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Lin Mi was a clever person and naturally wouldn’t speak recklessly, so she smiled, turned around, walked over to Quan Shaoqing’s side, opened the car door, and respectfully said, "Superior officer, there’s nothing."

Quan Shaoqing frowned slightly, feeling sure that there was something.

But since Lin Mi said there was nothing, he believed her.

Because, in his heart,

Lin Mi would not deceive him.

Quan Shaoqing got into the car, and Lin Mi hurriedly took the passenger seat.

Before driving away, he glanced at the dense tree canopy.

He too felt it was a pity, a good marriage had just dissolved like that...

After Quan Shaoqing left, Gu Xiaoxi climbed up to the tree canopy, a hint of a smile appeared on her lips.

It was wonderful! Seeing him doing well made her happy too.

Yun Xiao, however, shook his head, looking at Gu Xiaoxi’s retreating figure, his face full of helplessness.

...

The next morning, everyone had their notebooks ready and found a seat in the classroom.

Gu Xiaoxi and Yun Xiao chose seats in the last row, and she intentionally avoided Quan Shaoqing, naturally ensuring he did not notice her.

When class started, Quan Shaoqing entered the lecture hall with an expressionless face.

Everyone sitting below stood up and gave a military salute.

Quan Shaoqing returned the salute to everyone, then everyone sat down and listened attentively to the lecture.

Gu Xiaoxi kept her head down, listening to Quan Shaoqing’s cold voice emanate.

"You are the core fighters of my Z division.

With every battle, I expect you to complete the mission and all return safely.

Therefore, we need to take tactical classes.

Tactics include the basic principles of combat as well as deployment, coordination, command, actions, support, logistics, and technical backup.

.." Quan Shaoqing’s knowledge was very rich.

And with his straightforward personality and no beating around the bush, his lectures were very direct.

Especially since he had a wealth of combat experience.

Every sentence he uttered was compelling and convincing.

Gu Xiaoxi leaned on her desk, finding the topics interesting as well.

Halfway through the morning class, Quan Shaoqing stopped lecturing on professional knowledge and gave everyone the opportunity to exchange and share various combat cases.

So that everyone could better understand the application and practice of tactics.

Yun Xiao had to admit he was impressed with Gu Xiaoxi, she had maintained her position all morning in a way that crossed lines of sight with Quan Shaoqing, meaning,

Quan Shaoqing, standing at the lectern and seeing everyone, was the only one who didn’t see her.

"Now I will start roll call for questioning!" Quan Shaoqing said.

Lin Mi was already standing by the door, and of course, he intentionally left out Gu Xiaoxi’s name, so Quan Shaoqing naturally didn’t call on her.

After questioning many others, Quan Shaoqing noticed a problem.

Among the two female soldiers at the back, one of them was someone he recognized and found familiar.

That person was, of course, Yun Xiao.

As for the female soldier beside Yun Xiao, he tried shifting positions to get a glimpse of her face.

But each time, the other party cunningly turned away or bowed her head.

This caught his attention.

And after calling on all the female soldiers without calling on the one he had noticed,

"The female soldier in the middle of the eighth row, stand up and answer my question!" Quan Shaoqing demanded from the lectern with a cold face.

Gu Xiaoxi supported her cheek with one hand, still daydreaming.

A tall male soldier sitting in front of her just happened to block her face from Quan Shaoqing’s direct view.

"Xiao Xi, he’s calling you!" Yun Xiao initially didn’t realize, but when everyone turned to look in their direction, she quickly nudged Gu Xiaoxi with her elbow.

Gu Xiaoxi jumped in shock and instinctively stood up quickly, "Here!"

The lecture hall instantly became as quiet as a silent sparrow.

Gu Xiaoxi glanced around awkwardly, lifted her head, and met Quan Shaoqing’s gaze directly.

Clearly, Quan Shaoqing was also taken aback for a moment.

He hadn’t expected to encounter Gu Xiaoxi here.

The woman who had demanded a billion yuan from him as a separation fee.

"It’s you?" Quan Shaoqing’s tone suddenly became more serious, a trace of disgust flashing in his eyes.

Gu Xiaoxi, however, raised a smile and said, "That’s right! It’s me, superior officer, you have a really good memory. You still remember me, feel free to ask anything! I know everything."

"You sure have a big mouth!" Quan Shaoqing huffed coldly, choosing not to bring up their relationship in such a place.

Instinctively, he felt the need to protect this relationship, not wanting outsiders to know about it.

Gu Xiaoxi smiled without saying a word.

Quan Shaoqing began to question, "Tell me, what is a tactic?"

Gu Xiaoxi scratched her head, squeezing out an awkward smile, "I-I-I-I..."

She ’I’d for a long time without giving an answer.

Involuntarily, Quan Shaoqing’s face grew even colder.

"Tactics are of two kinds, what are they?" Quan Shaoqing asked again.

This time, Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t even muster a smile. Standing there, she showed a face full of helplessness and nervousness.

Yun Xiao was speechless. She had written the answer on paper, and Gu Xiaoxi clearly saw it, so why didn’t she answer?

"Were you even listening to me just now?" Quan Shaoqing slammed his palm on the table.

The sound startled everyone present.

Gu Xiaoxi, standing at the back, hung her head in silence.

At that moment, everyone looked at her with eyes full of sympathy.

Only some were genuinely worried for her.

"If you can’t listen, then don’t. Go outside and run laps for me, keep running until the sun sets in the afternoon," Quan Shaoqing said expressionlessly.

"Remember, every word I am saying right now is very important. On the battlefield, you have to reduce sacrifices and win victories with wisdom amid the flames of war. Don’t be a soldier with a simple mind and well-developed limbs. "

Gu Xiaoxi left the classroom through the back door of the lecture hall.

Quan Shaoqing’s voice also grew more distant from her.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know the answers to those questions, it was that she didn’t see the need to stand out in front of him.

If he loathed her, might as well let him loathe her a little more.

That way, in his eyes, she would be a person who was not welcomed.

The more he disliked her, the longer she could stay by his side.

If he started to like her even a little, she might really have to disappear completely from his life.

Gu Xiaoxi, facing the sun, ran laps on the track at a steady pace.

Gradually, sweat seeped from her forehead. Lin Mi stood at the door of the lecture hall, watching her figure, utterly speechless.

The things Quan Shaoqing was teaching, Gu Xiaoxi had already learned a long time ago.

Knowing the answers yet choosing not to speak them, wasn’t this simply masochism?

He couldn’t understand Gu Xiaoxi’s intentions, but seeing her being punished like this made him feel somewhat guilty.

If this had been in the past, Quan Shaoqing would never have had the heart to punish her.

"What are you staring at so intently?" Quan Shaoqing’s voice suddenly came from behind Lin Mi.

Lin Mi spun around and hurriedly shook his head at Quan Shaoqing, "I wasn’t looking at anything. Superior officer, isn’t the punishment for Gu Xiaoxi a bit too severe? She’s the only girl, and you’re singling her out for punishment. It’s humiliating for her within the team."

"I gave her a chance, yet she doesn’t know to cherish it. Since she’s my soldier, I won’t fuss over that billion breakup fee. But not paying attention in class means a senseless death on the battlefield," Quan Shaoqing huffed.

Lin Mi scratched his head. Quan Shaoqing wasn’t wrong. A soldier who doesn’t pay attention during training indeed deserves punishment, but Gu Xiaoxi was being too stubborn. Knowing the answers, why wouldn’t she respond?

"Lin Mi, there’s something I want to ask you. Why haven’t I ever seen her name on the list of candidates for the special forces?" Quan Shaoqing demanded angrily.

Upon hearing this, Lin Mi knew he was in for reprimand and quickly explained, "Her physical fitness scores are among the best in the special units. I left her off the list to protect her safety. You know they are about to be dispatched on a mission. It’s necessary to keep everyone’s identity confidential. "

"Confidential? Do you need to keep it confidential from me?"

"Superior officer, you’re overthinking it, the secretary department must have made a mistake," Lin Mi hurriedly clarified.

"Hmph! What do you mean by always sticking up for her?" Quan Shaoqing’s demeanor became increasingly frosty.

Lin Mi touched his forehead, knowing that you can’t hide the truth forever, but hoping to keep it hidden as long as possible.

"Superior officer, I’m sorry, I was wrong. Actually, I’m kind of fond of her," Lin Mi immediately cupped his hands around his ears, smiling an uglier smile than a cry.

Quan Shaoqing’s face turned a livid shade of blue, "Go on then, tell me what there is to admire about her?"

At that moment, Quan Shaoqing raised his head to look toward the big parade ground. The female soldier’s footsteps were sturdy and rhythmic, her sweat poured down yet her breath remained steady; it was quite obvious at a glance.

Her physical base was very strong.

Lin Mi immediately beamed, "She is smart and intelligent, has been in many wars, and performed outstandingly."

"How come I didn’t know this?" Quan Shaoqing raised an eyebrow.

"These matters are all handled by me. You’re so busy..." Lin Mi felt that truly deceiving Quan Shaoqing was incredibly difficult. Especially, the more he explained, the more entangled the matters became.

Therefore, not daring to say more, he immediately grinned, "It’s time to eat. I’ll go get your food."

With that, he didn’t wait for Quan Shaoqing’s cold response and ran off like a puff of smoke.