Chapter 112: The Opening Ceremony

This year’s freshman military training at Renmin University lasted a total of fifteen days, held right on campus. The schedule was set as follows: the opening ceremony took place on the afternoon of September 4th, with formal training commencing the morning of the 5th and continuing nonstop until the 19th.

Li Mu quietly bought a bottle of sunscreen. Having suffered from sunburn during military training in his previous life, he was determined not to repeat that mistake. After a few days under the scorching sun, his face and neck would invariably become noticeably darker than the rest of his body. The sun could be merciless, and sunburn was a common affliction.

The reason he purchased the sunscreen discreetly was that most eighteen-year-old boys lacked any skincare awareness. Facial cleansers were not widely used; everyone simply carried a bar of soap for washing both face and body.

Because Li Mu had been given a second chance at life and had some savings, he bought a full set of men’s skincare products. However, his five roommates mocked him as being effeminate. If he openly applied sunscreen in front of them, they would surely ridicule him mercilessly.

At two in the afternoon, after secretly applying the sunscreen, Li Mu joined his five roommates at the assembly point for the opening ceremony. The military training was held on the main field, with over 2,300 freshmen in attendance. Everyone wore identical uniforms, making it impossible for Li Mu to spot Su Yinxue despite scanning the crowd intently.

A portly university official took the stage and delivered a rehearsed speech. Then, an officer from the Yanjing Garrison Unit spoke briefly. Afterward, instructors were assigned, and it was only then that Li Mu met his future classmates for the first time. His class consisted of thirty-two students, with a nearly equal split between male and female, a fairly balanced ratio.

Their instructor was a soldier in his early twenties named Xu. He had a square, stern face and spoke with a loud, commanding tone. His demeanor gave everyone the unmistakable impression that the coming fifteen days would not be easy.

Li Mu was unfazed. In good physical condition and having trained at the gym for nearly a month before starting school, he felt prepared to face the military training again.

The opening ceremony lasted over two hours. Afterward, Li Yawei suggested they return to the dorm to change clothes, then head to an internet café to play some CS. The others agreed, but Li Mu declined, instead calling Su Yinxue to arrange dinner plans for the evening.

They agreed to meet outside the East Gate. Just as Li Mu was about to leave after changing, Li Yawei stopped him.

“Li Mu,” he asked, “everyone else is going to the internet café together, and you’re not cooperating. You’re all packed up so neatly—where are you headed?”

“I’m having dinner with a high school classmate,” Li Mu replied.

“High school classmate? Also at our school?”

“Yeah.”

“Male or female?”

“Female.”

“Is she pretty? How does she compare to Zhao Ziqiu?”

Li Mu laughed and scolded, “Where do you come up with all these silly questions? Are all the young men in Yanjing as chatty as you?”

Li Yawei chuckled, “I’m not chatty, just curious.”

Xue Jianfeng chimed in, “It’s almost five o’clock. I’ll join you guys at the internet café, but I can’t stay long. I’ll hang out until six-thirty.”

Sun Jian asked, “Jianfeng, do you have dinner plans tonight too?”

Xue Jianfeng said, “I got an annual membership at the school gym starting today. Gotta keep working out.”

The small-framed Liu Nian exclaimed, “Military training starts tomorrow, and you’re still hitting the gym? Can you handle it?”

Xue Jianfeng flexed his arms, revealing well-defined chest and biceps. “Military training is just exercise. Real fitness comes from machines. To keep muscles, you have to stick with machine workouts.”

Li Mu was intrigued. “Jianfeng, how does the membership work? I want to get one too, so we can train together.”

Li Mu wanted to stay fit but didn’t aspire to become a muscle-bound giant like Xue Jianfeng. He mainly wanted a healthy physique, and if he could develop a six-pack too, all the better.

Xue Jianfeng was delighted by Li Mu’s interest. “There’s a discount for freshmen. The annual fee is normally 1,200 yuan, but freshmen pay only 800 for the first year. If you’re not sure you’ll keep it up, you can get a monthly card for 120 yuan—no discount. Just bring your registration proof and a two-inch photo to sign up. Hurry up so I have a workout partner.”

Li Mu nodded. “Then I’ll get one with you after military training tomorrow.”

“Deal!”

The six of them left the dorm together. Li Mu thought they might be going different ways, but Li Yawei suggested the internet café near the East Gate, so they all headed there as a group. When they arrived, Su Yinxue was already waiting. She waved at Li Mu and his roommates.

Li Mu waved back, then turned his face to tell his roommates something quietly, only to find their eyes fixed on Su Yinxue, wide and unblinking.

Her presence was as striking as Zhao Ziqiu’s, if not more so. There was an aura of ethereal grace about her, surpassing even Zhao Ziqiu.

Li Yawei muttered softly, “No wonder he looks down on Zhao Ziqiu. Turns out there’s someone even better.”

Hu Zhengdao, speaking in a somewhat rustic Shaanbei-accented Mandarin, remarked, “But no one beats Zhao Ziqiu’s natural gifts.”

Liu Nian nodded in agreement. “Zhengdao’s right. Zhao Ziqiu’s chest is definitely bigger.”

Sun Jian rapped the back of Liu Nian’s head. “Kid, have you grown all your hair yet? And you’re already ogling someone else’s chest?”

Liu Nian looked aggrieved. “Bro, I’m just stating facts—Zhao Ziqiu’s chest really is big…”

Li Mu saw things were getting increasingly crude. As they neared Su Yinxue, he whispered, “Hey, tone it down, will you?”

The five immediately got the hint and fell silent.

Li Mu stepped forward to Su Yinxue. His five roommates, lacking discretion, followed closely behind, staring at Li Mu as if waiting for an introduction.

He had no choice but to introduce Su Yinxue to them before sending them off.

“They’re hopeless. They can’t even pull themselves away when a beauty’s around. Don’t mind them,” he said.

Su Yinxue smiled slightly. “They’re all interesting. The shortest one looks like he’s only fourteen or fifteen.”

Li Mu knew she meant Liu Nian and smiled. “He is a bit younger, but not by much—he’s eighteen.”

Su Yinxue asked, “Is the dorm arranged by age?”

Li Mu gave a wry smile. “If two people walking their dogs on the street have to ask each other’s dog’s age, imagine six guys living together. It’s just to get a sense of who’s older, not to become sworn brothers.”

Su Yinxue covered her mouth, laughing. “So chatty. Where do you rank in your dorm?”

“Third.”

…

The two took a cab to a bustling area in Zhongguancun. Knowing Su Yinxue loved Sichuan cuisine, Li Mu picked a Sichuan restaurant for dinner.

For Li Mu and Su Yinxue, dining together was no longer a novelty. They felt increasingly comfortable and natural in each other’s company. Sometimes Li Mu would instinctively pick food for her, and she accepted without embarrassment, even beginning to reciprocate by placing food into his bowl.

As they neared the end of their meal, Su Yinxue pulled a bottle of sunscreen from her backpack and said, “The sun in Yanjing in September is still quite harsh. You have to be careful during military training.”

Li Mu looked at the sunscreen but didn’t take it. He had already bought some secretly, though he hadn’t thought to bring one for Su Yinxue. He chided himself for not being more considerate.

Thinking Li Mu might be embarrassed to use such products, Su Yinxue softly offered, “If you’re afraid your roommates will tease you, just use it secretly. Or come find me before training, and I’ll quietly help you apply it on your face and neck.”

A warm feeling swelled in Li Mu’s chest. He nodded, accepted the sunscreen, and thanked her. The fact she remembered to bring sunscreen for him was already touching and humbling; he couldn’t possibly let her apply it for him.

After their meal, they decided to walk back to campus. Passing by Zhao Kang’s school, Li Mu said, “I’ll call Kangzi to see what he’s up to. If he’s free, maybe we can meet up somewhere.”

“Sounds good!” Su Yinxue smiled. “I haven’t seen him since you all arrived in Yanjing.”

Li Mu called Zhao Kang, who happened to be on campus, and ten minutes later, he joined them. The three found a street-side skewer stand and casually ordered some grilled meat and two large mugs of draft beer. Su Yinxue, having already eaten, ordered a bottle of purified water to accompany them.

Zhao Kang was initially overwhelmed by the school. “It’s pretty rundown and small,” he said. “The dorm is an eight-person room, a total mess. But after a day or two, I’m getting used to it.”

Su Yinxue nodded. “Renmin University is just so-so. It’s big, but it feels a bit shabby.”

Li Mu agreed. “Of all the universities in Yanjing, Yanjing University and Tsinghua have the best environments. The rest are nothing special.”

Zhao Kang asked, “When does your military training start?”

“Tomorrow. What about yours?”

Zhao Kang sighed. “We leave early the day after tomorrow. Our school’s grounds aren’t big enough, so we’re going to a military base outside Badaling for training. It’s a closed training camp for fifteen days.”

Li Mu asked, “So you won’t be coming back at all during those fifteen days?”

“Yeah,” Zhao Kang said. “But don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything at Douban. Nothing urgent should come up to interfere with daily matters. If something does happen, call me—I’ll sneak back no matter what to take care of it.”

Li Mu smiled faintly. “For now, there’s nothing pressing. You just focus on your training.”

Zhao Kang looked a little troubled as he raised his glass to toast. Just as he was about to clink glasses with Li Mu, Li Mu glanced down and saw a message on his phone.

It was from Zhao Ziqiu, reminding him to be careful about sun protection during military training.

Li Mu politely replied, “Thanks, you too.”

Zhao Ziqiu responded, “Got any jokes? Tell me one.”

Li Mu thought for a moment and typed out a silly joke about a young man and a Zen master. Zhao Ziqiu replied with four consecutive “hahas” and added, “So funny, thanks!”

Just as Li Mu was about to reply “You’re welcome,” Zhao Kang raised his glass. Li Mu slipped his phone into his pocket, raised his own glass, and clinked with Zhao Kang. “Brother, see you after training. Cheers!”