Grumbling about the Military Training, the group followed the stream of people toward the canteen.
The weather was simply scorching.
Seeing the dark, packed crowd inside instantly killed their appetites.
Even with the AC and giant fans on, the heat brought in by the horde was unstoppable.
Although Jiang Cheng didn't mind the cafeteria food, he did mind its air-conditioning.
After queuing for a while they carried their meals back to the dorm to eat.
After all, the dorm had AC, cold drinks, and you could shower and change clothes.
The midday break passed quickly.
The afternoon training officially began after the usual warm-ups.
Ten-odd minutes of warming up and the instructor called Jiang Cheng again.
Just like in the morning, he was sent to the rest room once more.
Seeing the instructor still using that clumsy morning excuse,
Jiang Cheng smiled and asked, "Instructor Ren, may I ask you something?"
"Er… Young Master Jiang, just call me Ren Jun. Whatever you want to ask, fire away."
Ren Jun adopted an extremely humble stance, as if Jiang Cheng were his superior.
His excessive deference convinced Jiang Cheng he must have unknowingly pulled some strings.
Jiang Cheng pointed at the kettle already boiling water.
"You need me to watch that? It's automatic, isn't it?"
Ren Jun glanced at the electric kettle, grinned awkwardly and babbled, "I'm a bit insecure; only when someone's watching do I feel safe."
Seeing Jiang Cheng eye him suspiciously, he feared he'd give the game away.
After a dry cough he quickly covered, "Time's nearly up; please keep an eye on it. There's Wi-Fi; password's on the wall. Drink some water, play on your phone; I'll come get you later."
With that he spun on his heel and slipped out of the lounge.
Walking briskly away, he sneaked a glance back at Jiang Cheng.
He felt life was just too hard.
Retired and reassigned to conduct Military Training, yet still landed this kind of chore.
Watching Ren Jun flee, Jiang Cheng immediately thought of his dad.
Could it be him?
With that thought he simply rang Jiang Jianmin.
The call connected after a few rings.
"What, only two days at school and you're calling home? Getting homesick already?"
Hearing Jiang Jianming's deep voice, Jiang Cheng chuckled, "Nah, our instructor's got me watching a kettle in the lounge, so I grabbed the chance to call you."
"Watch what kettle? Must be scorching—drink more water, don't get heatstroke. Summer Military Training's good for toughening up, but don't force it; take leave if you feel off."
Jiang Jianmin's reply sounded completely normal,
as if he knew nothing about the matter.
Jiang Cheng frowned. "Got it. You and Mom okay at home?"
Jiang Jianmin laughed, "Fine. Your mom won at mahjong last night, so tonight she's treating me to dinner out."
Jiang Cheng laughed too.
"Winning's rare for her."
Whenever his mom won at mahjong she'd celebrate by taking them out to eat.
If she lost, they'd have to fend for themselves that day… They chatted a bit then hung up.
Staring at the ended call, Jiang Cheng was puzzled. If not Dad, then who??
After idly playing on his phone he napped for another hour.
Opening his eyes it was past three again.
So decadent!
While everyone else slogged through drills he was napping under AC.
After five seconds of guilt he stretched and opened his phone.
He found several missed calls and wechat messages.
He tapped the unread texts; they were from Wang Zheng.
Saying the water he'd ordered for Jiang Cheng was ready and about to be delivered.
After reading, Jiang Cheng unceremoniously replied in the small group.
Jiang Cheng: "@Wang Zheng, I was asleep, getting thirsty now. Make mine iced."
Wang Zheng: "What, thought you were training and couldn't pick up—turns out you were sleeping???"
Qin Fen: "With Old Jiang's connections, napping when he wants is normal, right?"
Wang Congcong: "Training in this heat? Lucky I studied abroad and skipped it."
Chen Hao: "Honestly I never trained either—kinda regret it; heard it's fun."
Watching their blissful ignorance,
Jiang Cheng figured their names could basically be crossed off the list of who pulled strings for him.
Could it be his mom??
But the chat history she'd sent didn't look like it.
Li Yan kept asking Jiang Cheng for more training photos, especially of the Girls… which left him speechless.
Closing wechat, Jiang Cheng suddenly recalled what An Xin had said when tipsy.
She'd mentioned knowing the university's president—could that be the back door?
Jiang Cheng: "In lounge, watching water for instructor."
Wang Zheng: "Watch what water? It's roasting; I've ordered you Iced Milk Tea and Fruit Tea—100 cups total. Watched them make it myself."
After saying that he sent photos.
Seeing the brand, Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Cheng: "Bro Wang, that's generous, but just today, no need every day."
Wang Zheng: "Nothing really; a bet's a bet. I've arranged daily delivery. It's at the gate now. I won't enter—getting a few Girls to take it in. With my handsome face I might steal your thunder, and if every Girl in your class falls for me it won't be good, right?"
Jiang Cheng knew Wang Zheng's plan: stay away and let everyone think Jiang Cheng was treating them to milk tea.
Though Jiang Cheng hated the idea—ordinary classmates, why should he buy them drinks?
Money wasn't the issue; he simply disliked it.
But Wang Zheng thought otherwise. He'd shorted Coca-Cola with Jiang Cheng and netted several hundred million.
They had no way to repay Jiang Cheng's kindness.
A few hundred grand on milk tea over half a month of training was pocket change.
Jiang Cheng: "@Wang Zheng,??????"
Qin Fen: "@Wang Zheng,????? You're badly mistaken about yourself."
Chen Hao: "@Wang Zheng, Brother Wang, the sky's already bright."
Wang Cong: "@Qi Yuan, come see the joke…"
Teased like this, Wang Zheng wasn't annoyed and replied cheerfully.
Wang Zheng: "I'm telling you, college Girls nowadays love mature men like me. Stand me at the campus gate and I'm hot property."
Qin Fen: "Then drive your family's grocery-run Mercedes over."
Chen Hao: "Wear a Longines while you're at it…"
…