Chapter 131-140

Chapter 131: Qingjiu, Go For It!


Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios


She had to return to the military camp on Sunday.


Knowing that Gu Qingjiu would leave in the afternoon, Qi Yuefeng dragged her son to help pick out clothes for Gu Qingjiu.


Gu Hong had matters to attend to at the company, so he couldn't accompany his family.


Gu Qingmo was reluctant at first. Like most men, he didn't fancy shopping, much less shopping with women.


Coincidentally, Gu Qingjiu didn't like shopping either.


She didn't fear training, but shopping for clothes from shop to shop was a form of torment for her.


While other girls were delighted with the choices before them, Gu Qingjiu didn't at all feel the same way.


Hence, the two of them were the type to get it over and done with as fast as possible.


When Qi Yuefeng picked out a piece of clothing, the two of them would nod their heads vigorously beside her. "It looks nice, Mom. Let's just buy this, there's no need to look at others!"


When she picked up another piece, they said the same thing. "It looks nice."


How could Qi Yuefeng not tell they were being perfunctory?


But there wasn't anything she could do about that.


The good thing was that after Gu Qingjiu slimmed down, it was much easier for her to buy clothes, and most ordinary designs looked particularly nice on her.


This was because she was pretty and had exquisite features, and even without makeup on her face, it was so fair that it glowed.


When she was trying on clothes, other girls looked at her with envy.


Within an hour, they had picked out several sets of clothes.


Because Gu Qingjiu had to buy new sizes for all her clothes because those at home no longer fitted her, they naturally had to buy more at one go.


With bags of clothing in hand, Qi Yuefeng and the group found a cafe in the mall and sat down for a drink.


Going through the items bought, Qi Yuefeng said, "Qingjiu, Mom bought you these for the time being. You can wear them in rotation at the army. If you don't wish to wash your clothes, you can send them back every weekend, Mom will wash them for you."


"Mom, I'm not so delicate. There's a washing machine in the military, I can just use that."


Every dormitory had their own allotments. If it wasn't for the fact that the usual training was really tough, the living conditions in the dormitory were actually better than many communal living places.


"Seems like the living conditions in the military are not too bad." Gu Qingmo found it surprising.


Gu Qingmo had seen many news articles and reports that the living conditions were tough in the military, but hearing Gu Qingjiu clarify otherwise naturally surprised him.


Gu Qingjiu smiled and was about to speak when her phone rang.


She looked and much to her surprise; it was Commander Huo.


The last time the Chief Instructor asked her to call Commander Huo, considering that Commander Huo's identity was special, she saved his number in her phone. But she hadn't expected to receive a call from him.


Gu Qingjiu stood up instantly and went to a secluded spot to answer the call.


At the back, seeing Gu Qingjiu go away to answer her phone, Qi Yuefeng and Gu Qingmo began murmuring between themselves.


"Hello, Commander Huo?"


"Eh, Qingjiu?"


Huo Yingcheng sounded even more shocked than Gu Qingjiu.


Gu Qingjiu paused. "You called the wrong number?"


"Not really. I saw that this number looked unfamiliar, so I called. Lately, several commanders called me, but I didn't save their numbers, so I got them mixed up."


Gu Qingjiu was speechless.


"Heh, heh. I will save your number for later. Right. I wanted to ask, did the Chief Instructor look for you to help him buy some things?"


Gu Qingjiu felt surprised to hear Huo Yingcheng only mentioning this now. "Weren't you the one who said it? The Chief Instructor asked me to replace you. It turned out that when you hung out with the Chief Instructor all the time, you had to double as his nanny?"


When Gu Qingjiu spoke with Huo Yingcheng, she didn't feel the same way as when she was talking with He Niancheng. Her tone was relaxed and happy.


Huo Yingcheng ignored her teasing and instead inhaled a breath of cold air. "He really went to look for you?"


Just as Gu Qingjiu replied with a hum, his tone suddenly became lewd. "Qingjiu, go for it!" 'Beep beep... beep beep...'


He hung up the phone.


Gu Qingjiu was speechless.


Go for what?


Chapter 132: Do You Need Us to Help You?


Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios


Huo Yingcheng's words, which Gu Qingjiu couldn't make heads or tails of, made her baffled.


She returned to her seat to see her mother and her older brother murmuring between themselves.


Once Gu Qingjiu reached the table, the two of them stopped murmuring.


Gu Qingjiu felt awkward all of a sudden.


"Mom, what are you two talking about?"


It was clear they were talking about her.


"Nothing." Qi Yuefeng shook her head, a slight smile on her face. "But Qingjiu, Mom feels that you ought to be careful now that you entered the military. You're only eighteen."


Immediately, Gu Qingjiu knew that it was the nosy Gu Qingmo who had said something.


Gu Qingjiu rolled her eyes. "Mom, don't listen to Brother's nonsense. He knows nothing at all. I don't even know any boys at the military..."


Right after those words came out of her mouth, she felt what she said wasn't quite right.


Actually, Commander Huo, Chief Instructor, and Doctor Nan should be considered people she knew?


But they were already men, so her words were still technically correct!


"Pff, Mom don't listen to her lies. When I went to look for you in the troops last time, there was this commander or something that defended her!"


Gu Qingmo reached out to strangle Gu Qingmo. She was glaring at him, thinking that he only knew how to make up things and create havoc.


Seeing Gu Qingjiu's reaction, Qi Yuefeng laughed out loud. "Qingjiu, Mom won't interfere in your matters. I believe you're able to distinguish things for yourself. If you really find someone you like, it's okay to date. After all, you're no longer a kid."


Gu Qingjiu felt helpless at this teasing. "Mom..."


However, in front of her family, she always felt more relaxed, instead of feeling tensed like she did in the military.


"Haha. Mom, don't you feel that Qingjiu had undergone a big transformation?"


Gu Qingmo suddenly said this while he was laughing.


Qi Yuefeng didn't think too much about it. On the other hand, his words made Gu Qingjiu's heart skip a beat.


"She did change a little. My daughter is prettier than before now, and also more lively. It seems like the training in the troops has some effect."


Qi Yuefeng smiled gently at Gu Qingjiu. Hearing her mother attribute her change to her days in the troops, Gu Qingjiu suddenly felt a mix of emotions in her heart.


Only the smiling Gu Qingmo had a deep glint flash across his eyes as he gazed at his younger sister's weird expression.


After they were done resting in the mall, they found a place to settle for lunch.


Considering the fact that Gu Qingjiu could only return next month, Qi Yuefeng took Gu Qingjiu for a good meal.


After the meal, Gu Qingjiu felt stuffed.


Taking with her the clothes Qi Yuefeng gave her, she went to the bus terminal in the afternoon.


There was a direct bus from the city proper to the military zone, mainly to cater to family members visiting the military.


For those like Gu Qingjiu, so long as they had an identity card, they could go together.


Since it was the last day of the weekend, there weren't many people on the bus. Only a handful of them occupied the seats.


Gu Qingjiu sat on the bus, and with her earphones plugged in, she watched the scenery outside as the bus passed them by.


She felt a sort of fulfillment in such a life.


Just as the bus was about to reach the military zone in Dayi City, it started raining.


The bus stopped outside the military zone since it couldn't go further in. Gu Qingjiu, who was carrying a lot of things with her, couldn't go in straight away. Hence, she called Yu Bao'er to pick her up.


While she was dodging the rain at the bus terminal outside the military zone, a few soldiers suddenly walked over from the distance.


"Younger Sister Qingjiu, are you waiting for someone to pick you up here? Do you need us to help you?"


Chapter 133: Idiot


Gu Qingjiu felt quite disgusted being addressed as 'Young Sister Qingjiu.'


Amidst the fog, a man walked out.


It was the same person who had fetched Gu Qingjiu when Gu Qingmo came to the barracks.


He was Gu Qingmo's classmate.


He smiled and looked at Gu Qingjiu. After saying those words, he stepped forward to help Gu Qingjiu with the bags in her hands.


His friends behind him began to wolf-whistle and teased him about their interactions.


Without a word, Gu Qingjiu avoided him.


"It's fine. I'm waiting for my roommate. I don't want her to make a wasted trip."


The man clearly heard her cold words.


Upon hearing those words, any other normal person would have been able to sense that they were rejected.


Perhaps the man felt embarrassed that his friends were right behind him. He persisted and said, "The rain isn't that heavy now, and you don't even know how long your roommate will take to come here. Let us help you."


Gu Qingjiu finally looked at him. With an adequately gentle tone, she answered, "No, thank you."


At least she still thanked him for his offer.


Having been rejected so directly, the man's face turned sour.


His friends burst out laughing at him.


Surprisingly, he didn't leave.


Instead, he walked over to Gu Qingjiu and a small frown appeared on her face.


The rain wasn't heavy, but the fog was thick. It was as though the Heavens had enveloped everything in a thin veil. She couldn't even make out his expressions that clearly.


"I have yet to tell you my name, right? I am your Older Brother's classmate, Song Wei. You can call me Older Brother Song Wei."


His words sounded as though he was hinting at something else.


Gu Qingjiu merely acknowledged him quietly. "Okay."


It was clear that she was annoyed.


She had always been a straightforward person who didn't conceal her feelings. Naturally, she wouldn't want to give a half-hearted reply.


If this man were more tactful, she would have behaved in a more polite manner.


However, it was apparent that this man wasn't.


Gu Qingjiu's cold responses made this man feel rather awkward. Nevertheless, he continued to ramble incessantly.


His friends laughed even louder, too.


As he continued to speak, Gu Qingjiu didn't say a word in response at all.


Song Wei's expression was glum as he tried to lift the atmosphere of the conversation. "I am your Older Brother's classmate. You don't have to be so cold towards me."


Gu Qingjiu raised her head and looked at him with indifference. Her eyes were filled with coldness.


Shortly after, Gu Qingjiu saw Yu Bao'er amidst the fog.


She lifted her hand and waved. "Bao'er!"


Upon seeing her, Yu Bao'er held a pink umbrella and ran over.


"Wow, the weather is so cold. If you didn't call me, I would still be bundled up in my blanket."


Yu Bao'er scurried over and shook the rain off her body. When she saw Song Wei there, she felt rather surprised.


However, she didn't greet him either. Picking up Gu Qingjiu's things, the two of them left.


Being completely disregarded, Song Wei's expression grew glum.


After they had left, his friends came up to him and teased. "Song Wei, that was a horrible attempt! We thought you knew her, but she didn't even acknowledge your presence!"


Song Wei shrugged off his friend's hand on his shoulder and scoffed coldly, "Why is she even pretending to be so aloof?"


"If I heard those words, I wouldn't talk to you either. If this is how you're going to pick up girls, you should just stop. You're too shameless and persistent. Right from the start, she didn't want to talk to you. You shouldn't have continued to force her."


Not everyone was idiotic as Song Wei. Some of them still had common sense and knew better.


Having trained in the military for a long time, their mindsets also became more mature.


Seeing how dejected Song Wei looked, his friends left him with arms around each other's shoulders.


Chapter 134: Wooing Her


Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios


When Gu Qingjiu returned to her dormitory, Feng Meiyun and Jiang Yu were both around.


Nowadays, Gu Qingjiu had already grown used to ignoring the two of them.


Placing her things on the bed, she took out the clothes one by one and folded them.


As Yu Bao'er observed her, she felt a little surprised.


"Did you go back just to buy these items? They look pretty. I'm sure you'll look good in them."


Hearing Yu Bao'er's compliments, Gu Qingjiu flashed a faint smile.


Suddenly, Yu Bao'er added in a hushed voice, "How did you get special permission to return to Dayi City?"


According to the rules for new recruits, they were allowed to return to Dayi City. However, they had to specify their reasons for doing so. It could be because of urgent matters like a family member passed away or fell ill.


Otherwise, they would never be granted permission to go back.


Usually, the new recruits could only go to Mountain Village to let loose.


Hence, Yu Bao'er was curious about how Gu Qingjiu managed to do it.


Gu Qingjiu smiled faintly, and she whispered, "Have you forgotten that I went there with the Chief Instructor yesterday? He agreed to it."


Yu Bao'er's eyes widened immediately as they glinted. Pointing at Gu Qingjiu, she giggled at her jokingly.


She then raised her head and said, "I will not compare myself to you."


Gu Qingjiu smiled in response and tidied her things before placing them in her closet.


Besides placing cups and pillows at the head of their beds in the dormitory, they could not have any other items in the barracks.


They allowed not even a single strand of hair.


While they trained in the day, there will be people doing spot checks.


After she had cleaned and tidied everything, it was almost time for dinner.


Yu Bao'er and Gu Qingjiu went to the cafeteria together.


Every weekend, the cafeteria would offer something extra. That day, there was pear boiled in syrup for dessert. Gu Qingjiu thought it should taste pretty delicious.


Yu Bao'er looked at how Gu Qingjiu ate with relish and offered her own share.


Gu Qingjiu was rather shocked. "Why aren't you eating this? It's pretty yummy."


Yu Bao'er shook her head in disapproval and said, "It's too sweet. I don't want to put on weight."


Gu Qingjiu almost burst out laughing. "Why are you still worried about that? We train so much every day and would definitely burn all these calories off!"


Their daily training was tough and this dessert shouldn't even be a cause for concern.


"Moreover, why didn't you say the same thing when you bought the snacks in the village?"


Gu Qingjiu exposed Yu Bao'er.


Yu Bao'er giggled in embarrassment and tugged playfully at Gu Qingjiu. "I'm quite full, and I don't like pears, especially this kind of dessert..."


She had only said those words because she didn't want to eat it and didn't want Qingjiu to feel uncomfortable.


If they didn't finish their food, they would be punished.


Gu Qingjiu looked at Yu Bao'er and helplessly shook her head before eating the extra portion.


It wasn't even a large portion, to begin with, but since Yu Bao'er didn't like it, she wouldn't force her to eat it.


After finishing all the food on their plates, Gu Qingjiu and Yu Bao'er returned the utensils to the designated areas.


Shortly after they left, a few men who had been sitting beside them discussed quietly.


"Those two girls are quite pretty! I will woo the one with the pale skin!"


"That's Gu Qingjiu. I heard that when she joined the military a month ago, she was a chubby girl. After losing weight, she's completely a goddess!"


"Da Qi, you have to put in a lot of effort! That girl belongs to Chen Haoyang's team. You cannot let him find out you're targeting one of his recruits!"


"I have nothing to be afraid of!"


Chapter 135: Am I Very Delicate?


Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios


Gu Qingjiu had no idea that someone was interested in wooing her.


The allergy on Yu Bao'er's wrist had yet to quell, but her friends had taken the medication away from her. So, after dinner, she went to look for Doctor Nan again at the infirmary after they finished their dinner.


They usually couldn't visit Doctor Nan, but since they had time now, Gu Qingjiu packed a huge bag of items from Dayi City to pass to Doctor Nan.


It was preserved peaches made by her own mother and they were delicious.


Since she was a child, Gu Qingjiu never enjoyed eating snacks, but the only thing she enjoyed was the preserved peaches her mother made.


Even her neighbors frequently dropped by their house to ask her mother to make some for them, too. It just shows how delicious the peaches were.


There were only slightly over ten exquisite bottles and Yu Bao'er had already consumed three of them.


Gu Qingjiu packed two bottles and then prepared two other bottles for the Chief Instructor.


If Commander Huo didn't leave, he would have gotten a share too.


But she couldn't help but wonder whether a fussy person like him, who needed new cutlery for each meal, would like the type of food that commoners like her ate.


When they arrived at the infirmary, Nan Yingxuan was eating.


Gu Qingjiu and Yu Bao'er entered the room and greeted. "Doctor Nan."


Seeing the two of them come in, Nan Yingxuan flashed a warm smile. "Why are you here?"


Gu Qingjiu stepped forward and smiled as she answered, "Doctor Nan, Bao'er used up all her medication. We're here for more. Oh, this is for you. My Mom made some preserved peaches, and I brought some for you."


As she spoke, Gu Qingjiu peeked at the food that Nan Yingxuan was eating, only to realize that he was eating the same things they ate in the cafeteria.


She couldn't help but feel respect for Nan Yingxuan.


"Oh?" Nan Yingxuan raised his brows gently. He graciously accepted the bag and stood up to retrieve Yu Bao'er's medication. He added, "Am I the only person receiving this?"


His words sounded as though he was teasing her.


Yu Bao'er popped up from behind, and she quipped, "How can it be? Qingjiu will never forget about the Chief Instructor!"


Gu Qingjiu giggled, and she also explained, "I don't know many people in the military well. Commander Huo and you treat me very well, and since I have some delightful treats, I wanted to offer some to all of you."


"Okay." Nan Yingxuan nodded as he retrieved the medication and noted it in his file. "You wrote Commander He's name for all the orders you placed with him yesterday. He called me and asked me to pick up all the items. Were you startled after seeing the quantities of cutlery and daily items?"


Hearing Nan Yingxuan's words, Gu Qingjiu felt incredulous again. "I wasn't startled, but I just felt that it was unimaginable."


Yu Bao'er was rather confused. "What are you talking about? Qingjiu, I haven't even asked you about what happened yesterday. What did the chief instructor ask you to buy?"


Nan Yingxuan pursed his lips. He pondered for a while before replying. "When he used to live back at his home, Commander He led a rather elite lifestyle. Though he toned down here. To him, this is a rather terrible environment to live in."


It reminded Gu Qingjiu of how He Niancheng had spoken about putting up with what he had now and nodded in agreement. "Yes, I can tell. He seems rather delicate to me..."


If his lifestyle at home had been so lavish, perhaps it was understandable that he behaved like how he did.


Right after finishing her words, Gu Qingjiu heard a cold voice from outside the door.


"Did you say I am very delicate?"


Upon realizing who it was, Gu Qingjiu shuddered.


How did this person appear without a sound each time?


Chapter 136: I Want to Woo Doctor Nan


Why was she always caught red-handed each time she spoke ill about that person?


The atmosphere was extremely tense.


Yu Bao'er found the voice rather familiar and her mind went blank from shock.


She didn't even dare to move an inch and felt that her spine was completely frozen.


On the other hand, Gu Qingjiu wasn't badly affected. At least she still had the guts to turn around to look at He Niancheng.


He still looked as indifferent as usual. He appeared as confident and honorable, and the look in his eyes remained dominant and sharp. Gu Qingjiu felt that he probably wasn't angry.


She heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly corrected herself. "Nothing, Chief Instructor, I said it wrong."


An obedient subordinate would quickly admit to her mistakes.


"What did you say wrong?"


A cold smile appeared on He Niancheng's face. With his long legs, he strode over from the door.


He had an oppressive look in his eyes that even Gu Qingjiu couldn't help but lower her head and decide she'd better stay quiet.


"I think you guys have been having a heated discussion about me here."


His voice was as cold as the winter. Other than sounding icy cold, she couldn't hear and make out any other emotions he had.


"Commander He, we were only talking about you but look at how you've frightened your soldiers."


Nan Yingxuan spoke up to ease the tension in the air. Looking at Gu Qingjiu, he chuckled. "Qingjiu even brought something for you."


Hearing those words, Gu Qingjiu understood that Nan Yingxuan was helping her by diverting his attention. She presented the other oilpaper packaging in her hand to He Niancheng.


"Chief Instructor, this is a snack that my Mom made. They are preserved peaches, and I think they're delicious. I brought some for you to try, so I hope you won't mind."


As she spoke, her voice was stable and didn't sound particularly nervous.


Raising her head, she looked at He Niancheng. Her eyes were clear, and it made her look as though she wouldn't even be bothered if He Niancheng rejected her.


He Niancheng glanced at her and a cold glint flashed across his long and narrow eyes.


He finally looked at the oilpaper packaging in her hands.


Oilpaper packaging was often used to pack certain local food. Although there was a greasy glint to it, it was actually a clean way to package food.


There wasn't anything amiss about the packaging.


He ought to reject her.


He had never eaten food that others offered him, too.


However...


It was as though something had possessed him, He Niancheng accepted the food with a frown on his face.


In contrast to his long, slender, and pale fingers, the oilpaper packaging stood out.


"I will give it a taste later."


As he spoke, Nan Yingxuan felt rather surprised too.


He then felt intrigued.


Never did he expect He Niancheng to really accept her offer.


If He Niancheng wanted to turn someone down, he wouldn't even care about her feelings.


It was apparent from how he had treated his recruits last time.


Yet, He Niancheng accepted it.


As Yu Bao'er looked at the packaging in He Niancheng's hands, she swallowed. If the Chief Instructor were to reject it, she would take it back to enjoy it herself. But it was a pity that the Chief Instructor accepted it!


Shouldn't a macho man like him not like such sweet treats?


Seeing that He Niancheng had accepted her offer, a smile appeared on Gu Qingjiu's face.


After recording the medication properly in his file, Nan Yingxuan passed it to the two ladies. They bade the Chief Instructor and Doctor Nan goodbye and left.


On their way back, Yu Bao'er muttered, "It's weird. The Chief Instructor is often around the infirmary. Is he so close to Doctor Nan already after such a short time?"


The corners of Gu Qingjiu's curled up as she smiled. "You're so silly. With Chief Instructor's personality, do you think he'll get so close to Doctor Nan in a short span of time? It shows that they were already friends."


Chapter 137: New Recruits' Three Months Training Period, It's Over! (2)


Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios


Gu Qingjiu recalled that the first time she came to see Doctor Nan, the Chief Instructor was around that time.


The Chief Instructor hadn't stayed that long in the military zone; hence, it was impossible for them to be such good friends already.


With how close they were, it showed that they already knew each other beforehand.


It wasn't just Doctor Nan, though.


The Chief Instructor, Commander Huo, and Doctor Nan were all good friends.


The three of them shared a close relationship.


However, she could still be wrong...


Gu Qingjiu slowly got lost in the depths of her thoughts, and Yu Bao'er who had noticed this shook her awake.


"Qingjiu, I was asking you a question."


Hearing Yu Bao'er's annoyed voice, Gu Qingjiu replied, "Oh, what were you saying?"


"You! Hmph. I'm not repeating myself."


Yu Bao'er puffed up her cheeks in annoyance, but Gu Qingjiu, on the other hand, rubbed her chin and said, "Did you say something about someone being tall, rich, and handsome?"


"So you did hear me." Yu Bao'er gently patted Gu Qingjiu's shoulder, and she asked, "Qingjiu, how successful do you think I will be if I were to woo Doctor Nan?"


Gu Qingjiu truly didn't want to hurt Yu Bao'er, but after she had pictured her friend together with a handsome man like Nan Yingxuan, she felt that it was odd. But the reason wasn't that they weren't a good match.


Something just felt wrong.


Gu Qingjiu would never tell her what she truly felt. She merely answered, "Truthfully, I wouldn't encourage you to woo him. Since Doctor Nan's been around for long, loads of girls probably like him, too. But then again, we've never heard that any of them succeeded. If you really like him, you should get to know him better first."


She didn't stop Yu Bao'er nor encouraged her to go with her plan.


Yu Bao'er was pleased to hear her friend's reply.


Tilting her head, she contemplated and nodded. "You're right. I should get to know Doctor Nan better first."


It wasn't Yu Bao'er's first time falling in love. However, her past relationships were all casual and nothing serious.


She was used to people pursuing her, but wooing someone by her own accord was a first for her.


Yu Bao'er thought she ought to come up with a good plan.


She initially wanted to seek Gu Qingjiu's advice, but after realizing that the latter had never even had a crush all these years, Yu Bao'er simply gave up.


...


As time passed, besides attending training daily, Yu Bao'er found out more about Nan Yingxuan.


Gu Qingjiu let her have her ways. However, as she constantly stayed by Yu Bao'er's side, she realized that Nan Yingxuan and Su Lingche had completely different personalities.


Nan Yingxuan looked elegant and liked adventurous activities like hiking. If there was nothing much to work on in the military, he would travel around China and enjoy being exposed to different cultures.


On the other hand, Su Lingche enjoyed quietly staying in the same place. While working, he enjoyed being the focus of attention.


When he was dating Gu Qingjiu, she had heard him analyze different complicated issues that she didn't even understand.


In retrospect, their personalities were a mismatch.


And it was because Gu Qingjiu had no idea what he was going through.


However, Yu Shiwei understood everything.


Su Lingche was ambitious and Yu Shiwei knew what he wanted.


The two of them were the real match made in heaven.


A b*tch was indeed a great match for a b*stard.


She hoped they stayed together for a long time.


If Yu Shiwei hadn't been so cruel towards her in the end, she probably wouldn't have such malicious thoughts about them.


As the day when the Yu family looked for her drew closer, Gu Qingjiu's hatred grew more intense, too.


Time trickled by.


The three-month assessment for the recruits was about to begin soon.


Gu Qingjiu's instructor, Chen Haoyang, passed them a form to fill that day.


Chapter 138: New Recruits' Three Months Training Period, It's Over! (2)


"The new recruits' three months' training will end in three days, so we won't take part in the duel competition this month. Next, please fill in this form properly."


Chen Haoyang passed out the said forms so they could fill it up during their lunch break and submit it in the afternoon.


After lunch, Gu Qingjiu and Yu Bao'er returned to the dormitory together before they skimmed through the form.


It was a form concluding the three months' training program, equivalent to a self-evaluation of your own performance during the period.


At the end of it was a blank space for the instructor to sign and write an equivalent grade for the recruit's performance.


The grading system for the self-evaluation was divided into four different grades, A, B, C, and D.


With D being the worst grade.


After skimming through the contents of the form, Gu Qingjiu filled almost everything up with 'A.'


She was clear about her performance so there was no need to downplay herself on purpose.


Whenever people encounter self-evaluations, they would hesitate and give themselves lower grades if they have no confidence in their performance.


It was a common phenomenon.


But for things like 'accomplishing daily training' or 'hitting goals during training', there really was no need for Gu Qingjiu to be humble.


There were twenty questions and Gu Qingjiu filled it up with 17 A's while the remaining three were B's.


But in those three categories, they included a weird question about human relations.


Gu Qingjiu thought for a while before filling in a B, and it was because her human relations were only so-so.


Because of various reasons.


This form may look shameless in the eyes of others, but Gu Qingjiu filled it in based on her actual situation.


After she was done, she saw Yu Bao'er at the side cupping her cheeks with a troubled look on her face. She was pondering over how she should fill-up the form.


"You don't know how to fill this up?"


Gu Qingjiu still asked the obvious, but she understood why Yu Bao'er didn't know how to.


Yu Bao'er was probably Chen Haoyang's problematic student, and her usual performance was barely passable in Chen Haoyang's eyes. And since this evaluation involved the instructor's opinion, it was troubling for her.


"That's not entirely the problem..."


Yu Bao'er had chewed on the back of the pen as she frowned deeply before suddenly saying something shocking.


"Qingjiu, I don't really want to join the army..."


That statement startled Gu Qingjiu.


"You don't want to? Why?"


Yu Bao'er had never mentioned this to her.


And so far, Gu Qingjiu had never seen Yu Bao'er showing any protests against joining the army.


"I..." Yu Bao'er hesitated before continuing, "The reason I joined the army was that my Older brother wanted me to. Personally, I wasn't very inclined to it. It has been long, and I really treat you as my friend, but in the future, there's no guarantee that we will be at the same place in the army. If they separated us, there wouldn't even be a single merit for me to stay in the military. Furthermore, I don't want to stay here. Sometimes the days here are just too boring."


Not everyone could get used to life in the army.


This was also the reason there was a three-month test period for the new recruits' training camp.


So that people like Yu Bao'er would have time to rethink.


Gu Qingjiu was a little sad hearing this.


She didn't wish to force Yu Bao'er into a decision, so she only asked, "But didn't you mention that your Older brother would help you enter the advanced training camp?"


"I can't enter it anymore..."


Yu Bao'er lowered her head, looking upset. "Because of the fight I got into the other time, my Older brother had to reassure the leader. My results are not good enough to get in, too. Because of that, my Older brother stopped mentioning about getting me into the advanced training camp."


Chapter 139: New Recruits' Three Months Training Period, It's Over! (3)


Gu Qingjiu froze.


She didn't know what she should say next.


She thought the incident from before had peacefully tided over, but she didn't expect it to be intrinsically linked in such a manner.


Because she couldn't enter the advanced training camp, Yu Bao'er had no interest in the basic training.


She was the kind of person who right from the start did not enjoy this type of training method.


Silence engulfed the two of them.


At that moment, Feng Meiyun and Jiang Yu entered the room.


Because of their conversation, Gu Qingjiu recalled that it was Feng Meiyun who had entirely enticed their previous fight.


She received the same punishment as Yu Bao'er, and she had yet to be kicked out of the military camp.


Against these kinds of trouble instigators, Gu Qingjiu could feel her disgust and hatred surging.


The glare she sent to Feng Meiyun was deadly cold.


Cold like a deep ravine, capable of causing hairs to stand.


When Feng Meiyun met Gu Qingjiu's glare, she recalled her viciousness when she strangled her last time. She shuddered and lowered her head immediately, not daring to look at Gu Qingjiu.


When Jiang Yu, who was standing behind, saw Gu Qingjiu's glare, it startled her as well.


She had no idea when Feng Meiyun had angered Gu Qingjiu.


They've significantly toned down for this period of time, so logically speaking, there should not have been any chance for any conflicts to arise.


But Jiang Yu was smarter than Feng Meiyun. She thought more into it and realized that the test period was nearing. Could her hatred be related to that?


She still couldn't guess exactly what her glare was for, though.


Gu Qingjiu's glare only lasted for a few seconds before she retracted the daggers in her glare once again.


She held Yu Bao'er's hand. "It's okay. I will support you no matter what you chose."


Other than this, there was nothing else she could say.


She wished for someone to accompany her, but she couldn't be so selfish as to ignore Yu Bao'er's feelings.


Yu Bao'er nodded before she filled in the blanks on the form. At the bottom of the form where it asked if one was interested to continue in the army, she wrote 'No.'


In the afternoon, the training continued.


Chen Haoyang collected all the forms. After instructing the recruits to self-revise after they were done with the training, he returned to the office.


He carried the stack of forms, but upon reaching the entrance of his office, he heard a cold voice inquire from behind him. "Chen Haoyang of the Third Company's Ninth Squad?"


It startled Chen Haoyang, and he slowly turned around only to find out it was He Niancheng.


The man's slender and tall figure was clad in his uniform and his posture was straight like a cypress tree.


His aura was like those of the ice ages—so cold yet elegant, like those of the royal family.


And since he was in his uniform, it felt as if a god had descended.


Chen Haoyang's heart trembled. He then consciously straightened his posture to greet respectfully. "I am! Good afternoon, Commander He!"


Although He Niancheng held the title of 'Chief Instructor,' he didn't show up frequently like how other instructors like Chen Haoyang do. They seldom saw him.


Suddenly hearing He Niancheng take the initiative to call him made Chen Haoyang both excited and nervous.


He Niancheng stepped forward. His tall figure could cast a shadow as he stopped in front of Chen Haoyang.


And the man in front of him spoke in an indifferent tone. "If I recalled correctly, Gu Qingjiu is a recruit under you?"


"You did not." Chen Haoyang shook his head as he looked up carefully at He Niancheng. "To reply to Commander He question, Gu Qingjiu is my recruit."


He Niancheng's gaze shifted to the forms which he held in his hands.


"Let me look at her form."


Chapter 140: New Recruits' Three Months Training Period, It's Over! (4)


Hearing He Niancheng's request, Chen Haoyang felt a little confused.


He had previously heard of groundless rumors about Gu Qingjiu and the Chief Instructor, but other than the one time Commander Huo asked him to get Gu Qingjiu to go to the infirmary, Commander He said nothing about Gu Qingjiu to him, nor did he ask him to make things easier for her.


Hence why he assumed that it was just a rumor.


But now that he heard He Niancheng's special request, he couldn't stop the surprise he felt.


His actions were not lax at all as he swiftly singled out a form and took it out from the stack.


"Commander He, Gu Qingjiu's form is here."


Chen Haoyang passed the form to He Niancheng, and he accepted it unconcernedly.


When He Niancheng skimmed through the A's and B's of the form, he spoke coldly, "At least she sees herself well."


Chen Haoyang did not understand the meaning behind his words.


He Niancheng had lowered his lids as he read through the form twice before returning the said form to Chen Haoyang.


He said in a crisp voice, "Just grade everything based on your judgment."


And he didn't subtly hint anything.


Chen Haoyang let out a breath of relief. His assessment of Gu Qingjiu was pretty positive as well.


Chen Haoyang was young, fair, and just. When Gu Qingjiu arrived, although she was not particularly outstanding, her performance during training was not bad. Later on, after she had slimmed down, she did not become arrogant because of her newfound attention. She was not anxious or rash, but instead a prudent and clear-minded young lady.


He initially thought Commander He would say something after he saw the form.


Upon reaching his office, Chen Haoyang placed the forms down neatly before returning to the training fields where his recruits were at.


...


When afternoon practice ended, everyone was dismissed, but Chen Haoyang made Gu Qingjiu and Xie Ya stay behind.


It startled Gu Qingjiu, and it puzzled Xie Ya as well.


After everyone had left, Chen Haoyang took out both their forms.


"I've already seen through the self-evaluation forms that both of you submitted. There isn't anything wrong with it. Both of your performances have been great, so I gave the two of you A's."


When Chen Haoyang finished speaking, Xie Ya frowned as she swept a quick glance at Gu Qingjiu.


Standing with a perfect posture, Gu Qingjiu's gaze was fixed on Chen Haoyang.


Nothing out of the ordinary was etched on her face.


"The reason I asked the two of you to stay behind is because of another thing—the advanced training camp."


Chen Haoyang paused before he continued, "Advanced training camp means that it's a level higher than the new recruits' training camp. They sieve through recruits in that camp to find potential soldiers for actual combat. As per the leader's arrangement, both of your names were chosen from the ninth squad this time around. However, only one of you could advance."


The last part of his statement startled Gu Qingjiu and Xie Ya.


They knew that it was difficult to enter the advanced training camp, but wasn't there no need to only choose one out of the two of them?


Actual combat soldiers were still soldiers, but the conditions to enter had no reason to be so harsh, right?


Gu Qingjiu's heart thumped.


If they really had to fight, she would definitely not out win Xie Ya.


Unlike Gu Qingjiu's hesitation, when Xie Ya got over the shock, she couldn't help a grin surface on her face.


It was as if she had already secured her victory.


Between her and Qingjiu, she knew that she would definitely be the winner.

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