(2)
Translator: _Min
âPhysique plays a part,â Si Fuqing touched her chin thoughtfully, âbut mainly itâs because I run and lift weights every day. Do you want to join me?â
âNo, no, no,â Yu Tang replied, glancing at the new barbell Feng San brought back, a bead of sweat forming on her forehead. âI⦠I could die just running 800 meters.â
She dreaded the thought of physical tests in university.
The barbell weighed a total of 200 kilograms.
She had only seen super strong men using such weights in the gym.
âProper training is important,â Yu Xiheng remarked from behind his book, his voice cool and calm. âMilitary training starts on the fifteenth of August at Great Xia University. Donât even think about taking leave.â Yu Tang was speechless.
She turned her pleading eyes towards Si Fuqing.
âJumping straight into five kilometers can harm the body,â Si Fuqing consoled her. âTangtang, why donât you start with a two-kilometer warm-up each morning?â
Yu Tangâs face stiffened. âTwo kilometers⦠for warming up?
Was there a misunderstanding about what constituted a warm-up?
âHow about you join me for military training at Great Xia University?â Yu Tang coughed slightly. âHaving someone with me might help me persevere.â Yu Xiheng suddenly tilted his head. âDo you want to go to school?â
Si Fuqing paused, not outright saying ânoâ.
After a moment of silence, her eyebrows raised slightly, she spoke leisurely, âBoss, you know I have a temper. If I go to school, Iâll just be a problem student, getting into fights now and then. Itâs hard to manage, and teachers donât like me.â
Yu Xihengâs response was light, âHmm, Iâll manage.â
Yu Tang, holding her cup, hummed, âThatâs true, Uncle Nine attended my high school parent-teacher meetings.â
Si Fuqing paused, unsure how to respond.
The idea of attending school felt distant to her.
Her previous schooling had been different, filled with fights.
Back then, when she was injured, her sister would help bandage her wounds.
Now, she had nothing left.
âAh, but Iâm poor at studying,â Si Fuqing said distractedly. âBoss, look at me, working double jobs and occasionally taking on temp work. I have no energy
for school.â
She had just finished her embroidery design today, planning to send it to Gu Huiyan later.
Yu Xiheng didnât press further, âAlright, let me know when you want to go to school. â
âI wonder how many from our Great Xia will make it into the top 500 in this yearâs International Joint Examination,â Yu Tang pondered, picking at a fishbone. âLast time, only 36 made it, sigh.â
âThe International Joint Examination is alright,â Si Fuqing rested her chin on her hand. âAlthough the questions change every year, the core remains the same, and itâs always the same few teachers, the same routine.â
Seeing Yu Tangâs expression stiffen again, she quickly added, âCough cough, thatâs just the perspective of a bad student.â
Feng San slowly emerged from his state of shock.
Indeed, the creation ofhumans was fair; aside from her terrible cooking skills, the door oflearning was firmly closed for Miss Si.
The next morning.
In MO City.
At the headquarters of the Heaven Earth Alliance.
Gu Huiyan leisurely entered his office and began checking his emails.
The first one was from Si Fuqing.
It contained an attached image.
Gu Huiyan only glanced at it briefly, his expression turning serious. He beckoned to a middle-aged man, âCome over and take a look.â
âThisâ¦â The middle-aged man approached and gasped upon seeing the drawing on the screen, âThis painting!â
âItâs a painting of the vast landscapes of our Great Xia,â Gu Huiyan spoke with unusual solemnity. âYes, just a painting. Look at this continuity. This is a rough sketch, unpolished, clearly drawn casually.â The middle-aged manâs face stiffened. âCasually?â
Could this really be considered casual?
Was there a misunderstanding about what âcasualâ meant?
âIs this Miss Siâs entry for the competition?â The man gasped. âThen itâs bound to outshine all others.â
No wonder Gu Huiyan insisted on recruiting Si Fuqing into the Heaven Earth Alliance.
Many had painted the vast landscapes of Xia, but few captured its essence.
Some lacked the common touch of the people, while others missed the smoke of war at the borders.
âItâs not a painting,â Gu Huiyanâs voice was deep. âItâs embroidery.â The man was even more shocked. âEmbroidery? This can be embroidered?!â
It would be a massive project, one even the Heaven Earth Alliance would struggle to complete in a short time.
âThree months,â Gu Huiyan mused. âIf she can paint it, she can embroider it.â The man was at a loss for words.
âTo showcase the might of our Great Xia!â Gu Huiyanâs eyes shone with a fierce light, reading the words at the bottom right corner of the painting. âGood, very good. It seems I owe her a favor now..â