Chapter 56: The Performance Encounter
Xiang Hong spoke the truth this time, she was an unknown student, and it's her honor that others recognized her ability. If she took advantage of the situation to make demands, it would indeed seem too presumptuous.
Liu Daoyi looked at her and nodded: "It's okay to say that, but you can also reveal your own desire to join the special forces by the way. To put it clearly, do you hope to train with those selected from the troops? Doesn't this make us both ambitious and brave?"
Xiang Hong burst out laughing: "Thanks, old ginger is still spicy! You've hit the nail on the head with this remark. It's a great opportunity for growth to see what those people are capable of earlier on."
As they spoke, they had already arrived at the villa district of the Academy's living quarters. Xiang Hong had only heard that this place was home to high-ranking officials with great prestige and power in the Iron Blood regime, never thinking that there would be a chance for her to observe them.
"We're here, go ahead, good luck!" Liu Daoyi encouraged her with a smile as they parted ways.
Someone had opened the door and was standing on the steps of the gatehouse, asking: "Is that Comrade Sang Hong?"
"Yes." Sang Hong replied crisply.
"Please follow me." The guard looked at her face and smiled warmly as he came out to shake hands with Liu Daoyi.
Xiang Hong took the opportunity to peek at the flowers, trees and fake mountains in the courtyard, faintly revealing an unfathomable sense of fear, and hesitated to turn back and look at Liu Daoyi.
"Go." Liu Daoyi waved his hand and bid farewell with a heavy heart.
Xiang Hong took a deep breath, stepped up onto the stairs and followed the guard inside.
The layout inside the courtyard is elegant and has a good style, with a small pool shining brightly, winding paths leading to secluded areas, and after turning around the fake mountain, you can see that the main house is a three-story small building, with two-story old buildings on both sides, and from time to time, you can still see the sentry post.
Xiang Hong couldn't help but admit that this place indeed had a solemn and oppressive atmosphere as soon as she entered.
The guard led her all the way up to the second floor and knocked on a pair of double doors in the middle, from which came a stern male voice: "Come in."
The guard pushed open the door, nodded at her and bowed in a gesture of invitation.
Xiang Hong nodded in gratitude and calmly walked in step by step. The door closed silently behind her.
The room seemed spacious, with a large hall as soon as you entered. On the luxurious long-haired carpet, a row of genuine leather sofas were placed, and on the wall hung a magnificent landscape painting of China's mountains and rivers, whose majestic momentum made Sang Hong's spirit shake.
But there isn't a single person here.
She gazed at the shelf behind the sofa, which was obviously used as a partition. The top of it was filled with all sorts of antiques, and in the soft light, they emitted an unusually deep and mysterious glow.
The person who wants to see her is apparently on the other side of the partition.
She stamped her feet together and gave a standard military salute: "Reporting to leader, new student of Foreign Training Department, Sang Hong."
"Come in." Still just two short words, no emotions could be felt.
Xiang Hong stuck out her tongue and stiffened her scalp, taking one step at a time, secretly thinking that the leadership of the troops was truly bureaucratic, when guests arrived, they wouldn't even budge their buttocks.
However, these tens of days of military training life made her understand that the troops are the place with the most severe hierarchical relationship, and she naturally felt that she could understand.
Behind the partition, it was obviously a rest room. On the white sofa, a tall and straight figure sat with his back to the door, his short hair combed neatly to one side. He was lifting a small dark purple teapot with one hand, while his crisp white shirt cuff protected his wrist as he carefully poured steaming hot water into a small tea cup.
He didn't even raise his head and said to Sang Hong who was walking behind him and sizing him up: "Sit!"
Xiang Hong pouted, this man was indeed stingy with his words.
Look at this square coffee table, three sides of which are placed with three single sofas, and on the opposite side in the distance is a neatly covered quilt.
He sat on the edge of the sofa with only two places for his left and right hands. Xiang Hong secretly congratulated herself that she didn't have to sit opposite him, so she walked towards the nearby sofa and sat down across from the small tea table.
She was so nervous that she carefully sat down with her knees together, but the sofa was unexpectedly soft, causing her to almost lean back onto her back after sitting down.
He hastily put his arms behind his back, tensed up his body, adjusted to a steady posture, and placed his hands properly on his knees, without looking around.
She thought this person must be sizing her up. If she stole a glance at him, she was afraid of being misunderstood as staring at him sideways, which would be too rude.
Song Shuwei went into first-level combat readiness after hearing the report shouted out by this servant girl.
His body tensed involuntarily, and as her footsteps approached with the light, cautious tread of a little rabbit, he felt a burning sense of familiarity and excitement that seared his very bones.
Her eyes lingered on his back, and his back muscles tensed instantly.
The familiar scent wafted over, and he realized that remembering a woman wasn't about the eyes, but about the sense of smell. This sweet breath seemed to seep into his bones, making his throat dry with tension.
He was intoxicated and took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on her face, unable to move away.
Seeing her carefully, almost falling down and sitting up again in a flustered manner, the momentary panic and loss of composure, all fell into his eyes.
He couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart, and the overflowing thoughts and heartache had long drowned out that spark of jealousy.
His long, ancient bronze-colored fingers put down the teapot and calmly pushed a cup of tea in front of her.
"Anshen tea." The voice carried a hint of unspoken familiarity.
Xiang Hong's eyes stared at the cup of tea that was slowly pushed in front of her, the faint scent of tea slowly overflowing, making her feel less anxious.
She carefully shifted her gaze to the fingers holding the cup, slender and small, making the tiny round teacup seem even more delicate, and she couldn't help but wonder - this man's hand complemented the teacup so well, it was quite pleasing to the eye.
Just as he was lost in thought, a low voice suddenly sounded: "Can't recognize it, or has it been forgotten from the very beginning?"
He finally said something more than three words, and Xiang Hong suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, raising her eyes in shock - it was the face full of masculine energy that she had dreamed of.
She blinked her eyes, didn't disappear, blinked again, not an illusion, those clear and beautiful eyes widened in shock.
Song Shuwei stared at her reaction, she obviously remembered him, her clear and bright eyes widened in surprise, this silly look, she didn't know how cute she was!
He was eager to see her next emotional state, whether it would be surprise or excitement, and whether she would rush into his arms due to longing.
Xiang Hong secretly pinched her own hand, realizing it wasn't an illusion, and immediately jumped up in a fluster, knocking over the teacup in her haste.
Song Shu Yu suddenly saw her dart away like a frightened little rabbit, his heart feeling empty and aching, making him forget to even hide.
Xiang Hong just stared blankly as the teacup flew quickly up the tea table towards Song Shuyu, directly colliding with his body. Then came a loud crash and the sound of shattering porcelain, as the teacup rebounded from his chest to the tea table, spinning futilely for two rounds before falling onto the carpet.
