Chapter 37: Military Training Begins: A Gala Announcement

Early on the morning of August 16th, the students, dressed in their military training uniforms and carrying their luggage, successively boarded the waiting buses parked at the school gate.

Still seated in the same row as Lin Duo was Shen Jing’an, who seemed to have completely become Lin Duo’s shadow. Given that their classmates hailed from various junior high schools across Nan’an City and were largely unfamiliar with one another, it was common for roommates to stick together.

As time wore on, the landscape outside the bus windows grew progressively more desolate. Eventually, the buses pulled to a stop. The boys and girls of each class then split into two lines, led by their designated supervisors, heading first to their accommodations to drop off their belongings.

As the rumors foretold, a vast room had been hastily furnished with some twenty beds, devoid of any other furniture. The communal washroom, located at the end of the corridor, was exceedingly primitive. Thankfully, the toilets were individual cubicles, and despite their dilapidated state, the locks on the doors still functioned.

Lin Duo, naturally, was more preoccupied with the matter of showering. Before long, a girl had already stepped forward to ask the team leader, “Where is the bathhouse?”

“There’s a large public bathhouse to the west, with hot water available from 9 PM to 11 PM each night. However, it’s only open for girls on even-numbered days.” The leader gestured vaguely. “I’ll share my mobile number with you all. Feel free to contact me if any issues arise.”

The spartan conditions elicited a chorus of complaints from the girls. Complaining, however, proved futile. After a brief moment to deposit their belongings, the group followed their leader to the military training assembly ground.

The military training instructor, a young man named Chen, possessed dark, tanned skin and eyes that shone with an intense gaze. Appearing to be around twenty-five, his expression remained stern as he meticulously reordered the boys’ and girls’ lines according to their height.

At 158 centimeters, Lin Duo’s height placed her slightly below average among her female classmates, relegating her to a position further back in the ranks.

The military training syllabus was largely unvaried, consisting primarily of various drills and changing postures. Yet, with the mid-August sun beating down relentlessly, and Lin Duo’s already poor stamina, she began to feel faint after merely an hour.

Her classmates, it seemed, were considerably more resilient. Unwilling to be branded an outcast before classes even began, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to persist.

Instructor Chen, however, noticed Lin Duo’s pallid complexion. He approached her quietly and asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

In truth, Lin Duo’s complexion had always been somewhat poor, possibly a consequence of long-term medication, or perhaps due to her habit of remaining indoors with little physical activity. Her face, in short, lacked the healthy flush common among girls her age, instead bearing the pallor often seen in those with prolonged illness. Now, however, this paleness seemed to intensify.

Lin Duo cast a quick glance left and right, noting that everyone else seemed to be enduring. So, gritting her teeth, she declared, “I… I’m fine!”

“Fine?” Instructor Chen fixed his gaze on her for another moment before issuing a command: “Number 12 in the second row, step out! Go sit under the shade of that tree!”

Lin Duo’s lips trembled almost imperceptibly. Meeting the instructor’s stern gaze, she had no choice but to comply.

About five minutes later, perhaps prompted by Lin Duo’s example, Shen Jing’an also claimed to be feeling unwell and settled beside her. Leaning in, she whispered, “Hey, are you also experiencing ‘that’ today?”

“Which ‘that’?” Lin Duo asked, momentarily confused.

“Your period, of course!” Shen Jing’an’s voice dropped even lower. “Mine just started today, actually. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be getting tired so easily.”

Lin Duo found herself at a loss for how to continue the conversation, her gaze shifting awkwardly elsewhere. Having spent two days with her, Shen Jing’an already knew her new roommate was a bit of a quiet one. Thus, she said no more, content to watch the other students creatively endure the sun.

Another fifteen minutes passed before the students’ much-anticipated break finally arrived. They clustered together in small groups, eager to chat. Fu Xueqin, the vice class monitor, approached Lin Duo, her voice tinged with concern. “Classmate Lin, are you feeling alright? Your complexion doesn’t look too good.”

“No, no, I’m fine. I’m always like this,” Lin Duo replied, forcing a faint smile.

“You strike me as a rather delicate girl, so don’t push yourself too hard,” Fu Xueqin advised, her concern seeming genuinely heartfelt rather than mere courtesy.

And so, the three girls formed a temporary circle and began to chat. Soon, Fu Xueqin’s roommate joined them, and their conversation drifted to everyday trivialities. Lin Duo mostly listened in silence, only offering a few words when directly addressed.

After the break, another session of drill practice commenced, followed by lunchtime. Students formed long queues, marching in formation toward the vast canteen. Inside, students from other schools were already seated, creating a remarkably lively and boisterous atmosphere.

“Seriously, is this pig slop? How are we supposed to eat this?” Shen Jing’an grumbled, glaring with utter dissatisfaction at the standardized meal tray before her.

Fu Xueqin, seated at the same table, quickly interjected, trying to mollify her. “It’s military training, you just have to make do. Look, your roommate doesn’t have a single complaint!”

Lin Duo was, in truth, far from a picky eater; she could consume anything put before her, yet she harbored no particular fondness for any specific food. To her, eating was simply a necessary means of survival, offering little in the way of enjoyment.

Fu Xueqin’s petite roommate, however, was more captivated by Lin Duo’s dining etiquette. “Look how ladylike she eats! No wonder she’s so popular with the boys!”

“How popular, exactly?” Shen Jing’an, a veritable human question machine, was brimming with curiosity about everything.

“Earlier, when we were in formation, the instructor was absent for a bit, wasn’t he? Well, the two boys in front of me were constantly discussing Classmate Lin.”

“What exactly were they saying?”

“Oh, nothing much, just comments like, ‘That girl is so pretty,’ and so on.”

After lunch, a brief respite back at their living quarters followed. Shen Jing’an was preoccupied with reapplying sunscreen, while Lin Duo, feeling somewhat weary, simply lay on her bed, perusing the novel she had brought with her.

The afternoon’s military training agenda was, predictably, a carbon copy of the morning’s. After dinner, Lin Duo was about to follow Shen Jing’an back to their dorm when Wen Jiagan, the class monitor, unexpectedly approached her. “Uh, Classmate Lin, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Next Tuesday, our grade will be hosting a military training and freshman welcoming gala. Each class needs to submit their performance acts before this Thursday—that’s the day after tomorrow. The timeline is quite tight, as all submitted acts require pre-screening, followed by rehearsals. In essence, I’ll handle the boys’ acts, and I’d appreciate it if you could inquire among the girls.”

As she now bore the title of ‘Culture and Arts Committee Member,’ this task was, naturally, inescapable. Lin Duo briefly reconfirmed the general requirements for selecting performances with the class monitor before returning with Shen Jing’an.

Most of the girls in the class were back at their dorms, either engrossed in their phones or gathered in small groups, chatting. Lin Duo was initially meant to announce the news loudly on the spot, but the words simply wouldn’t come. She was, after all, never adept at such public occasions. So, she turned to Shen Jing’an for help. “Xiaojing, do you remember what the class monitor mentioned today? Could you help me ask the others?”

Shen Jing’an shot her a disdainful look. “You’re too timid to even handle something this small? You really have stage fright, don’t you?”

Immediately, Shen Jing’an kicked off her shoes, climbed onto a bed, and bellowed in a remarkably loud voice, “Quiet down, everyone! Quiet down! Our esteemed Culture and Arts Committee Member has an announcement!”

In an instant, the vast room fell utterly silent, every pair of eyes fixated on Lin Duo.

Had this been Lin Duo a year prior, she might have simply lowered her head, utterly at a loss. Yet, over a year of life in Nan’an City had significantly bolstered her confidence. Thus, she managed to remain composed, her voice soft but remarkably clear. “Next Tuesday is the military training gala. If anyone possesses a talent they wish to showcase, you are welcome to sign up with me. However, the deadline for submissions is the day after tomorrow!”

The girls in the room exchanged glances, and for a long moment, no one spoke.

Noticing Lin Duo’s awkward predicament, Shen Jing’an’s lips curved into a smile. She raised her hand high. “I want to sign up! I’ve studied the violin for seven years and passed the amateur Grade 10 examination.”

“Really? Then your skill must be exceptional!” Lin Duo exclaimed, her face alight with surprise. Then, another thought struck her. “But your violin isn’t here with you, is it?”

“My parents can just bring it over; I only need to collect it at the main gate,” Shen Jing’an replied, never one to shy away from inconveniencing her parents.

With Shen Jing’an having broken the ice, other girls gradually began to offer their own contributions:

“I can play the piano… if there’s a piano available at the gala, I could give it a try.”

“My father is a magician, so I also know a few simple tricks.”

“I… I learned a little bit of ‘otaku dance’ with my sister…”

Lin Duo swiftly pulled out a pen and paper, diligently noting down each suggestion. Noticing no one else had anything to add, she spoke again. “If anyone else wishes to sign up, feel free to approach me at any time.”

The matter temporarily settled, the girls reverted to their previous relaxed state. Lin Duo nudged her roommate’s waist with her elbow, saying sincerely, “Xiaojing, thank you for your help this time.”

“Hmph, we’re friends, aren’t we? It’s only right that we help each other!” Shen Jing’an maintained her usual tsundere, princess-like demeanor.