As the lights-out bugle sounded, Hao Shuwen and Xiao Suizi entered the dormitory.
"What were you two doing? If you hadn't come back soon, we were going to get the squad leader," Zhuoma called out when she saw them return.
"We weren't feeling well, so the two of us took a walk outside to get some air," Hao Shuwen replied. It was an excuse they had come up with on the spot.
They had already thought it through. The two of them had returned late, and Wang Yan had returned late too. That was impossible to hide; anyone who asked around could find out. Fortunately, Wang Yan had been alone while they had been together, which ruled out many people's messy, improper thoughts. Though that possibility could not be completely excluded, Hao Shuwen's father was a big shot, and everyone knew what kind of person Xiao Suizi was. Unless the world had gone mad.
After giving a perfunctory answer, Hao Shuwen changed the subject, leaving no chance for the others to chatter on.
"Lin Dingding, Wang Yan didn't bring you canned food today?"
The change of topic was perfectly timed. In the darkness, beneath the moonlight, Hao Shuwen and Xiao Suizi exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.
Sure enough, Little Ballet laughed. "Lin Dingding, you weren't out on a date with Wang Yan tonight, were you?"
Lin Dingding shook her head. "Don't talk nonsense. There's nothing to it, and it wouldn't be good if word got out."
"Oh? You're afraid of word getting out now? Then what about Officer Wu and Doctor Zhang? Everyone knows about them. And Liu Feng—he's the model soldier of our troupe, and he's always hovering around you too."
"Listen to yourself. Your political awareness is far too low. As Wang Yan would say, it's pure