Chapter 22: Military Training—Hard to Forget Someone Born This Beautiful…
Beijing University’s military training lasted for fourteen days.
On the first day, a video updated on the university’s official account became a hot topic, only because at the end of the three-minute video, there was a twenty-second freshman interview.
The youth targeted by the camera was wearing a loose military training uniform, with the belt buckled to the smallest hole, cinching a narrow waistline.
His posture was as upright as a white poplar, and his skin was so white under the scorching sun it seemed to glow. A few tufts of hair peeked out from under the brim of his hat, and his face was radiant. Among the crowd of freshmen with bitter expressions, he stood out, like a cup of green grape sparkling water appearing in the sweltering summer, making people feel refreshed upon seeing him.
Facing the camera, he appeared a bit shy, answering questions with a shallow smile.
“I’m very happy. Military training makes me feel like I’m on a spring outing with everyone.”
“I hope to make more friends.”
“Difficulties… maybe it’s that the cafeteria food is a bit hard to get. I run slowly and can’t push past everyone. I had instant noodles for lunch, but instant noodles are also quite delicious.”
It was just some standard interview answers, but within a few hours, it went viral and was shared everywhere. The comment section under the video was overwhelmingly discussing the protagonist of the interview.
[Mom, why didn’t you tell me Beijing University had such a beauty! I would have studied harder and wouldn’t be working in a factory!! (Crying) (Breakdown) (Vomiting blood)]
[Did they use a beauty filter specifically for him? This art style is different.]
[So cute (drooling)… can you just enter Beijing University for a visit? I don’t mean anything else, just want to see the style of the students of a prestigious university.]
[Who’s in charge of this account? Why didn’t they clearly list the person’s name and major in the interview? Poor review!]
[I don’t even want to say. Other people’s interviews are three to five seconds, this one is a full fifteen seconds. The editor is playing favorites 666.]
[Exactly, exactly. Our Beijing University’s character models are all at this level.]
[Poor brother, he doesn’t even have food to eat. Beijing University, I order you, now! Immediately! Build a new cafeteria! Don’t starve my boyfriend!]
[This brother already went viral on the Beijing University confession wall on registration day. Everyone’s looking for him, there are so many photos from passersby, everyone come take a look~]
“Yu Xi, you’re viral again. Quickly look, the comment section is all about you!”
During the military training lunch break, Yu Xi was surrounded by several classmates sharing the video with hundreds of thousands of likes.
He bit the straw of his water bottle, caught sight of a few blunt comments, pursed his damp red lips, and his sun-reddened face became even hotter.
When he was caught for the interview, he hadn’t thought it would truly be edited into the official account, because he felt his answers were very boring.
“I’m asking you, is the person who accompanied you for registration really Senior Gu? He looks quite similar to the photo on the alumni wall—”
Yu Xi was stunned. “Alumni wall?”
“Yeah, didn’t you know? It’s on the first floor of Xianming Building. You can see it as soon as you walk in.”
Yu Xi knew Gu Chuanzhou also graduated from Beijing University, but he didn’t know he was also on the list. After hearing this, he took a detour to take a look.
Sure enough, he found Gu Chuanzhou’s photo and name on the display wall.
Gu Chuanzhou in the photo was wearing a white shirt, looking directly at the camera with an expressionless face. His features were cold and stern, his gaze sharp. At a young age, he already had an extraordinary aura.
Perhaps Gu Chuanzhou at this age was more sharp-edged and looked a bit fierce.
Yu Xi thought so, taking a photo with his phone and sending it to Gu Chuanzhou.
Yu Xi: [Look what I found?]
[Little bear peeking.jpg]
After a long while, Gu Chuanzhou replied.
Gu Chuanzhou: [Who is this? Looks a bit familiar.]
Yu Xi couldn’t help but laugh at this feigned reply: [I don’t know him. I heard from classmates there was a very impressive senior here, so I came to take a look.]
Gu Chuanzhou: [Mhm, Student Yu Xi’s curiosity is quite heavy.]
Yu Xi: [I wonder what this senior is doing?]
Gu Chuanzhou: [Working…]
He attached a photo of a desk piled with documents. A hand wearing a watch and with rolled-up sleeves was in the frame, loosely holding a fountain pen. The fingers were relaxed and bent, looking slender and bony.
Yu Xi was dazed for a moment, once again inexplicably remembering the force and temperature of this hand when it massaged his leg.
A few seconds later, the phone vibrated again.
Gu Chuanzhou: [Very tired, missing Xixi.]
Yu Xi’s long eyelashes trembled slightly.
They had only not seen each other for two days… But Gu Chuanzhou was often like this. Even if they had been together the day before, he would come to ring the Pei house’s doorbell very early the next day. Even if he was busy with work, he would bring his computer to find him, saying that this was the only way he wouldn’t feel fatigued.
Yu Xi didn’t know as a child that Gu Chuanzhou would have such a clingy personality.
Gu Chuanzhou: [Can Xixi video call with me tonight?]
Yu Xi’s heart softened: [Okay, good luck with your work.]
After a brief chat, Yu Xi hurried back to the dormitory for a nap. Military training was very physically demanding, and he had to ensure he had enough rest time.
On the way, he bought energy bars at the store to replenish his strength during the military training breaks, and also bought some for his other roommates by the way.
He was afraid the roommates were already resting, so his movements were very light when he opened the dormitory door. Then he heard someone speaking inside, so he spoke up to greet them: “I’m back—”
His voice trailed off as he noticed a person he hadn’t seen before in the dormitory.
Yu Xi blinked, examining the boy sitting in what should have been his seat with his legs crossed.
The other person was dressed in trendy brands, with many fancy accessories hanging on him that clinked with every movement. Even more surprising was that he had many piercings on his body—four or five on his ears, and also on his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth—all using sparkling diamonds. At first glance, it was enough to dazzle one’s eyes.
As Yu Xi was examining him, the other person was also examining him. After a flash of amazement in his eyes, he immediately stood up from the chair and moved closer to take a detailed look.
“There’s finally someone worth looking at in our dormitory. I thought they were all like those two, like big charcoal pieces.”
These words were directed toward the back.
“…”
Yu Xi still didn’t quite understand the situation, looking toward his other two roommates.
After two days of interaction, he had become familiar with his roommates. They were mainly easy-going people, and by helping each other, they quickly became close.
One roommate was called Liu Yuan. He had a more outgoing personality and liked making friends and playing games. The other roommate was called Zhou Anhe. He had a more gentle personality and a very good temper. He didn’t like playing games but often accompanied Liu Yuan in playing.
Yu Xi originally thought this four-person room only had the three of them, but today the empty bed space had a new owner.
The two roommates didn’t speak, only continuously signaling him with their eyes.
the atmosphere seemed a bit strange, but out of politeness, Yu Xi chose to greet first: “Hello, I am Yu Xi. Are you our other roommate?”
“Xiao Yang.” The boy sat back in the chair. “I know you.”
Yu Xi blinked. “?”
Xiao Yang let out an ambiguous laugh: “After all, you’re a celebrity. Even before I came to school, I could see you on my phone. With a face like this, it’s hard not to remember.”
Yu Xi scratched his cheek embarrassedly, not knowing what to say. He took out the energy bars he had bought to share with everyone.
To his surprise, Xiao Yang took one, glanced at it, and handed it back to him: “I don’t eat cheap cocoa butter substitutes.”
Yu Xi let out an “Oh” and gave them to the other two roommates.
Liu Yuan deliberately raised his voice: “It’s okay, the two of us aren’t picky eaters, we love eating this!”
Zhou Anhe tore one open and chewed it, giving a thumbs up: “Crunchy.”
Yu Xi couldn’t help but laugh.
Xiao Yang looked at them for a bit, then took his phone and went out to make a call.
Taking this chance, Liu Yuan and Zhou Anhe immediately complained to Yu Xi.
They said Xiao Yang had been pointing fingers at the dormitory since he entered, complaining the space was too small, the bed boards were too hard, the lights installed by the school were too dim, the air conditioning’s cooling effect was poor, the internet speed was slow, and he even said there weren’t even independent washing machines and refrigerators, saying the conditions were similar to a dog kennel…
Liu Yuan was indignant: “What did he mean by it simply not being a place for humans to live? Isn’t he indirectly calling us animals? Are we not human!”
Zhou Anhe shook his head and sighed: “Our future dormitory life might not be easy.”
Within ten minutes, Xiao Yang came in. Liu Yuan and Zhou Anhe shut up in time, tacitly doing their own things. Yu Xi also didn’t know how to solve the current problem, so he went to wash his clothes first.
After a while, Xiao Yang took another call, stood up, and opened the dormitory door.
What they saw were four or five brawny men carrying various boxes inside, installing refrigerators and washing machines, changing the network cables and light bulbs, fixing the air conditioning, and someone was tidying up the empty bed space in a disciplined manner.
In less than half an hour, the simple dormitory was completely transformed. The workers quietly and efficiently handled the garbage and cleaned before leaving in an orderly fashion.
Liu Yuan was so shocked his jaw dropped: “Bro, you’re…”
“I’ve reported these devices to the school leaders. I’ll cover the electricity bills for all four years. You can use the refrigerator and washing machines as you like, just pay attention to hygiene.”
Xiao Yang sat in the newly moved-in ergonomic chair and opened a large bag brought by those people.
“Also, divide these things among the three of you. Don’t eat those with bad ingredients; it’s easy to become stupid.”
This series of actions made Liu Yuan and Zhou Anhe, who had just been speaking ill of him, feel a jumble of emotions.
Finally, each of them grabbed one of Xiao Yang’s hands, using a tone of immense gratitude.
“From now on, we’re brothers of the same dormitory.”
“Senior Xiao!”
Xiao Yang pulled his hands back with force: “Don’t give me that. I’m doing this for my own comfort; it has nothing to do with you guys. Don’t be too sentimental.”
Despite this, Liu Yuan and Zhou Anhe’s enthusiasm didn’t diminish. They added Xiao Yang on social media and pulled him into the dormitory group.
“By the way, have you collected your military training uniform yet? We’ll accompany you!”
Xiao Yang said, “No need. I got a medical note so I won’t be participating in the military training.”
“Are you sick?”
“Just a bit of congenital heart disease.” Xiao Yang shrugged, changed his clothes, and got onto his bed. “So you unlucky guys go out under the big sun and bake. Keep your voices down when coming in and out; don’t disturb my rest.”
“Yes, sir!”
Liu Yuan replied, and then whispered very quietly into Yu Xi’s ear, “The young master’s words are a bit unpleasant, but he’s not a bad person.”
Yu Xi smiled and nodded. “Quickly take a nap.”
The nap time passed peacefully like this. When the radio sounded, the afternoon military training continued.
The freshmen who hadn’t fully adapted were in a miserable state after the second day. After dismissal, each one had a limp and a hunched back, supporting each other.
Yu Xi followed the crowd outside, looking around.
Before long, he found Meng Shen’s figure at the exit of the sports field.
Setting aside the fact that the color of the military training uniform of the neighboring university was slightly different from that of Beijing University, Meng Shen’s height alone was enough to stand out, being a head taller than everyone else.
When Yu Xi saw him, Meng Shen also quickly locked on with his gaze.
There were too many people, and they couldn’t walk fast. Yu Xi could only smile and wave at him from a distance to say hello.
Many people nearby who were secretly peeking at Yu Xi followed his movement and noticed the other person, curious about their relationship.
They saw the youth walk up to the tall person whose hat was pressed low and had a gloomy aura. He was happily saying something, with sparkling sweat beads on his temples and a rosy face. He was smiling very sweetly, clearly having a close relationship with the other person.
When he was almost bumped by someone behind him because there were too many people, the tall youth, who had been listening to him speak quietly, noticed in time. He reached out a single arm and scooped Yu Xi by the waist, easily lifting him and moving him to the inner side where he wouldn’t be bumped.
The broad back shielded the person completely; not even a corner of his clothing could be seen.
Except for Yu Xi’s hand grabbing the other’s arm—soft and slender, forming a sharp contrast with the solid and massive forearm.
Translator’s Note:
- Peach Blossom Eyes (桃花眼 – Táohuā yǎn): Again, Yu Xi’s eyes are described as watery and “affectionate,” which makes his rejection of the idea of liking anyone seem even more innocent to his roommates.
- 代可可脂 (Dài kěkě zhī – Cocoa Butter Substitute): In China, high-end consumers often avoid snacks with “substitute” fats, viewing them as unhealthy or cheap. Xiao Yang is definitely showing off his “Rich Second Gen” status here.
- Military Training (軍訓 – Jūnxùn): Every freshman in China goes through this. It’s notoriously hot and exhausting!
- Viral Video: The author is leaning into the “Group Pet” trope by having the whole internet fall in love with Yu Xi’s “pure” and “vulnerable” appearance.
- The “Lifting” (抱 – Bào): Meng Shen’s protective move is a classic moment of physical intimacy in web novels. It shows the massive size difference between him and the “Little Beauty.”
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