"Do you think you can make it to the combat assessment?"
Su Tang's voice was soft, yet it was like a knife chilled to the bone, piercing straight into Zhao Yan's heart.
There was only a calmness in that voice, a calmness that stated the facts, and it was precisely this calmness that sent chills down one's spine.
The moment the words fell, in the distance, the powerful assembly whistle of Chief Instructor Lei Kuan pierced the noise of the shooting range.
"Beep—!"
"Time's up! Everyone, proceed to the registration desk immediately! Those who haven't formed a team will be considered to have automatically forfeited!"
Lei Kuan's voice was like a thunderclap, waking up all the students who were still immersed in shock and gossip.
Looking into Su Tang's unfathomable eyes, which seemed to suck in one's soul, Zhao Yan felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively took a step back, terrified by the coldness in her gaze.
What kind of gaze was that? Calm, indifferent, yet carrying a sense of oppressive power that looked down upon all living beings, as if Zhao Yan was nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at any moment in her eyes.
Ignoring Zhao Yan's pale and ashen face, Su Tang pulled Chen Xiaocao, who was still in a daze, and walked straight to Zhang Ruobing, the female instructor in charge of registration.
"Reporting to the instructor, we've formed teams."
Zhang Ruobing raised her head and looked at Su An and Chen Xiaocao in front of her, her eyes filled with complex and incomprehensible emotions.
There was confusion about Su An's astonishing choice, admiration for her courage, and a hint of worry about her future.
But she didn't say anything, she just nodded, picked up a pen, and wrote their names in the register: Su An, Chen Xiaocao.
The two names are written side by side: one is a marksman who scored 100 points, and the other is a bottom-ranked player who almost got eliminated.
Such a glaring combination made everyone around who was peeking at the register gasp in shock.
Zhao Yan, left behind, watched Su Tang's departing figure, trembling with anger, her nails digging deep into her flesh, yet she felt no pain whatsoever.
Wang Xiaoya immediately ran to Liu Landi's side, her little face full of determination: "Landi, let's be a team!"
Liu Landi looked at her. This little girl was usually more timid than a rabbit, but now her eyes were shining. She didn't ask any questions, but simply nodded heavily: "Okay."
The two didn't need many words; their time together had built a pure and deep trust between them. Hand in hand, they went to register their marriage.
On the other hand, Bai Wei's situation was somewhat awkward.
She was proud and arrogant, and the scene of Jiang Yan walking towards Su An in public was a great humiliation to her.
She would never take the initiative to go to Jiang Yan; that would make her feel like a pathetic loser begging for mercy.
She stood there, but her gaze kept drifting towards Jiang Yan. Why wasn't he here yet? Did he really not care about me at all?
Just as she was gritting her teeth inwardly, Lin Hao, the male soldier who ranked fifth in shooting, walked over with a shy blush on his face: "Comrade Bai Wei, have you... have you found a teammate? If not, do you think I'm okay?"
Bai Wei looked at Lin Hao, feeling a surge of annoyance. Lin Hao was decent at shooting, average in hand-to-hand combat, and only mediocre in cross-country running. Teaming up with him would be beneath her dignity.
But as she glanced around the room, she noticed that almost all the good contestants had already been snapped up, leaving only the less talented ones.
But she also knew that she couldn't be left alone.
"Hmm." She squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth and nodded coldly, which was taken as agreement.
Lin Hao was overjoyed and rushed to register.
Jiang Yan came over as soon as the two finished registering.
He looked at Lin Hao standing next to Bai Wei, paused slightly, and then asked, "Bai Wei, have you formed a team?"
Bai Wei's heart clenched suddenly, as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
He still came to ask, but he was too late.
A surge of resentment and anger welled up inside her, but her pride prevented her from saying, "I've been waiting for you for a long time." She could only reply curtly, "Yes, it's registered."
"I see." Jiang Yan's face showed a hint of regret, but she quickly regained her composure. "Alright then, good luck to you."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards his bunkmate, a tall male soldier named Meng Shi. Meng Shi was honest and simple, not very talkative, but he trained hard and had a solid overall ability. He was one of the few people Jiang Yan could talk to.
Watching Jiang Yan and Meng Shi's retreating figures as they went to register, Bai Wei felt a mix of bitterness and aching in her heart, a complex emotion that made it almost impossible for her to control her expression.
She regretted not waiting a little longer, even just thirty more seconds! She also resented Jiang Yan for not coming to find her immediately, for only thinking of her after humiliating herself in front of Su An.
The most miserable person in the whole event was Zhao Yan.
Su Tang's words, especially the accusation of "treating her companions badly," were like a bucket of dirty water, nailing her to the pillar of shame.
Now, no one dares to team up with her.
Who would want to be teammates with someone who might stab them in the back?
Zhao Yan stood there, watching as people around her found their companions in twos and threes, and the number of people at the registration desk dwindled.
Those who used to follow her around calling her "Sister Yanzi" now avoid her like the plague, immediately looking away when their eyes meet.
An unprecedented sense of isolation and humiliation overwhelmed her.
She gritted her teeth, already prepared for the worst—at worst, she'd be all alone! Elimination was fine! She was just a worthless life, what was there to be afraid of!
Just then, a tall figure stood in front of her, blocking the glaring sunlight.
It's Sun Erniu.
"Yanzi, let's team up." Sun Erniu's voice was deep and resonant, yet it carried an undeniable seriousness.
Zhao Yan suddenly looked up and stared at Sun Erniu's honest, even somewhat simple-minded face, and was speechless for a moment.
"You..." Zhao Yan's voice was a little dry, as if there was a wad of cotton stuck in her throat, "You...you're not afraid?"
She found it ridiculous when she asked that question.
"Aren't you afraid that Su An and the others will target me in the next round, and that it will implicate you?"
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