"Our military district is planning to pick some top talents for an assessment in two months. We've reviewed your resume; it's impressive, and your military skills are up to standard, so your name is on the list," the company commander looked at her with a slightly serious expression, "I'm just asking, what are your thoughts on this?"
After pondering for a moment, Mo Shangjun furrowed her brows and asked, "What kind of assessment?"
"That's confidential,"
the company commander replied gravely.
Nodding slightly, Mo Shangjun continued, "Can I refuse?"
The company commander was taken aback, and then his expression returned to normal, "I'm not the one to decide that, but I will report your opinion up the chain."
"Thank you," Mo Shangjun said with a light smile.
"I think, I need to ask for your reason," the company commander said unflinchingly.
"You can consider that I'm afraid of embarrassing myself," Mo Shangjun replied candidly.
"Actually—" the company commander said, with a meaningful tone.
"I'm not interested in others testing my abilities."
She didn't try to conceal her feelings, Mo Shangjun spoke frankly.
On one hand, she knew her capabilities and didn't feel the need to prove herself to others through certain means. On the other hand, a district-wide assessment of top talents would hardly be as straightforward as it appeared. Mo Shangjun couldn't fathom their true intentions and naturally lacked curiosity for the unknown laid before her.
The company commander sized her up with his gaze.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Comrade Mo Shangjun, this is an opportunity."
"But, Commander," Mo Shangjun sat upright, facing the company commander's daunting gaze squarely, and said word by word, "You know, this might not necessarily be my opportunity."
At this, the company commander's brows twitched slightly. After a long while, he let out a sigh, light and drifting.
To have such a lack of ambition...
He found her quite problematic; it was his first time encountering someone like this.
After a moment of thought, the company commander helplessly waved his hand, opting to shift the topic.
Following that, the company commander asked Mo Shangjun a few courteous questions about her impression of and adjustment to the unit. She did not offend him further and politely responded one by one.
Before long, Mo Shangjun left the company commander's office.
The moment she closed the door, Mo Shangjun's eyes flickered, she glanced at the door once more before departing.
*
It was past eleven o'clock.
Mo Shangjun was in no rush to return, instead, she inquired about the office of the second reconnaissance company's commander and headed straight there.
When she arrived, the door was ajar. Mo Shangjun paused her steps and scanned the interior.
The space wasn't large; a desk sat on each side, a window opposite was open for ventilation. Behind the right desk stood a large bookshelf, half-cleared of its contents.
An officer in army service dress, with three stars on his shoulder boards, was undoubtedly the commander. Tall and slim, with a buzz cut, he stood organizing the bookshelf.
"Knock. Knock. Knock."
After three knocks on the door, at the moment of grabbing the other's attention, Mo Shangjun called out with a forceful voice, "Reporting!"
Lang Yan, who was selecting books, jumped at the sudden sound. His fingers trembled slightly and the partially-removed book promptly fell downwards. Regaining his composure, the commander raised an eyebrow and caught the book mid-fall.
"You are..." Catching the book, Lang Yan walked over, recognizing her within a few steps, his face lighting up with pleasure, "Oh, Mo Shangjun, right? The deputy commander."
"Yes."
Mo Shangjun affirmed.
Lang Yan subconsciously sized her up.
At the same time, Mo Shangjun took a good look at him.
He appeared to be two or three years her senior, probably an outstanding military academy graduate. With well-proportioned features and sharp eyebrows, he exuded a sunny handsomeness complemented by a friendly smile, giving the impression he was easygoing and amiable.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Lang Yan,"
he said with a hearty laugh, approaching Mo Shangjun and offering his hand.
"Nice to meet you,"
Mo Shangjun extended her hand formally.
A very polite handshake followed, which they both released after barely two seconds.
"Perfect timing, come and see your desk. If there's anything missing, just let me know,"
said Lang Yan, walking inside and pointing to the desk on the left.
"Okay," Mo Shangjun nodded.
Compared to the mountain of documents on the right, Mo Shangjun's desk was much simpler and cleaner.
However, it was quite well-equipped.
A pen holder, several pens, a couple of file folders, draft paper, letter paper in one stack, plus a specially configured computer.
"Wait for me for five minutes."
After a quick glance, Mo Shangjun said to Lang Yan in a straightforward manner.
While Lang Yan was still in a daze, Mo Shangjun had already sat down in the office chair and, after opening and scanning each drawer, she took out draft paper and a signature pen and began writing quickly.
Lang Yan stood by with an inexplicable look on his face.
It wasn't until he saw what Mo Shangjun was doing that his young, handsome face naturally showed an expression of astonishment.
In less than five minutes, Mo Shangjun had listed everything, stood up, and handed the list to Lang Yan.
"These are all missing."
"Oh..."
Lang Yan felt his facial muscles stiffen.
Geez, this girl really doesn't hold back.
"Any more questions?" Catching his expression, Mo Shangjun put one hand in her pocket and asked with a hooked lip.
"When do you need them?" he asked with a light cough, regaining his composure.
"Before tomorrow."
"Alright," Lang Yan naturally was more lenient toward new colleagues, especially female colleagues. He nodded and then, as if he remembered something, asked, "By the way, did you punish Lai Liang last night?"
"Yes," Mo Shangjun admitted.
"Someone reported to me," Lang Yan said politely, "they were indeed wrong. It's okay to physically punish those rough men, but you have to be careful with the extent. If it's excessive, it would be hard for us to explain later."
He had been busy all of yesterday and hadn't had the chance to meet Mo Shangjun. Who would have thought that early in the morning, several squad leaders came over, complaining about the new deputy company commander.
Even though he had scolded them too, Mo Shangjun's actions were quite unexpected, so he felt he should give her a symbolic admonition.
After all—
What's the big deal about running a few dozen laps for big men? Were they really going to be petty with a woman?!
It was obvious they were being called petty!
"Okay."
Mo Shangjun nodded agreeably.
Lang Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Speaking of which..." Mo Shangjun started again.
Lang Yan suddenly tensed.
"I have a proposal."
Mo Shangjun crossed her arms and her lips curved with a smile of indeterminate meaning.
"Go ahead," Lang Yan resignedly urged.
"To build a good relationship with the subordinate warriors, I plan to train with them from now on," Mo Shangjun said, slightly squinting her eyes with utmost seriousness.
"..." After a pause, Lang Yan looked somewhat bemused, "Comrade Mo Shangjun, let me confirm one thing, you do know that this place is a reconnaissance company, right?"
"I know."
"The training volume..." Lang Yan drew out his words.
"I'm mentally prepared," Mo Shangjun replied with an unchanged expression, the faint smile deepening in her eyes.
The reconnaissance company—an elite collection within the conventional forces that only picks a few from five or six hundred new troops, apart from the special forces, this is the place the spearhead troops aspire to be.
Her mentor had sent her here, also eyeing the word "reconnaissance."
"Alright then," Lang Yan shrugged in resignation, "as long as you're happy."
Training together...
If she wants to join them, let her do as she pleases.
If she can't keep up, they'll just have to find a way for her to bow out gracefully later.
However, he didn't see the fleeting look of amusement in Mo Shangjun's eyes.
This company commander...
Ha, is really quite young.