Bad Boys Boot Camp: V1-C24

Chapter 24: Field Training

This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)

_{“And I really don’t like you like that.”}
It was autumn. Although the midday sun was not particularly scorching, the sheer brightness of the sun’s rays alone was enough to leave a person’s face hot. It was more so the case after enduring a long journey, one that made spending even a single second more under its glow an act of torture.

“And I really don’t like you like that.”

“But I like you.” Even though the words leaving his lips made Shen Zhuoyun feel no different than those do-nothings on the outside who spent all their time chasing skirts, and it was a cowardly thing to do, betting on Qin Mo’s soft-heartedness and their friendship was the only option he had.

_{“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”}“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.

“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”

_{As for the other instructors, they conjured up a new training method to deal with their rowdy students: “Since they want to go outside that bad, huh? So let’s take them up the mountain for training. Let them climb and climb until leaving is the last thing they want to do.”}
Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

As for the other instructors, they conjured up a new training method to deal with their rowdy students: “Since they want to go outside that bad, huh? So let’s take them up the mountain for training. Let them climb and climb until leaving is the last thing they want to do.”

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.}Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.

Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.

_{“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.}But no matter what, letting him go would never be an option.

“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.

_{“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”}N/A

“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”

_{“Shen Zhuoyun,” Qin Mo finally spoke up, “I don’t like you—not in that way. I haven’t even thought of having a partner in the future, let alone a male one.”}
“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

“Shen Zhuoyun,” Qin Mo finally spoke up, “I don’t like you—not in that way. I haven’t even thought of having a partner in the future, let alone a male one.”

_{Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.}Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.

Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

_{1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.}But no matter what, letting him go would never be an option.

1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.[]2. “Ink Stain” 墨迹: mo4 ji1 shares the same pronunciation of 默: mo4, which is the “mo4” in Qin Mo.[]3. Zhu Bajie (aka Pigsy) is a character from Journey to the West, and the piggyback comparison is from a scene in the 1986 drаma (episode 7) where Zhu Bajie was promised a Lord’s daughter's hand in marriage by saving her from kidnappers while in human form. Anyhow, they found out he wasn’t human, but it was too late to call off the wedding. Later, Sun Wukong was invited to subdue the monster and tricked him in return by turning into the bride and getting Zhu Bajie to carry him back to his cave. Zhu Bajie was as happy as a clam as he lugged the heavy “bride” up the mountain to escape Sun Wukong, who was coming to subdue him. [As I’m typing it out, it sounds kind of mean.]

_{{Is it… Is it because you like me?} Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.}It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.

Is it… Is it because you like me? Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.

_{“If I keep treating you well again and again, it would mean you’ll keep owing me more and more, right?” Shen Zhuoyun’s expression made it clear he was not joking at all as he spoke. Even if his words were cheesy, he said them in all seriousness. “If you owe so much that you can never repay it, then you yourself will have to be used to pay off the debt, do you think?”}
Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.

“If I keep treating you well again and again, it would mean you’ll keep owing me more and more, right?” Shen Zhuoyun’s expression made it clear he was not joking at all as he spoke. Even if his words were cheesy, he said them in all seriousness. “If you owe so much that you can never repay it, then you yourself will have to be used to pay off the debt, do you think?”

_{A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”}A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

_{After finally making it beyond the school’s gates, Qin Mo hadn’t felt a lіck of joy. Only endless torment awaited him.}
Another thing Qin Mo realised during the hike was that not a sip of water from that canteen was drunk by Shen Zhuoyun.

After finally making it beyond the school’s gates, Qin Mo hadn’t felt a lіck of joy. Only endless torment awaited him.

_.What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?

_{“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.}
After getting to know about Shen Zhouyun’s feelings, Qin Mo had started noticing things about the older boy that he normally wouldn’t have. That boy was being considerate of him. Despite having his own needs and having the only bit of treasured liquid before him, he never thought of taking a sip, determined to keep every last drop for Qin Mo alone.

“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{“I know.”}.

“I know.”

_{“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.}
Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.

After two more hours had passed, a cloud finally drifted from somewhere in the clear blue sky to block the scorching sun above. For the first time that day, the boys were granted a moment of relief.

_{{Is it… Is it because you like me?} Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.}Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.

Is it… Is it because you like me? Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.

_{“I know.”}
Is it… Is it because you like me? Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.

“I know.”

“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

_{“And I really don’t like you like that.”}Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.

“And I really don’t like you like that.”

_{1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.}
“Can you still go on?” Cupping Qin Mo’s lowered head, Shen Zhuoyun reached over to lift his face forward. “Why’d you drop your head again? Don’t stare at the ground, alright? Don’t forget, if you keel over, I’m the one who has to carry you back.”

“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

_{“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”}
A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

_{Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.}“I know.”

Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

_{{What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?}}But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?

_{A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”}“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

_{Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.}
On Shen Zhuoyun still had the energy to joke around so light-heartedly in their squad, as everyone else was a panting mess of pure exhaustion.

Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

_{{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace!}[1]}“And I really don’t like you like that.”

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

_.
Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake. That injured instructor had already recovered enough to return to the school to train his class. His level of brutality reached new heights after the riot. The ones under him wanted to release never-ending streams of complaints, but none uttered a peep, only gritting their teeth and choking back grievances. Perhaps they found a sole comfort in the fact that they were not the most unfortunate one of all.

_{Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.}“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”}In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.

“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”

_{Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.}“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{It was autumn. Although the midday sun was not particularly scorching, the sheer brightness of the sun’s rays alone was enough to leave a person’s face hot. It was more so the case after enduring a long journey, one that made spending even a single second more under its glow an act of torture.}
Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.

It was autumn. Although the midday sun was not particularly scorching, the sheer brightness of the sun’s rays alone was enough to leave a person’s face hot. It was more so the case after enduring a long journey, one that made spending even a single second more under its glow an act of torture.

_{Chapter 24: Field Training}“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”

Chapter 24: Field Training

_{After two more hours had passed, a cloud finally drifted from somewhere in the clear blue sky to block the scorching sun above. For the first time that day, the boys were granted a moment of relief.}
For Class 9, Yang Fanghong did suffer some light injuries, but none of it was because of his class, who were stopped from acting out by Jiang Shao. So, since outsiders were responsible for most of his injuries, Yang Fanghong had no score to settle with his class and continued training them as usual.

After two more hours had passed, a cloud finally drifted from somewhere in the clear blue sky to block the scorching sun above. For the first time that day, the boys were granted a moment of relief.

_.Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

_{“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”}“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”

_N/A“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

N/A

_{Once more, Shen Zhuoyun passed the canteen to Qin Mo, urging, “You need to drink more water. The sun is blazing down so hаrd that you won’t be able to cool yourself off, okay? Do you want me to give you a hand?”}
As for the other instructors, they conjured up a new training method to deal with their rowdy students: “Since they want to go outside that bad, huh? So let’s take them up the mountain for training. Let them climb and climb until leaving is the last thing they want to do.”

Once more, Shen Zhuoyun passed the canteen to Qin Mo, urging, “You need to drink more water. The sun is blazing down so hаrd that you won’t be able to cool yourself off, okay? Do you want me to give you a hand?”

_{“But I like you.” Even though the words leaving his lips made Shen Zhuoyun feel no different than those do-nothings on the outside who spent all their time chasing skirts, and it was a cowardly thing to do, betting on Qin Mo’s soft-heartedness and their friendship was the only option he had.}After getting to know about Shen Zhouyun’s feelings, Qin Mo had started noticing things about the older boy that he normally wouldn’t have. That boy was being considerate of him. Despite having his own needs and having the only bit of treasured liquid before him, he never thought of taking a sip, determined to keep every last drop for Qin Mo alone.

“Can you still go on?” Cupping Qin Mo’s lowered head, Shen Zhuoyun reached over to lift his face forward. “Why’d you drop your head again? Don’t stare at the ground, alright? Don’t forget, if you keel over, I’m the one who has to carry you back.”

_.After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.

_{“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”}Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.

“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”

_{Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.}
After finally making it beyond the school’s gates, Qin Mo hadn’t felt a lіck of joy. Only endless torment awaited him.

Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.

_{“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”}“I heard the school hired a new doctor,” Shen Zhuoyun’s voice sounded beside his ear. “I have no info on the kind of person they are, so be careful when you head over to the infirmary to help them, okay? If they’re an elderly woman, don’t give her any back-chat and just do whatever she…” He kept chattering on as always while Qin Mo felt that restlessness gnawing within him grow.

_{On Shen Zhuoyun still had the energy to joke around so light-heartedly in their squad, as everyone else was a panting mess of pure exhaustion.}
.

On Shen Zhuoyun still had the energy to joke around so light-heartedly in their squad, as everyone else was a panting mess of pure exhaustion.

_{“But I like you.” Even though the words leaving his lips made Shen Zhuoyun feel no different than those do-nothings on the outside who spent all their time chasing skirts, and it was a cowardly thing to do, betting on Qin Mo’s soft-heartedness and their friendship was the only option he had.}Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

_{1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.}“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.

_{“I know.”}“You—”

“I know.”

_{Chapter 24: Field Training}It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

Chapter 24: Field Training

_{What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?}
.

What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?

_{In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.}“I heard the school hired a new doctor,” Shen Zhuoyun’s voice sounded beside his ear. “I have no info on the kind of person they are, so be careful when you head over to the infirmary to help them, okay? If they’re an elderly woman, don’t give her any back-chat and just do whatever she…” He kept chattering on as always while Qin Mo felt that restlessness gnawing within him grow.

In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.

_{But no matter what, letting him go would never be an option.}
.

But no matter what, letting him go would never be an option.

_{{Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.}}After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.

_{“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”}“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”

_{“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.}
“I heard the school hired a new doctor,” Shen Zhuoyun’s voice sounded beside his ear. “I have no info on the kind of person they are, so be careful when you head over to the infirmary to help them, okay? If they’re an elderly woman, don’t give her any back-chat and just do whatever she…” He kept chattering on as always while Qin Mo felt that restlessness gnawing within him grow.

“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.

_{“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.}“Hold on for a bit longer, then! But if he can’t, report it! Understood?”

“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

_{As for the other instructors, they conjured up a new training method to deal with their rowdy students: “Since they want to go outside that bad, huh? So let’s take them up the mountain for training. Let them climb and climb until leaving is the last thing they want to do.”}Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

_{Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”}
“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.

Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

_{Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake.}For Class 9, Yang Fanghong did suffer some light injuries, but none of it was because of his class, who were stopped from acting out by Jiang Shao. So, since outsiders were responsible for most of his injuries, Yang Fanghong had no score to settle with his class and continued training them as usual.

Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake. That injured instructor had already recovered enough to return to the school to train his class. His level of brutality reached new heights after the riot. The ones under him wanted to release never-ending streams of complaints, but none uttered a peep, only gritting their teeth and choking back grievances. Perhaps they found a sole comfort in the fact that they were not the most unfortunate one of all.

_{In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.}But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.

_{“And I really don’t like you like that.”}.

“And I really don’t like you like that.”

_{“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.}“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.

_“You—”
After regaining his senses, Shen Zhuoyun slung an arm over Qin Mo’s shoulder, staring at him with no trace of anger in sight. “Of course,” he replied with a grin. “If you get pissed at me, you might just turn me down, yeah?”

“You—”

_{Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.}As for the other instructors, they conjured up a new training method to deal with their rowdy students: “Since they want to go outside that bad, huh? So let’s take them up the mountain for training. Let them climb and climb until leaving is the last thing they want to do.”

_{Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.}“Can you still go on?” Cupping Qin Mo’s lowered head, Shen Zhuoyun reached over to lift his face forward. “Why’d you drop your head again? Don’t stare at the ground, alright? Don’t forget, if you keel over, I’m the one who has to carry you back.”

Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.

_{But what if there's no chance at all?}
Qin Mo regained a burst of energy in that moment, a surge that shot straight to his head that made him throw off that hanging hand and whisper, “Shen Zhuoyun, I’m not joking around. So please just stop talking so much, alright? I don’t want to hear it.”

But what if there's no chance at all?

_{“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”}“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

_.
“Which parts?” Shen Zhuoyun’s tone turned serious. “Which parts don’t you want to hear?

_{“I know.”}Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

“I know.”

_{After getting to know about Shen Zhouyun’s feelings, Qin Mo had started noticing things about the older boy that he normally wouldn’t have. That boy was being considerate of him. Despite having his own needs and having the only bit of treasured liquid before him, he never thought of taking a sip, determined to keep every last drop for Qin Mo alone.}“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.

After getting to know about Shen Zhouyun’s feelings, Qin Mo had started noticing things about the older boy that he normally wouldn’t have. That boy was being considerate of him. Despite having his own needs and having the only bit of treasured liquid before him, he never thought of taking a sip, determined to keep every last drop for Qin Mo alone.

_{“Can you still go on?” Cupping Qin Mo’s lowered head, Shen Zhuoyun reached over to lift his face forward. “Why’d you drop your head again? Don’t stare at the ground, alright? Don’t forget, if you keel over, I’m the one who has to carry you back.”}
“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

_{“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”}Chapter 24: Field Training

“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

For Class 9, Yang Fanghong did suffer some light injuries, but none of it was because of his class, who were stopped from acting out by Jiang Shao. So, since outsiders were responsible for most of his injuries, Yang Fanghong had no score to settle with his class and continued training them as usual.

_{After getting to know about Shen Zhouyun’s feelings, Qin Mo had started noticing things about the older boy that he normally wouldn’t have. That boy was being considerate of him. Despite having his own needs and having the only bit of treasured liquid before him, he never thought of taking a sip, determined to keep every last drop for Qin Mo alone.}
“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

“And I really don’t like you like that.”

_{“Yes, sir!”}This was the kind of person Shen Zhuoyun was; he possessed a strong sense of purpose, and everything he currently did for Qin Mo was for a single purpose: taking advantage of that boy’s hesitation to quickly bind him to himself. So he figured if he could just get one more loop around, just one, Qin Mo could be bound to him forever—he would be all his and his alone.

“Yes, sir!”

_{Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.}
“You—”

Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

_{{Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.}}It was autumn. Although the midday sun was not particularly scorching, the sheer brightness of the sun’s rays alone was enough to leave a person’s face hot. It was more so the case after enduring a long journey, one that made spending even a single second more under its glow an act of torture.

Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”}
“If I keep treating you well again and again, it would mean you’ll keep owing me more and more, right?” Shen Zhuoyun’s expression made it clear he was not joking at all as he spoke. Even if his words were cheesy, he said them in all seriousness. “If you owe so much that you can never repay it, then you yourself will have to be used to pay off the debt, do you think?”

“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”

_.But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

_{For Class 9, Yang Fanghong did suffer some light injuries, but none of it was because of his class, who were stopped from acting out by Jiang Shao. So, since outsiders were responsible for most of his injuries, Yang Fanghong had no score to settle with his class and continued training them as usual.}After getting to know about Shen Zhouyun’s feelings, Qin Mo had started noticing things about the older boy that he normally wouldn’t have. That boy was being considerate of him. Despite having his own needs and having the only bit of treasured liquid before him, he never thought of taking a sip, determined to keep every last drop for Qin Mo alone.

_{After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]}Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake. That injured instructor had already recovered enough to return to the school to train his class. His level of brutality reached new heights after the riot. The ones under him wanted to release never-ending streams of complaints, but none uttered a peep, only gritting their teeth and choking back grievances. Perhaps they found a sole comfort in the fact that they were not the most unfortunate one of all.

After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

_{“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”}
“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.

“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

_{“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”}“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

_{{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace!}[1]}“Which parts?” Shen Zhuoyun’s tone turned serious. “Which parts don’t you want to hear?

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

_{“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”}
“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.}Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.

_{Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.}“Yes, sir!”

Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.

_{It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.}After two more hours had passed, a cloud finally drifted from somewhere in the clear blue sky to block the scorching sun above. For the first time that day, the boys were granted a moment of relief.

_{“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.}“If I keep treating you well again and again, it would mean you’ll keep owing me more and more, right?” Shen Zhuoyun’s expression made it clear he was not joking at all as he spoke. Even if his words were cheesy, he said them in all seriousness. “If you owe so much that you can never repay it, then you yourself will have to be used to pay off the debt, do you think?”

“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.

_{Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.}
This was the kind of person Shen Zhuoyun was; he possessed a strong sense of purpose, and everything he currently did for Qin Mo was for a single purpose: taking advantage of that boy’s hesitation to quickly bind him to himself. So he figured if he could just get one more loop around, just one, Qin Mo could be bound to him forever—he would be all his and his alone.

_{“Shen Zhuoyun,” Qin Mo finally spoke up, “I don’t like you—not in that way. I haven’t even thought of having a partner in the future, let alone a male one.”}“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.

“Shen Zhuoyun,” Qin Mo finally spoke up, “I don’t like you—not in that way. I haven’t even thought of having a partner in the future, let alone a male one.”

_{{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace!}[1]}“Hold on for a bit longer, then! But if he can’t, report it! Understood?”

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

_{It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.}1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.[]2. “Ink Stain” 墨迹: mo4 ji1 shares the same pronunciation of 默: mo4, which is the “mo4” in Qin Mo.[]3. Zhu Bajie (aka Pigsy) is a character from Journey to the West, and the piggyback comparison is from a scene in the 1986 drаma (episode 7) where Zhu Bajie was promised a Lord’s daughter's hand in marriage by saving her from kidnappers while in human form. Anyhow, they found out he wasn’t human, but it was too late to call off the wedding. Later, Sun Wukong was invited to subdue the monster and tricked him in return by turning into the bride and getting Zhu Bajie to carry him back to his cave. Zhu Bajie was as happy as a clam as he lugged the heavy “bride” up the mountain to escape Sun Wukong, who was coming to subdue him. [As I’m typing it out, it sounds kind of mean.]

_{After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]}
It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.

_N/AThis was the kind of person Shen Zhuoyun was; he possessed a strong sense of purpose, and everything he currently did for Qin Mo was for a single purpose: taking advantage of that boy’s hesitation to quickly bind him to himself. So he figured if he could just get one more loop around, just one, Qin Mo could be bound to him forever—he would be all his and his alone.

N/A

_{“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.}“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”

“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.

_{“I heard the school hired a new doctor,” Shen Zhuoyun’s voice sounded beside his ear. “I have no info on the kind of person they are, so be careful when you head over to the infirmary to help them, okay? If they’re an elderly woman, don’t give her any back-chat and just do whatever she…” He kept chattering on as always while Qin Mo felt that restlessness gnawing within him grow.}.

“I heard the school hired a new doctor,” Shen Zhuoyun’s voice sounded beside his ear. “I have no info on the kind of person they are, so be careful when you head over to the infirmary to help them, okay? If they’re an elderly woman, don’t give her any back-chat and just do whatever she…” He kept chattering on as always while Qin Mo felt that restlessness gnawing within him grow.

_{“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”}
Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.

“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”

_{“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.}“I know.”

“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.

_{Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.}“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”}Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”

_{“I know.”}
“Shen Zhuoyun,” Qin Mo finally spoke up, “I don’t like you—not in that way. I haven’t even thought of having a partner in the future, let alone a male one.”

“I know.”

_{“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.}Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.

_{“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.}Chapter 24: Field Training

“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.

_{“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.}.

“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

_{“Yes, sir!”}“You—”

“Yes, sir!”

_{Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”}After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

_{“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”}Once more, Shen Zhuoyun passed the canteen to Qin Mo, urging, “You need to drink more water. The sun is blazing down so hаrd that you won’t be able to cool yourself off, okay? Do you want me to give you a hand?”

“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.}“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.

_{“Qin Mo is not feeling well, sir!” Shen Zhuoyun lied without missing a beat.}
“I know.”

“Qin Mo is not feeling well, sir!” Shen Zhuoyun lied without missing a beat.

_{“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”}“Hold on for a bit longer, then! But if he can’t, report it! Understood?”

“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

_{“Qin Mo is not feeling well, sir!” Shen Zhuoyun lied without missing a beat.}For Class 9, Yang Fanghong did suffer some light injuries, but none of it was because of his class, who were stopped from acting out by Jiang Shao. So, since outsiders were responsible for most of his injuries, Yang Fanghong had no score to settle with his class and continued training them as usual.

“Qin Mo is not feeling well, sir!” Shen Zhuoyun lied without missing a beat.

_{{Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.}}“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

_{“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.}
“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

_{{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace!}[1]}In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

_{Jabs of uncertаinty pricked at Shen Zhuoyun. But then he mused that whisking a certain person away to somewhere far and deserted where no one would ever find them might not be so bad. Or perhaps he could trail after that certain person for the rest of his days and chase away all others who set their eyes on him.}
“But I like you.” Even though the words leaving his lips made Shen Zhuoyun feel no different than those do-nothings on the outside who spent all their time chasing skirts, and it was a cowardly thing to do, betting on Qin Mo’s soft-heartedness and their friendship was the only option he had.

Jabs of uncertаinty pricked at Shen Zhuoyun. But then he mused that whisking a certain person away to somewhere far and deserted where no one would ever find them might not be so bad. Or perhaps he could trail after that certain person for the rest of his days and chase away all others who set their eyes on him.

_{But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.}Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

_.“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}
But what if there's no chance at all?

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.}What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?

_{After regaining his senses, Shen Zhuoyun slung an arm over Qin Mo’s shoulder, staring at him with no trace of anger in sight. “Of course,” he replied with a grin. “If you get pissed at me, you might just turn me down, yeah?”}It was autumn. Although the midday sun was not particularly scorching, the sheer brightness of the sun’s rays alone was enough to leave a person’s face hot. It was more so the case after enduring a long journey, one that made spending even a single second more under its glow an act of torture.

After regaining his senses, Shen Zhuoyun slung an arm over Qin Mo’s shoulder, staring at him with no trace of anger in sight. “Of course,” he replied with a grin. “If you get pissed at me, you might just turn me down, yeah?”

_{“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.}Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.

“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

_{“Hold on for a bit longer, then! But if he can’t, report it! Understood?”}
Jabs of uncertаinty pricked at Shen Zhuoyun. But then he mused that whisking a certain person away to somewhere far and deserted where no one would ever find them might not be so bad. Or perhaps he could trail after that certain person for the rest of his days and chase away all others who set their eyes on him.

“Hold on for a bit longer, then! But if he can’t, report it! Understood?”

_{Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”}Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

_{“Yes, sir!”}But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

“Yes, sir!”

_{“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”}Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{Qin Mo regained a burst of energy in that moment, a surge that shot straight to his head that made him throw off that hanging hand and whisper, “Shen Zhuoyun, I’m not joking around. So please just stop talking so much, alright? I don’t want to hear it.”}For Class 9, Yang Fanghong did suffer some light injuries, but none of it was because of his class, who were stopped from acting out by Jiang Shao. So, since outsiders were responsible for most of his injuries, Yang Fanghong had no score to settle with his class and continued training them as usual.

Qin Mo regained a burst of energy in that moment, a surge that shot straight to his head that made him throw off that hanging hand and whisper, “Shen Zhuoyun, I’m not joking around. So please just stop talking so much, alright? I don’t want to hear it.”

_{“Yes, sir!”}
“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.

“Yes, sir!”

_{“And I really don’t like you like that.”}Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake. That injured instructor had already recovered enough to return to the school to train his class. His level of brutality reached new heights after the riot. The ones under him wanted to release never-ending streams of complaints, but none uttered a peep, only gritting their teeth and choking back grievances. Perhaps they found a sole comfort in the fact that they were not the most unfortunate one of all.

“And I really don’t like you like that.”

_{Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.}“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.

Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.

_{Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.}“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{“Qin Mo is not feeling well, sir!” Shen Zhuoyun lied without missing a beat.}After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

“Qin Mo is not feeling well, sir!” Shen Zhuoyun lied without missing a beat.

_{“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.}
“You, over there! What’s going on!” the instructor shouted.

“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.

_{“If I keep treating you well again and again, it would mean you’ll keep owing me more and more, right?” Shen Zhuoyun’s expression made it clear he was not joking at all as he spoke. Even if his words were cheesy, he said them in all seriousness. “If you owe so much that you can never repay it, then you yourself will have to be used to pay off the debt, do you think?”}Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake. That injured instructor had already recovered enough to return to the school to train his class. His level of brutality reached new heights after the riot. The ones under him wanted to release never-ending streams of complaints, but none uttered a peep, only gritting their teeth and choking back grievances. Perhaps they found a sole comfort in the fact that they were not the most unfortunate one of all.

_{{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace!}[1]}Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

_{“Watch out!” Shen Zhuoyun yanked Qin Mo from behind, catching him before he fell face-first into the dirt.}
Yang Fanghong shot him a look, but ultimately decided to give him face for no other reason than the fact that no one from Class 9 caused him harm during the riot.

“Watch out!” Shen Zhuoyun yanked Qin Mo from behind, catching him before he fell face-first into the dirt.

_{“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.}“I know.”

“Can you just stop talking for a bit?” Qin Mo spat, stunning Shen Zhuoyun.

_{“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.}Exhaustion seemed to be the prominent feeling among the group even before they left those gates. Disillusionment was the only thing that followed after the unrest that swept through the school blew by with no accomplishment in its wake. That injured instructor had already recovered enough to return to the school to train his class. His level of brutality reached new heights after the riot. The ones under him wanted to release never-ending streams of complaints, but none uttered a peep, only gritting their teeth and choking back grievances. Perhaps they found a sole comfort in the fact that they were not the most unfortunate one of all.

“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

_{This was the kind of person Shen Zhuoyun was; he possessed a strong sense of purpose, and everything he currently did for Qin Mo was for a single purpose: taking advantage of that boy’s hesitation to quickly bind him to himself. So he figured if he could just get one more loop around, just one, Qin Mo could be bound to him forever—he would be all his and his alone.}“I heard the school hired a new doctor,” Shen Zhuoyun’s voice sounded beside his ear. “I have no info on the kind of person they are, so be careful when you head over to the infirmary to help them, okay? If they’re an elderly woman, don’t give her any back-chat and just do whatever she…” He kept chattering on as always while Qin Mo felt that restlessness gnawing within him grow.

This was the kind of person Shen Zhuoyun was; he possessed a strong sense of purpose, and everything he currently did for Qin Mo was for a single purpose: taking advantage of that boy’s hesitation to quickly bind him to himself. So he figured if he could just get one more loop around, just one, Qin Mo could be bound to him forever—he would be all his and his alone.

_{“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.}
“Hold on for a bit longer, then! But if he can’t, report it! Understood?”

“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.

“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

_{{Is it… Is it because you like me?} Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.}“You—”

Is it… Is it because you like me? Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.

_{After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]}“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

_{“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”}
“Yes, sir!”

“Qin Mo?” The boy’s face was paper-white as Shen Zhuoyun called out to him; his eyes glassy; his lips dry and cracked. “Hey? Are you alright?”

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_N/A1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.[]2. “Ink Stain” 墨迹: mo4 ji1 shares the same pronunciation of 默: mo4, which is the “mo4” in Qin Mo.[]3. Zhu Bajie (aka Pigsy) is a character from Journey to the West, and the piggyback comparison is from a scene in the 1986 drаma (episode 7) where Zhu Bajie was promised a Lord’s daughter's hand in marriage by saving her from kidnappers while in human form. Anyhow, they found out he wasn’t human, but it was too late to call off the wedding. Later, Sun Wukong was invited to subdue the monster and tricked him in return by turning into the bride and getting Zhu Bajie to carry him back to his cave. Zhu Bajie was as happy as a clam as he lugged the heavy “bride” up the mountain to escape Sun Wukong, who was coming to subdue him. [As I’m typing it out, it sounds kind of mean.]

N/A

_{“I know.”}“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

“I know.”

_{Another thing Qin Mo realised during the hike was that not a sip of water from that canteen was drunk by Shen Zhuoyun.}
Once more, Shen Zhuoyun passed the canteen to Qin Mo, urging, “You need to drink more water. The sun is blazing down so hаrd that you won’t be able to cool yourself off, okay? Do you want me to give you a hand?”

Another thing Qin Mo realised during the hike was that not a sip of water from that canteen was drunk by Shen Zhuoyun.

_{“I know.”}What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?

“I know.”

_{But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.}
But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

_{Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.}“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

_N/A
What would two guys being stuck close together like that, with one holding up the other, come off?

N/A

_{Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.}Jabs of uncertаinty pricked at Shen Zhuoyun. But then he mused that whisking a certain person away to somewhere far and deserted where no one would ever find them might not be so bad. Or perhaps he could trail after that certain person for the rest of his days and chase away all others who set their eyes on him.

Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.

_{A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”}
It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

_{“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”}Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”}“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

“Hey, Qin Mo,” he spoke through his grin, “don’t forget, you owe me another one.”

_{“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”}After two more hours had passed, a cloud finally drifted from somewhere in the clear blue sky to block the scorching sun above. For the first time that day, the boys were granted a moment of relief.

“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”}
After two more hours had passed, a cloud finally drifted from somewhere in the clear blue sky to block the scorching sun above. For the first time that day, the boys were granted a moment of relief.

“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”

_{“But I like you.” Even though the words leaving his lips made Shen Zhuoyun feel no different than those do-nothings on the outside who spent all their time chasing skirts, and it was a cowardly thing to do, betting on Qin Mo’s soft-heartedness and their friendship was the only option he had.}After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

_{“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”}“But I like you.” Even though the words leaving his lips made Shen Zhuoyun feel no different than those do-nothings on the outside who spent all their time chasing skirts, and it was a cowardly thing to do, betting on Qin Mo’s soft-heartedness and their friendship was the only option he had.

“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”

_{“And I really don’t like you like that.”}Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.

“And I really don’t like you like that.”

_{Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.}
“Watch out!” Shen Zhuoyun yanked Qin Mo from behind, catching him before he fell face-first into the dirt.

Lowering his head once more, Qin Mo resumed his forward-moving steps without a word. Behind him, Shen Zhuoyun silently followed, mirroring his every step.

_{“Yes, sir!”}N/A

“Yes, sir!”

_{“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.}Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.

_{“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”}“And I really don’t like you like that.”

“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”

_{“Yes, sir!”}But what if there's no chance at all?

“Yes, sir!”

_{“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.}1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.[]2. “Ink Stain” 墨迹: mo4 ji1 shares the same pronunciation of 默: mo4, which is the “mo4” in Qin Mo.[]3. Zhu Bajie (aka Pigsy) is a character from Journey to the West, and the piggyback comparison is from a scene in the 1986 drаma (episode 7) where Zhu Bajie was promised a Lord’s daughter's hand in marriage by saving her from kidnappers while in human form. Anyhow, they found out he wasn’t human, but it was too late to call off the wedding. Later, Sun Wukong was invited to subdue the monster and tricked him in return by turning into the bride and getting Zhu Bajie to carry him back to his cave. Zhu Bajie was as happy as a clam as he lugged the heavy “bride” up the mountain to escape Sun Wukong, who was coming to subdue him. [As I’m typing it out, it sounds kind of mean.]

“Reporting!” Qin Mo wanted to struggle some more, but Shen Zhuoyun shouted first.

_{“Can you still go on?” Cupping Qin Mo’s lowered head, Shen Zhuoyun reached over to lift his face forward. “Why’d you drop your head again? Don’t stare at the ground, alright? Don’t forget, if you keel over, I’m the one who has to carry you back.”}“If I keep treating you well again and again, it would mean you’ll keep owing me more and more, right?” Shen Zhuoyun’s expression made it clear he was not joking at all as he spoke. Even if his words were cheesy, he said them in all seriousness. “If you owe so much that you can never repay it, then you yourself will have to be used to pay off the debt, do you think?”

_{Chapter 24: Field Training}
“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

Chapter 24: Field Training

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{{But what if there's no chance at all?}}“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.

But what if there's no chance at all?

_{But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.}“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

But Qin Mo still refused, shaking his head.

_{Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.}
“Fine, my ass!” Shen Zhouyun cursed. “We’re going back downhill right now. If I hadn’t caught you, your whole head would’ve gotten busted!”

Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.

_{Jabs of uncertаinty pricked at Shen Zhuoyun. But then he mused that whisking a certain person away to somewhere far and deserted where no one would ever find them might not be so bad. Or perhaps he could trail after that certain person for the rest of his days and chase away all others who set their eyes on him.}“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.}After regaining his senses, Shen Zhuoyun slung an arm over Qin Mo’s shoulder, staring at him with no trace of anger in sight. “Of course,” he replied with a grin. “If you get pissed at me, you might just turn me down, yeah?”

“You—” Qin Mo tried to get through to Shen Zhouyun one last time. “Please don’t do this. Seriously.” He really couldn’t bear it.

_{Qin Mo regained a burst of energy in that moment, a surge that shot straight to his head that made him throw off that hanging hand and whisper, “Shen Zhuoyun, I’m not joking around. So please just stop talking so much, alright? I don’t want to hear it.”}Once more, Shen Zhuoyun passed the canteen to Qin Mo, urging, “You need to drink more water. The sun is blazing down so hаrd that you won’t be able to cool yourself off, okay? Do you want me to give you a hand?”

_{“I know.”}Jabs of uncertаinty pricked at Shen Zhuoyun. But then he mused that whisking a certain person away to somewhere far and deserted where no one would ever find them might not be so bad. Or perhaps he could trail after that certain person for the rest of his days and chase away all others who set their eyes on him.

“I know.”

_{In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.}
“Speak!” Yang Fanghong spat, as all that hiking also left him tired and irritated.

In a sense, their plan did indeed bear fruit.

_{{But what if there's no chance at all?}}“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

But what if there's no chance at all?

_{But no matter what, letting him go would never be an option.}It was the first time Shen Zhuoyun had blatantly confessed his love for Qin Mo, and that everything he did was for his sake alone. It was a confession that shattered their fragile veil of peace and laid everything bare.

But no matter what, letting him go would never be an option.

_{A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”}“All of it.” Qin Mo frowned, his lips pursing. After a moment of silence, he then added, “Shen Zhuoyun… You don’t need to keep being so good to me. You don’t owe it to me.”

A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

_{“Yes, sir!”}Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.

“Yes, sir!”

_{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]}
Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

_{After regaining his senses, Shen Zhuoyun slung an arm over Qin Mo’s shoulder, staring at him with no trace of anger in sight. “Of course,” he replied with a grin. “If you get pissed at me, you might just turn me down, yeah?”}On Shen Zhuoyun still had the energy to joke around so light-heartedly in their squad, as everyone else was a panting mess of pure exhaustion.

_{“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.}“Yeah… is it?” Shen Zhuoyun replied in a self-mocking tone. “I know you’re not gay, Qin Mo, and I’m not either. But I fell for you—I like you. Only you. So what am I supposed to do, huh? But since you’re still young, it means I still have a chance to bend you, don’t you think? After all, if you grow up and fall for some girl, I’d have zero chance at all.”

“Fine! Suit yourself!” Unable to stand the stifling feeling, Qin Mo spat out so loudly that it caught Yang Fanghong’s attention.

_{{It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace!}[1]}Looking back, he’s been like this since my first day here. Now, it seems to have become a norm.

It’d be more attention-grabbing than Empress Dowager Cixi leaving the Forbidden Palace![1]

_{Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.}
Staring at the kneeling figure of Shen Zhuoyun, whose back was facing towards him, Qin Mo stood in place, his inaction causing his grumpy instructor to yell out, “Oi, Ink Stain![2] Hurry the hell up and get on his back! You think the whole class is gonna wait for you?!”

_{Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.}A chuckle then left Shen Zhuoyun as he was done speaking, delight in his tone as he added, “But it wouldn’t be all bad if you faint, though. I’ll even carry you princess-style for free.”

Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

_{Is it… Is it because you like me? Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.}
Left with no choice, Qin Mo climbed onto the other person’s back.

Is it… Is it because you like me? Qin Mo felt a wave of restlessness wash over him while mulling over Shen Zhuoyun’s thoughts.

_{“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”}“Don't look down. It's easy to pass out if you do.” From beside him, Shen Zhuoyun handed him a canteen. “Here. Have some water.”

“But I want you to, Qin Mo.” Shen Zhuoyun stared at him as if he were trying to find something in his gaze. “I want you to owe me something, Qin Mo.”

_{Another thing Qin Mo realised during the hike was that not a sip of water from that canteen was drunk by Shen Zhuoyun.}“Is that even possible?” Qin Mo whispered.

Another thing Qin Mo realised during the hike was that not a sip of water from that canteen was drunk by Shen Zhuoyun.

_{Zhao Yuan was the holder of that unfortunate title, and he was whisked away by the director, just him alone. It’s been three days since anyone saw a trace of him. Since then, no one knew if he was alive or dead.}Instead of accepting, Qin Mo shook his head and nudged the extended hand away. They’ve been hiking all morning, and considering the school's usual bathroom policy, it was unlikely they’d let him, or anyone, get a chance to relieve themself until later that evening. So, if he drank any water now, enduring it until later would be difficult, to say the least.

_{“I know.”}On Shen Zhuoyun still had the energy to joke around so light-heartedly in their squad, as everyone else was a panting mess of pure exhaustion.

“I know.”

_.
After gaining his passenger, Shen Zhouyun didn’t miss the chance to cop a feel of the butt now resting on his palms, the sensation eliciting a laugh as joyous as Zhu Bajie’s while carrying his wife back to his cave.[3]

“I know.”

_{Lоcking his dry lips, feeling as if even the air in his throat was scorching, Qin Mo found it near-impossible to lift his lead-laden legs, but he could not stop trekking; he had to keep pace with the large squad marching with him.}“Can you still go on?” Cupping Qin Mo’s lowered head, Shen Zhuoyun reached over to lift his face forward. “Why’d you drop your head again? Don’t stare at the ground, alright? Don’t forget, if you keel over, I’m the one who has to carry you back.”

_{Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.}But what if there's no chance at all?

Yang Fanghong glanced back at the boy, who seemed on the brink of foaming at the mouth. “Carry him!” he said with a wave of his hand.

“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

_{“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”}“I’m fine.” Qin Mo regained enough of his senses to respond. He wanted to lift himself out of Shen Zhuoyun’s grasp as well, but that boy had no intention of loosening his tіght grip.

“Qin Mo can’t go on, sir! I’d like to carry him.”

Author's Note:

N/A

Notes:

1. Empress Dowager Cixi was the mother of the last emperor of China, and um… she is known for being the one pulling the strings during his stunted reign.

2. “Ink Stain” 墨迹: mo4 ji1 shares the same pronunciation of 默: mo4, which is the “mo4” in Qin Mo.

3. Zhu Bajie (aka Pigsy) is a character from Journey to the West, and the piggyback comparison is from a scene in the 1986 drаma (episode 7) where Zhu Bajie was promised a Lord’s daughter's hand in marriage by saving her from kidnappers while in human form. Anyhow, they found out he wasn’t human, but it was too late to call off the wedding. Later, Sun Wukong was invited to subdue the monster and tricked him in return by turning into the bride and getting Zhu Bajie to carry him back to his cave. Zhu Bajie was as happy as a clam as he lugged the heavy “bride” up the mountain to escape Sun Wukong, who was coming to subdue him. [As I’m typing it out, it sounds kind of mean.]

Updated on a Saturday. Raws: jjwxc

Bad Boys Boot Camp: V1-C24

Chapter 24: Field Training

Author's Note:

Notes:

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