The Military Queen-Chapter 71 - 62: So It Was You

（Achieving three hundred collections seems hopeless, %>_<%, hands out begging for collections, and recommendations for my latest book *Rebirth Space Farming*, rushing to the new book list thanks everyone.）

"Who allowed you to wash dishes for them? Get out and run as a punishment..." Ren Minghang couldn’t stand bullying incidents, whether it’s the role of the bully or being timidly bullied, in a disciplined and fair military academy like Longzhi Academy, none of this should happen. The students of Longzhi Academy, who are the future officers, should all get along harmoniously.

A murmur rose among the crowd, Xia You’s hand still suspended mid-air, and if someone were to look closely at her hand, they would see her fingers slightly curled, with joints showing a pale blue, like a hand recoiling, ready to strike.

"You... run on the track and field," Ren Minghang had heard that there was a disturbance in the cafeteria and rushed over. The stack of dishes was piled high, and by the time he knocked down the pile and saw who it was, he realized it was the female student he had encountered at the City Library.

That student from the library that day? Xia You noticed the person wasn’t wearing that purple-gold basketball outfit anymore but had changed into a gray-green instructor’s uniform, also bearing a military rank on his shoulder, a Sergeant like Yu Xiaonan, likely a graduate given Longzhi Academy’s standards.

To be precise, Ren Minghang was a staying-instructor assistant at Longzhi Academy; he was one of the outstanding graduates from the previous batch, and because of his personal excellence and good background, he was granted a position to stay and teach at the school. He was responsible for the daily discipline during the orientation of new cadets.

Ren Minghang also recognized Xia You, his heart pounding as if beaten by a hammer. He didn’t expect that the female student who felt aggrieved was the one he briefly glimpsed at the City Library. There weren’t many female students at the military academy, and with Ren Minghang being straightforward, during his four university years, he had only dated a girlfriend introduced by his parents, which ended quickly due to his reticent nature. He thought he would never encounter a woman he felt connected to, until that day at the City Library with Xia You.

He was excited, stuttering more as he spoke and not knowing where to direct his gaze. Recognizing Ren Minghang, a good number of students noticed him fumble through his commands without announcing the expected punishment, causing an even louder uproar, especially from the group of blonde female students, who complained discontentedly.

"No noise," Ren Minghang scolded sharply, his tone finally smoothing out. He turned back to look at Xia You, just in time to catch her exceedingly clear eyes that seemed to draw him in completely. His heart raced again, and his tone changed as he spoke, "You too, run... three laps around the track... okay?" That last "okay?" he asked made the surrounding watching students nearly burst into laughter. From the way the two looked at each other, it was clear they knew each other.

The group of blonde female students felt considerable dissatisfaction, but having offended the deputy instructor on the first day of military training meant trouble ahead, although it seemed the punishment was a bit too lenient for some. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The few haughty young men, not daring to offend the instructor, once again blamed Xia You for their predicament. The blonde female student gritted her teeth, determined to not let that dish-carrying wimp look good during the upcoming military drills.

Longzhi Academy’s track field is the only square-shaped track in the nation, twice as long as a standard athletic track. Running three laps amounted to over three thousand meters. Ren Minghang hadn’t specified a time limit beforehand, so Xia You took this as a chance to warm up from not exercising for several days, running at an unhurried pace on the track.

Ren Minghang, for personal reasons, watched from outside the track, effectively supervising them to finish their run faster, still not knowing the name of that bright-eyed female student. The other students, however, were faring much worse as they seldom exercised; having to run over ten thousand meters on the first day of school, they were exhausted.

Xia You ran with ease, but a pain in her waist came as the blonde female student elbowed her way past.

Her step faltered, Ren Minghang from afar couldn’t clearly see their actions, only thinking they had bumped into each other.

"Run faster, you must finish the 100 meters within twelve seconds," Ren Minghang’s whole body bristled at the stern voice coming from behind. At the side of the playground, there appeared a man in the same grey-green military uniform, his arrival silent, not even the keen-eared Ren Minghang noticed him.

The blonde female student and Xia You also noticed the new presence at the side of the playground. If Ren Minghang was the bright early summer sunshine, then this newly-appeared man in instructor’s uniform was like the scorching sun in the hot summer, a single glance fierce enough to make one’s bones ache.

"Lu Instructor... Lieutenant Colonel," when Ren Minghang saw Lu Xun, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time, he reflexively started to address him as the instructor, remembering that during his freshman year, his military training instructor was Lu Xun. Lu Xun was also one of the officers who graduated from Longzhi Academy. He set multiple records during his time at the academy, and nearly every student at Longzhi both loved and dreaded him. His excellent marksmanship made the male students envious, but his ruthless training methods made everyone keep their distance.

"Since it’s a punitive run, then it must look like one. Anyone who doesn’t finish within twelve seconds tonight isn’t allowed to rest." Lu Xun was entirely in charge of the training for the freshmen this time, he had already checked the training roster, finding that many of the new students lacked even basic Physical Ability test certifications. Longzhi Academy is a high-standard military school where every student must pass a combined physical ability test conducted by the national education and sports department upon entrance, and have their records documented.

Unluckily, Xia You, specially admitted through channels used by the National Security Department, was among them. Lu Xun had good memory; having seen Xia You’s photo just once, he remembered her. The incident previously in the restaurant was also relayed to Lu Xun by the restaurant staff.

He had some objections regarding Ren Minghang’s actions; at Longzhi, a student who bullies and a student who is bullied should not be treated differently. "Unlike other schools, fighting and causing trouble are not under the purview of school discipline here at Longzhi. Being left behind means getting beaten up; this is a lesson that Hua Country’s history has taught every child."

"Twelve seconds?" Xia You didn’t know who this man that suddenly appeared was, but as soon as he finished speaking, the previously sluggish and lazy blonde female student and those rich kids began running earnestly.

Xia You was not adept at sprinting; when she practiced marathon running, she only focused on the rhythm of running and breathing, her body wasn’t suited for fast running. This was suggested by the doctor who gave her a health checkup.

Three laps were quickly completed, but the new instructor showed no sign of calling a stop. Ren Minghang also noticed Xia You’s rhythm; when jogging, she was like a gracefully running doe, but as she sped up, her rhythm became chaotic, her breath disordered, and no matter what, her speed just wouldn’t increase.

After several more laps, Xia You still couldn’t achieve the speed of twelve seconds for the hundred meters.