Chapter 144: Hijacking the Plane

The first snow since the start of winter fell in Jingzhou, and outside the window, everything was a vast expanse of white.

Gu Yan stood before the full-length mirror in the walk-in closet, fastening the final button. The off-white cashmere coat, with its soft fur collar, made her look all fuzzy and bundled up.

She turned around in front of the mirror and curved the corners of her lips in satisfaction.

Her suitcase had long been packed and was sitting by the door. While directing Xiao He to take it downstairs, she looked over twenty-three rings, her gaze sweeping across them before she chose the pink diamond one.

After putting it on and admiring it for a moment, she went downstairs.

Just as she reached the staircase, she saw Shen Yanhui walking over from the direction of the tea room.

He was wearing a black coat today, the collar of his shirt fastened meticulously; he was clearly prepared to head out.

Seeing her dressed like this, his footsteps paused. His gaze traveled from her face to the suitcase in her hand, then back to her face.

"Where are you going?"

Gu Yan lifted her chin, her tone haughty: "I won't tell you."

She pulled her suitcase, intending to walk past him, but was blocked by his arm suddenly crossing in front of her waist.

"Shall I take you?"

"No!" Gu Yan patted his hand and chided, "Hurry and let go, I'm going to miss my flight."

Shen Yanhui didn't let go; his other hand pinched her chin, and he leaned in to kiss her directly. It was an unreserved kiss, turning and sucking, inviting her lips and tongue to dance along with his.

Gu Yan was a bit dazed from his kissing, and by the time she reacted, he had already pulled back slightly.

"Stop messing around," she pushed him, her voice soft, "I'm really going to be late."

"Mm."

Even while saying "Mm," he didn't let go immediately, instead lowering his head to kiss the corner of her lips again.

"When will you be back?" he asked, biting her lip.

"Hmm... not sure yet." Gu Yan replied somewhat vaguely.

Shen Yanhui bit her again, deepening the kiss.

Gu Yan tilted her head to endure it, feeling both amused and helpless; such a grown man, why was he so clingy?

She reached out to push his face away, a hint of coquetry in her tone: "Alright, alright, I'll favor you again when I get back."

Shen Yanhui finally let her go.

Gu Yan stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin: "Be good."

Having said that, she grabbed her suitcase and ran toward the door. Upon reaching the entryway, she suddenly stopped and turned back to wave at him.

Shen Yanhui stood where he was, watching her back disappear outside the door, and let out a soft chuckle.

Afterward, he took his phone from his pocket and dialed Chang Su's number.

"Is everything arranged?"

Chang Su's voice came through the receiver: "Everything is arranged, sir. The plane, the hotel, and the local security are all ready."

Shen Yanhui: "Mm."

——

Gu Yan dragged her luggage into the terminal, a few unmelted snowflakes still clinging to her shoulders and hair.

Xu Yuan had booked her a first-class ticket. She went through security, sat in the VIP lounge for a while, drank a cup of hot tea, and only headed toward the boarding gate when it was time to board.

When she reached the boarding gate, she paused.

No one was there.

The entire boarding gate was empty; there wasn't a single passenger. The ground staff stood behind the counter, smiling at her.

She glanced at her boarding pass, then at the display screen at the boarding gate.

She hadn't gone to the wrong place.

"Ms. Gu, please board this way." The staff member gestured with a smile.

She walked in, feeling suspicious.

The jet bridge was very long. She walked inside alone, the wheels of her suitcase rolling across the floor and emitting a hollow echo.

Walking into the cabin, it was no surprise that there wasn't a single person there.

A massive Boeing aircraft, and she was the only passenger.

She stood at the entrance and raised an eyebrow.

As expected.

She found her seat, sat down, asked the flight attendant for a blanket, changed into slippers, and closed her eyes to catch up on sleep.

She didn't know how much time had passed.

The plane had already passed through the clouds, and outside the window was a blinding white. Sunlight poured down from above the clouds, making the entire cabin feel warm.

Gu Yan was wrapped in the blanket, leaning against the seat back, half-asleep and half-awake.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her.

She didn't open her eyes, but a familiar scent had already enveloped her.

The crisp, cold scent of cedar, mixed with the unique warmth of his body, was closing in bit by bit.

Gu Yan's eyelashes trembled, but she didn't move.

"Asleep?" A low, pleasant voice sounded by her ear, carrying a hint of a smile.

She still didn't move.

The next second, the cedar scent grew stronger; he seemed to have leaned over. She could feel his breath, very close, right by her ear.

"Baby."

It sounded like it had rolled out from his throat, a bit hoarse, like a feather sweeping across her eardrum.

Gu Yan finally couldn't help but open her eyes.

Shen Yanhui leaned in extremely close, so close that she could see her own reflection in the depths of his eyes.

"What a coincidence," he said.

Gu Yan pulled down his tie, forcing him even closer: "Mr. Shen is so free? No need to manage the company?"

Shen Yanhui grasped the hand she was using to tug his tie, gently rubbing it, without pulling away.

"Finished managing it," his voice was low, "just happened to remember, there's a treasure that needs to be caught back."

"Caught it?"

"Currently interrogating."

Gu Yan was amused by him, pulled back her hand, and pushed against his chest, saying crossly: "Who asked you to catch me? I would have gone back on my own."

He grasped her wrist again, his thumb brushing over her pulse, feeling the subtle beating: "Then why didn't you tell me?"

Gu Yan: "If I told you, could it still be called a surprise?"

He lowered his head, pressing against her ear: "A scare also counts as a type of surprise."

Warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and Gu Yan shrank her neck. Shen Yanhui chuckled, not backing away, just staying pressed against her like that.

"So, what are you planning to do in Mali?"

The young woman turned her face away, still using the same excuse: "Not telling you."

"If you don't say, you don't need to get out of bed." Shen Yanhui raised his hand, pinching her chin, and turned her face back.

Gu Yan: "..."

She really had to hand it to him.

"I'm going to find a glass artist to make a birthday gift." She paused, her voice getting quieter, "For you."

"For me?"

"Mm, for you."

Shen Yanhui's eyes darkened, carrying a full sense of aggression.

Gu Yan met his gaze without dodging or blinking; Shen Yanhui suddenly unbuckled her seatbelt and picked her up. The next second, she landed on his lap.

"Do you know why I came?" he said, pressing his forehead against hers.

Gu Yan: "To catch me?"

"Catching you was on the way; the main thing is to tell you—" he paused, his thumb brushing over the corner of her lips, "you can do whatever you want, but you yourself must be under my nose."

Her heart skipped a beat.

She glared at him: "Shen Yanhui, you are truly overbearing."

He grabbed her hand and kissed her fingertips: "Just realized?"

Gu Yan gave a soft huff: "Even if I knew earlier, I couldn't return the goods."

"Still thinking about returning the goods, not obedient." Shen Yanhui pressed against the sensitive spot on her waist, "Don't think about sleeping tonight."

Gu Yan: "...?"

She laughed in anger and lunged to bite his Adam's apple. Damn man, letting him say such lewd things; she wanted to see how he would extinguish the fire he'd stirred up while on the plane.

Facts proved that the damn man had no sense of shame.

When he pressed her waist and pulled her against his lower abdomen, Gu Yan turned cowardly again.