253: Encountering danger

Thick coconut milk was drizzled over the snowy white sticky rice, accompanied by golden, sweet mango chunks on the side.

It was a visual treat.

The aroma was even more rich and complex, stimulating the taste buds.

"Miss Lei, please try some. These are just home-cooked dishes, I hope they're to your taste," Su Qing said, looking both expectant and a bit nervous.

Lei Jun picked up a spoon and first took a sip of the Tom Yum Goong soup.

As the soup entered her mouth, a sharp hit of sour and spicy first struck her taste buds, followed by the freshness of the shrimp and a variety of spices... the complex aroma blended from lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves spread through her mouth, and finally, after swallowing, a hint of sweetness lingered in her throat.

The flavors were richly layered, sour and spicy to whet the appetite, fragrant and mellow without being greasy.

She then tried the Green Curry Chicken.

The curry sauce was delicate, with the sweetness of the coconut milk perfectly balancing the spiciness of the chili. The flavor of the spices had permeated every piece of chicken, making it go wonderfully with the rice.

The Pad Thai was cooked just right, the rice noodles were springy, and the seasoning was a balanced blend of sour, sweet, salty, and savory. The Green Papaya Salad was crisp, sour, and spicy, very refreshing.

The Fried Fish Cakes were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and when dipped in the special sweet and spicy sauce, they had a unique flavor.

In every dish, one could taste Su Qing's dedication and her precise grasp of ingredients and seasoning.

This was definitely not something thrown together haphazardly; it was truly skilled home-cooked deliciousness that could even rival some high-end Thailand restaurants.

Lei Jun put down her chopsticks, looked at Su Qing, and praised her sincerely, "It's delicious, Su Qing. Your cooking is really good, the flavor is very authentic, and it suits my taste perfectly."

Hearing Lei Jun's affirmation, a relaxed and joyful smile instantly bloomed on Su Qing's face, as if she had received the highest reward.

"I'm glad you like it! I haven't cooked Thailand food in a long time and was a bit worried about being out of practice. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it!"

Su Ya also said with a smile from the side, "The dishes my sister makes are a specialty in our family!"

Everyone felt very satisfied with the meal.

Lei Jun enjoyed authentic Thailand flavors, and Su Qing's culinary skills were recognized by her employer, leaving everyone in high spirits.

After the meal, Lei Jun asked Lei Ying to send her the flight ticket information.

Lei Ying sent it quickly, and Lei Jun confirmed it was a first-class ticket for a direct flight to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport the day after tomorrow.

She took a quick look at the airline and flight number and thought no more of it... On the day of departure, the weather was clear and fine.

Lei Jun, Lei Ying, Su Qing, and Su Ya brought along their streamlined luggage.

Upon arriving at the airport, they went through the VIP channel for check-in, baggage drop-off, and security; the entire process was smooth and efficient.

The first-class lounge was quiet and peaceful, offering a rich selection of meals and drinks.

Su Qing and Su Ya were clearly still a bit excited; after all, they were going home and bringing along a distinguished guest.

The plane took off on time and soared into the clouds.

Once the flight stabilized, Su Qing and Su Ya began to proactively introduce Thailand to Lei Jun and Lei Ying.

They talked about the bustle of Bangkok and the tranquility of its temples, the simplicity and leisure of Chiang Mai, the island scenery of Phuket and Su Mei, various specialty fruits and snacks, the meaning and etiquette of the Sawadika greeting, Muay Thai, Ladyboy Shows, Floating Markets... The two sisters chimed in one after another, their voices full of love for their hometown and the excitement of returning home.

Lei Jun and Lei Ying listened quietly, asking a question or two from time to time.

Lei Jun indeed didn't know much about Thailand, and these introductions gave her a preliminary, vivid impression of the country they were about to arrive in.

Lei Ying focused more on information related to safety and social rules, silently committing them to memory.

Halfway through the journey, a sea of clouds stretched out outside the window, while most passengers in the cabin were resting or watching movies; everything was peaceful.

Suddenly, without any warning, the plane jolted violently!

Immediately afterward, the fuselage began to shake and vibrate irregularly, much more intensely than ordinary clear-air turbulence!

The "Fasten Seatbelt" sign overhead lit up blindingly, accompanied by the rapid sound of an alarm!

A commotion broke out in the cabin instantly.

Passengers were startled awake from sleep or entertainment, grabbing the armrests in panic, and confused children began to cry.

The cabin crew tried hard to remain calm, but their faces were visibly pale as they requested everyone over the intercom to stay in their seats and keep their seatbelts fastened.

Su Qing and Su Ya were also pale with fear, clutching their seat armrests tightly and looking toward Lei Jun.

Lei Ying immediately checked her own seatbelt and quickly observed the situation inside the cabin and out the window, her body tensing slightly as she entered a state of alert.

Lei Jun's brow furrowed.

This turbulence was unusual.

She possessed the God-level Aircraft Piloting Skill and had a perception of flight status that far exceeded that of ordinary people.

From the abnormal vibrations and the faint, discordant roar of the engines, she could judge that the plane likely had a mechanical failure, rather than just encountering air currents.

The jolting lasted for over ten seconds, and instead of subsiding, it intensified!

The plane began to pitch and yaw irregularly, and terrified screams rang out in the cabin.

The overhead bins creaked under the strain, and some loose small items fell out.

The intercom sounded again, this time with the Captain's voice; although he tried his best to remain steady, the tension and anxiety in it were still audible.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain. The aircraft is currently experiencing some mechanical issues, and we are doing our best to resolve them. Please remain calm, stay in your seats, keep your seatbelts fastened, and follow the instructions of the Flight Attendants!"

Mechanical failure!

Everyone panicked!

Some began to weep softly, while others murmured prayers.

Lei Jun's heart sank.

The Captain's announcement confirmed her judgment.

The knowledge base of the God-level Aircraft Piloting Skill whirred in her mind, simulating various possible causes of failure and response plans.

Analyzing the current flight attitude, vibration characteristics, and engine sounds... the problem was likely in the hydraulic system or some of the control surfaces, leading to a severe drop in the plane's stability and making it difficult to control.

At an altitude of ten thousand meters, such a failure was extremely dangerous; if it couldn't be controlled in time or a suitable emergency landing plan found, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Another agonizing minute or two passed, and the plane continued to struggle through the violent turbulence. No further updates came over the intercom, which undoubtedly heightened people's fear.

Lei Jun knew she couldn't wait any longer.

Every second could make the situation worse.

She unfastened her seatbelt and said quickly to Lei Ying, "I'm going to the cockpit to take a look."

Then she stood up, stabilized herself in the jolting aisle, and headed toward the front cabin.

"Miss Lei!" Su Qing and Su Ya cried out, not knowing what to do.

What bad luck, they were facing another air disaster.

Lei Ying's gaze sharpened, and she unfastened her seatbelt without hesitation, quickly following Lei Jun to provide protection from behind her, preventing her from falling in the turbulence or being struck by the agitated actions of other passengers.

A Flight Attendant, pale-faced and steadying herself against the cabin wall, saw Lei Jun approaching and hurriedly tried to stop her: "Please return to your seat, ma'am! It's very dangerous right now!"

"I need to see the Captain," Lei Jun said, her tone calm but brooks no argument. "I might be able to help."