Even higher? Did that mean that he could have been of an even higher military rank than Xiao Ye?
That would have made him a Lieutenant General!
Xiao Jing gulped. It was akin to an Emperor accidentally flipping her tag for the night, and she had suddenly become a doted concubine.
"Don't overthink it. After all, we are here to at the army camp to pass the time. No matter what camp we go to, it is the same old, same old." Lian Qing patted her shoulder as he consoled her solemnly.
Lian Qing remark was like a wet blanket and chilled her from head to toe. Xiao Jing pushed away his annoying, hindering hands and plopped back onto her bed, facing the ceiling. She stretched her eyes wide, obviously unwilling to say more to Lian Qing.
Lian Qing dusted his hands off and stood up. He didn't forget one last reminder before he left, "Take the time to rest well. I heard that the bigshot has prepared another fitness training for you later into the night."
Xiao Jing turned her head inch by inch, completely stiff. She felt a little like crying but was not able to squeeze out the tears. She wished that she could break that man's neck with a ferocious bite. That would teach him that it was better to offend a ghost than to irk a woman!
Lian Qing was ready to leave, but he suddenly turned back as he remembered something. He fished an envelope from his pocket and said, "I almost forgot about the proper matter. These are your identification and other details. Give these to your superior officers later."
"Look at how dead I am right now, Commander. Do I look like I can walk over to give them that?" Xiao Jing was so exhausted that she refused even to lift an arm.
"You can deliver it later in the day. I still have to attend training later on, so I'll be leaving first." Lian Qing shut the door, and the entire room fell dark once more.
Xiao Jing tossed and turned in bed, staring intensely at the envelope lying silently near her headboard. It contained anything and everything she had done in camp over the past three years, and the resume would be submitted to the Special Command Unit.
How utterly embarrassing!
She could imagine Lian Qing writing in all the tiny happenings to flaunt and embellish her "great'"achievements. They were in a regiment full of incapable sons of the wealthy, after all, and so there wasn't much he could write. Letting the pampered young masters deploy men and troops, capture thieves, or kill their enemies was unthinkable.
Forget it. They would just be free kills if they went.
Heh, they were a bunch of squanderers who needed someone to serve them even during mealtimes.
The night deepened. The siren for the night shift went off, ringing throughout the camp.
Xiao Jing dragged her half-paralyzed body slowly across the field. She was staying in regular army barracks, but the visiting superior officers were allocated high-end suites for their stay. She heard that the suites come with en-suite bathrooms.
Wait!
Xiao Jing stopped in her tracks. An en-suite bathroom fully equipped with bathroom amenities. Why the heck would he squeeze in with her in the communal bath then?
Mu Xichi walked over from the hallway and saw the Xiao Jing, who was trudging like an elderly man in his twilight years. He laughed. "Here to see our Commander, Lieutenant Xiao?"
Upon hearing his voice, Xiao Jing immediately straightened up and saluted, standing tall and upright. "Yes, Sir."
"I think he's in his room. Go on in." Mu Xichi made his way to the Mess Hall while humming.
Xiao Jing stood in front of the door and softly knocked. There was no response. She pushed the door, slightly widening the gap.
The room was silent, and there was the sound of running water coming from the washroom. Xiao Jing stood in the middle of the room, slightly unsure at what she was supposed to do. She wondered if she should come again later in the evening.
Judging by the situation, her new Commander wase in the shower.
Creak. The tightly shut bathroom door was opened from the inside.
Shen Chengfeng heard the disturbances beyond the door, and so he emerged from the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He could feel the moisture on his body evaporating off his skin. He stared emotionlessly at Xiao Jing, who was looking around the room.
Xiao Jing handed him the envelope with both hands. "This is my profile record. My Commander instructed me to deliver it."
"Put it on the table." Shen Chengfeng stepped away and closed the door to the bathroom. He dried the water dripping from his hair and then walked straight to his bed.
"If there is nothing else, Sir, I'll be leaving." Xiao Jing turned around, ready to leave.
"Wait a minute." His low voice echoed the room like stifled thunder.
Xiao Jing stopped. She secretly shot a death glare at the man who had called her. What was she going to do if she stayed? Admire his toned and well-defined abs? Or that pair of long, muscular legs concealed under the towel?
"Save it," Xiao Jing thought, "the gender on my identification card is officially male. We are the same gender, so forget about tempting me all day long with that hot figure of yours. I am a good child brought up in a family of decency. How could mere beauty seduce me?"
Shen Chengfeng put on his military outfit and walked towards Xiao Jing.
Xiao Jing wasn't sure what he was trying to do, and so she decided to move back, feeling a little insecure.
Shen Chengfeng glanced at the gloves on the table and reached out for them instinctively.
Xiao Jing thought that the hand was for her, and so she quickly clasped it.
Time seemed to stop. There appeared to be an icy gale of awkwardness.
Xiao Jing blinked. Why did she feel like her superior officer was looking at her weird?
Shen Chengfeng retracted his hand as though a short circuit had electrocuted him. His expression turned serious at once. "What are you doing?"
Xiao Jing clenched her fist in embarrassment. Did physical contact with her put him off that much?
"I thought you wanted to shake hands." Xiao Jing forced herself to laugh. His eyes did not leave her, and she suddenly felt very foolish. Why would he want to shake her hand?
Shen Chengfeng looked at her intently and in silence. He scanned her from head to toe, with the usual passive icy debuff. One look was enough to freeze her in her place.
Xiao Jing coughed. "If that's all, Sir, please excuse me."
"Wait." Shen Chengfeng stopped her again.
Xiao Jing stopped and turned back to look at him.
Shen Chengfeng laid his gaze on her hand. Their hands had come into contact. He was sure.
Xiao Jing could not understand what he meant by those eyes, and so she followed his gaze and observed her slim, slender fingers. She asked confusedly, "Anything else, Sir?"
Shen Chengfeng took a step forward. Although he said nothing, she was still absolutely crushed by his overwhelming aura.
Xiao Jing stood, motionless, as she watched the man close in, nearer and nearer, until there was only a step between them. Their eyes met, and her mouth twitched. Subconsciously, she felt that this man was about to beat her up.
"Show me your palms." Shen Chengfeng said coldly.
Xiao Jing lifted her hands hesitantly and showed him her palms.
She watched Shen Chengfeng without blinking. The position she was in made her look like she was begging.
Shen Chengfeng's irises constricted. The outstretched hand was entirely unharmed!