The other female guests, hearing about this reward, also cast envious glances.
"Gu Lina Zha."
Lu Mingyu's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable command.
Gu Lina Zha immediately stood at attention, awaiting Lu Mingyu's instructions.
Lu Mingyu picked up a high school geography textbook from the table.
The cover was emblazoned with the large characters "High School Geography Compulsory One," and he handed it to Gu Lina Zha.
"This book is a geography textbook for first-year high school students."
"In ten days, I will give you a private geography test."
Gu Lina Zha took the textbook, her body stiffening slightly, as if she had a premonition.
"If you don't pass, you'll sleep one hour less every night."
As soon as Lu Mingyu finished speaking, Gu Lina Zha's face fell, her eyes filled with resentment.
Sleep one hour less?
This was even more painful than physical training!
She looked up at Lu Mingyu, trying to see if there was any room for negotiation on his face.
But Lu Mingyu's expression remained stern, without the slightest waver.
Gu Lina Zha could only sigh helplessly, clutching the geography textbook in her hands.
As night deepened, the lights in the dormitory seemed exceptionally bright.
Gu Lina Zha returned to the dormitory, holding the brand-new "High School Geography Compulsory One."
She walked silently to her bunk, sat down, and then opened the first page of the book.
The dense text and colorful maps on the pages made her feel a dizzy spell.
Just then, the dormitory door was pushed open, and Yang Zi walked in, a bag of snacks in her hand and a smile on her face.
"Naza, come quickly, come quickly! The Instructor is treating us, there's so much good food!"
Yang Zi's voice was filled with unconcealed joy.
She placed the bag on the table, making an enticing rustling sound.
Potato chips, chocolates, beef jerky—all sorts of snacks spilled out.
The other female guests also gathered around, their eyes full of envy.
"Wow, Yang Zi, you're so lucky!"
"The Instructor is actually so nice, he even let you pick them yourself."
Yang Zi smiled triumphantly, picked up a bag of potato chips, and handed it to Gu Lina Zha.
"Naza, you eat some too, stop looking at that."
Her gaze fell on the geography textbook in Gu Lina Zha's hand, and the smile on her face froze for a moment.
"You're not really going to read this, are you?"
Bai Lu also leaned in, asking in confusion:
"Naza, the Instructor is just trying to scare us, right? How could he really make you take a test on this?"
"Yeah, this is too outrageous. We're here to be special forces soldiers, not to take the college entrance exam."
Another female guest echoed.
Yang Zi also said:
"How about we go talk to the director team? This isn't reasonable."
Gu Lina Zha looked up at their concerned eyes and gently shook her head.
She closed the book and analyzed calmly:
"Do you think it'll be useful if we make a fuss?"
"The contract we signed before coming here clearly states, in black and white, that we must obey all arrangements made by the program team and the Instructor."
"Moreover, this is a real military camp, and Instructor Lu is a real special forces captain, not an actor playing an instructor."
"Our identity here is, first and foremost, reserve soldiers, and only then celebrity guests."
"If we go against him, what do you think the consequences will be?"
Gu Lina Zha's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the small flame of rebellion that had just ignited in everyone's hearts.
Everyone looked at each other, and then fell silent.
Yes, they knew the binding power of the contract better than anyone.
What's more, the unquestionable iron-blooded military aura emanating from Lu Mingyu made them feel awe and timidity from the bottom of their hearts.
"But… to finish a geography book in ten days, and then have a test, and if we don't pass, we sleep one hour less—this is just too…"
Bai Lu still found it hard to accept.
Gu Lina Zha gave a bitter smile and reopened the book.
"No choice, who told me my geography was so bad."
She didn't say much more, but she thought even more.
If she didn't study, and failed the test in ten days, what would happen?
Lu Mingyu was a man of his word; he would definitely punish her.
At that time, if she slept one hour less every day, her mental state would definitely be affected.
The subsequent training tasks would likely drag down the entire team.
Moreover, this matter would definitely be broadcast live.
What would netizens say?
They would say that Lu Mingyu, as the chief instructor, was giving special treatment to a female celebrity, using this method as indirect punishment.
Or, if Lu Mingyu softened and didn't really punish her.
Netizens would then say he was acting out of favoritism, giving special consideration to her, a "flower vase."
No matter the outcome, it would bring trouble to Lu Mingyu and affect the program's reputation.
She didn't want to implicate the team, and even less did she want that outwardly cold but inwardly warm instructor to be caught in a maelstrom of public opinion because of her.
His not announcing the scores today was already protecting the face of all of them.
She couldn't be so thoughtless.
Thinking of this, Gu Lina Zha took a deep breath, and her eyes became resolute.
It's just a geography book, isn't it?
Read!
She started to painstakingly digest it, word by word.
Forcibly cramming those unfamiliar mountains, rivers, and climate zones into her mind.
...
At the same time, in the base's monitoring room.
On the huge screen wall, divided into dozens of small grids, real-time footage of various corners of the camp area was clearly displayed.
Lu Mingyu sat in front of the main control panel, his gaze sweeping over each screen.
Beside him stood his team members, Zhou Chenguang and Li Xiaoniu.
"All trainees have turned off their lights and gone to bed. The female guest dormitory has also quieted down."
Zhou Chenguang reported.
Lu Mingyu nodded, his gaze lingering on the female guest dormitory's surveillance footage for a second.
In the picture, only one bunk still had a faint desk lamp glowing, which belonged to Gu Lina Zha.
He withdrew his gaze and issued a command in a cold voice.
"Notify everyone: tomorrow morning at five o'clock, all trainees, including the female guests, full gear, assemble on the parade ground."
"Yes!" Zhou Chenguang immediately responded.
Li Xiaoniu, standing nearby, couldn't help but shrink his neck and mutter quietly.
"Boss, get up at five? These female celebrities are going to go crazy, aren't they?"
He then winked and nudged closer to Lu Mingyu, lowering his voice to tease:
"Especially sister-in-law... cough, especially Gu Lina Zha."
"She's definitely going to stay up late studying tonight. You're still making her get up at five tomorrow; aren't you afraid she'll hit you with the geography book?"
Lu Mingyu didn't even lift an eyelid, speaking indifferently.
"Li Xiaoniu, I see you have a lot of energy."
"Tomorrow morning's five-kilometer cross-country run, you'll run with them."
Li Xiaoniu's face instantly fell, and he immediately stood at attention, almost saluting.
"Reporting, Instructor! I was wrong!"
"I'm not energetic at all!"
"I'll go optimize tomorrow's training plan tonight!"
Lu Mingyu spoke blandly.
"Get out and write your plan."
"Yes! Mission accomplished, guaranteed!"
Li Xiaoniu, as if granted a great pardon, darted out of the monitoring room.
...
At the same time, in a quiet family compound, the Lu family's house was brightly lit.
Zheng Qing had just returned from the hospital, still carrying a faint scent of disinfectant.
She was the director of the Haining City Third Military Region Hospital.
She casually placed her bag on the sofa, picked up a patient file, and was about to go to the study to continue her research.
Before she had taken two steps, her husband Lu Qi grabbed her wrist.
"Hey, where are you going?" Lu Qi asked.