**Radar** knew that if this issue wasn't handled properly, the consequences could range from mild punishment to the possible end of his military career. His mind raced as he quickly decided to take control of the situation. Taking a few quick steps forward, he approached **Yang Aiguo** and asked, "What's going on? Why are you all gathered here instead of eating?"
**Yang Aiguo** understood the severity of the situation. He glanced at **Xie Zhiyuan** and replied, "Instructor, it's nothing serious. We just had a small clash while getting our meals, exchanged a few words, and the others gathered around to watch."
"Is that true?" **Radar** felt somewhat relieved and turned to ask **Xie Zhiyuan**.
"Reporting, Instructor, yes. The other party has already apologized, and it's all settled now." **Xie Zhiyuan** could only swallow his anger. No matter how much grievance he felt, this was not the time to tell the truth, or else no one would get away unscathed.
"Instructor Lei, are these your men?" a middle-aged man asked in a deep voice.
"Reporting, Sir, these are my men." **Radar** stood at attention and saluted the middle-aged man.
"Good. You're in charge of this matter. Write up a report and hand it to me." The middle-aged man waved his hand and told the students, "Disperse, go eat, and rest for half an hour. Training resumes this afternoon."
The students had just run a marathon, and hearing that training would resume in the afternoon, they all groaned, but still dispersed to quickly eat and rest in their dorms to regain strength for the afternoon's new round of torment.
After the students had mostly dispersed, the middle-aged officer left with the other instructors. **Radar** looked at **Yang Le**, **Li Dazhuang**, and the others, then at the dozen or so students with **Xie Zhiyuan**, and felt a surge of anger. He shouted, "You all think you're so tough, huh? Causing trouble on the first day of training? You, you, and you—all of you, come with me! You like causing trouble? Well, no lunch for you then!"
**Yang Aiguo**, **Yang Le**, **Li Dazhuang**, **Tang Guo**, **Lin Bao'er**, **Xie Zhiyuan**, and his group were all singled out by **Radar**. With his face darkened like a cloud, **Radar** led the group out of the cafeteria and toward the training field. The instructors didn't have dedicated offices, and some matters weren't meant to be overheard by others, so **Radar** had no choice but to take them to the field for a private interrogation.
"How are you holding up, Dazhuang?" **Yang Le** asked **Li Dazhuang** softly, concerned.
"I'm fine," **Li Dazhuang** said, licking his dry lips. His voice was weak, as if it could be extinguished by the wind at any moment.
"No, Dazhuang. You need to replenish some nutrients and water," **Yang Le** said anxiously.
"Would milk work?" **Lin Bao'er** asked softly.
"Of course, but where can we find milk right now?" **Yang Le** said, frowning.
**Lin Bao'er** stealthily pulled a carton of milk from the large pocket of her camouflage uniform and handed it to **Yang Le**, saying, "Give it to him quickly. He's really struggling."
"—" **Yang Le** was speechless. How could a healthy young man be in such bad shape?
**Tang Guo**, seeing no one was paying attention, also slipped a packet of milk to **Yang Le**. "You drink one too. Bao'er and I have already eaten; you guys should fill your stomachs too. Who knows what kind of punishment that black-faced devil has in store for us?"
"Everyone shut up!" **Radar** suddenly turned and roared. It was fortunate that these were university students. If they had been the fresh recruits he had trained before, he would have slapped them by now. In the army, new recruits who hadn't been disciplined by the veterans were rare indeed.
**Lin Bao'er** playfully stuck out her tongue but didn't dare say another word.
When they arrived at the large training field, they saw a lone figure staggering along the long track. **Radar** paused, and half of his anger dissipated. His steps slowed, and his gaze lingered on that figure for a long time before he finally turned away.
For a teacher, having one outstanding student is a mark of success. The same goes for a soldier—there's always a good one in the ranks.
"**Tang Tang** sister, it's **Ye Qiu**." **Lin Bao'er** suddenly felt a weight pressing on her heart, as if a heavy stone was crushing her chest. Every heartbeat seemed to require all her strength, a sensation she had never experienced before. She felt like crying.
**Tang Guo** bit her lip, her eyes blankly staring at the figure slowly running toward them. It was as if she was bearing all of **Ye Qiu**'s suffering herself, a bitter feeling choking her words.
She had caused this. She had been too willful. **Tang Guo** was filled with regret and guilt.
When **Ye Qiu** reached the eighteenth lap, he noticed **Radar** leading a group of familiar faces over. Why were **Yang Aiguo** and the others here? Had something happened?
But no matter what, **Ye Qiu** had to keep up the appearance of physical exhaustion. Otherwise, he would be taken to the superpower research facility for dissection. The workload he had completed today was something only a highly trained special forces soldier could endure; ordinary soldiers would never be able to handle it.
**Yang Le** and **Li Dazhuang** were also filled with complex emotions, feeling a deep frustration that made them want to scream. But **Radar** hadn't ordered a stop, and they didn't have the authority to make **Ye Qiu** stop. Only **Xie Zhiyuan** and his cohorts had smiles on their faces.
"Ye Qiu, hang in there, brother," **Yang Aiguo** called out. In that moment, he too was won over by **Ye Qiu**'s determination.
When **Ye Qiu** reached **Radar**, he saw that the instructor's face was still stern, with no intention of stopping him, so he had to continue his heavy steps forward.
"Ye Qiu, stop!" **Tang Guo** shouted loudly.
Handing her lunchbox to **Lin Bao'er**, **Tang Guo** walked up to **Radar**, gave him a respectful salute, and said, "Instructor, please let **Ye Qiu** stop. He may be a student of Shuimu University, but he's also my bodyguard. I'm his employer, and he doesn't have the right to refuse my request. It was I who asked him to help with the luggage. If there's any punishment to be given, it should be to me."
**Radar** squinted at **Tang Guo** and said sternly, "It was you?"
"Yes," **Tang Guo** replied decisively.
"Then you run with him," **Radar** said coldly.
"Yes, Instructor." **Tang Guo** raised her head high and ran past **Radar** to catch up with the staggering **Ye Qiu**.
"Reporting, Instructor, I should run with **Ye Qiu** too. I also helped carry the girls' luggage," **Yang Le** said, stepping up to **Radar**.
"Reporting, Instructor, I was involved too. Please punish me as well," **Li Dazhuang** said, standing tall after drinking two cartons of milk and feeling much better.
"Reporting, Instructor. Count me in."
"And me too."
"Everyone shut up!" **Radar** roared like an enraged lion. But when his gaze returned to **Ye Qiu**'s figure, it shone with admiration. Men of the **Ye** family were no cowards—
**Tang Guo** quickly caught up to **Ye Qiu** and asked worriedly, "How many laps have you run, **Ye Qiu**? Why are you being so foolish? There's no one watching; you could have taken a break and finished later. Why push yourself so hard? How do you feel now? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," **Ye Qiu** smiled at **Tang Guo**, but his face was pale, his lips were dry, and he looked just like **Li Dazhuang** had earlier—on the verge of collapse.
Seeing **Ye Qiu**'s smile only made **Tang Guo** more anxious. She grabbed his hand and said, "**Ye Qiu**, you can't run anymore. If you keep going, you'll pass out."
"Just two more laps. I'm fine," **Ye Qiu** said, squeezing **Tang Guo**'s hand and thinking to himself that this was the first time she had willingly let him hold her hand.
"No, **Ye Qiu**, I won't let you run anymore. I won't let you," **Tang Guo** insisted. Seeing that just holding his hand wasn't enough to stop him, she wrapped both arms around his waist, determined not to let him move.
With the softness of her body against him and her gentle voice pleading, **Ye Qiu** found it hard to resist. He licked his dry lips and said, "Let me go. They're all watching us. It's just two more laps;
I'll finish quickly."
"I don't care. Let them watch. **Ye Qiu**, you really can't run anymore. You don't realize how terrifying you look right now," **Tang Guo** said, hugging **Ye Qiu** even tighter, resting her head against him, making it look more like a couple's intimate embrace.
"**Tang Guo**, let go—"
"No."
"Let go."
"No. Not unless you agree to stop and rest."
"It's just two more laps."
"Not even two steps. You're my bodyguard, and you have to obey me," **Tang Guo** said, matter-of-factly.
"Can you at least loosen your grip a bit?"
"No."
"You're making it hard for me to breathe—"
"Ah?"
**Tang Guo** quickly loosened her hold, only to see that **Ye Qiu**'s face had turned even paler, with sweat pouring from his forehead like rain and his vision starting to blur.
"**Ye Qiu**, don't scare me like this," **Tang Guo** said, panic in her voice.
Thud!
**Ye Qiu** collapsed straight to the ground, but he had already aimed himself in **Tang Guo**'s direction. **Tang Guo** reached out to catch him, but both of them lost their balance, and **Ye Qiu**'s body landed heavily on top of **Tang Guo**.
**Tang Guo** was nearly suffocated by the impact. Taking a deep breath, she shouted, "Help—**Ye Qiu** has fainted!"
Even as she held onto **Ye Qiu**'s body, she couldn't bring herself to push him away.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8