Chapter 361: Can the Newcomer Leave a Name?

Around eight o'clock at night, in the back kitchen of the Zhencha Daitui Cafeteria.

Two figures were surrounded by several large basins, squatting on the floor and scrubbing dishes vigorously.

The Zhencha Daitui has over a thousand personnel; that many utensils, plus the cafeteria's internal sanitation, are nearly breaking Yang Yong's old back.

Yang Yong straightened his back slightly to catch a breath, glanced at the silent, vacant‑eyed Lan Li beside him, and asked, "What are you thinking?"

Lan Li replied, "I'm spacing out."

Yang Yong: "......"

He asked, "When you were in school, did you ever date anyone or have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"Why not? Were you afraid it would affect your studies?"

"My mother wouldn't allow it."

"Then, what hobbies do you have?"

"None."

"You don't play games or read novels?"

"My mother won't let me."

"You must have at least one or two good friends, right?"

"I don't have any."

"Is it still your mother who won't let you?"

"Mm."

"Your mother's pressure is extreme, treating you purely as a learning tool; no wonder you're used to being solitary and can't even interact with others."

Lan Li didn't know how to retort and just kept scrubbing dishes.

He kept replaying the daytime incident in his mind.

Especially Lu Yang's angry gaze at him at the end.

Although he'd seen similar looks before, this felt different.

Others' anger was simple—just anger; but Lu Yang's fury seemed blended with many other emotions.

In Lan Li's view, the military reform was beneficial, both for national defense and for unit building.

Moreover, experiencing Navy training across branches is a great opportunity; when he first enlisted, he chose the Navy, but was later randomly assigned to the Army.

If possible, he'd love the chance to see the future sea; even just standing by the shore would make him feel at ease.

Yang Yong spoke again, "Lu Yang has many strengths worth learning from. If he joins our Zhencha Daitui, I'm prepared to make you his deputy."

"Could you let him be my deputy?"

"His rank is higher and he has more medals; how could he serve as your deputy? Explain."

Yang Yong gave him a half‑smile, leaving Lan Li speechless.

"If he comes next time to compete with you here, even in events you could win, you must lose—and lose without a trace."

"Why do that?"

"Being overly concerned with winning is just competitiveness; a unit isn't a solo fight nor a lone star. You need friends and comrades you can rely on in battle to go farther."

"Got it......"

Lan Li mulled over the words repeatedly and finally nodded.

Yang Yong didn't know if he truly understood, but sincerely hoped the kid could find his own path.

Lan Li's past, living under his mother's suffocating constraints, made him a bookish recluse detached from society; though he entered a prestigious university, he knew nothing of social interaction.

Being simple and straightforward is good, but misplaced and misapplied it becomes foolish, called clueless, and becomes annoying.

Even though Lan Li's personal qualities are excellent, a single outstanding person can never match someone who can lead a group to excel together.

At eleven at night, the Zhencha Daitui's night training had just ended.

Yang Yong returned to his office, hunched under the desk lamp, and began writing a self‑criticism.

Lan Li also sat in the electronic classroom, pen in hand, but his mind was a blank.

Before, once he received a test paper, a glance at the questions let him know the solution instantly; this time he was completely at a loss.

The clock ticked on as he sat rigidly in the classroom all night, until dawn, his notebook still blank.

Yang Yong got up at midnight to use the restroom, saw the classroom lights on, walked in out of curiosity, and found him sitting on a stool with bloodshot eyes, as if under a petrification spell.

"Y‑you stayed up here all night?"

"Commander, I can't solve this problem; it's too hard…."

Yang Yong covered his face and said, "I didn't ask you to solve the problem; I asked you to reflect and self‑critique. What do you want to say to Lu Yang, and to the Sixth Company soldiers you unintentionally hurt?"

"Or, how do you intend to make amends to those you've hurt? You must put it into action."

"For example, invite him to a meal, have a drink, give a small gift? You know how your parents reconciled after a fight, right?"

"Moreover, Chief of Staff made it clear yesterday that the Navy is also vying for Lu Yang's allegiance. If you want him to stay in the Zhencha Daitui, become his deputy, and learn interpersonal skills from him, you have to pull him toward our side."

Lan Li pondered for a long time, then thrust his head up and said, "I get it, I understand!"

Yang Yong relaxed slightly, "Now that you understand, go do it."

"Mm!"

"Mm, well written, it counts as a deep reflection."

In the morning, Xiong Yao carefully read Yang Yong's self‑criticism and nodded with satisfaction.

Punishment isn't the goal; the point is to recognize the mistake and actively correct it.

As the commander of the Zhencha Daitui, he must never err, let alone make a basic mistake.

Immediately, Xiong Yao opened Lan Li's self‑criticism, and his eyelids began to twitch involuntarily.

A dense pile of several sheets of paper, each page from top to bottom filled with three characters written in black ballpoint pen.

I'm wrong!

At the same time, in the Sixth Company office.

Lu Yang, Ma Qing'an, and He Zhen Tao stared with wide eyes at the massive bundle of blazing red roses in front of them.

A full ninety‑nine roses, with a small card attached on top, specifically marked as a gift for Lu Yang.

Ma Qing'an and the other stared at the card repeatedly, then turned to Lu Yang: "When did you start a relationship?"

Lu Yang's mind buzzed: "My sister is dating!"

"No, who sent these flowers?"

"How would I know? I'm also puzzled!"

"Lu Yang, be honest, it's just the three of us; do you have an ex‑girlfriend who's still lingering, can't forget you, knows you're in the military, and is deliberately seeking reconciliation?"

"Impossible!"

"Then explain, what's up with these flowers? Apart from a young girl, who would send this, and ninety‑nine roses?"

"Could it be meant for Kang Changyi, and the name was mistakenly written as mine?"

Ma Qing'an and the other thought that this guess was really far‑fetched.

But Lu Yang thought that receiving this thing itself was absurd.

Because it had no beginning or end, and they couldn't reason it out, the matter of the flowers was temporarily set aside.

Lu Yang pulled out a training schedule that had been rushed overnight: "Regarding the upcoming training program schedule, I've already drafted it; take a look?"

"That fast?"

"All done in one night?"

The two opened it, heads together, and examined it carefully; the more they read, the more delighted they became.

Lu Yang: "If there's anything that needs adjusting, I'll fix it right away and have Kang Changyi print it?"

Ma Qiang then slapped the plan onto the table, looking solemnly at Lu Yang: "Not a single word needs changing; follow this plan exactly!"

He Zhen Tao: "Go call the Platoon Leaders of each squad to hold a meeting; we must seize the limited time so that our future can secure a foothold in the Navy and create limitless possibilities!"

"Yes!"

Lu Yang turned, and strode out of the office.

But before leaving, he glanced at the blazing red bundle of roses on the table.

He really couldn't figure out which young girl sent him the roses; such a blunt confession put a lot of pressure on him.

Even though he knows he's excellent, handsome, sunny, cheerful, humorous, ambitious, diligent, you could at least leave a card so I could know your name?