Compared to the elaborate, exotic feast prepared by Da Kuan’s group at lunch, the simple home-style dishes seemed more popular with the soldiers—easy to make, delicious, and nostalgic.
In the end, Qian Duoduo’s team narrowly won by a single point.
As the highlight of the Military-Civilian Exchange Activity, the entire competition was recorded by publicity officers from the Municipal Committee and Military Committee— some took photos, others filmed, and reporters from the News Station interviewed the soldiers about the taste of the dishes and their impressions of the event.
Without a doubt, all the feedback was sincere and positive.
The Commander was very pleased with the results of the first competition, praising all the cooks publicly and personally finding Qian Duoduo and Da Kuan to acknowledge their hard work.
Afterward, the publicity officers gathered all the soldiers for a group photo.
The Commander stood in the center, with Qian Duoduo and Da Kuan on either side, along with many cooks who rarely appeared in the public eye but silently worked hard behind the scenes.
After the photo, the publicity team packed up to edit the materials.
Commander Xiao had to get back to work and took several key members to the command headquarters for a meeting.
As the crowd dispersed, Qian Duoduo turned to her team with a smile and said, “Congratulations on a great start!”
“It’s all thanks to Teacher Qian leading us so well!”
“I’ve been a soldier so long, it’s my first time appearing in front of so many people… When we took the group photo, the Commander was standing right next to me. Oh my, my little heart was pounding so hard I thought it might jump out!”
“Wang Fei, the Commander’s right there, what are you nervous about? Are you a thief afraid of being caught?”
“Get lost.”
The soldiers laughed heartily, their cheerful voices echoing like thunder, frightening some birds away from the training field.
Qian Duoduo caught the infectious atmosphere, her eyes shining with laughter.
Suddenly, Squad Leader Cui leaned in and whispered, “Teacher Qian, what dishes are we making next week? Let’s aim to wipe out the other team in one go!”
Soldiers were naturally competitive, and Qian Duoduo laughed at Cui Yurong’s words, letting out a soft chuckle. “We just finished the first round. Let’s all rest well this weekend and discuss the next competition on Monday.”
“Got it.”
After joking around for a bit, Qian Duoduo offered to treat all the cooks to snacks and drinks out of her own pocket.
Squad Leader Cui refused repeatedly but eventually had to yield to her persistence and went with her to the supermarket to pick out treats.
Thus ended the first week of the Military-Civilian Exchange Activity in the camp.
Walking back to the dormitory alone, Qian Duoduo strolled under the evening breeze and moonlight, suddenly pulling out her phone from her pocket.
Opening WeChat, she found a pure black night-sky avatar.
Qian Duoduo: [Is Team Leader Lu busy?]
Qian Duoduo: [Our group won the first cooking competition. Everyone is very happy.]
But the two messages disappeared into the void. Even after Qian Duoduo returned to her dorm and went to sleep, there was no reply.
–
Just past midnight, at the Zero Degree Bar in the city center.
Dim lighting and a sultry atmosphere.
Under the dark red lights, worn Martin boots lightly tapped the stage to the rhythm, a faded wooden guitar resting on a man’s lap.
His face was bowed low, his hand pressing trembling strings, the lingering notes shattering amid the clinking of cocktail ice.
In the booth closest to the stage, Zhao Jingxi lifted her glass and took a slow sip, her gaze fixed on the man onstage, unwilling to look away even for a moment.
The spotlight swept over him a third time.
The man closed his eyes slightly under the light; sweat-damp silver hair clung to the ends of his broken eyebrows, and a tear mole near his eye flickered like a distant, mysterious star.
“This next song is another original of mine, called ‘Fengge,’” the man said hoarsely into the microphone, a subtle electric current flowing through his unique smoky voice, sensually captivating. “It’s dedicated to Miss Z, who is sitting right here in the audience.”
As soon as he finished, the crowd erupted into whistles and cheers.
Zhao Jingxi lazily raised an eyebrow.
The man’s gaze landed on her, locking eyes before his thin lips parted, softly beginning to sing:
“I once raised a lost carrier pigeon,
She drifted like clouds scattered by the wind,
Quietly descending into my world…”
Zhao Jingxi adjusted her posture, crossing her slender legs wrapped in jeans— both alluring and stunning— drawing frequent glances from those nearby.
Minutes later, as the last overtone faded, the stage lights went out entirely, and the man vanished into the darkness like a ghost.
Applause thundered from the audience, crashing like a spring storm.
The scene shifted as a scantily clad female DJ took over the stage.
In the dimly lit bar, Zhao Jingxi blinked and found the man’s silhouette gone.
She turned her head to scan the room, but the next moment her chin was grasped by a cold, pale, slender hand, and a kiss mixed with whiskey and tobacco assaulted her.
The kiss was fierce, almost overwhelming Zhao Jingxi, pressing her into the soft black sofa.
Just a few meters away in another booth, Chen Yu took a drag on his cigarette, squinting at the entwined shadows of the couple. He flicked his ash and exhaled smoke, lost in thought.
Around them, glasses clinked and mingled with laughter.
This night of indulgence and chaos was just beginning.
After a while, Chen Yu summoned an underling and whispered instructions into his ear.
The man’s face changed slightly, brow furrowed as he hesitated. “Boss Chen, everything else can be managed, but I haven’t contacted Zhao Jingxi. That girl is straightforward, loyal, and fiery—she definitely won’t help us.”
“You’re stupid,” Chen Yu slapped him on the head and muttered, “She comes here every night supporting her boyfriend. You should be focusing on this place instead.”
–
Sunday came quickly.
Early in the morning, Qian Duoduo asked Officer Xue for half a day off to visit her grandfather, who was still in the hospital.
After lunch, she returned home and planned to take a nap, but perhaps due to lack of rest lately, she woke up to twilight already closing in.
Married officers were generally allowed to go home on weekends unless there was overtime or special duty.
Streetlights cast soft yellow halos, and the Military Compound was exceptionally quiet, with only a few faint dog barks.
Still groggy, Qian Duoduo rubbed her sleepy eyes and checked her phone— it was already nine in the evening.
Seeing the digital time “21:09,” she suddenly froze.
Before he left, Lu Qiming had said that if nothing went wrong, he would return to Nan City by the weekend.
It was already Sunday night past nine. Had he come back?
Qian Duoduo pursed her lips, her thoughts racing. She quickly put on her shoes, socks, and jacket, then rushed out to the door of Room 408 next door.
She crouched and peered through the door gap. It was pitch black inside, no different from a few days ago.
No lights, no one.
“…” Realizing the occupant was still away, a wave of disappointment rose in her chest.
After a moment, she steadied herself, turned, and headed downstairs to buy some spicy snacks at the military camp store.
The yard was planted with camellias and wintersweet. In November, the wintersweet hadn’t bloomed yet, only the subtle fragrance of camellias filled the air.
Bundled tightly in her padded jacket, Qian Duoduo walked along the path, passing two young soldiers just finishing their run, dressed in spring and autumn training uniforms— thin clothes but sweat-drenched heads and faces.
Seeing these two strong young men, she shrank her neck and wrapped her wool scarf an extra two times.
At that moment, she vaguely remembered how long ago a certain team leader soldier had also worn the same outfit in the cold winter wind, personally escorting her to a meeting at the canteen…
Soldiers truly had powerful physiques.
Lost in thought, she was suddenly drawn by the rumbling roar of a heavy-duty military truck from afar.
She turned instinctively.
A military truck had driven into the compound at some unknown time. The driver made a U-turn in the open space and braked.
The truck stopped, the cargo doors opened, and several tall figures in training uniforms climbed down one by one, their faces unfamiliar— some stern, some sunny and handsome.
Qian Duoduo held her breath, her heart pounding faster.
For no reason, she felt a sudden sense of anticipation.
Finally, the last figure leapt down from the truck bed.
The shoulder insignia on his training uniform sliced the streetlight’s glow, creating an interplay of light and shadow.
His sculpted features came into Qian Duoduo’s sight.
Lu Qiming’s face showed no expression as he spoke with his teammates. Then, as if sensing something, he turned his face, and their gazes met.
Their eyes locked suddenly, awkward yet natural.
Qian Duoduo’s fingers clenched unconsciously at her sides. Her legs felt heavy as if filled with lead, unable to move even a step, letting the truck’s departing roar mask her racing heart.
Within sight, Lu Qiming greeted his comrades and then strode toward her.
As he neared, seeming impatient, he even broke into a few running steps.
Finally, he stood right before her.
“Duoduo…” Qian Duoduo’s cheeks burned hot, her throat dry. Her voice came out hesitantly, tinged with embarrassment. “You’re back?”
“Yeah.” Lu Qiming nodded.
Qian Duoduo’s lips twitched. “Are you hurt?”
Lu Qiming’s dark eyes locked on hers, silent for a second before honestly replying, “Just a small scratch from a rock.”
“Has the wound been treated?” she asked.
“It’s been disinfected,” he said with a slight smile. “It was too rushed to get a tetanus shot, though.”
Qian Duoduo: “…”
She knew that was his way of teasing her about dragging him to get a tetanus shot before. Her blush deepened as she smiled, trying to hold back laughter.
But as she laughed, a sharp sting crept into her nose, and her eyes watered unexpectedly.
Even children sometimes had the right to cry for no reason. Qian Duoduo’s heart churned with complicated feelings she couldn’t explain. She felt embarrassed.
Afraid Lu Qiming might notice, she lowered her thick lashes and spoke softly, her voice like a gentle breeze rolling fallen leaves, calm and smooth: “Commander Xiao said earlier that he saved us some handmade dumplings. Let’s go eat.”
Lu Qiming still looked at her, his gaze deep and unreadable, saying nothing.
The girl remained silent for a few seconds, then spoke warmly and gently again, softer still: “You can eat more of the cabbage and pork dumplings. I made those myself.”