He instinctively gripped tightly.
“Ouch—” Lin Xiaojiao gasped through gritted teeth.
Gu Tingzheng quickly loosened most of his strength and let go.
Having adjusted to the darkness inside the car, his gaze lowered—
Just from that brief moment, the girl’s ankle had already turned red from his grip.
“Sorry.”
The usually composed and steady man felt a momentary awkwardness. “I just came to grab a pack of cigarettes.”
He pointed to his jacket.
Who would have thought the girl would be in the back seat?
“I thought you were a bad person.”
Lin Xiaojiao’s voice was trembling, on the verge of tears.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
Gu Tingzheng reached up to rub his temples, his fingertips still lingering with the cool sensation of the girl’s ankle from moments before.
He knew his own strength well—that grip had definitely not been light.
If he hadn’t reacted quickly, he might have instinctively twisted it.
Gu Tingzheng’s gaze fell on her reddened ankle, his frown deepening.
“Wait here.”
He turned and retrieved a military first-aid kit from the trunk, pulling out a bottle of safflower oil.
His movements were swift and precise.
He unscrewed the cap, poured a small amount into his palm, and rubbed his hands together to warm it.
Then, before she could react, his warm palm was already precisely covering the red and swollen area of her ankle.
Lin Xiaojiao shuddered violently, instinctively trying to pull her foot back, but he held it in place with a firm, unyielding grip.
“Don’t move.”
His voice was low and commanding.
Yet his touch was incredibly gentle, his strength perfectly controlled, using only the warmth of his palm to slowly spread the medicinal oil.
Outside the car window, faint singing could be heard from the distance, while inside, the familiar, pungent yet comforting scent of safflower oil filled the air.
For a moment, time seemed to rewind to that summer afternoon when they first met.
Back then, he had also frowned while massaging her ankle.
Only, back then, she had cried uncontrollably, while now, she bit her lip and endured it, her heart pounding like thunder.
Neither of them spoke.
A silent understanding and complex emotions filled the cramped space.
What was he thinking?
Was he also remembering last year?
Lin Xiaojiao didn’t dare ask.
Soon, he withdrew his hand.
He placed the bottle of safflower oil into her hand.
“Remember to massage it yourself when you get back. The training schedule is intense these next two days.”
His tone returned to its usual steadiness, even deliberately carrying a hint of distance.
Then, almost hurriedly, he picked up his jacket, closing the car door with more force than usual.
“Leave the keys in the car when you go.”
Lin Xiaojiao hugged her knees, the familiar scent still lingering at the tip of her nose.
A year had passed.
It seemed like everything had changed.
Yet, it also seemed like nothing had changed at all.
…
Lin Xiaojiao regretted it!
She regretted it immensely!
This wasn’t an honor guard—it was a boot camp!
Instructor Xu was practically a smiling executioner!
Over the past two days, she and Sun Yizhi, who had barely known each other before, had forged a bond of camaraderie through sheer hardship.
As Wei Qiang put it, “You represent the Seventh Squadron—don’t embarrass us!”
And just like that, the two of them were inexplicably selected as model soldiers for the honor guard.
Right behind the flag bearers.
The training was relentless, almost turning them into automatons.
“Comrade Sun, the revolution is not yet complete, and we must continue to strive. I—must go now—”
In the middle of training, the communications officer Chen Cheng suddenly came to borrow some help, saying the regiment commander needed two students to organize the honor guard’s dress uniforms.
Without hesitation, Chen Cheng picked Lin Xiaojiao first, along with another female student.
…
The instructor’s temporary office was piled high with unopened dress uniforms.
“Reporting, Battalion Commander, the person has been brought.”
“Mm, start working.” Without any pleasantries, Gu Tingzheng directly assigned tasks.
“According to the clothing sizes you previously reported, sort and organize the clothes into sets. Before training ends today, distribute them to every trainee and keep proper records.”
Gu Tingzheng gave instructions methodically, “The clothes are borrowed from the military academy. After the drill performance, they will be collected uniformly. Please work hard to keep good records.”
Before Lin Xiaojiao and the other could reply, Gu Tingzheng had already left the office.
Only Chen Cheng stayed to help them with the work.
Lin Xiaojiao was so frustrated!
So this person really did summon her just to do chores.
While she was grinding her teeth in frustration, the neighboring office was—
“Battalion Commander Gu, this is really not fair!” Xu Li took off his military cap, fanning himself with it.
“You commandeered my soldier to come here and do odd jobs. If you need people, you can easily grab a bunch from the training ground. Why snatch someone from the honor guard? You know our rehearsal time is limited…”
“Old Xu, the honor guard member is doing honor guard work, nothing wrong with that.” Gu Tingzheng leisurely poured a cup of tea for his old partner.
“That one, is she really your niece?” Xu Li leaned in while taking the teacup, “I heard that on the first day of military training, you carried the kid to the infirmary. Tsk tsk! Who would’ve thought!”
“Battalion Commander Xu, does your wife know yet that you ran into an old flame down south—” Gu Tingzheng took a slow sip of tea.
“Alright, alright! You win! I’m going to train the recruits!” Xu Li downed the cup of water in one gulp, put on his cap, and left.
…
“Wow, wow, wow! The honor guard really is different! Look at that waist, look at that skirt!”
A group of girls in the dorm surrounded Lin Xiaojiao as if watching a monkey.
The light green shirt, black tie, olive-green pencil skirt paired with black boots—even Lin Xiaojiao herself felt so pleased she wanted to take photos.
“Now look at our baggy, stuffy training uniforms. Sigh! Comparing people really makes you angry!”
Today was the day of the drill performance. Assembly was at nine o’clock, giving them plenty of time to get dressed.
“If you had a battalion commander uncle, you could be up there too.” Someone muttered, not loudly but clearly enough.
It was an inconspicuous girl in the dorm, Bai Lu.
Zhou Yunyun got anxious and wanted to defend Lin Xiaojiao.
Clearly, it was based on ability, so why spread rumors?
But Lin Xiaojiao stopped her.
Proving oneself is the most draining thing.
“What nonsense are you talking! Weren’t you there during Instructor Wei’s selection? If you’re so capable, you go up!”
The speaker was Jiang Wendi, whose voice was always quite loud. “We’re all in the same dorm, Bai Lu. Is it fair for you to say that about Lin Xiaojiao? Which day isn’t the honor guard training harder than us? Have you no conscience?”
Huh, even Lin Xiaojiao was stunned.
She felt inexplicably warm inside.
So someone did see the effort.
“I was just joking.” Bai Lu, unable to save face, awkwardly ran out.
“Thank you.” Lin Xiaojiao sincerely thanked Jiang Wendi, realizing she had held some prejudice against her before.
“Alright, break it up, break it up! It’s almost time to assemble!” Jiang Wendi clearly felt a bit awkward and led the way out of the dorm.
Watching her back, Lin Xiaojiao thought she was actually quite cute.
Sun Yizhi and a few boys from the class had been waiting outside the girls’ dorm early.
These past few days, their Seventh Company had been unprecedentedly united.
Seeing their group of girls coming downstairs from afar, he politely waved at them.
Sun Yizhi was dressed in formal attire, looking even more handsome than usual.
“Let’s go, comrade~” Lin Xiaojiao walked over naturally.
She was heading in the same direction as him.
“Oh my! What a perfect match—talent and beauty combined!” someone teased.
“Absolutely! They’re the face of our Seventh Squadron! Go for it!”
Watching the two walk away, Hu Guozhi secretly clenched his fist.
…
At 9:30 AM, the parade officially began.
The person Lin Xiaojiao hadn’t seen all morning stepped onto the main stage of the field alongside the athletes’ march.
The honor guard formation, as the first formation, was closest to the stage.
Unlike during the military training mobilization meeting, this time she could clearly see his face.
In his uniform, he carried the dignity and integrity unique to a soldier.
He exuded a strong aura of masculinity.
It made Lin Xiaojiao’s heart beat inexplicably faster.