Chapter 57

After signing up, it was time for military training. Despite the scorching sun outside and the upperclassmen’s vivid descriptions of the hardships of training, the freshmen still maintained a high level of enthusiasm and curiosity. After all, being able to skip classes officially was a joyful thing for every student.

Of course, Liu Jingtong, who had already participated in military training twice, did not have such feelings. He remembered that during his college military training, the counselor had said with great emotion: "This will be the last time you undergo military training in your life, so take it seriously."

At this moment, Liu Jingtong particularly wanted to send a text message to that counselor to tell her she was wrong.

Liu Jingtong’s text message, of course, could not be sent, but the next morning, just after he finished washing up, he received a text message. It was from Mi Hu, and it only contained three words: "See you tonight."

Mi Hu, who had taken a year off, was about to enter his senior year. In fact, the graduating class had already been in session for over a month, but Mi Hu had delayed his return to complete his tutoring classes.

Liu Jingtong, holding a towel in one hand and his phone in the other, smiled when he saw the text message and replied with a lecherous emoji. Just as the message was sent, a strange cry suddenly rang in his ear: "Brother Ting is awesome."

Liu Jingtong was startled and turned to see Yu Xiaoshu with an evil smile. He shrugged, showing a smug expression as if to say, "Nothing much."

Zhao Kan, who had just come out of the bathroom, asked curiously, "What’s going on? Let me admire it too."

Yu Xiaoshu pointed at Liu Jingtong’s phone and said, "Liu Jingtong might not return to the dorm tonight. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination."

Zhao Kan understood and looked at Liu Jingtong with a serious face, saying righteously, "Comrade Liu Jingtong, this is during military training. In such a special period, you openly defy the rules, completely ignoring the 'Middle School Student Code of Conduct' and possibly violating military discipline. I strongly protest and—envy you on behalf of myself and your roommates."

Young people get to know each other quickly. After a few jokes and a few games, Liu Jingtong, who didn’t like to talk deeply with people he didn’t know well, was still familiar with the culture of male dormitories in high school and college. He maintained an appropriate smile in the face of his roommates’ jokes.

At this moment, Sun Xinyang, with a towel around his neck, came out with a cup and said to Liu Jingtong, "It might rain tonight. Your bed is by the window, so use my plastic bag to block it to prevent rain from leaking in."

Liu Jingtong nodded and said, "Yu Xiaoshu, Zhao Kan, you two should see what a roommate should be like."

Just as he finished speaking, Sun Xinyang added, "After all, you won’t be back tonight, so we won’t know if it leaks."

Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan burst into laughter and high-fived Sun Xinyang.

Liu Jingtong smiled and said, "So, Xinyang is also a closet pervert."

...

The first day of military training was relatively simple, mainly emphasizing discipline and practicing standing at attention. When the instructor mentioned that there might be room inspections at night, Yu Xiaoshu, Zhao Kan, and Sun Xinyang all looked at Liu Jingtong with pity. Liu Jingtong smiled calmly and raised the corner of his mouth arrogantly. The instructor slowly walked to Liu Jingtong and looked at him, then said lightly, "From this student’s expression, it seems he has other ideas. Let’s start with thirty push-ups."

Liu Jingtong knew the rules of the training ground. The instructor’s orders were not to be questioned, and the more you explained, the more severe the punishment. Without hesitation, Liu Jingtong got down and started doing push-ups. Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan watched and chuckled.

After completing the thirty push-ups, Liu Jingtong looked at Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan and said, "The first rule of being a soldier is to follow orders. If you guys encourage me to defy the instructor’s orders again, don’t blame me for reporting you." He then saluted the instructor and said, "Instructor, I have completed the thirty push-ups. Please give me further instructions!"

The students were all puzzled by Liu Jingtong’s actions, and the instructor was slightly taken aback. A high school student shouldn’t know these procedures. After a moment, he said, "Return to your position."

Liu Jingtong returned to the line, and the instructor walked to Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan, nodded, and ordered, "You two, run ten laps around the track."

The two quickly explained, "We didn’t encourage him, it was completely—"

"Twenty laps!"

Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan immediately shut up and looked at Liu Jingtong, who was standing at attention, looking straight ahead with a serious face. They both smiled bitterly and started running.

...

After the first day of military training, Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan confronted Liu Jingtong. Liu Jingtong, acting as if he had lost his memory, completely avoided talking about the punishment and, in the role of an experienced person, shared his military training experience. Liu Jingtong was good at telling stories, and with his unique experiences, no one could resist his stories. Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan were completely captivated, especially when they heard that college military training instructors could develop romantic relationships with students and that there were even beautiful female instructors, they showed expressions of longing.

"Let’s go to the cafeteria for dinner." Liu Jingtong suggested, and Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan, who were still engrossed in the stories, naturally had no objections.

As the three were about to enter the cafeteria, Liu Jingtong suddenly saw a familiar figure walk in from the school gate. Mi Hu had arrived early.

Just as he was about to wave to greet her, he noticed a woman in her thirties next to Mi Hu, probably her mother. Liu Jingtong hesitated for a moment, thinking of pretending not to see them and turning to enter the cafeteria. However, Mi Hu called out first, "Liu Jingtong, stop right there!"

Liu Jingtong was taken aback and stopped. Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan, seeing Mi Hu, simultaneously gave Liu Jingtong a thumbs up.

"Didn’t you see me?" Mi Hu jumped in front of Liu Jingtong and asked aggressively.

Liu Jingtong glanced at Mi Hu’s mother and cautiously replied, "I didn’t see clearly. Weren’t you supposed to come tonight?"

"Which ear did you use to hear that I was coming tonight?"

"Your text message..."

Mi Hu interrupted, "The text message said to meet tonight..." She suddenly realized something and changed her words, "I meant it might be tonight. Who knew the car would speed up."

Yu Xiaoshu and Zhao Kan smiled at each other and said to Liu Jingtong, "We’ll go get the food first."

"Xiaomi, who is this?" Mi Hu’s mother walked up and asked her daughter, looking at Liu Jingtong.

"Oh," Mi Hu, who had been a bit excited upon seeing Liu Jingtong, now looked a bit embarrassed. She pointed with her finger, looking guilty, and said, "An author I met when I was an editor."

Liu Jingtong was secretly worried about his girlfriend’s obvious nervousness. Her expression and demeanor were so full of holes that even a passerby could see their ambiguous relationship.

"Auntie, hello." Liu Jingtong greeted Mi Hu’s mother with a forced smile.

Mi Hu’s mother nodded politely and asked, "Are you also a senior this year?"

"Freshman, I just took the college entrance exam."

Liu Jingtong’s mature demeanor and appearance made him seem much older.

"Okay, go have your meal. I’ll go to Xiaomi’s dorm to help with her luggage and bedding."

Liu Jingtong noticed the subtle defensive look on Mi Hu’s mother’s face, so he tried to act as if he and Mi Hu were just ordinary friends. He nodded gracefully and said politely, "Editor Mi Hu, Auntie, goodbye." He took a few steps back before turning to enter the cafeteria.

After Liu Jingtong left, Mi Hu’s mother looked at her daughter and asked, "Is it him?"

As the saying goes, a mother knows her daughter best. Although Mi Hu and Liu Jingtong’s relationship had not progressed beyond holding hands, the默契 (chemistry) and naturalness in their interactions gave them a sense of joy and sweetness. With Mi Hu’s expressive personality, her parents had long noticed something.

Mi Hu nodded slightly, blushing, and her mother could only sigh.

"Your father and I aren’t old-fashioned, but you’re taking the college entrance exam this year. You understand what I mean?"

"Mom, don’t worry. I’ve talked to him, and we’re going to apply to the same university."

Mi Hu’s mother nodded and then said, "I think that boy is very shrewd. Will you see him again later?"

"Huh? What do you mean..."

"Meet up and let me get to know him better." Her mother said firmly.

...

"Brother Ting, allow me to express my admiration." Yu Xiaoshu looked at Liu Jingtong, who was sitting opposite him, and said exaggeratedly, "From the way your girlfriend just acted, Brother Ting, you’ve already met the parents?"

Liu Jingtong ate quietly, feeling a bit nervous. He maintained his composure in the face of Yu Xiaoshu’s flattery, "Just now."

Zhao Kan added, "Why did your girlfriend come today? Is she also a freshman?"

"Senior."

"Seniors have been in school for a long time, haven’t they?"

"She took a year off and was taking summer classes."

Yu Xiaoshu quickly interjected, "Wait, Brother Ting, are you saying your girlfriend is also a senior?"

Liu Jingtong nodded.

Yu Xiaoshu put down his chopsticks, stood up, and bowed to Liu Jingtong, saying sincerely, "Brother Ting, from now on, I’ll follow you."

Liu Jingtong smiled and said, "You should consider acting."

After dinner, when they returned to the dorm, they saw Sun Xinyang sitting at the table reading a book. Zhao Kan sighed, "Old Sun, you’re putting us under a lot of pressure. Have you eaten?"

Sun Xinyang looked up and smiled at the three, "I just had instant noodles."

Liu Jingtong frowned, "Just instant noodles?"

"Yes, I bought a whole box in bulk."

"Instant noodles aren’t good for you, especially during military training."

Sun Xinyang smiled, indicating it was fine.

Liu Jingtong didn’t know what else to say and thought for a moment, making a plan.

"Ding ding ding..."

"Sun Xinyang!"

Liu Jingtong’s phone and a girl’s voice calling Sun Xinyang from downstairs rang out simultaneously.

Liu Jingtong received a text message from Mi Hu, which was still short, five words: "My mom wants to meet you."

Sun Xinyang, a bit embarrassed, stood up and said to his puzzled roommates, "My girlfriend."

Yu Xiaoshu, hearing this, cried out in mock sorrow, and Zhao Kan shook his head, "I don’t mind when top students show off their grades, but I do mind when they show off their love. How can we play together happily in the future?"

...