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“What are you talking about?

It’s not at all what you think.” Shao Changfeng had met her no more than three times!

Like her, what a joke.

He wished he could teach her a harsh lesson, to avenge the dissolution of Flame.

“Pfft!”

The group didn’t believe his explanation.

Moreover, an explanation was essentially a cover-up.

Shao Changfeng was so frantic that he jumped up and down, the more he explained, the less clear he became.

But he couldn’t possibly reveal the inside story of Flame’s dissolution, could he?

The official reason from the higher-ups was: they failed the assessment, directly covering up the fact because of Gu Xiaoxi.

And they certainly couldn’t expose their own dark history.

Fifty special forces soldiers failed to catch a new female soldier, letting her escape, which led to them failing the assessment and the team being disbanded?

The higher-ups had already saved face for them; if he blabbed nonsense, wouldn’t that be terribly embarrassing!

Shao Changfeng was so choked up he couldn’t breathe, his cheeks turning bright red.

Finally, he put down his chopsticks, “I’m not eating anymore.

You guys eat!”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the dining hall burst into laughter.

By this time, Gu Xiaoxi had already left the dining area and was standing at the kitchen doorway.

Inside, seven people were busily cleaning up the dishes, a rotund uncle wearing a tall hat.

“Clean every spot, put the leftover greens in the fridge, don’t let them spoil…” Hu Yidao was ordering around a few people with his notoriously bad temper, his face fierce and intimidating.

He turned around and saw someone standing at the kitchen door, intending to scold them.

Upon a closer look, it turned out to be a very pretty young girl, his words softening somewhat, “Mealtime is over.

There is nothing left today, remember to come back on time for training tomorrow.”

He felt not an iota of sympathy for those who didn’t complete their training tasks on time, came back late, and missed their meal.

Even if she was a beautiful woman.

And Gu Xiaoxi, standing at the doorway, lifted a light smile on her delicate face and waltzed in, “Uncle, the company commander asked me to come over and mingle with everyone!”

As she spoke, she took out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket.

From the kitchen door, she handed one to each person, the bunch of men who enjoyed a good smoke found a perfect remedy.

The busy cooks, upon receiving the gift, were all warm-hearted, and seeing the newcomer Gu Xiaoxi, they all smiled pleasantly at her.

Gu Xiaoxi finally approached Old Hu.

“Uncle, it’s a small token of appreciation, please accept it with my regards!”

“Old Hu, this is imported Kaz.

A single one is worth one thousand yuan, even more expensive than cigars!

Ordinary people can’t buy this even with money.” Just then, cook Zhang Yi exclaimed in shock as he held the cigarettes.

Because of his love for smoking, he had an incomprehensible desire and attachment to top-grade cigarettes.

Seeing them suddenly here made him disbelieve, and he confirmed several times before calling out.

Old Hu stared at Gu Xiaoxi, his wide and generous face flickering with uncertainty.

What else would someone come here for, if not looking for food?

Though Gu Xiaoxi hadn’t stated her purpose outright.

Hu Yidao’s eyes landed on the pack of cigarettes in Gu Xiaoxi’s hand, his tiger-like eyes widened, as if he was checking the authenticity of the cigarettes and at the same time coveting something he cherished.

This girl was clearly bribing him.

Could he accept it?

“Uncle, if you don’t want it, forget it.” Gu Xiaoxi chuckled, decisively stuffing the pack back into her pocket.

Then she called out to the other cooks, “Since everyone is busy, I’ll be going.

I’ll come back another time to chat with everyone!”

No sooner had she spoken than Zhang Yi was the first to react, “Wait a minute, I’ll get you a few tomatoes.

Eating them at night is good for your skin!” He couldn’t let the beauty leave empty-handed for the sake of that cigarette.

“I’ll give you an apple.”

“I have a boiled egg here.”

At that moment, two or three cooks eagerly brought items from their hands to Gu Xiaoxi.

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t decline and left after taking them.

Throughout the entire process, she never glanced at Hu Yidao again.

However, one didn’t need to guess to know the expression on Hu Yidao’s face at that moment.

For a man who loved cigarettes, this was more deeply ingrained than the temptation of a beauty to a lecher.

“Are you the new recruit who was standing at attention today?” Hu Yidao’s broad face shifted expressions continually.

To be honest, this bribe hit him where it hurt!

Freaking addictive pain.

It felt like a cat was scratching inside his heart, unbearably itchy and painful!

“Yes!” Gu Xiaoxi turned her head and smiled sweetly at him.

Hu Yidao folded his arms and sized up Gu Xiaoxi.

He found the girl in front of him startlingly beautiful, valiant and spirited, smart and quick-witted.

At first glance, he thought she was a very approachable little girl.

Upon interacting with her, he felt she was somewhat endearing and very adept at gauging people’s emotions and grasping their characters.

Then, upon delving deeper, he discovered she was a little fox wearing a facade of innocence.

Ever since she entered the kitchen squad, she had definitely utilized everyone to her advantage.

If she had started by bribing him with cigarettes, he would have kicked her out on the spot.

Yet, she flaunted those limited edition cigarettes, those precious, coveted treasures, right in front of everyone.

Everyone in the kitchen received some, everyone but him…

Wasn’t this a clear sign that she wanted him to surrender?

But he would never privately accept bribes!

That was his principle.

“Uncle, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Gu Xiaoxi waved to everyone, then walked briskly toward the kitchen door.

As she turned around, her eyes flickered with a brilliant, sly light.

No sooner had she stepped out of the kitchen than, just as she expected, Hu Yidao’s voice, trembling, came from behind her, “Gu Xiaoxi, is that right!”

“Uncle, yes!” Gu Xiaoxi stopped and stood at the door looking back at him.

“Tell me, what’s your purpose for coming here?” Hu Yidao asked knowingly.

Inside, he cursed himself a thousand times for being caught in a weak spot by a little girl.

He wanted to try those cigarettes.

As she walked further away, his craving grew stronger.

“The company commander said to come here for food,” Gu Xiaoxi replied with a narrowed smile, radiating charm.

She quickly pulled out a cigarette, ran up to Old Hu, and presented them all to him.

Hu Yidao’s eyes widened, and he heavily patted Gu Xiaoxi’s head with a resentful and self-deprecating anger, “You little scoundrel, I’ve been outplayed by you.

Tell me, where did you get this stuff?

For today, I’ll buy this pack from you.”

“You’re too kind, senior.

I grabbed it from my guardian’s desk before I left home this morning.

He has plenty of them.

Consider this as me showing my respect to everyone,” Gu Xiaoxi told the truth.

She had seen the cigarettes on Quan Shaoqing’s desk and took a pack, thinking it might come in handy, not realizing that it indeed would be useful.

Hu Yidao reached out, pulled a cigarette from the exquisite metal box, and examined it closely, “Really one thousand yuan each?”

Zhang Yi emphasized, “Really!” They were definitely luxury items.

Gu Xiaoxi blinked her large, watery eyes with an expression of confusion.

She had no idea how much they cost; she only knew that they were Quan Shaoqing’s cigarettes, so they couldn’t be of poor quality.

Hu Yidao patted Gu Xiaoxi’s head, “Come on, uncle will cook for you.

But let’s make it clear, I’m buying this from you.

Accepting bribes privately is a violation of military regulations, and it would lead to a military court.

If you don’t accept the money, I can’t take the cigarettes.

I’m cooking for you because you’re a clever girl.

In all these years, you’re the first to boldly get one over on Old Hu and still have me cook for you!”

In plain terms, he had been played, yet he felt willingly so.

Hu Yidao picked up the finely made cigarette with a dragon pattern, emitting a faint, unique scent, and continued to shame himself ten thousand times in his heart.

For his one and only hobby!

Was it easy for him?

They say you should strike a snake at its weakest point, and Gu Xiaoxi had definitely hit his vulnerability dead on.