天上只有两个人

The aviation school opens, and the Murong family has invited half of Nancheng out to the edge of the runway.

Five planes sit on the grass, and the invitation cards read: donated by the Huo family.

Everyone says his wife, Fang Mulan, went and negotiated for them herself.

Sister-in-law has swallowed a great deal on my brother's behalf.

I only wanted to honour someone's sincerity.

In this world, who could bear to waste sincerity? Isn't that right, sister-in-law?

Quite so. The second young master has such a way with words — go up on stage later and say a few for your brother.

I'm not going on stage. Today I only want to watch you.

Then drink less and look more carefully.

I've always looked carefully.

The orphanage children have been brought in to perform.

They stand rigid, not one of them making a sound.

The woman in charge of them is Nanny Sun.

Children this age, quiet as the dead.

Miss Fang is joking. The rules in the home are strict, so the children don't trouble our distinguished guests.

Strict enough that they aren't allowed to eat?

They might be sick on stage. They can eat when they come off; it's all the same.

Then feed them now. Whatever happens on stage, I'll answer for it.

Yes, yes. ...Might I ask, Miss Fang, haven't we met somewhere before?

I don't often come to Nancheng. Nanny, go on to the front — the donation drive is starting, and it would be a shame to miss it.

Of course, of course. I'll go right now.

Nanny Sun had barely gone when Mulan turned and found Qingyi blocking the doorway.

He had been standing there a while.

You've been following me.

Don't jump at shadows. These children struck me as odd, so I came to look.

Odd how?

The pastries have sat there half an hour and not one child dares reach for them. Is this raising children, or keeping prisoners?

Since when did the second young master grow so soft-hearted.

Your face hasn't softened in the slightest.

I'll go up on stage and hold the room. I've seen to what Nanny Sun is eating. The moment she goes out, follow her.

Understood. It ends today, and nothing disturbs the front.

Miss Fang, where are you going?

I'm stepping out.

The opera's only just been chosen and you're leaving?

Boss Hai — today is my brother and sister-in-law's big day, and I'd like to dedicate one to Miss Fang. The Peony Pavilion. The resurrection scene.

The troupe was thrown into a panic. The programme changed at a word, and nobody dared ask the second young master why.

Tell me — after three years dead, can a person come back?

In an opera, they can.

Ren Susu. Three years, and you couldn't leave me one word?

Saying that name in front of all these people — are you trying to strand me here?

I only want you to sit down and watch this opera to the end.

One opera with a pointed message, and you think you'll hold me all afternoon. You're being childish.

Then go.

She didn't go. She listened to the singing on stage, and what she was counting was how much time she had left.

Tasiya's lost her mind! She's put a bomb on the old master Huo's plane!

Who authorised her?

No one. She said she couldn't wait any longer.

We agreed we'd only touch Nanny Sun.

The old dog deserves to die too.

The moment he dies, the trail goes cold. Those men — we still haven't got hold of any of them.

Then what do we do? Susu, think of something.

Go out front and keep the guests company, and don't leave the old man's side. Anyone who tries to board that plane, you stop them.

Planes my own family donated, and now I'm not allowed to sit in one?

Sir, Instructor Ye has only just taken delivery of this one and doesn't know how it handles. Better to take the older one — it's steadier.

Miss Fang worries too much. This one.

Then I'll fly it.

What are you interfering for? Can you even fly a plane?

My brother taught me himself. What, the headmaster doesn't trust his own student?

Nobody has this new plane figured out yet. If it really comes down, nobody survives it.

Miss Fang is right. So the old master doesn't go up, and Instructor Ye doesn't go up. Miss Fang — shall the two of us take a turn?

You're threatening me.

Qingyi, how long are you going to keep this up? Get down.

If Miss Fang won't, then my brother comes with me.

The two of us cutting through the clouds and coming down in one piece together — that would make a fine story.

Mulan looked at Qingyu, then at the plane.

She had one sentence that could stop him, and that sentence could not leave her mouth.

I'll go.

Susu!

Go and see to things. There are guests everywhere, and someone has to keep the old man calm. Don't worry.

The plane lifted off. The people on the ground grew smaller and smaller. Right now, nobody could stop the two of them.

Why did it have to be this plane? And why did you have to force me up with you?

You promised me. Up here it's just the two of us. Talk.

For one sentence, you cost me an entire day.

What did I cost you?

I'm not telling you.

Then we circle up here until the fuel runs out.

Three years ago, I was looking for Xiaolan.

Who?

The woman who raised me. There's a mole on her left cheek — you'd know her at a glance.

She was in Beicheng?

In Yuyuan.

Yuyuan? The Huo family's compound.

I broke in three times, and every time they beat me out. The last time, a comrade dragged me away.

And in those days your letters came thick and fast.

I didn't lie to you in the letters. I went to Beicheng to find Xiaolan.

And then?

And then I ran into you in the street. The man from the letters, right there in front of me... those few days, I was truly happy.

That — how am I supposed to believe that?

Decide when you've heard it all.

That winter you said the Huo family was giving a banquet, that your brother wanted you to bring someone, and you asked whether I'd come with you.

You agreed very quickly.

If I didn't send you off, how was I ever going to get inside the Huo house? That day I said I wanted to walk in the garden, and you let me go.

You were sent away so I could go to her.

There was one door between us. That was the closest I ever came to Xiaolan after I reached Beicheng.

And then?

And it was the last time.

The people on the ground are still applauding, heads tilted back, waiting for the plane to come down.

The bomb is still on it, and nobody has taken it off.

Qingyi doesn't know a thing.