Chapter 82: The Two of Them Are Brothers

In the early morning, the woods were damp, and Song Chengyi woke earlier than usual. After all, he had a team to feed—six mouths waiting for him. The others stirred soon after.

Luo Yixia awoke in a daze, puzzled to find herself inside the tent. Hadn’t she been on night watch outside with Song Chengyi? Gan Yanyan had just changed her clothes. “You’re awake? Go wash up quickly, breakfast will be ready soon.”

“Alright.” Luo Yixia felt a pang of guilt. She wanted to ask how she’d gotten back, but seeing Gan Yanyan behaving normally, she decided not to bring it up.

After changing, she gathered her things to wash up. Outside, she saw Song Chengyi tending the fire. He glanced at her. Luo Yixia opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it and hurried to the river. She’d ask later, when there weren’t so many people around.

Once she was done, everyone had risen. Most of them still looked as if they hadn’t washed their faces—a rather sorry sight.

Luo Yixia made her way to Song Chengyi and casually asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”

“Go wash these bowls,” Song Chengyi said, nodding toward the dishes set aside.

Luo Yixia immediately trotted off to clean them.

Gan Yanyan stood behind Song Chengyi, drawling, “Tsk, tsk. Usually I ask her to take out the trash and she resents it.”

Song Chengyi watched Luo Yixia crouch at the riverside, a smile tugging at his lips.

“She’s definitely going to ask you how she got back last night. The way she looked at me this morning was so odd—I almost couldn’t help but laugh at her,” Gan Yanyan said, grinning.

Song Chengyi didn’t reply; he knew well enough what to do. As for confiding in Gan Yanyan, having a confidant nearby had its benefits.

When Luo Yixia returned with the bowls, Gan Yanyan stepped aside.

“All done,” Luo Yixia said softly, placing the bowls on a shirt spread across the ground—Yubin’s, which he’d donated the previous day.

They all sat together, gnawing at the steamed buns issued by the school and sipping millet porridge. It was, truthfully, quite satisfying.

“You two didn’t really stay up all night on watch, did you? I didn’t even notice when Chengyi came back last night,” Yubin said with concern.

“I watched the first half, then Gan Yanyan took over,” Song Chengyi replied.

Gan Yanyan chimed in, “Yeah, I set an alarm on purpose last night. I was on duty until five. Look at these dark circles under my eyes.”

Indeed, the shadows were heavy—she hadn’t slept well. In truth, after learning about Song Chengyi and Luo Yixia’s situation, Gan Yanyan had been so excited she stayed awake the entire second half of the night, growing more energetic as time passed.

“Tonight it’s my turn with Afeng. Are you on for the first half or the second?” Yubin asked the boy beside him.

“I’m good with either.”

“Then I’ll take the first half. I’m afraid I won’t wake up for the second,” Yubin sighed.

“Alright.”

Tomorrow it would be Luo Yixia and Chen Nan’s turn.

Chen Nan said to Luo Yixia, “The day after tomorrow, you take the first half. The second half is colder, girls aren’t as strong.”

“What’s with girls? I’m a girl, and I watched the second half just fine,” Gan Yanyan retorted immediately. Since she was rooting for Song Chengyi and Luo Yixia, she couldn’t let Chen Nan get close to Luo Yixia.

“Ah, that’s not what I meant…” Chen Nan hadn’t expected Gan Yanyan to react so strongly to his casual remark.

“It’s fine, I can take any shift,” Luo Yixia said with a smile, smoothing over the atmosphere.

After that, everyone focused on breakfast.

At eight, they assembled on time.

Song Zeming looked at the two classes he led. After a day, their enthusiasm had waned.

“Today the main goal is to run around the area, get familiar with the environment. Later, I’ll teach you some first aid basics, but since you’re all medical students, that shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll also cover identifying pyramid schemes and practice for long-distance marches.”

At the mention of the march, everyone groaned.

“First, line up in your teams and regroup. We’ll head out soon.”

Everyone began to arrange themselves in formation.

Luo Yixia and Gan Yanyan stood together, with Song Chengyi and an unfamiliar boy behind them.

“Xiaxia, did you bring water? You’ll be thirsty later,” Gan Yanyan whispered.

“I did,” Luo Yixia replied, patting the canteen at her waist.

Their group was near the front.

Running with a crowd behind them, none dared slack off, fearing they’d be trampled.

Song Zeming started at the front, then moved back and forth along the line, checking on the students.

Gan Yanyan, running alongside, couldn’t help but praise Song Zeming, “The other class instructors are all so fierce, but ours is so nice—and handsome too. You have no idea, when I was on watch last night, Instructor Song reminded me not to catch a cold.”

“Mhm,” Luo Yixia nodded. Of all the people here, aside from Song Chengyi, she probably understood Song Zeming best.

After jogging for a while, everyone was worn out, so they rested by the roadside.

Under the blazing sun, Luo Yixia and Gan Yanyan sought shade beneath a tree.

Luo Yixia drank deeply from her water bottle.

“Yanyan, this water’s warmed up in the sun,” she complained after a sip.

“Mine too. I wish I had an ice-cold soda,” Gan Yanyan sighed.

“Me too.”

“It looks like there’s signal here. I brought my phone—I’ll call my mom. Haven’t contacted her since school started,” Gan Yanyan said, swiping her finger across the screen.

“Alright.” Luo Yixia pulled out her own phone, realizing she hadn’t called home either.

But seeing the two mothers’ numbers side by side, she hesitated, unsure whom to call.

The signal was much better now, and she could finally read messages on WeChat.

Her own mother, Ms. Yu Wenjing, rarely showed concern, but every message seemed to revolve around Song Chengyi.

Luo Yixia texted her mother first: “I’m in military training outdoors, signal’s bad. Just got out today, finally have reception.”

“Song Chengyi and I are both fine, don’t worry.”

Then she quickly opened Zhou Yun’s messages. Zhou Yun really felt like a mother—her messages were all about whether Luo Yixia was eating and sleeping well.

“Mom, we’re training outdoors, not much signal here. I’ll call you when we return to base in a few days.”

Unexpectedly, both mothers replied immediately.

Luo Yixia sighed at the mounting unread messages, then responded to each one in turn.

[Zhou Yun: Xiaxia, I heard from Zeming you and Chengyi are doing military training together?]

Luo Yixia saw the message and realized Zeming had told them. She replied briefly, then excused herself, saying she had something to do, and closed her phone.

She’d explain everything to them later, once she was back.

As Luo Yixia powered down her phone, Zhou Yun immediately messaged her son. When he didn’t reply, she tried calling. In the end, she dialed Song Zeming’s number.

The sudden ring startled Song Zeming as he rested under the tree. He checked the caller ID, stepped aside, and answered.

“Hello? Mom.”

“Is Chengyi with you? Why doesn’t he answer my calls? Is Xiaxia there too?”

Song Zeming glanced toward the two resting beneath the tree.

“Mom, they just finished running and are resting.”

“I see. Call Chengyi over. He hasn’t messaged me in days—Xiaxia’s better at keeping in touch.”

Unable to refuse, Song Zeming called out, “Song Chengyi.”

Everyone turned to look.

Song Chengyi frowned, seeing Song Zeming staring at him with the phone in hand, and understood the reason. He walked over.

Song Zeming handed him the phone. “Mom.”

Song Chengyi took the call, turning his back to the crowd.

“Mom.”

“So you remember I’m your mother? Days have passed and you haven’t messaged me. You don’t reply, you don’t answer calls.”

“I’m out here, no signal, didn’t bring my phone today.”

“Fine, fine, always excuses. How’s Xiaxia? Are you getting along?”

“Didn’t my brother already tell you?” Song Chengyi replied, not answering directly.

“Take good care of Xiaxia, alright? She’s a girl—look after her out there,” Zhou Yun urged earnestly.

“Mhm.”

Everyone watched Song Chengyi on the phone.

“What’s going on? Why did Instructor Song call Chengyi over to take the call? And I heard Chengyi call out ‘Mom’—Instructor Song did too,” Gan Yanyan asked Luo Yixia.

“N-not sure,” Luo Yixia dodged Gan Yanyan’s gaze.

Gan Yanyan understood immediately.

“Could they be brothers? Both surnamed Song,” she mused. Her words sparked speculation all around.

After the call, Song Chengyi handed the phone back to Song Zeming. “Don’t make me answer next time.”

Song Zeming raised an eyebrow and smiled.

When Song Chengyi returned to his spot, everyone crowded around with questions, but he simply drank his water, ignoring them.

His attitude led most to believe that the previous PK between him and Instructor Song had caused a falling-out, but it was now clear that Song Chengyi and Song Zeming were brothers.

After resting, they started back, needing to prepare lunch.

Back in the woods, it was much cooler.

Several of them washed their faces by the river, the cool water refreshing.

“I’ll go with Xiaxia to collect ingredients and start cooking,” Gan Yanyan said, dragging Luo Yixia to queue for supplies.

Once they returned with food, Song Chengyi helped with the washing, and Gan Yanyan quietly stepped aside.

Yubin watched Gan Yanyan, who was enjoying the show. “Why aren’t you helping?”

“Tsk, you don’t get it,” Gan Yanyan replied, eyes fixed on the pair washing vegetables by the river.

“Excuses for laziness? If you won’t help, I will. We can’t just let Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi do all the work while we sit around,” Yubin protested, ready to step forward.

Gan Yanyan stopped him. “Can’t you read the room? They’re so harmonious together. Why would we interrupt now?”