Chapter 34 Su Xiaoyu's Initiative
The next day, the morning sea breeze still carried the chill of the night, rustling through the row of tall palm trees in front of the military arts troupe's dormitory building.
Su Xiaoyu barely slept a wink all night.
The rumors about Gu Baobao kept echoing in her mind, like countless tiny insects gnawing at her pride and some kind of secret sense of superiority.
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, and the more frustrated she became.
How could a country girl steal all the limelight the moment she arrived?
Why does even someone like Commander Lu treat her differently?
She, Su Xiaoyu, is the most dazzling flower in the military region, the center of attention!
No, she has to go and see!
I have to go and see for myself what kind of person this Gu Baobao, who's been talked about so much, really is!
We also want to show Commander Lu who his female comrades are truly worthy of him!
As dawn broke, she got out of bed and sat down at the dressing table she had brought from home, which was inlaid with a small round mirror, and began to carefully dress herself.
She first carefully washed her face with warm water and then applied a face cream that her family had asked someone to bring from Shanghai to make her skin look more delicate and smooth.
Then she opened her precious tin box, which contained all sorts of hair ties and hair clips she had collected.
She carefully untied the braids she had styled before bed, and dipped a comb in water.
She meticulously combed her long, black hair, braided it into two shiny braids, each tied with a large red glass thread at the end, which hung down in front of her chest.
Then, she took it from the small, locked leather suitcase by the bedside.
He took out a battle robe he had kept hidden away – a brand-new white dress made of Dacron.
This was made for her by a tailor after her mother used connections to get cloth ration coupons last year.
It imitates the style of female students in Soviet pictorials, with a square neckline and a fitted waist.
Knee-length skirts looked particularly stylish and prestigious in an era of scarcity.
She usually doesn't wear it, only taking it out for important performances or special occasions.
Wearing a white dress and shiny black leather shoes, Su Xiaoyu twirled in front of the mirror.
The girl in the mirror had bright eyes and white teeth, a slender figure, wore a white dress and black shoes, and had two long braids.
She embodies the image of a progressive young woman and a key figure in the arts, fresh and striking.
The other female soldiers in the dormitory who got up one after another couldn't help but let out low gasps of amazement and envy.
"Sister Xiaoyu, you look so beautiful today!"
"This dress is so stylish! Is it from Shanghai?"
"Where is Sister Xiaoyu going? Why are you dressed so formally?"
Su Xiaoyu tidied her sideburns one last time in front of the mirror, a confident yet slightly reserved smile on her face:
"It's nothing, just going to the hospital to visit my wounded comrade."
She would never admit that she went there specifically to meet Gu Baobao and, incidentally, to make her presence known to Commander Lu.
Commander Lu used to be indifferent to her, but that was definitely because he was cold-hearted and she had never taken the initiative herself.
Things are different now; the appearance of that country girl has made her feel threatened.
She refused to believe that after dressing up so carefully and taking the initiative to show goodwill, Commander Lu would be as unresponsive as a stone.
If Commander Lu were to treat her even slightly better, that country girl would naturally back down when she saw her!
With this self-assured confidence, Su Xiaoyu walked gracefully towards the military hospital, head held high like a proud swan, holding the signed visitation slip.
Along the way, she received many admiring or curious glances, which dissipated much of the gloom in her heart caused by the rumors.
Meanwhile, in a double room on the third floor of the military hospital, a completely different scene unfolded.
Gu Baobao woke up relatively early.
I was thinking that I should definitely check on the surgeon who performed the operation yesterday.
She stood up briskly and rummaged through the bulging bundle she had brought to find a change of clothes.
Finally, I chose a slightly worn white cotton shirt and a pair of dark blue work pants with slightly wider legs.
They were all newly made by Li Fenfang; the material was ordinary, but the stitching was fine and dense.
She casually tucked the hem of her shirt into her waistband and straightened the collar and cuffs.
Although simple, it inexplicably accentuated her slender waist and straight legs.
She walked to the small washstand in the ward and quickly washed up with the water she had prepared the night before.
Then, using her fingers instead of a comb, she combed through her thick, black hair, which was exceptionally smooth and shiny due to the nourishment of the spiritual spring.
She easily tied her hair into a loose bun at the back of her head and secured it with a simple black hair tie.
A few unruly strands of hair fell naturally onto her forehead and neck, swaying gently with her movements.
She hadn't applied makeup, hadn't dressed up deliberately, and hadn't even looked like she'd just woken up.
Her cheeks still had a natural blush, and her eyes were clear as water.
Yet, even with such a simple and casual outfit, paired with her transformed, fair and jade-like skin and delicate, expressive features,
There's an overwhelming sense of vibrant energy and a natural, serene beauty.
It forms a striking and eye-catching contrast with the currently popular, somewhat rigid double braid hairstyle.
She had just finished getting ready and folded up the makeshift cot and placed it against the wall when there was a knock on the ward door.
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