Hearing that, Song Qingfeng immediately grew suspicious. “How did she know Commander Xiao plays basketball too?”
“I told her.”
“What?”
“I told her Comrade Xiao could do the step layup.” Lu Qiming glanced at him. “She didn’t believe it, so I invited her to watch the game.”
“…”
Song Qingfeng, known for his sharpness, caught on and smirked. “You’re clever, huh? Don’t think I don’t know— you invited her over just to show off your skills.”
He didn’t even sip his coconut water, and in a blink, it was down to a quarter.
Lu Qiming ignored him, tightening the bottle cap and lightly kicked the basketball toward Song Qingfeng. “Yang Ziqiao’s done. Someone’s gotta replace him. You or me?”
“I’m done too…” Song Qingfeng rubbed his shoulder, grimacing. “Haven’t moved much lately. Can’t handle this intensity. You go.”
Lu Qiming patted Song Qingfeng’s shoulder, stood up, and went on court.
Song Qingfeng’s shoulder ached so badly that the pat made him cry out. Grimacing, he muttered, “Damn.”
Not only did you blow your secret plan, but you’re taking it out on me like this?
*
Qian Duoduo had originally planned to watch the entire basketball game.
After Lu Qiming went on court, her eyes followed his figure to the center of the court, and her heart inexplicably tightened.
But just a few minutes later, the ringing of a phone pulled her attention back.
The caller ID read: Secretary Tang.
A flicker of surprise showed in Qian Duoduo’s eyes. Without thinking much, she slid to answer. “Hello, Secretary Tang.”
She stood up from the stands as she spoke.
“What are you doing now, Teacher Qian?” The voice on the other end was young and pleasant, with a gentle and refined smile.
Qian Duoduo didn’t mind the slightly ambiguous tone and smiled politely. “There’s an internal basketball game in the camp. I had nothing to do, so I came to watch.”
“Oh, watching basketball, no wonder.” Tang Qiyuan chuckled softly. “I heard some noise in the background.”
The gym was full of voices, noisy enough to make hearing the call a bit difficult. Qian Duoduo stepped outside into the open area.
“Secretary Tang called for something?” she asked.
“Not really,” Tang Qiyuan replied. “I sent you several WeChat messages last night, but you didn’t reply…”
Qian Duoduo remembered.
Last night Tang Qiyuan had shared some songs and pictures of his dinner. She was busy playing games and didn’t have time to respond; eventually, she completely forgot.
“Sorry. I was gaming last night and planned to reply after, but I was too tired and forgot,” Qian Duoduo admitted. After a pause, she added, “Was that all you called about?”
“No.” Tang Qiyuan cleared his throat before continuing, “I also wanted to ask if you’re free tomorrow evening? A friend of mine just opened a new restaurant. If you’re free, we could go eat there together.”
“Secretary Tang, sorry. Our company has regulations— bloggers aren’t allowed to accept private promotions,” Qian Duoduo said.
“You misunderstood. I’m not asking you to promote my friend’s restaurant, just inviting you to dinner.”
Working in a government office, Tang Qiyuan spoke slowly with careful pauses, his tone refined and even humorous. “It just opened, 20% off on everything. Think of it as me treating you to a discount.”
Qian Duoduo felt conflicted. “I appreciate the offer, but I just settled into the camp and have lots of preparations to handle. You know, we’re here on a mission.”
After politely declining, Tang Qiyuan didn’t press, simply said, “Work comes first, I understand. I won’t disturb you then. We’ll meet another time.”
“Of course. Goodbye.”
After hanging up, Qian Duoduo exhaled deeply.
The gym’s heating was turned up to thirty degrees, hot, stuffy, and lacking oxygen. Coming outside, the cool breeze in the sunset instantly revived her.
Breathing the rare fresh air, Qian Duoduo relaxed, twisting her neck to loosen her muscles. Her gaze shifted and caught sight of wisps of cooking smoke rising from the direction of the mess hall’s kitchen.
By now, the basketball game inside was probably in its final quarter, nearing the end.
She had dressed warmly and was sweating under the heating, her undershirt soaked and sticking uncomfortably to her skin.
Better not go back just yet…
Besides, the bet was decided. Starting tomorrow until the weekend, she remembered to treat Lu Qiming to meals.
With this thought, Qian Duoduo made up her mind and headed toward the mess hall.
*
After every mealtime rush, the cooking squad bustled nonstop, carrying large pots out and cleaning the messy stoves.
Qian Duoduo stepped into the back kitchen just as Squad Leader Cui Yurong was working briskly, cursing, “Those two slackers, I shouldn’t have agreed to their leave! They ran off to watch Lu Qiming play basketball— what a carefree, happy time— while the rest of us slave away like dogs! Is there any justice?”
The other cooks laughed. “Squad Leader, anyway, Haizi and Xiao Honghua will be back at six to wash dishes.”
“Of course!” Cui Yurong snorted. “You all are lucky to have such an understanding squad leader. Back when I was a new soldier, did I get to take leave to watch basketball? Even with a fever, I had to chop vegetables! At thirty-seven degrees six, my hands were shaking holding the knife. I even cut potatoes wrong, and the squad leader slapped my ass, thinking I was slacking off.”
Everyone stared in disbelief. “Huh? Squad Leader, you poor thing… Did you end up going to the infirmary?”
“Of course. Would my brain not burn otherwise?” Cui Yurong laughed while shaking his head. “But it wasn’t the squad leader’s fault. I was stubborn at eighteen, thought being a cook was boring, always faking illness and hiding in the dorm sleeping. If my squad leader hadn’t patiently worked on me for a whole year, I might’ve deserted.”
“Good thing you didn’t. Desertion is a lifelong stain, recorded in your files.” A crisp voice suddenly interrupted.
Several soldiers turned around.
A young woman stood at the kitchen door, her fair face serious and solemn.
“Teacher Qian?” Cui Yurong’s eyes brightened, surprised. “What brings you here?”
“I came to take a look…” Qian Duoduo rolled up her sleeves, revealing slender forearms, and stepped forward. “You mentioned that Wen Hao and Xiao Honghua went to watch the basketball game. Are you short-handed? I’ll help.”
“No, no,” Cui Yurong hurriedly refused. “You may be here to guide us, but you’re still a guest and a young lady. We can’t let you do rough work.”
“Squad Leader Cui, that’s not right. Chairman Mao said women hold up half the sky. What’s wrong with being a young lady? Young ladies have two eyes and two hands just like you,” Qian Duoduo said. “Besides, I came to the camp to cook. Whether I’m in the kitchen earlier or later, what’s the difference?”
Cui Yurong was stumped and speechless.
Qian Duoduo looked around and spotted a large iron basin filled with shredded white chicken. She pointed and asked, “Haven’t the seasonings been added yet?”
One cook replied, “Not yet, just heating the oil.”
Hearing that, Qian Duoduo didn’t say more. She went straight to work, adding various sauces, minced ginger, scallion, garlic, and small chili peppers in sequence.
Finally, she ladled a scoop of hot oil and poured it over the mix— sizzling loudly, fragrant aromas instantly filling the air.
The cooks watching nearby exchanged stunned glances.
They had originally thought: in these modern cities, how many delicate, beautiful young girls actually know how to cook? Besides, online influencers usually have teams or companies behind them, and their personas are crafted.
These few food bloggers selected by the local government, coming into the camp to “Walk into the Cooking Squad,” were probably just going through the motions.
But unexpectedly, Qian Duoduo’s expert and practiced skill in making cold shredded chicken just now showed she really knew her stuff.
Soon the chicken was mixed, and Qian Duoduo removed her disposable gloves, smiling gently at Cui Yurong. “Squad Leader Cui, taste this. Does it need anything else?”
Cui Yurong took a bite, eyes lighting up. “Delicious!”
“But it would be even better with some perilla leaves,” Qian Duoduo said with a smile. “But there aren’t any here, so never mind.”
With the cold shredded chicken done, the evening’s dishes were ready.
At exactly six, the bugle sounded again.
Weary officers and soldiers, exhausted from a long day, entered the mess hall. Nearly everyone praised that cold shredded chicken dish without stop.
By seven in the evening, after finishing her meal, Qian Duoduo returned to the dorm to rest.
Just as she picked up her change of clothes, preparing to shower, her phone dinged with a new message.
It was from Officer Xue Wei, notifying her to go to the mess hall for the drawing of lots and grouping.
Qian Duoduo replied with a “Received,” then headed out.
By coincidence.
As she opened the dorm door and looked down walking out, she nearly collided with a figure coming toward her.
Qian Duoduo was looking at her phone and walking fast. Catching a glimpse of the tall figure, she was startled and almost fell into his arms.
Luckily, she caught herself just in time.
Her nose caught a fresh, clean scent of soap pods— not sweet or cloying, just pure and straightforward cleanliness.
Mixed with the masculine scent on the man, the rogue’s air and refinement reached a subtle harmony.
“…” Qian Duoduo looked up.
Lu Qiming was probably just out of the shower, wearing a dark blue fitness suit. His jet-black short hair was damp, and his deep eyes, half-lidded, stared at her.
Qian Duoduo’s gaze involuntarily dropped a few degrees.
She noticed what he was holding…
Huh?
A bucket of unopened Kang Shifu Braised Beef Noodles?
She blinked, stunned. “You… didn’t eat at the mess hall?”
“After the game, there was no food left,” Lu Qiming replied casually.
“But,” Qian Duoduo hesitated, quietly appraising his sturdy, imposing frame, “can you really get full eating just that?”
“It’s a snack,” Lu Qiming said. “I still have two steamed buns in my dorm.”
Qian Duoduo: “…”
With a body that size, how could that be enough food?
Feeling a bit guilty, she said, “I’m about to go to the mess hall. How about I ask the cooking squad if there’s any food left in the kitchen? They made a lot of that shredded chicken tonight. There should be some left.”
Lu Qiming still looked at her straight on, and a faint, nearly imperceptible joy slowly surfaced in his clear eyes.
After a moment, he spoke lightly, “Can I understand that Teacher Qian is worried about me?”