That's incredible.
He watched Wen Zheng climb from the starting point to the finish line, so fast that he dared not blink. He traversed the obstacles in between as if they were flat ground, especially at the highest point of the climb, where, under the spotlights on the roof, he seemed to be focused by the light, radiating a captivating charm that was impossible to look away from.
Xu Qian lowered his head, rubbed his red eyes, and his hand became wet from rubbing.
Although he still didn't understand why, he dared not and could no longer question it, because he had seen it with his own eyes and heard it with his own ears.
Turning his gaze to the other side, Xu Qian suddenly saw the black cat that Instructor Wen often carried with him.
He sat upright and gracefully on a high shelf, looking out over the testing field.
"There's one last event: a simulated jungle warfare competition." At the end of the day, Team Leader Luo announced the results and told them about the arrangements for the next morning.
The combat exercise uses holographic simulation technology, somewhat like a more rigorous version of the game "Battle Royale," and is used to train soldiers' combat capabilities and conduct drills; it can accomplish many things. In fact, holographic game technology was first used in military exercises and training, and it's already a very familiar practice for them.
Physical tests also serve to collect test data in order to realistically represent physical strength in the game and prevent warriors from misjudging their own level in actual combat.
The group listened to the rules with mixed feelings—Captain Luo explained that tomorrow's group would consist of fifty officers against ninety-six trainees—at first glance, it sounded humiliating, but upon closer inspection, they realized they might not win, and losing would be even more embarrassing…
"The simulated combat exercise will end around noon, after which you will have a day off. Your family members will start arriving at the base around noon. The new dormitory arrangements have been finalized, so remember to bring your family members along. You will also be attending the party in the evening."
Team Leader Luo's words reignited the passion in everyone's hearts. Some of the selected trainees, who hadn't had a warm bed with their wives and children in a long time, were already beaming with joy. Some of them kept laughing until the next day's simulated competition, when they were quickly eliminated by the coach from a distance.
Xu Qian's partner in the same group was such an idiot, and he cursed him a thousand times in his heart.
Xu Qian was helpless; his five-man squad was reduced to just him, and he was now hiding in the jungle like a rabbit.
Without teammates to cooperate, he was in a state where he could no longer fight head-on, feeling frustrated and defeated, and even developing a sense of helplessness and negativity.
He was passing by a hidden crevice and thought, "Should I hide inside?"
Just that one careless thought made him pause, and in an instant, he heard a whooshing sound as if the wind was breaking through the air—time almost overlapped and stood still. The instant the thought popped into his head, someone aimed an antimatter annihilation bullet at close range at him, and he was shot to death.
Who? He really only paused for a second, no, less than half a second!
Xu Qian gritted his teeth as he was turned over.
In the holographic simulation, those who are seriously injured or dead cannot move on their own, but the "seriously injured" will not leave the field immediately. This setting is for the instructors' consideration.
At this moment, this setting unexpectedly came in very handy.
"Ah, Xu Qian." Wen Zheng walked over to him through the grass, his footsteps rustling, and planted a strangely shaped gun on the ground. He looked down at him and said, "You can't do it like this."
From yesterday to today, Xu Qian had been numb by the blows and suddenly felt a bit like giving up: "How can I compare to you, Major?"
Wen Zheng paused in his actions.
The forest smelled of grass and earth, a remarkably realistic simulation. If this weren't a battlefield, it would be a perfect spot for a picnic. Patches of sunlight dappled the ground through the trees.
"Shall we talk?" Wen Zheng said calmly, and simply sat down on the spot, leaning against a large rock.
Xu Qian regretted his words as soon as they were spoken, and an awkward silence fell between them. But Wen Zheng was in no hurry, as if this assessment was dispensable and he wasn't in a rush to catch up with the other "little rabbits," patiently sitting there waiting for him to speak.
There wasn't even a single word of urging.
The more he acted this way, the more Xu Qian realized his own unreasonable behavior, emotional outbursts, and immaturity. The gap between them widened further and further.
"...Why are you able to do so well?" Xu Qian, overwhelmed by his own disappointment, finally asked.
"Hmm?" Wen Zheng asked, "What do you think is good about me?"
"Anywhere is fine." Xu Qian felt like crying.
"..." Wen Zheng didn't know how to answer, so he smiled and said, "Thank you."
"That's not what I meant!" Xu Qian couldn't move, his heart pounding with anxiety. He shouted, "I mean, why! You're two years younger than me, yet you're already a colonel? Why can you teach us such advanced physics, and why are you so physically fit? Everyone has 24 hours in a day, so why are you stronger than me?"
Wen Zheng fell silent.
Xu Qian gasped for breath, having no regrets after speaking. He waited quietly for Wen Zheng's answer. He had wanted to ask this question for a long time, and if the other party was indeed a once-in-a-century genius, then he had nothing to say.
“No achievement comes from thin air; it’s just that I’ve studied longer than you.” Wen Zheng spoke frankly: “I started training at the Beihai base when I was thirteen. I lived here before you decided to take the military academy entrance exam.”
"..." Xu Qian was momentarily at a loss for words, his mind filled with astonishment: "W-why?"
"You'll know once you pass the selection process; it's definitely not a good thing." Wen Zheng smiled. "Don't lose confidence. You're already very good. If I followed your path, I might not be as good as you. Maybe I'd skip classes every day to play games and get terrible grades on exams. Who knows?"
He stood up and said, "Alright, you failed today. Go offline now."
Xu Qian disappeared, and this once beautiful place, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, became empty.
Wen Zheng, with little enthusiasm, found a few more rabbits, shot them one by one, and sent them back to their hometown. After finishing, he only broke out in a light sweat.
These young players weren't focused on training at all today; they didn't even perform at half their usual level. It was difficult for Wen Zheng to distract them.
There was a dance that evening, and he wanted to invite Bei Sining to be his dance partner, but he hadn't said anything. When he was ready, she was gone.
This morning, Bai Shuang officially announced to him that Deng Puyue would be coming. Captain Luo's wife had already shown up at the cafeteria. Wang Weina, one of Wen Zheng's team members, is one of only three married people in the entire special operations team. He was already overwhelmed by the cold dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).
Does the cat spirit agree or not? He can get special permission from above to use his mobile phone to browse Weibo on the internet, so he should be able to move around here freely, but... where is he?
Wen Zheng took a shower, and after he came out, he put the chain in a ring box.
He planned to confess his feelings again during the dance today and then give the necklace to Bei Sining.
Let's wait.
They waited until evening, when the Beihai base specially approved a banquet hall, which was decorated in gold and red, making it look dazzling.
Wen Zheng changed into a casual uniform.
The soldiers were all dressed in uniforms, the special operations team in black and the trainees in blue. Their upright postures created a striking sight in the hall.
Regardless of whether the results were good or bad, everyone present laughed and forgot their troubles. To the accompaniment of melodious string music, each person was accompanied by several family members dressed in different outfits.
Chen Xiaochen's adoptive parents also arrived. They greeted Wen Zheng first, and then took Chen Xiaochen inside to find some small cakes to eat.
Wang Weina was even more smug. His wife was a genuine sweet beauty, wearing a white dress with a pretty downy hem. Wen Zheng's entire team gave them a merciless stare and teasing, making them blush with embarrassment, and then dragged the grinning Wang Weina inside.
Even Xu Qian, who was lamenting his fate that morning, arrived in high spirits, bringing his family and girlfriend to greet Wen Zheng and offer a hesitant apology.
Apart from Bai Shuang saying she went to pick someone up but didn't know where she went, almost everyone else was still standing at the gate.
“…Instructor Wen.” Oh, and there’s another one looking lost and dejected, Comrade Sun Gaoda, standing alone at the door with a sorrowful expression, just like him.
"Sun Gaoda," Wen Zheng asked, "Where are your family members?"
"My parents live too far away to come, so I wanted to ask a fairy sister to be my dance partner... but I haven't found one yet."
"...Huh?" What fairy sister? There's such a person as a staff member at the base? How come he didn't know?
Sun Gaoda exclaimed excitedly, "You didn't know?! He was selling steamed buns in the cafeteria not long ago!"
"……Um???"
"He's so handsome, he's breathtakingly beautiful, I tried to talk to him but he ignored me... But he's really good-looking, all my buddies agree... Hehe, Instructor, you can't compete with me for him, I haven't given up yet."
“…………” Wen Zheng’s lips twitched. Why did this description and modifier sound so familiar?
Just then, another person came in.
Bei Sining walked with a brisk pace, as if she had just rushed back from somewhere. When she saw Wen Zheng, her eyes lit up, and she walked straight towards him.
As he walked, he pulled out a hairband, tossed it aside, and magically tied it around the end of his long hair, neatly forming a bow.
"Am I late?" He walked up to him, glanced disdainfully at the dumbfounded Sun Gaoda, and flicked his hand.
Sun Gaoda suddenly cried out and covered his eyes: "Sand is blowing into my eyes!"
Bei Sining snapped her fingers, instantly transforming her ordinary casual clothes into a formal suit. Jian Wenzheng, dressed in all black, snapped his fingers again after a moment's thought, turning his clothes white.
"Ah, finally done... Hmm, where is everyone?" Sun Gaoda opened his eyes and looked around. He felt like he had seen a fairy sister just now... Where is Instructor Wen?
He was circling around looking for someone when he suddenly saw Wen Zheng and the person coming from the corner of the wall, facing each other very closely.
"Holy crap...is that Instructor Wen's girlfriend!?"
Bei Sining, who was being watched, was giving Wen Zheng a hug.
The dazzling hall, the dimly lit corners, the melodious music, and the conversations of the crowd blurred into warm, inviting backgrounds.
Bei Sining wasn't used to explaining, and said nervously, "I went to get something." After thinking for a moment, she added, "It's a gift for you."
Wen Zheng was about to say something when Bei Sining pressed her index finger to her lips: "I'll go first!"
The long-haired man's cheeks flushed slightly. He conjured a small box from his side and took out a chain from it.
The pendant looked familiar; it contained a chip, and its design was very similar to the one his parents had left him.
My heart started pounding.
"This is the password I left for you." Bei Sining lowered her eyelashes, which, reflected in the light, seemed like a sky full of stars descending from the heavens. "If you decipher it... and you still like me, then I'll like you too."
Author's Note: Ningning: Reluctantly. (Peeking)
(Ah! I guess this counts as a double update today! It's late, but I confessed my feelings! So sweet! ...My readers: If it's not sweet, I'll beat you up!) (If it's not sweet tomorrow, you can really beat me up!)
Chapter 88
Wen Zheng held the box containing the pendant in his hand behind his back; it was so hot that he could barely hold it.
My mind was like a match-3 game nearing its end, with popping sounds like fireworks, occasionally accompanied by strange audio effects like "What did he say?" "He said he likes me!" "Who am I? Where am I?"
Humans are naturally drawn to beauty, especially when someone they like looks at you with hopeful eyes and presents you with a carefully chosen gift, which they may not know where it came from.
No one can resist it.
As for his strange preconditions... Wen Zheng selectively ignored them.
If I like him, will he like me back? Is there any better condition in the world?
Who wouldn't like him? Who would dislike him? Wen Zheng believed that if he went out on the street and pulled a thousand people over, and they all looked at him, nine hundred and ninety-nine of them would like him, leaving only one blind man.
Wen Zheng's thoughts were a jumbled mess. Besides, after spending so much time with him, it was even harder not to like him. Even if you stripped away his glamorous exterior, Wen Zheng felt he would still be unable to extricate himself.
But he couldn't bear to part with her. Cat spirits were born to be beautiful, to shine in the crowd, and to be surrounded by loving gazes.
Even now, when confessing with awkward words, there's an innate arrogance about her, as if she's unwilling to suffer any loss.
Wen Zheng couldn't help but laugh, but when he saw Bei Sining suddenly widen her eyes, he said angrily, "What are you laughing at!?"
"I also prepared a gift for you." Wen Zheng smiled and placed the small box containing the pendant in Bei Sining's palm.
He said, "This was left to me by my parents, and I've worn it for many years. I originally wanted to give it to you last time... during the water truck incident, but unfortunately..."