Running side by side there was a pair of young men, or shall we say, one young man and a lady in disguise.
It is unknown for how long they were running, but it was clear as the sky- no, not the sky, the sky is still dark at this hour of the morning...
Ahem!
But it was clear as a water droplet...!
That the lady was growing tired.
However, it should be worth mentioning that her complexion and mood looked much better than it did on the previous days. Just one look at her and he knew that the difference in her performance lied in the newfound willpower in her eyes.
Could it be that she was on a fast recovery track to her previous physical prowess?
Hmm, who knows.
This old soul shall come back to check on that lady again.
-
When Li Minghao made a move to wake up Chen Jingyun, he was met with a brutal rejection.
The young lady wasn't even letting him look at her face!
She turned her back on him, covered herself with her matress all the way up to the crow of her head, and curled into a ball.
The lengths he had to go for to get her to wake up were... embarrassing.
But nonetheless they worked.
Li Minghao bought Chen Jingyun's will with the promise of a big sunday breakfast.
After hearing him agree with her terms, she immediately hopped off bed and prepared for the morning training with the most energy he had ever seen her.
So he was going to make the most out of today training!
He got her to run several laps around the school and take the harder route by going up and down stairs. He also got her to go through the school park and go through the children's course as if it was a life or death mission.
She had done so much for today's training without complaining, all for the promise of a delicious traditional breakfast.
And now she was on her last legs.
Li Minghao wondered how far she would go if he let her.
That's right, if he let her.
As much as he liked seeing her become hardworking, Li Minghao wasn't looking to burn her out, no.
This was good enough.
"Let's stop for now." Li Minghao slowly reduced his speed to a walking pace which Chen Jingyun quickly followed.
"Good." She began, a little out of breath. "Because I can't stop thinking about food. Should we go walking there, right now?"
Li Minghao chuckled.
"Of course not. We will cool down, go back to the dorms, get a shower, and go."
"Are we going to wake up the guys?" Chen Jingyun pouted. "No offense but Su Long takes too long to prepare! And my stomach is not willing to wait..."
Li Minghao rolled his eyes with clear amusement.
"Don't worry, we will go by ourselves."
Hearing this, Chen Jignyun quickly perked up.
"Good!"
As she said, her stomach really couldn't wait ffor Diva Su to wake up, roll out of bed, take a selfie with his messy bed hair, and pick his outfit.
The hunger would consume her!
And!
It was the only thing keeping her awake at this time.
Last night, after talking with Li Minghao... for quite a long while, she went to sleep. And she was having the greatest sleep of her life until he woke her up.
With only six hours of sleep!
That should be ilegal!
Luckily, she managed to secure a good deal for herself. One that she intended to see and enjoy to the end.
Entering their dormitory, Li Minghao and Chen Jingyun quietly worked around the room. Waving at her, Li Minghao caught her attention and pointed at the bathroom.
"Go first." He mouthed.
She signed OK.
Watching her leave towards the bathroom with her belongings, Li Minghao retreated to the balcony, closing the door behind him.
Looking down the balcony, Li Minghao searched for the figure hiding in the green on the trees who was supposed to be one of his team of scary guards.
Supposed because this guard was looking nothing like the scary protector they were trained to be. Instead, he was smiling like an idiot and waving at him as if saying:
"Young Master, I'm here!"
Li Minghao could only shake his head a smile hopelessly at the guard he had chosen as the leader of his squad of guard.
Taking his phone out, Li Minghao speed-dialed the guard.
"Good morning, Young Master!" It was Shadow one. "Are you going to give me a raise?"
"No." Li Minghao shot him down calmly. "I'm thinking of demoting you actually."
In the span of three seconds, Li Minghao witnessed the change of the seasons in his guard's demeanor.
"Wait what?! Ahem!... Yeah yeah, whatever you say rascal- I mean, Young Master. I know you are joking!... Right?"
Li Minghao's face lighted up with a small amused smile.
"Of course I am."
Shadow 1 breathed a little more easily.
"Good!"
"Anyways. Today the little guy and I will be going to the Spring Pavilion, same protocol as yesterday, secure the area. I want eyes on the ground, inside and out of the place." Li Minghao turned serious, his voice changing to that of a commander's.
"Understood." Shadow 1 instantly matched the mood.
"No suspicions or problems should arise. If something does happen, remember to proceed with the safety protocol with the little guy as priority."
Shadow 1 didn't feel very happy nor comfortable hearing that.
"Young Master, like I said yesterday, you are our priority. Nothing can change that."
"It's an order." Li Minghao firmly stated. "Right now this is what I need. I will take care of myself."
Shadow 1 sighed, but nonetheless complied.
"Understood."
-
Meanwhile, on a nearby place, a young man was losing himself.