Jennie shook her head. “You can order. I’m good.”
“It’s just the two of us. You can help yourself.”
Seeing this, Lisa took the menu from her. As she flipped through it, she glanced at Jennie. “Why do you seem kind of unhappy?”
She thought that with her temperament, Jennie wouldn’t tell her the reason. To her surprise, she told her what was bothering her.
“I quarrelled with my older brother, so I came back to school in advance. He didn’t even send me a text message. I’m a little worried…”
Lisa paused. “Isn’t it normal to fight? Since you sent him a message telling him you reached school, it should be fine. Why are you worrying about this?”
She and Seokjin rarely fought because when they did, she would complain to their mother, and Seokjin would always be the one to end up at a disadvantage.
Wasn’t it like this between all siblings?
When Jennie heard Lisa’s words, she seemed to freeze for a moment.
“I…”
She seemed to want to say something, but she didn’t in the end.
Just then, Jennie’s phone rang.
She gazed at her phone with an elated expression.
She then went to one side to answer the call.
From the way Jennie was behaving, Lisa was pretty sure it was her older brother who called.
Lisa kept having strange vibes about that guy who gave off a gloomy vibe.
Because of the noisy ambience, Jennie went somewhere slightly farther to take the call.
Lisa could only see her speaking but not hear the contents of the conversation.
Lisa turned her head again after ordering the food and saw Jennie’s brows crease visibly.
Her countenance resumed to its aloof state. Following that, she said something and then just hung up.
When Jennie came back, Lisa asked casually, “What happened?”
“Nothing. Just a communication breakdown.”
She seemed vexed. After pouring the fruit juice she had ordered into her cup, she raised her neck and gulped it down as though she was drinking alcohol.
It wasn’t Lisa’s place to meddle in someone else’s business, so she could only urge, “Eat up. The fish served here tastes pretty good. Delicious foods can help brighten one’s mood.”
“Mm.”
Jennie responded. She then suddenly said, “Regarding the signaller soldiers the school chose last semester, they mentioned they would send us over to intern the second half of this year. It’s already confirmed to be on the border, but the weather is very different from here. They’re sending us there beforehand for fear that some of us can’t acclimate to that weather, and issues would arise when the time comes.”
Although soldiers’ bodies weren’t that delicate, one couldn’t guarantee that everyone could acclimate to the unpredictable climate at the borders.
One’s physique was the most important.
Lisa still felt regretful that she didn’t get in. “It’s good that you’re going there in advance. It’s quite considerate of them.”
While Lisa and Jennie chatted about school matters, she suddenly received a call from Seokjin. “Lisa, are you back in school now?”
Her older brother’s tone sounded urgent. Lisa immediately asked with a frown, “Yeah, I’m back in school. What’s the matter?”
“Well, it’s regarding that, Ella!”
Seokjin sounded furious.
“As you know, dad came to the capital to help Young Uncle look for Ella’s biological parents. They found some clues and learned that Ella’s biological parents became drug traffickers. Her father is even doing jail time now, while her mother remarried. But she isn’t doing so well herself. When Ella found out we were thinking of sending her back, she kicked up a fuss and threatened to kill herself! That mother of hers… I don’t wish to talk about her. After finding out Ella that Young Uncle adopted her, she even wanted to extort a sum of money from him! Right now, we’re in the capital, and I’m just informing you about what’s happening. Great Aunt will come to the capital too. If there are updates, I’ll inform you again.”
After that, Seokjin hung up.
Lisa’s brows too furrowed.
Jennie asked, “What happened?”
Lisa shook her head. “Nothing.”
Since her older brother and other family were there to attend to this matter, and she was already back in school, it wasn’t convenient for her to go to the capital to look.
She could only wait for news.
But she was shocked to learn that Ella’s parents were such people…
Lisa felt that parents’ shouldn’t pin their mistakes on their children.
But looking at Ella’s temperament, despite growing up in a family the same as her Young Uncle’s, she still ended up as such. One could just imagine the powers of genes.
After eating, Lisa and Jennie returned to the school together.
The next day, Sana and Tzuyu returned to school one after the other.
Classes would officially start the next day, but all the students had to gather for that night.
No one seemed to have changed drastically over the summer break, only slight changes.
The nationwide shooting competition would take place in October.
Lisa had to prepare for it.
But other than the routine training, she still worried about what Seokjin had told her over the phone a few days prior about Ella’s matter.
It was only until the weekend did she hear from Seokjin again.
“Brother, how are things going?”
“How could it be going? Just like that, I guess.”
“They brought Ella home. She is staying with Young Uncle’s family for now. After all, it’s been so many years. There’s bound to be a kinship between them. But they would send Ella to a special institution for learning after she goes back. Hopefully, she will wise up. In any case, I find her an eyesore.”
Lisa revealed a faint smile. “What eyesore? It’s not like you’re the one who will live with her. If Young Uncle and his family would raise her, just let them be. It’s not our place, as juniors, to interfere.”
“Of course I know that. As your older brother, how can I not know all this?”
In a displeased tone, Seokjin said, “That’s it. I have work to be busy with. Isn’t your competition coming up?”
Seokjin was aware of Lisa’s competition in October.
“Mm.”
“Then work hard. We won’t be disturbing you.”
With that, Seokjin hung up.
He was striving hard at work, so inevitably, he was busy.
But Lisa wanted to ask how things were going between him and Jisoo.
Since she had heard nothing until now, that meant Jisoo had yet to tell Seokjin about that matter.
Although Lisa didn’t meddle in Seokjin’s affairs if she didn’t tell him about it, what was the point of dragging this on?
With these complex thoughts, Lisa continued with her training.
Ever since she started training, she naturally couldn’t frequently go to Jungkook’s place.
She could only occasionally go there on the weekend.
But this affected nothing.
On 1st October, the nationwide shooting competition officially began.
The Shooting Department members from the military schools all over the country would come to attend this year’s shooting competition.
As for Lisa, she had long gained fame before this. Especially in that previous shooting competition.
This formed a profound impression in the minds of those who came from other schools.
Hence, Lisa had quite a solid reputation in various significant schools.
This year’s competition took place at National Defense University, which had an enormous shooting competition venue.
Lisa and the other Shooting Department members could participate, but those from the National Military University of China still had to go for their classes.
Hence, other than the Shooting Department members and those related, they had fewer viewers.
Most of those viewers would be the higher-ups.
Lively voices were heard at the National Defense University (NDU). Even if there were only members from the Shooting Department, many people were coming and going to the venue.
Lu Yimei led the Shooting Department members to attend the competition.
Standing in the venue, she told Lisa some things to note.
“Lalisa, during the competition, just focus on performing your best and take down the number one spot in the country.”
Nationwide shooting competitions as such didn’t distinguish between levels.
Hence, even if Lisa was only a first-year student this year, she could still compete with a third-year student, for instance.
The first segment was the fifty-meter moving target.
When Lisa and her fellow contestants heard the blow of a whistle, her gaze turned serious, and she instantly raised her arm and decisively fired a shot.
Bang!
She hit the bullseye.
This competition was only a preliminary one, thus of a smaller scale.
Despite that, the audience let out gasps of surprise.
With Lisa’s incredible speed, she naturally obtained full marks.
Another contestant was slightly slower and was placed second.
Lisa won first place in her first match.
It was an easy win.
By now, Lu Yimei and the rest had respectively gone elsewhere for their competitions.
This was their last year taking part in this competition, after which they would be graduating.
From then on, it would be the newbies’ world.
Hence, they had to put up an excellent performance and mustn’t disgrace their military school at the last moments.
For the first preliminary round, Lisa easily clinched a win. The second competition would be the hundred-meter moving target.
Lisa also won first place.
With no pressure.
The decisive and calm manner when she fired the shots quickly attracted the attention of the audience.
She was too steady and too calm.
Even when she won the competition, she revealed little an expression.
No wonder it was said that she had knocked out several schools in an outdoor shooting activity previously.
By the time the day’s competitions ended, Lisa successfully entered the finals.
National Military University of China’s (NMUC) Shooting Department put up not too bad a performance this time, with ten-odd members successfully entering the finals.
Although there would be a grand final, they already considered such results not bad.
Last year there were only a few people from NMUC who entered the finals.
After that day’s competitions ended, Lu Yimei suggested going for a celebration.
As NMUC was far from NDU, they would stay at NDU for the night.
At night, the few of them went outside for supper.
Lisa had initially planned on secretly looking for Jungkook. But to be going over would violate the military rules, especially since she was in school.
She hesitatingly gave up on that idea after some thought.
After celebrating over supper, Lisa returned to NDU’s dormitory.
She merely chatted with Jungkook over the phone that night.
On the next day, the competition continued.
Honestly, Lisa didn’t feel any pressure taking part in such competitions.
She had already handled seven targets at the same time at the training center. Such moving targets, be it a hundred-meter or two hundred-meter, were of no issue to her.
Especially after getting used to the circular target, such ordinary moving targets were a piece of cake for Lisa.
The third round was the hundred-meter moving target.
With the fastest speed, at that very instant the whistle blew, she fired a shot instantaneously.
Even though the target’s speed would change at unpredictable intervals, Lisa always seemed able to predict it.
Bang!
She hit the bullseye!
Full marks!
Those around her fired a second later.
They looked towards Lisa with shock at the same time.
Some higher-ups in the audience started noticing Lisa.
Some students among the audience were also very shocked.
This person was way too impressive.
It didn’t feel like she was on the same level as the other participants!
There were three rounds in the finals.
After winning the first round, the second round was about to begin.
After three rounds, without a doubt, Lisa won the entire competition with the highest marks.
The other participants suddenly felt a sadness wash over them.
What were they to do running into such a perversely talented shooter?
If it weren’t for Lisa, perhaps they might have a chance to shine.
Having obtained full marks for all three rounds, Lisa didn’t have to participate in that afternoon’s finals.
She got into the grand final first-round directly.
The third round of the grand finals would mark the end of this competition.
In most people’s hearts, there wasn’t a doubt that Lisa would get first place in this competition.
She was already viewed as number one by most people.
Unsurprisingly, in the grand finals, Lisa clinched the number one spot in this nationwide competition.
First place in the nationwide shooting competition and this was only Lisa’s first year in university.
Having won this glory, she had a bright future ahead of her.
Lu Yimei got into the top ten in this nationwide competition, which was another highlight.
As for the National Military University of China, thanks to Lisa, it got to number one, allowing it to hold its head high finally. Considering all segments, it was ranked top ten.
This wasn’t the most important thing. Most importantly, looking at single players, they were number one!
Xiong Xuejian, Nian Chusheng, and various vital leaders looked extremely pleased with this outcome.
As she took the champion trophy from a high-rank leader, Lisa felt euphoric.
Perhaps she had had a feeling she would get this number one.
After viewing that international competition, she had developed a relaxed feeling about this competition.
It was within Lisa’s expectations to win this championship.
Nonetheless, it was a glory to get this number one.
The higher-ups had offered to treat her to a meal, but Lisa declined.
After the competition ended, it was the weekend. Lisa first called home to tell her family about the good news.
When Seokjin heard Lisa win first place, he was a tad shocked. “Number one in the country? What goddamn luck is that?”
He didn’t know what strengths Lisa had in school.
But when he heard that Lisa had won first place, he finally knew that when Lisa said she was a ‘sharpshooter,’ she wasn’t kidding.
“Are you that shocked to hear me win first place? Brother, I don’t like hearing this.”
Lisa clicked her tongue, then hung up the phone. “That’s it from me. I just wanted to let you know. You can get back to work.”
Seokjin said with a smile, “Since you won, you’ve got to give a treat. Your Sister Jisoo and I have plenty of time on our hands.”
“Sure, tomorrow? If you guys are free.”
Having won the nationwide competition, other than the glory and certificate, she would also receive prize money of a hundred thousand yuan.
To ordinary people, winning a hundred thousand yuan in a competition was quite a significant sum of prize money.
Of course, she didn’t feel pressured into giving Seokjin and his girlfriend a treat.
After ending the call, she went to the hotel to look for Jungkook.
...
By the time she reached the hotel, it was already night.
She was dressed simply and carrying a simple backpack.
In her backpack, there was her trophy.
This was what she wanted to show Jungkook.
Stealthily opening the door, Lisa saw that Jungkook wasn’t in the living room.
But there were indistinct sounds of someone talking in the bedroom.
When she entered, she saw Jungkook in the bedroom. When he saw her enter, he turned around.
There was an icy look in his eyes, obviously displeased.
Lisa’s smile froze. She then heard him say, “Let’s talk when the time comes.” He then hung up.
He walked over and said, “The competition has ended, right? You got first place?”
As though it went without saying.
As though it was impossible, that Lisa didn’t win first place.
“You know I won?”
The smile came back on Lisa’s face once more. She retrieved the trophy from her bag. “Look, my first important number one in my life!”
She had never imagined she would win the first place trophy in a nationwide competition like this one.
Now that she won it, she felt like she could hold her head up high.
As though all her frustrations got swept away.
Seeing Lisa show him the trophy as though presenting a treasure, Jungkook’s lips arched in a smile. “Awesome.”
Lisa had taken her revenge from the last time. “Back then, you even said I wasn’t as good as other people and that I should continue to work hard.”
She remembered what he had said, even until now.
“Was I wrong for saying that back then?”
Jungkook circled his arm around Lisa and suddenly said, “Lisa, you’re going to have to make a trip back to Penalan with me this year.”
Lisa widened her eyes. “Penalan? Why?”
His smile toned down a notch. “To meet my father officially.”
Although he didn’t wish to go back, he felt he ought to give Lisa a status.
Hearing this, Lisa said cautiously, “Chief Instructor, why do you seem unhappy every time you mention your father? Did you two quarrel?”
She had thought he would, like before, refuse to tell her.
Who knew that this time, after some pondering, he slowly spoke, “Can’t call it a quarrel. It’s just a difference in opinion. It was his idea to exile me to China.”
“Exile?”
It confused Lisa. She had long heard of this exile matter, but she didn’t know the reason behind.
“Mm, exile.”
He repeated. He then recounted the incident from the past. “Back then, my aunt and mother came to China because of this.”
“At the time, I felt some resentment towards him. But now looking back…”
He caressed Lisa’s smooth face with his fingers. “I’m quite grateful to him for making me come here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have met you.”
Lisa gulped down her saliva. “Why did he exile you? Your status should be quite high in Penalan?”
“That’s because I once held a position in the military, and my uncle got his illegitimate son into the army through some means, and that illegitimate son violated my orders and even wanted to seize my position.”
As he recounted this incident, he suddenly exuded a merciless, bloody vibe. “So I killed him.”
Lisa was speechless.
“In essence, I did nothing wrong. But my uncle seemed to think that this illegitimate son was very important, so he viewed me as his enemy. My father also felt that I was wrong. He made me apologize, but I refused. Hence, I was exiled.”
Lisa was speechless.