Exasperating Training

She sat quietly by his side, watching over him to ensure he could have a peaceful slumber. As she took her own notes, she thoughtfully included those for Ouyang Xianyi as well. At the front of the room, the teacher’s chalk tapped rhythmically against the blackboard.

Aside from the sound of chalk meeting slate, the classroom was exceptionally still. The atmosphere for learning was surprisingly earnest, a scene so captivating it drew the eye of anyone who looked. Feng Lan turned her head to gaze at Ouyang Xianyi’s sleeping face, bathed in the glow of the sunlight. The golden rays cast a halo around him, giving him the appearance of an angel descended to earth. The rest of the class watched this sight in hushed silence.

Such a god-like existence felt both yearned for and perpetually out of reach. Even though he was right beside them, it felt as if the distance between them was growing—as if they were worlds apart. A sense of regret naturally lingered in their hearts.

Who could possibly be worthy of someone like him? How they wished that person could be themselves—this was the truest thought in the mind of every girl in the room. But would such a thing ever come to pass?

No one knew; perhaps only Ouyang Xianyi himself held the answer. After all, the choice was his, and whom he chose to be with was his personal business. They had no right to object.

To offer their blessings was the only sincere and viable path left to them. On the sandy ground, yellow dust danced in the wind, stirred by the movements of the students.

Standing in the sand, drenched in sweat, they were a sight that would surely move their parents to tears, reflecting that their children had finally grown up.

Everyone was covered in dirt and grime, marching in place. Who could have imagined that they had just finished gathering logs and fallen leaves from the mountain opposite, then hauled buckets to fill the military district’s reservoir?

They were filthy, yet forced to continue practicing their drills. For these students accustomed to cleanliness, it was the most unbearable ordeal. Yet, the instructors paid them no mind; should anyone dare to complain, the training would only be doubled. In time, even those with grievances kept them buried, not daring to utter a single word of dissent. This was, perhaps, the most important lesson they had learned all morning.

That very morning, after panting through ten laps, they had been nearly frozen by the icy glares of the instructors. They were then ordered into the woods to collect fallen timber and leaves. When someone had stood up to protest, refusing to go, the entire group was punished with push-ups—three hundred for the boys, two hundred for the girls. The rebellion had failed, only inviting harsher training. Seeing that the instructors were not joking, the others had resigned themselves to the punishment. By the time they finished the hundreds of push-ups, their hands were cramping uncontrollably. Shangguan Xiao rubbed her stiff muscles, feeling as though she might die.

She felt as if she would cramp up the moment she stood. Damn it! As she stretched her muscles, she cursed the instructors inside and out in her mind.

What kind of military training was this? It was nothing more than torture! And now, with over ten days left before they could return home, she was certain she wouldn't even be able to walk by the time that day arrived. She wasn't an indestructible robot; there were limits to her physical strength. Yet, these instructors knew only how to work them to the bone, not even allowing them a peaceful sleep. One day, she would surely make them pay! Ouyang Xianyu, having finished his push-ups, remained expressionless, appearing as though nothing had happened at all.

Seeing his composure, the others cast looks of admiration his way. The girl next to Shangguan Xiao looked at Ouyang Xianyu with adoration, whispering to Shangguan Xiao, "Hey! Look at that! Ouyang Xianyu finished three hundred push-ups and isn't even winded! How cool is that!"