At this hour, the Mess Hall was full of officers and soldiers having breakfast.
As Qian Duoduo walked over, she could see from afar figures in uniform— some in dress uniforms, some in desert camouflage.
Most were men, but now and then a few fresh, dashing female faces stood out— splashes of red among a sea of green, a bright and lively sight.
Arriving at the side entrance of the Mess Hall, Qian Duoduo stopped and, while waiting, took out her phone and sent a WeChat message: [Commissar Xue, I’m already at the Mess Hall entrance.]
At the same time, the soldiers nearby also noticed Qian Duoduo’s sudden appearance.
The Military Camp was a place full of men, with hardly any female soldiers, so the sudden appearance of such a lively and pretty girl, even though she dressed plainly and low-key, was impossible not to notice.
“Hey.” A young soldier walking in step blushed and whispered to his companion, “Who’s that girl?”
The person beside him guessed, “No idea. Maybe someone’s family member…”
“Family?” The young soldier frowned. “She’s as pretty as a celebrity. Would someone like her go for one of us soldiers? Do you really think that’s possible?”
“What are you two guessing about?” someone in the know whispered, “I know who that is.”
“Who?”
“Didn’t Commissar Xue mention it before? A food blogger is coming to our camp for an event. That’s one of the bloggers!”
“Zhang Xiaohu, Lei Cheng, what are you two whispering about? Did you report before speaking?” The Class Leader scolded with a stern face. “Step out of line!”
The two new recruits called out turned stiff, stepped out of the ranks with stiff backs, hands pressed straight to their pant seams, standing ramrod straight.
“Twenty laps each.” The Class Leader said coldly.
“Yes, sir!” The two replied in unison, shouting their own slogans, “Double time, go!”
On this side, Qian Duoduo’s WeChat message sent successfully. Not long after, two figures approached side by side.
She looked over and saw one of them in a dress uniform, tall and slender, with refined features and rimless glasses— gentle and scholarly.
In contrast, the other man was much rounder, about 1.75 meters tall, with a plumper build.
But though he was chubby, his fair complexion and clean face made him look anything but greasy. He resembled a cuddly panda, quite likable.
The Nan City influencer circle wasn’t that big; many bloggers knew each other.
Qian Duoduo immediately recognized the panda-like young man as the other blogger staying with her at Shishui Camp— his account name was “Large Kuans Canteen”.
Like Qian Duoduo, Da Kuan was a well-known food blogger. His videos were similar to “Midnight Canteen”— each one combined food tasting with a short story, showcasing ordinary people’s lives, with professional filming and high-quality plots. Netizens praised him as “a film director delayed by cooking”.
The bloggers chosen for this military support event all had strong political awareness.
Qian Duoduo had met Da Kuan once at an offline event before. In just a few minutes, he had left a good impression: modest, humorous, and approachable.
As she was thinking, the two men noticed her.
“Hello, Teacher Qian.” Xue Wei smiled warmly and reached out to shake Qian Duoduo’s hand. “I’m Xue Wei, the commissar who’s been in touch with you online. After so long as online friends, we finally meet.”
Qian Duoduo had been a bit nervous, but Xue Wei’s humor made her laugh, and she relaxed.
“Actually, our leader was supposed to come too, but was called into a meeting last minute, so I was asked to take you to breakfast instead.” Xue Wei sighed, shaking his head helplessly. “Hope you don’t mind, the leaders really are busy.”
“Hello, Commissar Xue.” Qian Duoduo smiled. “Sorry for all the trouble we’ve caused you and your unit. Thank you for all your help.”
“Not at all.” Xue Wei said. “When everyone heard that food bloggers were coming to improve our meals, the whole camp was thrilled! We should be thanking you!”
After the greetings, Xue Wei remembered something and slapped his forehead. “Look at me, standing here so long and forgot to introduce you. Teacher Qian, this is Teacher Da Kuan…”
“Commissar Xue, no need to introduce us, we know each other.” Da Kuan waved his hand, grinning at Qian Duoduo. “Teacher Qian, last time we met was last year— do I look fatter to you?”
“Not at all.” Qian Duoduo sized him up seriously. “I think you look even slimmer, glowing with health, and more handsome than ever.”
“Really? Then my weight loss wasn’t in vain, haha.”
The three of them chatted and laughed as they entered the Mess Hall, the atmosphere light and easy.
People came and went inside, steam billowed from the steamers, and the sweet scent of brown sugar buns filled the air.
Around them were hushed conversations, the sound of military boots and leather shoes on the tiles, and the clatter of chopsticks on stainless steel trays.
The line for food was long. Xue Wei led Qian Duoduo and Da Kuan to the end and handed each of them a card.
“Teacher Qian, Teacher Da Kuan, these are your Dining Cards.” Xue Wei said. “For the next month, you can use them to eat at the Mess Hall. The balance is loaded and should be enough. If it’s not, just let me know.”
“Okay.” “Alright.”
The line moved quickly, and soon it was Qian Duoduo’s turn.
She copied those ahead, took a clean tray, and picked out the pastries and dishes she wanted, placing them on her tray.
Soon, all three had their food and found a seat.
Qian Duoduo wasn’t very hungry, so she only took some vegetable porridge and a small dish of pickles.
Her tray looked empty compared to Da Kuan’s, which had buns, steamed bread, and a big bowl of noodle soup.
Xue Wei frowned slightly and asked, “Teacher Qian, is our food not to your taste? Sorry, the Military Camp menu is fixed, so we really…”
“No, no.” Qian Duoduo quickly waved her hands, explaining, “Your food is great, I just can’t eat much for breakfast.”
“I see…” Xue Wei nodded.
The three ate their meals.
Halfway through, Xue Wei recalled something from yesterday, grew curious, and couldn’t help asking, “Teacher Qian, you said a kind person brought you into the camp yesterday afternoon and even took you to your dorm… Did you ever find out their name?”
At that, Qian Duoduo accidentally choked on her vegetable porridge. She coughed, her fair cheeks flushing red.
“Quick, get a napkin.” Xue Wei reached for the napkins on the table, but the box was empty. He turned to Da Kuan.
Da Kuan put on an awkward face and chuckled, “Commissar Xue, don’t look at me, I’m a guy— I don’t carry tissues…”
Just as Qian Duoduo was coughing so hard her eyes watered, a tissue suddenly appeared in front of her.
Clean and white, held between the slender, well-defined fingers of a large hand.
That hand was long and strong, each nail neatly trimmed, with a faint scar from a motorcycle mirror on the back— already scabbed and healed, the new skin pale, like a cold mountain stream.
“……” Qian Duoduo stared, her red face lifting instinctively.
Lu Qiming had appeared beside her without her noticing.
He stood straight as ever, but his posture was casual, looking down at her, holding out the tissue, his face calm beneath his cap.
She couldn’t speak a word.
Qian Duoduo, still uncomfortable from coughing, stared at him for a second, then quickly took the tissue and covered her mouth and nose.
She finally recovered.
She carefully cleaned herself up, her nose red, and managed a muffled, “Thank you.”
“Team Leader Lu?” Xue Wei snapped back to his senses and greeted him with a smile. “What brings you here?”
“That person was me,” Lu Qiming said.
Xue Wei: “……”
Now it was Xue Wei’s turn to look confused. After half a second, he gave an awkward laugh, looking bewildered, “Team Leader Lu, I’ve been so busy with this event, my brain’s not working. Please don’t be cryptic. What do you mean it was you?”
“Weren’t you just asking Teacher Qian who brought her into the camp and to her dorm yesterday?” Lu Qiming’s tone was calm and steady. “It was me.”
Hearing this, Xue Wei’s lips parted in surprise and his eyes went wide.
Meanwhile, Da Kuan kept slurping his noodles, looking left and right, his confused expression like a badger searching for melons in a melon field but finding none.
Lu Qiming, seeing Xue Wei had nothing to say, glanced at the table.
There were four seats, three occupied— one empty.
Lu Qiming bent down and sat beside Qian Duoduo, raising his eyes to look at Xue Wei with his usual calm expression.
“If Commissar Xue has any questions, just ask me directly,” he said as usual. “Teacher Qian is having breakfast, let’s not disturb her.”
With that, the surroundings fell silent for two seconds.
The Mess Hall was such a place that any little thing would draw everyone’s attention.
In just a few seconds, Lu Qiming and Qian Duoduo’s table became the focus of the whole Mess Hall.
Among all the onlookers, none were more shocked than Song Qingfeng not far away.
Ten minutes earlier, Lu Qiming had planned to grab a bun and eat in the office, but Song Qingfeng had pestered him into staying for breakfast.
The guys ate fast, finishing in minutes.
Song Qingfeng wolfed down a bowl of noodles, dropped his tray into the return bin, and was ready to head back with Lu Qiming.
But then, his dear captain suddenly raised his eyebrows at the Mess Hall entrance, seemed to spot something, and just froze. He neither left nor spoke, just stared at one spot.
Now it was even crazier. He’d actually gone and sat down next to the blogger girl?
What’s going on, bro?
Are you possessed or just making it obvious to everyone you’re after the girl? Not even pretending?
Song Qingfeng was completely confused.
Meanwhile, seeing Lu Qiming sit boldly across from him, Xue Wei was no less stunned.
He was silent for three seconds, then took a bite of his brown sugar bun to cover his awkwardness. “I was just asking casually, nothing else. After all, it’s our job to take care of these things… Anyway, thank you, Team Leader Lu, for helping settle Teacher Qian in.”
“You’re welcome.”
Seeing Xue Wei had nothing more to ask, Lu Qiming sat for a while, then stood up to leave.
He’d just moved half a step when he seemed to remember something, turned back, his dark gaze falling on Qian Duoduo. “Teacher Qian.”
Suddenly being called, Qian Duoduo straightened up in surprise. “Yes?”
“Come with me for a moment.”
“…Oh, okay.”
Qian Duoduo was confused, not knowing why Lu Qiming suddenly called her, but she could only follow.
As the main characters left, the onlookers in the Mess Hall dispersed, and with work time approaching, the place quickly emptied out.
Qian Duoduo walked out the main entrance. She saw Lu Qiming standing tall in uniform at the side door steps, his eyes calmly fixed on her.
For no reason, her heart skipped a beat.
“What is it, Team Leader Lu?” Qian Duoduo quietly exhaled and smiled at him.
“This is for you.” Lu Qiming took something from his pocket and handed it to her.
Qian Duoduo took it, blinking in surprise— it was a…
A round, warm, boiled egg?
“You just said you’d buy bread at the supermarket for breakfast, so I got you this,” Lu Qiming said. “Bread is low in nutrients. An egg will give you some protein.”
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