Chapter 7: Caught in the Act

Military training at X University spanned the entirety of September, and the schedule was notoriously grueling.

On the morning of the second day, the freshmen gathered for their routine class meetings to receive their training kits. By the afternoon, they were expected to be fully suited up and assembled on the drill field to begin the program.

Though formal classes hadn’t started yet, the next four weeks were packed. Between drills, students had to juggle a gauntlet of mandatory events: the opening ceremony, physical exams, course registrations, the closing ceremony… and the chaotic “Hundred Clubs Recruitment” drive where every organization on campus vied for new blood.

Xu Yinian hurried back to her dorm during the lunch break to change, only to run into Shen Ruoshuang again.

It was so perfectly timed that she began to wonder if the woman was intentionally camping out in the room just to corner her.

Shen Ruoshuang had already changed into her uniform. Her physique was that of a natural-born clothes hanger; she could probably make a burlap sack look like high fashion. The standard-issue blue camouflage—a uniform seen on every campus across the country—looked as if it had been custom-tailored for her. It sat crisp and straight, highlighting the graceful curves of her figure.

The way the belt cinched her slender waist and the contrast of her cold, porcelain-white neck against the rugged collar was nothing short of perfection.

Looking at the identical bundle in her own hands, Xu Yinian knew the “fit” would be worlds apart. She had planned to wait for the other woman to leave before changing, but Shen Ruoshuang showed absolutely no intention of moving.

Xu Yinian waited until there were only twenty minutes left before the assembly. Finally, she retreated into the bathroom, feeling a sense of bitter resignation.

When she emerged, Shen Ruoshuang’s gaze was indeed glued to her. The woman walked over without an invitation, reaching out to fix Xu Yinian’s folded-in collar and smooth the wrinkles over her shoulders.

“…I can do it myself.”

Perhaps thinking of the way Shen Ruoshuang had dried her hair the night before, Xu Yinian’s rejection lacked any real conviction.

Shen Ruoshuang tilted her head slightly, her eyes never leaving her task. “Mm.”

Fortunately, the training was organized by major and class, allowing Xu Yinian to finally escape Shen Ruoshuang’s shadow. She didn’t know which company the other girl was in, and she didn’t care—as long as they weren’t together.

Because of Shen Ruoshuang’s “assistance,” Xu Yinian arrived quite late. She wasn’t officially tardy, but she had to rush.

By the time she found her company, her classmates were already gathered, gossiping and chatting while they waited for their instructor. After all, they had just held their introductory class meeting that morning.

The moment the Chinese Department freshmen saw Xu Yinian, they recognized her as the “hidden boss” who shared a dorm with the campus celebrities. Since the formal meeting hadn’t been the right place for gossip—and since Xu Yinian never checked the class group chat—they finally had their chance.

The crowd began to jeer playfully. “Ooh, look, the Big Boss is here!”

The commotion quickly drew the attention of the surrounding companies. Xu Yinian felt a wave of humiliation wash over her. She bit her lip and ducked her head, trying to slip into the ranks as quickly as possible.

A few boys in her class started whistling, refusing to let her off the hook.

“Hey, Big Boss, how do you know the Goddess and Ji Yan?”

“We’re all one big family in the Chinese Department! Can you help me get the Goddess’s contact info later?”

“Have you seen the real Ji Yan? What’s she actually like? And that Bai Ran—what does her family do? I heard they just donated a whole building!”

Xu Yinian felt like her head was going to explode. She stood helplessly in her spot, stammering an explanation. “Stop it, the… the instructor is right behind you…”

Her voice was too small and shaky; it was instantly swallowed by the raucous laughter. However, her warning was proven true almost immediately.

Several instructors marched over, their expressions grim as they heard the noise. They were looking for a way to “kill a chicken to scare the monkeys”—a perfect opportunity to break the spirits of these arrogant, high-achieving freshmen on the very first day.

“One more word out of any of you!”

The sudden roar silenced the field instantly. The students realized, too late, that the instructors were genuinely furious.

“Did no one teach you the rules? Once the assembly time hits, you form your lines and wait in silence, whether an instructor is present or not! Everyone in Company 4, listen up: from now on, you will arrive thirty minutes early. You’ll spend that half-hour standing at attention to learn some discipline! Do I make myself clear?”

The faces of everyone in Company 4 went pale. They gritted their teeth and shouted back, “Clear!”

A few students cast resentful glances at the “culprit,” Xu Yinian, blaming her for dragging the whole class down.

“Furthermore, Company 4 will stand at attention for the entire day.”

The instructor wasn’t finished. Company 4 was a mix of students from the Chinese and Philosophy departments—mostly liberal arts majors and mostly women. Standing at attention for an entire day was a brutal punishment.

Finally, someone pointed the finger. “Report, Instructor! The noise was caused by a few specific people. It’s unfair to punish those of us who stayed quiet!”

“Did I say I was finished? Did I say they wouldn’t be punished? And did I give you permission to speak?!”

The three rapid-fire questions effectively silenced the dissenter.

“I saw exactly who was talking. Step out of the ranks now. You’re sentenced to forty minutes in the squat-stance. If I have to drag you out myself, the time doubles.”

Xu Yinian had been a “goody-two-shoes” her entire life. She was cautious, careful, and had never stepped out of line. This was her first time being publicly shamed and punished, and it stung even more because it wasn’t a violation she had sought out.

She bit her lower lip, taking several deep breaths to force back the tears of humiliation.

While the others stood in a tense atmosphere of silent finger-pointing and blame-shifting, she was the first to step forward.

A thin, fragile figure. The girl with the most timid personality was the first to accept the punishment without excuse or complaint.

Even the instructor, who had witnessed the whole thing, softened his expression slightly and gave her a small nod.

A few other boys and girls eventually shuffled out as well, joining her in the squatting position.

Xu Yinian’s posture was the most disciplined of the group. She didn’t slack or cut corners. One foot was flat on the ground while the other was tucked under her, heel raised, her torso bolt-upright as she stared straight ahead.

The midday sun beat down mercilessly, making the passage of time agonizingly slow. Sweat began to bead on everyone’s foreheads, and legs grew numb until people began to wobble.

Beads of sweat soaked Xu Yinian’s bangs. Her face was pale, but she gritted her teeth and held on.

In the distance, Shen Ruoshuang, who had been selected as a flag bearer, was being led out from Company 9.

As she passed the area, she looked up and saw Xu Yinian squatting in the sun. Her heart gave a sudden, sharp contraction. She didn’t know what had happened, but she felt an instinctive, crushing sense of heartache.

The counselor followed her gaze. “Every year, a few companies get made into examples. Don’t worry, they’ll be fine after a few dozen minutes of discipline.”

Shen Ruoshuang’s dark eyes didn’t lighten at the reassurance. She didn’t look away until the formation was out of sight.

Xu Yinian was oblivious. She felt dazed, her body so numb she had lost sensation. She was surviving on pure willpower.

Suddenly, the girl squatting next to her lost her balance. Without warning, she tilted straight toward Xu Yinian.

Without thinking, Xu Yinian’s first instinct wasn’t to dodge, but to lean forward and reach out to catch the girl.

She had forgotten that her own legs were useless.

She managed to steady the other girl, but her own ankle let out a sickening crack.

A flash of searing pain sent Xu Yinian collapsing to her knees. Tears flooded her eyes instantly.

The girl she had saved and the instructor rushed over. “Are you okay? Can you stand?”

She had been embarrassed enough for one day. Xu Yinian didn’t want to cry in front of everyone. She fought back the tears and looked down as she rolled up her pant leg. Her ankle was already swelling, turning a vivid, angry red.

She was helped to the campus clinic by two volunteers.

She had thought she was the only one unlucky enough to get injured on the very first day, but the clinic was packed. Freshmen were lining up out the door to get their “Medical Exemption” slips signed.

The medical staff couldn’t get to her immediately. They handed her an ice pack and a few instructions, telling her to go to the rest area in the back to ice the injury while she waited for a proper bandage.

Xu Yinian pushed open the door to the rest area alone. There were three beds. Two were empty, but the curtain around the third was drawn shut. The light hitting the fabric revealed more than one silhouette.

One person appeared to be lying on the bed, while a slender, elegant figure sat on the edge, leaning in close. The proximity was intimate. In that enclosed, private space, they looked like a pair of lovers.

Blushing, Xu Yinian sat on the first bed, careful not to disturb them. She leaned over to peel off her shoe and sock.

Just then, a voice drifted from behind the curtain. It was a pleasant, mature female voice, tinged with a playful pout. “A-Yan, I peeled these one by one just for you. Do you really have the heart to not eat a single one?”

The moment she heard “A-Yan,” Xu Yinian’s heart sank. Her hands froze on her sock.

No… it couldn’t be.

A second later, a familiar, lazy, mocking tone shattered her hopes. “If you’re that bored, you can always leave early.”

Confirmed. It was Ji Yan.

Xu Yinian panicked. She tried to shove her sock back on, desperate to vanish before they realized who was in the room.

The swelling in her ankle made every movement a nightmare. She hissed in pain, trying to keep her gasps silent. If her luck held, she had just followed up yesterday’s dessert shop encounter with a front-row seat to Ji Yan’s “Restroom Play.”

Xu Yinian’s mind flashed back to the original novel’s descriptions of Ji Yan’s various flings before she met the protagonist-bottom.

The sound of the curtain being pulled back made Xu Yinian close her eyes in despair.

Why did they finish so fast?!

While Xu Yinian played dead, the other two immediately noticed the intruder.

Qin Jiashu didn’t recognize Xu Yinian and assumed she was just a random student. She walked over to the table to set down the bowl of grapes, which forced Xu Yinian’s shifty, guilty gaze to meet hers.

Xu Yinian froze.

This wasn’t the “Eldest Daughter” from yesterday.

She recognized this face. She had seen her in X University’s promotional videos—the “Department Flower” of the Broadcasting and Hosting Department from the previous year.

Does she really have a new girlfriend every single day?

Ji Yan looked up. The shadow of her long, thick lashes swept over her pitch-black eyes. Her gaze slid shamelessly down to Xu Yinian’s bare, pale foot, where the sock was only half-pulled on.

She let out a soft chuckle that made Xu Yinian’s thin shoulders tremble.

“Classmate Xu,” Ji Yan said. “You really seem to enjoy eavesdropping on me.”