Phuket.
Sunshine, beaches, sea, palm trees, bikinis.
The two arrived in Phuket at noon, dropped their luggage at the villa, and began exploring the island.
Compared to Singapore’s bustling commercial vibe, with cargo ships constantly crisscrossing the sea, Phuket was a pure tourist destination.
Gazing out, the endless blue sea and sky stretched before them, dotted only with a few yachts and seabirds overhead, truly a refreshing sight.
Over the next few days, they ventured into the rainforest, visited Patong Beach, strolled through Phuket Town and the Patong Night Market, explored Emperor Island and Coral Island, went diving, rode yachts, cycled around the island, tried various water sports, watched performances at night, and ate barbecue…
Lu Zheng took it in stride, but Lin Wan posted a daily update on social media, each day a new experience, earning her a flood of envious comments.
Lu Zheng hadn’t realised Lin Wan had such a mischievous streak.
Well, not exactly mischievous. For instance, Lu Zheng loved reading the comments under her posts.
How could something I enjoy be called mischievous?
This was clearly experiencing the ways of the world, observing life’s myriad forms, and gaining profound insights.
Infinite Heavenly Venerate!
…
On the fourth day, they planned to visit Phi Phi Island, staying overnight before returning to Phuket on the fifth day and flying to Kuala Lumpur.
“Hello, for Phi Phi Island, we offer several options,” the resort’s concierge said.
As a high-tier member after a single splurge, Lu Zheng naturally enjoyed the resort’s top-tier services.
“We can provide a small yacht for free, or a helicopter at a 40% discount. If you’re interested, we also have a small submarine, though that’s pricier.”
“Of course,” the concierge’s smile was impeccable, “any of these is far more comfortable than a 500-baht cruise.”
“Makes sense!” Lu Zheng nodded, turning to Lin Wan. “What do you want to take?”
“Helicopter!” Lin Wan replied decisively, adding her reasoning. “We’ve done yachts to Emperor Island and Coral Island. A submarine’s mostly just the dark seabed, not much fun. A helicopter’s the way to go!”
“Sounds good, helicopter it is,” Lu Zheng told the concierge. “How does it work?”
“I’ll arrange it immediately!” the concierge smiled. “The helicopter undergoes a routine check before takeoff. In about an hour, you can board from the helipad behind the hotel.”
“Great, thanks,” Lu Zheng said.
Their accommodation on Phi Phi Island was also part of the resort’s properties, costing twice as much as the main island.
Luckily, Lu Zheng had won nearly a million RMB in Singapore, so he spent without hesitation.
Half an hour later, Lu Zheng pulled a suitcase with one hand and held Lin Wan’s with the other as they reached the helipad north of the resort.
A large “H” was painted on the concrete, where a white Bell 505 helicopter stood.
“This is the pilot, Ronnie, with over a thousand hours of flight experience,” the concierge introduced. “He’ll take you to Phi Phi Island, detouring southeast past Emperor Island and the southern sea. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy low-altitude views of the vast ocean and various seabirds. If you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins.”
Ronnie greeted them in Thai, which neither Lu Zheng nor Lin Wan understood.
The concierge spoke to Ronnie, who nodded repeatedly, indicating he understood, then enthusiastically took Lu Zheng’s suitcase and stowed it in the helicopter’s cabin.
“Please! Please!”
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan took the second row of the Bell 505, a small civilian helicopter with five seats—two in front, three in back. Lin Wan sat by the door on the right, Lu Zheng in the middle, and their carry-on bag on the left.
The concierge waved to them, then quickly stepped back.
Ronnie boarded from the other side, gestured for them to fasten their seatbelts, and, seeing they complied, buckled his own before starting the helicopter.
“Buzz—”
The engine roared, the rotor spun, and the helicopter slowly lifted off, climbing higher.
At about two to three hundred metres above ground, it veered west toward Phuket’s west coast, adjacent to the Andaman Sea, following the shoreline south.
Yachts on the sea, buildings on the island, and tourists on the beach came into view.
“That’s the aquarium!” Lin Wan pointed out to Lu Zheng. “That’s the zoo, and that’s the Big Buddha. It looks huge even from up here!”
“Buzz—buzz—”
The helicopter soon passed Phuket’s southern tip, heading over the open sea.
Ronnie focused on flying, while Lu Zheng and Lin Wan, in the back, gazed through the window at the boundless ocean and occasional passing cruise ships.
“Look, Lu Zheng, isn’t that Emperor Island from the other day?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Yep, that dock looks familiar.”
Ronnie, with good instincts, circled Emperor Island once, letting them take in the aerial view before heading east, back into the vast sea.
…
Ten minutes later.
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan were quietly cuddling, admiring the blue sea and sky, when they noticed Ronnie’s movements suddenly turn frantic.
“Hm?”
Lu Zheng glanced forward, past the gap between the front seats, and saw Ronnie frantically pressing buttons on the control panel, yanking the joystick back and forth.
Lin Wan also sensed something was wrong, her eyes flashing with panic before steeling herself. “The plane’s gradually losing altitude!”
Lu Zheng looked out and confirmed they were getting closer to the sea.
“εθξμψ…” Ronnie spoke into his headset in a language they couldn’t understand, still maneuvering the helicopter.
But it seemed to have no effect…
Soon, the helicopter was even closer to the sea, perhaps under a hundred metres.
Lin Wan gripped Lu Zheng’s hand tightly, looking at him, her face pale.
Lu Zheng gave a reassuring smile, squeezing her hand. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
Though pale, Lin Wan’s eyes were resolute. “I’m not afraid. Being with you makes me happy. I’m not scared of dying, but you…”
Her gaze, filled with reluctance and concern, rested on Lu Zheng.
At that moment, her greatest worry was still for him.
Lu Zheng’s heart warmed. He patted her hand, his calm tone brimming with confidence. “No worries. This isn’t a plane crashing into the ocean. We’re not far from shore. I can swim us back!”
The next moment, Ronnie switched off his headset, turned to them, said “sorry,” unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the pilot’s door, and jumped out.
