The moment Zhao Nige entered the room, she shut the door and immediately opened her system panel.
The point bar had just updated with a glistening 120 points!
Overjoyed, Zhao Nige performed a little waltz right where she stood. She tapped her toes, arms spread wide, spinning in a dance step as her eyes curved into happy crescents.
“Finally! I have two hundred points!”
Without a second thought, she instantly exchanged the 200 points for one year of life.
The precarious three-month countdown was finally paused.
Only after securing her life did she carefully examine today’s new points. She noticed that the points had increased in two separate increments, each adding 60 to her Heartbeat Value.
Wait, that means he felt his heart flutter for her twice today?
Zhao Nige giggled to herself. She spun around lightly and flopped onto the bed, grabbing a pillow and hugging it tight. Her legs kicked back and forth in the air, her toes curling like a happy cat’s tail.
Let’s see if I can guess when those heart-fluttering moments happened.
The first time… it must have been while she was dancing on stage.
As for the second time…
It has to be when he carried her down the stairs, right?
“Hmph~”
Zhao Nige twirled a strand of hair around her finger. The more she thought about it, the more the corner of her lips curved upward.
So much for playing the part of the stern, serious officer. His little heart-fluttering moments were betrayed by the Heartbeat Value for all to see.
Before long, the other girls from the party returned.
Yu Qian, who shared a room with Zhao Nige, burst in radiating happiness, her face practically glowing. Zhao Nige pulled her into bed, and they began to whisper.
“So, what’s the verdict on the young officer who asked you to dance? You two seemed to be hitting it off.”
“We’ll see,” Yu Qian said, a shy smile playing on her crimson cheeks. Suddenly, she remembered. “By the way, was that man you left the dance hall with tonight… your boyfriend?”
She had seen Zhao Nige leaning against a tall, commanding figure as they walked away. The moment had happened while she was chatting with the young officer, her gaze crossing the dance floor.
“You saw that?” Zhao Nige asked, her tone smug. “Well? Handsome, right?”
“Stunning! I’ve always wondered what kind of man could possibly capture the heart of an absolute beauty like you—to the point you’d endure practicing a flying backbend for him. I didn’t see his face, but his aura alone is on another level!”
Zhao Nige was pleased, but she couldn’t resist a correction. “I didn’t practice the flying backbend for him.”
***
The next day, the Art Troupe members who had stayed for the mixer prepared to head back.
Their return bus was scheduled for the afternoon, but the dancers would eat lunch at the military mess hall before leaving. This arrangement was a thoughtful touch, providing the new couples from the previous night a chance to talk further and exchange contact information.
The leader who had planned this was a genius, Zhao Nige thought, mentally giving them a thumbs-up.
By eleven o’clock, everyone had packed up and headed downstairs. Many of the troupe members had found promising partners at the ball and had arranged to meet again for lunch. If things went well, it could even lead to marriage—an outcome both units were more than happy to encourage.
As a result, the military had scheduled no extra duties today beyond their routine training.
As noon approached, a steady stream of soldiers began to arrive at the Art Troupe’s temporary quarters. Yu Qian’s young officer appeared to escort her, and she glanced back at Zhao Nige with a shy smile.
Zhao Nige waved to her and stayed behind, waiting for Lu Yanling.
As noon approached, the crowds thinned. Those without dates had already formed small groups and headed to the mess hall.
Zhao Nige stood by the roadside, watching the wide path empty. The wind rustled the fallen leaves and sent a chill across her arms, making the hair stand on end. The realization dawned on her slowly.
—Had he just stood her up?
She had never experienced this before, nor had she even considered a Plan B. The thought had never crossed her mind that he wouldn’t show.
Now, as the minutes ticked by, she couldn’t help but overthink.
She had just redeemed a year’s worth of life points last night, so the pressure to conquer him wasn’t as urgent. With fourteen months still left, she had plenty of time to win over several more cities.
But there could be no better opportunity than today. After all, he had just surrendered to her twice last night.
Military strategy always taught that the best way to deal with a defeated army was to strike while the iron was hot and press the advantage.
I’ll give him five more minutes.
If he doesn’t show up…
As Zhao Nige’s thoughts raced, heavy footsteps echoed behind her.
She snapped out of her reverie, quickly masked her expression with a casual smile, and turned around.
Her smile vanished the moment she saw the man before her. “Why are you here?”
Staff Officer Yang beamed at her. “Miss Zhao, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Zhao Nige’s gaze drifted past him. “Where’s Lu Yanling?”
“Yanling is still wrapped up with something,” Staff Officer Yang said, his eyes shining with a strange, doting warmth—reminiscent of a grandmother meeting her granddaughter’s new boyfriend for the first time.
“He was worried you’d get impatient, so he asked me to escort you.”
Zhao Nige wasn’t surprised that Lu Yanling could command a chief of staff to deliver a message. After all, his family’s influence was immense. Perhaps the commanders here had even served under his grandfather.
She offered a faint smile. “I appreciate the trouble, Staff Officer Yang.”
***
Staff Officer Yang was quite the gossip.
All the way there, he kept trying to pry into her relationship with Lu Yanling, but Zhao Nige skillfully deflected his questions. After all, this was a military camp, not a place for idle chatter. She knew better than to overstep.
Seeing he couldn’t get any information out of her, Staff Officer Yang finally gave up.
He led her to a quieter dormitory building and said, “Miss Zhao, please wait here for a moment. He’ll be with you shortly.”
Standing in the lobby, Zhao Nige looked around, a flicker of confusion crossing her mind.
Why did he bring her here?
This is a dormitory, not a cafeteria.
When Staff Officer Yang had led her here, he had taken a shortcut, bringing her straight into the lobby. As a result, she had completely missed the three large, golden characters on the building’s exterior: Administration Building.
But she didn’t have to wait long. A few minutes later, Lu Yanling appeared.
This time, Zhao Nige recognized him by his footsteps alone. Earlier, her mind had been drifting, and she hadn’t paid much attention.
But now, listening closely, she could tell the difference. Staff Officer Yang’s steps were heavy and hurried, whereas Lu Yanling’s gait was always elegant and steady. Even when he strode with long steps, he exuded an air of unhurried composure, his very posture radiating an innate nobility and pride.
He walked toward her from a side corridor, dressed today in camouflage fatigues and combat boots.
As he passed between the pillars, the sunlight filtered through, dusting his sharp features in fine, golden light. The glow contrasted sharply with the cold, imposing air of his camouflage uniform.
Zhao Nige stared at him, speechless.
When he finally reached her, his presence washed over her like a wave of pure authority.
Their eyes met. Instead of averting her gaze, Zhao Nige’s eyes curved into a shimmering smile as she met his stare head-on. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked.
Lu Yanling glanced at her once before turning away.
“Weren’t you going to treat me to a meal?” he asked, his voice flat as he already started toward the building.
Zhao Nige paused, confused. Is this a place to eat?
Never mind, she thought. The food was always just an excuse. The real goal was seeing him.
Without hesitation, she followed him.
The dormitory building featured outdoor stairs. Lu Yanling’s combat boots fell on the concrete steps with almost no sound, while Zhao Nige’s stiletto heels clicked sharply and clearly.
“Is this your dormitory?” she asked, taking in the building’s layout. It looked far more substantial than the temporary lodging she’d occupied the night before.
Lu Yanling gave a curt hum of affirmation from the top of the stairs, his tone devoid of emotion.
Zhao Nige chuckled softly. “So, why are you bringing me to your dorm?”
Lu Yanling stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.
With his long stride, he had already put several meters between them, showing no intention of waiting. Now, he stood on the stairs, head turned, his gaze sweeping down her face.
Zhao Nige tilted her head, her eyes blinking slowly.
She knew he was likely just going to his room to grab something, but she decided to deliberately misinterpret his actions anyway.
She wanted to steer the atmosphere toward something more… intimate.
“You couldn’t possibly be trying to…”
Her red lips parted slightly. Her expression was one of feigned surprise, but her gaze held a suggestive edge.
“Hmm.”
Lu Yanling’s eyes swept over her dramatic expression before drifting away.
“It’s too crowded out here,” he said, his tone suddenly profound. “The dorm is more private.”
…What?
Did he actually just say that?
No way. No way!
The man seemed so disciplined and distant in public. Was he really this secretly daring? In broad daylight, in the middle of a military camp?
What exactly did he want to do to her?
After the flash of astonishment and panic crossed Zhao Nige’s face, Lu Yanling averted his gaze. An almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of his mouth.
Lu Yanling turned and continued on his way.
When they reached the third floor, he stopped before a door and unlocked it with his key.
Zhao Nige stood before the entrance to his dorm, her heart racing. She asked herself a silent question: Am I ready for this?
Okay, fine. It’s moving a little fast, but since we’re already here…
In the name of his broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, and the eight-pack under that camouflage jacket…
I suppose I can make a small sacrifice.
“What are you still doing out there? Come in.” Lu Yanling turned to her, the key already in his hand.
Zhao Nige arched an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. A flirtatious glint instantly filled her eyes. She stepped inside, using her heel to deliberately swing the door shut behind her.
As Lu Yanling took off his jacket and hung it on a hook, she leaned in close, resting a hand on him as she breathed a soft, fragrant sigh against his skin.
“Lu Yanling, you—”
“The eggs and noodles are in the fridge. Go on, start cooking.” He cut her off, his face expressionless, eyes fixed on the floor.
Zhao Nige froze. What?
All the tension she’d been building—the sultry voice, the seductive gaze—crashed down in a single instant.
She stared at him in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
Lu Yanling rolled up his sleeves. He stood by the entryway, his usual cold, austere aura replaced by a casual ease. He watched her expectantly. “Didn’t you offer to buy me a meal?”
“I don’t like cafeteria food.” He arched an eyebrow. “There are eggs and noodles. Go get to it.”
Zhao Nige: “?”
Are you kidding me?
He invites her to his single dorm just to have her cook him noodles?