Chapter 82: Someone Has Your Back

Because Shen Chaoxi was brought in by Lu Fifteen, the soldiers guarding Area A did not stop them, but let them enter.

Inside the training ground surrounded by barbed wire, a man stood tall and upright in a crisp military uniform, his legs long and straight, his stature imposing. His expression was stern, his presence commanding—he seemed like a graphite sketch, severe and unyielding. It was as if all the trainees had faded to black and white, training with mechanical determination, sweating and striving relentlessly.

Lu Yunzhou’s jet-black eyes watched them, oblivious to the girl approaching from afar. His aura was icy and forbidding, warning strangers to keep their distance; even the soldiers training there feared him, for everyone knew Instructor Lu was exceedingly strict.

Lu Yunzhou raised his arm, walking steadily to the left as he timed the second group’s shooting results on his stopwatch. Suddenly, he caught sight of a slender young girl not far away. She faced him, but did not approach.

Lu Yunzhou’s brow arched slightly.

Lu Fifteen followed behind Shen Chaoxi, anxious and uneasy, fretful as he tried to persuade her. His expression was urgent as he spoke, “Miss Shen, our captain is busy with training. You mustn’t trouble him.”

“You’ve seen enough now, shouldn’t we head back?” If he had known, Lu Fifteen would never have agreed to bring her here. After all, this was not a place open for casual visitors. Yet Miss Shen claimed she was bored in the dormitory and wanted to come out, insisting she wanted to see their captain. Helpless, he had to bring her.

They had agreed she would only look for a moment. Now she had, surely it was time to leave? Before departing, the captain had told him to take good care of Miss Shen. He could not ignore her wishes, so he brought her here. But the captain’s orders were clear: no unrelated persons were allowed in the training grounds. If Lu Yunzhou found out he had brought someone unrelated into Area A, he’d likely be in for a fierce reprimand!

Lu Fifteen was genuinely nervous.

“Am I not allowed to see him?” Shen Chaoxi’s pale face, her soft hair tousled from a nap, made her appear even more delicate. Her skin was so fair it seemed to glow under the sun; her eyes were misty, her lips faintly pale with illness, enhancing her fragile beauty. She stared at Lu Fifteen and asked.

“?” Lu Fifteen was startled, his eyes wide. What did she mean, she couldn’t see their captain? Hadn’t he brought her here already?

Just as Lu Fifteen was staring at Shen Chaoxi, baffled by her sudden, pitiable words, a cold voice broke the quiet.

“Awake?”

“Mm.” The girl nodded obediently.

---

“He wouldn’t let me come find you. He said I might trouble you…” Shen Chaoxi’s voice was barely audible. She lowered her head, her soft voice and long curled lashes casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes, as though she’d suffered a grievance. She looked fragile, needing someone to stand up for her.

Lu Yunzhou frowned.

His dark, chilling gaze landed on Lu Fifteen, who happened to look up in shock and met his captain’s eyes.

“But… Captain?” Lu Fifteen was stunned. What was going on?

“When did I ever say that…” Lu Fifteen tried to defend himself, but realized those words had indeed just left his mouth—his gaze wandered, confidence faltering.

Lu Yunzhou took in his reaction, knowing perfectly well what had transpired. Otherwise, the girl would not be standing there, unwilling to come closer.

“Go train.”

Lu Yunzhou’s cool voice carried an undeniable authority—a hint of retribution.

“Huh? Me?!” Lu Fifteen stared in disbelief. Did he need to train here?

“Captain!” He wanted to protest further, but Lu Yunzhou’s chilling glance silenced him at once. He lowered his head, feeling dejected.

“Yes, Captain.”

Lu Fifteen could only obediently join the others in training.

“Isn’t staying in the dormitory fun?”

Lu Yunzhou’s deep, obsidian eyes, with slightly downturned corners, softened as he looked at the pale, ailing girl before him. Despite his cool tone, there was an underlying tenderness.

The girl nodded.

The sun shone above his head, and within his pool-black eyes, no one could fathom his emotions. He, too, seemed as enigmatic as his gaze—deep, austere, and emotionally restrained.

“Captain, reporting!”

“All six shooting groups have completed their tasks for today. Awaiting instructions!”

Just then, a clear young man’s voice rang out. A soldier in uniform ran up to Lu Yunzhou, quickly saluting. Yet, the young soldier couldn’t help but glance curiously at the girl standing beside Lu Yunzhou.

His curiosity was irrepressible.

He wondered how the captain could have such a frail young girl at his side. It wasn’t just him; even the soldiers on the field were intrigued.

“Continue extra training,” Lu Yunzhou ordered coldly.

---

“Yes, sir!”

Training in the heat of summer was exhausting, but as soldiers, they could not fear hardship or fatigue; only through relentless effort could they hone real skill.

Lu Yunzhou was indeed strict.

After instructing the reporting soldier, he turned, his tall, upright figure standing at the edge of the field. His deep, black eyes, holding unfathomable emotions, fell upon Shen Chaoxi’s face.

“Come. I’ll take you to eat.”

He lowered his cold voice.

The girl nodded.

“Who do you think that girl beside Captain Lu is?” one soldier teased.

“Who else could she be? Either his girlfriend or his sister!”

“His sister? Please!” Suddenly, a flick on the head made one soldier wince, as someone chimed in, “I heard Xiao Deng say something about the officers’ dormitory today. Guess what?”

“What?”

Their curiosity was piqued.

“Captain Lu, they say, is hiding a young girl in his room!”

The speaker grinned in excitement.

“No way, is that true?” And so, whispers spread across the training ground. Truth and rumor blurred; whichever sounded plausible, they believed.

They watched as the captain leaned down to say something to the girl, then walked off with her.

Unbeknownst to them, this scene was observed from afar by Mu Ting, standing on the other side of the field. Her expression changed, she lowered her raised camera, fingers trembling, her face darkening.

Lu Yunzhou brought Shen Chaoxi to the military base cafeteria.

He was worried she had fainted in the morning and missed lunch. After a few hours’ sleep, he feared her stomach might be upset, so he brought her to eat.

But did this mean he would neglect his training?