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Chen Zimo gave a light smile and casually asked, "Miss Gu is quite skilled. Better than any man, impressive indeed."

"Oh not at all!" Gu Xiaoxi quickly replied with a laugh.

Since she was the captain of the training team, after all, they would spend three months together, so it was good to get acquainted in advance. However, she had offended him, and she wondered if he would hold it against her!

"During the upcoming training, Miss Gu, I hope you can perform well. I’ve seen your results, and you are among the top, you also have the qualities of a leader.

I hope you can get promoted quickly and become a good general.

It’s said that for this world competition, if one wins the championship, they will be directly promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I am very optimistic about you."

"Is that so! Then I will definitely try my best," Gu Xiaoxi replied with a delighted smile. Even if she wasn’t promoted, she would still work hard.

"Big Brother Zimo, what about me? I’m already a Lieutenant. Shouldn’t I also get a promotion to a general’s rank? And be assigned a position?" Jing Haoran immediately stepped forward to ask, winking at Gu Xiaoxi when Quan Shaoqing wasn’t paying attention, sending her a flirtatious look.

Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.

Chen Zimo patted Jing Haoran on the shoulder and chuckled, "You wish. Everyone who participates in the world competition and comes in first place gets to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Anyone over the rank of Lieutenant Colonel gets one rank higher."

Jing Haoran immediately pouted, "That’s not fair. Fairy Sister is a low-rank soldier, and she can skip five ranks in one go, why can I only go up two?"

"You little rascal, stop dreaming such pipe dreams and focus on getting first place!" Chen Zimo said, exasperated.

"Then, Fairy Sister, let’s work hard together. We will definitely get first place. By then, our ranks will be just as high," Jing Haoran said happily, walking up to Gu Xiaoxi.

Just at that moment, Quan Shaoqing suddenly burst in, took Gu Xiaoxi’s hand, and hugged the woman in his arms, his tone gentle, "Wife, let’s go gather firewood."

And with that, the two of them turned and left.

Jing Haoran waved his fists angrily. He wasn’t afraid of Young Master Quan. Once he left, Fairy Sister would be his during the training.

Chen Zimo shook his head and patted Jing Haoran on the shoulder, "Kid, knowing there’s a tiger on the mountain and still heading towards it, are you asking for trouble?"

"I don’t care, I just like Fairy Sister. Hmph!" Jing Haoran huffed, his big eyes glaring as he sat down beside Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan glanced at him, saw the anger on his face, and smiled, "Xiao Haozi, Fairy Sister is not someone you should set your heart on. So, I advise you not to trouble yourself."

"I don’t care. In a few days, I’ll be training with Fairy Sister. I’ll annoy Shaoqing to death, that stingy guy, not letting Fairy Sister talk to me."

"Jing Haoran, our brotherly relationship with Shaoqing has lasted for more than a decade. Are you saying it’s less important than your little crush on Fairy Sister?" Jing Yuan said, speechless.

Jing Haoran thought about it and felt it was true. Brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes.

He shouldn’t let a woman affect his brotherhood, but then he thought it through, that wasn’t quite right either! There was only one Fairy Sister, and she was the one he liked, so what was he supposed to do?

"You should stop wasting so much thought on her, Shaoqing is already married to Miss Gu, she is now his woman. Do you really intend to steal her away?" Jing Yuan saw his hesitation and urged him earnestly.

His brother was a bit naive, stubborn, and slow to catch on.

But in truth, he could understand when things were explained properly.

Jing Haoran sat on a small stool, his mood suddenly complicated.

Who would know the extent of his heartache, feeling as if he had suffered a broken heart. Fairy Sister was already someone else’s, but that couldn’t stop him from liking her, could it?

He just liked Fairy Sister!

...

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao was busy setting up a tent. But as a novice, he was slower, and at one point, he seemed to struggle to keep it standing on his own.

Ai Xiang had long since finished her preparation work and was sitting on a stool with her eyes closed, enjoying the leisure of the afternoon and watching the sun slowly set.

Jing Yuan, bringing along Jing Haoran, had started a fire already.

Everyone was busy in an orderly fashion.

Ai Xiang’s gaze landed on Yun Xiao. The woman had short hair and delicate features—not the kind of stunning beauty that could cause kingdoms to fall, but more like the quiet beauty of a girl-next-door.

Her innocence and naivety were like those of a girl unacquainted with worldly matters, giving off a comfortable vibe to those around her.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, she turned and looked at him, their eyes meeting, and she offered an embarrassed smile. Then she continued working on her small tent.

"Do you need my help?" Ai Xiang asked.

Yun Xiao nodded, and Ai Xiang stood up, walked over, took what was in her hands, and easily helped her out.

Yun Xiao suddenly felt her ears burning hot.

Ai Xiang liked wearing white: a white lab coat when working as a doctor, a white suit for formal events, white shirts or casual wear normally, even his shoes were white.

Paired with his temperament, he exuded an indescribable melancholy and depth.

Especially, his cold gaze—each time she encountered it, her heart involuntarily tightened, and she even wanted to delve into his heart to know what lay within.

Yun Xiao felt she might be going a bit abnormal. Because she realized that ever since that day, ever since his deliberate approaches, she had deeply etched him into her heart.

Yet, she knew all too well the distance between her and him. It wasn’t as if they were separated by the ends of the world, but rather they belonged to two different worlds.

Someone like her was dull, not humorous, and even less capable of sweet talk.

She thought, probably no one would ever love her like Quan Shaoqing loved Gu Xiaoxi.

"All done, if there is nothing else to do, you can light the charcoal fire," Ai Xiang’s voice interrupted Yun Xiao’s erratic thoughts.

Embarrassed, she snapped back to reality and turned to walk away, but unaware, she stepped on a stone and slipped.

Just as she was flustered, a strong hand gripped her arm and steadied her.

He instructed her in a gentle tone, "Be careful when you walk. The outdoors is dangerous, and if you are distracted, you could trouble everyone."

"I’m sorry!" Yun Xiao was so embarrassed she wished she could just disappear. She hurried to the stove to start the fire because they still had to prepare the barbecue.

Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi had already gone to collect firewood, Ai Xiang took out the tableware and was wiping it with a clean cloth.

Chen Zimo and Chen Xinyi were preparing the food ingredients.

Jing Yuan and Jing Haoran had started the fire and set up the small table.

The group’s picnic was somehow proceeding in an orderly fashion.

"Chen Xinyi, come with me to the stream down below to fetch some water," Chen Zimo said.

Chen Xinyi snuck a glance at Jing Yuan, then grabbed a bucket and left with Chen Zimo.

Walking on a path full of thorns, she seemed a bit uncomfortable, still a student, she had never done such things before.

"I brought you today. Don’t cause trouble for me.

Although Jing Yuan is a nice guy, he’s not from your world.

In the future, he might very well take over his father’s position.

The woman beside him will be the most dazzling of all.

Our Chen family has already fallen on hard times; it’s good enough that he still considers us friends.

We are not in a position to reach for his family.

With your disposition, you aren’t suited to be a smooth operator.

So, just focus on finishing your studies and marry someone decent," Chen Zimo sternly advised.

Chen Xinyi gripped the bucket tightly, her fingers turning white, and her eyes suddenly filled with bitterness, "Brother, I understand. Thank you for the reminder."

She was not a foolish woman who bit off more than she could chew. In all her actions, she stayed within her bounds.

She worked hard at her studies, got into the number one brand-name university in the world, and became a top student of the year. She studied politics, finance, stewardship, and arts to improve herself and become an outstanding girl.

But no matter how hard she tried, there was an insurmountable distance between her and him.

Love is a terrifying thing; liking someone is as addictive and frightening as a drug. Knowing it will hurt and bring sadness, yet still keeping them hidden in your heart.

Moreover, she had to pretend nothing was amiss in front of him, not even mustering the courage to confess.

She knew she must look foolish, but what could she do? To like is to like, without needing reasons.

She had tried for his sake, but not being able to keep up with his pace was just something she couldn’t help.

"Bro, thank you for bringing me along today. After this trip, I will be returning to school. I’m graduating this year and have already received an employment offer. I’ll be coming back home to take up the position after the New Year," she said.

"That’s good, keep it up," Chen Zimo said with a smile.

Gu Xiaoxi and Quan Shaoqing, not far from them as they gathered firewood, inadvertently overheard the siblings’ conversation and exchanged glances.

"I never would have guessed Chen Xinyi actually liked Jing Yuan," Gu Xiaoxi said in astonishment. Throughout the journey, they hadn’t even exchanged a single glance. Even their greetings were just casual.

Quan Shaoqing didn’t find it surprising, "Many people like Jing Yuan. What’s so shocking about that?"