"Admiration! Admiration!" An Hao applauded Gu Shuangshuang, "I just love Miss Shuangshuang’s decisiveness!"
"You flatter me!" Gu Shuangshuang pressed her fists together in greeting, mimicking the pose of a heroic outlaw from Liangshan.
An Hao was amused by Gu Shuangshuang, and the gloom that had settled in her heart just moments before had somewhat lifted. She stuck the letter together, and read it from beginning to end, her pretty little face blushing crimson.
"Tsk tsk tsk! No wonder you’re not into that little rascal, Cheng Yue! He’s not even in the same league as our Staff Officer Qin. How did he manage to woo you? Must have been the ’silent, enriching of things’ way!" Gu Shuangshuang sat down, propped up her chin, and looked at An Hao unblinkingly as she teased her.
An Hao pursed her lips and smiled, her gaze seeming to penetrate through mountains and rivers, "He and I have a predestined relationship that spans over two lifetimes..."
This love was naturally deeper than any other! And all the more treasured by her!
"So cheesy!" But she too yearned for a love that would last lifetimes with Tian Niu.
"Aren’t you just as cheesy? Even before you two are married, it’s ’our dear Old Niu’ this and ’our dear Old Niu’ that! I’m embarrassed for you!" An Hao teased as she lightly flicked Gu Shuangshuang’s nose.
"Speaking of embarrassment, nothing tops the secondhand embarrassment you and your hubby give. Come on, let me read this... craving for your tender body and...." Gu Shuangshuang leaned forward to peek at the letter from Qin Jian.
With a thump, An Hao pressed the letter down, "If you dare to read another word! I’m really going to teach you a lesson today!"
As she spoke, she grabbed Gu Shuangshuang’s arm and started tickling her under the arm.
"Stop stop stop!" Gu Shuangshuang hated being tickled more than anything and quickly tried to stop An Hao, "I admit my mistake, okay? Look at you, just one glance at your letter and you can’t let it go. That little rascal Cheng Yue, you’re just going to let him off ? How about we corner him one day and give him a good thrashing in the dark?"
"Pfft!" An Hao almost choked on her saliva, "Lady, give it a rest, will you? Do you think it’s going to be you beating him up, or him beating you up instead?"
"Ah! Being a woman is such a disadvantage in a fight! I reckon it’d be him beating me up 80% of the time!" Gu Shuangshuang frowned, "But that guy is just too infuriating! We can’t let him off so easily!"
An Hao blinked and said, "I just don’t want to deal with him! I’ve come to realize that the more you pay attention to such people, the more energetic they become. However, since he tore up my letter and read my private words, I’ve got to ’give him a taste of his own medicine.’"
"So what are you going to do?" Gu Shuangshuang asked.
"Do nothing! I’m planning a little ’after-autumn reckoning’!" The simpler and more straightforward, the better!
"Great! Double thumbs up in agreement!"
........................
The next day, the weather was clear and cloudless.
Although the sun was shining, the temperature had definitely gotten a lot cooler.
On the parade ground, three young men stood out conspicuously, like three nails hammered into the ground, maintaining military posture for over two hours straight, still standing as firm and upright as pines.
Many people passed by and observed them, with glances of inquiry, mockery, and even schadenfreude.
"Damn it! I really want to swear! It’s just a military stance, why the hell are so many people watching?" Li Zhi couldn’t help but curse.
"At least it’s just the standing at attention. Up next is a five-kilometer run! My goodness! I’m starting to think my legs might as well just give up." Zhang Chaoqian said with a grimace.
"Is it really necessary? If any feet are going to give out, it should be mine!" Cheng Yue gritted his teeth and persevered, remembering how An Hao’s kick from the day before had left his big toe swollen.
Now, even standing at attention made that toe throb painfully.