218: Desperate crowd

Tony was unconvinced: "It's clearly just your luck, let's play another round!"

Lin Xiaoya also smiled and said: "Brother Qin Yu, don't get cocky, we'll definitely win the next round!"

Zhao Ya calmly shuffled the cards: "Don't rush, let's play slowly."

Lei Ying and Lei Yue sat on the other side. Lei Ying watched the surroundings alertly, while Lei Yue continued her work.

Su Qing and Su Ya brewed tea for everyone and brought fruit, thoughtfully taking care of everyone.

The entire plane was filled with laughter and joy; everyone was immersed in the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Tony had just thrown out a King Bomb, and Qin Yu was wailing "lost again this time," when the plane suddenly jolted violently.

The cards in Lin Xiaoya's hands spilled all over her.

"What's going on?" Qin Yu grabbed the armrest of the seat.

Outside the window, the originally azure sky had been swallowed by thick dark clouds at some point.

The plane began to shake continuously, like a leaf in a gale.

Lei Jun looked at the radar screen in the cockpit, her brows tightly furrowed.

The screen showed a large red area ahead.

Severe convective weather!

"Please fasten your seatbelts, everyone." Her voice came through the broadcast, "We've encountered some turbulence."

Before she finished speaking, a blinding flash of lightning tore through the clouds, followed by deafening thunder.

"Boom—"

The plane suddenly dropped, and everyone's heart leaped into their throats.

The mirror in Tony's hand fell to the floor, shattering into several pieces.

Oh My God...

This time, his voice lacked its usual affectation, containing only genuine fear.

Qin Yu's face turned pale: "This... this isn't just normal turbulence, is it?"

More lightning followed in quick succession, and the thunder became a continuous roar.

Torrential rain beat frantically against the portholes; it was pitch black outside, with only the occasional flashes of lightning revealing the menacing cloud masses.

The plane began to sway violently, sometimes surging upward and sometimes plunging downward. The milk tea cup on the table slid to the floor, liquid splashing everywhere.

"Please remain calm and stay in your seats without moving," Lei Jun's voice rang out again, but this time, an observant person could hear a hint of tension.

Zhao Ya unbuckled her seatbelt and stumbled toward the cockpit.

Lei Ying immediately stood up: "Miss Zhao, please return to your seat."

"I need to check the situation." Zhao Ya pushed open the cockpit door.

Inside the cockpit, Lei Jun was gripping the control stick with both hands, fine beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead.

Multiple indicator lights on the dashboard were flashing frantically, and warning sounds rose and fell.

Zhao Ya took one look at the radar and the situation outside, and her heart sank to the bottom.

"President Lei, this is a Supercell Thunderstorm." Her voice was dry, "We've flown right into it."

Lei Jun didn't look back, all her attention focused on controlling the plane. "I know. I'm trying to navigate out of it."

"We can't navigate out." Zhao Ya pointed at the radar screen, "Look at the extent; we're already in the center of the storm. And there's Wind Shear; the wind speed is changing too drastically."

The plane jolted violently again; Zhao Ya almost fell and quickly grabbed the cockpit door frame.

"Sister Zhao Ya, what's the situation?" Qin Yu shouted from the cabin.

Zhao Ya returned to the cabin, her expression more solemn than ever. She looked around and saw everyone staring at her.

"Let's be honest." She took a deep breath, "We've encountered extreme weather—a Supercell Thunderstorm combined with strong Wind Shear. In this kind of weather, civil aviation planes would avoid it and take a detour."

Lin Xiaoya asked softly: "Then... then can we avoid it?"

Zhao Ya shook her head: "We can't avoid it anymore. We're in the storm."

Tony's voice trembled: "Then... then what will happen?"

"I used to fly planes in the military; in this situation, the plane will lose control."

Zhao Ya spoke very directly.

"Strong updrafts and downdrafts alternate, and Wind Shear causes air speed to change instantly, making it hard for pilots to adjust in time. Plus, lightning could strike the plane, damaging electronic equipment..."

She didn't finish, but everyone understood.

Qin Yu's eyes widened: "Sister Zhao Ya, you can fly planes too, can't you go help Sister Lei?"

Zhao Ya smiled bitterly: "I flew helicopters and small Fixed-wing aircraft, and in this weather... let alone me, even an experienced civil aviation Captain would have slim chances in this situation."

"It's fair to say most pilots couldn't do it, unless they were top-tier."

"President Lei's skills are decent, but she's also powerless in this situation."

The cabin fell into a dead silence.

There was only the roar of the plane, the thunder, the rain, and the continuous warning sounds.

Another bolt of lightning, so close it seemed to explode at the end of the wing. The plane suddenly tilted to the right, throwing everyone to one side.

"Ah—" Lin Xiaoya screamed.

Su Qing hugged her sister Su Ya tightly, both of their faces deathly pale.

Lei Ying had already stood in the middle of the cabin, prepared to handle any impact at any time.

Even though she was an Bionic Human, she was powerless against such natural forces.

Qin Yu suddenly stood up, stumbling through the turbulence to rummage for something.

"What are you doing?" Tony asked.

"Looking for paper and a pen." Qin Yu's voice was hoarse, "Writing a suicide note."

Lin Xiaoya was stunned for a moment, then pulled out a pink notebook and a pen from her small bag: "I... I brought some."

Tony smiled bitterly: "Xiaoya, you're still carrying something like that at a time like this..."

"I'm used to carrying a notebook to record inspiration." Lin Xiaoya's voice carried a hint of sobbing.

The paper and pen were passed around.

Qin Yu took the notebook, his hand shaking so much he could barely hold the pen. He thought for a moment and began to write.

"Dad, Mom: If you're seeing this, it means I'm gone."

"There's a folder in my WeChat favorites called 'Study Materials.' Whatever you do, don't open it; just delete it directly."

"Finally, if possible, burn some of the latest game consoles for me every Qingming Festival; they might not have those things down there. Your son, Qin Yu, final words."

Tony took the pen, his hand shaking even more than Qin Yu's.

Lin Xiaoya cried as she wrote: "Mom and Dad, I'm sorry, your daughter has failed you."

Zhao Ya didn't write.

She just sat there, watching the raging lightning outside the window, her expression frighteningly calm.

Her experience in the Special Forces had long since made her indifferent to life and death, but she hadn't expected it to end like this.

Lei Ying and Lei Yue looked at each other; as Bionic Humans, they didn't need to write suicide notes.

The plane plunged violently once more, the feeling of weightlessness making everyone's stomachs churn.

Qin Yu's suicide note slipped from his hand and drifted to the floor.

"It's about time." Zhao Ya stood up, "Let's go to the cockpit and say goodbye to President Lei."

Everyone was stunned, then understood what she meant.

At a time like this, they couldn't let her face it alone.

In the cockpit, Lei Jun was fully focused on controlling the plane. Her hands moved quickly between the control stick and the dashboard, her movements still precise, but her brow was furrowed.

"President Lei." Zhao Ya said softly.