Chapter 35: All Breaking Records

Lin Yiwen waved a greeting: "Zhuang Yun!"

Zhuang Yun turned her head abruptly: "Brother Lin! Why are you here too?"

Lin Yiwen feigned composure: "The lab had too many tasks today; I just finished."

"How about we go to my place and eat?"

Zhuang Yun’s eyes brightened instantly, and she seemed to come alive: "Yes, please! It’s been so long since I’ve tasted the chef’s cooking!"

It happened to be Friday evening, and the military academy had lifted its lockdown. The two went to a supermarket outside the school to buy groceries and various ingredients.

Carrying bags in both hands, Lin Yiwen listened as Zhuang Yun chatted happily about the interesting things that had happened to her over the past few days.

Just as they were about to reach home, they turned a corner and bumped straight into Dean Qian and the Academy President behind him. The air seemed to freeze, and the scene became momentarily awkward.

The President whispered to Dean Qian: "So, the girlfriend you mentioned for young Lin is Zhuang Yun!"

Dean Qian was taken aback: "Oh! You know her?"

The President replied: "Who in this school doesn't know her?"

Upon hearing the word "girlfriend," Lin Yiwen instantly turned red: "President! You’ve misunderstood!"

His fingers unconsciously rubbed the handle of the shopping bag, the rough plastic texture making his palms burn.

The President gave him a look so meaningful it seemed as if he were trying to see through Lin Yiwen’s hidden agenda.

Dean Qian laughed heartily: "Young Lin, today was meant to be an introduction between you and the President, but since you’ve already met, we won’t disturb you two lovebirds any longer!"

As the President led the group away, he didn't forget to look back and throw out one last comment: "Young people, you know—buying groceries and cooking together, simple living is where the romance lies!"

...

Zhuang Yun, trailing behind, was completely bewildered. She hadn’t been the one they were looking for, and she hadn’t taken in a single word of their conversation.

Lin Yiwen, however, stood frozen in place for a long time, as if struck by lightning.

In the kitchen, the warm yellow light cast long, intertwined shadows of the two.

Zhuang Yun hummed a tuneless song, helping to prepare the green peppers. Water droplets slid down her wrists and into her sleeves, feeling cool against her skin.

Lin Yiwen’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the knife. The tomato juice on the cutting board snaked like blood. He thought to himself: *Mech infantry have the highest casualty rate on the battlefield. I must improve my skills quickly so I can craft the best, most suitable mecha for her.*

"Hey, what are you spacing out for?" A cold green pepper suddenly pressed against his earlobe.

Lin Yiwen jumped in fright, stepping back and bumping his waist against the stove, his foot slipping.

Zhuang Yun was quick-witted and caught him by the waist, their eyelashes nearly touching.

"Brother Lin! Are you alright?" Her breath carried the sweet scent of peach soda.

"I’m... fine..." The sudden physical contact made Lin Yiwen’s heart hammer like a drum, and he stood up in a flurry.

Before long, a sumptuous meal was spread out before them.

***

Zhuang Yun ate heartily, full of praise: "Brother Lin, your cooking is truly divine! If I lose you, I’ll have no more good fortune in my life."

Lin Yiwen smiled faintly: "By the way! Since tomorrow is the weekend, we could go explore the downtown area of District 10."

"Sounds great! I’ve heard it’s very lively there!" Zhuang Yun said excitedly.

Suddenly, Zhuang Yun’s optical computer chimed. Checking the message, she saw that the mech infantry department would continue training tomorrow. She handed the device to Lin Yiwen with a mournful face: "My weekend... it’s ruined!"

The next morning.

"Today’s training project is an obstacle course!" Instructor Deng stood by the training field. "Twenty kilometers, twenty obstacle points! Same as before: you don't eat until you finish!"

Zhuang Yun stood at the starting line, loosening her wrists and ankles.

She glanced at her classmates nearby; they looked like wilted eggplants, completely listless—it was clear that yesterday’s weighted run had left many of them still struggling to recover.

"Ready—go!"

At the command, the crowd surged forward like arrows released from a bow. Zhuang Yun, however, followed at an unhurried pace, moving with the "Cloud-Stepping Gait" of the Cloud Hidden Sect. It looked leisurely, but it was actually full of hidden depth.

With no weights today, Zhuang Yun ran even more easily.

The first obstacle was a high wall.

The students in front slowed down one after another, scrambling up with hands and feet.

Zhuang Yun suddenly accelerated, leaping into the air three meters from the wall. Her toes tapped the surface twice, and she flipped over like a swallow.

"This... how is this possible?" The students behind were stunned.

Zhuang Yun paused. *No! This won't do! They’re too slow; I have to wait for them, or I’ll miss lunch again!*

So, Zhuang Yun turned back. Grabbing one student in each hand, she easily pulled those who were struggling over the wall.

Moving forward, they soon reached the second obstacle—the barbed wire.

She dropped to the ground, but instead of crawling like the others, she braced her hands and slid along the earth like a snake, moving at an astonishing speed.

"Is she flying?" a student exclaimed.

Was there a rock blocking the path? She shattered it with a single punch, carving out a smooth road for the students behind.

The remaining obstacles were a piece of cake for Zhuang Yun.

A balance beam? She walked it as if it were flat ground. After crossing, she cut down a tree and laid it alongside, allowing more students to pass quickly.

A deep pit? She leaped over it in one bound. Afterward, she quickly hauled large stones for the others to jump across, then put them back in place once everyone had passed.

The students were deeply puzzled: the obstacles had seemed quite difficult at the start, so why were they getting easier as they went on?

Li Yun remained at the front. Today, Zhuang Yun was no longer behind him to pose a threat, which made him feel slightly smug.

***

However, this smugness did not last long; the main force behind him was catching up.

Zhou Fanyi had been a fierce rival of Li Yun since their days at the preparatory academy.

Seeing Li Yun’s back, Zhou Fanyi’s eyes turned red: "Li the Dog! Watch your daddy catch up to you!" He hadn't been able to swallow his pride after taking only third place in yesterday’s cross-country run.

The two chased each other, the distance closing rapidly.

"First place, Zhou Fanyi."

"Yeah!..." Zhou Fanyi collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

Instructor Deng looked at the numbers in disbelief, "Another record broken!"

The main force followed, running in.

Instructor Deng twitched his mouth. What kind of monsters were in this class? They had all broken the school team’s records from the past decade...

At this moment, Zhuang Yun was supporting Su Qingtian as they ran.

Su Qingtian was panting heavily: "Thank you! It’s me who dragged you down."

Zhuang Yun looked completely relaxed, smiling brightly: "It's nothing!"

"You really are a great person!"

"Ah! Yes! I just love helping others!" Zhuang Yun laughed heartily.

Seeing her up close, Zhuang Yun finally noticed the jade earring on Su Qingtian’s left ear; the pattern was incredibly strange. She had felt physically uncomfortable during yesterday's cross-country run, and now it seemed the problem originated from this earring.

"Your earring is so beautiful!"

Su Qingtian was startled and explained: "It’s called the Wind-Listening Jade..."

Zhuang Yun wanted to chat more, but the two had already reached the finish line.

Instructor Deng nodded with satisfaction: *Not bad. She took second place yesterday, and today she’s learned to show solidarity and help her classmates! She is teachable!*

To his surprise, Zhuang Yun added: "Instructor Deng, we’ve all finished. Can we go eat now?"

Instructor Deng: ...So that’s what it was!

After the group was dismissed, Instructor Deng still felt something was off. He ran a lap along the obstacle course but found absolutely nothing.

"Truly strange!"

Just then, Instructor Deng received a text message:

[Instructor Deng, please come to the monitoring room.]