"Those in the last three, step forward!"
Before He Zhilan could even stand correctly, Lin Deng’s order came, and He Zhilan and Jiang Biyun exchanged resigned looks. They stepped forward reluctantly. Standing with them was another just as unlucky girl.
"You have managed to complete the first task, but why can everyone else forge ahead while you fall behind as the last three in the team? For being the last three, as punishment, listen up. Attention! Left turn, march!"
Under Lin Deng’s command to march, He Zhilan and the other two walked to a tree before they were commanded to stop.
"Keep your military posture for an hour, then you may rejoin your team," Lin Deng left these words then returned his focus to the main group. "The rest of you, continue to rest in your place for another ten minutes before the next training session!"
Hearing about the additional ten-minute rest, a sigh of relief was heard throughout the group. Then, they all looked over at the three standing rigidly under the tree, their gaze filled with sympathy. The poor girls had barely finished the run when they were ordered to stand under the tree as punishment, without even a moment to catch their breath.
Jiang Biyun bit her lip, her heart filled with resentment, and hurt. Thankfully, she managed to hold back her tears in front of everyone.
He Zhilan glanced over at Jiang Biyun from the corner of her eye. Now, in front of so many people, even if she wanted to, she couldn’t offer any comfort. Moreover, she herself was completely worn out and probably didn’t have the energy to talk.
She knew that Jiang Biyun might have misunderstood Lin Deng. Watching others rest and relax while they, as the last three, had to stand in punishment right after running was indeed pitiful and unfair. But then again,
After the others finish their ten-minute break, they would have to continue with other, possibly more exhausting training. And them? They just had to stand still under a tree. Even in the scorching sun, they had shade, and if they were exhausted, they could secretly relax a little. The instructor probably wouldn’t even notice.
So, Lin Deng essentially gave the three girls a full hour to recuperate.
He Zhilan finally understood. Although it seemed like Lin Deng was punishing them, he was in fact protecting them.
She wondered why. Was it because she and Jiang Biyun were Gu En’s roommates? Or had her generous act of giving up the lower bunk to Gu En on the first day of school saved Lin Deng some trouble, and this was his way of returning the favor by helping them out during military training?
All the first-year students saw the trio being punished. Initially, the three felt embarrassed under everyone’s scrutiny. However, as the others continued their strenuous training, they had no energy left to focus on the three girls standing as punishment.
After some time, He Zhilan managed to catch her breath. Seeing that Jiang Biyun had stopped biting her lip and looking unhappy, she knew that she must have figured out Lin Deng’s intention.
The girls were allowed to rejoin the team after an hour of standing in punishment. With the hour-long rest, they were more energetic during the subsequent training sessions. However, they were inherently weak, and no hour-long rest could change that. So, at the end of the morning’s training, the three were still utterly exhausted.
Training at the school was better than in the military. At noon, everyone could return to their dormitories for rest, including mealtime. They had a total of two and a half hours to themselves.
"I’m dog-tired~" After eating a little in the cafeteria, He Zhilan collapsed onto her bed, too drained to even lift a finger.