Page 45

If Gu Xiaoxi hadn’t waited for Song Jingyi, she would have easily taken first place.

Ning Jiu was anxious.

“Gu Xiaoxi, hurry up!

This is an individual competition; it doesn’t require team coordination, nor are there teammates.

You need to give it your all and take first place.”

“What’s the rush?” Gu Xiaoxi said with a light smile.

“Just now, on the road, I made a bet with Song Jingyi.

If she can make it into the top three with me, she’ll have exclusive rights to all my chewing gum.”

Ning Jiu was speechless.

“You’re not allowed to chew gum during training.”

Gu Xiaoxi chuckled.

“I’ll chew it when I’m sleeping!”

Ning Jiu covered his face and quietly squatted in the corner.

He was truly convinced!

Taking first place with Song Jingyi was Gu Xiaoxi’s goal!

Thus, a group of people, all pushing their endurance, began a tug-of-war.

Ning Jiu was really sweating it for Song Jingyi!

Two hours later, as the sun gradually set, painting the earth a crimson hue, at the finish line, Quan Shaoqing sat watching his watch the whole time.

He frowned, his voice cool, “According to her slowest speed of thirty kilometers in an hour and a half, even crawling like ants, she should have arrived by now!”

“Superior officer, there’s someone coming up ahead.

Look!” Lin Mi immediately handed over the binoculars to Quan Shaoqing.

Quan Shaoqing took them and saw that the woman at the front, carrying her rucksack, was clearly not Gu Xiaoxi.

He looked and looked, and confirmed it again and again.

Finally, his expression darkened, “What is that girl up to now?”

Lin Mi thought for a moment, took the communicator, and asked the platoon leader to report the situation.

When Ning Jiu made the report, his voice was somewhat stiff, “Report.

Gu Xiaoxi has twisted her ankle.

She’ll reach the finish line soon.”

Sure enough, as soon as Ning Jiu’s words ended, Quan Shaoqing’s binoculars saw Gu Xiaoxi, limping towards them, using a tree branch for support.

Song Jingyi was assisting her, already so exhausted she could barely breathe.

Next to them were two male soldiers, also persisting in moving forward.

At this moment, they couldn’t even lift their feet, let alone run.

However, the atmosphere among these four people was filled with tension.

Just earlier, Gu Xiaoxi had been assisting Song Jingyi, and everyone’s pace had been similar, neck and neck.

As she supported Song Jingyi and kept running, a male soldier sitting by the side of the road suddenly stretched out his leg.

While it didn’t cause Gu Xiaoxi to fall, it did catch her off guard, causing her to twist her ankle.

Afterward, the male soldier sincerely apologized, claiming it wasn’t intentional.

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t say much, just gave the man a cold glance.

Afterwards, Gu Xiaoxi’s ankle swelled on the spot, but she still insisted on completing the race with her load.

However, the injury worsened, and later she had to find a tree branch to prop herself up to barely make it this far.

The male soldier, Chen Xuan, was very nervous.

He had heard that Gu Xiaoxi was quite cocky and thought she would retaliate or beat him up, as she certainly had the ability and skills to do so.

But she didn’t.

She acted as if nothing had happened, not even sparing him a glance.

Seeing that Zhang Jingyue was about to rush to the finish line, he felt that his mission was accomplished.

For his Goddess to take first place, he had resorted to unfair tactics.

He felt sorry for Gu Xiaoxi.

Now, with Gu Xiaoxi and Song Jingyi falling behind, as long as he made a successful sprint, he could take second place.

Suddenly feeling a chill down his spine, Chen Xuan looked back and met Gu Xiaoxi’s eyes head-on.

The former’s heart skipped a beat, feeling guilty as if he had done something wrong, and turned his head away.

Then he heard Gu Xiaoxi’s voice, “Chen Xuan, right?”

“Yes, I’m sorry!” Chen Xuan quickly apologized, seeming very sincere on the surface.

“Sorry?” Gu Xiaoxi sneered, “We’ll talk after the training ends.”

Gu Xiaoxi narrowed her eyes fiercely, her aura instantly becoming extremely dangerous.

Since Zhang Jingyue wanted first place so badly, she was determined not to let her have it.

Because first place had always been hers.

“Xiao Xi, what do we do, we’re going to be left behind.” Song Jingyi saw that they had persisted to the end only to be overtaken by others and cursed Chen Xuan in her heart a thousand times over.

Gu Xiaoxi steadied herself and pushed away Song Jingyi’s helping hand, “Starting now, you run to the finish line with all your might.

Let me tell you, if you don’t make it into the top three, don’t even acknowledge knowing me if you see me later.”

Damn!

“Gu Xiaoxi, what do you think you’re doing at a time like this?” Song Jingyi felt the rucksack on her back was heavier than a mountain.

Gu Xiaoxi smiled coldly, “I want first place!

Song Jingyi, we don’t have much time.

Remember what I said.”

Song Jingyi looked at Gu Xiaoxi’s stern face, her black eyes shining like the moon, resolute.

Those determined eyes, without a doubt, were like those of a supreme ruler, majestic and overbearing without anger.

Her usual jocular and mischievous demeanor was gone, replaced by an awe-inspiring authority that made people want to bow down in submission.

With gritted teeth, Song Jingyi ran desperately forward, disregarding Gu Xiaoxi.

Her words were so serious; if she didn’t make the top three, they wouldn’t even be friends anymore.

Even though Gu Xiaoxi had always been somewhat sarcastic towards her, Song Jingyi still wanted to be her friend.

Perhaps it started when she gave a ten-million check to the orphanage.

She felt that standing by her side was an honor, surpassing even the glory of a soldier.

Ning Jiu covered his face with his hand, thinking it was over.

Forget about first place, Gu Xiaoxi certainly wouldn’t make it into the top three.

Her ankle had swollen as thick as an arm; how could she run?

She could hardly walk!

Meanwhile, Shao Changfeng stared at Gu Xiaoxi, observing her intently.

Gu Xiaoxi took off her rucksack, looked up in the direction of Quan Shaoqing, smiled slightly, twirled the pack in her hands, and when it began to whoosh loudly, she suddenly threw it with all her might.

The forty-pound pack, driven by the force of the swing and inertia, traced an arc through the air, landing firmly at Quan Shaoqing’s feet.