"Yes! And I'm pretty good at it."
Behind them, Yun Xinya processed his words. Again? She thought she had finally found sothing Xia Liang didn't know. Although she couldn't pilot a hot air balloon herself, it wouldn't stop her from showing off her professional knowledge. But just as she was about to, Xia Liang claid not only could he pilot one, but he was good at it.
Tong Dongnuan's eyes lit up like stars. "Xia Liang, how do you know how to do everything? That's amazing."
"This is nothing," he said, gently pinching Tong Dongnuan's cheek. He whispered, "I know how to do a lot more. You'll just have to discover it all slowly."
Hearing this, Tong Dongnuan put on a playfully fierce expression, turning her hand up to pinch his back. "Hmph! Don't you worry! I *will* discover all of them."
Like Tong Dongnuan, Yun Xinya also believed him. After all, Xia Liang had spoken so nonchalantly. Besides, they were on the hot air balloon right now; if he were bluffing, a few technical questions would expose him imdiately. She couldn't believe anyone would be foolish enough to brag when they could be fact-checked on the spot.
anwhile, the hot air balloon pilot finally finished his inspection and hopped into the basket. He looked over at Xia Liang's group and introduced himself. "Hello everyone, I'm the pilot for this trip. My na is Li Tianhang, I'm twenty-six years old, and single," he finished, giving Yun Xinya a smile.
Hearing his introduction, Yun Xinya subconsciously swallowed. Looking at him, if Li Tianhang hadn't said he was twenty-six, she would have assud he was thirty-five. It wasn't her fault for thinking that. As a hot air balloon pilot, especially in an island city, long-term exposure to the sun and wind had made Li Tianhang's skin look very dry. Coupled with the fact that he hadn't grood his beard that day, he looked just like a little old man.
*A certain thirty-five-year-old sowhere felt deeply offended.*
In response, Yun Xinya could only manage a strained smile and a nod.
Li Tianhang then got serious. "Alright, since everyone is on board, let's get ready to take off." He moved to ignite the burner but stopped when Xia Liang spoke up first, pre-empting his warning.
"Everyone, be careful. It's best to cover your ears."
Seeing the puzzled looks from Tong Dongnuan, Xie Qiang, and Wen Jing, Xia Liang explained, "When the balloon ignites for liftoff, it shoots out a fla three to five ters high and makes a loud bang, like an explosion. So be ready for it. Cover the ear closest to the burner, and use your other hand to hold on tight to the basket."
Li Tianhang shot Xia Liang a surprised look. "The young man sure knows a lot." While inspecting the balloon, he hadn't overheard their earlier conversation and just assud Xia Liang had read up on it in a travel guide.
Xia Liang's face darkened. He's calling 'young man'? Then again... this face of mine does look a bit mature for my age.
"Since everyone is ready, I'm igniting it now!" the pilot announced.
At his words, everyone quickly covered their ears. Tong Dongnuan, however, felt her other ear being covered as well. She instinctively opened her eyes and glanced at Xia Liang, realizing it was his hand protecting her. Seeing her puzzled look, Xia Liang knew what she was asking. If I'm covering her ears, what about my own?
He didn't answer, instead just tilting his head slightly. Only then did Tong Dongnuan notice he had put on a pair of earphones at so point. Content, she relished the special treatnt, closing her eyes and snuggling into his chest.
At that mont, Li Tianhang ignited the burner.
BOOM!
An explosion of sound erupted as flas shot five ters into the air. As the bang echoed, Xia Liang felt Tong Dongnuan shudder in his arms and instinctively held her tighter. The basket shook, and the hot air balloon began to slowly ascend. After a few seconds, the noise gradually subsided, and the balloon began to rise steadily.
Xia Liang finally let go of Tong Dongnuan and took off his headphones. "Dongnuan, we're flying."
Hearing him, Tong Dongnuan opened her eyes. She turned and hurried to the edge of the basket, her face lit up with excitent. "Xia Liang! Look, we're really flying! We're getting higher and higher!"
"Mm-hmm!" Xia Liang nodded, happy to see the girl beside him becoming more and more true to her heart. He hugged Tong Dongnuan from behind, and they leaned against the edge of the basket together, admiring the view from above. After a while, Tong Dongnuan took out her phone again to snap a selfie, adding a few more precious photos to their collection of mories.
「Half an hour later」
The hot air balloon landed back on the ground. After waving goodbye to Li Tianhang, the group of five set off for their next high-altitude experience: the Bravery Challenge.
Since it was still quite a distance away, Yun Xinya had plenty of ti to explain. "The Bravery Challenge is divided into two parts." She held up two fingers, then bent one down as she looked at the group. "First is 'Hanging by a Thread.'"
The mont Yun Xinya revealed the na, Tong Dongnuan grew excited. "That na alone sounds challenging! Is it dangerous?"
"Absolutely!" Yun Xinya nodded vigorously. "'Hanging by a Thread' takes place on a walkway built along a hundred-ter-high cliff face. The path is only ten ters long and has no handrails. There are only narrow platforms every thirty centiters, with nothing but empty air on either side. The only safety asure is the rope attached to your back, which ans..." She paused, glancing at the couple, "if your foot slips, you'll be left dangling a hundred ters in the air."
She had expected them to be at least a little intimidated, but instead, Tong Dongnuan looked eager to try. "That sounds thrilling! What's the second challenge?"
Seeing her interest, Yun Xinya didn't keep them in suspense. "Bungee jumping! From a one-hundred-and-seventy-ter-high platform. After completing both, you earn the Certificate of Bravery."
Xia Liang seed unfazed. Looking at the eager Tong Dongnuan, he comnted nonchalantly, "Sounds simple enough. Let's give it a try."
Tong Dongnuan naturally agreed in a heartbeat. "Sure!" she chirped, filled with imnse anticipation.
This ti, however, Yun Xinya wasn't buying it. Even though they both seed calm, she'd seen far more confident people, people who boasted much more loudly. She once saw a group of eleven burly n take on the Bravery Challenge together. Before they went, they were full of bravado, shouting things like, "Hesitate for a second and you're a coward!" "This Master could run across with my eyes closed!" "I'm a real man, I'll run across without any safety gear!"
Their boasts were deafening. But when they got there, forget the second challenge—they were completely wiped out on the first. Not a single one of those eleven big guys dared to even step onto the walkway.
Yun Xinya found herself looking forward to seeing Xia Liang's cool facade crumble. How fun would that be? A malicious thought crossed her mind.
The sightseeing buggy drove for another five minutes before they finally arrived at the Bravery Challenge area, right on the edge of a cliff.
"It's right there!" Yun Xinya pointed ahead, and the other four looked in that direction. A crowd was already gathered there, and every now and then, a spine-chilling scream would erupt.
The thought of seeing Xia Liang's aloof expression break for a reason other than doting on his girlfriend made Yun Xinya quite impatient. "Let's hurry," she urged, waving her hand and leading the way forward.
Using their VIP access, the three of them naturally got to the front of the line. However, soone was already on the "Hanging by a Thread" challenge, so Xia Liang and Tong Dongnuan had to wait.
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