In this lifetime, Xiang Yu's relationship with her parents remained distant, but she was much better off financially compared to her previous life. This meant she didn't have to work tirelessly at various jobs. However, she believed in being prepared, so she decided to find a part-time job. This way, she would have time to participate in school activities and still have a steady income apart from covering her rent.
Since military training was about to begin, Xiang Yu decided to start looking for a part-time job once it was over. As for the club that Mr.Xue mentioned, she still wanted to join. Learning more would always be beneficial for her. Although she sensed that Mr.Xue might have some feelings for her, he hadn't done anything obvious yet. Besides, Xiang Yu felt that since she was now Lu Heng's girlfriend, their relationship was very clear, and she could openly discuss it if necessary.
In the past few days, Xiang Yu had gradually become familiar with her roommates. They ate together, fetched water together, and although Xiang Yu was quiet and reserved, she was always polite. She kept her bed, desk, and closet very tidy and would help clean the dormitory, making her a very good roommate. The other five girls were also quite nice, so they got along well.
Once military training began, all the girls in the dormitory were too exhausted to talk much. Xiang Yu, despite having deliberately exercised her body in this life, was still worn out by the standing drills. Moreover, the intense sun had nearly peeled the skin off her arms, making them sore to the touch. Luckily, her face hadn't been sunburned thanks to her hat, but it had turned a dark red. The other girls in the dormitory were in a similar state, and the next day they all wore camouflage jackets. Returning to the dormitory felt like being soaked in water. Xiang Yu sat down, resting her head on the table for a while to gather some strength before taking a shower and going to bed.
The dorm manager's voice echoed down the hallway, "Xiang Yu, a phone call." Xiang Yu's legs felt like they were filled with lead; she didn't want to move at all. She felt dirty and smelly and didn't even want to answer the phone. But the manager's voice called again and again, forcing her to struggle to her feet. She thought it must be Lu Heng, calling to ask about her military training, as only he knew her dorm number. So, when she picked up the phone, her tone had a bit of a playful complaint, "Lu Heng, the military training is exhausting."
There was silence on the other end, only the sound of breathing, and then a low male voice called her name, "Xiang Yu?" It wasn't Lu Heng's voice. Xiang Yu's tone immediately became polite and distant, "Hello, who is this?"
"It's me, Xue Min," the voice said. "You didn't give me an answer, so I thought I'd call to check." Xiang Yu remembered that she had forgotten to tell Xue Min about her decision to join the club. She quickly apologized, "Mr.Xue, I'm sorry, I forgot to reply. I'd like to join the club, and I'd appreciate it if you could recommend me to the club."
Xue Min was pleased to hear that Xiang Yu had decided to join and quickly said, "Alright, I'll be your sponsor. You'll get the news when the new semester starts." Xiang Yu thanked him again, "Thank you for calling to confirm. I'll treat you to a meal when the semester starts." Xue Min was in a better mood hearing this. Knowing that she found the training exhausting, he asked her about it. Xiang Yu, however, didn't intend to chat after discussing the main issue, saying, "It's fine, I just got back and need to freshen up." Xue Min advised her to rest and drink plenty of water before ending the call.
Lu Heng called after dinner. They couldn't talk for long, fearing they'd occupy the phone line for too long and inconvenience others. Xiang Yu mentioned that her arms were sunburned. Lu Heng asked if she had any aloe vera gel with her, suggesting she apply some. Xiang Yu sighed, saying she didn't. Although there was nothing he could do over the phone, Lu Heng tried to comfort her.
The next afternoon, after Xiang Yu had showered and was resting on her bed, the dorm manager called out again, "Xiang Yu, someone's here to see you." She went out to find Lu Heng, dusty and wearing his military training uniform, holding a small bag. He smiled brightly when he saw her, "Look, I bought you some aloe vera gel." He looked at her and said, "How come you've gotten so dark in just a few days? But you still look good." He smiled at Xiang Yu, just like the Lu Heng from her past life, her own little sunshine.