Chapter 0232
Some pilots from Air China scoffed softly, "Not first place, what's there to celebrate about. Haven't won before?" "Cut it out," a colleague nudged the person, casting a glance backward with a meaningful look.
The grumbling pilot turned and, upon seeing Kou Mei sitting expressionless, curled her lip in disdain.
"Not afraid of losing, just afraid someone's elbow is turned outwards, a traitor in our midst," she said mockingly.
Kou Mei was used to it.
Ever since the clash between Air China and Mukino Airlines, it seemed the female pilots at Air China had openly begun to ostracize her.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
They suspected her closeness to Madison hinted she might betray her own company, tipping off Madison with insider information.
Kou Mei couldn't be bothered to respond.
To her, the line was always clear. Friends were friends, and the competition was just that.
Though they knew each other, there was no mercy when it came to competing.
Now, it wasn't just her female colleagues and fellow pilots; even the flight department manager, and Zheng Congyu himself, had been avoiding her, subtly or not.
But Kou Mei was a quiet person, uninterested in such petty squabbles, preferring to let things pass.
"What's unspoken? She's a traitor, isn't she? How else does Madison always manage to come first, suppressing us? It's very likely she's the one informing Madison of our strategies!"
The volume of the accusations grew, and it seemed someone was urging the accusing pilot to continue, but they couldn't be stopped.
Kou Mei still didn't react.
"She likes their victory so much, she might as well just join their company. What's she doing here?"
Zheng Congyu had just returned.
He and his deputy had unarguably clinched first place, a trace of joy on his face.
Zheng Congyu greeted those about to compete, purposely ignoring Kou Mei seated apart.
He hesitated but didn't call out to her.
Kou Mei closed her eyes, stifling her emotions upon noticing this.
Not far away, Madison, having just returned to the Mukino Airlines camp, noticed the situation at Air China.
A group was huddled around Zheng Congyu, chattering away, with Kou Mei the sole figure seated alone.
Charlie, still shaken, approached Madison and said between breaths, "Kou Mei seems isolated, doesn't she? Air China knows we're close to her." Madison looked down thoughtfully.
She had seen such ostracism at Air China before; it was not uncommon in large aviation companies.
Suddenly, an idea struck Madison.
She first checked the final standings of the round.
Madison and Charlie had barely made it to fifth place, narrowly avoiding elimination.
With this round being a showdown among team leaders, and Mukino Airlines' leaders just scraping through, even loyal supporters online began to waver.
-Is this woman really capable?
-Does she really have the skills? Not just against Air China, she can't even beat those from Song Air or Yun Air? I've wasted my support!
-You've backed the wrong person. She may be tough, but she's still impetuous. Previous wins were just luck. Do you think the experience of those team leaders is just for show? Hah. -Many people just follow the trend, lured by her looks. And now, look at that, all bark and no bite!
Skepticism towards Madison flooded the internet again.
Madison, mentally prepared, was unconcerned. When she won, praise followed, and when she didn't, criticism was endless.
Today's Madison was indifferent to online judgment.
This near miss had shaken her; those people were willing to resort to anything.
"You okay?" Charlie was concerned.
Madison shook her head, smiling faintly, "This is nothing. I was just thinking..."
But before she could finish, the next round began.
Madison instructed the pilots before they took off, "Be careful of nearby planes, in case they disrupt your flight path and landing strip. If necessary, you have to fightback, got it?"
Madison's sternness was rare.
The pilots seemed to understand why Captain Madison had deviated from her original flight path.
Was Air China causing trouble?
"Damn it!" A hot-headed pilot glared towards Air China.
How dare they bully their team leader?
If they couldn't advance, they'd make sure to take a few from Air China down with them!
These pilots had embraced their young but brave team leader.
No one could bully Madison!
As the Mukino Airlines pilots took to
the field
na flame of vengeance
they seemed to be engulfed in
roaring fire, determined to KO all the
pilots from Air China! Content
belongs to NovelDrama.Org
Having figured out the competition rules through the previous rounds, it was now a matter of skill.
To win, they needed boldness!
And so, in the following rounds, Zheng Congyu's face turned darker and uglier by the minute.
"What's happening?"
"Where did everyone go?!"
"All eliminated?!"
"Damn it!" Zheng Congyu paced back and forth, seething.
Out of thirty pilots, twelve were eliminated in that round!
Suddenly, accusations targeted Kou Mei, "Kou Mei, you could have been first just now. Why didn't you take it?"
Kou Mei's tone was indifferent, "Advancing is enough; why vie for first?"
"Don't you have any ambition? This is about the face of Air China!" A jealous female pilot seized the opportunity to attack.
Kou Mei sat down, her words biting, "You've been eliminated, what are you saying to me?"
"You're the one turning your elbow out!"
Kou Mei laughed, "I've been openly
"You!"
ist for Air China. V
isolated by you, et
you, not sabotaging
out of right do you have to
"You..."
Zheng Congyu barked, "Quiet down!"
They needed Kou Mei stable for the upcoming matches to prevent further eliminations.
Zheng Congyu sat beside Kou Mei, "Don't listen to them. Everyone just wants to win."
Kou Mei didn't pay much heed to the team leader.
In her eyes, only the winner had a say.
Their isolation and bullying irritated her.
If she could choose, she'd damn well switch companies.
"The competition begins, please send out six representatives from each airline," the organizer announced over the PA system.
Zheng Congyu said, "Kou Mei, you go."
Kou Mei stood up without a word.
Over at Song Air, Zuo Yulei stepped forward.
At Mukino Airlines, Charlie, after a short rest, went up again, "Madison, it looks like it's up to us. Those few are quite formidable."
Charlie gave a nod towards Kou Mei and Zuo Yulei on the opposite side, who returned the gesture with a smile.
Madison glanced over and raised an eyebrow, "Sure thing."
Once again, these four women found themselves at a narrow crossroads.