At seven o'clock the next morning, military training officially began at Linchuan University. A black double-decker bus carrying a large number of armed police officers entered the campus.
At the same time, large numbers of freshmen flooded into the School Field from the dormitory area.
At that moment, a constant stream of discussion arose around the perimeter of Financial Class 4's formation. Exclamations like "Holy shit," "So beautiful," "A fairy," and "I'm stunned" were mixed in, making the atmosphere feel a little like a celebrity meet-and-greet. Even people from two classes over came running to watch.
Jiang Qin swung his cap in one hand and smoothed his hair with the other, lamenting that this damn weather was unbearably hot.
It was only morning, yet he could barely keep his cap on. Once military training began, who knew how unbearably hot it would become?
Meanwhile, Cao Guangyu, Zhou Chao, and Ren Ziqiang were coming over from Class 4's formation, their faces filled with astonishment.
"Lao Jiang, I've realized that I've always been a frog in a well!"
Jiang Qin grinned. "How did you realize that so late?"
Cao Guangyu: "????"
Ren Ziqiang spoke over Cao Guangyu. "Lao Jiang, don't laugh. Don't you think Hong Yan and Chu Siqi are already the pinnacle of beauty? Let me tell you, there's an even more stunning beauty in Class 4. Her aura is absolutely dazzling."
Zhou Chao nodded vigorously in complete agreement. "I've never seen such a perfect girl before. She's just like a celebrity—no, she's even prettier than a celebrity. My whole worldview has shattered."
Jiang Qin fanned himself with his cap and spoke calmly. "Is she really that exaggeratedly beautiful?"
"Not at all. If you don't believe me, come take a look with us. You'll definitely feel like a frog in a well too!"
"Yeah, Lao Jiang, come take a look! Looking at pretty girls doesn't cost anything!"
Jiang Qin waved them off, perfectly composed. "Forget it. In this damn weather, I'll be sweating after walking a few steps. I'd rather save my energy for military training."
Cao Guangyu felt a little bitter. "Damn it, you're the only one in the whole dorm who acts so superior!"
"Military training lasts half a month. There'll be plenty of chances to see her. No rush. Maybe she'll come looking for me later."
"What? Look for you? If she comes looking for you, I'll eat shit on the spot."
Jiang Qin couldn't help glancing at Cao Guangyu. "If you want to eat shit, just say so. Stop using me as an excuse!"
Just as the few people from Room 302 were talking, the girls from Financial Class 3 suddenly came flooding over in groups from behind. "What are you looking at? Even if you look, she still won't be yours."
Cao Guangyu couldn't help turning around. When he saw an ordinary yet delicate face, he said, "Pan Xiu, I didn't provoke you."
"I was just stating a fact."
Pan Xiu's military training uniform was very loose, making her look utterly baggy. Even the little cuteness she possessed had vanished.
"Everyone loves beauty. Can't we at least look?" Cao Guangyu declared righteously.
Pan Xiu couldn't help snorting. "What, are the beauties in our class not enough for you? Why go stare at those you can see but never have?"
Ren Ziqiang, a hopeless simp, immediately chimed in. "Xiaoxiu, I'm not looking at anyone else. I'm only looking at you."
"Student Ren Ziqiang, we've only spoken twice. We're not that close." Pan Xiu replied with an aloof expression.
"Uh..."
Cao Guangyu immediately shot him a contemptuous look. "You hopeless simp. The moment you see a girl, your legs stop working. And what happened in the end? You put a hot face against a cold ass!"
Ren Ziqiang looked at Pan Xiu with a mournful expression, then glanced at Cao Guangyu. "Fine, fine, I'll shut up. I won't say anything."
While the few of them were bickering, all the other girls from Financial Class 3 were looking at Jiang Qin.
Jiang Qin was over six feet tall, standing out above the crowd. Under the brilliant sunlight, he appeared especially tall and straight. Boys like him weren't particularly rare at Linchuan University, but they were still uncommon in Class 3. His three roommates didn't count; only Zuo Boqiang from the neighboring dorm could go toe-to-toe with him.
However, Zuo Boqiang couldn't compare with Jiang Qin in terms of facial features or complexion, which made Jiang Qin stand out even more.
At that moment, Jiang Qin was cursing and grumbling, apparently deeply dissatisfied with the temperature. He pressed a chilled bottle of mineral water against his face while staring listlessly at the supermarket opposite them, seeming almost indifferent to everything happening around him.
Seeing this, the girls from Class 3 couldn't help whispering among themselves.
"Among all the boys in Class 3, Jiang Qin is the most pretentious!"
"Exactly, exactly. If I hadn't heard about how he'd secretly loved someone for three years, I really would've been fooled by him!"
"Did he really pursue someone for three years? He doesn't look like he did."
"It's true. Ren Ziqiang told Pan Xiu himself. How could it be fake?"
"Qingqing, weren't you furious on Pedestrian Street yesterday? Tease him again later."
Song Qingqing stared at Jiang Qin's back and let out a cold snort. The scene of being ignored yesterday immediately came to mind, and her made-up face was soon covered in frost.
She had genuinely thought Jiang Qin was a low-key man among men. But as soon as Pan Xiu returned to the dormitory last night, she learned from Ren Ziqiang that Jiang Qin had desperately pursued a high school classmate for three years, only to be cruelly rejected. Pan Xiu had then vividly recounted the entire story in the dormitory.
Only after hearing the story did they realize that everything on Pedestrian Street the previous day had been a misunderstanding. Jiang Qin was actually just another pathetic guy who liked to curry favor with pretty girls, except he put on a relatively calm front.
"Teasing him is fine too. He ignored me yesterday, after all."
Song Qingqing put on a coquettish, imperious expression and couldn't help stepping forward. But before she could speak, a chant of "One-two-one, one-two-one" came from the entrance to the School Field. An entire formation of soldiers came running over, their steps perfectly synchronized and their chants loud and sonorous.
At the sight of this, the freshmen who had been standing around lazily instantly straightened up and even began forming ranks on their own. Song Qingqing had no choice but to abandon her plan and return to her position.
Linchuan University's first military training session was very simple: standing at attention under the blazing sun for an hour. The purpose was to wear down the freshmen's wildness and train their endurance.
However, since it was only the first day of training, there were plenty of incidents. Someone would faint halfway through, or someone would suddenly vomit. Whenever something happened, Jiang Qin couldn't help glancing toward Class 4's formation, a trace of concern in his eyes.
Fortunately, Class 4's formation remained safe and sound until the halfway break.
"Lao Jiang, want to go to the bathroom? Let's go together."
After a brief period of free activity began, Zhou Chao couldn't help patting Jiang Qin, who was standing in front of him.
Jiang Qin turned to look at him. "Didn't you just pee when you arrived this morning? It hasn't even been two hours, and you need to go again? Are your kidneys shot?"
Zhou Chao's breathing hitched. "Don't you want to go?"
"I can hold it for at least another three hours."
"Then I'm not going either."
Zhou Chao didn't know why, but the moment he heard the word "kidneys," his fighting spirit was inexplicably roused. He gritted his teeth, held his urge to pee back, and obediently sat down on the School Field.
At the same time, Song Qingqing, Jiang Tian, Pan Xiu, and several other girls came over. They surrounded Jiang Qin as if nothing were amiss, while the scents of various perfumes rushed into his face. In the hot weather, they nearly smoked him out.
"Student Jiang Qin, I heard that you pursued a girl for three years in high school, but ended up failing?"
Before you continue