Jungkook turned around and continued walking. “Since that’s the case, you ought to work harder. In three months’ time, it will be the assessment for the recruits, and also the time when they select recruits for the advanced training camp.”
Lisa was surprised to hear this.
For she didn’t expect what Jungkook had said to her.
According to Rosé, there weren’t that many people who knew about the advanced training camp, especially among the recruits. It was only Rosé who had mentioned it to her.
Even the instructor didn’t talk about it.
Because in the eyes of those true warriors, most new recruits weren’t there for the long haul.
After several years in the military, they wouldn’t advance any further.
So, who would especially mention the advanced training camp?
That was where Lisa aspired to be in.
“Advanced Training Camp…?”
She didn’t deny it but also didn’t directly admit her knowledge of this advanced training camp.
Because Rosé had said it so vaguely, Lisa wanted to find out more information about the advanced training camp from Jungkook.
“It’s just like that. But to you, this could be a brilliant opportunity. Regardless of who you’re up against in the third month’s fight training, you must win. That is the criteria for selection.”
Jungkook’s nonchalant statement made Lisa’s eyes light up.
Indeed, he knew more details than Rosé.
But she didn’t expect that the Chief Instructor would tell her about it.
Lisa feigned a relaxed smile as she thanked Jungkook. “Thank you, Chief Instructor.”
Come to think of it, she owed this little angel of a Chief Instructor two favors now.
But if Jungkook were to find out Lisa thought of him as a little angel, he might hang her up and beat her to a pulp.
Jungkook said nothing else after that.
It lifted Lisa’s mood considerably.
What she felt weird was regardless of how long a sentence Jungkook said, he said it in that same cold and aloof tone. But somehow, she felt natural and had a smooth conversation with Jungkook.
Just like how it appeared natural when Jungkook revealed so much information to her.
But she had never seen what it was like when the Chief Instructor spoke to other people in private.
In any case, Lisa’s impression of this Chief Instructor was improving by leaps and bounds.
It seemed like she had some misconceptions before.
Indeed, a good-looking person has a pretty good nature, too.
He’s not as hellish as he appeared to be.
After all, he only punished new recruits who committed mistakes, but who really knew what sort of person the real Commander Jeon was like?
Lisa and Jungkook went to look for Jimin together.
But when they reached the streets, Lisa realized something important…
Jungkook’s identity was too special!
The people who came and went in the village the most were the soldiers.
After a month since he arrived, Jungkook’s reputation had spread throughout the entire military camp.
There were plenty of people walking on the streets, and they all offered a look of respect and a gaze of awe to the Chief Instructor as he passed by.
Lisa, who was walking behind him, momentarily knew something was amiss.
During the course of a month, Jungkook didn’t seem close to anyone except Jimin, whom he was inseparable from.
Now that a girl like her was suddenly walking behind Jungkook, it was a little strange.
Although it was Jimin who had asked her to fetch him if others misinterpret the situation and it got to Jimin’s ears, what would she do?
Lisa suddenly felt a little flustered.
The flustered Lisa’s footsteps involuntarily slowed.
The instant she stopped, Jungkook, who was walking ahead, seemed to sense it and stopped as well. He turned around and looked at her with a cold gaze.
“Walk faster.”
Lisa was speechless.
She had originally planned on walking behind the Chief Instructor, but now that he noticed her stopping and even reminded her out loud, people around them started looking over. Lisa suddenly knew what it meant to suffer in silence.
But she realized after a while that she was simply following her Chief Instructor around, and it represented nothing.
Hence, Lisa still continued following behind Jungkook.
When they had reached, Lisa saw Rosé, Jimin and Sehun chatting merrily in the distance.
As she was sipping her milk tea, Rosé saw Lisa walk over and her eyes lit up instantly.
She wanted to go over and shout out her name, but when she saw the Chief Instructor standing in front of Lisa, she swallowed her saliva and dared not walk over.
When Jungkook entered the building, his presence added glitters to this narrow and simple shop.
Rosé thought that although the Chief Instructor appeared stern on the surface, he was flawlessly handsome!
After Lisa had came in with Jungkook, she immediately sat next to Rosé.
She said to her in a lowered tone of voice, “Rosé, I ran into that scoundrel you beat up outside just now. He indeed went back to find helpers.”
The color of blood drained from Rosé’s face upon hearing this. She quickly stood up and sized up Lisa, pulling her sleeves and asking, “Lisa, are you alright?”
“I’m alright.” Lisa shook her head. She then said, “The Chief Instructor helped me. I sought help from him.”
“…”
Rosé gazed at Lisa, then towards the Chief Instructor’s cold and aloof face.
Suddenly, she felt that Lisa was a warrior.
Perhaps Rosé’s gaze made it obvious that she was looking at a hero, and with that, Lisa wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to cry as a response.
On the other hand, Jungkook started chatting with Jimin and Sehun.
They asked Jungkook what he had done.
After Jungkook had replied, Jimin shifted his gaze to the two young lasses who were speaking in hushed tones.
“Lalisa, what did your Chief Instructor do when I asked you to look for him?”
Since he wasn’t able to get an answer from Jungkook, he decided to ask Lisa instead.
Lisa was about to reply, but then she felt like something was stuck in her throat after Jungkook coldly glanced towards her.
Recalling what had happened earlier on, Lisa felt that the little angel of a Chief Instructor perhaps preferred to keep a low profile. Hence, she paused a moment before coming up with an answer. “Nothing, I saw the Chief Instructor playing chess with someone.”
Lisa wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt like the surrounding air had dropped several degrees after she said that.
Especially Jungkook’s gaze at Lisa—it was so cold and piercing that it made one’s heart tighten.
Lisa felt like she had misspoken.
But Lisa didn’t know what she had said wrong—wasn’t that Jungkook’s intention?
At the same time, Jungkook spoke coldly.
“Seems like I was only your benefactor for a moment.”
It stunned Lisa.
Wasn’t the Chief Instructor someone who liked to keep a low profile? With what she had uttered, he was unhappy that Lisa didn’t tell them about what happened.
Wasn’t he piquing everyone’s curiosities by saying such a statement?
Jimin seemed to have a keen interest in it all of a sudden. Even Sehun’s lips were curled in amusement. “What benefactor? Tell us about it!”
Lisa stared at Jungkook. Seeing that his gaze was still as cold and piercing, her heart trembled a little and she recounted what had happened earlier on.
“I ran into a trouble-making scoundrel earlier. Chief Instructor was the one who saved me from him. Else, I might not be in one piece now!”
Lisa tried to make things sound as serious as possible, to create an atmosphere of tension.
Jimin exploded instantly. “Who? Which scoundrel? He sure is bold!”
His sudden loud voice shocked the entire eatery, causing everyone to shiver.
Rosé, who hadn’t felt the tension yet, was nearly shocked to death with Jimin’s loud voice.
Lisa felt both touched and unsure whether to laugh or to cry.
Surprisingly, the Chief Instructor snickered. “It’s what you said that brought out the kindness in me. Didn’t you say rescuing someone from death is better than building a seven-storied pagoda for a god?”
Everyone was in a daze upon hearing that.
‘Chief Instructor, that righteous statement doesn’t sound like you!’
Lisa, however, felt that the Chief Instructor was right.
After all, he was the little angel who had rescued her, so naturally she would go with whatever he said.
Hence Lisa nodded. “Chief Instructor, you’re right. I’m grateful to you for saving me.”
Although he had merely stood there and said a word.
If it were someone else, it surely wouldn’t have that intimidating effect!
Jungkook glanced at Lisa, then looked towards Jimin and Sehun. “Are you done daydreaming? If you are, let’s go.”
“Aiyah. Why are we leaving so soon? It’s rare for us to run into Lalisa and her friend. Can’t we stay a little longer…”
Jimin grumbled, but Jungkook had already left first. Sehun tugged at Jimin’s arm and turned to Lisa and Rosé. He said, “We’ll get going first. Have a good time.”
“Okay, Doctor Nan. Chief Instructor, goodbye! Commander Huo, goodbye!”
“Bye, commanders and Doctor Nan.”
After they had left, Rosé shook her head and clicked her tongue as she looked at Lisa. “Lisa, I really couldn’t tell. Little by little, you’ve gotten familiar with the Chief Instructor.”
“Gotten familiar?” Lisa couldn’t quite understand her statement.
“Wasn’t the Chief Instructor just being helpful?”
“Being helpful?” Rosé laughed out loud in an exaggerated manner. “Lisa. If someone else had gotten into a fight with a scoundrel in front of the Chief Instructor, they would be considered lucky if they weren’t punished. You even dared to seek help from the Chief Instructor!”
Never mind how unbelievable everything was, it did happen after all.
The cold and aloof Chief Instructor helped Lisa for the second time?
Even if the first time was because of Lisa’s older brother, it was obvious he was making an exception this time.
With the fact that the Chief Instructor was willing to bother with Lisa, Rosé felt that there was more to this than meets the eye.
Which girl didn’t dream of romance?
Many girls probably dreamed of meeting their Prince Charming one day.
And it would be best if that Prince Charming was rich, handsome, and someone who treated her incredibly well.
Apart from that last point, Rosé felt that the Chief Instructor was the most ideal Prince Charming in most girls’ fantasies.
Simply with his exotic but handsome face, plenty of girls would fantasize about him no matter how lousy a temper Jungkook had.
Rosé and Lisa were at the age where girls dreamed of this the most.
But Rosé understood that there was a vast difference between her and Lisa.
Perhaps she might think this way, but Lisa wouldn’t necessarily think the same way.
Lisa usually appeared cold and aloof, but she had an alright temper and both got along quite merrily. Rosé learned more about Lisa’s temperament after interacting with her for all this while.
One, she learned that she was definitely anxious about some matters, and also, if she didn’t like something, she would just ignore it.
Actually, Rosé suddenly felt that the Chief Instructor and Lisa were quite compatible from the surface.
It was an indescribable feeling! She simply felt that Lili and the Chief Instructor had compatible auras whenever they stood right next to each other.
Although this was what Rosé thought deep inside, she didn’t reveal it. She was just curious about what kind of person the Chief Instructor was in Lisa’s heart.
Hence, Rosé sat back on the stool and propped her chin. She gazed at Lisa with a smile. “Lili, tell me about it. What kind of person do you think the Chief Instructor is?”
One had to be direct with someone like Lisa. If you beat around the bush, she might lose interest in the conversation.
Lisa didn’t overthink this.
After a momentary silence, she replied, “In the past I didn’t feel anything much. But now, I feel that the Chief Instructor doesn’t seem bad at all.”
‘He’s a little angel!’
Actually, in the past Lisa didn’t quite like Jungkook.
She didn’t say this out loud, though.
But that kind of dislike was towards the natural intimidating quality Jungkook had, which made one feel heavy under pressure.
Lisa wasn’t the sort of person who liked being restrained; hence, she naturally felt resistant towards his imposing aura.
Because she was a rather resilient and powerful person in her heart.
Not bad!
Listen, listen.
Rosé’s eyes lit up in an instant. The question she next asked exposed her anxiousness. “Then do you think he’s handsome?”
“Very handsome.”
Lisa was very honest. It was only after she had replied that she realized this question was a little abrupt. Wasn’t Jungkook’s good looks universally acknowledged?
Hence, Lisa gently pursed her lips and smiled mischievously at Rosé. “Are you asking me this because you’ve fallen for the Chief Instructor?”
Actually, with Rosé’s personality, it wouldn’t be weird she had fallen for Jungkook.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be weird for any girl to fall for Jungkook.
“No way!”
Rosé quickly waved her hands and denied it. But she was very honest, though. After swallowing her saliva, she said, “I won’t deny that with Chief Instructor’s face, I can’t possibly resist him if he were to flirt with me. But the problem is, the Chief Instructor doesn’t flirt with me or anyone else. He’s too cold. He’s not someone I can handle.”
She had a strong sense of self-awareness.
Rosé’s straightforward and amusing reply tickled Lisa.
Actually, it was pretty comfortable getting along with a bubbly lass like Rosé.
‘Actually on the other hand, I feel that you and the Chief Instructor might be a more possible couple.’
Rosé kept this bottled up inside of her since she felt that it wasn’t practical of her to blurt it out loud, considering the circumstances.
After all, she had only seen a few clues, and couldn’t really deduce from those that Lisa and the Chief Instructor would become a couple or something.
If she had said it, it might lead Lisa to have anticipations towards the Chief Instructor. If he truly was as devoid of desires and cold to the extreme as he appeared, it would become a tragedy then!
If Lisa came to know of her thoughts, Lisa might laugh for a good while.
“Rosé, if those people I ran into saw we’re alone, they might come back and settle the scores with us again. We better hurry back to the military camp.”
Lisa had brought this serious matter to the surface after they were done chatting and laughing.
She was afraid that they would seek them again.
Rosé was fearless earlier, but when she thought of how they caught Lisa when she was all alone, she felt a little guilty.
And to add to that, Commander Huo and his gang had already left.
Hence, she nodded. “Ok, let’s buy some things then go back.”
Rosé originally wanted to stay for the night, but after the incident, she could only dismiss the idea.
They walked one round around Mountain Village but fortunately didn’t run into those scoundrels again.
After buying some necessities, Lisa and Rosé quickly returned to the military camp.
They hadn’t been out that long, actually; they spent a morning there and returned in the afternoon.
There was only so much to see in the village.
Even if it had the scale of a small town, it wasn’t much.
When the novelty wore off, they started to feel bored.
“Lisa, Lisa, I’m going hunting at the back of the mountain with the others later. Are you coming along?”
On the way back, Rosé received a phone call and then excitedly announced she was going hunting at the back of the mountain.
Lisa was a little helpless at hearing that. “You guys go ahead. Be careful or you someone from the military might catch you.”
Having been in the military camp for so long, Lisa was familiar with most rules.
She also somewhat knew about the ‘hidden rule’ at the back of the mountain.
“Hai, what is there to be afraid of?”
Rosé waved her hand dismissively. “Even if the skies collapsed, those old birds would hold it up!”
By old birds, she was referring to those old soldiers she knew.
It was also what new recruits often called old soldiers in the dark?
Of course, they dared not call them that in their faces.
Since Rosé was bold and feared nothing, there was nothing Lisa could do about her.
She found it amazing that she found such a bubbly and outgoing friend like Rosé in the military.
When they returned to the dormitory, they heard those people who should have been outside resting or seeking entertainment talking inside the dormitory.
“I heard Gu Lalisa and the Chief Instructor were walking together in the afternoon. Many recruits who went out saw them and brought back this news. Do you guys know about it?”
“I also heard… it seemed like Yu Rosé and Commander Huo were eating something together…”
“My god. These two people are capable. They even hooked up and chatted with Commander Huo and that Chief Instructor.”
“Spit. What kind of person is the Chief Instructor? The Chief Instructor wouldn’t care to look at someone like Gu Lalisa, would he? I feel that there must be more than meets the eye. Moreover, there were so many people there. Is Gu Lalisa so bold?”
The people who spoke the loudest were Umji and two others.
The instant she heard this, the infuriated Rosé rolled up her sleeves and ferociously prepared to barge in and wallop those people.
Lisa stroked her chin and murmured softly, “Why is it that every time these people gossip behind our backs, we happen to hear them?”
Rosé was speechless.