After listening to Si Yiyan’s instructions over the phone and watching the tutorial video that he had sent her, Wen Xinya finally folded a blanket properly in a reasonably acceptable manner before 5:30 PM.
Ye Feiyu witnessed the entire process and even made fun of her for it. The thought of the looks on her roommates’ faces made Wen Xinya feel incredibly embarrassed.
The lights went out at 11 PM and the freshmen went to bed.
However, Wen Xinya tossed and turned in bed continuously because she could not fall asleep.
Wen Xinya could only fall asleep on either her own bed or those that she was familiar with. Hence, she could not get used to the cold and hard single-sized bed at all. She felt like she would knock into her roommate as soon as she flipped to the side and felt rather uncomfortable.
Bored out of her wits, she hid beneath her blanket and sent Si Yiyan a text message which read: “The bed is hard and narrow. I feel like I’m lying on the ground. My entire body aches and I can’t fall asleep at all.”
She could not help but miss the huge black sandalwood bed that she usually slept on in the Wen Family mansion. She particularly enjoyed the mild fragrance of sandalwood. She also thought about the eaglewood bed that used to belong to her mother, in the Mo Family home which had a warm and mild aroma. At the same time, she also missed the large Hainan eaglewood bed in Lishan Mansion, which was paved with rare sable. It was her absolute favorite.
After drawing comparisons, she finally realized that she had unknowingly been spoiled rotten by Si Yiyan.
Si Yiyan soon replied, “Imagine that you’re lying on the sable bed at home and you’ll fall asleep soon.”
Wen Xinya replied, “I’m doing that. Doesn’t work!”
Next, Wen Xinya’s mobile phone began to ring.
Fortunately, she had put it in silent mode and hence, did not wake her roommates up. After a moment of hesitation, she answered the call but dared not say anything.
Si Yiyan said, “You don’t have to say a single word. I’ll tell you a story and you’ll fall asleep very soon.”
Wen Xinya’s heart was filled with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Throughout her childhood, she had never once been told bedtime stories. She heard that listening to bedtime stories was the best and most unforgettable memory one could have of their childhood.
To her surprise, the person who would be fulfilling her dreams of enjoying such a blissful moment turned out to be Si Yiyan.
Si Yiyan’s voice was particularly pleasant and refined like the melody of ancient instruments. He began to narrate the story of Athena in a deep and alluring voice.
There were variations in his tone and he used a wide vocabulary as well, thus making the story sound much more interesting and less dull.
Wen Xinya began to get engrossed in the story while listening to his narration.
Soon, his voice began to sound muffled as she was hit with a wave of sleepiness.
Next, she fell asleep!
During her sleep, she dreamed of herself being in a pink room that was full of happiness. Her mother extended her arms and said, “Xinya, come to Mommy!”
The toddler Wen Xinya scurried towards her mother, only to stumble and fall accidentally. She got up from the ground aggrievedly and leaped into her mother’s arms. “Mommy, hug me!”
Her mother’s embrace was soft and fragrant. She kissed her mother merrily while drooling all over the place.
At five in the morning, the shrilling sounds of the alarm outside the dorm filled the air.
The peaceful sleep of the pampered freshmen was disrupted and they were jolted awake by the loud and sudden alarm. Everyone began airing their woes and complaining loudly to express their unhappiness. Only a few actually got out of bed.
Wen Xinya was still immersed in dreamland and did not wish to wake up at all.
Noticing that there seemed to be no signs of students waking up, the teachers hurriedly headed to the dorm, only to be greeted with the sight of all the freshmen still lying on their beds. They did not seem like they intended to wake up at all. The teachers ordered loudly. “All of you, get out of bed now.”
One of the freshmen refuted in displeasure. “It’s only five in the morning. Why do we have to wake up? I’ve never woken up at such an early timing before in my life.”
“The wake-up call is for the soldiers, not us. It’s only five in the morning. Who wakes up at this hour!?!”
As soon as they stopped complaining, Xu Zhenyu appeared at the door of the dorm, dressed impeccably in his neat uniform. He hollered. “I’m giving you guys five minutes to get out of bed. If you’re late, you’ll be punished to stand for an hour.”
Xu Zhenyu’s voice was loud and threatening, so much that the freshmen were stunned awake.
A ruckus broke out immediately in the girls’ dorm and they could even be heard screaming.
It was an all-girls’ dorm and everyone was still sleeping. How terrifying must it be for there to be a male voice coming out of nowhere, bright early in the morning!?!
Still in a daze, Wen Xinya sat up straight and rubbed her eyes wearily. She finally realized that they only had five minutes to get ready. Hence, she hurriedly put on her clothes and began packing her bed without even bothering to put on any skincare product.
Xu Zhenyu then checked each and every bed.
When he reached Wen Xinya’s bed, he stood calmly in front of her with a frown. After staring at her okay-looking blanket for a long while, he said, “You’ve got a borderline pass.”
Wen Xinya blushed, not daring to look at Xu Zhenyu’s face. Clearly… he cut her some slack!
In the end, only eight out of twenty freshmen failed. Thanks to Wen Xinya, most of them managed to escape the ordeal. However, come tomorrow…
Everyone gathered at the parade square at 5:30 AM.
The nights were longer in September and the sun had yet to rise at five in the morning. Daybreak began to creep in and the skies were all gloomy. The freshness of the cool morning air made everyone wake up.
Xu Zhenyu stood rooted to the ground, appearing suave and magnificent with those captivating eyes of his. He also exuded a domineering and assertive aura.
“Stand straight,” Xu Zhenyu said austerely. As soon as his voice filled the entire training ground, the sounds of the ruckus disappeared.
Xu Zhenyu pressed his lips tightly together and said, “Today, you’re going to be learning how to stand at ease, stand at attention, march and parade.”
“Are you serious? What’s there for us to train… are you just playing us…”
Xu Zhenyu ignored them and instead stared at the ten commanders before yelling, “Stand at attention!”
The ten commanders immediately acted in unison, appearing suave and dominant.
Everyone shut up.
Xu Zhenyu pointed at the few complaining girls and the other two boys. “Stand for three hours.”
Clearly, he was giving everyone a warning.
Next, one of the soldiers came forth to check on their position while correcting them continuously. He would punch their shoulders to make them straighten them and kick them when their legs were bent. The violence and scoldings made everyone tense up in fear.
Finally, they decided to shape up and behave properly.
