"Mind your own business when it comes to her affairs."
Duan Chen’s brows lifted slightly; he had truly never seen Lu Ziqing so particularly concerned about any woman before...
Since Lu Ziqing had made himself clear, prying further was not Duan Chen’s style.
"She’s applying to Xilin Military Academy, you’re not going to pull strings for her, are you?"
"...Don’t underestimate me, Duan Chen."
After lunch, Song Lili found a chair and continued to review the examination materials.
She looked up to see Lu Ziqing, neatly dressed in his military uniform, walking in,
"Let’s go, I’ll take you to your quarters."
When Song Lili had seen him earlier, she was still angry, but now her anger had dissipated, and after giving it some thought, she figured she might have done the same if she were in his shoes.
After all, her behavior and language had become suspicious first; it was only reasonable for this senior officer to check her background.
"Come on, give me your suitcase, I’ll carry it."
"I can carry it myself."
"Give it to me. While someone still treats you like a lady, enjoy it. Once you’re in the academy, you won’t get this kind of treatment."
The words that came out of his mouth were always teasing and mockingly indifferent.
The jeep was parked on the path outside; Lu Ziqing even gentlemanly opened the door for her, letting her sit in the passenger seat.
As for what Duan Chen had said, Lu Ziqing kept it to himself and didn’t ask Song Lili anything. Instead, he began reminiscing,
"Do you remember falling flat on your face into a pile of dog shit in front of me?"
Song Lili took a deep breath. Did Lu Ziqing really have to bring up that incident as soon as he opened his mouth?
"That year you were ten, I remember clearly. You were wearing two pigtails, hopping and running over to me, dressed like a tomboy. I recall the day was particularly nice, the sun was shining brightly, how did you just happen to trip and fall right into a pile of dog shit? Hahaha! It still cracks me up every time I think of it!"
He was driving and laughing heartily.
This man... was the prestigious commander of the Xilin Military District.
Her memory of him was too vague. On closer inspection, he had thick eyebrows and big eyes, the kind of ruggedly handsome associated with manliness, his skin a healthy wheat color, a bit rough—quite the military standard.
"What, can’t take a joke?"
Song Lili smiled wryly, thinking to herself, let it go; after all, she was under his roof, and she was broad-minded and generous enough to let bygones be bygones.
"I thought Brother Lu would have a more composed personality."
"Do you like composed men?"
Song Lili looked at Lu Ziqing, her brows arching, wasn’t this change of topic a bit abrupt and peculiar?
"Shy and too embarrassed to say it?"
Song Lili pursed her lips, considering he had asked, she might as well answer; otherwise, wouldn’t she seem disrespectful to her superior?
"Indeed, compared to being scheming and sharp-tongued, lively and bouncy, I do prefer someone a bit more composed."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ziqing suddenly laughed again,
"Scheming and sharp-tongued, lively and bouncy, are you talking about me?"
Song Lili looked straight ahead, not hiding her implication, "Brother Lu is quite self-aware."
"If scheming and sharp-tongued, lively and bouncy is me, then who is the composed one?"
The light-hearted smile that had just appeared on Song Lili’s face suddenly stiffened.
Lu Ziqing glanced at her from the corner of his eye and caught her expression freezing, "Oh? Is there really someone like that? Tsk tsk..."
"You’re at the age where it’s normal to have crushes; what’s there to be embarrassed about?"
"I said there isn’t!"