News about the instructor from the traditional chinese medicine major getting hurt soon spread across the military training base. During military training, everyone was rather curious about the instructors, so they tried to find out more about them. It was well known that Li Mu was one of the top-ranking instructors at the base in terms of athletic performance. Girls from other classes would often come over to look for him and request to add him as a friend on WeChat. Everyone thought the traditional chinese medicine students, with Li Mu around, would surely rank high in this upcoming competition. No one expected such a thing to happen on the eve of the competition.
“The traditional chinese medicine students are finished. Not only are they short of a teammate, their instructor is injured too.”
“Their class’ training results are rather varied with only thirteen students making the cut. The rest of them failed a few activities, so they don’t have anyone to replace Tang Xiaoxiao.”
“Yeah. They have Gu Mang too so they’re even more behind.”
“Forget her. They’d never choose her to replace Tang Xiaoxiao.”
“They might as well give up if they have her replace Tang Xiaoxiao. Bwahahaha. There’s no way that would happen.”
“In any case, it’s impossible for them to rank high in this competition. They’d only receive credit for participation at most.”
Discussions like this were everywhere.
Dark clouds seemed to hang over Zheng Miao and the group of girls as they quietly made their way out of the infirmary.
Back at the dormitory, Zheng Miao pushed open the door to see Gu Mang holding a towel with the intention to take a shower. Hints of irritation showed on Gu Mang’s aloof countenance as gloominess surrounded her. After living with her for the past few days, Zheng Miao came to realize that her roommate disliked troublesome matters and that she was the type who would act on anger without giving a heads-up.
The words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat as she looked at her roommate, not knowing how she should broach the subject with her. After a while, she took a few steps closer to Gu Mang, asking, “Gu Mang, are you certain you want to take Xiaoxiao’s place in the competition?”
Stuffing her phone into her pocket, Gu Mang hummed an acknowledgment, which sounded heavy and aloof.
“Gu Mang.” Realizing that her voice sounded somewhat hoarse, Tang Xiaoxiao cleared her throat, then said with swollen eyes, “Should I go talk to the others again and find someone else to replace me?”
Everyone in the training base knows how bad Gu Mang is at sports. Even the instructors can’t help but have a headache when they see her results. If she competes, there’s no telling how others will make fun of her when the results come out. Most importantly, the TV station will be filming the entire competition. If her performance ends up published online…
The thought of it made Tang Xiaoxiao even more worried. “I think I’d better go try talking to them again.”
As soon as she turned around to head to the other rooms, Gu Mang grabbed her arm and said succinctly, “That’s not necessary.”
“But—”
“Help me apply leave for tonight,” she said, expressionless, before leaving the dorm. Since the competition was tomorrow, there was no training that night and they would be singing songs at the training ground instead.
Behind her, Zheng Miao and Tang Xiaoxiao exchanged looks with each other.
…
Replacing Li Mu in the competition was another young instructor named Chen Liang, just two years older than Li Mu. As he squatted in front of the dormitory building, he appeared to be doubting his life.
The instructor who was responsible for managing the participants in tomorrow’s competition came walking over with a folder in hand. “Hey, Chen Liang, who will be replacing the injured student from the traditional chinese medicine major tomorrow?”
Chen Liang’s forehead creased when he recalled the name that Li Mu had given him earlier. Looking up at his comrade, he said with mixed emotions, “You might not believe this… but it’s Gu Mang.”
“Oh, Gu Mang. Wait… What?!” The other instructor was flabbergasted to hear her name. “Did you make a mistake? Gu Mang will be taking part in the competition?!”