Chapter 181: The Person Being Criticized

Gu Qingjiu had known about the result since yesterday.

So, she didn't feel much about the revelation and she could only smile calmly. "Okay, Instructor Chen. I will work hard."

She didn't appear regretful or anything.

Chen Haoyang silently approved of Gu Qingjiu's attitude upon seeing her reaction.

He had all along felt that this girl had a calm mindset. It was neither arrogant nor impetuous. He foresaw that she would amount to something great in the future!

While Chen Haoyang approved of Gu Qingjiu's acceptance of the result, Xie Ya, who stood next to Gu Qingjiu, curled her lips in disdain upon hearing the latter's reply.

Such a hypocrite! God knows just how furious she felt inside

At the thought of being selected into the advanced training camp before Gu Qingjiu, she couldn't hold back her excitement.

She had no idea why; she simply disliked Gu Qingjiu.

Especially when Gu Qingjiu berated her in front of the Chief Instructor—it made her feel utterly embarrassed.

Xie Ya's father, who owned a martial arts school, taught her to put on a more radical personality.

She attached great importance to victory and losing.

Hence, she particularly valued such matters.

After the two of them learned of the results, Chen Haoyang let them go out after speaking a few words.

Once out, Xie Ya totally couldn't control her expression. She gleefully sneered, "Gu Qingjiu, I just knew I will—you!"

Before she could even finish speaking, her expression had a drastic change.

Because Gu Qingjiu completely ignored her and simply strode off ahead.

She had zero intention of listening to her crap.

Xie Ya's face twisted in fury.

Gu Qingjiu rolled her eyes as she left.

She felt that it was no big deal that she wasn't selected into the advanced training camp first, and there was another chance next month, anyway. With that, she still had a chance. But she couldn't stay on and continue watching Xie Ya act like a villainess intoxicated by success.

In the afternoon, Xie Ya couldn't hold herself back from telling everyone the pleasant news.

Hence, during training, nearly everyone found out that Xie Ya was going to the advanced training camp—to go over to the military zone side.

Many new recruits were dumbfounded.

Because they had no idea that other than the new recruits' training camp, an advanced training camp also existed.

Although most people felt that it was perfectly natural for the military to select Xie Ya, there were some others who didn't share the same thinking.

Xie Ya and her group, of course, spread the news of Gu Qingjiu not making the cut.

But most people didn't agree with the smug way she was acting.

Because humans are selfish.

Everyone started at the same starting line. But now they discovered there was a different shortcut, and that someone had taken that path before they had a chance to. That by itself was no big deal, but it was truly an eyesore to see her flaunt about it.

Although Xie Ya said nothing on the surface, people could see her lips curling up in a gleeful manner when Feng Meiyun and the gang went around flaunting it.

That made them feel uncomfortable.

Why did most of the new recruits have no idea of the advanced training camp?

That was because the selection was mostly discretely carried out, and it wasn't publicized.

Dizzy with success, Xie Ya and the group gradually upset the peaceful harmony in the new recruits' team.

"I don't know what they're gloating over. They even mocked Gu Qingjiu for not being selected. I feel that even if it was Gu Qingjiu who got selected, she wouldn't behave like them!"

"It's not like you don't know Feng Meiyun and the gang, they like to gossip behind people's backs. Just think about how often she badmouths Gu Qingjiu to us! They keep accusing Gu Qingjiu of pretending to be noble. I now feel that Xie Ya is even more pretentious than Gu Qingjiu!"

Gu Qingjiu heard them secretly discussing this matter halfway through the training when she went to the washroom.

Chapter 182: There's No Need to Be So Harsh

Not everyone was led astray by the gossip.

Humans follow their hearts. In the past, Gu Qingjiu frequently hung out with Yu Bao'er and didn't interact much with these people.

Hence, Feng Meiyun and the gang had roped many people in; however, not everyone liked them.

There were also some who couldn't stand their personalities. After such an incident had happened, they finally found an outlet to vent and their fragile alliance with them slowly dissolved.

When she heard their discussion, Gu Qingjiu's expression remained calm.

She took it as if she heard nothing and washed her hands before leaving the washroom.

When the afternoon training ended, Gu Qingjiu saw a stranger in their dormitory the moment she returned.

Then again, she wasn't a complete stranger. She was the newcomer Gao Rui who arrived earlier in the day.

She was sitting on Jiang Yu's bed.

Gu Qingjiu noticed that the bed Yu Bao'er occupied before already had a blanket placed on it.

She realized what was going on instantly.

With a smile on the girl's lips, her eyes appeared moist as she spoke. "Your name is Gu Qingjiu?"

Her voice didn't sound as lively and ignorant as she sounded during the day in front of everyone. At that moment, she assumed a high-and-mighty attitude as she questioned Gu Qingjiu.

There was a haughtiness in her tone as if she was speaking to someone whose identity had a huge disparity with hers.

Gu Qingjiu looked towards her and calmly gazed at her.

"Yes."

Gu Qingjiu stood up from the bed and extended a hand to Gu Qingjiu. "I'm Gao Rui. Let's get acquainted."

Gu Qingjiu lowered her head and glanced at her wrist, instantly sticking her hand out and shook Gao Rui's slightly perfunctorily.

She quickly retracted her hand.

Seeing Gu Qingjiu's reaction, Gao Rui raised her brows in mild surprise.

Gu Qingjiu went to the balcony and was about to wash her clothes when Gao Rui followed over. "I thought you would ignore me."

Just as she finished speaking, they heard a series of rushed footsteps from outside.

Gao Rui's expression froze, and then she walked to Jiang Yu's bed. She had just sat down when Jiang Yu entered.

"Ya, Ruirui, you came so early? No wonder I couldn't find you."

Jiang Yu sounded like they were very chummy.

"Yeah, I asked Instructor Chen for the location and came over by myself. My bed is the one opposite, right?"

Gao Rui seemed to assume a naïve personality as she pointed at Yu Bao'er's bed.

Although Jiang Yu and Feng Meiyun were reluctant, there was only one vacant bed in the entire dormitory, so Gao Rui could only sleep there.

They could only nod their heads.

Feng Meiyun even shouted out to Gu Qingjiu. "Hey, Gu Qingjiu, our Ruirui is new here. She's sleeping on your friend Yu Bao'er's bed, it's ok right?"

Gu Qingjiu got to her feet instantly.

Although she was back-facing Feng Meiyun, her sudden movement still startled Feng Meiyun.

Her heart quivered, and she subconsciously retreated a step.

Gu Qingjiu turned her head and glanced at Feng Meiyun in a maybe-smiling-maybe-not manner. "This is the military's bed. If Gao Rui wishes to sleep in it and no one is occupying it, then she may. Why are you asking me for my opinion? Do you think I'll hog onto this bed and forbid others from sleeping in it? Feng Meiyun, you seem to suffer from persecutory delusional disorder. [1. affected persons have unrealistic and bizarre beliefs that others tend to harm him/her]"

Feng Meiyun was speechless.

Her face exploded in redness at hearing Gu Qingjiu's words.

She thought Gu Qingjiu would pretend she heard nothing. Surprisingly, this time, she retorted back.

She really didn't dare to trifle with Gu Qingjiu anymore.

"Alright, Qingjiu." Jiang Yu quietly placed a hand on Feng Meiyun's arm. "Yunyun merely misspoke. There's no need to be so harsh."

Chapter 183: Finally Showed Up

"I'm being harsh? You better get this straight. Who's the one who always picked a fight? If you can't tell right from wrong, you have no business bringing that up here."

Gu Qingjiu's gaze turned cold, and she spoke so candidly.

Jiang Yu's face turned stiff, and she was suddenly lost for words.

Gu Qingjiu had always acted like she didn't care about anything; hence, people said she liked to act nobly.

Now that she had taken such things seriously, Jiang Yu felt that Gu Qingjiu was going overboard.

But she had fallen silent, her eyes indistinctly glancing towards Gao Rui.

Gao Rui didn't look like she was about to stand up for them; on the other hand, she was watching this situation unfold with an amused expression.

With Feng Meiyun and Jiang Yu losing in this confrontation, things ended peacefully.

Else, if they continued stirring up trouble, who knew what consequences there would be.

The fact that there was suddenly one more person in the hostel didn't affect Gu Qingjiu's life in any way.

She went around by herself these days.

Gao Rui was also on closer ties with Jiang Yu and the gang.

On the second day, Xie Ya entered the advanced training camp, but with many people talking behind her back.

Time gradually passed.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Qingjiu had stayed in the formal military camp for a month.

During this period, she didn't much interact with the others in the dormitory. In two days' time, it was already due for the month's dueling session.

And it was also Gu Qingjiu's opportunity to apply to the advanced training camp.

She had to give this her best shot.

The only thing that surprised her was that this Gao Rui performed very well in their dueling lessons.

But no matter how well she did, it wouldn't stop Gu Qingjiu from fighting to get into the advanced training camp.

It was already Friday. The competition would start on Monday.

Unfortunately, Gu Qingjiu's period cropped up at the most crucial time.

Just as Doctor Nan said, with her improved body constitution, plus the fact that the food in the canteen was light-flavored and nutritious, she didn't feel any discomfort in her abdomen when her period came.

But she was drowsy all throughout her period.

After the training ended, Gu Qingjiu went to retrieve her phone. After lying on her bed to play on her phone, she didn't feel like moving.

Chatting sounds could be heard from outside. Gao Rui and the gang were back.

One look at Gao Rui and you'd know she was different from the rest.

Every time they went to collect their electronic items, she came back with a phone, laptop, tablet, and gadgets of all varieties.

This time they came back and placed these items on the table, before all of them went out together.

Gu Qingjiu laid on her side on the bed, showing no response to them.

As she laid on the bed, she unknowingly fell asleep.

Later, the sound of someone's phone ringing woke her up.

She remembered that it was her own ringtone. In a sleepy and dazed state, she picked up the call.

"Hello?"

Yet to completely sober up, there was a hint of laziness in her tone.

"You... are you sleeping?"

She could hear an unfamiliar and delicate voice of a woman on the other end of the line. There also was a hint of caution in her tone.

Although, amidst this caution, there was an inconsolable awkwardness brewing.

But when she heard this woman's voice, Gu Qingjiu snapped out of her sleepy state and was fully awake at an instant.

As she opened her eyes, there was a coldness in her gaze that resembles a sharp knife that could put someone to death.

"Who are you?"

Her sudden, extremely cold voice caught the person on the phone off guard.

"I... I..." She sounded a little awkward about how to reveal her identity. What she ultimately said made Gu Qingjiu feel like laughing.

"I—I'm your biological mother, child!"

She even sounded a little choked towards the end.

A soundless sneer appeared on Gu Qingjiu's face. Someone from the Yu family finally showed up.

Chapter 184: My Biological Mother is Long Dead

Ever since she was reborn, she had been thinking about this matter.

Because she knew she couldn't avoid it.

It was the source of all the tragedy.

In her previous life, it was about the same that the Yu family's company started running into problems from within.

Of course, the problem only blew up later on. But people working within the organization naturally detected the said problems earlier.

If she remembered correctly, the Li family took the opportunity to coerce the Yu family at around the same time.

The only difference was that Gu Qingjiu was in the military now. It was a juncture different from the previous lifetime, but the timing was roughly the same. Gu Qingjiu no longer cared about it, though.

Surprisingly, this time, the madam called her on her own accord.

She could still remember that cold and utterly disdainful face when the woman saw her in her previous life.

It made her want to laugh out loud.

"You've made a mistake. My biological mother is long dead."

After she recalled everything that had happened before, Gu Qingjiu felt no pressure saying all these at all.

She had the urge to laugh out loud, too.

Perhaps even she herself didn't realize that her eyes had reddened.

All because of rage.

"You... how can you say something like this, child? Mom... Mom is still alive!! And also your dad, we're both alive!"

Gu Qingjiu's words infuriated this madam in an instant.

But she still maintained her rational senses and held herself back from saying something too harsh, lest she scared off Gu Qingjiu.

But she could no longer keep her cautious attitude. There was now a haughty tone in her voice.

Gu Qingjiu snickered, her voice cold as ice. She asked, "Is there a difference?"

What she said nearly made the other party stomp her feet in fury.

"You... how can you speak like this? What prejudices do you have against us? We merely lost you by accident and have been looking for you for many years. We've been missing you so much it breaks our hearts, worried you might suffer out there, worried that you..."

"How did you find me? Why are you so certain I'm your daughter? You've got the wrong person!"

She had to admit this madam had pretty good acting skills; her choked voice made one feel sad for her.

Back then she liked to use this trick on her husband, too.

Too bad now as they grew older, her husband stopped falling for it.

But at the moment, she was using the same technique on the second daughter whom she had never met before.

Gu Qingjiu didn't have the patience to hear such nonsense, so she simply interrupted her words.

She didn't understand. The Yu family didn't even show up to look for her yet. Not only did they find her phone number, but they also sounded so sure that she was the missing daughter of the Yu family.

Where did they get the news from?

"We went through great efforts before finding news about you. You... your name is Qingjiu now, right? We miss you very much. Mom really misses you dearly..."

With a beep, Gu Qingjiu directly hung up the phone.

Her gaze turned dark.

She wasn't interested in hearing that woman's deceitful words. What she wanted to know now was how the Yu family obtained news of her so quickly.

All of a sudden, she recalled Uncle Hu Yan who once visited her home and whom she had seen at the Yu family's house before.

Although what would come would come anyway, this time Gu Qingjiu had to get to the root of this matter.

And this time, regardless of what tricks the Yu family played, she absolutely wouldn't submit to them.

Her phone rang again. Gu Qingjiu lowered her eyes and looked at the blinking number. With a swipe of her finger, she hung up the call and blacklisted the number.

Chapter 185: Madam Yu

The phone call was just the beginning.

Gu Qingjiu could still remember how arrogant the Yu family was.

Back then, when they learned of her existence, they merely sent a secretary to look for Gu Qingjiu.

What was her attitude then?

She even felt somewhat terrified when she saw the elite-looking secretary appear before her.

All her life, she felt perturbed and nervous towards the unfamiliar.

When she found out she was born to a prominent family in the North City, she was in disbelief.

Their glamorous appearance made Gu Qingjiu feel excited.

All because she had never been to that kind of place.

But Gu Qingjiu never really thought of returning to the Yu family.

Her adoptive parents treated her extremely well, so she never thought of returning to live with the Yu family. She knew to be content with what she had.

But the reason she went back to the Yu house was just to see what her biological parents were like.

The events that followed, even recalling it now, made Gu Qingjiu feel like vomiting.

Towards the members of the Yu family, towards everything related to the Yu family.

She had merely been reborn and had joined the military, and it already made this arrogant madam call her.

With her proud personality, she would definitely be furious with how Qingjiu had hung up the phone. There was no way she would discard her face to call a second time.

Also, Gu Qingjiu remembered that it wasn't the woman's real number.

Why? Was she afraid Gu Qingjiu would call to harass her?

Gu Qingjiu's lips arched mockingly. At that moment, Yu Shiwei's alliance marriage was a pressing matter.

The Yu family wouldn't let it rest at that.

Having been rejected once, this madam wouldn't show up again. But she would definitely send someone over.

In her previous life, to check on her Gu father's connections and relations in Dayi City, the Yu family spent quite some time before they decided to forcibly take Gu Qingjiu away from the Gu family. It would probably be some time until the Yu family took action.

Gu Qingjiu had been bearing the hatred for so long, and now they finally showed up.

This made her feel at ease on the contrary.

Since she had chosen the military path, she could only give it her all.

What she needed to focus on was the coming Monday's dueling session.

If she could get a victory this time, there was no reason she wouldn't be selected into the advanced training camp.

After she had sorted out her thoughts, Gu Qingjiu calmed herself down and to sleep.

However, Gu Qingjiu didn't know that things were heading in a direction she couldn't have expected.

...

North City, Yu family.

Inside the villa of a prominent family in North City, the Yu family house.

A wealthy woman who exuded an exquisite and luxurious aura stood in the living room. Holding onto a phone, her face took a shade of green after someone had dropped the line on her.

She was that woman who Gu Qingjiu had hung up on earlier—Tan Yalan!

When Tan Yalan heard the beeping sound from her phone, her expression turned ghastly and she slammed her phone on the sofa.

Beside her stood an aged female servant. Seeing Tan Yalan's actions, she picked up the phone in a flustered manner.

"How can she say something like her biological parents had long been dead? How was this child brought up?"

Tan Yalan had exquisitely carved facial features. But with her age, she couldn't quite conceal the fatigue on her face.

Though, from her exquisite makeup, one could still tell how stunningly beautiful she must have been in her younger days.

Chapter 186: Two Attitudes

"Madam, don't be anxious. A child who just learned of her true parentage would most likely feel like they were abandoned and would hate their parents. And she's only eighteen this year, she's still in a rebellious stage."

The female servant gently consoled her. She was an old nanny in the villa who everyone called 'Mama Wu.'

"How can she say we abandoned her?" Tan Yalan raised her eyebrows in anger, making her appear harsh and unkind. "I went through nine months of pregnancy to bring her out in this world. With that alone, she's hugely indebted to us. Moreover, we lost her by accident. Now that we're taking her back to the Yu family to enjoy the riches, she's unwilling?"

Seeing her madam's manner, Mama Wu sighed.

After all, she had worked here for a long time and she had her sources of news.

The Yu family's company ran into trouble lately. Another prominent family in the city, the Li family offered to help, but the condition was that the two families entered an alliance marriage.

But the young master of the Li family was a silly one. Yu Shiwei of the Yu family, on the other hand, was famous for being a perfect miss in North City. With her haughty personality, how could she possibly be willing to marry that silly young master?

Furthermore, they had given up looking for this Second Miss over ten years ago. Now, they're anxiously seeking her back... Wasn't their intention obvious?

Although she felt that it wasn't quite right, she was but a servant. She watched First Miss grow up, so she would feel it's unfair to see the girl marry a silly young master.

But then again, towards the Second Miss who was about to return, this seemed...

"Madam, you need to talk things over slowly. After all, it's been years. Why don't we check out the sort of people Second Miss's adoptive parents are first?"

Mama Wu's words reminded Tan Yalan.

Her voice grew sharp all of a sudden. "Mama Wu, you're right. I'll send someone to look. I want to see how her adoptive parents taught her, for her to say things like her biological parents are dead. How immoral must her adoptive parents be? They are probably afraid that her biological parents would find her one day. How can I allow them to teach my child in such a way?!"

She redirected her anger towards Gu Qingjiu towards her adoptive parents.

Mama Wu's lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something. But ultimately, she said nothing.

Tan Yalan waved a hand. "Forget it. Mama Wu, I'd better take a look at it myself. Didn't Hu Yan say that she's in the military right now? Since we have no business dealings and connections in Dayi City and that she's in the military too, it won't be easy to see her. I'd better see her adoptive parents first and then take action from there."

Her words made the solution clear. Mama Wu nodded and replied, "Do you need someone to accompany you? I'll ask Old Hong to book your flight tickets first."

Old Hong was her husband, and also the housekeeper of the Yu family.

Tan Yalan nodded. "Okay. Keep an eye on your phone. I refuse to believe that after I meet her adoptive parents, she would still refuse to see me. If she calls back, notify me. I'll go to Dayi City first to check on their background."

"Okay, Madam."

Mama Wu responded. Something suddenly struck her. "Miss said she has an appointment tonight and won't be coming back for dinner."

At the mention of Yu Shiwei, Tan Yalan had a rebuking look in her eyes. "Even if that child finds out that she need not enter an alliance marriage, she shouldn't make it so obvious."

But from her voice, she clearly sounded indulging.

It was a stark contrast compared to how stern she was towards Gu Qingjiu.

Chapter 187: I Am Gu Qingjiu's Biological Mother

Monday, an ordinary day at the Gu family.

Qi Yuefeng came back from buying groceries. The night before, her husband said he won't be coming home for lunch at noon.

Since she was eating by herself, she thought of cooking some light-flavored foods.

Qingjiu, that lass, had already returned to the troops and called to say everything's fine the day before. She even said she was taking part in some competitions. If she won she could enter some advanced training that Qi Yuefeng wasn't too clear about.

In any case, whatever it was, she wouldn't be able to see her daughter for two years.

At the thought of her child, Qi Yuefeng smiled.

When she reached her apartment building, she saw a luxurious car parked by the roadside.

That car was black, but Qi Yuefeng didn't recognize the brand.

But just looking at the curves and the luster of the surface, it clearly felt different from all the other cars that had been to her place before.

It was clearly more upscale!

And next to the car stood a man in black clothes and sunglasses. He stood there and his aura looked like he was filming a movie or something.

Such commotion was never seen in a small place like theirs. She thought they were relatives of their neighbors.

As she walked into the mini-mart, she saw Chen Yanhong winking at her. "Yuefeng, someone incredible came to your house. It's a woman!"

Although Qi Yuefeng wasn't much fond of this gossipy Chen Yanhong either, she had to maintain harmony with her neighbor on the surface. When she heard the person was here for her, Qi Yuefeng smiled and asked in surprise, "She's visiting our family?"

"Yes, yes." Chen Yanhong was curious. But the words she next said merited a beating. "Aye, Yuefeng, that woman wore branded items of clothing from head to toe. She's of different stature. Is she a mistress your husband Gu Hong?"

"What nonsense are you spewing?"

Qi Yuefeng shook with fury at hearing this. "Chen Yanhong, you can't make irresponsible remarks about some things!"

Not wishing to argue further with Chen Yanhong, she briskly went up the stairs.

"Chey. I bet she is!"

Chen Yanhong's lips curled disdainfully. She recalled the indescribably beautiful woman she saw earlier who was adorned with jewels all over.

A sense of inferiority involuntarily surged inside of her.

What followed next was a fit of manic jealousy!

Who knows, she might be a mistress who a rich man kept under the sheets!

'What is she so smug about? Chey!'

Never mind Chen Yanhong's sour words, though.

When Qi Yuefeng heard her, she felt panicked for some reason. But she had faith in her husband.

When she got upstairs, Qi Yuefeng saw a woman standing at her door.

That woman wore a brown mink leather coat. It's not a color that anyone could look good in, but this woman somehow looked classy and elegant in it.

Detecting a movement behind her, that woman slowly turned around.

'What a beautiful rich woman!'

Qi Yuefeng couldn't help exclaiming in her heart.

Although they were both women, it was clear the other party had a noble aura; she wore red lipstick on her fair face, and with her sunglasses on, she gave off an aloof and intimidating vibe.

She exuded gracefulness and poise from head to toe.

In contrast to that, in her simple and casual down jacket, Qi Yuefeng just appeared like an ordinary woman. The comparison was really too obvious.

She didn't go so far as to feel inferior, but she felt astonished.

The rich woman sized Qi Yuefeng up, before revealing a blatantly disdainful look.

As if she was forcing herself to speak to her, she said, "I am Tan Yalan, Gu Qingjiu's biological mother."

Qi Yuefeng's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Chapter 188: An Emergency Call From Home

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

It was the day of their dueling session.

The other week, Gu Qingjiu, Jiang Yu, and also the newcomer Gao Rui...

All three of them progressed into this week's dueling session.

Gu Qingjiu paid close attention when Gao Rui competed.

And she came to a realization that Gao Rui wasn't a new recruit.

Her dueling skills weren't that bad. The only difference was in the way she fought because it wasn't the same way as theirs—she had a more combative form of fight style.

Both she and Gu Qingjiu won consecutively.

That made Gu Qingjiu sense danger.

Since it was only a round away before her turn, she stood among the crowd and watched the fight.

But as she watched, she was constantly in a disturbed state of mind.

All of a sudden, someone patted her on her shoulder.

She turned to realize it was Huo Yingcheng.

Seeing Huo Yingcheng, Gu Qingjiu revealed a smile. "Commander Huo, you're back?"

Huo Yingcheng seemed to shuffle in and out of the military camp from time to time.

The Chief Instructor had stopped asking her to help him buy things; hence, Commander Huo would settle it after he had returned.

Huo Yingcheng glanced at the crowd, and he said in a cheerful voice, "Isn't your competition about to start?"

Gu Qingjiu nodded. "Yes, why? You plan to watch the competition, Commander Huo?"

"I'm not here to watch the competition. I'm just here to tell you that if you win this, it's a guarantee for you to enter the advanced training camp."

It shocked Gu Qingjiu. "Why? Don't they need to do a selection? There's a new recruit who goes by the name of Gao Rui, and her performance isn't bad."

"Gao Rui is different..." At the mention of Gao Rui, Huo Yingcheng appeared mysterious. "She's purely here to join in the fun. Just don't get into a conflict with her. I guarantee you if you win this, you will enter the advanced training camp."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingjiu raised a brow. "Is this considered getting in by the back door?"

"What back door?" Huo Yingcheng asked righteously. "This is aboveboard. How can you call it getting in through the back door?"

Gu Qingjiu was speechless.

"Gu Qingjiu. Gu Qingjiu!"

Chen Haoyang's voice was heard. Gu Qingjiu immediately jogged over, and when she turned back to look, Commander Huo had already disappeared in the crowd.

Gu Qingjiu's opponent this time was a girl from the Third Unit, and she easily won her.

She realized that the longer she trained, her reflexes became sharper and sharper.

Others didn't seem to have Gu Qingjiu's sharpness and level of perception.

Could it be a benefit of being reborn?

After she had won, Chen Haoyang gave her a thumbs-up.

Gao Rui watched her from the crowd.

At the thought of how she had a confirmation to enter the advanced training camp, Gu Qingjiu heaved a sigh of relief in her heart.

But before she could receive her reward, someone came to inform her that there was an emergency call from her phone, and she was asked to go to the mailroom to answer the call.

Soldiers aren't allowed to carry their phones with them, and they could only retrieve their phones during the weekend.

If there was an emergency from home, they could only call the military.

But her family never gave Gu Qingjiu an emergency call before.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingjiu had a bad premonition.

She suddenly recalled that Tan Yalan of the Yu family called her last Friday.

Could it be that it had something to do with the emergency call?

On the way, her brows were furrowed as she thought about such a matter.

Accordingly, the Yu family shouldn't have any actions yet. Why was her family calling her so urgently then?

The uneasiness she felt grew in intensity.

Chapter 189: I'll Come Back Right Away!

When Gu Qingjiu answered Qi Yuefeng's call in the mailroom, she heard the latter's nonstop crying.

She felt her heart tighten.

"Mom, what's the matter?"

She sounded anxious and in a hurry.

The others in the mailroom turned to look at her curiously.

"Qing... Qingjiu... Mom let you down. We have let you down!"

Her sorrowful and painful voice made Gu Qingjiu feel highly uneasy.

"Mom, what exactly happened? Just say it. Don't cry first. Tell me what happened first, alright?"

She had never heard Qi Yuefeng sob so hard before.

Over the phone, her voice sounded terribly broken, like she had suffered a great agitation.

Unable to stop herself from crying, she could not speak coherently.

Without a coherent reply from Qi Yuefeng for a long time, Gu Qingjiu only heard her repeatedly apologizing.

Her brows furrowed. Knowing she could not let Qi Yuefeng cry on, she sternly asked, "Did someone from the Yu family show up?"

Perhaps because Gu Qingjiu's voice sounded stern and that the contents of her sentence were on point, it surprised Qi Yuefeng.

In any case, her sobbing finally paused for a brief moment. "How... how did you know?"

But after that, the sobbing resumed.

"I'll come back right away!"

With a click-clack sound, Gu Qingjiu immediately hung up the phone.

With a frigid expression, she couldn't be bothered about anything else. She directly returned to the competition venue.

The dueling session hadn't ended yet, and it was still in full swing. Gu Qingjiu saw Chen Haoyang standing near the arena.

Gu Qingjiu ran over and went straight to the point with him, "Instructor Chen. If I wanted to go home, which procedures are needed to be done?"

Chen Haoyang could not react for a moment. "Go home? Go back to Dayi City?"

"Mm!"

She responded, and the coldness in her eyes became more intense.

Her lips were slightly pale. Seeing that something wasn't quite right with her, Chen Haoyang asked, "Did something important happen at home?"

"To me, it's something important. But the military might not approve."

Unless it was something super important, the military absolutely wouldn't allow new recruits to go home.

Nothing of the sort had ever happened in the military before, so Gu Qingjiu wasn't certain if they would allow her to go back.

But she must go back!

Why hadn't it occurred to her that the Yu family would go to her adoptive parents first?

Chen Haoyang straightened his body, but he didn't say for sure that he wouldn't approve. He said, "Tell me about it."

There were other people around and all of them were looking at Gu Qingjiu with keen interest; some were waiting to watch a good show, while others merely stared out of curiosity.

Gu Qingjiu asked Chen Haoyang to step aside. Although she found it hard to tell him this, she had no other choice.

She only told him she wasn't her adoptive parents' biological daughter and that her biological parents showed up at her home now. Her home was now in a mess, and she had to go back and handle the matter.

Chen Haoyang had never encountered something of that sort either.

The military officer who set the rules back then might not have expected something like it, either.

This came so suddenly, so he was a little lost. After thinking for three seconds, he said, "Wait. I'll talk to the Chief Instructor."

Chen Haoyang didn't stop her, but instead he helped her. This made Gu Qingjiu feel very grateful.

"Thanks, Instructor Chen."

"Don't thank me. I'm just helping you tell the Chief Instructor. I can't make the decision. The Chief Instructor might not consent. How about this? You come along with me."

Gu Qingjiu nodded and followed Chen Haoyang.

Chapter 190: Call Home

Actually, she wanted to tell the Chief Instructor first.

But after some thought, considering that she was directly under Chen Haoyang's supervision, something might go wrong if she skipped her immediate superior to report directly to the Chief Instructor.

Although she felt panicked, she still knew what she should and shouldn't do.

Gu Qingjiu contemplated whether or not the Chief Instructor would consent.

She felt that he would likely consent.

When they reached the Chief Instructor's office, it wasn't much of a surprise that Gu Qingjiu saw Huo Yingcheng there as well.

Huo Yingcheng had just left a moment ago when Gu Qingjiu was about to duel, and now he was seeing her again.

But at the moment, Gu Qingjiu had a flustered expression on her face, which was unlike her usual quiet demeanor. It made Huo Yingcheng feel a little astonished.

Seeing that she came with her instructor, he didn't ask anything.

He Niancheng noticed it, too.

He saw Gu Qingjiu enter with her immediate instructor.

Not being her usual calm and quiet self, she seemed to restrain her emotions.

This was the first time he ever saw her like this.

Hence, without waiting for Chen Haoyang to enter and salute to him, He Niancheng coldly asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Chen Haoyang paused in surprise, and Gu Qingjiu also raised her head to look at He Niancheng.

There was a pleading gaze in her eyes.

Chen Haoyang recounted what Gu Qingjiu told her earlier on.

After he had finished speaking, Huo Yingcheng's mouth was wide open; it was so wide one could stuff an egg into it. "Qingjiu, you have such a dramatic story?"

She pursed her lips tightly. Because she had been biting her lips, it now appeared pale. With a gloomy look on her fair face, she said, "I didn't wish for this either."

A glint of surprise flickered across He Niancheng's deep eyes.

Clearly, he hadn't expected something like this either.

He straightened his body after Chen Haoyang finished reporting to him. "Just nice. Commander Huo and I are going out, let's head out together."

Seeing him give his consent, Gu Qingjiu finally managed a smile. "Thanks, Chief Instructor. Thanks, Instructor Chen."

Instructor Chen nodded. "Then just go with the Chief Instructor. I'll take care of the rest."

Since the Chief Instructor had given his consent, he needn't go through too much trouble.

"Mm!"

Chen Haoyang had to return to the event area, whereas Gu Qingjiu stayed.

He Niancheng packed some stuff, and after Chen Haoyang left, Huo Yingcheng couldn't hold himself back from asking Gu Qingjiu. "Qingjiu, what happened to your family? Are your biological parents showing up to take you back with them?"

"Yes."

Gu Qingjiu couldn't reveal too much to them. After all, Huo Yingcheng and He Niancheng were outsiders who knew nothing about the situation.

"Oh..."

Huo Yingcheng had more questions to ask, but he then felt like he shouldn't be asking too much.

Seeing that He Niancheng was almost done packing, he immediately went to the yard to prepare to drive out of the military zone.

When they got into the car, Gu Qingjiu felt uneasy.

She kept staring at the back of the front passenger seat; her eyes out of focus, her hands unconsciously clasping together. Even until she had scratched the back of her hands, she didn't even feel any pain.

Seeing this through the rearview mirror, He Niancheng's brows furrowed slightly.

By the time she had snapped out of her trace, Gu Qingjiu recalled something else.

Since she had left in a hurry, she wasn't able to retrieve her phone.

Sitting in the car, she had no idea what the situation was like at home, and that made her feel tormented.

She asked the people who sat in the front, "Chief Instructor, Commander Huo, my phone... I left in a rush just now and didn't retrieve my phone. Can I borrow your phone to call home?"