After hearing what Lu Qiming said, Qian Duoduo froze in place, momentarily unable to process what she’d just heard.
What was going on?
Why was he here?
Confused and surprised, Qian Duoduo couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Lu, are you here on business?”
“This is my workplace’s courtyard,” Lu Qiming replied.
“……”
Qian Duoduo stood frozen for several seconds before finally reacting. Her voice rose a few notches in shock: “This is where you work? Then why didn’t you say anything on WeChat the other day?”
Lu Qiming’s expression didn’t change as he calmly responded, “You only asked about the area around the camp, not whether I worked here.”
Qian Duoduo bit her lip and frowned slightly.
It was true—she hadn’t asked directly.
But that day, she had specifically told him the camp’s address and asked about the place. Most people would have casually mentioned, “What a coincidence, that’s our compound,” right?
Or was it that he’d deliberately kept it from her, just to watch her stand there dumbfounded, jaw on the floor?
Her mind was a mess, wild theories spiraling in every direction.
Just then, Lu Qiming glanced at the suitcase beside her and said casually, “Squad Leader Cheng, pop the trunk.”
“Sure thing.” The young soldier in the driver’s seat replied easily.
As soon as he spoke, the trunk of the military SUV opened with a click.
Without another word, Lu Qiming stepped out of the vehicle in one long stride.
Before Qian Duoduo could react, she saw the man in his crisp uniform already standing before her. With one hand, he effortlessly picked up her suitcase.
Qian Duoduo’s eyes widened.
The 29-inch suitcase was big and heavy. Even dragging it on spinner wheels was a hassle. Yet in his hand, it looked as light as a feather—he carried it like it weighed nothing at all.
“Thank you, thank you,” she said, her cheeks flushing as she reached out to grab it back. “I can carry it myself…”
“It’s fine.” Lu Qiming sidestepped her, casually tossed the suitcase into the vehicle, clapped his hands once, and turned back. “Get in.”
Qian Duoduo glanced nervously at the two emotionless sentries nearby and asked in a low voice, “Are you sure this is enough for me to get through?”
“You’re staying here for a month. Your personal information’s already been approved,” Lu Qiming’s voice was gentle, with a reassuring tone. “Even if you came in alone, as long as you present your ID and it checks out, the guards won’t stop you.”
Qian Duoduo listened carefully and nodded in understanding. “Oh, so that’s how it works.”
Once they were in the car, they sat on opposite sides of the backseat.
It was Qian Duoduo’s first time in a military vehicle. She found it both exciting and nerve-wracking. Her back was ramrod straight, her posture stiff, and she barely dared to breathe.
Seeing her so tense, Lu Qiming’s lips curved slightly. He asked, “Why didn’t Officer Xue come to pick you up?”
“He told me to let him know before I arrived, but I figured, you soldiers are always busy with work, and since I could manage on my own, I didn’t want to bother him…” Qian Duoduo said, embarrassed. She paused briefly, then added softly, “I didn’t expect to trouble you all in the end. I’m really sorry.”
“It was on the way,” Lu Qiming replied lightly.
Once they settled in, the SUV’s engine roared back to life.
When they were about half a meter from the electronic gate, Lu Qiming turned to her and said, “Give me your ID card.”
Qian Duoduo paused. Remembering what he’d said about the checkpoint needing to verify her identity, she quickly pulled the ID from her shoulder bag and handed it over.
Lu Qiming took it and lowered his eyes.
The girl’s ID was tucked into a cartoon-style card sleeve, with a little frog’s head conveniently covering the photo.
Lu Qiming raised an eyebrow.
“……” Qian Duoduo flushed with embarrassment, rubbing the tip of her nose with her finger.
Then she leaned toward him slightly, her slender white fingers pinching the edge of the sleeve and gently sliding the card out.
Lu Qiming said nothing, taking the ID before stepping out to the guard post to complete the check-in procedure.
As she retrieved the empty card sleeve, Qian Duoduo hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask the young soldier up front in a small voice, “While I’m staying here, will you be keeping my ID?”
“No, miss,” the young squad leader replied with a friendly smile. “They just need to verify it. You’ll get it back right after.”
Hearing that, Qian Duoduo relaxed. “That’s good. It’d really be inconvenient without it.”
The squad leader glanced at her. She seemed about the same age as him—pretty, gentle, and without any of the distance or airs you’d expect from a big social media personality. He couldn’t help but grow a little curious.
“Hey, miss, how long are you guys staying in our camp for this support visit?”
“The paperwork says one month. We’re mainly here to cook for you guys—to give you a taste of hometown food.”
“Nice! We’re in for a treat, haha.”
They chatted briefly before the squad leader glanced toward the guardroom, then finally got to the heart of the gossip.
He lowered his voice and asked, “So, from the looks of it, you and Captain Lu knew each other before this?”
Qian Duoduo paused for half a second, thinking: If Lu Qiming had wanted to keep it a secret, he wouldn’t have come to greet her just now.
She nodded slightly. “Yes.”
“Oh.” The young squad leader sighed. So much for getting excited—he’d thought he was meeting their future sister-in-law.
The young man shook his head like an old man lamenting wasted effort.
A few minutes later, Lu Qiming returned.
As the vehicle started moving again, Qian Duoduo looked up instinctively. In the lower right corner of the windshield, she saw a long rectangular pass. It looked brand-new—its edges crisp, sealed neatly in plastic.
As they entered the main area, a wide open space spread out in front of the office building. In the center stood a flag-raising platform, where the red five-star flag fluttered proudly in the sunlight.
The military SUV continued along the vehicle path. After turning a corner, an expansive training field came into view—vast and boundless. Various military vehicles Qian Duoduo couldn’t name were lined up neatly, draped in black covers. Military slogans were posted everywhere, and the distant barking of guard dogs echoed from the edge of the barbed wire fence…
The scene ahead was grand and imposing. Qian Duoduo felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time—awestruck and amazed. It took every ounce of willpower to resist the urge to take out her phone and snap photos.
National defense is everyone’s responsibility.
Officer Xue had sent every food blogger participating in the military appreciation event a list of “Camp Entry Guidelines,” and the very first rule stated that this was a restricted military zone—no filming allowed. Qian Duoduo remembered that clearly.
A few minutes later, the military SUV finally stopped in front of a garage.
“This is where you’ll get off,” Lu Qiming said.
“Okay.” Qian Duoduo quickly responded, eagerly pushing open the door and hopping out of the vehicle.
The November sun wasn’t harsh at all. Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on her fair cheeks.
The temperature had risen a bit today, and since she was dressed warmly, she was already sweating at the temples.
She raised a hand to wipe away the sweat, glanced around, and only then realized she’d made a mistake—she should’ve told Officer Xue she’d arrived. This camp was enormous. As a newcomer, what if she accidentally wandered into a restricted area? She didn’t even know where she was supposed to stay.
Feeling annoyed, Qian Duoduo quickly pulled out her phone, found a number she had saved in advance, and dialed it.
Beep. Beep. Beep—
No one picked up for several seconds.
Qian Duoduo grew anxious and hung up with a frown, ready to try again. Just then, familiar footsteps sounded behind her.
She turned to look—it was Lu Qiming.
Seeing that he was still pushing her large suitcase, Qian Duoduo quickly reached out to take it and thanked him.
After a moment, Lu Qiming spoke. “Were you calling Officer Xue?”
“Yeah,” Qian Duoduo replied, frowning. “I don’t know where I’m supposed to stay. I figured I’d need him to show me the way or at least tell me the exact location… but he’s not answering, probably busy.”
“I can take you there,” Lu Qiming said suddenly.
“…” Qian Duoduo lifted her eyes, surprised.
“I know where you’re staying.” As he spoke, he casually took the suitcase handle from her hand. His movements were so natural, it gave Qian Duoduo the illusion that the two of them had known each other for years. “Come with me.”
Though she had her doubts, there wasn’t time to dwell on them.
Qian Duoduo quickly followed.
After walking just a few steps, she started sensing something was off, and confusion flickered in her gaze.
Looking up, she saw the man in uniform walking steadily ahead. His tall figure exuded calm authority. The sharp lines of his shoulders seemed to slice the clouds in the sky in two.
Such a clean and crisp silhouette—even the back of his head was perfectly neat.
She pressed her lips together, and finally couldn’t hold back. She asked tentatively, “Mr. Lu… are you in charge of the ‘mess hall’ event?”
Lu Qiming: “I’m aware of it.”
It was a rather subtle response.
Qian Duoduo caught the nuance in his tone and muttered in confusion, “If you’re not in charge, how do you know where I’m staying?”
“Officer Xue mentioned it in passing,” Lu Qiming answered calmly, his voice steady as usual. “I’ve got a good memory, so I happened to remember.”
“I see.” Hearing that, Qian Duoduo didn’t think too much of it and nodded without pressing further.
*