“Don’t get me wrong, guys. I wasn’t fighting or killing anyone. There was a car accident near the school entrance, and I rushed to help. All this blood is someone else’s.” Zhou Sheng Chen explained with a nervous laugh.
The others breathed a sigh of relief, apparently accepting his explanation. After all, they had vaguely heard the sound of an ambulance siren earlier, and they had even discussed it.
Taking off his bloodstained clothes and putting them aside, Zhou Sheng Chen went to the bathroom to take a shower and then lay quietly on the bed, listening to Yu Hao chattering about something.
————
4:30 am.
Before dawn, Zhou Sheng Chen and the other freshmen participating in military training gathered around the school’s bus at the playground.
Soon, the leaders and the head teachers of each class appeared in front of the crowd.
The leader picked up the microphone, striking a pose, and began with a cliché speech: “Students of Southern College, I am your instructor, Guo Yang. Military training will last for twenty days.”
“During this period, no troublemaking, no beating up instructors, especially the students from the Journalism Photography class.”
“Last year, a student from the Journalism Photography class challenged the instructor and ended up being held back a year.”
“He’s standing in your ranks right now. Let me tell you…”
Hearing this, those in the Photography class who knew that Xiao Hai Yang was a repeat student turned their eyes towards him.
Meeting the gazes from his classmates, Xiao Hai Yang rolled his eyes in annoyance.
“I failed my exams, that’s why I was held back. Don’t listen to his nonsense. He just wants to scare the freshmen.” Though annoyed, Xiao Hai Yang explained.
“Then you better put in the effort this year and try to fight the instructor, get held back another year.” Zhou Sheng Chen, not wanting to miss the opportunity, encouraged.
Xiao Hai Yang stared at him with wide eyes: “You, are you a devil? If I get held back again this year, I’ll be expelled.”
Zhou Sheng Chen waved his hand: “It’s fine. You can just go back to high school, take the college entrance exam again, and get into the Media University again. I believe in you.”
Xiao Hai Yang: “…”
Everyone: “…”
After a half-hour speech, seeing the students who had already become wilted before even starting military training, the instructor finally felt satisfied.
Raising his hand, the instructor said in a loud voice: “I won’t say more. I believe everyone here has heard it. Get on the bus.”
The students instantly scattered.
They had listened to so much nonsense for so long, if they listened any longer, they were going to fall asleep.
Everyone went to get their luggage, preparing to board the bus.
Only Ye Ji Ping stood at the bus door, constantly admonishing the students from Zhou Sheng Chen’s class.
“Don’t get into any trouble!”
“You have to be good people.”
“Don’t get into trouble, don’t conflict with the instructors.”
Even though everyone was sleepy, they knew Ye Ji Ping was just trying to help them. So, when the Photography class boarded the bus, they all politely nodded to Ye Ji Ping as a response.
However, when it was Xiao Hai Yang’s turn to board, Ye Ji Ping suddenly grabbed his hand and seriously admonished him again: “Don’t challenge the instructor, be a good person, no matter what.”
“I’m so worried,” Xiao Hai Yang sighed helplessly.
Why did everyone think he was held back because he fought with the instructor, he really wasn’t!
After getting on the bus, Zhou Sheng Chen scanned the area and saw that there was no one next to Lin Luo Xue, so he sat down next to her and fell asleep with his head tilted.
The military training site was in a mountainous area.
After two hours of travel, they finally arrived at the training base. Zhou Sheng Chen rubbed his sleepy eyes, waking up from his slumber.
Putting on his backpack, Zhou Sheng Chen got off the bus.
Finding his suitcase, Zhou Sheng Chen looked around.
True to its name, the mountain area had a significantly lower temperature than the city, but it was still very hot for this time of year.
All around were towering mountains, covered in trees.
Surrounded by these mountains was the training base for Zhou Sheng Chen and the other freshmen.
Under the leadership of the instructor, Zhou Sheng Chen and the others walked into the dormitory in an orderly manner.
The accommodation was quite pathetic. A tiny room, smaller than Zhou Sheng Chen’s study room, was meant to house eight people.
They had half an hour of free time, so Zhou Sheng Chen didn’t rush and slowly organized his belongings by the bed.
“AAAAAAAHHHH～”
After an unknown period of time, a high-pitched, ear-piercing scream came from outside.
It was Yu Hao’s voice.
Lu Qiao Chuan asked Zhou Sheng Chen with confusion: “Did Hao Ge get bitten by a dog?”
Before Zhou Sheng Chen could answer, a figure came rushing back.
It was Yu Hao.
His voice preceded him.
“It’s so disgusting, so disgusting, the toilet is so disgusting.” Yu Hao looked like he had stepped on poop, his expression full of disgust.
“Did you see your reflection in the toilet?” Zhou Sheng Chen joked.
“Go away!” Yu Hao glared at Zhou Sheng Chen, then shuddered as if he had thought of something,
“You know what? This toilet is truly terrifying. All sorts of messy creatures are flying around in there, and they don’t even flush.”
The last two words, Yu Hao said with extra force.
“This broken place, I can’t stay here for a day!”
Hearing Yu Hao’s screams and complaints, Zhou Sheng Chen and the others hurriedly sped up their packing.
Seeing that they were still unmoved, continuing to organize their beds, Yu Hao said with dissatisfaction: “Did anyone hear me talking?”
“What’s the point of listening to your nonsense? Besides, the allotted time is almost up, we should go to assembly.” Zhou Sheng Chen said, having finished organizing his things.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone shouted “Assembly”, everyone heard it and quickly changed into their military training uniforms before heading towards the playground.
————
Military Training Base Playground.
Zhou Sheng Chen, Xiao Hai Yang, and the other familiar faces, being taller, were all standing in the back row of the line.
Zhou Sheng Chen was at the head of the line, followed by Yu Hao, Xiao Hai Yang, Lu Qiao Chuan, Bi Shi San...
“One, two, one, one, two, one…”
The sound of loud whistles echoed through the playground, coming from other classes.
The instructor in charge of Zhou Sheng Chen’s class was still having them stand at attention.
On the playground, the sun was blazing hot, the scorching sun made everyone dizzy and disoriented, and the students were all sweating profusely.
Of course, Zhou Sheng Chen was an exception.
In this scorching heat, he felt absolutely nothing, after all, his physique was far beyond those present.
Instructor Zhang Chi looked at the standing crowd with a scrutinizing gaze.
“Qiao Chuan, I’m so tired, so hungry～” Yu Hao suddenly said to Lu Qiao Chuan.
Talking during military training, especially when everyone else was silent, the instructor couldn’t possibly not hear. Considering this, Lu Qiao Chuan ignored him.
As expected, Instructor Zhang Chi immediately fixed his gaze on Yu Hao in the crowd, calling out in a loud voice.
“The second person in the last row, step out.”
Yu Hao looked around before realizing that he was indeed the second person in the last row, so he nodded in response with an “Oh”.