Ryan Bennett almost bit through the straw in her mouth.

Last time, she just said he looked average.

And he’s still holding onto it now.

This person, why is he so petty?

As they spoke, the bus arrived. Before getting on, Ryan Bennett gritted her teeth and said, “Let me give you a suggestion too—buy more sunscreen when you get back. You’re not that good-looking to begin with, and if you get tanned, you’ll look even worse.”

-

There’s a dedicated military training base about twenty kilometers from the school.

Before departure, Grace Bennett packed some daily necessities for her, filling up her entire backpack and another tote bag. “It’s five days, this should be enough. The change of clothes and small bottles of toiletries are all in the tote.”

“Do you want to bring a few workbooks too?” Grace Bennett asked.

“No need,” Ryan Bennett hurriedly grabbed her things and left. “I need to focus on military training. When you do something, you should give it your full attention. I’ll study when I get back.”

When she arrived at school, several buses were parked outside.

The buses took the new first-year students to the military training base. On the bus, the class monitor assigned them to their dorms—six people to a room. Ryan Bennett, Emily Brooks, and four other girls from their group, who weren’t very familiar with each other yet, were put in the same dorm.

There wasn’t much scheduled for the first day of training.

On the bus, Mr. Parker explained through a megaphone, “When we get off, first pick up your military training uniforms. After that, go to your dorms to drop off your things, change clothes, and then attend the opening ceremony. In the afternoon, follow the instructor’s directions—they’ll probably teach you how to fold your quilts.”

The military training base was like a small school, except the buildings surrounded an especially large sports field.

A welcome banner was hung at the entrance.

The instructors stood in a row, each claiming their class teams.

After picking up her uniform, Ryan Bennett went to the assigned dorm with Emily Brooks.

The girls’ dormitory was next to the boys’ dorm.

The six-person dorm didn’t have a bathroom.

When they arrived, the other four girls were changing clothes.

One of the girls was lively and greeted them with a smile: “Did you bring a belt? The waist on these pants is pretty big. If you don’t have one, I can lend you mine.”

That girl was Olivia Turner, whose bed was across from hers.

Ryan Bennett wasn’t familiar with her and just said, “No need, thanks.”

But Emily Brooks, the social butterfly, responded enthusiastically, “I brought one. Did you guys bring anything else? I secretly stashed some snacks in my bag.”

Olivia Turner didn’t continue the conversation with Emily Brooks, but instead was especially friendly to Ryan Bennett. Seeing her about to adjust her hat after getting dressed, she offered, “Let me help you.”

This time, Ryan Bennett didn’t have time to refuse.

Olivia Turner had already walked behind her and fastened her hat one notch tighter.

The morning activities were dull—standing under the blazing sun, listening to speeches from the school leaders and the chief instructor of the training base.

“…The purpose of this military training is to cultivate students’ endurance and hardworking spirit. At Cheng’an No. 2 High School, we don’t just look at grades. You must develop in all areas: moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor.”

Ryan Bennett stood in the front row.

She was bored and secretly glanced toward the far end.

But from there, she couldn’t see Class One at all.

Just as she was about to look away, she vaguely saw someone walking out from the other end.

The figure looked familiar.

That tall, thin silhouette suddenly walked out alone from the formation and was getting closer to where they were.

On stage.

The principal of No. 2 High finished his closing remarks and added, “Next, our representative of the new first-year students will give a speech—”

As he finished speaking, the figure from afar came closer and stood on stage.

The boy was dressed in camouflage, impossibly tall, his military cap pulled low, messy hair covering his dark, striking eyes.

He took the microphone, and his voice rang out clearly: “Hello everyone, I’m Brian Carter from Class One, Grade One.”

Ryan Bennett was a little surprised.

But thinking about how Brian Carter’s entrance score was good enough for No. 1 High, it wasn’t strange he was chosen as the freshman representative.

Once Brian Carter took the stage, she perked up.

This energy came from the feeling of watching someone she knew perform while she sat in the audience.

Emily Brooks whispered behind her, “The freshman representative is Brian Carter, he’s amazing.”

Ryan Bennett whispered back, “He doesn’t look like he’s in a good mood. Maybe he didn’t want to go on stage and was forced by the teachers.”

Looking at Brian Carter’s face, Emily Brooks couldn’t see anything except “good-looking.” “How can you tell he’s in a bad mood?”

“…” Ryan Bennett found it hard to answer. “Just… I could tell right away.”

Emily Brooks was about to say, “No way,” but soon, she saw the person on stage adjust the microphone and deliver a very impatient opening: “I’ll just say a few words, won’t waste everyone’s time, and try to finish in three minutes.”

After so many long speeches, three minutes felt like hope suddenly descending upon them.

The applause was much more enthusiastic than before.

Of course, the real reason for the enthusiastic applause—

Was that this person was Brian Carter.

The very same Brian Carter who had already been secretly discussed on the forum since the start of school.