0010 Not Married
The next day was the opening ceremony, followed by two weeks of military training.
When Song Ning saw her instructor, she didn't know what her expression was at the time, but it must have looked very stupid.
Song Ning's military training instructor was an old acquaintance of hers—Shen Jiayi.
Shen Jiayi is Shen Yuxiu's cousin, two years older than him. At only 28 years old, she is already a captain. Song Ning never expected that Shen Jiayi would be her instructor.
She still remembered the first time Shen Jiayi met her; he was wearing camouflage and gave her a standard military salute.
At the time, Song Ning was unaware of her feelings for Shen Yuxiu, but she was filled with malice towards everyone who was even slightly close to him, regardless of gender. So when Song Ning was bullied by Jiang Xisheng and Shen Jiayi taught her martial arts, she was thinking about using those martial arts on Shen Jiayi someday.
But every time she tried—whether by trickery or by sneak attack—she failed to defeat Shen Jiayi.
In Shen Jiayi's words, "The enemy won't go easy on you, so you must have enough strength to subdue him; otherwise, run."
Every time Shen Jiayi said this, it left her with a profound lesson.
Those lessons were etched into her very being, relentlessly tormenting Song Ning during the next two weeks of military training, subjecting her not only to physical exhaustion but also to mental anguish.
So, when Song Ning was on a 20-kilometer training march, she only managed to mumble "Report, Instructor" before fainting.
When she woke up, Shen Jiayi was sitting on the cot at the school hospital, studying a video on bomb disposal.
Song Ning closed her eyes again, but someone forced them open with their fingers. As soon as they were opened, she saw the dimples on Shen Jiayi's tan skin.
Song Ning recalled how Shen Jiayi had thrown her to the ground and made her lie on her back, while Shen Jiayi stood beside her laughing heartily. A non-existent pain suddenly climbed up her back.
"Why are you pretending to be asleep when you're awake? With such poor stamina, do you still go for morning runs?" Shen Jiayi laughed.
"Are you asking this as an instructor or as Shen Jiayi?" Song Ning slapped Shen Jiayi's hand away and rubbed her bruised eyes.
"Of course I'm asking as your older sister." Shen Jiayi sat down on the edge of the bed. "You've been slacking off during drills these past two days, and I've been turning a blind eye, haven't I?"
"Slacking off? Turning a blind eye? Is the eye you're keeping open only on me?!" Song Ning thought to herself.
These past few days, even her roommates have noticed that the instructors are targeting her, which has made them all take extra care of her, to the point that she's not used to it.
"Next time, please open your eyes and look at other people. You even targeted me on the first day of my period. Which eye were you keeping closed?" Song Ning sat up and said sarcastically.
"Didn't I tell you not to force yourself if you can't hold on?" Shen Jiayi raised her hand, as if to pat Song Ning's head.
Song Ning reacted quickly, making a left-hand slap to block Shen Jiayi's right hand while simultaneously counterattacking with a right punch.
Shen Jiayi stood up to dodge, and at the same time crossed her hands to wrap around Song Ning's right hand, using a hook and shoulder press to push Song Ning's right hand down.
"I just wanted to pat your head, but you're overreacting," Shen Jiayi said, feigning surprise.
"Everyone says I don't like it anymore." Song Ning struggled for a moment, but couldn't break free.
"You're still so energetic during your period, looks like you'll be able to get into training this afternoon?" Shen Jiayi pressed down hard on her shoulder.
"Has Jiang Xisheng eaten your conscience?!" Song Ning said coldly.
“He’s the one I ate,” Shen Jiayi laughed.
Song Ning felt even more frustrated as her shoulders were being pressed down. She tried to resist again, but then she saw Shen Yuxiu pull open the medical partition curtain, holding a lunchbox and a cup of soy milk in his hand.
Shen Yuxiu coughed lightly, and Song Ning and Shen Jiayi simultaneously released their grip.
Song Ning glared at Shen Yuxiu, venting her frustration at not being able to "eat" him: "What are you doing here?"
Shen Yuxiu looked somewhat embarrassed and did not answer.
She doesn't usually show up, but she always appears just in time when she's embarrassed.
Since their last meal together, Song Ning hadn't seen Shen Yuxiu again. Although she knew this was normal, she still couldn't help but feel resentful.
She turned to look at Shen Jiayi: "Did you tell him?"
Shen Jiayi shrugged, giving a "no comment" look.
Song Ning gritted her teeth and turned cold.
"Alright, now that you're awake, get back to training as soon as possible and don't hold everyone back. I'm leaving now." After Song Ning's resistance proved futile, Shen Jiayi patted her head like she was petting a cat.
"The school really should award you an award for being impartial and incorruptible." Song Ning's low bun had mostly come undone, so she simply let it all fall down.
"If you have any, I'll take them." As Shen Jiayi walked out, she commanded Shen Yuxiu in an instructor's tone, "You, put down your lunchbox and come out with me."
Shen Yuxiu nodded and placed the breakfast on the table: "You eat breakfast first."
Just as Song Ning was about to ask what was wrong that couldn't be said in front of her, she heard Shen Jiayi say to her again, "Don't eavesdrop."
"Who cares?" Song Ning thought disdainfully.
But no sooner had Shen Yuxiu and Shen Jiayi left than Song Ning got up, leaned against the wall behind the door, and looked at the two through the square glass in the door.
“You didn’t need to add that extra sentence just now; she would have wanted to hear it even more if you had,” Shen Yuxiu said.
Song Ning was worried that Shen Jiayi wouldn't tell, and was thinking of hiding for a while, but she heard Shen Jiayi say dismissively, "Let her listen carefully. I called you out because I was afraid she would cause trouble. This is something my comrade asked me to pass on to you."
"Please return it to me; I can't accept it."
Song Ning looked outside, but because of the blind spot, she could only see a thin corner of an envelope, and she had a guess in her mind.
Do people still write love letters to express their feelings these days?
"Okay, anyway, I already told her not to get her hopes up too high. But you're 26 already, and apart from that eavesdropper inside, you haven't even held hands with any other woman. Isn't that too much to handle? My comrade-in-arms is a stunning beauty even without dressing up, and she's gentle and intelligent. She fell in love with you at first sight. Don't you really want to get to know her?"
They're such a perfect couple, both of them are so keen on being matchmakers.
Song Ning heard Shen Yuxiu's soft laughter, and then he said in a gentle voice, "I am a non-marriage advocate and cannot delay other people."
Song Ning already knew this, so she wasn't too surprised. But she had always thought it was just an excuse he made up to reject others. Now it seems he really doesn't intend to get married.
Thinking of the wishes he made in the past, Song Ning frowned: "What kind of crazy wishes did you make? Are you really planning to spend your whole life with your career?"
After Shen Jiayi left, Song Ning sat on the bed, drinking porridge and casually asked, "Are you serious about not getting married, or is it just an excuse to reject other people?"
"Seriously, I don't plan to get married." Shen Yuxiu sat on the edge of the bed, peeling an egg.
Song Ning felt a mix of joy and worry: "What about a girlfriend? You're not planning on finding one?"
"Hmm." Shen Yuxiu shaved off the egg white and put the yolk into Song Ning's lunchbox.
Song Ning looked at the egg yolk falling into the bowl.
Although it would be nice if there were no other women around him, he wants to stay single for the rest of his life.
That won't do!
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