The freshman military training began on the 16th and lasted until the end of the month, a full two weeks of intensive training.
Each class was divided into a platoon, and when there were fewer students in a class, they would merge with another class in the same department. A platoon typically consisted of around fifty students, and a department formed a company.
The platoon and company leaders were military officers specially recruited from the armed forces, while the deputy company leaders were appointed from the university’s National Defense Students. With six departments in the university and a multitude of majors, there were plenty of National Defense Students serving as deputy company leaders.
Xu Fang was assigned as the deputy company leader for the Psychology Department, specifically the 18th company.
Lin Xiche hadn’t expected things to turn out this way, but she ended up in the same company as Lin Xige.
Due to the large number of freshmen, each company was assigned to different outdoor training locations, some on the field and others on the basketball court, all under the scorching sun.
The Psychology Department was assigned to the basketball court.
Unlike the field, which had artificial turf, the basketball court was made of cement, and after being baked in the sun all morning, the surface temperature was high enough to fry an egg. Even during break time, students didn’t dare to sit directly on the ground. They had to squat to rest.
Lin Xiche had some free time and applied to become a volunteer for the Red Cross. She sat in a tent every day, wearing a badge on her chest. If any students felt uncomfortable during training, they would come to her for assistance, whether it was for water or applying pain relief ointment.
In August in Yonggang City, the sun was scorching. Lin Xiche sat in the tent and found it difficult to keep her eyes open. She continuously applied sunscreen but couldn’t recall how she had endured military training herself.
Green patches of canvas tents surrounded her, and the diagonally opposite tent was where Lin Xige’s platoon, the 2nd platoon of the 18th company, was located.
Xu Fang stood in front of them, dressed in military uniform, tall and upright, with sharp lines on his clothing. His profile was distinct and precise, his usual laziness put aside, making him look serious and dignified.
Lin Xiche thought, The deputy company leader is quite handsome… as she lay on the table.
The military training had just begun, and there were already quite a few students from the 18th company who had fallen down. Among the ten people in the tent, half were from the 18th company, but most of them were pretending, and Lin Xiche and the other volunteers could see through their act.
The training was mainly conducted by the platoon leader, with the deputy company leader supervising.
Lin Xiche watched Xu Fang continuously monitoring from the sidelines. Occasionally, he would look in her direction, his dark eyes intense, and his straight nose and pale lips accentuated his appearance. The military hat couldn’t shield the sun directly in front, casting a shallow shadow under his eyes.
Because of the uniform, the sense of restraint on his body was multiplied.
Lin Xiche couldn’t help but lick her lips.
The afternoon training lasted from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm.
After training, Lin Xiche tidied up her things and stood up. She wanted to find Xu Fang to have dinner together, but Lin Xige came over first.
She held a 1.5L water bottle, took off her military cap, and her hair had marks from the cap. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked exhausted.
It had been two days since the military training began, and Lin Xige rarely ate with her. She usually ate with her dormitory mates. Now, seeing her approach, Lin Xiche was a bit surprised. “What’s up?”
Lin Xige said directly, “I want to eat with you.”
Coincidentally, Xu Fang also approached, and upon hearing Lin Xige’s words, he pulled Lin Xiche over and raised an eyebrow, looking indifferent. “No.”
Lin Xiche didn’t understand what they were arguing about. “Can’t the three of us eat together?”
“Never mind, I’m leaving.” Upon hearing this, Lin Xige quickly ran away. “I’m leaving, goodbye!”
“…”
Lin Xiche turned to look at Xu Fang. “Did you upset her?”
Xu Fang didn’t answer but watched her with a slightly furrowed brow. “Wear a hat tomorrow.”
“Give me yours, then.”
Xu Fang glanced at her but didn’t move.
Lin Xiche stood beside him, bouncing as if she wanted to get the hat.
He immediately grabbed her hand and tsked. “Stop being so playful.”
Then, he took off his hat, not giving it to her but shading her from the sun with it.
“It’s all sweaty.”
The evening training was relatively relaxed compared to daytime, and there was some time allocated for the freshmen to practice military songs because there would be a military song competition later, and every platoon had to participate.
During this time, the atmosphere on the basketball court became particularly lively.
Apart from singing the mandatory “Singing of the Motherland,” each class had to choose another military-related song to sing. Some classes had someone with a good singing voice lead, while others were led by instructors. The clear and melodious voices of these songs echoed throughout the basketball court.
Lin Xiche rested her chin on her hand, and she heard some commotion from the 18th company’s side. From the muffled sounds, she guessed they were probably calling for the deputy company leader to sing a song.
Xu Fang won’t sing, Lin Xiche thought.
Indeed.
Not long after, Xu Fang, who obviously didn’t want to sing, came walking toward her. Shortly after his arrival, the 18th company started singing a synchronized song.
Xu Fang stood next to Lin Xiche, took her water bottle, and had a few sips of water.
Lin Xiche, sitting down, looked up at him. “Did they ask you to sing?”
He responded with a slight nod.
“Come on, you should sing,” Lin Xiche tugged at his wrist and teased, “With your singing voice, you’ll instantly extinguish the hopes of a hundred girls who want to keep a light on for you.”
Xu Fang withdrew his hand and smirked, then pinched her cheek firmly. “Where did you get that extra light from?”
She chuckled mischievously. “Me.”
After training was over, Lin Xiche returned to her dorm. Because she had arrived early, she was the only one in the room.
At this time, due to the non-formal start of the school year, the National Defense Students’ regulations were relatively relaxed, and Xu Fang didn’t have to turn off his phone and go to sleep at 10:30 PM like before.
After taking a shower, Lin Xiche chatted with him, not saying anything in particular.
Last year, when Lin Xiche was undergoing military training, the deputy company leader was a junior National Defense Student, two years older than them, and had a youthful appearance, complete with a cute little tooth. She looked particularly adorable when she smiled.
At that time, not only the female students in their company but also those from other companies were thinking of ways to get his contact information.
Thinking of Xu Fang’s appearance today, Lin Xiche suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
However, she couldn’t directly tell Xu Fang about this situation. She was afraid that if he realized how outstanding he was, he might become arrogant and suddenly feel that she wasn’t worthy of him, leading to him wanting to break up with her.
That would be terrible.
With these thoughts in her mind, Lin Xiche closed the chat window with Xu Fang and turned to find Lin Xige.
Lin Xiche: [Xige.]
Lin Xiche: [I feel like a lot of girls might be interested in Xu Fang.]
Lin Xiche: [Do you and your dorm mates discuss him before bedtime?]
Lin Xige replied quickly: [We do.]
Seeing this, Lin Xiche felt a bit anxious. She asked, “What do you talk about?” This time, Lin Xige didn’t respond. After about ten minutes, she heard a knock on the door.
Lin Xiche was puzzled. “Who is it?”
When she opened the door, she saw Lin Xige walking in with a stack of writing paper.
After training each day, the freshmen had to write an 800-word military training report, and this day had just ended.
Lin Xige sat down in Lin Xiche’s spot and quickly started scribbling on the paper. At the same time, she began speaking, “Really, in our dormitory, we talk about Xu Fang every night.”
“Do you want his contact information?”
“Hell no!” Lin Xige was annoyed and quickly calmed down. “But at first, yes, they were all saying how handsome Xu Fang is, even more handsome than the other deputy company leaders.”
Lin Xiche sighed. “I knew it.”
Lin Xige’s tone changed. “But now, our dormitory’s daily routine is to curse at him.”
“What? Why?” Lin Xiche was confused.
“He’s super strict, super harsh, and super scary,” Lin Xige’s eyes widened, and she spoke rapidly. “We don’t even call him deputy company leader in private; we all call him the devil.”
Lin Xiche was taken aback. “…”
“Lin Xiche, why did you fall for him? I’m dying here!” Lin Xige continued, “He’s even more annoying than the instructors! He stands there and watches us every day. Can’t you do something to divert his attention and make him come over less often?”
Lin Xiche swallowed hard and instinctively tried to defend Xu Fang. “Isn’t military training supposed to be this strict?”
“Lin Xiche, I’ve figured it out,” Lin Xige was unusually crafty and began implanting the idea that Xu Fang wasn’t a good person in her mind. “From these details, it’s clear that Xu Fang won’t be good to his girlfriend.”
“…,” Lin Xiche was speechless.
“I think the other deputy company leaders are much nicer to girls, but he’s not,” Lin Xige said, touching her forehead and pretending to cry, “I want to transfer to another department. Can I get a different deputy company leader if I transfer?”
“…” Lin Xiche was at a loss for words.
After Lin Xige left, Lin Xiche reopened her chat with Xu Fang.
She licked her lips and messaged him: [Fangfang.]
Lin Xiche: [Today, when I saw you like this, I had a guess.]
Xu Fang: [What is it?]
Lin Xiche: [Once the military training is over, no girl will come looking for your WeChat because you’re not that good-looking. You should have a realistic self-assessment.]
Xu Fang: […]
Xu Fang: [Are you crazy?]
Lin Xiche: ?I’m telling you, you need to cherish me.?
Xu Fang: ?I, Lin Xichi, am of SSS-level quality. Normally, someone like you, Xufang, with a C-level quality wouldn’t be able to catch up with someone like me, Lin Xichi.?
Lin Xichi: ?I’ve opened a backdoor for you, a friendship backdoor, commonly known as a friendly discount, understand??
Xufang: “…”
What’s this crazy idea again?
After the conversation with Lin Xichi that day, Xufang noticed that she was avoiding the topic. Even though he felt that what he said made sense, she still found those eight years exceptionally terrifying and hard to accept.
Perhaps sensing her attitude, Xufang refrained from bringing it up again.
As Lin Xichi lay in bed, preparing to sleep, she suddenly remembered what Lin Xigeng had told her earlier.
Xufang was strict, taking his role as the deputy squad leader of the new recruits very seriously.
Lin Xichi opened her eyes, finding herself unable to fall asleep anymore.
She remembered his words: “So, will you support me and be happy for what I want to do?”
But she hadn’t replied.
Maybe he, too, was feeling down.
Xufang had never seemed particularly passionate about anything before. Whether it was academics, playing games, or even being on the basketball team, he always seemed lackadaisical, losing interest quickly.
But Lin Xichi had heard from Yutong before.
During the night training for National Defense students, there was a strange camaraderie among them. During exercises like push-ups and sit-ups, some would deliberately miscount, skipping numbers.
One, two, three, four, eight, nine, ten, twenty…
But not Xufang.
He counted and completed them all, stubbornly, without missing a single one.
Lin Xichi had always known that Xufang was an exceptionally outstanding person, and even standing quietly in the crowd, he would capture everyone’s attention. However, that was mostly because of his appearance.
Today, he wore that uniform and stood there, doing what he wanted to do. It was as if a radiant aura emanated from him instantly.
—Impossible to look away from.
After thinking for the entire night and even researching in the middle of the night, Lin Xichi’s sleep was terribly inadequate, but her mood seemed exceptionally good the next day.
During breakfast, Xufang couldn’t help but look at her several times, his brows furrowed. “Where did you go last night?”
“None of your business.” Lin Xichi didn’t answer and asked him seriously, “How is the post-graduation assignment of locations decided? Do you get to choose the school or the location?”
Surprised by her sudden interest in the topic, Xufang hesitated for a moment before replying, “There are fixed locations. First, you choose the branch of the military, and then the location.”
“You get to choose it yourself?”
“Yeah,” Xufang considered for a moment, “It’s based on a comprehensive ranking, including academic performance and physical fitness.”
“Listen, Xufang, the university has reserved spots for National Defense students in the postgraduate program.” Lin Xichi licked her lips and talked about what she had found last night. “The ranks for undergraduates and postgraduates in the military are different, and if you go to a military academy for your postgraduate studies, it counts as military service.”
Xufang remembered his grades and cleared his throat to remind her.
“But those spots are so limited.”
Lin Xichi’s eyes widened, her voice rising, “I was even thinking of having you pursue a Ph.D.”
Xufang: “…”
“You said you wanted to work hard.” Lin Xichi kicked him under the table, “So why don’t you work hard?”
“…”
Lin Xichi pursed her lips and stared at him stubbornly. “So, will you go for it?”
“…”
Could it be so easy for him?
Lin Xichi repeated, “Will you go for it?”
Xufang took a deep breath, intending to explain to her the difficulty of obtaining one of those spots. He looked at Lin Xichi and noticed the determination in her sparkling eyes, as if she were saying, “If you don’t give me a clear answer right now, I’ll beat you up.”
He instantly rephrased his response, closed his eyes briefly, and then replied, “I will.”
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