Early the next morning, Linlin arrived at the field for assembly. When she glanced toward the front of the formation, she froze.
Had they changed instructors?
Jiang Chengzhou stood at the head of the formation in a crisp training uniform, his cap sitting perfectly straight as he flipped through the roster.
He looked up and scanned the rows. His gaze paused on Linlin’s face for a moment, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly before he quickly resumed his stern, strictly professional expression.
Linlin widened her eyes and shot her brother a questioning look.
“Attention—at ease!”
After taking attendance, Jiang Chengzhou walked through the formation, correcting everyone’s posture one by one.
When he passed Linlin, he lowered his voice. “Stand up straight. Don’t get distracted.”
Linlin hurriedly straightened her back, her face turning faintly red.
Training continued as usual throughout the day. Jiang Chengzhou followed the regulations, neither treating her specially nor secretly going easy on her.
During a break, Linlin had just sat down beneath the shade of a tree when Lu Zeyu walked over and handed her a handkerchief. “Wipe your sweat.”
“…” Linlin looked up at him. “Thanks, but I’m not sweating. You’re the one who’s sweating more.”
Lu Zeyu normally never carried a handkerchief. He had prepared this one especially for today—and had even sprayed a little perfume on it, specifically for Linlin.
During the break, he rolled up the sleeves of his military training uniform to his elbows, revealing his Shanghai-brand watch.
A male peacock spread its feathers when courting, and Lu Zeyu was doing much the same by showing off his watch. Unfortunately, Linlin didn’t pay the slightest attention.
Fine specks of sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled Linlin’s face.
When she looked up at him, the heat had flushed her cheeks, making her already bright and delicate features appear even more striking. Lu Zeyu stared, his heart pounding.
His undisguised gaze made Linlin uncomfortable, so she turned her head away.
Before Lu Zeyu could recover, Jiang Chengzhou had already walked over.
“Linlin.”
“Present!”
Linlin stood up reflexively, a guilty flush rising involuntarily to her face.
Lu Zeyu turned around as well and grinned, waving the bottle of soda in his hand at Jiang Chengzhou. “Instructor, want some soda?”
What a cheeky little brat.
Jiang Chengzhou silently marked him down as a problem in his mind before turning his attention back to Linlin. “Come with me.”
Linlin quickly murmured an affirmative and followed him beneath the shade of a nearby tree.
Lu Zeyu remained where he was, watching their retreating figures with a slight frown.
Once they reached a secluded spot, Jiang Chengzhou turned around.
“That guy…” He jerked his chin in Lu Zeyu’s direction. “Do you like him?”
Linlin’s eyes flew wide. She waved her hands frantically. “No, no! I only found out his name yesterday.”
Jiang Chengzhou’s lips curved upward. “Really? Your brother believes you.”
“Oh…” Linlin sounded unconvinced.
If he really believed her, he wouldn’t have rushed over to her unit the very next day to serve as her instructor.
Her thoughts were written all over her face. Jiang Chengzhou chuckled and lightly flicked her forehead. “Who was the one keeping secrets from me?”
Linlin pursed her lips. “You never asked properly. I only promised to tell you if I liked someone. I don’t like him.”
Jiang Chengzhou rubbed his forehead and gave a helpless laugh. “Fine, fine, I was wrong. But if you don’t like him, you need to reject him firmly, otherwise he’ll keep pestering you.”
Linlin hesitated for a moment. “But he hasn’t said that he likes me. If I reject him outright, wouldn’t that make me look conceited?”
All Lu Zeyu was doing right now was trying to get her attention. He hadn’t actually said anything else. If she suddenly told him she didn’t like him, it would feel inappropriate.
Linlin was highly intelligent when it came to her studies, but when it came to romance, she was still a blank slate.
Jiang Chengzhou sighed. “All right, do as you see fit. Just remember one thing: you must never let yourself be mistreated.”
Linlin snapped to attention and saluted. “Yes, sir!”
Jiang Chengzhou could only look at her and smile helplessly.
By the afternoon, rumors had spread again about Linlin and her instructor behaving intimately.
Dong Xiaomin had even heard about it in another department and hurried to tell Linlin.
Linlin rushed to find Jiang Chengzhou. “Brother, you have to think of a way to clear this up.”
Jiang Chengzhou eyed her suspiciously. “Why are you in such a hurry?”
By the standards of later generations, Linlin had the constitution of a walking trending topic.
No matter what happened to her, the news would spread far and wide in no time.
Still, Jiang Chengzhou hadn’t expected her to be so eager to clarify the rumor.
She had never cared about such things before.
The school had arranged a large classroom for the instructors to rest in. Linlin stood inside while every instructor’s gaze turned toward her.
She pulled her brother aside and whispered, “What if they get the wrong idea? Then no one will pursue me in the future.”
Jiang Chengzhou was stunned. “Why do you need people to pursue you?”
“To date, of course.” Linlin answered naturally. “I’ve never tried it before.”
At the sight of her brother’s face changing dramatically, Linlin added in a small voice, “Mom said she supports me experiencing what it feels like to be in love.”
Jiang Chengzhou felt a headache coming on. “Well… there’s no need to rush.”
“I’m not rushing.” Linlin waved her hands. “I’ll see who likes me first, and then I’ll choose one person I like.”
Jiang Chengzhou felt that something about this sounded wrong. Then again, it also seemed perfectly logical. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “Who taught you to date like that? It doesn’t sound quite right.”
Linlin picked at her fingers. “I’m not going to date lots of people. I’m only choosing one.”
Jiang Chengzhou rubbed his forehead. “And how do you know lots of people will like you?”
Linlin cupped her face in her hands. “Because I’m pretty.”
Linlin was absolutely not the sort of beautiful girl who had no idea she was beautiful.
She had known since childhood that her mother was beautiful, and that she was beautiful too.
Naturally, she noticed the way other people looked at her. But she had received so much attention growing up that she was already used to it.
She also knew perfectly well that Lu Zeyu had brought her soda and a handkerchief because she was pretty.
Otherwise, why would he be so attentive to her when he barely knew her?
Jiang Chengzhou couldn’t argue with that. All he could do was warn her, “Anyone who pursues you solely because of your looks probably isn’t a good person. You need to learn how to tell the difference.”
Linlin nodded obediently. “Don’t worry, Brother. Once I’ve chosen someone, I’ll have you approve him before I start dating him.”
Jiang Chengzhou found it amusing.
This wasn’t dating to Linlin at all. She was treating it like an activity to complete. She hadn’t understood romance yet.
That evening, all the students sat in formation on the field to learn revolutionary songs and compete in singing them.
After teaching them one song, Jiang Chengzhou waved to Linlin.
“Brother!”
The girl’s clear, lively voice rang out, giving Jiang Chengzhou an instant headache.
That little rascal—before he could even do anything, she had already found a way to clarify their relationship.
Jiang Chengzhou was so exasperated he almost laughed. Seeing the boys below light up at the sight of Linlin, he said, “Stand at the front and conduct everyone.”
“Okay, Brother!”
Jiang Chengzhou: “…”
On the verge of vomiting blood, Jiang Chengzhou would have to find Yan Yuan and complain to him again.
