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“Gu Xiaoxi, wait up!”

Upon hearing someone calling her, Gu Xiaoxi turned her head back and saw the sunny-faced Ye Qiran running toward her.

“Who are you?” Gu Xiaoxi curiously asked.

“Let me introduce myself first, I am your squad leader,” Ye Qiran said with a smile.

Gu Xiaoxi raised an eyebrow, easily inferring from his smile that he was a generous, lively, and warmly cheerful person.

She saluted him, “Hello, squad leader!”

“You’re on your way to help in the cafeteria, right?

It so happens that I’m also going,” Ye Qiran said with a smile.

Just at that moment, Ye Qiran spotted Zhang Jingyue.

He immediately greeted her with a beaming smile, “Zhang Jingyue, we’ve met before.”

Gu Xiaoxi touched her nose and glanced sideways at the two of them, straightened her back, and quickly walked towards the cafeteria.

She overheard the conversation between Zhang Jingyue and Ye Qiran.

“Have we met before?”

“Of course, I saw you at the national banquet last time!” Ye Qiran replied with a grin.

Zhang Jingyue gave him a glance, her gaze indifferent, seemingly somewhat incredulous.

“That day I was outside the state banquet, and at the end, I saw you and your father!” Ye Qiran said, slightly embarrassed.

Feeling the somewhat cold gaze from Zhang Jingyue, his smile froze on his face.

His intention was just to say hello, but the moment the words came out, the atmosphere took an awkward turn.

Why did it seem like he was trying to ingratiate himself with her?

But that wasn’t his intention at all!

Ye Qiran scratched his head, feeling embarrassed.

He looked up to see Gu Xiaoxi had walked further away, and hastily said to Zhang Jingyue, “In the future, I’ll be your squad leader, so feel free to come to me if you need anything!

It’s getting late now, we should hurry to the cafeteria to help.”

With that, Ye Qiran ran to catch up with Gu Xiaoxi.

At the cafeteria entrance.

Gu Xiaoxi saw that inside there were already three or four people busy arranging dishes and setting plates.

Upon seeing Gu Xiaoxi come in, they didn’t hesitate to put her to work.

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t see the head of the chef squad, but helping out in the morning allowed her to get acquainted with many of the veteran soldiers.

Everyone was straightforward, and by the time breakfast came, the kitchen work was nearly done.

At the time for meal distribution, all the new recruits were already up.

Following the awkward moment in front of Zhang Jingyue, Ye Qiran would no longer bring up the matter of knowing Zhang Jingyue in the past.

After all, being scorned by a woman would wound any man’s pride.

In the morning under the national flag, they took their oath.

Thirty-six new recruits, each standing straight as an arrow.

With the red flag fluttering and their military uniforms on, they exuded an iron-willed and heroic demeanor, their voices thundering.

“I swear, today I officially become a member of the Reconnaissance Company, I will discipline myself strictly, remain steadfast in patriotism, and foster solidarity and brotherhood…”

The long oath was read out.

Over the entire training field, their loud voices resonated, creating a majestic atmosphere that was exhilarating.

Facing the dawn, their solemn faces shone bright, casting their silhouettes like towering mountains, awe-inspiring and resolute.

Chen Zhigang stood before everyone, his expression stern as he spoke loudly, “Now that you’re here, you must remember your oath.

Unity and brotherhood, for the country and the people.

I don’t care what you were like before, but from this moment on, anyone who forgets their oath or violates military regulations will not be forgiven.

Zhao Yi, step forward!”

Zhao Yi, who was in the ranks, ran forward.

Chen Zhigang swept him with a cold glance, “Considering your first day’s performance, I am giving you a demerit, write a self-criticism report of five thousand words to be read in front of the collective.”

Zhao Yi immediately saluted, “Yes, sir!” This punishment was much better than being sent back to the new recruit company.

As he returned to the ranks, he glanced at Zhang Jingyue, grateful that she had found someone to speak for him!

And when he looked at Gu Xiaoxi, a hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes.

Gu Xiaoxi suddenly felt a chill on her neck as if she was being stared at by a venomous tongue.

She turned her head to look, and Zhao Yi was already coolly back in formation.

It was unexpected for her!

Zhao Yi had actually stayed.

After the oath-taking ceremony, the company commander gave everyone three minutes to return to their dorms and change back into training attire.

Amidst the urgency of the whistles, everyone sprang into action.

Gu Xiaoxi, whose speed was always swift, was closely followed by Qin Chu and Song Jingyi.

However, at the last roll call, Li Chun turned out to be the slowest among the women soldiers.

Chen Zhigang looked at the time and his tone became stern as he rebuked, “I said three minutes, and it took you a whole six minutes to assemble.”

Then, there were those who muttered their grievances.

“Report, not everyone took six minutes.

I only took three minutes!” said a physically fit male soldier.

Chen Zhigang, with his hands on his hips, raised an eyebrow and scoffed, “Is that so?

When you’re out on a mission, do you need to wait for your comrades to join you?”

His question left everyone speechless.

Li Chun apologetically looked at Gu Xiaoxi, his eyes instinctively welling up with tears.

Without any hesitation, Chen Zhigang pointed at Li Chun, “That soldier!

You were the last one.

Everyone from your dormitory, step forward!

Each of you do fifty push-ups!”

Gu Xiaoxi, Song Jingyi, and Qin Chu stepped forward.

The four of them lined up.

Li Chun, feeling ashamed and at a loss, immediately tried to explain, “Report, this is my fault.

I alone should be punished!”

“You are comrades-in-arms.

Because of your delay, the mission couldn’t be completed.

Your group is a failure.

Do you think you’re so noble?

Idiot!

Prepare for push-ups!”

Chen Zhigang’s voice boomed.

The word “idiot” caused everyone’s faces to change color.

Li Chun bit his lip, tears in his eyes, as if he was about to cry.

Chen Zhigang, as if he hadn’t seen it, grew even colder.

Gu Xiaoxi turned her head and glared at Li Chun, who immediately fought back the tears in his eyes.

Gu Xiaoxi was the first to lead everyone in getting ready for push-ups.

This time, it was because she had always been used to going it alone, accustomed to others keeping pace with her, that she completely forgot about the slowest among them, Li Chun.

Li Chun, suppressing his feelings of injustice, began doing push-ups alongside Gu Xiaoxi!

The rest didn’t escape punishment either, each of them doing thirty push-ups.

After the first round of punishment.

They began a new training exercise.

Climbing the hook ladder, three hundred times in two hours was a familiar drill for the recruits, but even so, three hundred times in one hour was challenging for everyone; by the end, it had taken two and a half hours to complete.

Especially some female soldiers, who took nearly three hours.

When Chen Zhigang saw this, he shook his head and couldn’t help but sigh, “This batch, the disparity in strength is enormous!”

Shao Changfeng smiled, “It’s the same every year.

Not everyone here got in on their strength alone.”

“…” Chen Zhigang had to admit, Shao Changfeng was right.

He looked interestedly towards Gu Xiaoxi, who wasn’t too far away.

She was cheering on Li Chun, who was trailing behind.

“This girl’s physical capabilities are somewhat freakish.

No wonder she’s called the little freak.

I’m actually curious about what her limit is!”

Shao Changfeng’s eyes deepened, “You won’t find out easily, she’s more freakish than you can imagine.”

Chen Zhigang was intrigued, his eyebrows raised as he looked into Shao Changfeng’s eyes, “You know her so well?”

Seeing the playful look in Chen Zhigang’s eyes, Shao Changfeng touched his forehead, speechless, “You’re overthinking it!”

He couldn’t fathom why everybody thought he had special feelings for Gu Xiaoxi, as if he fancied her!

Chen Zhigang smiled meaningfully.

**

Command center.

Quan Shaoqing had just finished a meeting early in the morning.

And left his office.

At that time, Lin Mi also came back from buying groceries, her hands carrying five or six plump crabs and a large lobster.

At the doorstep of Quan Shaoqing’s apartment.

Lin Mi handed him a big bag of groceries.

Curiously peering into his place, she thought he had guests over.

“Superior officer, do you have someone over?

Why buy so much food?”

Quan Shaoqing took the groceries and gestured for Lin Mi to come in, “Perfect timing, if you’re free this morning, come in and help me out.”

“Sure thing!” Lin Mi cheerfully entered.

She didn’t see anyone inside.

“Stop looking.” Quan Shaoqing’s cool gaze held a touch of helplessness, “Our family member, that boyfriend of hers, broke up.

She called me in the middle of the night, asking for crabs!”

Lin Mi suddenly understood and looked at Quan Shaoqing with a smirk, “I told you so!

You shouldn’t meddle.

It’s normal for a girl to be in a relationship.

She’s already an adult, and Yi Chentian isn’t bad at all!

He comes from a good family, looks attractive, and he can cook well.”

At that, a spark flared in Quan Shaoqing’s eyes, “So you’re saying, I can’t cook well?”

Lin Mi touched his nose, puzzled by Quan Shaoqing’s temper, “You’re a guardian.

Your care for her is that of family.

Can that compare to a boyfriend?”

“So you’re saying, I can’t be a boyfriend?” Quan Shaoqing’s face darkened as he glared at Lin Mi, as if he could bore a hole through him.

Lin Mi coughed, he was just making conversation!

He hadn’t anticipated Quan Shaoqing being so straightforward.

“Superior officer, I advise you to give it some thought.

I don’t think you’re suited to be Gu Xiaoxi’s boyfriend,” Lin Mi spoke frankly.

If Quan Shaoqing fell for Gu Xiaoxi, it definitely wouldn’t be a good thing.