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The twenty people below stood with their backs straight. The eyes of everyone were fixed on the national flag, their palms tracing beautiful arcs in the air as they looked up at the flag and saluted.

Facing the upcoming competition, everyone felt both excited and worried, a mix of complex emotions intertwined. The desire to win and the fear of losing were both uncomfortable feelings. However, at this moment, everyone had only one thought: to do their utmost in the competition.

Chen Zimo took one last look at everyone, then smiled at Gu Xiaoxi, "As the team leader, you must prioritize the overall situation. Everyone, give it your all! From this moment on, I’m no longer your instructor. Someone else will take over and lead you to the world. Dismissed!"

At his command, Jing Haoran pounced forward, hugging Chen Zimo from behind and pinning his arms, "Brothers, if you have grudges, now it’s time to voice them."

In the end, Chen Zimo was pitifully thrown into a nearby mud pit, with the entire team demanding that he do five hundred push-ups in the mud before he was allowed to get up.

...

Gu Xiaoxi and Yun Xiao were speechless. The two went back to pack their luggage, preparing to set off.

An hour later, at the Second Military Region Airport.

A large military aircraft was parked on the tarmac, and in front of the plane, someone was already there waiting for them.

From afar, Gu Xiaoxi saw Quan Shaoqing and Ai Xiang standing by the plane and understood; the person Chen Zimo mentioned who would take them to Xuan State must be Quan Shaoqing and Ai Xiang.

As the youngest commander of the Eight Divisions, this task naturally fell to Quan Shaoqing.

Gu Xiaoxi had thought she would only see him after the competition was over, but to her surprise, he appeared in front of her so soon.

"Everybody, assemble!"

At the sound of a whistle, the previously relaxed troops immediately ran up and formed ranks.

Quan Shaoqing’s gaze swept over Gu Xiaoxi, then turned to the crowd, his expression icy as he said, "I’m the commander who will lead you to Xuan State. During this time, report any problems to me in advance, and I refuse to permit any private activities."

His speech was succinct, speaking only the most critical parts.

Afterward, he asked Gu Xiaoxi to stay behind and ordered the others to board the plane first.

In the broad airport with a gentle breeze blowing, his military coat billowed with the wind. After three months without seeing him, his demeanor was as cold and proud as ever, but his face seemed thinner and more haggard.

Quan Shaoqing stood before Gu Xiaoxi, gazing at her jade-like complexion; although her skin remained as pale as ever, she had clearly grown taller and seemed much slimmer. A touch of feminine allure had also appeared between her eyebrows.

Gu Xiaoxi’s breathing changed rhythm, her cheeks reddened with embarrassment under his stare, then she flashed Quan Shaoqing a sweet smile, "Don’t you recognize me anymore? You’re staring at me like this."

Quan Shaoqing then retracted his gaze and walked towards the aircraft, "Come up and we can talk later. The plane is about to take off."

Of course, Quan Shaoqing’s request for Gu Xiaoxi to stay behind attracted many gazes, with everyone craning their necks against the airplane windows to watch, starting to speculate on their relationship.

He had kept Gu Xiaoxi aside, and everyone felt the special nature of the atmosphere.

Because, they saw Gu Xiaoxi shyly smile—a rare occurrence indeed.

In everyone’s memory, Gu Xiaoxi had only two kinds of smiles: a mischievous one and a faint, indifferent one.

But that sweet smile tinged with a hint of shyness was clearly reserved for someone she liked.

"What are you looking at? Never seen people in love?" Jing Haoran growled with a glare, shooting a glance at his comrade next to him.

Immediately, everyone turned their wicked smiles on him, "Xiao Haozi, with that jealous face of yours, could it be that Young Master Quan is Team Leader Gu’s boyfriend?"

"I don’t know!" Jing Haoran snapped back, his face filled with displeasure.

"Tsk tsk, just by looking at that face, we know it’s true. Who would’ve thought our Team Leader Gu would have such an impressive boyfriend. Too bad, Xiao Haozi, your Fairy Sister is already taken," Bai Yang teased from the side.

"Yun Xiao, you’re the closest to Team Leader Gu. You must know about her relationship with Quan Shaoqing. Give us a clue!" All eyes were now on Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao jumped, her voice stumbling, "I... I don’t know!"

This matter had always been a secret.

She didn’t dare to speak recklessly.

Everyone tacitly understood and sensed something brewing.

All were astonished yet had to admit that in this world, no one but Quan Shaoqing could handle Gu Xiaoxi, that abnormal woman.

Only after everyone had boarded did the plane take off, heading towards their destination, Xuan State.

On the plane, in a small, private room.

Gu Xiaoxi leaned against Quan Shaoqing’s chest, looking out at the sea of clouds, her heart brimming with happiness, "How have you been feeling lately?"

"I’ve been well," Quan Shaoqing said indifferently, gently kissing her forehead and pressing his face to her ear. Having not seen her for many days, he almost succumbed to lovesickness. If he hadn’t thrown himself into his work, he felt that his "spell" would have erupted, possibly killing him.

Did this woman have any idea how quietly important she had become in his heart?

"Liar!" Gu Xiaoxi looked up at his gaunt cheeks, full of concern, "You’ve lost a lot of weight. Has your old injury recurred? Why won’t you tell me where exactly you’re hurt?"

"Girl, you’re overthinking!" Quan Shaoqing immediately looked at her with a smile brimming with tenderness, "It’s just that missing you made me lose my appetite for tea and food, hence the haggard appearance."

Then, he whispered into her ear, "Just compensate me tonight, and I’ll probably get better."

His warm breath on her delicate face made Gu Xiaoxi’s cheeks instantly flush red. She glared at Quan Shaoqing and chided, "Smooth talker! I see you’ve become even more frivolous after a few days apart."

"Wife, you’ve got it all wrong! If I were too serious in front of you, then I definitely wouldn’t be a man," Quan Shaoqing shamelessly argued, shedding the cold and noble image he held on stage.

Gu Xiaoxi coughed, pushed him away, and sat down in her own seat, then said earnestly, "Stop joking. We’re here to participate in the world competition. Once we win this time, I have a ten-day vacation, and I’ll spend it properly with you."

Quan Shaoqing looked at Gu Xiaoxi’s confident demeanor and smiled narrowly, "Wife, with this grand and self-assured attitude, you seem quite certain of winning the gold medal this time."

Gu Xiaoxi proudly patted her chest and promised, "Of course. You should have some faith in your wife."

That word "wife" made Quan Shaoqing’s heart bubble with joy.

Finally, she also admitted that she was his wife. Ah, he could have as much of her as he wanted in the future.

He just had to endure a few more days.

Thinking of this, Quan Shaoqing felt frustrated. Therefore, taking advantage of the privacy here, he decided to have a taste of the "soup" first.

An eighteen-hour long-haul flight.

By the time they arrived in Xuan State, everyone showed a bit of weariness.

"Wow, so this is Xuan State! Geez, it’s so beautiful!" Everyone was exclaiming as they looked at the special architecture of the place.

Every country has its own ancient culture.

And Xuan State, which combined the cultural essence of four countries, branched off independently as an economic state.

Although its total area wasn’t even a tenth of Liuli Country, its economy was one of the strongest in Intercontinental State, and its military and technological power was not to be underestimated.

Thus, the world competition was to be held here.

Stepping out of the cabin, everywhere could be seen the Century Castle, the clean streets, and Roman columns, all showcasing the splendor and luxury of this country.

Xuan State’s largest military region commander, Mr. Cook, welcomed Quan Shaoqing and the others from Liuli Country.

At the same time, elite teams from sixteen other countries were also present.

Gu Xiaoxi never imagined that she would encounter someone familiar in such a place.

Of course, that person wasn’t exactly an acquaintance.

Danny Jay also led a team to participate in this military competition.

This military competition’s accommodations were in Xuan State’s largest military region, where everyone would stay for six days to participate in six preliminary military exercises.

In these preliminary exercises, each country could send out thirty people to compete.

Therefore, the reserve members still had a chance to shine in the world competition.