Uniform temptation indeed!
Truly worthy of being her first crush that she fell for at first sight.
Ahem, ahem—purely appreciation, absolutely no disrespect intended.
The school leadership gave a speech, highly praising the results of this military training and sincerely thanking the instructor team led by Gu Tingzheng for their strong support and guidance, and so on.
Lin Xiaojiao looked at someone on the podium who seemed to be listening attentively and couldn’t help but wonder:
How does he manage to stay focused without zoning out?
Finally, a clear command came through the loudspeaker:
“Parade march—begin!”
“Markers—take your positions!”
The stirring “Parade March” suddenly rang out, instantly igniting the atmosphere on site.
The “new recruits” who had trained for two weeks were all ready and waiting.
Prepared to receive the inspection from the school leadership.
Gu Tingzheng stepped aside to the edge of the podium. As instructors, their task was already complete.
The flag bearers were already in position.
Lin Xiaojiao and Sun Yizhi exchanged a glance, seeing focus and determination in each other’s eyes.
“Forward—march!”
As the lead soldier of the honor guard, she held her head high and chest out.
Kicking her legs, swinging her arms, stepping in rhythm.
Every movement was crisp and clean, full of strength.
The hem of her olive-green skirt traced sharp arcs with her strides, while her black boots struck the ground with clear, uniform sounds.
Her gaze was fixed straight ahead, her expression focused and resolute.
Sunlight spilled over her, as if casting a halo around her.
In the stands, Gu Tingzheng took the camera handed to him by Chen Cheng.
“Click—”
Capturing the highlight moment that belonged solely to her.
His girl was amazing!
…
The utopian military training life came to an end, and university life officially began.
In her previous life, as a freshman greenhorn, Lin Xiaojiao hadn’t had the chance to fully experience it before falling asleep and transmigrating.
Now, university life felt like a form of compensation and fulfillment to her.
At least, Lin Xiaojiao cherished it deeply.
No tardiness, no early departures, no skipping classes.
Shedding the halo of the honor guard and the title of being a relative of the head instructor, she quickly integrated into collective life.
With her ability to communicate fluently in English from her past life, handling professional courses was more than enough.
When someone has skill, it can’t be suppressed.
Lin Xiaojiao felt a little proud of herself.
At least no one dared to talk trash to her face about her being a “connection” anymore.
One day, she received a letter from her eldest brother, Lin Xianghua.
In this era, preferences were filled before exams. Lin Xianghua had been relatively conservative back then, applying to Nan Yu University in their hometown, Nan Yu City.
Later, he was transferred to the political science department.
In his letter, her eldest brother roughly shared his situation, saying everything was fine. Since he was close to home, he could take care of the family and told her not to worry. He also mentioned that their second brother might visit her in Jiangcheng soon.
Another ordinary week passed, and that “Uncle Gu” didn’t appear again.
Lin Xiaojiao couldn’t help but mock herself:
She didn’t even have a way to contact him.
If there was a real emergency, relying on him truly wouldn’t be dependable.
On Sunday morning, Lin Xiaojiao sprawled on her bed, reading a hard-to-find vintage romance novel.
Yet… she was fully dressed.
Ready to go out at any moment.
Then, the familiar loud voice of the dormitory auntie pierced through the floorboards:
“Room 203—Lin Xiaojiao! Someone’s looking for you downstairs—!”
Did this auntie become a dorm supervisor because of her loud voice?
Lin Xiaojiao grumbled to herself as she went downstairs.
Under the plane tree, the person who had disappeared for over half a month was leaning lazily against that familiar jeep.
Dressed in casual clothes, yet unable to conceal his tall and imposing presence.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the plane tree leaves, casting dappled shadows on him.
“The busy man finally shows up?”
Lin Xiaojiao walked over, her tone carrying a faint hint of complaint she hadn’t even noticed herself.
Gu Tingzheng straightened up, looking at the girl who had clearly grown thinner and darker.
He reached out naturally, brushing his knuckles against her cheek, his brow slightly furrowed:
“No matter how busy I am, I still have time to share a meal with you. Look how thin you’ve gotten.”
Lin Xiaojiao: “…”
Was he treating her like a cat to pet?
“Let’s go, I’ll take you for a proper meal.” He opened the passenger door.
“You really don’t have to go to all this trouble…” she murmured politely.
Gu Tingzheng glanced at her sideways, his tone matter-of-fact:
“Do you know anyone else in Jiangcheng outside of school? Let’s go, young lady.”
Lin Xiaojiao puffed out her cheeks and got in the car.
Why did this man seem a bit… roguish today?
The car stopped in front of a well-known, upscale state-owned restaurant in the city center.
It was peak dining hours, and the main hall was bustling with noise and lively energy.
Lin Xiaojiao couldn’t help but marvel—Jiangcheng truly lived up to its reputation as the provincial capital.
The two enjoyed their meal thoroughly.
Gu Tingzheng also asked about the recent situation of the Lin family, but made no mention of his own disappearance over the past year.
Lin Xiaojiao inwardly scolded herself for being useless—she didn’t even have the standing to ask a single question.
After eating and drinking their fill, Gu Tingzheng was helping the girl retrieve her windbreaker hanging on the back of the chair.
An untimely voice cut in.
Harsh, agitated.
“Lin Xiaojiao? It really is you!”
Lin Xiaojiao looked up, her heart instantly sinking—
Talk about a small world.
Xu Deyou stood beside the table, his gaze shifting complexly between her and Gu Tingzheng.
He was accompanied by a stylishly dressed female companion.
“Hah,” Xu Deyou forced a sarcastic, mocking smile, “I thought you were so noble and loyal. Turns out you’re just swapping men one after another. And this is… your new flame? Moving pretty fast, aren’t you?”
His eyes were bleary with drink, clearly failing to recognize that the imposing man before him was the “high-ranking officer” who, last year in a jeep, had terrified his family’s driver into reversing a hundred meters.
Lin Xiaojiao couldn’t be bothered with him. She pushed her chair back, ready to leave.
Deep inside, the original host’s disgust for the man before her had reached its peak.
Her face reflexively paled slightly.
Beside her, Gu Tingzheng’s expression visibly darkened.
Yet Xu Deyou paid no attention at all.
Seeing Lin Xiaojiao ignore him, spurred by alcohol or his own baser instincts, he instinctively reached out to grab her arm:
“I’m talking to you, who do you think you are—”
His words, and his movement, were abruptly cut off in an instant!
“Ugh, ah—!”
A pained cry was wrenched from Xu Deyou’s throat.
Almost no one saw how Gu Tingzheng moved.
Everyone only sensed a blur before their eyes—he was already standing.
One hand clamped down like an iron vise on Xu Deyou’s outstretched wrist, the force so great that Xu Deyou’s face instantly contorted in agony.
Gu Tingzheng’s expression was as still as water, his eyes holding a terrifying, icy coldness.
He looked at the hand Xu Deyou had intended to use, his jawline tightening abruptly, a flash of ferocity passing through his gaze.
His voice, when he spoke, was dangerously low, carrying an almost tangible pressure.
“Who gave you permission to touch her.”
A statement, not a question.
Before the words had fully faded, his hand abruptly twisted and shoved with a deft, powerful motion!
“Crunch!” A sickeningly crisp sound accompanied Xu Deyou’s even higher-pitched scream—
Xu Deyou’s arm was directly dislocated, hanging limp and useless as he crumpled in pain, cold sweat pouring down his face.
The entire restaurant hall fell silent in an instant, all eyes fixed on the scene.