His gaze accidentally met Qian Xixi’s, and Song Qingfeng quickly curved his lips into the friendliest, most harmless smile imaginable, waving his hand playfully, “Hello, Teacher Qian. I’m Song Qingfeng.”
Qian Xixi responded politely, “Hello.”
After greeting the blogger teacher, Song Qingfeng’s gaze returned to Lu Qiming.
“Team Leader Lu, look at this mess my hair’s gotten into.” He removed his cap and ruffled his black short hair casually. “It definitely needs cutting today.”
Lu Qiming glanced at him. “Go find someone else.”
“No way, Brother Lu. You’re the only one in the whole squad I trust with my hair!” Song Qingfeng pleaded. “Last time I had Wang Siqi cut it, and it looked like a ghost. My wife teased me for two whole weeks— I nearly died! Nobody else better touch a single strand of my hair but you!”
“You’re not on duty this week,” Lu Qiming said flatly. “I suggest you get a membership card somewhere and seek professional help.”
“Haircuts are expensive now. Even a quick snip costs one or two hundred,” Song Qingfeng said. “I’m not going to be a sucker.”
Lu Qiming’s face remained impassive. He had a full afternoon of physical labor ahead— cutting that guy’s hair wasn’t worth sacrificing his nap time.
Just then, a soft, sweet voice sounded from nearby, tinged with curiosity and surprise: “Team Leader Lu, you can cut hair too?”
Suddenly, the room fell silent.
Lu Qiming’s eyes narrowed briefly. Song Qingfeng was also momentarily taken aback.
Both men turned their gaze toward the source of the voice.
Several figures in uniform moved about nearby, and a young woman in light-colored clothes stood there, her beautiful, clear eyes wide with curiosity, her pupils shining black.
Seeing this, Song Qingfeng’s eyes darted quickly before he came up with an idea.
“Of course! There aren’t many things our Team Leader Lu can’t do in this world,” he said seriously, exaggerating for effect as he looked at Qian Xixi. “Teacher Qian, let me tell you, our Lu Qiming is an all-rounder—he’s as good on the battlefield as he is in the kitchen. He can kill a target a thousand meters away with his bare hands, lead the Basketball Team, and when he picks up scissors, he’s the best Tony in the entire army.”
Qian Xixi: “…”
His last sentence didn’t rhyme, but that wasn’t important.
After hearing Song Qingfeng’s words, Qian Xixi was silent for a moment before nodding cooperatively. “Hmm, impressive.”
Song Qingfeng beamed with a radiant smile and added, “Teacher Qian, there’s a long road ahead. You’ll keep discovering even more shining qualities in Comrade Lu Qiming.”
“It’s not just the team leader,” Qian Xixi said earnestly. “I’ve noticed that everyone in your unit is nice and interesting.”
Hearing this, Song Qingfeng casually brushed his hair back. “Ah, you’re speaking the truth. You’re making me feel a bit embarrassed.”
Just as he finished speaking, a shadow flickered before them.
Qian Xixi and Song Qingfeng looked up simultaneously, seeing Lu Qiming already standing. Tall and poised, he held the empty tray he’d just finished eating from.
“Finished eating?” he asked softly, looking at Qian Xixi.
She nodded instinctively. “Yes, all done.”
Lu Qiming said nothing more, lifting her empty tray as well. With a long stride, he headed straight for the exit.
Qian Xixi was a little surprised, her ears burning. She hurried to catch up.
To avoid drawing attention, she lowered her voice, awkwardly saying beside him, “Team Leader Lu, I can put the trays away myself…”
Stopping in front of the tray drop-off area, Lu Qiming looked at the girl and gently said, “There’s some grease on the floor. Watch your step—be careful not to slip.”
Qian Xixi looked down and saw a patch of oily grime near her feet, likely spilled by someone carelessly.
She stepped aside a few paces.
Worried others might slip, she scanned the area and found a mop leaning against the door. Just as she reached to pick it up, a long, strong hand took it first.
Lu Qiming bent down, moving with practiced efficiency. Before Qian Xixi could react, the patch of grease vanished.
She stared wide-eyed, whispering, “What are you doing?”
“Cleaning the floor.”
“I was going to do it…”
“You’re a girl. Doing rough work isn’t suitable.”
Qian Xixi frowned slightly and muttered, “I’m part of the Cooking Squad now. If I see something dirty, I can handle it.”
“Who says cleaning is only for the Cooking Squad?” Lu Qiming said evenly. “I’m just doing my part.”
Qian Xixi had nothing to say, falling silent.
Just then, Song Qingfeng returned after dropping off his tray, catching sight of Lu Qiming putting the mop away.
He raised an eyebrow and nudged Lu Qiming with his elbow, lowering his voice: “Team Leader Lu, I’m loyal, right? See? I just helped spread word about your new skill. I suggest you start by cutting my hair now and solidify your image as the ultimate all-rounder.”
“Two minutes.”
“What does that mean?”
“Take your tools and come to the barber room.”
Lu Qiming casually twisted his neck, tone indifferent. “Sniper Squad Three’s assessment starts at two. I still want to take a nap.”
“Got it!” Song Qingfeng dashed out of the Mess Hall, heading to the Dormitory Building for his tools.
Qian Xixi stood still, watching Song Qingfeng’s excited back.
After a moment, she turned back to the cold, stern man beside her, thinking for two seconds before blinking, “Team Leader Lu, do you usually not go to outside barbershops to get your hair cut?”
“Depends,” Lu Qiming replied. “When I have free time, I go.”
Qian Xixi asked again, “So your haircutting skills are really good?”
“Not bad.” Lu Qiming paused briefly, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Why?”
The girl hesitated slightly, then smiled shyly, testing the waters. “My bangs have grown a bit long. I was thinking of going to a barbershop next weekend… But if it’s convenient, after you help Song Qingfeng, could you trim mine too?”
*
A few minutes later.
Qian Xixi arrived at the Self-service Barber Room. Song Qingfeng had already left after his haircut, and Lu Qiming was nowhere to be seen.
She looked around. The small room, about ten square meters, had two barber chairs.
Besides two floor-to-ceiling mirrors, there were scissors, a clipper, two fine-toothed combs, and a black hairdryer on the table.
Small but well-equipped—just as it should be.
While curiously observing, footsteps sounded from the inner room.
Qian Xixi turned.
Lu Qiming appeared, sleeves rolled up to his biceps. He held a comb and a pair of scissors, his eyes lowered as he wiped water droplets off the tools with a tissue.
She craned her neck to look inside. “Is there a washing area in there?”
“No, just a rinsing spot,” Lu Qiming answered casually as he strode to stand between the two barber chairs, looking at her. “Teacher Qian, pick a seat.”
The two chairs were the same.
Qian Xixi glanced left and right and chose the black leather chair closer to the inner side, sitting down.
The scissors slid lightly over the sharpening stone.
Lu Qiming stood beside her. She sat while he stood, his elevated angle just right to see the sunlight slanting through the window, brushing over her thick eyelashes and the fine soft fuzz on her upturned nose.
Lu Qiming cleared his throat, speaking in a usual tone: “Just trimming your bangs?”
“Yeah.” Qian Xixi nodded nervously, meeting his gaze. She used her pinky finger to indicate a very small distance. “Just a little shorter, just a tiny bit.”
His smile twitched at her cute gesture. “Don’t worry. My hands are steady. I usually don’t ruin people’s looks.”
Caught, Qian Xixi blushed and lowered her head without replying.
After a moment, Lu Qiming unfolded the barber cape, soft and smooth black fabric that wrapped the girl’s entire body.
The fastening at the back was adhesive.
His eyelids lowered as he gathered her thick curls behind her head, gently sweeping them to the side.
The delicate skin at the nape of her neck came into view—fresh, smooth as silk, with a faint crimson mole, like a bright tassel fallen on pure white snow.
Lu Qiming’s gaze lingered on the little mole. As he withdrew his fingers, a subtle tremor ran through his fingertips.
Almost imperceptibly, intentionally or not, he brushed that porcelain-like, snow-white skin.
Below.
Qian Xixi lowered her head, unguarded. The man’s long fingers grazed her neck, the rough texture contrasting sharply with her smooth, soft skin. She shivered involuntarily.
“Did I hurt you?” Lu Qiming frowned, noticing her reaction.
“No.” Qian Xixi shook her head, took a deep breath, and forced herself calm.
Her cheeks flushed, body warming. The spot where he touched her neck tingled, like countless tiny insects crawling on fire.
Her small hands, exposed beyond the cape, unconsciously clenched, twisting the fabric into a crumpled ball.
Just then, a calm voice came from above, “Lift your head.”
Qian Xixi tensed, hesitating before raising her eyelashes slightly, her fingers curling tighter, afraid to breathe.
The cold, stern face beneath the military cap was barely an inch away.
He stared at her, eyes focused and unblinking.
Qian Xixi bit her lip gently, a strange tightness gripping her heart.
So close…
“Don’t move.”
With that, Lu Qiming raised his thumb, pressing lightly on her brow. The copper button on his sleeve brushed gently against her cheek.
The scissors snapped crisply, again and again, as slender, black strands of hair fell one by one.
Time flowed quietly in the sunlight.
The barber room was silent, no one spoke.
Suddenly, a few stray hairs veered off and landed on the gold-threaded qualification badge on the man’s chest, the dark strands wrapping gently around the edge.
Qian Xixi noticed and blinked unconsciously.
The distance was so close that her soft eyelashes brushed against the hardened calluses on Lu Qiming’s right hand, formed from years of gripping a rifle.
A sharp tickle swept through her body in an instant.
Lu Qiming’s eyes darkened. His fingers curled slightly, the sharp metal blades of the scissors hovering at the girl’s earlobe.
Qian Xixi didn’t know what was happening. After a few seconds passed with no further movement, she looked up at him.
“What’s wrong, Team Leader Lu?” she asked, confused. “Did I get my haircut wrong?”
Lu Qiming’s thin lips pressed into a firm line. He lowered his gaze, silent.
A breeze suddenly stirred.
The camouflage curtain at the door lifted, reflecting the gleaming scissors and his tense jawline. He seemed to be struggling to suppress something, to restrain himself.
To the point where his body hurt.
Lu Qiming stared intently at the small, fair face beneath her black hair. So close, he could smell the faint sweetness of fruit wine on her.
Warm, sweet, and intoxicating in a way he couldn’t resist.
So tempting.
Could he touch more? Beyond the brow and hair ends, what else?
Lu Qiming silently asked himself.
Quietly, without a sound, he crossed a boundary once again.