Chapter 24: Transfer

Lin Yiqiao felt dazed — Wait… did I just become an officer?

She glanced at Qi Jun, puffed up her cheeks with a smile, joy practically radiating from her eyes.

Xu Zhibin noticed the subtle flirtation between the two and was momentarily startled. Then he turned back to the audience and spoke steadily, “Comrade Lin Yiqiao performed outstandingly during the emergency harvest task and is being commended for her contributions. We hope she will lead the female soldiers’ company to even greater success.”

Hearing this, Lin Yiqiao stepped forward, stood before her fellow comrades, and gave a deep bow. “I won’t let everyone down.”

Another round of applause followed.

The brief meeting ended, and everyone rose and left with mixed thoughts.

Lin Yiqiao sneaked another look at Qi Jun. He walked at the head of the group of officers, taking long, steady strides out of the hall.

As she looked away, Instructor Wang Xue approached. “Company Commander Lin, my mission here is complete. The rest…” Wang Xue gave her a complicated look, “…is up to you.”

“Yes!” Lin Yiqiao saluted her with perfect military posture.

She then stepped forward and faced the group. “March in step—go! Assemble at the entrance!”

The female soldiers quickly lined up outside the hall. Lin Yiqiao maintained a serious expression as she straightened the formation.

“Double time—march!”

By the time they reached the mess hall, it was already dark and nearly empty.

The women lined up, got their food, and sat down in small groups.

Lin Yiqiao sat with her dorm mates. Li Xiumei took a bite of her scallion pancake and whispered, “You’ve got real presence now.”

“Of course,” Lin Yiqiao replied with a calm face, though she was secretly delighted.

“Yiqiao…” Liu Hongying hesitated a little, then asked, “About that harvest task — what kind of merit did you actually earn?”

“Hmm…” Lin Yiqiao furrowed her delicate brows, feigning difficulty. “That’s… classified by higher-ups.”

Ha — Merit? I almost got arrested!

Liu Hongying quickly smiled in understanding.

Lin Yiqiao was in such a good mood that even the food tasted better. She looked up and noticed the table in front of her — the girls there kept whispering and shooting her looks, then quickly glanced away when their eyes met.

So what?

Lin Yiqiao didn’t care. Like it or not, they’d still have to follow her orders now.

There was no night training that evening. After dinner, everyone returned to the dorms.

Lin Yiqiao showered and blow-dried her hair until it was half-dry, then picked up her kettle to get water.

“Excuse me, are you Comrade Lin Yiqiao?”

A girl she didn’t recognize came up to her. “There’s a comrade outside saying your aunt is here to see you.”

My aunt? Why would she come now—

“Okay, thank you,” Lin Yiqiao smiled, suddenly realizing something. She quickly went back to the dorm to freshen up and dashed outside.

As she passed an ajar dorm room, she heard a righteous voice, “She totally skipped the chain of command to get promoted!”

“Shh! Keep it down.”

Lin Yiqiao paused — she recognized He Yujie’s voice.

“What are we supposed to do now? Just let someone who’s always slacking off become our commander?”

There was a moment of silence, then some muttered whispers. Lin Yiqiao looked at the half-open door and smirked coldly before hurrying downstairs.

Waiting outside was Dongzi. As soon as Lin Yiqiao saw him, she knew what was going on.

Dongzi nodded at her. “The commander is waiting over there.”

Lin Yiqiao turned and sprinted toward the Jeep parked by the wall. Her hair was still loose, and she looked like a little lion who had just bathed by the river.

She flung open the front passenger door, climbed in, and reached across the console to hug Qi Jun tightly around the waist. “I missed you so much.”

She rubbed her head against his chest.

Qi Jun looked at her fluffy hair and couldn’t resist running his hand through it. She smelled fresh and clean — like she had just showered.

Lin Yiqiao looked up at him, her eyes curling into crescent moons, filled with joy and affection. In the lampless night, her eyes sparkled brightly.

Qi Jun stared into her eyes and suddenly thought — I want her to always look at me like this.

She slid across the center console and sat on his lap, resting her cheek against his chest, mumbling away.

She talked about everything — from how the mess hall auntie once gave her extra braised pork, to losing her favorite soap and having to borrow from a roommate.

Qi Jun responded patiently, “Mm… okay… I’ll take you to buy more.”

He rested his chin gently on her head, breathing in the comforting scent of her hair.

“Oh right,” Lin Yiqiao’s eyes shifted, and she asked cautiously, “About my promotion… was it because of you?”

She looked up at him.

Qi Jun’s eyes showed a hint of amusement. “What do you think?”

“Hmph.” Lin Yiqiao nuzzled back into his chest. “I heard them say…”

She bit her lip, hesitating. “They’re calling it a ‘leapfrog promotion.’”

“Hmm?” Qi Jun sounded amused. “A leapfrog promotion?”

“Didn’t you say I earned merit?” she looked up at him again.

“Of course you did. If I say you did, then you did,” Qi Jun said, placing a hand gently on her waist.

Lin Yiqiao’s snow-white arms wrapped around his neck. “What if they report me?”

“They’re welcome to,” Qi Jun chuckled lightly. “I’d love to see how they explain your so-called ‘leapfrog promotion.’”

Lin Yiqiao laughed, glowing like starlight in the night. She hugged him tightly, resting her head against his neck.

Feeling her full-body dependence, Qi Jun tightened his grip around her waist.

“I knew you were the best to me.”

“Do you like being a company commander?”

“Mhm! Of course I do!” she replied, excitedly wriggling on his lap before looking up at him again. The moonlight cast shadows across his strong, handsome features.

Then, Lin Yiqiao suddenly kissed him on the lips.

Qi Jun froze.

She gazed at him, eyes seductive and half-lidded. “Can I kiss you?”

Before he could respond, she leaned in again, closing her eyes. Her soft lips pressed against his, and her lashes trembled slightly.

She tentatively licked his lips with her tongue, then slowly explored further. Qi Jun responded awkwardly but didn’t resist.

Lin Yiqiao opened her eyes mid-kiss and saw him with his eyes closed, tightly holding her waist — satisfied, she closed her eyes again.

Their lips and tongues entwined as one of her hands gripped his firm thigh, the other gently cupping his face.

When the kiss ended, she lay breathless against his chest, her soft chest rising and falling.

“I’ll be transferring in a few days.”

His voice came from above.

Lin Yiqiao’s head snapped up. “Transfer?!”

“Mm.”

Qi Jun gently brushed her damp hair behind her ear and pinched her cheek. Lin Yiqiao lowered her gaze — the tenderness in that touch melted her.

“I’ll still be in the capital. Just not in the army anymore.”

A promotion? Lin Yiqiao blinked her bright, watery eyes.

“Then I won’t be able to see you anymore,” she pouted, shifting forward on his lap.

Qi Jun gripped her lower back. His breathing deepened. “Don’t move.”

Once she stayed still, he added, “I’ll get you transferred in a few days too.”

“Really?!” Lin Yiqiao joyfully wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled him — she’d been wanting to leave this exhausting post anyway.

“No! I just got promoted. Let me enjoy it for a while first.” That was from the heart too.

Qi Jun laughed at her, and once again pinched her cheek affectionately.