Chapter Eighty-Eight: Admired from Afar, Not to Be Profaned

When everyone else had dispersed and rushed off to find their luggage, the girls from Gan Yanyan’s dormitory ran straight back to their room, having heard from the instructor that Luo Yixia was resting there.

As soon as Gan Yanyan saw Luo Yixia, her eyes turned red.

“What’s the matter?” Luo Yixia asked with a smile.

Everyone crowded around her.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, nothing missing or broken,” Luo Yixia replied lightheartedly.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let you go out alone. Xiaxia, do you know how worried I was?” Gan Yanyan, always prone to guilt, sounded remorseful.

“It’s all right, I’m back now, aren’t I?”

“I heard Song Chengyi was the one who found you, is that true?” Lin Ya asked, her tone full of gossip.

“Huh? No, he and the instructors found me together.” Luo Yixia hadn’t expected news of Song Chengyi’s search for her to have spread among them, but still, she couldn’t admit it.

“You have no idea how jealous we all are—how did you and Song Chengyi end up in the same group? All the handsome guys stick together, and that Yu Bin is pretty good-looking too. Unlike our group, full of oddballs.” Lin Ya sighed, her humor evident.

“Stop envying us and hurry up with your luggage. If everyone else finishes before us, we’ll be the only ones still chatting,” Gan Yanyan laughed.

“Yanyan, could you help bring back my suitcase? I remember it’s with yours,” Luo Yixia asked.

“Of course.” Gan Yanyan flashed an OK sign, then left with the other two.

Luo Yixia sat on her bed, waiting for their return.

Soon, more people moved into the dormitory. Most of them knew each other from their class, so when they saw Luo Yixia, they greeted her politely. She always smiled, assuring everyone she was fine.

When Gan Yanyan came back, she picked the bed closest to Luo Yixia. As she made her bed, she chatted, “You don’t know how miserable our meals were after Song Chengyi left. The guys had no idea what to do, I had to do everything.”

“You worked hard, then,” Luo Yixia reached out to hug her.

“Don’t fall in love with me,” Gan Yanyan flirted, fluttering her eyelashes.

“Shameless,” Luo Yixia teased.

The two playfully bickered.

Some girls from the neighboring dorm came over, surrounding them.

“I’m so envious you got to be in Song Chengyi’s group. We saw him cooking for you—guys who can cook are the most charming.”

Gan Yanyan smiled, “Is that so?”

Whenever Song Chengyi was mentioned, Luo Yixia habitually fell silent. The more she said, the more mistakes she’d make; silence was safest.

“Do you have Song Chengyi’s contact info? We’ve tried asking several times but never got anything.”

“We didn’t get it either. He’s our idol—admire from afar, never touch. Song Chengyi doesn’t even talk to us, why would he give us his contact details?” Gan Yanyan spoke without a hint of embarrassment.

Of course, getting his WeChat had been a hard-won achievement. She used to think Yu Bin had a good relationship with Song Chengyi and that’s why he managed to get Song Chengyi to share his contact with her and Xiaxia. Now she realized—it wasn’t really for her at all...

“So, you’ve spent a week together?” The girl still seemed skeptical.

“You can’t blame him for being aloof,” Gan Yanyan continued. If anyone wanted his contact, he wouldn’t give it. After all, Xiaxia’s man needed protecting, especially from a best friend.

The girls finally fell silent, a little embarrassed.

While they tidied up, Song Zeming began his rounds, purposefully coming to check on Luo Yixia.

As soon as he entered, several girls surrounded him. Instructor Song was as popular as Song Chengyi, but with a gentler temperament—not as icy as Song Chengyi. Everyone suspected the two were brothers; some bold girls had asked directly, but Song Zeming always just smiled without answering.

Song Zeming reminded them to make their beds properly, then walked straight to Luo Yixia.

In front of everyone, Luo Yixia called out, “Instructor Song.” It was a habitual gesture. She didn’t rush to stand, simply sat there.

Song Zeming crouched down, eye-level with her. “Is your leg injury serious?”

“It’s much better now, iced it and took anti-inflammatories. It’s already much improved.” Luo Yixia had only felt pain at the time; now it was bearable.

“What’s your plan? Stay for training or go home to rest?” Song Zeming asked, though he already knew the answer. His younger brother was still here—how could the girl possibly leave?

“I’m fine. I’ll be able to train tomorrow,” Luo Yixia answered quickly.

“Good. Take care, don’t push yourself. If you’re uncomfortable, say so,” Song Zeming said as he stood.

Luo Yixia nodded.

When he left, the girls immediately began gossiping.

“Instructor Song is so gentle.”

Luo Yixia said nothing, opening her phone to check for messages. She didn’t see anything from Song Chengyi; perhaps he was busy.

Gan Yanyan crouched beside Luo Yixia. “Xiaxia, let me see your leg.”

“It’s much better now,” Luo Yixia smiled, shaking her head.

Gan Yanyan ignored her, rolling up her pant leg to check herself.

“It’s still swollen, it must hurt. If it’s too much, just rest for a couple of days. Military training isn’t worth suffering through,” Gan Yanyan said with concern.

Luo Yixia quickly rolled her pant leg back down. “Really, I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Gan Yanyan wanted to ask more—how she was found, what had happened, everything since coming here—but she knew anything connected to Song Chengyi would be glossed over, and she wouldn’t get much out of her.

After everyone had finished tidying the dorm, it was time for dinner. Finally, no more cooking themselves; they were thrilled.

“Xiaxia, let me carry you to the cafeteria,” Gan Yanyan offered, seeing how difficult it was for Luo Yixia to walk.

“No need, I’ll go myself,” Luo Yixia said, standing up. Still, she leaned on Gan Yanyan as they walked.

Whenever she straightened her leg or put weight on it, it still hurt, but it was manageable.

The two walked slowly to the cafeteria, which was already crowded.

Gan Yanyan and Luo Yixia found an empty table.

“Wait here, I’ll get your food,” Gan Yanyan said, running off.

Luo Yixia noticed people passing by her were whispering, pointing her out. She didn’t need to guess—they were surely talking about her getting lost. It had caused quite a stir.

She stared at the table, trying not to pay attention.

Gan Yanyan, always petite and quick, managed to slip through the line, chatting sweetly with the people ahead. Before long, she was back with two dinners.

“How did you get back so fast?” Luo Yixia asked, surprised.

“Hehe, I was worried you’d be anxious. I knew some seniors ahead, so I asked for a favor,” Gan Yanyan grinned.

They hadn’t eaten for long when Yu Bin’s booming voice caught their attention.

Yu Bin, who had been chatting with Song Chengyi, spotted them.

“There they are! Come on, let’s eat over there.”

Luo Yixia saw Song Chengyi carrying his tray straight toward them. She felt anticipation, but also conflict. She didn’t want others to notice, but she wanted to be with Song Chengyi.

Yu Bin and Song Chengyi sat across from them.

“Sister Luo, are you okay? We were so scared last night,” Yu Bin asked.

“I’m fine, just a minor knee injury.”

“Good, that's a relief. I just asked Song Chengyi—he said he didn’t know. When we realized you hadn’t returned, he was the first to rush out, before anyone else reacted. But in the end, it was the instructors who found you. He didn’t help at all, too impulsive, right?” Yu Bin teased.

Song Chengyi ate quietly.

“No, no, I owe Song Senior a lot—everyone was worried last night,” Luo Yixia quickly denied. Without Song Chengyi, she might still be lost on the mountain.

She hadn’t expected Song Chengyi to distance himself so cleanly, even without consulting her. Yet everything he did was for her.

“I thought he was being a hero, rescuing the damsel in distress, but turns out he just made things harder! Hahaha!” Yu Bin laughed.

Gan Yanyan couldn’t stand it, glaring at him. “That’s better than some people just making snide remarks. You didn’t help either—how dare you criticize?”

“I was only joking,” Yu Bin protested.

“You can’t even cook. This morning and at lunch, I did everything. Otherwise, you’d have starved!” Gan Yanyan said proudly.

“We nearly died from your half-cooked rice,” Yu Bin muttered.

“Oh, come on, did you even eat?” Gan Yanyan nearly slammed the table.

“All right, all right, I’ll treat you to dinner when we’re back at school, okay?”

Gan Yanyan snorted, “That’s more like it.”

While they spoke, Chen Nan came over with his tray. “Sister Luo, are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Luo Yixia answered with a smile.

“We were so worried yesterday, glad you’re okay.” Chen Nan glanced around—finding no empty seats, he had to leave.

Gan Yanyan bit into a stalk of celery, then asked deliberately, “Xiaxia, is Chen Nan interested in you? He keeps looking for reasons to get close.”

“No way, don’t talk nonsense,” Luo Yixia hastily replied, casting a furtive glance at Song Chengyi, worried he’d misunderstand.

This was meant for Song Chengyi to hear.

Though Song Chengyi showed no reaction, he still heard every word. As a man, he’d sensed it early on. He didn’t take Chen Nan seriously, but watching him hover around Luo Yixia, trying to assert his presence, was tiresome.

He disliked anyone coveting what was his.