Chapter 241-250

Chapter 241: Zero Communication


"Nothing much."


He Niancheng's voice was as simple as water.


Gu Qingjiu felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Then I'll..."


"I heard about what happened during your target shooting practice."


His sudden statement caused Gu Qingjiu to swallow her words.


She felt anxious for some reason. "Did you? Actually, I didn't expect myself to perform that well either."


"It's not about expectations. You should have that ability either way."


He Niancheng's words were as smooth and cool as water flowing through glaciers.


It should have made her feet cold, but it instead made Gu Qingjiu feel warm and fuzzy inside.


"Rest well."


After that, he hung up the call rather quickly.


Gu Qingjiu could only hear the thumping of her heart after he had said that.


It felt a little... different.


She knocked the back of her head in unease as she sat by her bedside in a daze.


It felt like there was something strange... even in the air around her.


Something which made her feel uneasy.


With a soft 'creek,' Qi Xiaoran came in from outside...


Only to see Gu Qingjiu inside their room. She even noted the turmoil roaring in her usually calm eyes.


Gu Qingjiu turned to her and noticed the beads of perspiration that covered Qi Xiaoran's forehead.


They've probably just finished their training.


But since it had been so many days, Gu Qingjiu didn't especially ask about Qi Xiaoran's matters.


It was instead Tang Yuyu who informed Gu Qingjiu about some things after knowing that Qi Xiaoran was her roommate.


Qi Xiaoran was a bit of a loner. Even after being in the camp for three years, she didn't have a single friend.


She even mentioned that they didn't know why Qi Xiaoran never received any punishments for always returning late at night. That alone made many people look down on her.


Her previous roommates used to lock Qi Xiaoran out of the room.


With that, Gu Qingjiu finally understood why Qi Xiaoran thanked her for the night she opened the door for her.


Probably because she was too shocked.


And the person who came looking for trouble the other day was the Third Unit's, He Qiu.


He Qiu's background wasn't that simple. Her father was the deputy commanding officer of the camp.


In such a place, she could basically do anything.


This was why He Qiu acted arrogantly and looked down on Qi Xiaoran.


But the main reason He Qiu despised Qi Xiaoran was because the person she fancied didn't like her but liked Qi Xiaoran instead, and yet the girl had the gall to reject him.


That angered He Qiu!


But because of her pride, He Qiu would definitely not say such an embarrassing thing. Hence, He Qi used Qi Xiaoran's rejection of her godbrother as an excuse to find trouble with her.


He Qiu frequently fought with Qi Xiaoran. More accurately, they surrounded and beat her up. However, as long as it didn't go overboard, the people in the camp would turn a blind eye to it.


No one dared to intervene.


As sacred as army laws were, He Qiu had the deputy vice commander as her father.


Qi Xiaoran could only swallow whatever grievances she had.


But that was not how Gu Qingjiu felt.


That day, she saw how Qi Xiaoran retaliated against He Qiu. Seeing Qi Xiaoran, she didn't look like the sort who would take it lying down.


And it had been a few days since He Qiu came to look for trouble.


Qi Xiaoran would sometimes come back late at night, but then it only occurred twice or thrice. It wasn't to the point where Gu Qingjiu had any comments about it...


Even if she had no knowledge of what Qi Xiaoran was doing outside at that late.


A week had passed, but Gu Qingjiu's relationship with Qi Xiaoran barely improved.


Both of them had quiet personalities, and Gu Qingjiu wasn't the type to initiate anything unless she felt that it was worth it.


Now that Qi Xiaoran had returned to the dormitory, both of them did not converse at all either.


Chapter 242: The Knife Hidden Under Her Pillow


Gu Qingjiu's mind drifted to the fact that she was going out with the Chief Instructor the next day.


First things first, she soaked her uniform in a basin.


She had two sets of uniforms. Even if it was winter, Gu Qingjiu had the habit of changing a set every two to three days.


Which of course meant that she had to diligently wash it.


After soaking her uniform, she turned around.


It was just in time for her to see Qi Xiaoran putting something under her pillow—something which had a silver glint to it.


That dagger-like shape... It looked like a knife...


Gu Qingjiu paused.


Meanwhile, Qi Xiaoran probably didn't expect Gu Qingjiu to turn around so quickly. When their gazes met, Qi Xiaoran looked slightly panicked.


Gu Qingjiu's gaze remained on her for only a few seconds, and then she retracted it.


Her gaze was cool as if she saw nothing, and then she walked back to her bed.


But in her mind, she already processed some possible reasons for Qi Xiaoran to hide a knife under her pillow.


This cold roommate of hers suddenly had an air of mystery shrouding her.


It was no wonder why Qi Xiaoran had been alone for such a long time.


But she never thought that Qi Xiaoran might use that knife against her.


After careful consideration, Gu Qingjiu pretended to have something to do and slipped out of the room...


Just so Qi Xiaoran could hide the knife somewhere else.


When she returned a little while later, Qi Xiaoran was no longer there.


She couldn't resist her curiosity as she cast her gaze at Qi Xiaoran's pillow, which was on her bed.


But she didn't flip the pillow over.


'Bang!!!'


Suddenly, a loud sound of someone kicking the door open resounded from behind her.


Since Gu Qingjiu was standing only a few centimeters away from the opened door...


She felt a gust of wind blowing against her back as the door was forcibly shoved open.


If she was any closer, the door would have collided with her.


"Where's Qi Xiaoran?"


An arrogant voice sounded from behind her.


Gu Qingjiu frowned as she turned around. As expected, it was He Qiu.


Staring at that face, Gu Qingjiu's gaze turned sharp. She replied coldly, "Not here!"


If it wasn't for the constant reminder in her head that He Qiu's father was the deputy commanding officer, Gu Qingjiu would have already fought her.


To kick the door open. Did she really think of this as her house?


Gu Qingjiu's tone made He Qiu slightly unhappy. He Qiu looked at Gu Qingjiu as she sized her up before snorting. "Oh, you're that genius sharpshooter?"


"Tsk tsk tsk. You look quite pretty. I didn't get a good look at you the other day."


Although it sounded like a compliment, when He Qiu said it, it seemed tainted with malicious intent.


Gu Qingjiu's expression darkened. "You need something?"


Even if her father was the deputy commanding officer, it didn't mean that she had to stoop so low to bow down to her.


She has had enough of this in her previous lifetime.


In this life, no matter who it was, she would make them pay for it if ever they angered her.


But these were just a minor conflict with words. There was no need for Gu Qingjiu to be too rash.


The tone she used just didn't sound nice.


Gu Qingjiu's tone upset He Qiu. "I'm just asking if Qi Xiaoran was here, did I hinder you in any way?"


He Qiu rolled her eyes and turned to leave. When she left, Gu Qingjiu even heard her say, "What a lousy attitude!"


Gu Qingjiu sneered before she closed the door.


What a lunatic!


Going by the odds of how often she came looking for trouble, it would be sooner or later before Gu Qingjiu had to request for a new door.


She turned around, preparing to wash the uniform which she had soaked.


The weather didn't seem good that day as well...


Chapter 243: At Least He Was Still An Angel


Saturday. Gu Qingjiu woke up early in the morning. Taking the chance that most people were still asleep, Gu Qingjiu quickly went to meet up with the Chief Instructor.


Qi Xiaoran did not return the night before.


Gu Qingjiu washed up and changed into a simple knitted sweater.


She didn't want to parade in her everyday uniform and shop with the Chief Instructor wearing only that.


That would attract nosy people's attention, and it would eventually get uploaded on Weibo.


It would take around ten minutes for her to walk to the camp.


Gu Qingjiu arrived at the Chief Instructor's office not over ten minutes later.


One glance and she saw his lean figure leaning against the jeep at the side.


His figure was slightly bent, but that did not prevent him from looking any more handsome.


In the misty morning air, he gave off a cool, deity-like feeling.


He fiddled with a lighter with his slender fingers and looked exquisite from all angles.


Seeing the Chief Instructor again, Gu Qingjiu could feel an insuppressible excitement welling up.


She walked over and greeted him with a smile. "Chief Instructor."


He Niancheng didn't turn to look at her. A glint flashed across his long and narrow eyes as he pursed his lips slightly. "Let's go."


He went to the driver's seat while Gu Qingjiu opened the door to the front passenger seat.


As long as it was this jeep, the chassis was way too high...


After she had fastened her seat belt, He Niancheng stepped on the accelerator and they drove out.


On a cold winter morning, the winds were bitingly cold.


The jeep's windows were not closed tightly so the biting wind could get in through the gaps.


It was so cold that Gu Qingjiu's face started to hurt from it.


The howling sounds of the wind made it a little noisy.


Gu Qingjiu was about to reach out to close the window when it automatically winded up by itself.


With that, it instantly cut off all noise.


And the biting chill on her face vanished.


The car regained its peaceful atmosphere. Gu Qingjiu pursed her lips but didn't talk.


Perhaps because it was too boring or perhaps because no one was talking, Gu Qingjiu took out her cell phone to play games.


"Your new instructor, is his surname Mu?"


Suddenly hearing him talk, Gu Qingjiu immediately turned to look at him. "Yes, that's his surname."


And he remained silent once again.


Gu Qingjiu struggled a little with this awkwardness before she finally asked, "Chief Instructor, is there something you wish to know?"


"Nothing, I'm just asking."


Gu Qingjiu was speechless.


She often felt stifled whenever she talked to the Chief Instructor.


"We will be reaching in two hours. If you're bored, you can nap a little."


He suddenly said that.


Gu Qingjiu replied mutely, "It's okay. I'm used to waking up early. Even if I wanted to, I can't fall asleep."


He Niancheng paused. Hearing that depressed tone, he spoke, "I'll let you go home and return to the camp tomorrow."


"Really?"


With a 'whoosh', Gu Qingjiu's expression seemed to come back to life as she looked at He Niancheng with sparkling eyes.


"Can I? Chief Instructor, can I really? But you're not my instructor anymore... I'm worried that my instructor now won't agree."


Gu Qingjiu was initially thrilled, but upon recalling that her current instructor wasn't He Niancheng, she grew solemn again.


"If I say you can, you can."


Those words didn't allow any doubts, and it seemed to calm Gu Qingjiu down. "Then... How do I apply for leave from the military?"


"I will let them know. You don't have to apply for it. Don't worry, just go back."


"I understand! Thank you, Chief Instructor!"


Gu Qingjiu was definitely happy that she could go home.


As expected, the Chief Instructor was an angel. This never changed!


Chapter 244: Eighty Percent Chance She Went For Plastic Surgery


With the thought that she could go home, Gu Qingjiu bought the things rather quickly.


They had to place an order for some items. Gu Qingjiu wanted to calculate the exact amount before letting the shop send it over at their desired date.


But He Niancheng added more to the list.


Hence, she had to travel all around to get things.


After she was done collecting goods from the department store, Gu Qingjiu saw an article of clothing that she liked and conveniently bought one for herself.


But she paid it with her own money


He Niancheng was waiting for her at the underground car park.


When Gu Qingjiu was going down, she saw a few familiar faces as she turned a corner from a store.


It was Gu Qingjiu's former classmate, Xie Yuning.


And a few of her lackeys.


They were all carrying shopping bags, evidently just done with their shopping.


She had a brilliant smile on and when she turned at a corner, she bumped into Gu Qingjiu.


Gu Qingjiu had no intention of exhibiting her friendly side to say hello to these old classmates.


When she was in class last time, Xie Yuning was always the first few to mock and criticize her.


Though it wasn't too vicious and they didn't physically bully her.


But for a girl that age, that mockery would often result in a certain degree of psychological trauma.


Although the incident with the Yu family afterward was so abrupt that these small scars were not even worth mentioning...


That did not mean that Gu Qingjiu didn't remember.


Which was why she calmly walked past Xie Yuning and the rest without any change in expression.


The moment she was about to walk past, Xie Yuning saw Gu Qingjiu and her expression shifted.


As if she couldn't believe her eyes, she stared for a few seconds. Only when Gu Qingjiu walked away did she try to call out. "Gu... Gu Qingjiu?"


Because she couldn't believe her eyes, her voice sounded unsure.


Gu Qingjiu pretended not to hear her, treating it as if Xie Yuning simply recognized the wrong person.


Without stopping, she walked straight ahead.


But who knew what would happen next? As if Xie Yuning decided on something, she ran up and shouted, "Gu Qingjiu, stop there!"


Carrying with her that arrogant air like before.


It felt insufferably bossy.


"Gu Qingjiu? Yuning, where's Gu Qingjiu?"


"Is she Gu Qingjiu? Yuning, don't scare me. How is that possible?"


Her lackeys all looked at Xie Yuning in disbelief and then they turned to look at Gu Qingjiu's silhouette.


Since Xie Yuning shouted so loudly, it was difficult for Gu Qingjiu to pretend that she didn't hear her.


She stopped, turned around, and stared at Xie Yuning without a smile. "Yeah, it's me. Do you need anything?"


Xie Yuning's eyes were about to pop out as she stared at Gu Qingjiu.


Her lackeys, who also were Gu Qingjiu's classmates before, all went up to surround her.


And looked at Gu Qingjiu like she was some sort of rare animal.


"Gu Qingjiu, did you go for plastic surgery?"


"..."


Everyone who hadn't seen her in a long time would definitely say that.


"I don't have time. I'm busy. Bye."


The Chief Instructor was still waiting downstairs, and he was a person who was mindful of punctuality. Gu Qingjiu was really in a rush to go.


Her current attitude obviously made the rest feel like they were insignificant.


But then again, there was indeed a small part of Gu Qingjiu which felt that way.


"Why are you leaving? Looks like Zhong Xiaoxiao's words were true."


Xie Yuning snickered. This person in front of her was actually Gu Qingjiu.


Xie Yuning could not believe that she had a massive change after joining the military.


There was an eighty percent chance that she went for plastic surgery!


And only people like Zhong Xiaoxiao would believe nonsense like she entered the army.


A person like Gu Qingjiu, she wouldn't even last a month... no, she wouldn't even last a week!


Chapter 245: Having Double Standards Was Pretty Nice


Obviously, Xie Yuning looked down on Gu Qingjiu by a mile.


The Gu Qingjiu of the past was like an invisible person.


She was the kind of person you wouldn't even remember. Even if you do, she was likened to a punching bag that you could vent your anger on.


From the bottom of her heart, she despised her.


But now, she'd seen Gu Qingjiu's massive change!


Xie Yuning had make-up on, but Gu Qingjiu had a prettier face than her.


Xie Yuning would obviously not take it lying down.


An invisible person who she used to trample on... How could that person be more eye-catching than her?


Gu Qingjiu could see the envy flashing in Xie Yuning eyes, but she had no time nor effort to waste with her. After checking the time, she turned around to walk away.


"Gu Qingjiu, what? Are you so guilty that you can't admit it?"


Xie Yuning didn't want to let her go. She wanted Gu Qingjiu to admit it before she would stop pestering her.


She walked up and grabbed Gu Qingjiu's elbow.


Sensing that her hand was grasping her arm, Gu Qingjiu nimbly twisted her wrist. With a slight force, she managed to remove Xie Yuning's arm from her elbow.


She swept the hand away and frowned. And as she looked at Xie Yuning, it was as if she was looking at a lunatic. "What do I have to admit? Xie Yuning, something's wrong with your head. I kindly advise you to get it checked out at the hospital as soon as possible."


Her words were unkind. Xie Yuning's lackeys who originally thought Xie Yuning's actions to be too abrupt suddenly felt indignant for her.


"Gu Qingjiu, how can you say that about Yuning? What did she do?"


"That's right. She just wanted to talk to you since we were classmates. Is there a need for you to act this way?"


"We're just asking you if you did plastic surgery. I think this clinic is pretty good since there aren't even any traces of scars."


They added on to one another's statements as if trying to pin the crime of plastic surgery on Gu Qingjiu. They were blatantly insulting her.


They were at a department store and since it was the weekend, it was rather crowded.


Their voices were not soft either. With a ton of passersby, they quickly attracted everyone's attention.


Hearing the words 'plastic surgery', people turned their attention to Gu Qingjiu, as if seeing something interesting.


With everyone's attention on them, Xie Yuning felt gleeful.


"Plastic surgery? Me?" Gu Qingjiu frowned as she turned a vicious glare at the female classmate who said that. "If there's something wrong with your head, you should seek treatment soon. I haven't seen you in a while after I entered the army. Now that I'm back, you're suddenly accusing me of plastic surgery. Wow, we truly are old classmates who just met. How shameless. With the nonsense you're spouting from that mouth of yours, aren't you afraid that your tongue will be cut off one day?"


Gu Qingjiu's words made people fear from within.


That female classmate who Gu Qingjiu was staring at was one of Xie Yuning's lackeys.


But Gu Qingjiu didn't really have an impression of the said classmate. These last few years of memories coupled with her rebirth, she basically couldn't remember her name at all.


But she did have a nasty mouth.


That student shuddered in fear as she shrunk to hide behind Xie Yuning.


Xie Yuning was shocked at how rude Gu Qingjiu's words were.


The other two pointed at Gu Qingjiu as they criticized. "We were just casually saying it. How could you say this, things like wanting to cut off Xiaoxiao's tongue, you're too scary!"


The dirty water continued to pour on her.


Gu Qingjiu pursed her lips into a smile. "It's just a joke between old classmates. What? So you can claim that I had plastic surgery, but I cannot talk about you? Having double standards must be pretty nice".


Chapter 246: You're Not Someone Who'll Pick A Fight With Others


The bystanders could roughly understand what just happened.


After a few months of not seeing her, the young lady's appearance had a drastic change. Hence, people speculated that she had undergone plastic surgery.


There were even people who accused her of being a totally different person.


The bystanders were simply making wild guesses without reservations.


The people around her and Xie Yuning began pointing fingers at them.


Someone amongst in the crowd exclaimed, "The young lady in the knitted shirt doesn't look like she has had plastic surgery. However, I feel that the person opposite her seemed to have done something to her eyes."


As Xie Yuning listened, the corners of her mouth twitched.


Gu Qingjiu was the one wearing a knitted shirt, and it was Xie Yuning who was standing opposite her.


To make matters worse, Xie Yuning indeed had double eyelid surgery.


Every other part of her face was pretty, except for her single eyelids. They weren't beautiful.


Therefore, over the holidays, Xie Yuning had surgery.


After the surgery, she refused to admit the truth and insisted that she achieved her double eyelids through pasting eyelid tapes.


With someone suddenly interrogating her, she couldn't help but feel guilty and flustered.


Gu Qingjiu wouldn't really know if Xie Yuning indeed had surgery. But after hearing that comment, she noticed that a wary glint flashed across Xie Yuning's eyes.


Her lips also slightly twitched.


She came to a sudden realization.


And a mocking glint flashed across her eyes.


She said nothing else and merely looked at the time on her phone.


Five minutes had already passed.


These people held back from what she was supposed to do, and the Chief Instructor was still waiting for her downstairs.


Gu Qingjiu couldn't be bothered to stay with Xie Yuning any longer. Picking up her things, she left immediately.


Xie Yuning still tried to chase after her, but the bystanders pointed fingers at her again.


She didn't have the face to continue anymore.


Her face turned pale.


...


Taking the elevator, she went to the underground car park. From afar, Gu Qingjiu could see that the windows of the jeep were open and He Niancheng's unworldly handsome face inside.


She immediately ran over with the items in her hands.


Hearing Gu Qingjiu's footsteps, He Niancheng looked down at the watch on his wrist. He coldly said, "According to our Standard Time, you're seven minutes late."


Gu Qingjiu smiled awkwardly, and she answered, "Chief Instructor, I had to deal with something upstairs."


With his head tilted, He Niancheng looked at her and asked, "What is it?"


Gu Qingjiu walked towards the passenger seat. Opening the door, she sat down and replied with a glum face, "I had a confrontation with someone from my teenage years."


He Niancheng started the car and stepped on the clutch. "Be clearer!"


Gu Qingjiu was speechless.


Generation gap... There was a clear generation gap between them.


"I bumped into an old friend of mine and fought with her. Well, we didn't fight, but we didn't have a pleasant conversation."


Gu Qingjiu was very honest.


He Niancheng paused, as though he was temporarily rendered speechless.


"Did you win?"


"What?"


Gu Qingjiu looked at him and tried to understand what He Niancheng was trying to say. After finally figuring it out, she replied, "I think so."


"Okay."


He answered quietly, but Gu Qingjiu still hadn't fully understood his words. She asked cautiously, "Chief Instructor, do you think that fighting isn't good?"


"No." He drove out of the car park. "But you're not someone who'll pick a fight with others."


He meant that only other people will find trouble with her.


She didn't know why, but Gu Qingjiu felt thrilled upon hearing those words.


The corners of her lips curled up, and she felt warm inside.


Although sometimes he acted like a wet blanket, he still said things to cheer her up at times.


Gu Qingjiu felt that she didn't particularly get along well with people.


It was mostly because of her personality.


She would only show her carefree side to people she was close to.


Chapter 247: Who is That Man Who Sent You Back?


For Gu Qingjiu, she considered both He Niancheng and Huo Yingcheng as her close friends.


He Niancheng sent Gu Qingjiu back to the Gu family.


After alighting from the vehicle, Gu Qingjiu waved goodbye to He Niancheng. She said, "Chief Instructor, I sent your things to Doctor Nan. Remember to send someone to collect them."


He Niancheng nodded. "Send me a message when you leave for the military camp. Send me another when you arrive."


Gu Qingjiu was speechless.


'Was that necessary?'


Before she could reply, He Niancheng had already left.


After watching the car disappear from her sight, Gu Qingjiu finally looked away.


At the mart below her house, Chen Yanhong wasn't around. It was her husband who took over.


Since her husband was friendlier than Chen Yanhong, the man offered Gu Qingjiu a smile when he saw her.


Arriving upstairs, Gu Qingjiu was shocked to find her door ajar.


She pushed open the unlatched door and stuck her head in to look. She saw Qi Yuefeng leaving the bedroom with a bundle of clothes in her hands.


Seeing that Gu Qingqiu had returned, it didn't surprise Qi Yuefeng at all. Despite her friendly tone, there was an odd look on her face. "You're back."


"Yes. I came back to look since I had some time."


As Gu Qingjiu entered, she thought that Qi Yuefeng looked weird.


Did she find out about what happened with the Yu family before?


It didn't seem like it though. Otherwise, Qi Yuefeng wouldn't still be so calm.


Gu Qingjiu probed further, "Mom, is Dad not around?"


"Something cropped up at your Dad's company. It seems like he's having problems with one of his projects. He's been busy at work for the past few days and is practically living there now. He doesn't have time to come back."


Qi Yuefeng sighed and went to hang up the clothes in her hands.


Gu Qingjiu's heart skipped a beat.


A business project? Did something happen?


She was very sensitive now, and she treated every single matter with seriousness.


She walked towards Qi Yuefeng and asked, "Mom, what happened at Dad's company?"


"How would I know?" Qi Yuefeng frowned as she tidied the clothes. "I don't know what's happening with his business. On the other hand, you..."


Qi Yuefeng suddenly changed the topic to something that Gu Qingjiu never expected her to bring up. "Who is that man who just sent you home? He doesn't look like Commander Huo, the one who sent you home last time."


"..."


Gu Qingjiu stuttered. "Erm... Erm... Did you see him? He's my Chief Instructor. I came out to help him with some errands, and he sent me home after we were done with everything. I was able to come here under his permission. The last time, though, he came with me too. It was only Commander Huo who came up, but the Chief Instructor was inside the car at that time."


She sounded rather collected as she explained.


Yet, Qi Yuefeng could still sense that there was something amiss.


After all, Gu Qingjiu appeared much calmer whenever she spoke about Commander Huo.


And it was completely different from how she spoke about the Chief Instructor. She clearly lacked confidence and sounded flustered.


Why was she flustered, though?


Like her mother, she knew her daughter well. Qi Yuefeng knew what was going on but didn't explicitly spell it out.


She merely replied, "Oh, I thought that he was someone special."


Gu Qingjiu giggled. "He's my Chief Instructor."


Qi Yuefeng was reminded of what she had accidentally seen earlier while hanging up the clothes earlier.


She didn't see his full features, but she saw his side profile. He looked incredibly handsome.


She felt that there was something unusual going on between her daughter and that man.


However, she didn't elaborate further.


Since it was rare for Gu Qingjiu to come home, she shook those thoughts away and prepared some food for Gu Qingjiu.


Chapter 248: If I Let You Pursue Further Studies, Are You Willing?


Gu Qingjiu stayed overnight at home.


She made a call to Gu Hong, but he still stayed at the company and didn't return.


When Gu Qingjiu called him, she detected nothing weird.


And she couldn't tell the severity of the problem at the office.


Because even if there was a problem, he wouldn't show it in front of his children.


Since Gu Qingjiu must return to the camp in the afternoon, she had no time to visit Gu Hong's office.


Furthermore, even if she went, she might not understand what was going on.


Still shrouded in confusion, Gu Qingjiu returned to the camp.


Before she boarded the bus, she sent He Niancheng a message.


She was more careful this time as well.


But then again, what the Chief Instructor did last time should be enough to scare the Yu family.


They shouldn't make any rash actions.


Thankfully enough, no other incidents happened along the way.


Gu Qingjiu returned to the camp safely.


The moment she arrived, she sent He Niancheng another message.


This time, he replied.


A single word reply, "Okay."


But seeing that response, Gu Qingjiu still felt overwhelmed with joy.


When she returned to the dormitory, she pushed the door open.


Gu Qingjiu saw Qi Xiaoran frantically looking at her cell phone.


When they locked eyes, Gu Qingjiu saw the panic evident in her eyes.


Moreover, the voice that sounded from Qi Xiaoran's cell phone exposed what she was doing.


"Ranran, what's the matter? Is the signal poor?"


That voice was a clear—a soothing to the ear male voice.


It was incredibly gentle as if a whisper beside your ear.


It startled Gu Qingjiu, while Qi Xiaoran looked defeated. "Older brother, I have some things to settle, so I'll hang up first. I'll tell you about it later."


This was the first time in so many days that Gu Qingjiu heard Qi Xiaoran's voice at a normal volume.


It was unexpectedly silky—so very soft...


It was cute and was far from how she looked.


Somehow, Gu Qingjiu suddenly felt that she especially liked Qi Xiaoran's voice.


Qi Xiaoran cut off the call, while Gu Qingjiu placed her bag down. "If I disturbed you, I can go out. It's okay."


Qi Xiaoran was talking to her older brother.


Gu Qingjiu didn't expect her to have an older brother.


But Qi Xiaoran shook her head and left the room with her cell phone.


As Gu Qingjiu looked at her leaving silhouette, she felt like Qi Xiaoran wasn't expecting her to return so suddenly.


She looked like she was caught off guard.


She was just talking to her older brother. What was there for her to panic?


Perhaps Qi Xiaoran didn't like people eavesdropping on her conversation, so to be polite, Gu Qingjiu offered that she could go out and give her space instead.


But the girl had already left the room and Gu Qingjiu couldn't do anything else about it. She didn't chase after her either.


She shrugged and recalled Qi Xiaoran's soft voice once more. It was a very likable tone of voice, akin to women from Jiangnan. It differed vastly from her cold image.


Gu Qingjiu chuckled as she laid on the bed and played with her cell phone.


Monday morning. A new week of training.


For the week, Gu Qingjiu had calculator studies.


There were many lessons in the advanced training camp and calculator studies were one of them. It was also a topic that Gu Qingjiu liked.


She once considered taking up a mathematics-related course such as computer programming if she didn't make it into the army.


While she was in class, Instructor Mu called her outside.


His straightforward question startled Gu Qingjiu. "If I gave you a chance to take your studies up a notch, would you be willing? To go straight to a university."


Studies?


It shocked Gu Qingjiu.


She was doing well in the camp, so why was he asking her if she wanted to study further in university?


Chapter 249: Which School?


Seeing the confusion on her face, Mu Nanji explained.


"It's not a civilian university I'm talking about, it's a military academy."


Military academy?


Gu Qingjiu widened her eyes.


If she could directly enter the military academy, Gu Qingjiu would obviously grab the chance.


Entering the military academy was not only a few thousand times more difficult than entering the army.


China could actually establish military academies, but only had a few.


Graduates from that school would essentially secure an official position.


The military academy was intrinsically linked to the army.


If she had to take examinations on her own and with no one backing her up, she might have the chance to make the cut.


But that was under the assumption that she had the chance to prepare beforehand.


Ever since her rebirth, she never had the chance.


At that, Gu Qingjiu's face revealed her hesitation. "Instructor Mu, I have the chance to go to the military academy? Why?"


Entering the army does not equate to having a chance to enter the military academy.


Why was she suddenly given this chance?


Mu Nanji carefully observed Gu Qingjiu. Although he could see the changes in her expressions, he knew she could control it well.


But a moment of lapse made her reveal her yearning.


This girl was not as shallow as he thought.


"I've checked your information. In your previous school, you had ordinary results. But then again, you should be able to cope with your studies. I've also shown your information to the higher-ups. Your talent in sharpshooting shouldn't be buried. You're still young. The shooting practice here at the camp does not suit you. By going there, you can undergo a more systematic training program."


In fact, those were not the only reasons.


Mu Nanji found out by chance that Gu Qingjiu had military merit under her name.


They granted it after Gu Qingjiu and He Niancheng arrested the human traffickers.


At that time, the military didn't really intend to give Gu Qingjiu military merit since the soldiers who were present at that time reported that it was He Niancheng who mainly accomplished it.


But He Niancheng only said that one sentence...


And the leader could only follow him and give Gu Qingjiu military merit.


He Niancheng...


Mu Nanji didn't know much about this man, but he knew that his background was overwhelming.


Even his own older sister paid close attention to the said person.


Else, she wouldn't have transferred him over to Dayi City.


Mu Nanji also found out that He Niancheng had gone out alone with Gu Qingjiu several times already.


Although he clearly knew what they were doing, people often liked to think about the more shady things.


Furthermore, just a few days back, Gu Qingjiu was kidnapped.


Although it did not alert the military, He Niancheng went to rescue her.


And even made use of some personal connections because of that.


The special treatment He Niancheng had for Gu Qingjiu made Mu Nanji curious.


Furthermore, with Gu Qingjiu's talents at sharpshooting, he might as well transfer her away to test for He Niancheng's reaction.


Gu Qingjiu's luck was pretty good, too. Mu Nanji held the application list too. When he transferred over, no one other than Gu Qingjiu caught his eyes.


It was difficult for people to stay unmoving at Mu Nanji's words.


Especially for Gu Qingjiu.


It was important to escape from the Yu family, but it was also vital for her to climb up step by step.


She probed, "Instructor Mu, may I ask which military academy it is?"


Chapter 250: This Was Key


As little as they were, there were still over ten military academies located all over the country.


If it was too far, she would have to judge the situation.


Mu Nanji's lips curled up. "Capital city!"


Capital?


Gu Qingjiu paused.


She couldn't believe that this opportunity would drop on her lap.


Tang Yuyu mentioned before that with Gu Qingjiu's shooting talents, fate would dictate that she would not stay in the advanced training camp for long.


Who would've thought that they would directly transfer her to the capital with the prefix of studying at a military academy?


The capital was China's important military point—the capital city of the country.


There were three military academies there.


And these three academies occupied the top three spots of the entire country.


Even if the school she entered was ranked third, she was still darn lucky.


Because of her excitement, her heart started pumping rapidly.


"I..."


A second of hesitation and Mu Nanji smiled. "You can consider it. This is a decision that you can make, not a transfer order from the higher-ups. Don't you have an older brother in the capital as well? If you went, you will at least have someone to look out for you. Your dormitory mate, Qi Xiaoran, is also one people transferring to the military academy. In this entire camp, only you two have this chance."


Qi Xiaoran?


Gu Qingjiu was a little shocked to hear that name.


While she was still contemplating, Mu Nanji had already left.


Gu Qingjiu returned to the class to finish her lessons.


After training, she kept this matter to herself and did not share it with the others.


After she had returned to the dormitory, she couldn't suppress the elation she felt.


But the first thing she thought of was to tell the Chief Instructor about it.


However, because it was still training period, she didn't have her cell phone with her. She had no other means to contact him.


Even when the weekend rolled around, Gu Qingjiu still did not ask Qi Xiaoran about the special training.


After retrieving her phone, Gu Qingjiu sent a text message to He Niancheng.


In the afternoon, the Chief Instructor, who had nothing to do, was cooped up in Nan Yingxuan's infirmary. He was lazing around in broad daylight.


He sat at a table near the door. The sunray which came through the window shone on his face.


Illuminating him with an unearthly glow.


The sunshine added an intoxicating tint to that unworldly handsome face of his.


Every bit of it was like an oil painting.


Giving people the urge to prostrate themselves before him as they worshipped him.


He quietly sat there, a stark contrast to Nan Yingxuan who was busy.


'Bzzt.'


'Bzzt.'


His cell phone was on the table vibrated twice because of the notification from the message.


Nan Yingxuan and He Niancheng's eyes turned to it.


He Niancheng swept a look at it, picking up the cell phone only after seeing the sender.


Reading the contents of the message, He Niancheng frowned.


His handsome features, which did not in any way diminish, showed a rare trace of hesitation.


"What's the matter?"


Nan Yingxuan curiously asked.


He Niancheng placed the cell phone back on the table, and he replied, "Gu Qingjiu said that Instructor Mu gave her the choice to choose whether she wanted to attend the military academy at the capital."


It startled Nan Yingxuan. "You and Gu Qingjiu are already texting?"


He Niancheng's frown deepened, and a glint flashed across his cool eyes. His fingers tapped on the table. "At this time, you should be focused on the main point, not the small things."


Nan Yingxuan disagreed. "This was nothing. For me, this is the main point."

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