The early morning chill bit at Chen Xiang's skin as he stood among the rows of recruits. The training camp was far from the bustling city he was used to, surrounded instead by vast fields and distant mountains. The air smelled of damp grass and sweat, and the only sound was the occasional bark of an instructor. Chen Xiang tightened his grip on his duffle bag, feeling the weight of his new reality.
"Move faster!" a stern voice echoed across the field. Chen Xiang glanced up to see a tall sergeant with a buzz cut stalking through the lines of recruits, his sharp gaze assessing each one. The man's presence was intimidating, and Chen Xiang instinctively straightened his back, trying to appear as disciplined as possible.
The first day was grueling. The recruits were given their uniforms, shown their barracks, and immediately thrown into physical training. Push-ups, sit-ups, running laps—each exercise pushed them to their limits. Chen Xiang could feel his muscles protesting, but he forced himself to keep going. Failure wasn't an option.
By the time evening rolled around, the barracks were filled with the quiet sounds of exhaustion. Recruits lay on their bunks, some already asleep, others staring blankly at the ceiling, their bodies too tired to move. Chen Xiang sat on his bunk, his back pressed against the cold metal frame. His muscles ached, and his hands trembled slightly from the strain of the day, but he refused to let it show. This was just the beginning, and he knew the weeks ahead would only get harder.
The barracks weren't exactly inviting. The beds were narrow, the mattresses thin, and the air carried the faint scent of damp socks and unwashed uniforms. Still, it was quiet enough for his thoughts to wander. He pulled out a small notebook from his bag, the only personal item he'd brought aside from his clothes. Flipping through the pages, he found a small note tucked inside—a message from his mother.
"Chen Xiang, no matter where you go or what you face, remember you're stronger than you think. We're proud of you."
He ran his thumb over the words, the faint smile tugging at his lips quickly fading as the weight of the day settled in. His family didn't know the full extent of what he was feeling—the anxiety, the uncertainty. They saw him as their anchor, but right now, he felt adrift.
"Hey," a voice broke his thoughts. He glanced up to see one of the recruits standing by his bunk, a tall, wiry guy with a shaved head. "You're the quiet type, huh? Don't worry, that won't last long here."
Chen Xiang raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. The recruit chuckled, sitting on the edge of the neighboring bunk. "Name's Zhang Wei. You look like you've got something to prove."
"Chen Xiang," he replied simply, tucking the notebook away. "And I'm just here to get through this."
"Yeah, well, you'll need friends if you want to survive," Zhang Wei said, leaning back on his hands. "The instructors? They'll chew you up and spit you out if you don't have someone watching your back."
Chen Xiang nodded, though he wasn't sure if Zhang Wei's offer of camaraderie was genuine or just an attempt to suss him out. Still, he appreciated the break from his own thoughts, however brief.
The next morning came far too quickly. The blare of a whistle jolted everyone awake, and within minutes, they were outside in formation. The crisp morning air was sharp against their skin, and the instructor wasted no time barking orders. They were introduced to the obstacle course, a sprawling expanse of walls, ropes, and muddy pits that seemed designed to test not only their strength but their willpower.
Chen Xiang tackled the course with a single-minded determination. The rope climb left his hands raw, the muddy crawl soaked his uniform, and the high wall nearly stopped him in his tracks. But each time he faltered, he pushed himself harder. This wasn't just about surviving the training—it was about proving to himself that he could endure, no matter what.
By the end of the week, he was exhausted but determined. The other recruits had started forming small groups, but Chen Xiang kept to himself. He was polite but distant, focused on his own progress. It wasn't until the second week that he realized the loneliness was starting to creep in.
One evening, after a particularly brutal training session, Chen Xiang found himself sitting alone on a bench outside the barracks. The sky was a deep shade of blue, the stars beginning to emerge one by one. His thoughts drifted to his family. He wondered how his mother was managing, if his siblings were behaving, if anyone missed him as much as he missed them.
"Long day?" a voice broke the silence. He turned to see Zhang Wei approaching, holding two bottles of water. Without waiting for a response, Zhang Wei handed him one and sat down beside him.
"Thanks," Chen Xiang said, taking a sip.
"You're a hard one to figure out," Zhang Wei said, glancing at him. "You keep to yourself, but you're not exactly unfriendly. What's your deal?"
Chen Xiang hesitated, then shrugged. "Just trying to focus."
Zhang Wei laughed. "Well, you've got the focus part down. But trust me, man, it's easier when you let people in. We're all stuck here for the same reason."
Chen Xiang considered his words, then nodded slightly. "I'll keep that in mind."
As the weeks passed, Chen Xiang began to find his rhythm. The training didn't get easier, but he got stronger. He started talking to the other recruits more, even laughing at Zhang Wei's terrible jokes during breaks. Slowly, the isolation he'd wrapped himself in began to fade.
But the challenges didn't stop. One afternoon, during a routine endurance run, Chen Xiang felt a sharp pain in his knee. He pushed through it, gritting his teeth, but by the time they finished, the pain had become unbearable. He limped back to the barracks, hoping it was nothing serious.
The next day, the pain was worse. His knee swelled, and every step sent a jolt of agony through his leg. Reluctantly, he reported to the medical unit. As he sat in the waiting area, his thoughts were a storm of frustration and fear. If this injury took him out of training, everything he'd worked for would be for nothing.
"Chen Xiang?" a familiar voice called. He looked up and froze.
Standing in the doorway, clipboard in hand and a hint of surprise on her face, was Zhang Ruoxuan.
"You again?" she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We've got to stop meeting like this."
For the first time in days, Chen Xiang felt the tension in his chest ease, if only slight.