The afternoon sun shone brightly on the earth, its warmth inducing drowsiness. In the airport's control hall, a group of people, each performing their duties, were busy yet orderly. Outside on the flat tarmac, a low-profile private jet rested quietly. It was a modest-sized aircraft, devoid of ostentatious paint schemes or any markings. Yet, to anyone knowledgeable about planes, its luxury was undeniable.
Inside the private jet, a tall woman in a flight attendant uniform glided into the cabin's living area. Her heels made no sound on the carpet. Though not large, the living room was decorated for extreme comfort.
The plane had not yet taken off. Sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the woman by the window. Dressed in loose loungewear, her chestnut hair was loosely tied back in a bun, secured by a black wooden hairpin. She sat on a low-backed sofa by the window, leaning back at an angle, a beautifully bound book in her hands. The woman was comely, her makeup light, yet her natural beauty was undeniable. She was beautiful, but without any aggression. Her soft features exuded a gentle and approachable aura, a woman who wouldn't evoke ill feelings even from other women.
The tall flight attendant passed the wine cabinet stocked with expensive red wines. After nodding to the bodyguard standing nearby, she walked to the woman by the window, stopping about two steps away. She spoke softly, "Miss Lin, the flight path has been approved. We expect to take off in ten minutes. Our destination is Paris, a journey of two and a half hours, landing at 5 PM local time. My name is Cheng, and I will be primarily serving you on this flight. Do you have any other requests?"
A perfect smile graced the face of the Cheng-named flight attendant, but her heart was not as calm as her outward appearance suggested. Miss Lin could be considered the easiest client to serve, yet also the most difficult. Easy because Miss Lin rarely made any excessive demands; as long as she was served diligently without any errors, the service would be complete. Even if a minor mistake occurred, Miss Lin would not dwell on it as long as it could be rectified. But she was difficult to serve because no matter how well one served, Miss Lin remained unimpressed. Although she would converse with you in an approachable manner, she was like the moon in the distant sky, forever out of reach. Her private jet had a fixed maintenance crew and pilot, but the other service staff changed with almost every flight. Miss Lin was generous, and they all hoped to become permanent members of her private jet's crew. Yet, after striving for so long, none had succeeded, and none had managed to leave even the slightest impression on the heart of the aloof Miss Lin.
Still, this Miss Lin was truly enviable! Outstanding looks, a perfect resume, a family background that commanded respect; she truly lived the life of every woman's dream. Even a princess from European royalty would likely pale in comparison to the sole heir of this richest family.
"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Miss Cheng. You may attend to your duties. I don't require anything else." Miss Lin looked up and replied, her voice as melodious as a warbler emerging from a valley. After speaking, she nodded and then refocused her gaze on the book in her hands. It was a hardcover foreign book, filled with dense text and some illustrations.
"Then I shall not disturb you further. Please fasten your seatbelt in advance, Miss Lin. There may be slight discomfort during takeoff. If you require anything, you can press the call button beside you, and I will come immediately." Cheng Xiwei bowed, walked a few steps backward, and then slowly turned towards the exit of the living room.
Although she wished she could stay in the living room and try to get closer to the richest family's daughter, as a little bit of favor from Miss Lin could save her years of hard work. But she also knew that if she were indiscreet now, she might never get to board any private jet again. After all, her predecessors had already tried almost every method of getting closer, and they had made it clear that Miss Lin was not as harmless as she appeared. Even if Miss Lin herself didn't care, there were many others who wished to get ahead who would actively help for even a sliver of Miss Lin's favor. It was better to be sensible. Merely boarding Miss Lin's private jet this time was enough to add a golden sheen to her resume.
However, the departing flight attendant did not notice that the hardcover book Miss Lin held, which she had been so engrossed in, had not been turned a single page from the moment she entered until she left.
Miss Lin, who had lowered her gaze as if reading, closed the book in her hands. She lightly raised her left hand and made a gesture to the side. The bodyguard standing by the wine cabinet, upon receiving the gesture, left the living room, following the flight attendant's footsteps. With a faint click of the door closing, Miss Lin looked up at the empty space before her.
"I apologize, I didn't quite hear what you said. Could you repeat it?" Miss Lin spoke calmly, a faint smile on her face, yet the smile did not reach her eyes. But strangely, the living room was empty except for Miss Lin sitting on the sofa!