The muddy figures on the training ground were taken away in batches to the temporary shower area and resting place.
The clamor and roars gradually subsided, leaving only the fresh scent of earth after the rain and the lights emanating from the distant barracks.
Lu Mingyu withdrew his gaze, and a rare softness appeared on his stern face.
He turned to Gu Lina Zha and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to the guesthouse to rest."
The guesthouse here was outside the base, specifically used to receive outside personnel and their families.
The conditions were much better than those within the camp.
Gu Lina Zha, however, shook her head, her gaze still following the retreating figures of the trainees.
"I'm not going."
Lu Mingyu frowned slightly, looking at her with some confusion.
"If you're not going to the guesthouse, then where are you going?"
Gu Lina Zha suddenly looked up, her bright eyes fixed on Lu Mingyu, with a hint of expectation.
"Can I... stay here?"
She pointed to the neatly arranged barracks not far away.
"Stay here?"
Lu Mingyu was completely stunned.
He clearly had not expected Gu Lina Zha to make such a request.
His mind raced, trying to understand the proposal, but his first reaction was to refuse.
"No."
Lu Mingyu's answer was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
"Why not?"
Gu Lina Zha asked, somewhat unconvinced.
"This is a training base, and also the station of the Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group."
Lu Mingyu patiently explained, his tone like he was stating an operational report.
"All the dormitories here are designed for males; there are no female soldier dormitories."
"Moreover, the bathing conditions here are very basic."
"They are all open-air communal showers, which would be very inconvenient for a girl like you."
What he said was true; the environment here, for a pampered female celebrity, was nothing short of hell.
He couldn't imagine Gu Lina Zha spending the night in such a place.
After listening to his explanation, Gu Lina Zha did not back down.
Instead, she took a step forward and tugged at Lu Mingyu's sleeve.
Her voice softened, with a hint of coquetry.
"I don't care about the conditions; I just want to stay closer to you."
He looked at the undisguised persistence and dependence in her eyes, and all his words of refusal were stuck in his throat.
This man, decisive in battle, felt helpless for the first time over a trivial matter in life.
He was silent for a long while, and finally compromised.
"Alright."
Lu Mingyu sighed, took out his communicator, and connected to his squad's internal channel.
"Zhou Chenguang, Li Xiaoniu, the rest of you come here for a moment."
Within a few minutes, four figures in combat uniforms ran over.
They were Zhou Chenguang, Li Xiaoniu, Wang Yanbing, and Wu Tianlong.
"Captain Lu, what are your orders?"
Li Xiaoniu stood at attention and asked loudly.
Wang Yanbing's gaze darted between Lu Mingyu and Gu Lina Zha, a suppressed smile on his face.
Lu Mingyu pointed to a long-unused storeroom in the corner of the barracks.
"Clean up that vacant dormitory."
"Remember, be quick, and clean it thoroughly."
The four team members paused for a moment, then Zhou Chenguang was the first to react.
He elbowed Wang Yanbing beside him, his eyes full of a "I understand" look.
"Captain Lu, just you wait and see!"
Wang Yanbing immediately patted his chest and promised.
"We'll make sure to clean it perfectly for sister-in-law... ah, no, for this female comrade, cleaner than a five-star hotel!"
When Gu Lina Zha heard the words "sister-in-law," her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly.
Lu Mingyu glared at Wang Yanbing but didn't say much, tacitly agreeing.
"Get whatever you need from logistics; I want to see results within half an hour."
"Yes!"
The four responded in unison and rushed towards the abandoned storeroom.
The operational efficiency of these special forces members was terrifying.
The so-called storeroom was filled with various sundries.
Cobwebs hung in the corners, emitting a musty, old smell.
But in their hands, none of this was a problem.
Wu Tianlong, the technical expert, immediately checked the room's electrical and water systems.
Then, he somehow procured a brand new instant water heater and installed it in no time.
Li Xiaoniu, with his immense strength, was responsible for moving all the clutter out.
Wang Yanbing and Zhou Chenguang, meanwhile, took brooms and mops and began a thorough cleaning.
They even found several military-grade insect repellent sprays and vigorously sprayed every nook and cranny of the room.
Wang Yanbing muttered as he sprayed, "Captain Lu said it had to be thoroughly clean."
"No mice, no roaches, and no living creatures with legs!"
Zhou Chenguang laughed and said, "Alright, you, get to work, don't delay Captain Lu and sister-in-law's good fortune."
In less than half an hour, the once-neglected storeroom was completely transformed.
The floor was mopped so clean it reflected figures, and a tidy single bed was placed in the center, covered with brand new military-green bedding.
On the table in the corner, there was a thermos and a clean enamel mug.
Most importantly, the water heater installed by Wu Tianlong was already connected to water and electricity, ready to provide hot water at any time.
When Lu Mingyu brought Gu Lina Zha over, this was the sight that greeted him.
He nodded with satisfaction, highly approving of the execution power of his soldiers.
"Alright, you all go rest."
Lu Mingyu said to his team members.
Zhou Chenguang, however, was observant.
He pulled Wang Yanbing, who still wanted to join the fun, and also dragged Li Xiaoniu and Wu Tianlong along.
"Come on, come on, let's not be a third wheel here."
"Captain Lu has been busy all day and is tired, so he needs to rest early, right?"
He said, winking at Lu Mingyu, and quickly disappeared into the night with the three others.
In the room, only Lu Mingyu and Gu Lina Zha remained.
The atmosphere instantly became a bit subtle.
Gu Lina Zha looked around the simple but exceptionally clean room, her heart feeling warm.
She turned around and looked at Lu Mingyu, who was standing at the doorway, seemingly at a loss, and couldn't help but smile.
"Captain Lu, is it true that besides training and fighting, you can't do anything else?"
She walked up to him, her tone teasing.
"Look at you, usually so imposing, but now you're standing there like a block of wood."
At her words, Lu Mingyu's expression became unnatural.
He truly didn't know what to say or do in such a situation.
Looking at his dull expression, Gu Lina Zha felt both affection and amusement.
She suddenly stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Her soft lips gently pressed against his.
It was a fleeting kiss, like a dragonfly touching the water, with a hint of tenderness and exploration.
Lu Mingyu's body instantly stiffened.
He felt the softness and sweetness on his lips.
In his deep eyes, it was as if flames were burning.
Just as Gu Lina Zha was about to pull away, Lu Mingyu suddenly reacted.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him.
He lowered his head, taking the initiative, and kissed her back fiercely.
This kiss was no longer a gentle exploration but filled with the aggression characteristic of a soldier.
It was as if he wanted to release all the longing and suppression of this period through this kiss.