Xiao Jing was restless. The feeling of being in the spotlight was unsettling. Subconsciously, she felt as though they had already begun to suspect her identity.
What was she supposed to do? She flinched silently.
Would her Commander Lian Qing, though not the sharpest tool in the shed, succumb to the mental threat of the rice dumpling? Would he force her to undress?
With the burning sun right above him, a drop of hot sweat had rolled off Lian Qing's forehead before he could stop it. He inched closer to Xiao Jing and whispered, "Xiao Jing, save some face. Take off your clothes and give it a serious go."
Xiao Jing put on a calm front as she gave Lian Qing an indecipherable glance. She straightened her body and saluted, stating, "I can f*ck him over even with my clothes on."
Lian Qing felt a breeze blow past his face right after those words, and he shut his eyes instinctively. When he opened his eyes again, they widened at what he saw. Was that little body darting past the obstacles as if they were running on the level ground their Young Master Xiao Jing? Their soft-spoken and easily bullied Young Master Xiao?
Holy cow, did he almost bury the talent of the delicate sunflower as if he were some useless green foxtail grass?
Xiao Jing held out stubbornly. Weren't they there to see them fight for real? Weren't they there to see just how fast she could run when she went all out?
She could feel the winds howl past her ears in mockery, and dampness seeped through her sweat-drenched clothing under the scorching heat. She lunged over the mud pit with a flying leap and rolled twice to break the fall. She crossed the finish line quickly and easily, leaving the soldiers who started earlier than her to eat her dust.
Huff, huff, huff. Xiao Jing pulled herself up from the ground, still short of breath.
Mu Xichi frowned a little and said to his superior officer in a low voice, "Looks like he does have some potential."
The man did not respond. With sunglasses covering his eyes and hiding any expression he made, no one could guess what he was honestly thinking.
Xiao Jing finally came to her senses. Her eyes widened in disbelief. What had she done without knowing?
"I-I say, Deputy Commander! It turns out that you're the hidden expert keeping quiet about your actual abilities!" The Squad Leader of the Third Squadron was the second to clear the obstacle course. Once he crossed the finish line, he threw himself to the ground, seemingly in defeat.
Xiao Jing wiped the sweat off her forehead. She could not help but allow her gaze to wander towards that man who was wrapped like a rice dumpling. She could not see his gaze through his sunglasses, but she had a feeling that he was looking at her with wide eyes, as if looking at a little rabbit about to be dissected.
"We plan to stay here and observe for a couple of days. Please arrange for our accommodation and meals, Commander Lian." Mu Xichi's voice could be heard once again.
Upon receiving the order, Lian Qing quickly stood in attention and saluted. "Yes, Sir."
The man returned to the vehicle. From the moment he stepped out until then, he had never removed his sunglasses to allow them a good look at his face.
Xiao Jing could not help but complain under her breath, "Even if you're ugly, is there a need to go to such lengths all to hide your face? Wouldn't you be uglier with all that heat trapped inside?"
That man suddenly stopped in his tracks and tilted his head slightly.
Xiao Jing could feel the chills run down her spine. At that very instant, she could almost feel the daggers that man was throwing at her with his eyes, putting imaginary holes on her thin and frail body.
"That was too damn cool, Deputy Commander! Did you see how speechless they were? They must have been shocked by your power and agility." Chen Hu grabbed Xiao Jing by her neck, abusing her slender neck with his muscular arm.
"Enough, fall in. " Lian Qing did a headcount. Once he was done taking their names, he said solemnly, "You've seen for yourselves. These two are the elites from the Special Command Unit. If you wish for them to notice you, you must show us your true capabilities. Ten kilometers of cross country running with ten kilograms of loaded carry! We'll eat after you finish."
The moment he said that, some of the frailer young masters rolled their eyes and fell to the ground, pretending to have fainted.
Lian Qing ignored their antics and dropped the loaded carry backpack directly on their bodies. His tone was stern as he ordered, "Even if you're breathing your last breath, you must complete the mission before going down in glory."
Agonized whines could be heard across the quad.
It was common knowledge that the Defense Patrol Force of Jiana City was made up of the hopeless sons of famous families. Every one of them was there for one reason and one reason only: to waste the five years away and then return to their family with the glory of having protected their country's borders as brave warriors.
Xiao Jing swung the backpack over her shoulder without a word. Behind her seemingly calm facial features, she had already cursed Lian Qing eight generations back in his ancestry.
To hell with your ten kilograms of loaded carry across ten kilometers of cross country.
To hell with riding the horse of dreams, and that one should not waste and betray their best years.
To hell with the chosen one, to stand out so much that they'd be shocked at our transformation.
This lady is here to pass the time! Once her time is up, she will dust off her butt and head home.
Don't you feel guilty for making a lady carry as much weight as you men? Are you sure that you feel no need to take care of the pretty lady?
"Xiao-xiao, you're the one I thought was the most promising! All of you could learn a thing or two from your Deputy Commander. Look at how slender his limbs are! But have you heard him utter a single word of complaint?" Lian Qing sat on the SUV as he tried to motivate the team with a horn.
Xiao Jing shot a cold glance at the man who was practically belting team army songs. She accidentally stepped on a stone and almost fell on her face.
Lian Qing quickly reassured, "I expected no less from my favorite Comrade Xiao. Even your falling is graceful."
Xiao Jing paused and looked at the man still sitting on the vehicle, her voice cold, "Commander, you ought to set an example for your soldiers."
Lian Qing coughed lightly. "Let's continue to march. There are nine more kilometers to cover. Hot-blooded men never say die."
The midday sun scorched the ground until it was as if they were walking on a sizzling steel plate. They could feel the heat waves churning along the ground.
Xiao Jing returned to the barracks, her entire body sore and strengthless. She laid on the bed fully clothed, only to jump up after sniffing her clothes. She reeked of sweat. Xiao Jing quickly grabbed a clean set of clothes and headed towards the communal showers.
On regular days, all the soldiers in the army camp would be on their afternoon breaks.
Xiao Jing glanced around in front of the shower room and made sure that there were no other people in that area. She pushed the door slightly open. She hung the "Out of Order" sign that she prepared beforehand right in the middle of the door.
She also locked the door while she was at it. After ensuring that she hadn't missed anything, Xiao Jing turned around elatedly, ready for a thorough, satisfying shower.
However, her muscles stiffened the moment she turned around. It was as if someone had poured a thousand kilograms of lead into her shoes, pinning her to the ground.
The topless man watched as Xiao Jing locked the door the moment she came in. He laid an unreadable gaze on Xiao Jing, who has yet to wipe the mischievous smile off her face.