Chapter 28: There

"Come on, come on, drink water, drink water!"

Ding Tengfei carried two thermoses back to the dormitory and, without waiting for anyone to speak, began pouring water into everyone's cup.

His sudden courteous act also made everyone feel quite uneasy.

But you don't strike a smiling face, so they didn't say much.

Instead, Ding Tengfei took the initiative to speak, wanting to improve his relationship with everyone.

"Earlier, because I alone made a mistake and caused a lot of trouble for everyone, I'm truly sorry."

"Here, I admit my fault and apologize, hoping you adults won't hold a grudge against a petty person."

Zhou Kaidong nearly choked on his water; the words coming from Ding Tengfei's mouth were as blinding as the sun rising in the west!

Seeing Lu Yang raise an eyebrow at him, he instantly caught on.

Ding Tengfei's sudden change is related to Lu Yang.

Good kid, really knows the ropes!

The matter that he and the Instructor couldn't get done despite alternating talks and psychological counseling was somehow handled by Lu Yang?

Appointing Lu Yang as the Assistant Squad Leader to manage dorm discipline was indeed a very wise decision!

That said, Zhou Kaidong could see that Ding Tengfei's eyes still held a hint of resistance when he spoke.

It shows he was forced into it, and his words weren't sincere.

But the beginning is always hard; as long as he's willing to start, that's a good thing.

It shows this soldier still has hope, that this kid at least has a desire to improve.

As for Ding Tengfei's proactive admission of fault, everyone's attitude is relatively tolerant, but the needed complaints still come.

"We're fine; after all, you caused the trouble, so the misfortune is all yours, not ours."

"Last time you were locked up, the Squad Leader got implicated and even gave a debrief in front of the Whole Company."

"Fortunately, later the Assistant Squad Leader helped us regain some face; otherwise I would've wanted to find a crack to crawl into."

"From now on, stop making petty reports about everything, like a mountain cannon. Also, clean up your mouth after speaking; don't always be a rogue horse—if you can't speak without dirty words, what are you doing?"

Some words, once spoken, are just that; a young person's temper flares quickly and fades quickly.

As long as it's not the kind that's rotten to the bone, everyone is willing to give a chance.

Otherwise, the dorm would have inexplicably many misfits, making everyone uncomfortable, as if living with strangers.

As for Ding Tengfei, everyone's demand is simple: behave yourself and don't cause trouble.

The unit loves the routine of making one person sick and then giving everyone a collective injection.

As long as one person errs, the whole group suffers misfortune.

But the most unlucky is Ding Tengfei himself, constantly scolded, punished, and ostracized; no one else could stand it.

So that's why he earlier took the initiative to go to the water room to talk to Lu Yang, hoping Lu Yang could give him some advice to get out of his misery.

Lu Yang, putting past grievances aside, told him to lower his posture and not hold his head up to the sky, thinking he's the best under heaven.

Now that they're in the army, everyone starts from the same line; that outside approach simply doesn't work and can't fool anyone.

If you don't want to be disliked or have veterans repeatedly break your mindset, you must change.

The unit won't cater to you, so you must proactively adapt to the unit.

Lowering his stance, serving tea and pouring water, and proactively admitting past mistakes—that's the first step Lu Yang taught him.

At first Ding Tengfei resisted, feeling it was shameful and even hard to speak, but once he said it, it was out, as if no flesh was lost.

"We're all in the same squad; it's not easy for people from all over the world to meet like this."

Zhou Kaidong also said a couple of lines: "Let's turn the page on past unpleasantness, learn better from now on, train more seriously. Especially when you shouldn't show off, don't damn it, show off for no reason!"

Ding Tengfei nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.

Not being stubborn, not arguing— isn't that good?

With hot water, everyone poured some of the protein powder that Kong Long gave into their cups in batches.

Each took a small sip and found the taste not as good as milk tea.

Some thought it too greasy and unpalatable, so they turned and poured it for others.

Kong Long sneaked up to Lu Yang, hoping he'd keep a sip for himself to sustain his shrinking arm circumference, but was startled badly when Zhou Kaidong, appearing like a ghost behind him, showed up.

He could only, feeling guilty, hand the cup back to Lu Yang and forced a polite yet awkward smile toward the Squad Leader.

"I'll just smell it, I definitely won't drink."

"Heh, if I catch you sipping secretly, I'll starve you for a day!"

"No, no, I won't— I'm not on bad terms with protein powder!"

At that moment, a shrill whistle sounded from downstairs, followed immediately by the duty officer's shout.

"Everyone put on hats, fasten waist belts, assemble downstairs, prepare to run!"

"Aw— damn, this is intense!"

"Can't deny it, this protein powder actually works; feels like both legs got lighter!"

"Is it that potent? I don't feel anything at all!"

"You drank less; we drank more."

During the noon three‑kilometer run, many in Third Squad moved as if flying, steps light.

Not sure if the protein powder and creatine truly work, or it's just a placebo effect.

Even Lu Yang felt a warm sensation inside, as if he had completed a recharge.

After the run, everyone took a short break, grabbed their textbooks and headed to the reading room, preparing for the ideological and political class.

Ideological and political studies are a compulsory course during basic training, with an exam, taught by Instructor He Zhen Tao.

The weather was cold, the reading room kept its doors and windows shut, and with many people gathering, the temperature inside was much higher than outside.

It's because it's relatively warm, causing everyone to unconsciously want to yawn as soon as they put down their books.

Especially, this is a political class, its sleep-inducing effect is second only to that of mathematics and chemistry.

He Zhen Tao up front, like a teacher, lectures nonstop, and from time to time also writes and draws on the blackboard.

The new soldiers below are half-asleep, their eyelids constantly drooping, but they still have to force themselves to sit upright, gritting their teeth.

Sneaking a nap in class is no big deal; the teacher might just turn a blind eye.

But in the troops, if your eyelids close for more than two seconds, you'll get a smack on the head right away.

Unlike others who are perfunctory and suffering through class, Lu Yang studies very seriously, even somewhat engaged.

Thanks to the system's help, his concentration has improved; and when he earnestly learns new knowledge, he can also silently enhance his bodily functions.

It's clearly a liberal arts class, but with Lu Yang it somehow yields both literary and martial gains—simply a win!

Pat!

Suddenly, a neutral pen fell to the ground and rolled under the desk.

Lu Yang saw Kong Long in the front row bend over to pick it up, but several seconds passed without him getting up.

Lu Yang leaned back slightly, and in his peripheral vision he could see Kong Long under the desk with eyes closed and mouth open, frozen in the pen‑picking pose, motionless, as if asleep?

ZZZ......

A faint breath sound came, Lu Yang's eye twitched, he was sure this guy had actually fallen asleep!