Chapter 25: Shooting

Lin Yiqiao didn’t return until the lights-out bugle had sounded. As she got out of the car, she kept turning back every few steps, her lips rosy and her face flushed with a soft, charming glow.

Her dormitory was right next to the washroom. Just as she reached the door, she ran into He Yujie who was drawing water. Lin Yiqiao cast her a faint glance, then pushed the door open and went inside.

“Yiqiao, where have you been so late!” Li Xiumei greeted her excitedly, grabbing her hand. “Come, try the pancakes I brought from home.”

Li Xiumei sprinkled some sesame salt on the pancake and rolled it up. Lin Yiqiao smiled and took a bite. “Smells so good!”

“Of course! My mom specially had a fellow townsman bring it.”

Everyone in the dorm got a share. Li Xiumei was usually a bit stingy when it came to food, always sneaking bites on her own. Today, her generosity seemed quite out of character.

Lin Yiqiao just smiled and said nothing. She brushed her teeth again and went to bed.

---

The next morning, Lin Yiqiao was the first one up and arrived early at the training ground, a whistle hanging around her neck.

Being a company commander really made a difference—just earlier, logistics had told her she would be given a private room and upgraded benefits.

She even bumped into her uncle-in-law, Zhang Guoqiang. Clearly, he was shocked by her meteoric promotion.

Lin Yiqiao smiled, but didn’t say much—mainly because she herself didn’t understand exactly how it all came to be.

People began arriving at the training ground. Lin Yiqiao stood quietly at the front, calm and composed as she waited for everyone to assemble.

Once they were in formation, she gave the command unhurriedly, “Today’s training is easy: shooting practice. But first, warm up with two laps!”

The women of the company quickly formed two rows and started jogging at a steady pace around the field.

Lin Yiqiao stood in the middle, lazily twirling her whistle cord, blowing it occasionally to adjust their pace.

After two laps, everyone was panting.

Lin Yiqiao suddenly thought of something she’d seen Qijun do—check his watch. But her own wrist was bare. Still, keeping a serious expression, she shouted, “Right face! Toward the shooting range—double time, march!”

The shooting range was already crowded, with several companies lined up waiting.

Not wanting to pull rank, Lin Yiqiao led her unit to a shady spot under some trees to wait. She leaned against a tree and sipped from her canteen.

Company Commander Dong Jianhua of the 2nd Company walked over with a smile. “Commander Lin!”

Lin Yiqiao returned the smile. “Commander Dong.”

Looking around, all these company commanders had to be in their thirties at least, while she herself was barely twenty. For the first time, Lin Yiqiao felt a bit of the weight of “promotion beyond one’s level.”

Still, she showed no fear. Dong Jianhua chatted politely with her and even offered to let her unit cut the line.

Lin Yiqiao quickly waved it off with a smile.

“Commander Qi!” Dong Jianhua suddenly called out behind her.

She turned around and saw Qijun approaching. Lin Yiqiao lit up, smiling brightly. “Commander Qi!”

“Mm.” Qijun nodded calmly as he reached her.

Dong Jianhua’s voice grew a bit more nervous, and Qijun exchanged a few words with him. Lin Yiqiao stayed quiet and looked down at Qijun’s long legs.

“You’re up next,” Qijun’s voice sounded above her.

Snapping back to attention, Lin Yiqiao looked at his unreadable face, then turned to her troops. “Follow me!”

The last group had just finished, and as company commander, Lin Yiqiao had to take the lead.

Fortunately, she was good at shooting—otherwise, this new appointment would be off to an embarrassing start.

She dropped into a prone position swiftly, posture textbook-perfect, eyes sharp. Aim, fire.

Bang! Bang!

Right on target!

“Nice shot!” Cheers rang out.

Lin Yiqiao smoothly retrieved her rifle—completely impressed with herself.

The rest of the female company members started taking their turns. Lin Yiqiao stood by, watching carefully.

Qijun stood under the shade, watching her. Lin Yiqiao began to feel warm under his gaze and wiped her brow. Her every movement seemed extra cute and endearing.

After thinking for a moment, she casually walked over to fetch her canteen.

“Nice shooting,” came a voice as she bent down.

She looked up while grabbing the canteen and pouted, “Hmph, of course.”

Qijun looked at her radiant face, his gaze darkening slightly.

They kept chatting, casually and naturally.

At one point, Qijun smiled faintly at something she said, then flicked the whistle cord in his hand lightly against her shoulder—it was feathery, teasing… and oddly intimate.

Everyone else was focused on their shooting. No one was paying attention—except He Yujie.

She had just finished her turn, and when she turned around, she saw that scene.

Her eyes widened in disbelief—

That move had clear undertones of flirtation. She couldn’t believe that Qijun—would do something like that… to a woman.