novelhk Chapter 7 Dilemma
Chapter 7 Dilemma
Perhaps because it was a relatively remote area, there were very few taxis. After wandering around and asking for directions, it took Chen Qing twenty minutes to finally get into a taxi.
The first half went quite smoothly; the taxi sped along, much faster than the bus.
However, after driving for half an hour, another problem arose. The taxi was driving near a school when students were leaving school, and the area was completely congested.
After finally getting through the school rush hour, taxis are still slow.
When he finally arrived at Jiangxin Airport, it was already 17:14 PM, less than an hour before his flight took off.
"Hopefully, it's not too late." Holding her phone in one hand, Chen Qing didn't dare walk and ran towards the terminal.
In fact, Chen Qing had never been on a plane or to an airport in her entire life.
However, Fang Xiande had obviously considered this situation and provided Chen Qing with very detailed information. So he knew that one could not just enter the airport waiting area; one needed a ticket and identification, neither of which he possessed.
Therefore, Chen Qing's initial interception plan was to "wait for Li Mengfei to appear" outside the waiting hall. As soon as Li Mengfei showed up, he would stop her, even if he had to tie her up. As long as he could drag her until the plane took off, he would succeed.
But he's a little late now, with only forty minutes left before his flight takes off.
According to Fang Xiande's information, passengers usually arrive at the airport one and a half to two hours in advance, and Li Mengfei has probably already entered the waiting hall by now.
"We need to find a way to get into the waiting area." Chen Qing followed the queue and observed the process of entering the waiting area. He found that the checks were very strict and it was almost impossible to sneak in unnoticed.
With his fighting skills, he could certainly force his way in, but doing so would involve too many variables and too much risk, and he would not adopt this plan unless absolutely necessary.
"The staff entrance is connected to the waiting area..." Chen Qing thought about the airport's layout and quickly came up with an idea.
He left the check-in counter and found his target in a secluded corner of the terminal.
It was an unremarkable gray metal fire door, almost blending into the wall, with a sign in red printed with "Employee Passage, Authorized Entry" in both Chinese and English.
Chen Qing reached out and pulled, but the door didn't budge. Just as she was about to push it again, she noticed a black access control card reader on the right side of the door.
Obviously, this place is not a place you can just come and go as you please.
Chen Qing glanced at the trash can full of garbage by the door, then turned and left. She went to a nearby supermarket, bought a lighter, a fruit knife, and some paper. After lighting the paper, she threw it into the trash can and then dodged to the side.
Half a minute later, a pungent smoke began to fill the air.
"Fire! Quick, put out the fire!" The metal door was quickly opened, and several people who looked like cleaners rushed out with fire extinguishers.
Chen Qing seized the opportunity and, like a ghost, slipped through the open door from behind the cleaner.
Inside the door was a dimly lit interior corridor, with a cleaning cart parked in the corner. Chen Qing casually pushed it onto the cart.
At first, there was no one around, so Chen Qing followed the signs on the wall to find her way. Later, she met a cleaner who was also pushing a cleaning cart. She lied and said that she was new and needed to clean the waiting area. She asked him for directions and successfully found out the correct route.
"Brother, we'll see each other again soon." Ten minutes later, Chen Qing casually parked the cleaning truck in a corner, like a drop of water flowing into a river, blending into the bustling waiting hall.
The lobby features a streamlined design, with a silver-gray steel structure supporting a massive arched ceiling, through which soft light streams in through skylights. The floor is covered in light gray frosted tiles, which clearly reflect the overhead lighting strips.
The central aisle is lined with many shops, their glass windows displaying a wide variety of goods.
Chen Qing walked quickly, searching for Li Mengfei in the crowd.
"Why is she here too?" As his gaze swept across gate B12, a petite figure with pigtails came into view. She was at the back of the line with her family, waiting to have her tickets checked.
Chen Qing would never forget this little girl; when he was swimming up from the sea and was so hungry that he had to look for food in a trash can, she was the one who lent him a helping hand.
"It would be such a pity if such a kind little girl died." Chen Qing moved over, intending to go over and remind the little girl not to board the plane.
However, the next moment, his eyes caught sight of Li Mengfei, who was carrying a suitcase in one hand and walking quickly in one direction.
Chen Qing stopped abruptly. If he missed the opportunity to find Li Mengfei now, it might take even more time to find her again.
He has already wasted too much time today; he can't afford to waste any more.
But what about the little girl if we try to stop Li Mengfei?
"Uncle, don't you have money for food?" Chen Qing turned to look at the little girl, and the image of her giving him all the "delicacies" from her schoolbag flashed before his eyes.
A drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude; this angelic little girl must not die.
"It's your brother! Open the door!" Chen Qing turned to look at Li Mengfei again and saw her brother's terrified face before he died, especially the look in his eyes when he met hers, which was full of longing for life and pleading with her.
"I'm sorry, you are from the past, you are dead." A few seconds later, Chen Qing gritted her teeth, apologized to the little girl in her heart, and strode towards Li Mengfei.
Li Mengfei wasn't heading to any special place with her suitcase; she was going to the restroom.
Chen Qing sat down in a nearby seat, and when Li Mengfei came out of the restroom and passed by that row of seats, Chen Qing immediately blocked her way and said bluntly, "You cannot board this plane."
"Who are you?" Li Mengfei pulled her suitcase closer to her.
"I'm the only one who knows the truth. This plane will crash 25 minutes after takeoff, and there will be no survivors. If you want to live, don't board the plane." Chen Qing said, glancing at the B12 gate while keeping an eye on the little girl with pigtails.
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Li Mengfei said, pulling her suitcase and trying to leave.
"I know this is hard to believe, but I'm not lying to you." Chen Qing blocked Li Mengfei's path again.
"Please move aside, or I'll call the police!"
"The police can't get to you immediately, they can't protect you." Chen Qing took out the fruit knife she had bought earlier. "I don't want to hurt you, but you have to cooperate."
"What do you want? Money?" Li Mengfei's face turned pale instantly, and her voice trembled. "I have a card with 20 yuan on it. If that's not enough, call my dad, and he'll give you whatever amount you want."