all else. Concluding his 27,000-hour career, he announced his transition to an administrative role and simulator instructor. For a simple succession ceremony, he invited Lin Yicheng, Song Song, and Cheng Xiao, who had flown with him that day, to the stage.
Xie Zetian asked the three pilots what they observed during passenger boarding. Lin Yicheng focused on operational readiness, such as the positioning of ground operators and tow trucks. Song Song watched for potential threats like suspicious individuals, intoxicated passengers, or those attempting to throw coins into the engines. Cheng Xiao offered a more empathetic view, stating she sees passengers as individuals on a journey, wondering about their emotions and whether they might need the crew's help.
Xie affirmed that Cheng Xiao's answer was what he wanted to hear, declaring that his greatest achievement was delivering every passenger safely. He gifted them luggage tags made from the skin of the retired 737-300 from the 2004 incident, symbolizing their mission. He offered a special word of encouragement to Cheng Xiao, telling her to keep up the good work. Meanwhile, in Panama, Gu Nanting received a call from Mr. Liu informing him the trial would begin in three days.
After flying 40,000 kilometers in three days, Gu Nanting located Captain Camil of Mile Airlines. He explained he needed a witness to prove that Cheng Xiao, the co-pilot on the flight in question, had told the truth. Camil confirmed that Saigon Airport had not been closed but refused to testify, unwilling to go against her company. Gu Nanting, dejected, informed Mr. Liu that his efforts had failed. Cheng Xiao approached Lin Yicheng to discuss the upcoming trial.
Lin revealed that Captain Jiang Tao had asked him to testify, prompting Cheng Xiao to implore him to speak the truth in court. She reminded him of their professional oath and suggested his daughter Doudou would respect a father who upheld basic integrity, but Lin made an excuse about his daughter waiting at home and left. Resolved, Cheng Xiao called Mr. Liu to confirm her willingness to testify, then turned off her phone.
Two days later, Gu Nanting returned to Luzhou and learned from Mr. Liu of Cheng Xiao's decision. Anxious, Xia Zhi and Song Song couldn't reach her and felt she was walking into a trap. Cheng Xiao's father also called, dismayed that his daughter would face her mother in court, but Cheng Xiao reassured him she was merely stating facts and was prepared for the consequences. That evening, Gu Nanting arrived at Cheng Xiao's home to dissuade her from testifying.
He admitted his failure to convince the foreign captains to appear in court but offered to testify himself, relaying Captain Camil's statement that Saigon Airport had not been closed. Cheng Xiao, firm in her decision, stated she was no longer his student and refused to involve him. Ni Zhan then arrived, also trying to persuade Cheng Xiao not to testify, especially after learning Gu Nanting lacked hard evidence.
However, Gu Nanting had a change of heart, declaring his support for her decision, believing she would live with greater guilt if she remained silent. Following this, Gu Nanting confessed his feelings for Cheng Xiao to Ni Zhan. He explained that since Luo Yi's death, he had been afraid of new emotional attachments, but he could no longer deny his feelings, which began in Lanshan.
Ni Zhan reassured him that Luo Yi’s death was an accident and that he owed him nothing. On the day of the trial, Cheng Xiao was the first to arrive at the courthouse, where Xia Zhi, Song Song, and Li Yuheng came to support her. She saw her mother arrive with Jiang Tao, and they passed each other without a word, strengthening her resolve. Inside the witness room, Gu Nanting joined her to offer a final word of encouragement.
Summoned to the stand, Cheng Xiao recounted the events on Flight XD805. She testified that she had contacted Saigon Air Control for an emergency landing under Captain Jiang's authorization. However, when she returned to the cockpit, Jiang had decided to proceed to Singapore and did not mention an airport closure. Crucially, Cheng Xiao stated she personally heard Captain Jiang tell control, "The patient is getting better. Thank you," a sentence absent from the official air-ground recording presented by the defense.
She concluded by questioning the recording's authenticity. The opposing lawyer, representing Jiang Tao, challenged her credibility, questioning her about past conflicts with Jiang, including a runway incursion incident. Though Cheng Xiao denied holding a grudge, the lawyer argued that her testimony was biased by a personal feud and should be dismissed. The judge agreed and dismissed her from the stand. Gu Nanting then took the stand.
He explained that his suspicion about the recording grew after observing observer Lin Yicheng's guilty hesitation and Captain Jiang's refusal to help secure testimony from foreign pilots who were circling over Saigon at the time. He confirmed that three days prior, one of those pilots, Captain Camil, had verbally told him that Saigon Airport was not closed. However, he had to admit she was unwilling to testify.
The opposing lawyer discredited his testimony by highlighting his professional rivalry with Jiang Tao over the Vice President position, and Gu Nanting left the stand, disheartened. Just as the situation seemed hopeless, Gu Nanting received a call from Captain Camil, who had changed her mind and agreed to testify. The plaintiff's lawyer then called a new witness: Lin Yicheng.
Taking the stand, Lin confirmed that they had requested an emergency landing at Saigon and received a message from air traffic control confirming the airport was available. He recalled control stating that two other planes were circling, urging them to land quickly. Lin then explicitly stated that he never heard any communication indicating Saigon Airport was closed, directly contradicting the defense's recording and causing a stir in the courtroom. Through a flashback, he recalled Jiang Tao offering to help with his daughter Doudou's school admission, implying his testimony was an act of clearing his conscience.
Episode 35 Recap
During the court proceedings, Observer Lin Yicheng admitted that his previous testimony at Luzhou Airlines' investigation was false. He confessed to having lied to protect the company's interests, stating that, contrary to his earlier claim, Saigon Airport had not been closed. Jiang Tao's lawyer, who is also Cheng Xiao's mother, immediately seized on this, arguing that Lin Yicheng's contradictory statements made his current testimony untrustworthy. The judge accepted that her point was made and dismissed Lin Yicheng from the stand.
Outside the courtroom, Cheng Xiao, who had been anxiously waiting, received a text from Xia Zhi celebrating that Lin Yicheng was on their side. When Lin Yicheng emerged looking dejected, Cheng Xiao thanked him for speaking the truth, though he felt his testimony might have been useless. Just then, Gu Nanting called Cheng Xiao, revealing he was already at Luzhou Airport.
He remarked that in his country, such a surprise is called romance, boosting Cheng Xiao's confidence about the arrival of another crucial witness. Soon after, Captain Camille Ferris of Merians Airlines took the stand. She testified that at the time of the incident, she had heard air traffic control approve Flight 805's diversion request and instruct her flight to hold its position.
About five minutes later, she heard the Luzhou Airlines captain cancel the diversion, stating the patient's condition had improved. Camille unequivocally confirmed that Saigon Airport's runways were not closed, directly contradicting Jiang Tao's claims and revealing the truth of the matter. After her testimony, Camille found Cheng Xiao outside the courtroom.
She revealed that her first officer told her Gu Nanting had waited two days in the countryside to find her, and she envied Cheng Xiao for having such a steadfast partner. Camille shared her own story of her ex-husband not supporting her flying career, which led to their divorce. She explained that she chose to testify because she admired Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting's courage in pursuing the truth.
After bidding farewell, Camille wished Cheng Xiao success in becoming a captain, and Gu Nanting offered to cover her travel expenses. Inside the court, Gu Nanting reassured an uncertain Cheng Xiao that many people were supporting her. The judge then announced that the court would proceed with mediation. Jiang Tao's lawyer, Cheng Xiao's mother, advised him against it, confident they would win the case. However, Jiang Tao, moved by Old Guo's expression, disregarded her advice.
He accepted the mediation, offering a public apology and compensation to Mr. Guo. The offer was accepted, settling the case, and an emotional Old Guo tearfully thanked Cheng Xiao for her efforts. Outside, Cheng Xiao urged her mother to rest. Her mother, seeing how much the job meant to her daughter, asked if she truly had to be a pilot, to which Cheng Xiao firmly replied, "Yes."
Later, Li Yuheng, Xia Zhi, and Song Song praised Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting as the bravest people at the airline, declaring them role models before leaving the pair alone. Gu Nanting offered to take Cheng Xiao home and was about to confess his feelings when Ni Zhan appeared. Cheng Xiao went to apologize to Ni Zhan for the recent difficulties, but he insisted he should be the one to apologize for not considering what she truly wanted.
He then confessed his long-standing feelings for her, acknowledging that he knew she was aware and had already rejected him in her own way. He explained that saying it aloud was his way of letting go and then offered a "congratulatory hug," acknowledging her bond with Gu Nanting. After Ni Zhan left, Gu Nanting's second attempt to confess was interrupted by Cheng Xiao's mother, who furiously ordered her daughter to return to Qingdao.
Cheng Xiao refused, declaring she would be a pilot even if it cost her her life. The intense confrontation caused her mother to collapse from the shock, and they rushed her to the hospital. Meanwhile, Jiang Tao met with Xu Ce, admitting he had damaged the company's reputation and expressing his willingness to personally compensate the family and accept any punishment.
Xu Ce informed him that the fraud at Saigon Air Traffic Control had been reported to local authorities and that he must cooperate with their investigation, with the company's decision on his future to be announced at a press conference the next day. At the hospital, a doctor informed them that Cheng Xiao's mother's condition was stable and optimistic, though she was unconscious due to medication and should not be agitated.
Cheng Xiao, despite Gu Nanting's urging to eat, insisted on attending the press conference to witness Jiang Tao's apology. Her father arrived, taking over the vigil and telling her to rest for the next day. At the press conference, Xu Ce announced a one-million RMB compensation for Mr. Guo's family and pledged that the airline would learn from its mistakes.
He then delivered Jiang Tao's punishment: stripped of all duties and his pilot's license permanently revoked by the Civil Aviation Bureau, banning him from flying forever. Jiang Tao then gave a public apology, expressing deep remorse for his selfish actions and requesting to personally cover the one-million RMB compensation. Later, in his office, Xu Ce praised Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao for their integrity, appointing Gu Nanting as the new Head of the Flight Department.
When Xu Ce mentioned the Vice President competition was still on, Gu Nanting requested to withdraw, stating that his actions had caused division and that stepping back was the right price to pay. Xu Ce agreed to consider it and officially revoked Cheng Xiao's suspension. Learning of her mother's hospitalization, he urged her to prioritize her family first. At the hospital, Cheng Xiao's mother, Xiaoyun, awoke and insisted on being discharged.
When Cheng Xiao invited her to her new house, her father pulled her aside. He revealed a long-held secret: her mother's opposition to her career stemmed from a past trauma and an intense fear of losing her. Her illness prevented her from controlling her emotions, causing her to act hurtfully despite her intentions.
He also corrected a childhood memory, revealing it was her mother who had rushed a sick Cheng Xiao to the hospital before being called away for a trial. Gu Nanting then arrived at the hospital room. Xiaoyun greeted him coldly, "Isn't this the boss who holds his female subordinate's hand?" After Gu Nanting wished her a speedy recovery, he prepared to leave to ease the tension. As Cheng Xiao walked him out, Gu Nanting mentioned he had keys, implying he would see them at Cheng Xiao's home.
Episode 36 Recap
Cheng Xiao apologized to Gu Nanting for her mother's actions, noting his familiarity with her father. Gu Nanting admitted her father had previously sought his help in persuading Cheng Xiao to abandon her flying career, a request he firmly refused, stating he would never deprive anyone of their passion, especially hers. Cheng Xiao then reminded him of something he wanted to tell her earlier, but Gu Nanting deflected, promising to discuss it at a later time.
Jiang Tao summoned both Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao to an old airport, the site of his first solo flight. He reminisced about his early passion for flying, which he now sees in them, admitting that over time, he had "gotten his air route wrong." He presented Gu Nanting with materials on the Flight Department's future development, including specific suggestions for Gu Nanting's new security system.
While expressing deep admiration for Gu Nanting, Jiang Tao urged him not to pursue the vice president position, believing he was "too kind and too tough" for the harsh realities of corporate competition. He asserted that only someone like Ni Zhan could advance the airline on the business front, while expressing complete confidence in Gu Nanting's ability to lead the Flight Department. With a final wish for their safe flights, Jiang Tao departed.
Moved by the encounter, Gu Nanting suggested Cheng Xiao extend her leave to handle her mother's situation. He confided in her about his own past trauma following the death of a pilot, a very important person to him, in a crash. He described his subsequent deep depression, during which he isolated himself and couldn't even bear the sound of planes, believing his career was over. After six months of professional psychological counseling, he recovered and returned to the cockpit.
Drawing from his experience, he earnestly advised Cheng Xiao to encourage her mother to seek professional treatment, offering to connect them with a psychologist specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Cheng Xiao's parents moved into her house. During a heartfelt conversation, her mother expressed regret for prioritizing work over being a mother. Cheng Xiao, in turn, confessed that her initial pursuit of flying was partly to escape her mother's control, though it had since become her true passion.
She proposed her mother see a doctor, even promising to quit flying if the treatment failed, but her mother adamantly refused, insisting she was fine. Later, while researching psychological counseling, Gu Nanting experienced a sudden bout of dizziness and spilled his coffee, leaving him unsettled. The next morning, Cheng Xiao's mother unexpectedly agreed to see the psychologist.
The doctor proposed "exposure therapy" through hypnosis, simulating a flight experience for her mother within an actual plane cabin to enhance the treatment's effectiveness, without the plane taking off. Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting approached Ni Zhan, who, after initial hesitation due to regulations, arranged for them to use a 787 during its maintenance window, securing special approval from President Xu for a two-hour session. At the airport, Ni Zhan had arranged a passenger stair for a formal entry.
Xia Zhi greeted Cheng Xiao's mother warmly, guided her to a seat, and served her favorite lavender tea. Once the psychologist began the session and the mother was relaxed, Gu Nanting approached Cheng Xiao. Citing the psychologist, he relayed the suggestion that for optimal therapeutic effect, Cheng Xiao herself should act as the captain in her mother's hypnotic fantasy. Acknowledging the risk, he asked for her consent, and she agreed.
As her mother entered a hypnotic sleep, the simulated flight from Luzhou to Qingdao began. When the "flight" encountered turbulence, her mother recognized Cheng Xiao's voice as the captain. Overwhelmed with anxiety, she became agitated and tried to get to the cockpit. The psychologist noted that she was acting independently of his guidance. Her father rushed to her side, seating and comforting her by praising Cheng Xiao's capability.
To continue the simulation, Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao began acting out their pilot roles. He prompted her for status updates, and she reported the changes in speed and altitude. He then made a reassuring broadcast to the "passengers." The flight "landed" safely, and the psychologist gently woke her mother, who appeared remarkably calm. The psychologist was cautiously optimistic but noted that further sessions were needed to determine the long-term effectiveness.
Gu Nanting supported Cheng Xiao’s request to extend her leave. Later, on the company rooftop, Cheng Xiao's mother revealed she had seen Cheng Xiao flying in her dream. With newfound acceptance, she encouraged her daughter to "fly as you wish," apologized for her past actions, and proudly called Cheng Xiao "Mom's pride." After a heartfelt embrace, she thanked Gu Nanting for his support.
Promising to continue her therapy, she playfully ushered her husband away, leaving Cheng Xiao and Gu Nanting alone. Eager to return to work, Cheng Xiao immediately applied to cancel her leave. Pleased, Gu Nanting told her he wanted to take her "to a special place."
Episode 37 Recap
Gu Nanting brought Cheng Xiao to his home and led her to a room filled with photos of a woman named Luo Yi. He revealed that Luo Yi was Ni Zhan's sister and his ex-girlfriend, a female pilot. Gu Nanting explained that after Luo Yi's death, he felt undeserving of anything but his work, which led him to reject everyone, including Cheng Xiao.
He confessed that he had developed feelings for Cheng Xiao long before, but lacked the courage to admit it. Instead, he chose to be cold and distant, hoping to return to his old routine of simply working and resting. However, he admitted he couldn't, as Cheng Xiao had entered his heart. He emphasized he was not defending himself but wanted to show her his complete self and tell her directly that he liked her.
Cheng Xiao, feeling overwhelmed, asked if he saw her as a replacement for Luo Yi. Gu Nanting firmly denied this, stating that he liked her for who she was, not merely because she was a female pilot. He assured her he didn't need an immediate answer and was prepared for rejection. Cheng Xiao thanked him for his honesty but admitted her mind was in a mess, and she wanted to refocus on her work and flying.
She proposed that they maintain a professional relationship at the company, with him as her leader, and explore being friends outside of work. Gu Nanting affirmed that they were already friends and that she was an important friend to him. Cheng Xiao then left, saying she needed to check on her mother. Cheng Xiao returned home late to find her parents still awake and curious about her time with Gu Nanting. She tried to deflect their questions.
Her parents then announced their decision to move into a hotel conveniently located next to Dr. Yu's clinic, explaining that they didn't want Cheng Xiao to keep sleeping on the sofa. Her father revealed he had applied to decrease his workload, and her mother intended to withdraw from her law firm partnership. They shared their plans to travel twice a year once her mother recovered.
Cheng Xiao’s mother playfully suggested going with Cheng Xiao, which caused her father to feel excluded until Cheng Xiao reassured him he would be included. Later, Cheng Xiao was seen talking to her parrot, Polly, reflecting on her interaction with Gu Nanting. Meanwhile, Gu Nanting also appeared to be awake, lost in thought. The next day, Cheng Xiao arrived at the Flight Department. In a meeting, Gu Nanting introduced the new "Flight Safety Manual," now under trial operation.
He highlighted that the updated manual included 362 revised rules, with 69 proposed by the recently resigned Mr. Jiang. This new manual, he explained, signified Luzhou Airlines' commitment to establishing a more comprehensive civil flight safety system, aiming for pilots with not only superior skills but also the highest safety awareness in the entire airline industry. He noted that he and trainee Captain Cheng Xiao had been integral members of the Safety Manual workgroup.
Gu Nanting instructed pilots to diligently study and implement the new manual over the next three months, urging them to openly report any issues or new ideas. Later, Ni Zhan's colleagues from the Maintenance Department enthusiastically congratulated him on his promotion to Vice President. Ni Zhan assured them that the Maintenance Department would always remain his home and he would always be their leader.
Gu Nanting approached to congratulate Ni Zhan, who then revealed he had learned that Gu Nanting withdrew from the election, which facilitated his own win. Ni Zhan playfully suggested Gu Nanting couldn't have "let him win" even if he tried, then challenged him to a friendly competition. Ni Zhan then confessed that when Mr. Jiang seemed poised to win, he considered hiring online trolls to escalate the situation, but ultimately decided against it because he felt he was losing himself.
Gu Nanting acknowledged that Ni Zhan had retained his moral compass. Ni Zhan then inquired about Gu Nanting's relationship with Cheng Xiao, observing that it appeared Gu Nanting had been rejected. Gu Nanting admitted his inexperience in pursuing relationships. Ni Zhan strongly encouraged him to actively pursue Cheng Xiao, advising that "a persistent man wins the girl."
Gu Nanting wryly pointed out that this strategy hadn't worked for Ni Zhan himself, but Ni Zhan insisted that while he had failed, Gu Nanting must succeed. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi was still applying her makeup when Song Song, already downstairs at the company, called to rush her. When Xia Zhi finally arrived, she joined Song Song and other colleagues in an elevator that immediately alarmed due to being overweight.
A colleague jokingly remarked that Xia Zhi, who entered last, was "overweight again." Song Song stepped out, playfully blaming his recent weight gain, but the alarm persisted, forcing a blushing Xia Zhi to also exit the elevator. Xia Zhi chided Song Song for not waiting for her, to which he replied he had called her four times and promised to wait for her "until the sea withers and stones rot."
He congratulated her on her promotion to serving in the premium cabins and offered to treat her to a movie. Xia Zhi suggested a popular animated film, which Song Song initially found childish but quickly agreed to watch for her. Cheng Xiao accompanied her parents to the airport. Her mother, Yun, had finished her treatment and, along with Cheng Xiao's father, was returning to Qingdao to handle their retirement affairs.
Cheng Xiao reassured her mother, who seemed nervous about the flight, urging her to relax and view it as a pleasant journey. Her father joked about the cost of their tickets. They revealed that Gu Nanting was the captain for this flight, which reassured them of its safety. They then pressed Cheng Xiao about her relationship with Gu Nanting, also inquiring about Ni Zhan.
Cheng Xiao maintained they were simply colleagues, but her parents persisted, advising her to seriously consider Gu Nanting before they boarded their flight. On the flight to Qingdao, Song Song served as Gu Nanting's co-pilot. Gu Nanting discreetly sought Song Song's advice on Cheng Xiao's preferred gifts, admitting he was trying to pursue her but his apology hadn't been accepted yet.
Song Song warned him that Cheng Xiao was capable of letting go, which could make things difficult if she truly moved on. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi assisted Cheng Xiao's parents, confirming Cheng Xiao had pre-selected their preferred meals. They recalled meeting Xia Zhi at the hangar and invited her to visit Qingdao. In first class, flight attendant Qi Yu learned passenger Mr. Zhao was single and subtly placed her contact information into his jacket pocket.
Before takeoff, Gu Nanting sent Cheng Xiao a message saying they were cleared for departure, to which she replied wishing him a safe journey. Upon landing in Qingdao, Gu Nanting immediately messaged Cheng Xiao. Shortly after, Cheng Xiao received a call from her father, who confirmed her mother was calm and well, greatly relieving Cheng Xiao. Later, Li Yuheng visited Cheng Xiao at the office, where Cheng Xiao was working on safety data statistics.
Li Yuheng admitted she became a flight attendant because of Gu Nanting, but he had always seen her as a sister. She confessed that she was initially jealous when she learned Gu Nanting liked Cheng Xiao, but her curiosity led her to secretly observe Cheng Xiao. Li Yuheng discovered and admired Cheng Xiao's independence, courage, and fighting spirit—qualities she herself lacked—and subsequently made Cheng Xiao her personal role model.
Cheng Xiao humbly deflected the praise, but Li Yuheng insisted many people, including Xia Zhi, Song Song, Gu Nanting, and Gu Nanting's mother, Aunt Qin, saw her strengths. Li Yuheng confirmed she had resolved her feelings with Gu Nanting and had moved on. Cheng Xiao overheard colleagues discussing a Luzhou Airlines return flight from Qingdao experiencing a landing gear malfunction and currently circling the airport.
The pilots expressed concern that if the landing gear wasn't locked, the plane could nose-dive upon landing. It was confirmed to be a flight originating from Qingdao, and news of the incident was being kept under wraps. Cheng Xiao attempted to enter the control center but was stopped. She then asked a staff member if flight 8868 had malfunctioned; the staff confirmed it was 8868 but directed her to the Maintenance Department for details.
Frantic, Cheng Xiao tried to call Ni Zhan, but his line was busy. Suddenly, Cheng Xiao saw Xie Zetian, Gu Nanting, and other high-ranking executives emerging from an elevator, leaving her stunned. Ni Zhan soon arrived for a meeting, and Cheng Xiao questioned him about flight 8868 and Gu Nanting's unexpected presence. Ni Zhan clarified that Gu Nanting and his crew were urgently reassigned to fly a delayed flight from Qingdao.
He explained that the captain of the problematic flight 8868 was actually Captain Sun, with only the flight crew having changed while the cabin crew remained the same. Moments later, Song Song called Cheng Xiao, expressing extreme anxiety over Xia Zhi, who was on the circling flight. Cheng Xiao reassured him that the plane was likely burning fuel to lighten its weight and would land soon.
Ni Zhan then confirmed to Cheng Xiao that the issue was merely a mistransmission from the landing gear sensor and the plane had landed safely. Relieved, Cheng Xiao shared the good news with Song Song, and they rushed to meet Xia Zhi. Xia Zhi, clearly shaken, recounted her fear but praised the purser for instructing them to trust their captain. She jokingly suggested she deserved an "Oscar" for her composure.
Song Song promised to prepare a grand meal for Xia Zhi, but Cheng Xiao reminded him they needed to immediately assist Gu Nanting with a case analysis. As Xia Zhi walked away, Cheng Xiao quietly pointed out to Song Song that he likes Xia Zhi. Overhearing this, Xia Zhi blushed deeply and ran off, leaving Song Song momentarily bewildered. Gu Nanting, Cheng Xiao, and Song Song began working on the case analysis of the flight incident.
Gu Nanting thoroughly explained the flight's technical issues and procedures. As they worked late into the night, someone delivered flowers to Gu Nanting's home, which he found strange, stating he hadn't ordered them. After they finished, Gu Nanting drove Cheng Xiao home. He seemed to want to say something but remained silent, simply watching her enter her building before wishing her a good night.
Episode 38 Recap
Song arrived home late to find Xia Zhi waiting with a bowl of homemade snow fungus, red date, and lotus seed soup. Though Song initially mistook it for takeout, he lavished praise on her cooking, even after she tasted it and found it too sweet. He insisted he preferred sweet things, prompting Xia Zhi to offer him the entire pot. She then asked what Cheng Xiao had told him.
A flustered Song began to explain that during the recent flight emergency, a vow had been made. Cutting through his stammering, Xia Zhi clarified it was her vow: if the plane landed safely, she would be willing to have him as her boyfriend. She pressed him for a clear answer, and an overjoyed Song eagerly accepted. Cheng Xiao discovered a variety of flowers awaiting her at her doorstep, a gift from Gu Nanting.
She texted him her thanks, and he explained he bought a diverse selection because he was unsure of her preferences, promising to learn what she disliked for the future. Later, Cheng Xiao was visibly relieved to see Gu Nanting emerge unscathed from an elevator. She confessed that while her mind had been consumed by the malfunctioning flight, a sudden thought of him had surfaced right before he appeared.
Overcome with emotion, Cheng Xiao told Gu Nanting she needed to see him immediately. Both rushed to meet; Cheng Xiao hailed a taxi, while Gu Nanting drove. Their paths converged at a red light, where they both exited their vehicles and shared a heartfelt kiss in the street. Gu Nanting then brought Cheng Xiao to her former apartment, which she noticed he had not rented out since she moved.
He admitted that visiting the apartment made him feel closer to her. They reminisced about a past power outage, and Gu Nanting confessed he often found himself looking at her window after that day; she admitted to doing the same. Gu Nanting then shared that in just another twenty hours of flight time, she would officially be certified as a pilot.
Cheng Xiao playfully remarked that she was catching up to him, to which Gu Nanting humbly responded that her exceptional skills would undoubtedly lead her to surpass him. Ai Jia from the In-flight Service Department received a complaint from a first-class passenger's wife, alleging that cabin crew member Qi Yu had acted inappropriately. Ai Jia informed Qi Yu she was being removed from her scheduled flight.
When Qi Yu protested, claiming the passenger had told her he was unmarried, Ai Jia sternly reprimanded her, emphasizing that a passenger's marital status was irrelevant to her professional duties. Ai Jia further revealed that the IT department's investigation confirmed the phone number Qi Yu had given the passenger was the same one used to register a forum account that spread false rumors about Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao.
Citing a lack of professional conduct and personal integrity, Ai Jia terminated Qi Yu's employment on the spot. To celebrate Cheng Xiao's promotion to Captain, a party was hosted for her. There, Li Yuheng formally met Qiao Zhengyu from the Ground Handling Department. As the guest of honor, Cheng Xiao arrived to an enthusiastic welcome. Gu Nanting took the stage to officially announce her promotion, detailing her record of 4,350 flight hours and 3,200 experience hours.
He presented her with the official appointment letter and, encouraged by their colleagues, placed a necklace he'd bought as a gift around her neck. Gu Nanting explained that the four bars on a captain's uniform symbolized professionalism, knowledge, skill, and, most crucially, responsibility. Later, as Cheng Xiao prepared for her inaugural flight as Captain, Gu Nanting visited the cockpit to wish her a safe journey.
Two months later, Song and Xia Zhi were trying on wedding attire, accompanied by Cheng Xiao and Li Yuheng. Song mentioned he had ordered an ARCFOX car, the same model as Gu Nanting's. When Xia Zhi emerged in a beautiful wedding gown, she noted that Cheng Xiao might be too busy with the new domestic aircraft project to be a bridesmaid, but Cheng Xiao insisted she would "escape" any commitments to attend the wedding.
Meanwhile, at a company meeting, CEO Xu Ce announced Luzhou Airlines' acquisition of two domestically-produced D191 aircraft. He praised the D191's superior safety and stability, calling it a testament to generations of effort in China's civil aviation. Xu Ce instructed Gu Nanting and Minister Liang to assemble the best crew for conversion training and officially named Gu Nanting the captain for the D191's maiden voyage.
Later, Li Yuheng's plan to see a movie with Qiao Zhengyu was cut short when she was called in for a last-minute flight. Cheng Xiao, having seen the company notice, met Gu Nanting and immediately volunteered to be the co-pilot for the maiden flight. Gu Nanting clarified that while she could sign up for the training, her role would depend on her performance. That evening, he invited her to dinner at his mother's house.
At their arrival, Cheng Xiao thoughtfully presented Gu Nanting's mother, Aunt Qin, with her favorite fruit. Aunt Qin teased her son about the impromptu visit and the takeout dinner she had to order. Cheng Xiao reminded Aunt Qin that they had met before in Xi'an during a D191 prototype inspection, which delighted her. Four months later, after completing the conversion training, Gu Nanting and Cheng Xiao were in the cockpit for a test flight.
Cheng Xiao remarked that the new domestic aircraft performed exceptionally well. Gu Nanting acknowledged public skepticism over foreign-made components but stressed that the successful integration was a monumental advancement. He also revealed that the next-generation D191 was expected to have a fully domestic engine within three years, giving the plane a "domestically-made heart." He then officially informed Cheng Xiao that, based on her outstanding performance, she had qualified to serve as his co-pilot for the D191's maiden flight.
The flight was scheduled in seven days, on the 17th anniversary of Luzhou Airlines. Cheng Xiao passionately shared her dream: to fly that plane with him, showing a full flight of passengers that their domestic aircraft and its pilots were the very best.
Episode 39 Recap
During a test flight of the newly modified D191 domestic aircraft, Gu Nanting prepared for a heavy landing to check the landing gear. As they approached the runway, his vision suddenly blurred, and he mistakenly reported a problem with the attitude indicator on his monitor. Cheng Xiao confirmed everything was normal on her side, prompting Gu Nanting to take manual control and switch to visual flight, reassuring her he could see the runway.
After a safe landing, Gu Nanting, realizing the problem was with his eye, feigned concern about the monitor to get Cheng Xiao to deplane first, claiming he needed to complete the flight record alone so he could hide his panic. Gu Nanting immediately rushed to the hospital, where a doctor diagnosed him with macular degeneration in his left eye, causing blurry central vision and requiring immediate injection surgery.
The doctor warned that the condition would significantly impact his work, at which point a devastated Gu Nanting revealed he was a pilot. Grappling with the diagnosis, he decided to withdraw from the D191's maiden flight. Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao, unable to reach him, sent him a unique captain's announcement she had written for their flight, mentioning that Vice President Xu wanted to see her. Reading her excited message filled Gu Nanting with guilt.
At the company, Cheng Xiao was shocked to learn from Vice President Xu that Gu Nanting had recommended her to be the captain for the maiden flight. She confronted Gu Nanting, who offered vague excuses, claiming his focus was shifting to management and that he had an important meeting on the day of the flight. Frustrated, Cheng Xiao questioned his priorities and asked if he was avoiding suspicion due to their relationship, even offering to withdraw herself.
Gu Nanting insisted it was a professional decision, arguing that her role as captain would be better for publicizing the new aircraft and promising her an experienced co-pilot. Feeling deeply hurt by his unilateral decision, she accused him of not trusting her as his closest confidante. Unable to reveal his medical condition, Gu Nanting could only apologize but stood firm, urging her to complete the mission without distraction.
Cheng Xiao vented to Xia Zhi, who, along with Song Song, found Gu Nanting's behavior strange. Xia Zhi speculated he was prioritizing his career and mentioned she had postponed her own wedding for the maiden flight, which Li Yuheng was also selected for. Cheng Xiao then tasked Song Song with secretly observing Gu Nanting. Meanwhile, Ni Zhan, having learned of Gu Nanting's condition, sent his medical records to Director Yang, a top ophthalmic surgeon.
Director Yang confirmed a high probability of full recovery with surgery and scheduled an appointment. Gu Nanting confessed his fear of losing his career to Ni Zhan, who reassured him by reminding him of his past resolve to improve aviation safety and encouraging him not to lose hope. The day before the maiden flight, Ni Zhan informed Gu Nanting that his surgery was scheduled for 8 AM the next morning.
Gu Nanting hesitated, wanting to be at the airport to watch Cheng Xiao take off, but Ni Zhan stressed the importance of early treatment. Later, while delivering updated safety manuals, Song Song noticed Gu Nanting using a screen reader, sending voice messages instead of texts, and struggling to read documents. He immediately reported this to Cheng Xiao, whose suspicions were confirmed. Recalling the test flight incident, she finally understood.
After learning the specifics of the condition from Ni Zhan, she confronted Gu Nanting. He finally admitted to his vision problem, describing it as "clouded vision." Cheng Xiao immediately offered to give up the maiden flight to be with him for the surgery. Deeply moved, Gu Nanting refused, insisting she not sacrifice this monumental opportunity. He explained his initial despair but said Ni Zhan's encouragement helped him face the surgery, even without a guaranteed full recovery.
He implored her to fly, not just for him, but to fulfill the aspirations of generations of aviation professionals who had worked on the domestic aircraft. With tears in her eyes, Cheng Xiao promised to complete the mission. The next morning, as engineers prepared the D191, Cheng Xiao left for the airport. At 9 AM, Ni Zhan accompanied Gu Nanting to the hospital for his surgery.
Cheng Xiao boarded the aircraft with her crew, where Li Yuheng discreetly handed Qiao Zhengyu a movie ticket. Onboard, Gu Nanting's mother and Cheng Xiao's parents were among the passengers. When another passenger expressed doubts, Gu Nanting's mother confidently explained that the D191, despite some imported components, represented China's complete independent intellectual property. Meanwhile, Gu Nanting's surgery concluded successfully. Afterward, Ni Zhan drove him to a riverbank where they watched Cheng Xiao's plane ascend into the sky.
Gu Nanting watched, tears of pride and relief in his eyes, as his dream took flight. Three months later, Cheng Xiao, rushing to work, asked Gu Nanting to care for her sick parrot. He expertly diagnosed the problem, playfully stating he had to be "excellent" to match his "excellent girlfriend." Before leaving, she asked when they would move in together, and he teased that it depended on her performance.
Moments later, a courier called to inform him that eight boxes of clothes and daily necessities from a "Miss Cheng" had arrived, signaling their cohabitation had begun. Life had moved on for everyone: Li Yuheng was promoted to chief attendant and was dating Qiao Zhengyu; Xia Zhi welcomed their former superior, Jiang Tao, as a passenger on her flight; Xie Zetian was giving lectures to children about aviation; and Ni Zhan and Ai Jia continued to thrive. From his office, a fully recovered Gu Nanting watched Cheng Xiao's plane fly overhead as she and Song Song landed in Luzhou, a deep sense of contentment on his face.
