Remembering the recent notification to cooperate with an interview, the security guard nodded with a face full of black lines.
"Wow, that's so cool..." Catnip swooned for a moment before picking up the microphone: "I'd like to ask you, how long has the Beihai base been established?"
"Two hundred and three years." The gatekeeper said coldly.
"Wow—it's been so long—what's the most memorable thing about living here?" Catnip asked excitedly.
"...The food in the cafeteria is delicious," the cool-looking security guard replied.
"???"
Catnip opened its mouth blankly, thought for a moment, turned around and communicated with the cameraman before saying, "Hey bro, you're so handsome, and the Beihai base is so cool, we need some fresh, exciting, and classy answers to be worthy of today's news! We'll cut out what we just said, do you want to think of another one?"
The poor security guard had never been interviewed before. He thought it made sense, so he thought and thought and finally nodded and said he had figured it out.
"Okay, let's do it again! Young man, what's the most memorable thing about this place?"
"The kitchen helper who steams buns in the cafeteria is very good-looking," the cool-looking security guard replied.
"??????"
Catnip and her group entered the Beihai base in a daze, still lost in thought about "just how handsome is the guy steaming buns?" After a while, Catnip finally snapped out of it: "Ah, wrong way! We almost went to the cafeteria... Let's go to the main building first, we have an appointment with our instructor!"
The complex occupies a vast area. Although this era is not lacking in magnificent buildings full of modern technology, urban planning tends to be dense due to population explosion. The Beihai base does not have this problem. There is a huge plaza outside the building, with a sundial sculpture in the center, more than five meters high, which is very retro.
Catnip posed for photos frantically in front of the sundial, showering it with compliments, explaining its historical significance, praising the base's leaders for their erudition, and using the sundial to express reverence for ancient sages and hope for future technology...
As they went upstairs, they saw Luo Yu outside the elevator. Team Leader Luo had a meeting today and was wearing a uniform; the medals on his chest clearly indicated that he was a big shot.
Catnip eagerly approached, "Hey bro, can I ask you a question?"
"Little brother..." Captain Luo's eyelids twitched, and he said seriously, "Ask away."
Catnip, brimming with "This is so cool, I love it!", asked expectantly, "We see a sundial sculpture in the center of the square. I know it's a great ancient invention used to record time. It embodies the beauty of nature and the vastness of the universe. It makes me feel lost in the profound truths of all things..." Catnip was captivated for a moment before asking, "So why did the base initially build a sundial sculpture? To remind everyone to cherish time?"
Luo Yu remained silent for a moment, his nasolabial folds deepening: "I heard it's because it's cheaper."
"...?"
“It’s not good to leave the square completely empty. This was put up when the leaders came to visit two years ago.” Luo Yu said very frankly, “This one is simple to make, the cheapest, and looks big, so I chose this one.”
Catnip, in a daze, saw the unknown big shot off and then, with a dreamy look on her face, pressed the elevator button to go upstairs.
The 30th floor is the office area, where some clerical staff work. Catnip knocked on the door of Instructor Zhang's office, which she had arranged to meet. He smiled and invited her in to sit down.
Hmm... Coach Zhang's refined and cultured style is quite nice... He has a kind of elegant, middle-aged charm...
The adorable young catnip, her heart fluttering with spring fever, spoke much softer as she pulled out her interview transcript and asked questions one by one.
Zhang Jincheng is indeed someone who works in this field; every word he says sounds useful, but upon closer inspection, it's all nonsense. I have no idea what he's talking about.
She finally couldn't help but interrupt with a question: "Um, how much is 'a lot'?"
Zhang Jincheng laughed and said, "That's the majority, I guess."
Catnip: "What percentage exactly?"
Zhang Jincheng: "We need to verify this further."
Catnip: "Probably?"
Zhang Jincheng: "Probably the majority."
Catnip: "………………"
OK
Catnip's mechanical questions kept leaving words like "barring any unforeseen circumstances," "should," "maybe," and "basically" in the interview transcript.
"Next question: the soldiers who performed meritorious service this time can choose to retire, right? But they've wasted so much of their youth, and haven't even been able to have a relationship. Does the country offer any compensation?"
After Catnip finished speaking, Zhang's spirits visibly lifted.
"First of all, our soldiers are free to choose to stay in the system or retire, and the country will provide corresponding compensation. But there is one point I want to correct you on: our special forces soldiers are not prohibited from dating."
"ah?"
"In the past three years, six of our soldiers have submitted marriage applications to the organization, and eight have found stable partners. If we include our logistics troops, more than forty soldiers have settled down and started families! We are not like those old-fashioned people who bury themselves solely in training; valuing cultural and artistic education has always been our guiding principle. We hope to cultivate soldiers who can write poetry and carry guns on the battlefield. Our soldiers bb..."
Catnip was getting thirsty from listening so much before he slowly uttered his concluding words: "So, the organization is preparing to hold a matchmaking event, inviting unmarried girls and boys of marriageable age from the community to participate. Thank you A6 News for your strong support of our work."
"Huh? Oh..."
Catnip left looking haggard, still shaken, thinking, "How could there be such a terrifying person?! His surname isn't Zhang, it's probably Tang! He shouldn't be sitting in the Beihai base office; the neighborhood committee and women's federation are his real battlegrounds!"
What angered Catnip the most was that, almost at the end of the interview, Director Zhang asked about her personal background. Catnip was slightly moved and honestly told him. To her surprise, Director Zhang nodded at first, but when he heard "undergraduate degree", he sighed in disappointment: "No, we need to start with a doctorate."
The catnip, having been devastated, had lost the excitement she had when she first arrived at the base. She found a stairwell and sat down to rest with the photographers.
"Have you captured any good footage?" Catnip asked worriedly. "It seems like the dreamy paradise atmosphere we're trying to create isn't going to be easy to achieve."
The photographer sighed, "There are plenty of handsome guys, but they're all so clueless about romance. How are they going to attract girls?"
"I don't think that's the issue," the radio operator said, adjusting his glasses. "The people you asked before were all too old."
"Ah..." Catnip exclaimed in sudden realization, "I knew it!"
The microphone glasses reflected a wise light: "Since Director Zhang has already told us that quite a few people in the base have found partners, it means there are still handsome young men who are good-looking and know how to sweet-talk! As long as we make a precise move, we will definitely be able to shoot the most heart-fluttering 'Love and Beihai'..." He raised his hand and made a gun gesture, aiming at the catnip: "One shot, one hit, biu—I've got your heart."
"………………" Catnip's eyes were lifeless: "Stop it, let me throw up for a while."
Although everyone was teasing each other, the small team, which had been operating for many years, still shared a common core philosophy. After a ten-minute discussion, they finalized their strategy: to use the limited time available to interview handsome young men at the base, and then ask them who was the most handsome, creating a ranking.
What generates the most buzz these days? Rankings!
As soon as there's a ranking, anything can start to get heated!
The members of the A6 news team rallied and began exploring the available areas of the base.
The first place we went to was a combat training gym.
Catnip exclaimed "Wow!" as soon as she entered. The semi-circular building appeared pure white from the outside, but the interior was decorated in blue and white, giving it a summer beach vibe.
The best equipment precisely controls the temperature and humidity, and even during semi-leave, it will be turned on for soldiers who come to schedule training.
This is the source of Beihai's confidence.
Catnip took a lot of high-tech photos with the camera and was quite satisfied. These materials will be handed over to the staff in Beihai for inspection. The parts that cannot be made public will be cut out, so they don't care and can take as many photos as they want.
Upon reaching the central area, I found people training independently.
Catnip's eyes lit up, and she held up the microphone to the camera, saying, "Did you all see that? The three handsome guys behind me are all so good-looking!"
The three "young men" were startled and looked at her suspiciously, only to find themselves facing a dark camera.
Sun Gaoda shouted in alarm, "Damn? Why are they filming again! How many times is this lately?!" He then ran to the sidelines and grabbed a towel to cover his muscular chest.
A catnip slowly sprouted from the top of its head?
"Hello, guys!" She quickly regained her composure and said enthusiastically, "I'm a reporter from the A6 news team, and my name is Catnip. I'm honored to be in Beihai today to interview the little heroes about their daily lives! Of course, our interview has been approved and will need to be reviewed before it's released, so don't worry about saying the wrong thing! Relax!"
Sun Gaoda didn't dare to relax for a moment. He muttered, "There's a difference between men and women. Why are you taking pictures of me without clothes?" He quickly rushed into the locker room to change into a training uniform and came back.
He was sparring with Wang Weina, while Xu Qian was keeping score.
Sharing a room in the Arctic fostered a deep friendship among the group, and they discovered the beauty of poker. They would often get together for a couple of rounds, and if they felt a bit sluggish, they would also enjoy playing together.
Wang Weina plans to develop within the system in the future, perhaps becoming an instructor at the Beihai base.
Originally, there was supposed to be a leave of absence after the war, but there were still some procedures to be completed, so most soldiers remained at the base. The higher-ups also made arrangements for accommodation for their families in a humane manner.
Xu Qian and Sun Gaoda, along with their logistics team members, have all received promotions to varying degrees. Whether they transfer to another team or return to their original team in the future depends on their own wishes. Currently, both of them are considering staying at the Beihai base.
Catnip asked in surprise, "Wow, that's amazing! After all that, you still want to contribute to world peace!"
Xu Qian: "The levels here are higher, and promotions are faster."
Wang Weina: "The salary is high, and the food in the cafeteria is delicious."
Sun Gaoda: "Hey, otherwise I wouldn't know what else I could do."
Catnip silently swallowed her吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical remarks), forced a smile, and said, "Um, can I ask about everyone's love life?"
Wang Weina, a married man, started grinning foolishly. He took out a photo of his wife from his pocket and showed it to Catnip, his eyes filled with affection as he looked at the beautiful female host.
Catnip managed to get away with it, thinking that since the other two were unmarried, they should treat her better, right?
However, reality is cruel.
Regardless of whether he has a girlfriend or not, Xu Qian's basic attitude towards people, whether male or female, is polite yet narcissistic.
Sun Gaoda was eager to find a girlfriend, but the fairy sister was too beautiful, and his threshold was raised again and again.
When it came to his love life, he couldn't help but consult the confidante with a troubled expression: "Hey, host, I really want to find a partner, but lately I've been losing interest in ordinary women... Take you, for example, you're quite cute, but you're missing something, I can't quite put my finger on it."
Catnip: "………………"
Catnip: "Oh, one last question. Who do you think is the most handsome among our teammates?"
The three of them were taken aback.
Xu Qian: "What does it matter if a man is handsome or not? But I think I'm alright."
Wang Weina: "The most handsome? Captain Luo, I guess! He's super manly. But Captain Luo is getting old. As for the teammate, the captain is quite handsome, oh, that's Wen Zheng."
Sun Gaoda: "I don't know if he can be considered a comrade-in-arms, but he is really beautiful."
Catnip finally heard a valuable answer and perked up, asking, "Oh? Very beautiful? Are you a female staff member at the base?"
Sun Gaoda thought for a moment, unsure of the level of secrecy surrounding his "fairy sister," and could only say, "She's not a woman, but she used to sell steamed buns in our cafeteria."
What a mysterious Beihai base!
Catnip walked out of the training hall, a firm thought rising in his mind—to find this steamed bun beauty!
By the way, we need to find everyone on the nomination list.
However, she knew Wen Zheng's name; he was a streamer on the cat-loving platform. He was said to have been injured in the battle and visitation was not yet open. She only heard that his life was not in danger.
If she could, Catnip would love to interview Wen Zheng, but since so many major media outlets haven't been able to do so, she should stop dreaming.
She sighed, her melancholy thoughts quickly dispelled by the handsome young men passing by, and she began a new round of calling him "brother."
The Beihai base is very large. She visited several exhibition halls and saw the latest military holographic simulation equipment. Finally, she met a few normal young men who greeted her warmly and praised her for being cute.
Catnip was laughing so hard her eyes were practically glued shut.
Several names were mentioned frequently by them.