Chapter 451: No more pretending—I

"Stop eating; it'll affect training in a bit!"

"If you later drag the Sixth Company's rear leg in the assessment, Platoon Leader Kang won't accept it."

Seeing Kang Changyi looking all high‑and‑mighty, Lu Yang's eyelids twitched.

Sticking his nose up, got addicted to the game, huh?

"I'll count to three, one..."

"Just kidding, just kidding, hahaha!"

Kang Changyi instantly felt embarrassed and set the bowl down again.

Lu Yang glared at him and, unhurriedly, drank all the soup in the bowl.

Wasting food isn't a good habit, especially when it's a cook's carefully prepared dish.

He had just stood up when Chen Panpan, Kang Changyi and a few others grabbed him and ran toward the beach, saying they'd give him a pre‑assessment boot camp to give him a lesson.

Zhou Kaidong stood at the Cafeteria entrance, watching a crowd swarm Lu Yang as he headed that way, and laughed, "Now the Sixth Company finally feels complete."

He Zhen Tao looked worried and asked, "Lu Yang was brought out by you; you said there's an assessment tomorrow—do you think anything might go wrong with him?"

Zhou Kaidong shook his head, "Instructor, when have you ever seen Lu Yang drop the chain?"

"That's true."

"Relax, tactical stamina and all that, he'll definitely be fine; once we hit the water, we'll break the waves up front to reduce drag, and if needed we'll attach a rope to pull him."

"That's good then."

The sunset's afterglow spilled over the beach.

Using only thirty percent of his strength, Lu Yang pretended to gasp heavily.

"Huh, still pretty tiring."

"You can't even go far before you're done. It's over, you're done."

Kang Changyi shook his head and sighed, "Lu Yang, at this level the assessment is guaranteed to be a flop; you might even drag down the Whole Company. After the assessment, if you get assigned to a fish farm, your life will be over."

Lu Yang quietly stared at his pretentious act and said, "Oh, so what should I do?"

Kang Changyi planted his hands on his hips and said, "Call out Kang, let me hear you. In tomorrow's assessment I'll definitely give you a pull."

Lu Yang saw through him; the kid simply wanted a taste of being a 'mountain king.'

"Kang."

"Hm?"

Kang Changyi was stunned; he hadn't expected Lu Yang to actually call out.

In his view, Lu Yang should be unmovable in poverty and unyielding in majesty.

That further confirmed the speculation that over two months Lu Yang had completely shifted from elite to a little wilted vegetable.

Kang Changyi felt regretful yet a bit amused; from now on he could finally treat the kid as a junior, hahaha!

"You, what did you just say? I didn't hear it?"

"Handsome guy."

"Not that?"

"Kang, handsome?"

"Ah~"

Kang Changyi's face was full of intoxication, his expression like a lovesick fool.

His whole body's pores opened comfortably, as if he were about to float away.

He slapped Lu Yang on the shoulder, looked at him with absolute confidence and said, "Believe in Kang, see a urologist, pfft... it won't be a failing subject; tomorrow's assessment, even if I'm unqualified, I'll help you cross the passing line!"

"You're the idol in everyone's eyes; I absolutely cannot let you drop the chain; from now on you must stand up for me!"

Lu Yang didn't expect his collective sense of honor to be so strong: "You're so confident you can make me pass?"

Kang Changyi said mysteriously, "Of course, we have inside info; let me tell you, tomorrow's assessment will mainly cover these topics..."

Lu Yang's face was full of doubt, "Is it real? Is it reliable?"

"What do you mean 'reliable'?"

Kang Changyi swore solemnly, "It's absolute insider info, absolutely authentic; I tell you, I have connections here—whether it's the test questions or the instructors, we can smooth the relations."

Lu Yang nodded, "I don't believe it."

The night was deep, and the Shushe lou was silent.

Because they'd received notice of tomorrow's assessment, everyone finished washing early and got into bed.

They prepared to have a good sleep, then face the final assessment with the fullest spirit.

At 2 a. m., a harsh emergency assembly whistle suddenly blasted through the camp; the soldiers reflexively sprang from their beds, fumbled in the dark to pack their gear, and rushed downstairs to assemble.

By then, everyone had only just fallen asleep, looking dazed and a bit listless.

But as veterans, their gathering speed was still quick, and the formation was very proper.

"Did you see Lu Yang?"

"We didn't see him inside; maybe he's in the bathroom?"

"It's messed up, the emergency whistle means the assessment started early; he's probably still upstairs packing his gear."

"Comrade Little Lu is really out of line, dropping the chain right after arriving, dragging the Sixth Company's rear leg; when he comes down, I'll give him a good criticism!"

Kang Changyi complained inwardly, feeling the same frustration his uncle once felt toward him, and Lu Yang felt when he saw him as iron that wouldn't become steel.

A sense of responsibility, mission, and a strong urge to show off drove him to want to help Lu Yang improve.

The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Companies were gathered to form a battalion; everyone seemed to sense the assessment might start early, feeling a bit uncertain.

But some, like Zhang Jiaheng, had already gotten the test questions in advance, so their mindset remained relatively steady, having prepared.

At that moment, Instructor Sun, clutching a notebook, slowly walked out of a Shushe lou.

But he only gave the formation a quick glance, neither counting the troops nor ordering them with a command.

Immediately after, footsteps sounded from the stairwell; from the darkness emerged a fair face, and on closer look the person was Lu Yang.

Surprisingly, he was neither fully armed nor Packing the Backpack; he strolled leisurely as if out shopping, with a Stopwatch pretentiously strapped to his hand.

Kang Changyi, unable to contain his anger, said: "You're late and still so arrogant, not even Packing the Backpack, it's downright lawless?"

He faced that side, mouthing words and shouting anxiously: "What are you looking at? Come over, hurry up and line up, we've been waiting for you, waiting to be scolded!"

Liu Ziqiang and Sun Chen: "Lu Yang, what's the situation? Didn't you hear the emergency assembly whistle? Why so relaxed?"

Zhou Kaidong furrowed his brows, feeling something was off, as if something extra was present.

But because the night lighting was poor and the streetlights were far apart, he couldn't see clearly.

However, Ma Qing'an and He Zhen Tao, standing at the side, were suddenly startled and saw everything clearly.

"What the heck, no way, that's unreasonable?"

"Although it's absurd, that's the only possibility now."

Lu Yang, hands behind his back, walked to the front of the formation amid everyone's shocked gazes.

Instructor Sun Chen only then began acting as the duty officer, having the formation count off, then announcing that everyone was present.

Lu Yang returned the salute, then issued commands to the formation before him.

"At ease!"

"Stand at attention!"

"Look to the right, fall in!"

Even though everyone was puzzled, they still obeyed the orders.

Lu Yang, under wave after wave of shocked looks, took a few extra steps toward the brighter area.

Then he produced a red arm cuff bearing the characters "Proctor", slipped it onto his arm, and scanned the familiar faces.

"Let me introduce myself: I'm Lu Yang, formerly your comrade; but now, I'm the proctor for this assessment!"

"What the heck!"

One stone raised a thousand ripples.

Everyone wore an extremely shocked expression.

Kang Changyi felt a torrent of turmoil inside, his jaw slamming hard onto the ground.

At that moment, he was stunned to discover that Lu Yang's Lieutenant insignia on his shoulder had somehow become a Captain's rank with three stars.

A strong unease surged in his heart, and at that instant Lu Yang's gaze locked onto him, startling him with a shiver.

Lu Yang lifted the corner of his mouth, raised his hand and scratched across his neck, indicating that he should clean his neck and wait.

Kang Changyi's knees went weak, his calves trembled; if not for the crowd, he would have already kowtowed, admitted fault, and begged for mercy....