Volume 1 / Chapter 48: The Military Training Bus

“Ài ài, Xuě Yáo~” Wáng Jiālè nudged Mò Xuěyáo, “spacing out again?”

“I wasn’t spacing out… Just letting my mind wander through the universe,” Mò Xuěyáo replied in a deliberately poetic tone. She turned slightly to glance at Wáng Jiālè. “What is it? Got another disaster to share today?”

“Hey, hey! What do you mean by ‘disaster’? Do I really sound like someone who’s always unlucky?” Wáng Jiālè pouted in protest.

“Ahem… who knows?” Mò Xuěyáo shrugged and chuckled.

To someone like her, who hadn’t spent much time around girls in her past, being able to chat so casually with them now felt… surprisingly magical.

But many things in life are like that—you don’t realize how easy they are until you actually do them.

Just like getting along with other girls.

Whether they’re cute or pretty, they’re still just people. Most of them are perfectly ordinary. There’s no need to place them on a pedestal—or to treat them like some delicate, mysterious species.

If you approach them with a normal mindset, you’ll find they’re all vibrant, fascinating little beings.

Of course, girls often present a different face when they’re around boys.

Calling it “fake” wouldn’t be fair. It’s more like they choose to keep certain parts of themselves hidden.

Take Wáng Jiālè for example.

In front of boys, she usually clams up and seems painfully shy.

But around girls? She's practically a different person—bubbly, chatty, full of life.

“Hii~ Morning~” Mo Xiǎoxiào greeted them as always with a sunny smile. Her dimples were deep and sweet, and just seeing her grin could lift anyone’s mood.

“Hmph! For once, Xiǎo Xiào came later than me!” Wáng Jiālè puffed out her chest proudly.

“I got held up on the way,” Mo Xiǎoxiào said, lightly brushing her slightly curled, sun-damaged hair. “Looks like we’re getting ready to head out soon?”

“Yup yup~!” Wáng Jiālè bounced excitedly, looking less like someone going to military training and more like she was heading out for a picnic.

Today, the students had arrived earlier than usual. Everyone had a suitcase in tow and looked full of energy.

Smiles lit up every face as they reminisced about the military training from their middle school days.

Some boys even genuinely believed five days of training wouldn't be enough. “Too short,” they said. “Not intense enough.”

Let’s see if they still say that once it actually starts.

By the time the clock struck 8:00, every student had arrived. Their homeroom teacher, Yè Wén , appeared at the door and clapped her hands loudly.

“All right, everyone! Line up—we’re heading to the buses!”

At that moment, a few clouds scattered in the sky, allowing the golden sun to peek through and drape everything in a warm, radiant light.

“Let’s gooo~!” Wáng Jiālè leapt to her feet, cheerfully wheeling her suitcase toward the door.

She really did look like she was going on a field trip.

“Line up for roll call!” Yè Wén stood by the door with a name list in hand. “Lǐ Wǎnyán?”

“Here.”

The class monitor lifted her hand weakly, clearly not in the best mood.

She was the only one without a suitcase.

Instead, her backpack was stuffed to bursting, and she carried a neatly folded blue quilt in her arms. Every time she glanced at Ān Ruòsù, her expression turned awkward.

Names were called in student number order—girls first, boys in the second half.

“Kāng Yáng?”

“Here, here!”

“Huā Yínyín?”

“Present!”

“Mo Zhúyóu?”

“Heeere—” Mo Zhúyóu’s drawn-out response was just as lazy as usual.

“Lǔ Chéngyuàn, Wāng Yáng, Yè Bànxià, Zhāng Yǔméng.”

“Just raise your hands, I’ll see it,” said Yè Wén.

The four girls lifted their hands obediently.

“Mò Xuěyáo?”

“Here!” Mò Xuěyáo raised her hand high and answered with gusto—so loud that she startled Wáng Jiālè.

“Geez! Why so loud? You almost gave me a heart attack…” Wáng Jiālè grumbled, patting her chest.

“Pfft.” Mò Xiǎoxiào stifled a giggle, her eyes twinkling mischievously—clearly plotting something.

“Táng Sīshī , Wáng Jiālè, Mo Xiǎoxiào?”

This time, Mo Xiǎoxiào mimicked Mò Xuěyáo’s earlier enthusiasm. “Here~!” she called out.

“Hey! Are you two trying to scare me to death?” Wáng Jiālè complained. “Are you ganging up on me?!”

“Wait, Wáng Jiālè’s not here?” Yè Wén teased deliberately.

“I’m here! I’m here!” Wáng Jiālè waved frantically.

“Ohhh~ Doesn’t seem like our dear Lè Lè has much energy today. I almost thought you were someone else!” Yè Wén grinned wickedly.

“I totally have energy!” Wáng Jiālè jumped up and down on the spot to prove it.

The name list continued.

“Zuǒ Qiānxīn, Dù Qīcǎi?”

“Here.” The two answered in unison.

Mò Xuěyáo glanced at the two unfamiliar girls—one tall and slender, the other rounder and softer-looking.

“Chá Lí, Xuān Ānyí, Qiūyuán Líng, Chén Bǎichéng.”

“Lěng Fēng, Chén Mèngqí, Tián Xīnnán.”

The girls all raised their hands as their names were called.

“Okay, all the girls are here,” Yè Wén said, checking off the list. “Now for the boys.”

“Lǚ Bólún, Xuě Xiānshēng?”

“Here!” called the tall Lǚ Bólún from the back.

“Present,” replied Xuě Xiānshēng quietly, eyes still glued to his book.

“Lǐ Hóngrǎn , Mǎjiǎ, Zhōu Yǒng.”

“Má Jiànháng, Chén Chéng, Hé Guà.”

“Jiǎ Qǐxué, Lè Tīngfēng, Fāng Wènqíng, Zhōu Míngzhǒng.”

“Jūn Ruòhuán, Yáng Yánkāi, Fēng Jiànyōu, Cuī Biānzhàn.”

“Chē Qīngjí, Gāo Yuán, Yú Zǐ, Ān Ruòsù.”

“All right, everyone’s here.” Yè Wén closed the attendance book.

“Wait! Yè Wén! What about me?!” shouted Liú Xiǎowěi.

Since she was such a chill teacher, many students had dropped the “Ms.” and just called her by name—thanks to mischief-makers like Liú Xiǎowěi and Gāo Yuán.

“Ohhh~ Liú Xiǎowěi. Forgot to flip the page,” she said with a sly smile that made it obvious she hadn’t forgotten at all.

“Whew, for a second I thought I got expelled…” Liú Xiǎowěi joked dramatically, playing along like a comedy skit.

“Okay! Class monitor, lead the way. Let’s head out.”

Yè Wén stretched with a big yawn and led the charge downstairs, her leather shoes tapping along.

Even though it was already a bit chilly, she was still rocking her signature white knee-high socks. They looked slightly thicker than before—but still oozed youthful energy.

Mò Xuěyáo couldn’t help but wonder if she ever got cold.

She herself had worn long socks back in the day, but at least hers covered everything. Yè Wén’s still left a good stretch of smooth leg exposed to the breeze.

Meanwhile, the upperclassmen from Grade 11 and 12 were marching to the schoolyard under the tune of the "Athletes’ March,” lining up for the Monday assembly.

That gave the freshmen a strange sense of superiority—like they’d dodged a bullet.

No assembly for them today!

Though... once military training actually started, that smug feeling would probably evaporate.

The principal was already giving the morning speech from the stage.

Off to the side, the assistant principal and student coordinator, Yín Líng, was organizing which classes got which buses. She was dressed sharply, wearing black stockings and gold-rimmed glasses.

“Yín Líng! Which bus is ours?” Yè Wén called from a distance.

“Class 2 - grade 10?” Yín Líng adjusted her glasses and checked her notepad. Then she pointed behind her. “Second one behind me.”

Yè Wén strode over to the indicated bus. “This one, right?”

“Yep. Get your class on quickly. The earlier they board, the sooner they leave.”

“Got it!” Yè Wén waved to her class. “Class Two, over here—come on!”

The students swarmed over.

But the bus didn’t seem quite big enough.

Although it was technically a “coach,” it was on the smaller side—maybe just thirty-something seats. Not enough for everyone.

Mò Xuěyáo looked around. As someone who had been a boy in her past life, her instinct was to let the girls sit first and stand herself.

“Boys, hold off on sitting! Let the girls get seats first!” Yè Wén shouted from the door.

The boys laughed and complied without complaint—giving the girls priority seemed like second nature.

“Xuěyáo, why are you standing there? Come sit with me!” Wáng Jiālè waved her over.

“Huh? Oh, right…” Mò Xuěyáo suddenly remembered she wasn’t a boy anymore—she could enjoy the perks of being a girl now.

No need to be stubborn or “honorable” about it. If there’s a benefit, why not take it?

“Lè Lè Lè Lè~ I’m sitting with you today!”

Another girl darted in and plopped down next to Wáng Jiālè.

It was Chá Lí—the one who resembled Zǐwēi from last year’s hit TV series My Fair Princess.

She had a bit of baby fat and a goofy kind of sweetness when she smiled.

“Ehh—Chá Lí wants to sit with me? Um…” Wáng Jiālè glanced apologetically at Mò Xuěyáo, probably feeling a little bad for brushing off her close friend. Still, she nodded. “Okay.”

Now Mò Xuěyáo had a new dilemma.

Who should she sit with?