If that was the case, it kind of made sense…
But that was too outrageous! Hadn’t they considered the feelings of those who wanted to leave Miao Village? Ning Shuang thought angrily.
He had one leg propped on the bench and the other on the floor; his legs were so long the bench could barely fit him.
About half an hour later, Ning Shuang started to feel sleepy. Gradually, it was as if some force dragged him into a dream.
It was that dream again.
…
Ning Shuang woke up just before being suffocated by that gaze, coiling around him like a python.
He sat up abruptly, head bowed, hands clasped over his knees, breathing in ragged gasps. Sweat plastered his bangs to his forehead, fat droplets sliding down his cheeks and dripping from his jaw. His long lashes were wet and clumped together, his cheeks flushed red, and mist swirled in his eyes.
He didn’t know why, but this dream was coming more frequently now. It used to be once every one or two months, but in the past week, he’d had it three times.
Was it a nightmare or a memory…?
Even Ning Shuang himself was confused.
Suddenly, the overhead light flickered on, and voices drifted from the elevator. Ning Shuang checked his phone—it was already past six in the morning.
He stood up, rubbed his sore waist from the poor sleep, and headed toward the elevator.
Ning Shuang bought two breakfasts downstairs and returned to the room.
He knocked at the door, and Yang Mengqi opened it for him. Ning Shuang held up the bags. “I got you both some porridge.”
“Thanks!” Yang Mengqi took them excitedly. “Qingning looks a lot better now—she can even eat fruit and stuff.”
“That’s great!” Ning Shuang followed her to the bedside, where Ming Qingning was eating apple slices that Yang Mengqi had cut for her.
Spotting him, Ming Qingning greeted him warmly. “Morning, Ning Shuang. I feel much better now.”
“As long as you’re improving. I got you some porridge too, but wait until the doctor draws your blood before eating.” Ning Shuang’s gaze lingered on Ming Qingning’s arm for a moment. The scale-like patterns had vanished, and he breathed a silent sigh of relief.
“Thanks, Ning Shuang. I didn’t mean to trouble you this much.”
“No trouble at all.” Ning Shuang grabbed his crossbody bag from the coat rack and slung it over his shoulder. He straightened his cuffs and looked up. “I’ll head out first then. New student military training starts today, and as the class assistant, I need to get there early.”
“Go ahead, Ning Shuang. Once I’m discharged, dinner’s on me,” Ming Qingning called after him.
Ning Shuang turned back, waving to them both with a bright smile that crinkled his eyes full of youthful energy. “Sounds good, Senior Sister—I’ll hold you to it!”
With that, he turned and left the room.
~~~
The morning breeze hit him as he stepped out of the hospital, sweeping away the last traces of drowsiness clinging to Ning Shuang.
He stretched lazily, scanned a shared bike at the entrance, and pedaled home.
It was exactly seven when he reached the door. Ning Shuang carried breakfast for two and quietly let himself in.
The downstairs was silent—Ji Huaizhi must still be asleep. Ning Shuang changed out of his shoes, tiptoed to set the breakfast on the table, then crept upstairs. Just as he passed Ji Huaizhi’s room, the door swung open from inside.
Ji Huaizhi stepped out, and Ning Shuang met a pair of icy eyes.
He jolted in fright, clutching his chest as he stumbled back several steps.
“You’re back,” Ji Huaizhi said, looking at him.
Ji Huaizhi was already dressed in his military training uniform. The ink-green outfit hugged his tall, slender frame, the widened belt accentuating his lean waist. The pants were usually baggy and long, but on him, they fit perfectly.
He’d rolled the jacket sleeves to his elbows, revealing toned forearms veined with clear lines. He exuded a cool, detached aura.
He held his training cap in one hand, long hair loose over his shoulder.
Somehow, he made the uniform look like high fashion. Ning Shuang couldn’t help but compliment him inwardly.
“Mm-hmm, I’ll go change. Breakfast is on the table downstairs—eat first.” Ning Shuang stepped aside to let him pass.
But Ji Huaizhi moved closer instead, step by step…
Ning Shuang went on high alert. He leaned against the railing, gripping it behind him for support, and eyed the approaching Ji Huaizhi. Clearing his throat lightly, he said, “Uh, Ji Huaizhi… is there something else?”
Ji Huaizhi’s face was sculpted to Ning Shuang’s exact tastes from top to bottom. Staring at him this close made Ning Shuang’s heart skip beats, his ear tips flushing red.
“There’s something on you.” Ji Huaizhi reached out, plucking a leaf from Ning Shuang’s shoulder, then held out his palm.
Ning Shuang took the leaf and crumpled it in his fist. “Oh… haha, when did that get there?”
Ji Huaizhi silently withdrew his gaze, said nothing more, and headed downstairs.
Ning Shuang watched him go, frowning. Why was he upset again?
They had to meet up with the new students soon, so Ning Shuang didn’t dawdle. He hurried to his room to change into something crisp and casual, then freshened up.
When he came out, Ji Huaizhi was already eating breakfast downstairs. Ning Shuang bounded down and sat across from him, grabbing a chopstick to snag a soup dumpling and pop it in his mouth.
Ji Huaizhi pushed a glass of cooled warm water toward Ning Shuang’s hand. Ning Shuang gulped it down gratefully, barely managing to swallow the big bite. “Thanks.”
Ji Huaizhi flicked his eyes up at Ning Shuang, then lowered his long lashes. “No need.”
“How’s your friend doing?” he asked.
Ning Shuang replied, “Much better.”
Ji Huaizhi’s grip tightened on his chopsticks, but he didn’t press further.
After breakfast, Ning Shuang slipped on his shoes, filled Ning Dundun’s bowls with dog food and water, then turned to find Ji Huaizhi sitting on the entryway bench, putting on his shoes.
Eyeing Ji Huaizhi’s loose hair, Ning Shuang walked over. “You can’t leave it down like that—the instructors will say something…”
Ji Huaizhi finished tying his shoes and looked up at him, eyes puzzled. Ning Shuang reached out. “Give me the hat. I’ll fix your hair.”
Ji Huaizhi handed over the cap.
Taking it, Ning Shuang leaned in closer. Ji Huaizhi straightened his back instinctively and held his breath.
So close.
Ning Shuang’s abdomen was right in front of him, his body fragrance wafting over richly. Ji Huaizhi’s hands clenched tighter on his knees without realizing it.
Ning Shuang gathered his long hair, tidied it simply, tied it back with a band, and tucked it all under the hat.
Just a few stray strands framed his temples—nothing obstructive.
“All set.” Ning Shuang stepped back half a pace, bending slightly to meet Ji Huaizhi’s eyes levelly. After inspecting, he nodded.
Ji Huaizhi’s lips were pressed in a straight line, hands neatly on his knees, looking oddly obedient. Ning Shuang couldn’t hold back a smile.
Seeing Ning Shuang smile so suddenly, Ji Huaizhi subconsciously asked, “Doesn’t it look good?”
Ning Shuang shook his head and lavishly praised him. “It looks great. You’re the best-looking person I’ve ever seen.”
“Alright, let’s go. We can still catch the last bus if we leave now.” Ning Shuang opened the front door and stepped aside to let Ji Huaizhi pass.
The two walked side by side toward the bus stop. Along the way, they passed several freshmen in military training uniforms. When they boarded the bus, there were quite a few others dressed the same way inside.
Ning Shuang lightly nudged Ji Huaizhi’s arm with his elbow and leaned in to whisper, “They’re all like you—freshmen about to start military training.”
“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi nodded.
Ning Shuang fell silent after that, pulling out his phone to play a game. Ji Huaizhi leaned over to watch. Seeing his interest, Ning Shuang shoved the phone into Ji Huaizhi’s hands. “Do you know how to play?”
Ji Huaizhi shook his head honestly. “No.”
Ning Shuang grinned. “I’ll teach you.”
He pushed the phone into Ji Huaizhi’s grasp and started explaining the game in earnest. They sat so close that their breaths mingled.
Unfortunately, just as Ning Shuang finished teaching him—before Ji Huaizhi could even play a round—the bus reached their stop.
“You head to the classroom first. I’ll come by your class later.” Ning Shuang had a last-minute meeting, so he couldn’t go with Ji Huaizhi. Besides, he had no intention of letting anyone know they were acquainted outside of class. It wouldn’t be good for Ji Huaizhi or the other students.
Ji Huaizhi agreed, and they parted ways at the school gate.
The meeting was for all the class assistants. Shen Qinghui stood at the front of the room, going over reminders for military training one by one. Ning Shuang sat below, jotting notes in his notebook.
The meeting wrapped up right at eight o’clock.
Ning Shuang posted a message in the class group chat, telling the Business Class 1 students to wait downstairs at the teaching building. As he headed out, Shen Qinghui suddenly called after him.
Ning Shuang paused and turned back. “What’s up?”
Shen Qinghui walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. “The Accounting Class 4 class assistant called in sick. Your two classes have been assigned to the same training area, so keep an eye on their students too, alright?”
“Sure.” Ning Shuang wasn’t close with that guy, so he didn’t pry into the reason for the absence.
Shen Qinghui nodded. “Go on, then.”
Ning Shuang left the meeting room and headed downstairs to the teaching building.
The Class 1 students had already lined up neatly in their PE formation. Ning Shuang scanned the group—at the back row, Ji Huaizhi stood out as the tallest.
He smiled at everyone. “Starting today, I’ll be training with you whenever I don’t have classes. If anyone’s feeling unwell, just let me know for a leave.”
“During military training, your appearance matters. Make sure your uniforms are neat, hats on straight—no heavy makeup, or your instructors will chew you out.” Ning Shuang had been through it himself, so he warned them upfront to avoid mistakes.
“Got it!” they chorused back.
Ning Shuang nodded in satisfaction and turned to lead the group toward the sports field. “Alright, let’s head to the field and assemble. The principal’s speech is coming up soon.”
The vast green procession converged on the sports field.
The school leaders spoke one after another, followed by the chief instructor, the Student Council President, and the freshman representative.
Ning Shuang stood at the end of the line. When the outstanding freshman rep took the stage, he glanced puzzled at Ji Huaizhi in the back row. He’d reviewed Ji Huaizhi’s file—he wasn’t just top of his major; he was number one among all freshmen.
Shouldn’t that rep be Ji Huaizhi?
On second thought, with Ji Huaizhi’s personality, watching him give a speech would probably be hilarious.
The mental image made Ning Shuang chuckle softly. Ji Huaizhi, at the edge of the group, heard it and turned to look. Ning Shuang pressed his lips together and gave him a smile.
Ji Huaizhi’s lips parted slightly, as if to speak. Ning Shuang quickly held up a finger to his mouth.
The assembly ended, and the instructors came forward to lead their classes away.
Ning Shuang trailed at the back of his group. At the training ground, his eyes immediately found Accounting Class 4—because he spotted Chen Lu.
Ning Shuang approached their instructor, greeted him, and briefly explained the situation. The instructor nodded in understanding.
The next two or three hours passed in standing at attention and going over discipline—the same routine Ning Shuang remembered from his own training.
During the break, Ning Shuang went over to Accounting Class 4 to introduce himself. He explained that he’d be filling in as their class assistant while theirs was out.
Ning Shuang was good-looking, with impeccable style. The moment he stood there, the girls started whispering excitedly.
The morning flew by. Freshmen got lunch dismissal earlier than upperclassmen. Ji Huaizhi waited for Ning Shuang at the school gate so they could head home for their midday nap together.
From a distance, Ning Shuang spotted Ji Huaizhi waiting. He waved to catch his attention when a clear young voice called out from behind.
“Senior!”
Ning Shuang stopped and turned to see Chen Lu. He smiled. “It’s you. Feeling better now?”
Chen Lu’s ears and face flushed red. He nodded awkwardly. “After you left that day, Senior, I was fine.”
