In the end, after Lin Xiaojiao’s repeated insistence, Gu Tingzheng finally stopped his shopping spree.
Even so, his hands were already full of kraft paper bags.
“Third Uncle, have you considered where I’m supposed to put all this stuff?”
Lin Xiaojiao was also feeling a bit overwhelmed. She hadn’t thought too much while shopping, but now, looking at it all, it was clearly impulsive spending.
In the dorm, each person only had one wardrobe compartment…
“Take the essentials back first, and leave the rest with me for now,” Gu Tingzheng said casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Lin Xiaojiao didn’t think much of it either.
Neither of them realized just how “couple-like” this behavior was.
…
The jeep headed toward the Normal University.
On the way back, Gu Tingzheng was even more silent than he had been on the way there.
The setting sun cast light and shadow across his sharply defined profile.
His deep-set eyes betrayed no emotion.
He gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
In the passenger seat, Lin Xiaojiao, having eaten her fill and gone through a shopping frenzy, couldn’t resist her drowsiness as the car moved steadily along. She tilted her head and drifted into a deep sleep.
Her breathing was even, her long lashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, completely unguarded.
The car came to a steady stop under the parasol tree in front of the dormitory building.
Gu Tingzheng didn’t immediately wake the sleeping girl.
He turned off the engine, and the car instantly fell into silence, broken only by her soft, shallow breaths.
He turned slightly, his gaze settling heavily on the girl’s face.
The shade of the tree and the car window provided the perfect cover.
He watched her silently like this.
As his eyes swept over her slightly furrowed brows, a thought struck him abruptly:
If it were now, would he still pick her up in front of everyone, regardless of the consequences, as he had done on the sports field that day?
The answer was obvious—
No!
And he wouldn’t dare…
What had seemed like ordinary concern at the time now felt dangerously inappropriate.
His gaze grew even deeper, sweeping inch by inch over her smooth forehead, delicate nose, and slightly parted lips, as if it were something tangible.
The air in the car seemed to freeze, an unspoken, tense energy spreading through the confined space.
He watched her silently like this for a long time.
It wasn’t until a ringing sound broke the silence that Gu Tingzheng snapped back to reality, abruptly withdrawing his gaze and straightening up.
He took a deep breath, perfectly concealing all his emotions beneath his rugged exterior.
Reaching out, he gently nudged the girl’s shoulder.
His voice was as steady as ever, betraying no emotion:
“Jiaojiao, we’re here.”
“Mmm…” The girl let out an unconscious, soft murmur as she slowly woke up.
Beside her, the man’s body tensed almost imperceptibly.
“Well, go on up. It’s getting late.”
Lin Xiaojiao hadn’t expected to sleep until it was dark outside.
It really was because the training these past two days had been too exhausting.
She didn’t notice anything unusual about the man, bidding him a sweet goodbye before picking up a few of the kraft paper bags and heading upstairs without looking back.
…
Back in the dorm, she faced another round of “interrogation.”
Fortunately, with the title of “uncle” to hide behind, she could still manage to brush it off.
As for whether her roommates believed her or not, that was beyond her control.
She was starting to doubt it herself.
…
The training this week had clearly become more challenging.
Even Drill Sergeant Xiao Wei didn’t dare go easy on them anymore.
It was said that they would be marching in formation next Monday, organized by class.
“…Now our Seventh Company needs to select two model soldiers, one male and one female. Are there any volunteers?” Wei Qiang scanned the ranks.
He was also looking for promising candidates.
Squad Leader Hu Guozhi was the first to raise his hand.
“Good! Step forward. Any others?” To be honest, this one wasn’t great—too rigid, lacking spirit.
A long while passed without a second volunteer.
No choice—he had to step in and pick someone himself.
Honestly, the “connected ones” were quite good.
Could he choose them?
Wei Qiang was conflicted.
In the end, he casually pointed out a few, including Lin Xiaojiao.
“Alright, these are the ones I think are pretty good. Now I’ll leave it to everyone to choose.”
Wei Qiang suddenly felt his method was brilliant.
After all, it was the trainees themselves who would choose, not him.
He quickly organized the selected few to run through the parade drill together.
Lin Xiaojiao wanted to curse.
Why on earth did he have to pick her out?
Couldn’t she just blend in?!
These flashy drills—she had already been through them in elementary school when her old man Lin sent her to youth training camps. Not to mention, compared to these people who were just learning to march in step and couldn’t tell left from right, she had experienced all sorts of military training drills in her past life!
But since she’d been pulled out, she couldn’t just shrink back.
So everyone witnessed the stunning female soldier who instantly outshone the rest.
Wait, there was also a male student who stood out.
Sun Yizhi, a male classmate who had kept a low profile until now.
Even without a vote, it was clear these two were the ones.
To make the difference more obvious, Wei Qiang simply placed Lin Xiaojiao and Sun Yizhi at the front to lead the training.
From a distance, what Gu Tingzheng saw was his little girl standing very close to a male classmate.
Although when she was marching in step, she looked incredibly heroic and spirited!
How had he never noticed this side of her before?
Wouldn’t her legs ache from marching like that?
With the sun so strong, wasn’t she afraid of fainting again?
Was this how Wei Qiang trained his soldiers?
Wei Qiang, who was calling out commands, suddenly felt an oppressive gaze from behind.
Turning around, he met the eyes of his own regiment commander.
“One—two—” He faltered.
“Regiment Commander!” He reflexively saluted.
“Hmm, the model soldiers are good. Carry on.” Gu Tingzheng didn’t linger and continued on to the next formation.
He didn’t even glance at Lin Xiaojiao.
Lin Xiaojiao: …
Well, I’m invisible.
However, not long after Gu Tingzheng’s inspection, another order came down.
Model soldiers recommended by each company would form an honor guard for unified, intensive training.
They would serve as the flag-bearing formation for next week’s parade drill.
Lin Xiaojiao nearly collapsed on the spot.
Could she not go?
…
On Monday afternoon, their hastily assembled honor guard was fully gathered.
Thirty male and thirty female students.
The instructor—
Thankfully, it wasn’t Gu Tingzheng.
Lin Xiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint a vague sense of disappointment.
Their instructor was Deputy Regiment Commander Xu Li.
In his thirties, not stern at all—even amiable and approachable.
Within one afternoon, he had blended right in with them.
“Great, excellent. Let’s do one last run-through.”
When the dismissal whistle blew, she could barely lift her feet.
This Instructor Xu was truly a smiling tiger.
The training intensity hadn’t been reduced one bit.
…
During the evening singing session, Lin Xiaojiao sat cross-legged in a corner, making herself as inconspicuous as possible.
Since she wasn’t familiar with anyone in the honor guard, she was happy to hide away and enjoy some peace.
Someone tapped her shoulder.
“It’s noisy here. Go rest in the car for a bit.”
The man pressed the car keys into her hand and pointed at the inconspicuous jeep parked in the corner under the night sky.
“Thank you, Instructor Gu.” Lin Xiaojiao’s eyes lit up.
She quietly slipped away from the crowd.
Lin Xiaojiao wasn’t exactly tired, but her feet were sore.
During the brief break after dinner, she had even managed to soak her feet.
Unfortunately, it had barely helped.
Unlocking the car, Lin Xiaojiao directly opened the back seat.
His military jacket was still lying there.
Hanging the jacket over the back of the seat, she comfortably enjoyed the entire rear space—
Leisurely, she took off her shoes and socks.
Phew! Freedom at last!
Lin Xiaojiao swung her little feet around without any restraint.
Looking at her reddened, chafed toes.
Goodness! What had she been thinking, putting herself through this ordeal?
Perhaps even she herself was unwilling to admit it—she just wanted to prove in front of him that
she, Lin Xiaojiao, was not lacking.
Stop, stop, stop!
No more sentimentality!
Lin Xiaojiao continued humming a certain top idol’s song while massaging her little feet.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the car window.
Immediately after, the rear door was pulled open.
Gu Tingzheng never expected that what greeted him was a foot.