Gu Lina Zha was caught off guard by his sudden enthusiasm, her mind a blank.
She could feel his strong arms and his burning breath.
Her wrist was tightly gripped by him, a slight pain radiating from it.
After a long while, Lu Mingyu finally loosened his grip on her.
Gu Lina Zha's face was already as red as a ripe apple.
Her breathing was rapid, and she looked at him with dazed eyes.
She pushed Lu Mingyu's chest hard, pushing him out the door.
"You… you should go!"
Her voice was tinged with annoyance.
Lu Mingyu looked at her flushed cheeks, and that imperceptible curve at the corner of his mouth lifted again.
Then he obediently turned and left.
With a "bang," the door was closed from the inside.
Gu Lina Zha leaned against the cold door panel, her heart still wildly thumping against her will.
She raised her hand, looking at the clear red mark on her fair wrist.
It was left by his strong grip just now.
She let out a long sigh, her eyes complex.
What an ungentle fellow.
Yet, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
Inside, she felt angry, helpless, and a little sweet.
It was still before dawn, and the surroundings were pitch black.
The events of last night were still vivid in her mind.
Gu Lina Zha turned over, the red mark on her wrist had already turned into a faint purplish-blue.
She touched her wrist, a slight stinging sensation coming from her fingertips.
That guy, he really didn't know what gentleness was.
But then she thought of the smile he couldn't hide at the corner of his mouth when he left.
Her heart felt as if it was being gently tickled by a feather.
Just as she was immersed in these complex and sweet thoughts.
A piercing whistle broke the tranquility of the early morning.
Immediately after, a series of uniform shouts came from outside the window.
Accompanied by the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground.
Gu Lina Zha was completely woken up by the sudden loud noise.
She frowned, sat up from the bed, and with a hint of curiosity, put on her coat and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the sight on the training ground instantly sobered her, all sleepiness gone.
Searchlights illuminated the entire training ground as if it were daytime.
A group of soldiers in camouflage training uniforms were conducting combat training that she had only seen in movies.
Two people per group, without any fancy moves.
It was the most direct grappling, over-the-shoulder throws, and ground grappling.
Each throw seemed to be done with all their might, emitting dull "thudding" sounds that made one's flesh ache just by listening.
Their roars were full of power and wildness.
Sweat soaked their backs, steaming white in the light.
This was a real military camp, real special forces training.
Gu Lina Zha's heart sank little by little.
She remembered that "if i were a female special forces soldier" was officially starting tomorrow.
She recalled the bolded clause in the contract:
The production team has no right to interfere with any training content or intensity of the military.
All trainees must unconditionally obey the instructor's commands; failure to comply will be considered voluntary withdrawal.
Looking at the hellish training scene outside the window.
For the first time, she regretted her impulsive decision to come for love.
Could she really do it?
She remembered what Lu Mingyu had told her before.
He said that the trainees here were currently only undergoing the second stage of intensified training.
There would be a more difficult third stage later, and even a practical graduation exam simulating a real battlefield environment.
But now, Gu Lina Zha had seen the so-called "second stage" with her own eyes and already felt her scalp tingle.
Her original purpose for participating in this program was ridiculously simple.
It was just to be able to stay in the same city as him.
To have the chance to see him more often.
To have more time to spend with him.
But now, it seemed she had completely misunderstood.
Once training began, let alone a sweet two-person world, it might even be difficult to see him.
Not only would she not see him, but she would also have to endure this inhuman torment here.
As soon as she thought of this, a huge sense of grievance welled up in her heart.
She felt like a fool, having stumbled into a situation she couldn't control at all.
She came for him, and she suffered for him, yet he knew nothing.
Gu Lina Zha leaned weakly against the window frame.
Watching the tireless figures on the training ground, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
At the same time, in a new recruit training camp not far from the military base.
Another smaller, but equally strict "wake-up service" was also underway.
"Get up! Everyone, get up!"
The sharp whistle and the instructor's shouts.
Made Yang Zi, Zhang Zifeng, Guan Xiaotong, and others jolt awake from their sleep, springing up from their beds.
"Quick! Quick! Quick! Assemble downstairs! You have five minutes!"
The girls clumsily put on the camouflage T-shirts and shorts uniformly issued by the production team.
Their eyes were still blurry with sleep, and their faces were filled with misery.
"Oh my god, what time is it?"
Yu Shuxin mumbled, putting on her shoes.
"I feel like I just fell asleep."
Bai Lu yawned, her eyes barely open.
Ju Jingyi silently tidied her clothes; although she didn't speak.
But her tightly furrowed brows also revealed her emotions.
Five minutes later, the female guests, without makeup.
Stood in various postures in the open space downstairs from the dormitory building.
"Attention! Right dress! Eyes front!"
A dark-skinned, lean assistant instructor stood in front of them, his voice booming.
"From today until official entry into the camp, you will undergo two hours of physical conditioning training every day!"
"Now, everyone, warm-up exercises! One, two, three, four..."
The next two hours were a nightmare for these pampered female celebrities.
Running, squats, push-ups...
Each exercise challenged their physical limits.
Yang Zi was out of breath, feeling like her lungs were about to explode.
Guan Xiaotong, with her advantage of height and long legs, found running relatively easy.
But her core strength was quite lacking.
Zhang Zifeng, on the other hand, gritted her teeth and persevered without a sound.
Sweat continuously streamed down her cheeks.
Two hours later, when the assistant instructor announced dismissal for rest.
Everyone collapsed onto the ground as if their bones had been removed.
Just then, Director Ding Hui, the program's general director, walked over with a few staff members.
He had a kind smile on his face, looking at this group of "ragtag soldiers."
"Teachers, you've worked hard," Ding Hui said with a smile.
"Director Ding, this isn't hard work, this is life-threatening!"
Yu Shuxin dramatically lay on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Is this just a warm-up? I can't imagine what it'll be like later."
Ding Hui cleared his throat, his expression becoming a bit more serious.
"I have an important announcement for everyone."
The girls' attention was immediately captured, and they all sat up straight.
"Tomorrow morning at eight, we will officially assemble at the Haining City Armed Forces Department for the opening ceremony."
"At that time, you will officially enter the camp and begin your special forces life experience."
Ding Hui paused, then dropped an even bigger bombshell.
"In addition, after our final negotiations with the military and the platform.
"To maximize the authenticity of the training, the broadcasting method of this program will undergo significant adjustments."
"We will abandon the traditional recorded and edited mode and switch to... live online broadcast with a one-hour delay."