Zhou Chenguang listened from the side, thought for a moment, and then began to explain.
"What's so hard to understand about this?"
"Dating isn't an interrogation; you can't just lay all your cards on the table right away."
"I think it's like our guerrilla warfare, testing little by little, building trust little by little. Maybe Sister-in-law..."
"Ahem, maybe Gu Lina Zha hasn't found the right opportunity to explain it clearly to Captain Lu."
Although their discussion was quiet, every word drifted into Lu Mingyu's ears.
He recovered from his initial shock, lowered his head, and looked at the smiling face on the document, his eyes gradually becoming complex.
Shock, helplessness, and finally, a touch of amusement.
A faint smile, unprecedented, appeared on his usually stern face.
Well, well, Gu Lina Zha.
You hide things quite well, don't you?
You even dared to come to my territory to participate in a show.
Just you wait, I'll show you how I'll "deal with" you then.
Lu Mingyu thought to himself, the curve of his lips unconsciously widening a little more.
"Ahem!"
He lightly coughed, instantly reining in all emotions, returning to his cold and serious Captain Lu demeanor.
"Stop chatting, everyone."
Lu Mingyu's voice was not loud, but it was full of authority.
"Read the rest of the documents carefully."
"Especially their physical assessment reports. Remember each person's strengths and weaknesses."
"Yes, Captain Lu!"
The team members immediately put away their gossiping thoughts and responded in unison.
They refocused their attention on the documents in their hands.
Li Xiaoniu, while reading, still couldn't help but be curious.
He cautiously looked up and asked,
"Then... Captain Lu, when they arrive later, should we..."
"Should we pretend not to know Sister-in-law... no, Gu Lina Zha?"
As soon as this question was asked, everyone perked up their ears, waiting for Lu Mingyu's answer.
Lu Mingyu nodded decisively, with hardly any hesitation.
"Yes, just pretend not to know her."
His gaze swept across each team member's face, his tone exceptionally serious.
"From now until the end of the show's recording."
"She and I are in a relationship of instructor and trainee. You and she are also in the same relationship."
"Why, Captain Lu?"
Li Xiaoniu asked, puzzled.
"This is a show being recorded, and the whole country is watching."
Lu Mingyu patiently explained.
"If we show that we know each other, what will others think?"
"They'll say she got in through the back door, that I'll give her special treatment, that she was able to come to the show entirely because of our relationship."
"At that time, no matter how hard or diligently she trains, all her achievements will be wiped out by these rumors."
"This is unfair to her. I don't want her to bear this unnecessary pressure and online bullying."
Upon hearing this, the team members understood.
Captain Lu was protecting Gu Lina Zha.
Zhou Chenguang slapped Li Xiaoniu on the back of the head and warned him solemnly,
"Hear that, Water Buffalo! Control your mouth. Don't go around calling her 'Sister-in-law' out of habit."
"Also, don't always think about secretly giving her extra meals or water. Is that caring? You're harming her!"
"If it gets caught on camera by chance..."
"The netizens' spit will drown both Captain Lu and Sister-in-law. Then Captain Lu will come looking for you!"
"Got it, got it!"
Li Xiaoniu nodded repeatedly, promising with a serious expression,
"I promise to keep my mouth shut!"
Just as they were discussing, the sound of a car engine approached from a distance.
Minutes later, a luxurious bus slowly drove into the internal parking lot of the Cheetah Special Forces Brigade.
It finally came to a steady stop.
Inside the bus, Gu Lina Zha's heart was so excited it felt like it would leap out of her chest.
Through the window, she looked at the green camp outside, filled with a sense of solemnity.
She watched the soldiers in camouflage uniforms, standing tall and straight, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
This was his world.
The bus door opened with a soft click.
The soldiers from the security department, who had been waiting there, immediately stepped forward and stood in a line in front of the door, their expressions serious.
"Please, guests, disembark in order for a security check."
The female celebrities got off the bus one after another, their expressions varying as they looked at the scene before them.
There was curiosity, nervousness, and a bit of unease.
When it was Gu Lina Zha's turn, the young soldier responsible for the check paused noticeably when he saw her face.
There was some surprise in his eyes.
This... isn't this Captain Lu's girlfriend?
The soldier's memory was very clear.
Just half an hour ago, he was on duty at the base gate.
He had personally seen Captain Lu holding this girl's hand, talking in low voices, looking intimately close.
At that time, Captain Lu had even told her to wait for the show's bus here.
But he was a qualified soldier of the Special Forces Brigade, and discipline was ingrained in his bones.
What to say, what not to say, what to ask, what not to ask, he knew clearly in his heart.
Matters outside his scope of duty, even if seen, were as good as not seen.
The soldier's momentary daze lasted less than a second before he quickly reverted to his professional and detached demeanor.
He held the security inspection device in his hand and scanned Gu Lina Zha in a businesslike manner.
"Please turn around."
His voice was steady, betraying no emotion.
Gu Lina Zha obediently turned around, cooperating with the inspection.
After the check was completed, the soldier said expressionlessly,
"Alright, next."
With that, he directly bypassed Gu Lina Zha and began to inspect Bai Lu, who was behind her.
Half an hour later, all personnel and luggage passed the strict security checks.
On the other side, the production crew members were bustling with activity.
Various cameras, lighting equipment, and sound equipment were quickly moved from the equipment truck.
And assembled with extremely high efficiency.
Director Ding Hui held a walkie-talkie, loudly directing the scene.
"All camera positions, attention! Are you all ready?"
Responses from various teams came through the walkie-talkie.
"Director, the live stream is already on, signal is stable."
An assistant ran over to report,
"As you instructed, the live stream is currently showing a one-hour delayed feed."
"The content is the guest personal introductions and the training camp promotional video that we previously edited."
"Very good."
Ding Hui nodded with satisfaction.
He glanced at the seven female guests who were already lined up, and then at the photographers who were ready to go.
He raised his hand, took a deep breath, and then sharply swung it down.
"Start filming!"
At his command, the red indicator lights on top of more than a dozen cameras on site instantly lit up simultaneously.
A young assistant, wearing a crisp military uniform with an officer's rank on his shoulder, stepped out of a military commuter vehicle.
He quickly walked to the seven female guests and gave a standard military salute.
"Hello, guests, I am the Commander's assistant."
"Next, I will lead you to the training base for this program's recording."
His gaze swept over each of the seven faces.
When he saw Gu Lina Zha, he nodded almost imperceptibly, then shifted his gaze.
This movement was extremely subtle, so quick that almost no one noticed.
But Gu Lina Zha clearly caught it.
She understood in her heart.
Presumably, the Commander already knew about her and Lu Mingyu's relationship.
In front of outsiders, they would pretend not to know her to avoid unnecessary speculation.
"Please follow me."
The assistant finished speaking, then turned and led the way.