chapter8
1473 Words
"Wow, a fellow hacker. I didn't expect you to be one too," Tang Xiao's eyes lit up after just a glance at the program on her computer.
"You'd better stop talking, or we might not be able to leave at all." Qian Ling ignored him and focused on her own work, taking advantage of the fact that the satellites hadn't completely failed yet to quickly make a run for it.
"Alright, the program is all set. But I still need to find a satellite link," Qian Ling said seriously.
"I'll handle it." Tang Xiao immediately took out his own computer and typed in a series of different commands. The screen displayed various data and line graphs.
A few minutes later, with their joint efforts, the plane successfully started. Qian Ling pressed a key on the computer, and all the indicator lights on the runway lit up. Tang Xiao was extremely excited.
The two suddenly stared at each other with wide eyes.
"Can you fly it?"
"Can you fly it?"
They asked each other simultaneously.
Tang Xiao's face turned a little pale. "I've learned a little, but only in simulation pods. Today, for the sake of getting home, I'm risking it all. It's better than staying in a place full of dead bodies everywhere. If the plane crashes, death will be instant, probably not painful."
Qian Ling's mouth twitched upon hearing this. What kind of logic was that? Was he saying that dying from a fall or explosion was better than dying from fear?!!!
"Let's fly. All countries have already banned flights; there's nothing in the sky. Hurry up while there's still navigation. This plane is fully automated; as long as we get it in the air, we'll be fine." Qian Ling couldn't be bothered to argue with this i***t, so she urged him.
Tang Xiao took a deep breath and then began methodically pressing various buttons to control the plane. Qian Ling watched his technique and felt much more at ease; at least his theoretical knowledge was fine.
Fortunately, the plane started taxiing slowly on the runway. There were no air police vehicles or warning broadcasts intercepting them. Everything went more smoothly than expected. Then, amidst turbulence and a few near-crash jolts, the plane finally took off...
"Whew, now at this altitude, the plane can follow the set course. We can take a break."
Tang Xiao turned his head to look at the girl who was staring blankly. Her slightly tilted cheek had a unique charm. At that moment, Qian Ling had unzipped her bulky protective suit, which hung loosely on her. Her petite figure subtly revealed graceful curves. Tang Xiao was instantly stunned, his heart rippling with emotion.
"Beautiful lady, my name is Tang Xiao. Since we're both from the same country, may I ask your name?"
"Qian Ling."
"Qian Ling? Vibrant and clear, a wonderful name."
"It's the Ling that means zero."
"Uh, quite unique. But the surname 'Qian' sounds so familiar... Ah, the Qian Group! You wouldn't be one of the Qians, would you?"
Qian Ling: Silence.
Qian Ling saw that the plane seemed to be flying fairly steadily, but both of them were technical professionals, not experts in aviation. She needed to stay vigilant about some things. If it weren't for her life-saving space, she wouldn't have dared to cooperate with this amateur.
Originally, Qian Ling planned to hijack a pilot. But when she met Tang Xiao and saw him daring to fiddle with the plane on his own, and since she wanted to leave quickly, she decided to take a risk.
Worst case, if something really happened, she could hide in the space. She already knew that no matter where she entered the space, she would come out at the same point next time.
As long as she entered the space at the first moment of life-threatening danger, she could save her life. There were helicopters and parachutes in the space. Although she didn't know how to fly one, she could practice inside and then fly out.
Anyway, with the space's protection, she could always find a way to fly back. After all, the supplies in the space were already abundant. If pushed to that point, she would have to do it.
Feeling so nervous that her stomach cramped, Qian Ling got up and took out milk and a sandwich from her backpack. She tossed one portion to Tang Xiao and still sat silently in her chair, eating quietly.
At that moment, the scenes she had witnessed tonight kept flashing in her mind. Waves of coldness surged from the bottom of her heart, and her hands trembled slightly.
She had watched many zombie horror movies and enjoyed them, but when the apocalypse actually came and she experienced it firsthand, the fear brought deep despair. Her heart was still trembling and couldn't truly calm down. She could only comfort herself again and again with the life-saving space; otherwise, she didn't know what would become of her.
She didn't know that at this time, high temperatures were also occurring one after another in H Country, followed by a large number of patients crowding major hospitals, and then the scene was almost the same as in M Country.
However, at this moment, Qian Ling looked at Tang Xiao who was wolfing down his food, and somehow felt an inexplicable comfort. She was glad to have met a hacker more skilled than herself, otherwise without navigation, the plane would be useless...
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Time goes back two days, in F City of H Country, the Qian family.
When Qian Zhennan saw Qian Lu and Qian Jingyao safely brought back by the Qian family guard, he was extremely excited and kept looking towards the door eagerly.
As time ticked by, when everyone had returned to their posts in an orderly manner, he still didn't see the person he had been longing for day and night. Instantly, his face turned cold.
"Stop! Why are only you two back? Where is Ling?" Qian Zhennan called out to Qian Lu and Qian Jingyao, who were about to run upstairs.
"How should I know? She has hands and feet; she can come back on her own," Qian Lu said crossly, not stopping as he returned to his room.
Qian Jingyao knew that Qian Lu wouldn't help her with this. She smiled obediently and said coquettishly, "Grandpa, isn't it enough that Yao'er is back? Why do you always think about that damned girl? Hasn't she made you angry enough?"
"My brother and I almost missed the plane because we were looking for her. But she never stays put in school; we simply couldn't find her."
"Jingyao, what are you saying? Ling is your own sister, the heir of the Qian family, carrying the blood of the Qians. Tell me the truth: didn't you bring her along?"
Who was Qian Zhennan? He knew all too well the true nature of this seemingly obedient and sensible granddaughter. She had followed the example of her mother, inheriting her ways to the fullest.
Every time he saw the hypocrisy of the mother and daughter, he got angry. They were more of a liability than an asset, excelling only at playing the victim and putting on acts. Back then, if not for the fact that the woman was pregnant with Qian Lu and for the sake of Qian family blood, he would never have allowed such a woman to marry into the family.
They were utterly unfit to be seen in public. Since entering the Qian family, they had put on a smug, petty demeanor, spending their days indulging in parties and drunken stupor, showing off in the elite circles, making fools of themselves without realizing it. They had no idea how to manage a household, only knowing how to spend money and enjoy themselves. In recent years, they had almost traveled the world. Fortunately, the Qian family was wealthy, or they would have bankrupted it.
Qian Jingyao was a bit smarter than her mother, knowing that the old man held great power and dared not offend him. She quickly smiled apologetically and said, "Oh, no, I really don't know. Ah, Grandpa, I'm very tired. I'm going to rest."
"Grandpa!" Qian Ye rushed in from outside, his face panicked.
"Tell me, how is Ling? Have you been able to contact her?"
"Ling was supposed to return with the young master and young lady, but they didn't let her get in the car. Currently, many countries are experiencing turbulence due to the flu pandemic. All flights between M Country and our country are grounded. Ling is afraid..." Qian Ye's worried voice trembled.
"These two beasts! I'm not dead yet! Guards, throw them out! They are no longer allowed to live here!" Qian Zhennan was furious. His thunderous roar startled Qian Zhiyuan, who had just entered.
- Writer
