Chapter 11: The Fall

A Wind-Piercing Shout Pierces the Eardrums

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Real-Time Bullet Comments in the Livestream:

• “What the hell? What’s happening with Huo Qi?”
• “Something’s wrong, something’s seriously wrong. The show used an experimental paraglider that isn’t even on the market yet? Are they treating him like a guinea pig? The production team is way too bold!”
• “I’m so anxious watching this! Wasn’t there supposed to be a parachute? Why isn’t it being used?”
• “Maybe he couldn’t activate it in the panic? Or did it malfunction?”
• “We don’t know yet. Can the drone get closer for a better view?”

As the sudden accident unfolded, the bullet comments exploded. Rival companies quickly got wind of the situation, flooding social media with bots and buying trending hashtags.

Soon, hashtags like “Huo Corporation’s Paraglider Malfunction” and “Huo Qi Falls from the Sky” climbed into the top ten trending topics.

Despite knowing the outcome in advance, Ning Qingyan couldn’t help but shout as she watched the paraglider plummet rapidly:

“Huo Qi! Be careful!”

In mid-air, Huo Qi, who had a rare form of acrophobia, felt his mind go blank, losing control of his body. The rapid descent and suffocating sensation caused auditory hallucinations to surface:

• “If you don’t give me money, I’ll strangle your only son. Let’s see how Huo Corporation faces the media tomorrow.”
• “Why didn’t you die with your mother at the casino? You’re nothing but bad luck.”
• “Who do you think you are, showing me that cold, unlucky face? Even a dog wags its tail when it sees someone. And you?”
• “He’s just someone nobody likes. No one will ever like him in his lifetime.”

As his consciousness drifted into darkness, an urge to surrender to despair grew. Just then, a boy’s desperate shout from the cliff pierced through the roaring wind and reached his ears.

Huo Qi’s tightly shut eyes snapped open. His sharp phoenix eyes burned with cold clarity.

He bit the inside of his cheek, the pain giving him enough strength to regain partial control of his body. With practiced familiarity, he manipulated the paraglider’s lever, directing it toward the safest spot he could identify.

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System Alert: “Huo Qi’s Favorability +1.”

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Real-Time Bullet Comments in the Livestream:

• “Finally! The drone caught up! Is he okay? What’s happening now?”
• “Oh my god! He got caught in a tree! That’s… incredibly lucky. Thank goodness he’s okay. Otherwise, this show would have to shut down!”
• “What kind of luck is this? The paraglider’s wings are perfectly wedged between two tree branches!”
• “Absolute miracle! Lucky koi fish vibes all the way.”

After a chaotic sequence of events, the accident ended without any real harm. The director of the show was so shaken that his legs nearly gave out. A fatal accident during a live broadcast would have been more than he could handle.

Due to Huo Qi’s crash, Ning Qingyan wasn’t allowed to use the paraglider herself. The production team arranged for her to descend via a scenic cable car instead.

When she arrived at the foot of the mountain, Huo Qi had already been rescued from the tree by the crew. The accompanying medical staff had also completed a thorough examination of his condition.

From a distance, Ning Qingyan spotted Huo Qi sitting under a canopy. Despite his slightly pale complexion, his expression remained as composed and cold as ever, showing no sign of fear or panic.

She quickly approached him, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, twisted the cap open, and handed it to him with a soft voice:

“Are you alright?”

Huo Qi glanced sideways at her. The memory of that wind-piercing shout surfaced in his mind. The words of refusal he had grown so accustomed to saying stalled at the edge of his lips. After a moment of hesitation, he accepted the water. His deep voice was calm:

“I’m fine.”

The concern in her gaze left him feeling awkward. This was an unfamiliar sensation—he had never been on the receiving end of such kindness before.

To avoid meeting her eyes, Huo Qi looked at the slightly loosened bottle cap. His fingers tightened around it, and with ease, he twisted it open and drank the entire bottle in one go.

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System Alert: “Huo Qi’s Favorability +1.”

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On this scorching day, the cool, refreshing water was particularly satisfying.

Watching him drink so quickly, Ning Qingyan opened another bottle for herself and sat beside him.

“Thank goodness you’re okay. That was so terrifying to watch from above; my heart almost jumped out of my chest. Be more careful next time, okay?”

Huo Qi pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded silently.

Ning Qingyan took a sip of water and asked, “Did you get hurt anywhere? If you did, you should treat it right away. Don’t push yourself too hard. We still have more tasks ahead. If you’re not feeling well, I can ask the production team for a break.”

For a moment, Huo Qi’s usually cold and aloof phoenix eyes wavered, but he quickly returned to his usual composed self. His voice remained steady:

“I’m fine.”

Ning Qingyan, already accustomed to his distant nature, gave him a few more reminders before falling silent.

After the brief conversation, the silence between them grew heavy. Huo Qi tightened his grip on the empty bottle, his thin lips pressed together, as though wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

This quiet was interrupted when Gu Si and Wen Shijin, now out of their gliding gear, walked over.

“You okay?” Gu Si asked casually, seeing that Huo Qi appeared unharmed.

Huo Qi shook his head, and the two didn’t press further. With little in common and no plans to interact after the show, they were little more than passing acquaintances.

Gu Si turned his attention to Ning Qingyan and grinned, “Hey, did you see me gliding earlier? Wasn’t I amazing?”

Ning Qingyan nodded. “You were indeed impressive.”

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The group barely had time to rest before receiving their next task from the director: navigating a muddy “sea of fire” to rescue their teammates.