Chapter 32: Out for Shopping

After a night of sound sleep, as dawn just broke, Qin Ge walked out the House Door and started running on the road in the staff area to complete his daily long-distance run task.

Not long after he left his room, two figures walked out of his house and headed toward the practice field in the staff area— they were Banrenma and Nengdai.

They have now grown accustomed to accompanying Qin Ge when he goes out for his morning run, heading together to the training area for morning exercises. As Nengdai put it, 'Since the Commander is so diligent, it would be utterly inappropriate for us, as warship girls, not to work hard.'

Soon it was morning; after finishing his morning exercises, Qin Ge returned to his room to wash up, while Nengdai and Banrenma also came back from the practice field.

"Commander, when are we going to visit Sanli Xianbei?" Banrenma asked Qin Ge.

"Going empty-handed would surely not be good; why don't we go out and buy something?" Qin Ge said to Banrenma and also to Nengdai beside her.

"I just don't know what Sanli Xianbei likes…" Banrenma said, somewhat puzzled.

Qin Ge smiled and said to the two, "Actually I do know this, because I've been studying the Jia Niang Tu Jian these past two days, so I have a fairly good understanding of your preferences."

"Oh, really? Then Commander, what does Sanli Xianbei like?" Banrenma asked.

"She likes plastic models, especially warship models." Qin Ge smiled and said, "But I don't know whether, after so much time, she has collected a complete set of all warship models; however, giving Mikasa Instructor a warship model is definitely not wrong."

"Hmm, then let the Commander decide!" Banrenma laughed, then turned to look at Nengdai and said, "Commander, what does Nengdai senior like?"

Qin Ge turned his gaze to Nengdai; although she usually wore a stern expression, her face was now slightly flushed. Even so, she lifted her head to look at Qin Ge, hoping to hear something from him.

"Nengdai, the information above isn't detailed enough; perhaps there aren't many Nengdais appearing in this world, or maybe a self-disciplined girl like Nengdai doesn't have many things she particularly likes?" Qin Ge smiled and said, "But I think, judging from how we've gotten along these past few days—she is dignified in appearance, graceful in manner, and very rational—perhaps what Nengdai likes most is a relatively quiet environment? Being able to set aside the shackles placed on her and relax a little?"

Facing Qin Ge's description, Nengdai blinked once, neither admitting nor denying, but her gaze toward Qin Ge grew softer.

"The Commander's answer is far too vague." Banrenma laughed from the side.

Qin Ge spread his hands, "There's nothing I can do; after all, we've only been together a short while, and perhaps with more time I'll be more certain. Just like you, I now feel that Banrenma is usually very diligent, loves learning, always thinks that because she was born after the war she lacks something compared to the wartime seniors, has a good character, is humble, and is optimistic and positive."

"Ah, Commander, you've praised me too much. Still, seniors are seniors—they've endured the baptism of war, and it's fitting for someone like me, living in peaceful times, to study hard as their junior." Banrenma said, her face flushed.

"Heh, that's true." Qin Ge chuckled and nodded, "I've finished washing up too; why don't you tidy up as well and we head out together? Since you were built, we haven't yet strolled around the urban area, so today we'll take a good walk. Besides, I have some spare cash here, and later I'll buy you some clothes and such."

"All right, then we'll get ready now." Banrenma said happily, and then she and Nengdai walked toward their own rooms.

After everyone finished preparing, they set out from their rooms heading off-campus. Actually, saying they were going to the city center isn't quite accurate, because near the Commander Academy there is a very large commercial district where basically everything is available. However, since school hasn't started yet, there are comparatively few people going there.

Arriving at the pedestrian street, the group quickly found a model shop that contained not only warship models but also tank and airplane models, and of course some children's toys as well. After all, many destroyer girls are small children, so buying a few toys to cheer them up is quite normal.

Amid the store owner's enthusiastic greetings, they purchased several models of simulated warships; Xu Fei then led Banrenma and Nengdai toward a nearby clothing store.

Though it sounds strange, most of the clothing stores in this row sell women's wear, with only one or two shops in the corner selling men's clothing. But it makes sense: faced with such youthful and handsome warship girl commanders, they all like to dress up their warship girls to look nice; as for themselves? The three sets of uniforms in the Azure Lane Commander Academy are enough to wear, and if they become worn, they can simply apply to the teaching instructor, and the academy will issue new ones.

Entering the clothing store, the owner—a middle-aged woman—saw Qin Ge bringing in two warship girls and warmly greeted them.

Although Qin Ge had never accompanied girls shopping for clothes before, he was very welcoming of the owner's advice, after all the two warship girls themselves weren't picky, they kept looking at him, he thought everything was fine, but he couldn't buy everything, so the owner's help was timely indeed.

"Commander, take a look at this warship girl wearing a sailor uniform; she would be very suited to this relatively solemn and elegant outfit, which makes her appear mature and steady. As for this elf‑like warship girl, the most fitting would be this light‑colored gauze dress, which makes her look mysterious and noble." The owner stood beside Qin Ge, glanced at them once, and helped him pick out clothing for the warship girls, her judgment quite seasoned.

Qin Ge couldn't help but marvel, 'Indeed, in every trade there are champions.' This shop owner could, without even looking at the Jia Niang Tu Jian, sense the personality traits of the two warship girls just by feeling—truly impressive.

Following the owner's recommendation, Qin Ge selected a dress for each of his warship girls: Nengdai got a dark‑blue dress, while Banrenma received a light‑blue one.

When Qin Ge handed the selected dresses to the two, their reactions clearly showed their happiness. Banrenma naturally needs no comment—she is always in a happy state—and even Nengdai, who usually keeps a calm face, now showed a hint of a smile.

It is evident that they especially liked the dresses Qin Ge chose for them, whether because he followed the owner's advice or picked them himself; after all, these two dresses were personally given by Qin Ge, which is why they liked them so much.

The two took them and hurried into the changing room; before long they came out wearing the dresses. Indeed, as the owner said, these two dresses are truly perfect for them.

"How do I look, Commander?" Banrenma said, smiling as she spun around.

"Very pretty." Qin Ge's words were a bit terse, but Banrenma could tell he was complimenting her, so she smiled even more happily…