Gu Yunxi easily completed the ten-lap running task. Since her mother's injury, her father had become even stricter with her and her sister. Daily morning runs had become a routine, and their martial arts training under Master Chen's guidance had increased from one hour to three hours. This training not only improved her physical fitness but also enhanced her self-defense capabilities. Time spent on piano and other leisure activities was correspondingly reduced to ensure sufficient time for physical training. Her father even personally led them in training after returning home to ensure they could protect themselves in any situation.
Gu Yunxi stood in front of Instructor He Siyan and reported expressionlessly, "Reporting, Instructor, I've finished the run." Her breathing was steady, with almost no fluctuations, demonstrating her excellent physical fitness and well-trained breathing control.
He Siyan nodded, indicating that she could rest to the side. He thought to himself: Gu Yunxi is not only physically outstanding, but also has a strong will; she is truly a good candidate for the army. Then, he turned to look at Yang Shanshan, who was still running hard. She was clearly far behind Gu Yunxi in terms of physical fitness, and there were still four laps to go before she could finish the penalty run. Her physique and endurance were obviously insufficient.
Outside the playground, Qian Ziyi and Lu Jingang had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Gu Yunxi finish running the last lap, they rushed forward, their faces full of concern: "Are you alright? Why would the instructor punish you?" Their worry was palpable, and they were anxious about Gu Yunxi's safety.
Although the three belonged to different departments, Qian Ziyi didn't even live in the same dormitory as Gu Yunxi, so she didn't know the ins and outs of the incident. After catching her breath, Gu Yunxi recounted the whole story in detail.
After listening to Gu Yunxi's account, Qian Ziyi felt indignant: "This is too much! Like mother, like daughter. And the instructor too, even though that woman was the one who did wrong first, she was punished just as severely." Her tone revealed her dissatisfaction with the unfair treatment and her sympathy for Gu Yunxi.
Gu Yunxi simply smiled at Qian Ziyi's anger and said nothing more. She knew that sometimes actions speak louder than words. She suggested, "Let's not talk about this anymore, let's go to the cafeteria for lunch." Her demeanor was calm, as if the earlier commotion hadn't affected her much.
The three of them walked to the cafeteria together, chatting and laughing all the way, as if the unpleasantness from earlier had vanished. Gu Yunxi's calmness and magnanimity earned Qian Ziyi and Lu Jingang's even greater respect. They knew that Gu Yunxi was a strong-willed girl who wouldn't be defeated by temporary difficulties and injustices.
During the following days of military training, Instructor He Siyan always liked to have Gu Yunxi demonstrate the movements, no matter what they were. In his view, this was recognition of Gu Yunxi's excellent performance, and he regarded her as a model student in the team. However, in the eyes of other students, this seemed to be a sign that He Siyan had a prejudice against Gu Yunxi.
Yang Shanshan, who had initially harbored resentment over the previous corporal punishment, felt a surge of smugness upon witnessing this scene. She even secretly wondered if He Siyan was paying attention to her, which was why he was making Gu Yunxi step out of line so frequently. This idea quietly spread among some classmates, including Gu Yunxi herself, who also harbored such doubts.
Gu Yunxi's dissatisfaction with He Siyan grew daily; she even silently complained about him countless times in her heart. Under the scorching sun, given her height, she could have stood in a relatively cool spot, but she was called onto the stage, becoming the focus of everyone's attention while enduring the blazing sun. This caused her impression of He Siyan to plummet.
However, Gu Yunxi did not let these emotions affect her performance in military training. Every time she was called up to the stage, she completed the demonstration with the most standard movements and the most enthusiastic spirit, winning the admiration of her classmates. She knew that no matter what He Siyan's true intentions were, she could not let her personal emotions affect her military training experience and performance.
With the successful conclusion of military training, the school held a farewell party, inviting all freshmen to participate to celebrate their completion of the first lesson of university life. In this relaxed and joyful moment, He Siyan's comrade-in-arms, Wang Hu, approached him, a mixture of shyness and anticipation in his eyes.
Wang Hu stammered a request to He Siyan: "Old He, do me a favor." He Siyan glanced at him, his eyes questioning. Wang Hu continued, "The military training is over now, so I can pursue students, right?" He Siyan looked at him with an incredulous expression, as if he were looking at a delusional guy.
Wang Hu felt a little uncomfortable under He Siyan's gaze. He swallowed hard, but still mustered his courage and continued, "Could you please pass this letter on to Yang Shanshan in your class?" After saying that, he quickly stuffed an envelope into He Siyan's hand and ran away as if fleeing, leaving He Siyan standing there speechless.
He Siyan looked at the envelope in his hand and couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't expected Wang Hu to make such a request, especially choosing to confess at the farewell party after military training. He Siyan shook his head, but ultimately decided to help his comrade; after all, it wasn't easy to find someone you liked.
On his way to the party, He Siyan felt a mix of helplessness and amusement. He found Yang Shanshan and said calmly, "Come out with me for a moment." Yang Shanshan felt an overwhelming surge of joy. She tried her best to suppress her excitement and followed He Siyan out of the venue.
Reaching a secluded corner, He Siyan took Wang Hu's letter from his pocket and handed it to Yang Shanshan: "My comrade asked me to give this to you." With that, he turned and left, leaving Yang Shanshan standing alone. Her heart leaped with joy, a sweet smile spreading across her face. She thought to herself, "What comrade? He must have wanted to give it to me himself, and he's still shy about it."
This scene was witnessed by Gu Yunxi and Qian Ziyi, who had just come down from upstairs. Qian Ziyi said indignantly, "No wonder you were punished so severely, it turns out you like Yang Shanshan." Her tone revealed her dissatisfaction with He Siyan and her sympathy for Gu Yunxi.
Gu Yunxi's face turned ugly, her feelings complicated. If she was being punished for poor performance, she was willing to accept it. But if she was being treated unfairly because of personal feelings, it made her feel extremely wronged and indignant: "This kind of personal revenge is disgusting."
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