Song Lili saw Lin Xinglan still fumbling with her jacket, furrowed her brow, sighed, and then continued to run outside.
Lin Xinglan blinked, originally not too concerned, but seeing that Tang Xiaohua didn’t even have the time to speak to her, she subconsciously became anxious and, clutching her own clothes, hurriedly ran out.
"Xiao Hua! Xiao Hua, wait for me!"
Upon hearing Lin Xinglan’s voice calling her from behind, Song Lili’s scalp went numb.
"You’re running way too fast!"
Lin Xinglan finally caught up with Tang Xiaohua, panting heavily.
Time was already pressing, and with Lin Xinglan pulling and dragging her , they lost several more seconds!
"Hurry up! Stop blabbering!"
Song Lili couldn’t stand Lin Xinglan’s dawdling nature and dragged her along as they ran toward the field! They finally made it to the gathering place within three minutes!
Once Lin Xinglan arrived at the spot, she plopped down on the ground, her legs numb.
Song Lili couldn’t worry about being tired, for on the field Lu Ziqing stood in full uniform in front of them, hands clasped behind his back. He glanced at the time and stated flatly, "Time’s up."
Then two rows of soldiers circled up on the field, separating those who gathered within three minutes from those who were late.
The students outside the circle, some missed it by just one or two seconds, some were still putting on their clothes, some were still running from a distance toward here.
"Reporting to Senior Lu, I am late."
A boy outside the circle, neatly dressed, said earnestly.
Lu Ziqing nodded, "I saw."
The boy looked at Lu Ziqing, "Senior Lu, may I rejoin the ranks now?"
Lu Ziqing knew the boy in front of him, the son of a high-ranking military officer from the military region’s high command, quite promising, but unfortunately, he couldn’t escape the sense of superiority ingrained in him by his wealthy upbringing.
"Qiu Liqun, you’re disqualified. Go back to the dorm and continue sleeping."
Qiu Liqun thought he had heard wrong, "Senior Lu, just because I’m two seconds late, I’m disqualified?"
Lu Ziqing nodded, "Anyone who is late is disqualified."
"Senior Lu, it takes quite an effort to run here from the dormitory buildings within three minutes, just because—"
"Student Qiu, take a good look, there are eighty-two students here. They made it."
Qiu Liqun was suddenly speechless.
The students outside the circle were filled with indignant dissatisfaction, but the stark reality faced was right before their eyes; regardless of how excessive Lu Ziqing’s demands might seem, there were always people... who made it.
"Senior Lu, to disqualify us based just on this seems unfair to us."
"Who do you think you are, to question a superior’s decision?!"
Lu Ziqing’s voice deepened, and he glared with intimidating presence, silencing everyone immediately.
A group of people, with reluctance and regret, trudged back to the dorms.
And the other group... felt relief and trepidation.
"I want to select those who have the potential to become officers in the future, who can do what others can’t do, and who then have the right to be called an officer."
Lu Ziqing’s gaze swept over the "qualified ones."
Song Lili stood erect, her expression still resolute.
Lin Xinglan was shocked; had it not been for Tang Xiaohua pulling her along, she would have already been disqualified...
She subconsciously looked toward Song Lili standing beside her in a military stance and a trace of respect appeared in Lin Xinglan’s eyes.
"You’ve done well! But not well enough!"
"I want to inform you that the selection for officer candidates is officially starting. In front of you are backpacks with food, water, and the items you will need for what comes next. However, I did not expect eighty-two people to gather on time; I have only prepared forty backpacks."
In the night, the eyes of eighty-two individuals glowed green like wolves in the jungle, eyeing the backpacks.