Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Xiao Jing blinked her large doe eyes as her gaze fluttered downwards, only to land on the pants drooping precariously around the man’s waist. It looked like they were about to fall off at any time.
The man remained standing in the same place with no intention to move. The soldier who appeared out of nowhere and locked the door behind him seemed to have piqued his interest.
“Sir.” Xiao Jing came back to her senses and quickly stood in attention.
The man turned the shower knob behind him off without looking. He directed his gaze to the water, which was pooling by his feet. He asked matter-of-factly, “Getting ready to shower?”
Xiao Jing found herself at a loss for words. How was she supposed to answer? If she said yes, wouldn’t she need to undress in front of him? If she said no, how would she explain what she was there for? To peek at her superior officer while he showered?
The man raised his eyes as he did not hear a reply, and their gazes locked.
Cold. That was the first thought in Xiao Jing’s mind when she met his eyes. It was bright and sunny outside, but at that moment, all she felt was bitter cold and desperation, as if her heart had become deader than dead ashes.
“Take off your clothes.” After he said that, the man turned around, away from
Xiao Jing. In one swift move, he took off his pants and turned on the shower.
Xiao Jing froze in place. She had imagined countless excuses. She would have preferred that he thought of her as a lecherous pervert than to risk exposing her identity.
The man hung his pants on the clothing rack. The glimmer in his eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked, “Don’t tell me that it was as Xiao Ye said? You have a hidden illness?”
“What?” Xiao Jing was stunned for a moment, not comprehending what he was trying to imply.
The man put out his hands as he watched the icy water simmer the moment it fell on his palm. His voice dropped, “I’m curious. What sort of hidden illness would make you so scared of everything?”
Xiao Qing fumbled a step back as she silently took in the incoming danger. It was undoubtedly a crisis that would put her life on the line. She was sure that this man would have no qualms lunging at her and stripping her down.
“I have no hidden illnesses. I just look up to you a lot.” Xiao Jing abandoned all reservations and blurted.
“Hmm?” That man turned around, his eyes eagle-sharp. He looked at Xiao Jing as though he had just seen an idiot.
“I heard from the Commander that you’re here to select a recruit. Therefore, I’m here to recommend myself,” Xiao Jing puffed her chest out as she said with hot-blooded vigor.
“Recommend yourself?” the man repeated.
Xiao Jing quickly nodded. “That’s right. As you already know, I am a Xiao. We, the Xiaos, have always produced generals over the generations. I do not want to be seen as a dead weight, and so it’s only natural that I’d want to strive harder. You’re my superior officer and the Commander of the Special Command forces. Since you’ve recognized my identity, why don’t you take me in? I swear to lay my life down for my people and country!”
The man turned off the shower and put on the clothes he had hung to the side. He walked over to her, one step, followed by another.
Xiao Jing’s heart began to tremble deep down as eerie chills conquered her. What should she do? He’s coming over and was looking at her with such predatorial eyes. Could he genuinely have bought the nonsense spouted by that darned Xiao Ye about her body’s hidden illness?
“You’re afraid?” The man put on his gloves and gently lifted Xiao Jing’s head, which was hung low. His expression was as cold as ice that had formed over several millennia, and one look was enough to destroy whatever psychological defenses Xiao Jing had put up.
Xiao Jing smiled defeatedly. “You’re my hero. Seeing you fills me with admiration.”
“Do you know who I am?”
Uh. Xiao Jing hesitated for a second. Who was he again? Had Commander Lian even introduced who he was?
“You don’t even know who I am. Where did your admiration come from?” The man went over her and walked to the shower door that she locked. With a simple twist with his fingers, it was unlocked.
Xiao Jing gulped. She felt like she was being deprived of oxygen as if the other party had her heart in crushing grip. Her knees almost gave in to throw herself down on the ground to hug his thighs and beg for mercy. Thank god that she was able to hold it together.
Silence returned to the shower hall, and Xiao Jing quickly ran over to shut the door. She locked it securely. After letting out two loud sighs of relief, she hung her clothes up and stepped into the shower. The moment Xiao Jing turned the water on, though, she was drenched from head to toe in ice-cold water. She jumped, shivering as she immediately cut the water off.
The water was cold?
But it had been steaming hot when that guy had been showering.
Could it be that he turned off the heater as he went out?
She knew it. The higher-ups weren’t goody two shoes to be trifled with. Every one of them had a huge ego. Why was he wrapped like a rice dumpling in such scorching weather? It served him right if he got rashes from the heat.
Mu Xichi stood in front of Camp Area A Room 501. He was ready to knock the door when he saw his Commander walk over leisurely from the stairs from the side of his eye. He quickly rushed up to him.
“You brought the information?” Shen Chengfeng put his hand out.
Mu Xichi placed the document bag in his hands and asked confusedly, “Where did you go, Commander?”
“To shower.” Shen Chengfeng pushed the door to his room open.
Mu Xichi frowned slightly. He heard from Lian Qing that he had arranged high-class rooms with fully equipped en-suite bathrooms. Surely there was no need to squeeze in the communal shower with the other soldiers?
“You may head back first.” Shen Chengfeng hung his coat on the clothes hanger and turned on the table lamp. He began to read the document line by line.
Mu Xichi, ever nosy, couldn’t resist asking, “Why are you so curious about that Xiao Jing, Commander? Is it really because of General Xiao Ye’s words before we left?”
Sheng Chengfeng did not answer. He simply bore right into his eyes.
Mu Xichi shuddered at his gaze and tucked his neck back. He quickly left the room.
Shen Chengfeng took his gloves off and lightly pressed his palm against the perfectly flawless paper, Xiao Jing’s cv.
The next instant, white smoke erupted from under his palm. The piece of paper, which had been intact seconds ago, was quickly reduced into a pile of ashes on the tabletop.
Before he left, Xiao Ye had thrown a photo into his vehicle and mocked, “That’s my fourth elder brother, the most useless human among us Xiaos. However, he’s quite special. If you don’t believe me, make him take his clothes off and see for yourself. I promise that it’ll be an exciting experience.”
“I have no interest in him.”
“Why don’t we place a bet? Bring him to the Special Command Unit. We have a long way ahead of us, plenty of time for you to discover his specialness.”
Shen Chengfeng put on his gloves once again, tapping his finger on the desk as he contemplated. It started as a joke, but now he was beginning to be a little interested.
Looks up to me, huh?