Chapter 12: Dismissed

“Salute. Ten minutes. The rest of you will join her.”

Seriously trying to get me hated, huh? Lin Yiqiao was on the verge of tears.

She could already hear a few whispered curses behind her. No one dared speak ill of Qi Jun, but they weren’t about to show her any mercy.

She struggled to lift her sore, trembling arm again. From the corner of her eye, she saw Qi Jun striding toward the assembling special forces unit.

The special forces were the pride of the 32nd Regiment, personally trained by Qi Jun. They had just returned from a mountain field exercise and happened to run into the women’s company during training — and Qi Jun had also just so happened to catch Lin Yiqiao slacking off.

The special forces captain, Xiao Guohua, called out, “Sir! Special forces unit assembled. Awaiting orders!”

“Stand at attention for two hours.”

“Yes, sir!”

But Lin Yiqiao wasn’t listening to a word of it — she was too far gone. Almost five minutes had passed, and she had no idea how she was still standing. Her arm was completely numb, drooping against her will. If she kept this up, she might not be able to lift it for a week.

On impulse, she suddenly shouted, “Report!”

Qi Jun turned at the sound and walked toward her.

“Speak.”

Lin Yiqiao stared at the utility belt on his waist and said, “I… can’t hold on anymore.”

He said nothing.

Lin Yiqiao couldn’t help but look up, and her eyes met his — deep, dark, intense.

She clearly saw a flicker of surprise — even disbelief — in his expression. Apparently, no one had ever made such a ridiculous report to him before.

They locked eyes for a few seconds until a bead of sweat dripped from her lashes into her eye, stinging and blurring her vision.

Then, finally, Qi Jun spoke.

“Hold on.” He looked down at his watch. “Five more minutes.”

Lin Yiqiao gritted her teeth and forced her arm to stay up through sheer willpower. Her thoughts drifted in a blur. Her arm was burning, her whole brain going numb from the pain. She kept her eyes locked on Qi Jun’s retreating back, fighting the urge to curse him out.

She didn’t know how much longer had passed, but finally, he walked over again and stood in front of her.

“Dismissed. Fall back in.”

She immediately dropped her arm, clutching it with the other hand and gently massaging the aching muscles.

Qi Jun gave a slow glance across the line. Only then did the other female soldiers dare to lower their arms.

Back in formation, Lin Yiqiao watched Qi Jun say a few words to Instructor Wang Xue before walking away.

“So what’s the problem? You can’t handle it already?” Wang Xue began scolding the team. “I don’t know what kind of image you had of the women’s company before you came, but let me make it clear — this is not just for show!”

“If you’re here, then honor that uniform you’re wearing!”

Lin Yiqiao looked up at the sky with a silent sigh. She couldn’t help regretting that moment of laziness earlier.

Wang Xue waited until all the girls had bowed their heads before finally saying, “Dismissed!”

As Lin Yiqiao turned, she caught He Yujie’s gaze — not friendly at all, laced with mockery.

What’s that supposed to mean? Lin Yiqiao was baffled.

Anyone else would’ve been mortified after what just happened, but Lin Yiqiao bounced back quickly and was already wondering what lunch would be.

Over in the distance, the special forces were still standing at attention. Qi Jun paced steadily among them.

That man really does have an intense presence. The more serious he was, the more Lin Yiqiao felt a strange itch in her heart. It must feel great hugging him from behind.

No one dared truly relax yet. They lined up in single file and jogged to the cafeteria.

It took another half hour of waiting, but finally — hot food.

Lin Yiqiao bit fiercely into a big steamed bun and sipped the egg soup. She had never eaten so well in her life.

Beside her, Li Xiumei nudged her arm. “Yiqiao, your arm okay now?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, it’s fine. Sorry… I got everyone in trouble.”

“Eh, no big deal. Back home I worked the fields every day harvesting wheat — my arms are strong.”

Lin Yiqiao burst out laughing, two dimples popping out and sweeping away the tension from earlier.

Li Xiumei was momentarily dazed by her smile. If I were a man, she thought, I’d do anything just to make her smile like that.

“Hey, did you guys see Colonel Qi today?” Liu Hongying asked.

Lin Yiqiao took a sip of soup and didn’t respond.

“You mean that scary-looking officer?” someone asked.

“Yeah, that’s him.”

Their meal schedule was different from the senior officers’, so they weren’t worried about getting scolded — everyone relaxed and chatted freely.

It wasn’t hard to tell a few girls had budding crushes on Qi Jun. They wouldn’t admit it outright, but when teased, their faces turned red.

He’s definitely the heartthrob type. Tall, broad-shouldered, handsome, poised — and already a regiment commander at such a young age. Who wouldn’t be drawn to that?

Lin Yiqiao cupped her cheeks, sighing. After what happened today, guess I’ve blown my chances.

She looked up again — and locked eyes with He Yujie once more.

Ugh, Lin Yiqiao rolled her eyes inwardly. Sis, are you in love with me or what?

Thinking back to when they were discussing Qi Jun earlier, He Yujie had that aloof, holier-than-thou look. And the way she looked at Lin Yiqiao when she went to register with Qi Jun before — not friendly.

Wait… does she like Qi Jun too?

Whatever. Lin Yiqiao couldn’t be bothered. Let everyone rely on their own skills. What’s with the sour face every day, trying to get under my skin?

After lunch, Qian Ru came to drop off some things for Lin Yiqiao.

New clothes, face cream, aloe gel — everything she could think of.

It was like a booster shot for Lin Yiqiao. Over the next month of intense training, everyone got noticeably tanner — except her. All thanks to her aunt’s aloe gel.

Training was tough. Formation drills, physical conditioning, shooting, first aid — they learned it all. Lin Yiqiao found it surprisingly fun. When she wanted to learn something, she always did it well.

Just as they were about to get a few days off, the women’s company received an assignment: assist with a rural harvest. They wouldn’t be working the fields, though — they needed two record-keepers.

Lin Yiqiao and Liu Hongying, both high school graduates, were selected to join the 32nd Regiment for the mission.