The students in the classroom, who were still chattering, were clearly taken aback by Sun Ling's sudden appearance. Before they could figure out why she was there, they saw her stride directly to Yang Lili's desk and, without a word, raise her hand and deliver a fierce slap.
Yang Lili was completely stunned by the unexpected blow. She raised her hand to her face, and upon seeing that it was Sun Ling who had hit her, she was even more shocked. "Sun Ling?"
"You bitch, I really underestimated you. As they say, a barking dog doesn't bite. You always put on such a good act. Tell me, did you spread my news?"
Yang Lili subconsciously denied it. "I didn't."
"You clearly eavesdropped on me and Yu Wei talking back then. You promised me to my face that you'd never reveal what you heard. You're untrustworthy and won't die a good death!"
Still furious, Sun Ling raised her hand to slap Yang Lili again, but a nearby classmate quickly intercepted her.
Yang Lili pursed her lips, her eyes slightly reddening as she looked at Sun Ling. "Whether you believe me or not, I truly didn't say anything about your situation."
On the principle of minding her own business, she never wanted to stir up trouble. Moreover, considering Sun Ling's family circumstances at the time, if she had said anything more and it had reached Sun Ling's ears, Yang Lili's only goal was to study hard and graduate smoothly.
"Yu Wei would never betray me. Besides you, I can't think of anyone else. Since you won't let me have peace, neither of us will attend school!" As Sun Ling spoke, she snatched the book from Yang Lili's hand and tore it into several pieces.
"My book!" Yang Lili was heartbroken to see her book torn, as it represented money.
"Now you care about it? What were you doing before?" Sun Ling said, a hint of madness in her expression. She pushed Yang Lili aside and rummaged through her desk.
Just as Sun Ling grabbed a book, tearing it halfway and about to rip it with force, her wrist suddenly ached. Then, her hand lightened as the book was snatched away.
"Chen Lishu, you bitch, who told you to meddle?" Sun Ling's gaze followed the arm gripping her wrist. When she saw it was Chen Lishu, her expression turned even more ferocious.
"I say, Sun Ling, this is a school, not your home. You can't just throw tantrums here. You've already been expelled, and if you cause more trouble, we'll call the police!" Zhang Xue said unceremoniously.
Sun Ling reacted. "Oh, I get it. Did that untrustworthy wretch Yang Lili tell you two what happened?"
"What business is it of yours who I'm substituting for? Look at the three of you: one is a country bumpkin, a vixen; another is a dog willing to follow and bark; and the third is a deceitful, hypocritical, and poor wretch. I curse the three of you to die a horrible death!" Sun Ling pointed at Zhang Xue, Chen Lishu, and Yang Lili, saying viciously.
"Sun Ling, are you sick? You don't reflect on your own mistakes but blame everyone else? Who forced you to make that mistake in the first place? Since you chose this path, you should have known this day would come," Li Zhiwei couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up.
"Li Zhiwei, stop preaching to me. How much better are you? You chased Jiang Yuwei and chose the same major, but what happened? She didn't even spare you a glance. If you liked her so much, why didn't you persist? Then you got involved with someone surnamed Chen. How dare you talk about me? At least I'm not fickle or unfaithful in love."
Seeing the madness in her eyes, Li Zhiwei felt utterly bored. He turned back to his seat and dropped a sentence, "I think you're really quite sick."
"Sun Ling, the class bell is about to ring. If the teacher sees you here, they'll definitely have you escorted out. You should leave quickly," Class monitor Yao Bin said with a troubled expression.
Sun Ling turned her head to look at Yao Bin. Her gaze inadvertently swept across the contemptuous and disgusted looks from other classmates. Her heart felt as if it had been pierced. In the past, they all fawned over her, but now they turned on her faster than flipping a book. How could the usually proud Sun Ling tolerate this? Glancing at Chen Lishu and the other two, she gritted her teeth and said, "The three of you remember this: if you don't let me live well, I won't let any of you go!" With that, Sun Ling turned and left in anger.
"Big sister, are you okay?" Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue helped Yang Lili pick up her books from the floor. Seeing her slightly pale face, they couldn't help but ask with concern.
Yang Lili glanced at the two, then quickly averted her gaze, her lips tightly pressed. She shook her head. "I'm fine. You should all go back to class."
Hearing her words, Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue exchanged glances and returned to their seats as instructed.
...
On the training ground, everyone was intensely engaged in training. The lingering heat of the autumn tiger was still present, and the soldiers were drenched in sweat, nearly exhausted.
"Ouch."
Suddenly, a young soldier, while training on the horizontal bar, lost his footing and fell. After crying out, he rolled over and got up from the ground. Shortly after, clutching his arm, he ran towards Gu Xingdong and Wu Zheng.
"Report!"
Wu Zheng nodded. "How's your arm? Are you okay?"
The young soldier frowned, his face contorted in pain. "I don't know where I injured it. It's throbbing like a needle prick. I request to go to the infirmary for an examination."
Injuries were common during training, and Wu Zheng didn't stop him. "Go quickly and come back."
"Yes!" The young soldier responded loudly and jogged towards the infirmary.
After the soldier left, Wu Zheng looked at Gu Xingdong and muttered doubtfully, "It's really strange these past two days. Why are there always incidents during training?"
Gu Xingdong's long eyebrows moved slightly, and his gaze lingered on the retreating figure of the young soldier, lost in thought.
In the field, Wang Dazhu, seeing a great opportunity snatched away by someone else, cursed in annoyance. He turned to Li Weimin and said, "Weimin, Doctor Zheng at the infirmary took two months leave. I heard the temporary doctor is particularly beautiful and kind. Aren't you curious to go take a look?"
Li Weimin rolled his eyes at him. "Look at what? Will she take a liking to us if we look? I'd rather spend that time training and improving my physical fitness, which is the real deal."
"Tch, I know exactly how much of a player you are. You say you won't look, but your heart must be itching like a cat's claws."
Wang Dazhu said, glancing at the obstacle course ahead. "If you don't go, fine. That guy already beat me to it. I have to seize this opportunity this time."
Li Weimin looked at Wang Dazhu, who was charging forward, and then glanced at a figure standing not far away. He shook his head helplessly. Daring to make small moves under the camp commander's nose was pure suicide.
Wang Dazhu, however, thought his feigned fall was seamless and happily walked towards Gu Xingdong and Wu Zheng to request leave.
Wu Zheng saw him limping over and, before he could even report, asked with a frown, "You want to request leave too?"
Wang Dazhu immediately clutched his 'injured' area, his face full of pain. "Yes, I accidentally injured my leg just now."