Chapter 55: Chapter 41: Eerie Night (Part 2)

…

The next day, on the vast training ground, neat formations of trainees goose-stepped past the basketball court.

Although the drill instructors ordered the trainees to look straight ahead and not glance around, it didn’t stop them from secretly observing this “world” out of the corners of their eyes.

In another corner of this “world,” a full five companies were leisurely hiding in the cool shade of the trees, drinking bottled water, singing songs, and enjoying themselves.

This formed a stark contrast to the trainees who were goose-stepping under the scorching sun, drenched in sweat.

The unfairness of it all!

How come?

“Sir, why do they get to skip training all the time?”

During a break, a curious student slipped over to the drill instructor and voiced the question on everyone’s mind.

“They earned it themselves. I heard it was specially approved by the Battalion Commander and your school’s leadership!”

“Damn, that’s a thing?”

“Don’t you worry. It’s your turn this afternoon. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a break too!”

The instructor grinned mischievously. Apparently, because of Zhao Rui’s “disruption,” the Battalion Commander had ordered that if they lost to a regular student again, all the instructors would have to run twenty kilometers with weighted packs.

“I’m actually kind of looking forward to it. I heard we’re running five kilometers this afternoon? Is it tiring, sir?”

“Not tiring. Not tiring at all!”

the drill instructor said nonchalantly.

On the training ground, the formations from five schools, led by the School of Accounting, were leisurely enjoying the two-hour break Zhao Rui had won for them yesterday.

However, even though they could rest, they still had to stay within the training ground’s boundaries, maintain their formations, and were not allowed to wander around freely.

“Zhao Rui, come here a second!”

Zhao Rui had just finished a tea egg given to him by a girl from his class when his advisor, Liu Jie, called him over.

“I just went and asked. Principal Hao knows about you, too. With your qualifications, you can definitely join the Martial Arts Team.”

Liu Jie said in a soft, gentle voice. Tiny, crystalline beads of sweat dotted her small face, plastering a few strands of hair to her fair cheeks.

“Thank you, Ms. Liu!”

“Don’t mention it. But since you chose our School of Accounting, you can’t fall behind on your major coursework.

I asked for you. You can’t change your major in your first year, only in your second. But there’s no precedent for transferring into the Martial Dao major. I’ll talk to the school about it again.”

Liu Jie moistened her slightly chapped lips and continued.

Seeing this, Zhao Rui quickly bent down, picked up a bottle of water from nearby, and handed it to her.

Liu Jie didn’t stand on ceremony, taking the water and drinking it in small sips.

Sunlight filtered through the clear bottle, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on her face. The faint downy hair on her skin was like a dandelion born in spring, soft and delicate.

“Go on back. After the military training is over, you have to be my class president!”

After finishing her water, Liu Jie waved her hand, sending Zhao Rui back.

Hearing her words, Zhao Rui’s face fell. He wanted to object, but a glare from Liu Jie stopped him, and he swallowed his words.

Resigned, Zhao Rui had no choice but to return to his formation.

’As for being class president, I’ll deal with that later. I don’t want to waste my energy on such trivial matters.’

’But my advisor is so enthusiastic, I can’t just shut her down completely.’

Two hours flew by in a flash. Soon, the drill instructor blew his whistle, gathering all the resting students to line up again and begin a “brand new” day of military training.

…

At Lincheng City First High School, in Year 2 Class 2, Zhao Ke stared at the female classmate in front of him—bright-eyed, radiant, and full of life—and for a moment, he couldn’t quite process it.

“What are you staring at? Just take it!”

The girl lifted her swan-like neck, long and fair. Her words were bossy, yet held a hint of concern.

He was completely baffled. He couldn’t for the life of him remember when he had gotten on such good terms with her.

“Uh, thanks!”

Zhao Ke took the drink the girl handed him and quickly thanked her.

“Don’t be so formal with me. Your brother and I… we’re classmates, aren’t we! But don’t get the wrong idea.”

Hearing her words, Zhao Ke’s brow furrowed even more deeply. ’What does she mean, “get the wrong idea”? I wasn’t thinking anything at all.’

’We’re not even in the same social circle!’

“We’re in the same class now, so we should push each other to study hard. My goal is Dongqi University! You should work hard too!”

After speaking, she walked past him. Her graceful figure, illuminated by the sunlight from the window, seemed hazy and beautiful. A gentle breeze drifted by, carrying what seemed to be the scent of hyacinth that lingered by his nose.

’Wait, Dongqi University? Your brother?’

Zhao Ke’s eyes shot wide open, and he stared in disbelief at the girl’s retreating back.

’You want to be my sister-in-law?’

His face immediately fell. He hurried after her and, to the girl’s stunned expression, shoved the drink back into her slender hand.

“You…”

Watching Zhao Ke run off, the girl’s delicate brows knitted slightly, a look of confusion on her face. ’What a strange boy. Nothing like Zhao Rui at all.’

’Hmph!’

…

On the last day of the first week of military training, the students had already adapted to the high-intensity drills.

They began to orderly “resume” some of their extracurricular activities.

Such as drinking and eating barbecue, singing, and playing video games.

Asking girls out on moonlit nights, delivering sweet gestures downstairs at the dorms!

Zhao Rui also had a girl to meet, though not one from the university.

After training ended, Zhao Rui took a cold shower in his dorm, changed his clothes, and left the university by himself.

At the entrance to a food street not far from the university gate, a graceful, slender figure was holding a roasted gluten skewer with a delicate hand, eating it with relish.

“You people from the Demon Dao eat roasted gluten skewers too?”

Zhao Rui walked over. The tempting barbecue aroma made him swallow.

After a tiring day, he was starving.

“If we don’t eat roasted gluten, are we supposed to eat roasted human flesh?”

The woman glanced at Zhao Rui with her beautiful eyes and said crisply, “We practice the Martial Arts of the Lian Sheng Sect, not the Demon Dao. If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll castrate you!”

“This is a university. Can you be a little more civilized!”

“All I see are hotels at the university entrance. Are you college students only allowed to do it but not talk about it?”

“Ahem!”

Zhao Rui quickly changed the subject. “So, what did you want to see me about?”

“I need a boyfriend to go with me to meet someone.”

The woman casually tossed the finished bamboo skewer. It traced a graceful arc through the air and landed perfectly in a trash can more than five meters away.

“Here’s a dating app. Here’s the contact info for a famous entertainment club in the city. And here’s the contact info for one of my classmates.”

Zhao Rui swiped through his phone, then held the screen out in front of the woman.

“Don’t come to me with such a cliché plot. I’m not interested in being your fake boyfriend and getting dragged into your mess!”

“Alright, then! Just pretend I never said anything. Come on, walk with me for a bit. I’ve never been to a university before!”

The woman gave a nonchalant smile. She took a tissue from the small, exquisite leather bag at her side and gently dabbed her bright red lips, wiping away the leftover crumbs from the gluten skewer.

“University is pretty much just this. I’m curious, what do you usually do? Do you have a job?”

Seeing the woman start walking, Zhao Rui paused for a moment before quickening his pace to follow her.

“Keeping men company.”

“…”

“Besides keeping men company?”

“Harvesting yang to nourish my yin.”

“…”

Zhao Rui glanced at the brightly lit street, pointed to the intersection ahead, and said, “Straight ahead is the east gate of our university. Youyou, want to go take a look inside?”

“Hm? How did you know my name is Youyou?”

“Your WeChat name…”

“Oh. What’s your name?”

“Zhao Rui.”

“Aren’t you curious why I stopped you that day?”

Youyou tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The movement was gentle yet carefree, a stark contrast to the indifference in her voice when she spoke.

“Because you were also after that person, right?”

Zhao Rui said calmly.

“Alright, a student’s brain really is sharp! He’s a scoundrel. He’s already harassed several girls…”

Zhao Rui listened quietly as her voice, cool like peppermint, recounted the past events in the night.

Her speech was unhurried, creating a strange sense of tranquility.

“The cafeteria is right up ahead. Want to go in and sit for a bit? My treat. You can try our school’s food.”

The two of them strolled slowly through the campus, like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Surprisingly, there was no sense of awkwardness between them.

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