71: Chapter 71 The Self-Conquest of a Simple Woman

Soon, Murong Zhe noticed the issue as well.

He paused for a moment, then saw Qin Feng walking in their direction. A flash of insight hit him, and he instantly "understood" the situation.

He quickly spoke in a tone of sudden realization, "Shen Youchu, I've finally figured it out!"

"He must know you're here and can't let you go, so he risked punishment from the instructor to sneak out just to catch a glimpse of you!"

"Tsk tsk, he truly is the ultimate simp. Even I'm moved by how infatuated he looks."

Shen Youchu had been so exhausted she was on the verge of passing out, but after hearing Murong Zhe's analysis, she instantly sobered up.

That's right! It must be like that! He must have snuck out!

And the reason he snuck out… who else could it be but me?

In that moment, an indescribable, complex emotion surged within Shen Youchu.

There was disdain, smugness, and a trace of secret joy she hadn't even realized herself.

She let out a cold snort.

"As expected, this man simply cannot live without me."

He was so arrogant at the front gate last time, talking about making me pay back money and claiming he had no interest in a bus—it was all an act!

It was all a bitter drama performed just to get my attention!

And now? Seeing me suffer here, he must be hurting more than anyone, right?

He couldn't bear it, so he risked being punished and came scurrying over just to see me?

He must love me to death!

Thinking this, Shen Youchu felt much more energized.

She even felt that the military training wasn't as grueling as before.

With a simp who treated her like a precious treasure around, surely she wouldn't have to suffer?

Murong Zhe watched the radiance return to Shen Youchu's face and became even more convinced of his judgment.

He leaned in, continuing to fan the flames, playing the role of a "gold-medal emotional analyst."

"Shen Youchu, I told you so. He's been chasing you for three full years; how could he just give up like that?"

"Was that three-year relationship fake? Was that 120,000 in vain? These are all sunk costs."

"You are his white moonlight, the goddess he can look at but never reach."

"Even if he talks tough, he's already knelt before you in his heart."

"I saw through it long ago. The act this kid put on earlier is exactly what they call 'PUA push-pull' on the internet—playing hard to get!"

"Look, now that you're ignoring him, he can't hold back anymore and has come to your doorstep."

Murong Zhe grew more excited as he spoke, as if he had grasped the secrets of the universe.

"Let me tell you, to deal with a simp like this, you have to keep him under control!"

"The more indifferent you are to him, the more he'll value you."

"When he comes over in a moment, don't you dare give him a pleasant look. You have to let him know that if he wants your forgiveness again, he'll have to pay a price!"

Shen Youchu nodded in deep agreement, and the look she directed at Qin Feng regained that high-and-mighty scrutiny.

That's right, Murong Zhe is right. I can't just forgive him so easily.

He embarrassed me so much last time and even hit me; this matter cannot just end like this.

When he comes over later, I must humiliate him properly and let him know how formidable I am.

Then, I'll see how he performs. If he can kneel down and beg me, and promise to give me 10,000 yuan in living expenses every month in the future, I might consider… letting him regain the qualification to pursue me.

The two of them sang in harmony, already imagining the spectacular drama to come: Qin Feng weeping bitterly and kneeling in repentance.

They watched as Qin Feng walked closer and closer, both wearing the smiles of victors.

However… Qin Feng's footsteps stopped thirty meters away from them.

He didn't even cast a single extra glance in their direction.

"Zhao Hu! Li Lang! Liu Wei!"

Qin Feng shouted towards the other side, looking at the few who had just finished the weighted cross-country run, and instantly became excited.

The three heard the call and struggled to lift their heads. When they saw it was Qin Feng, their faces all wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

"Holy crap! Brother Feng!"

Li Lang didn't care about the soreness all over his body; he scrambled over and hugged Qin Feng's thigh.

"Brother Feng! It's good that you're here. This thing on me is thirty jin; it's killing me."

"Brother Feng!"

Zhao Hu also ran up, panting, and gave Qin Feng a bear hug.

Even the most introverted Liu Wei walked over and excitedly shouted, "Brother Feng."

Qin Feng looked at their disheveled appearances, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"Look at you guys, this is nothing compared to what's coming."

"Brother Feng, you don't know!" Li Lang gulped down a large mouthful of water, his face miserable.

"You don't know. The seniors only had a five-kilometer cross-country run, but we had a ten-kilometer weighted run. It's inhumane!"

"We had to gather at five this morning, and the instructor didn't go easy on us, drilling us to death!"

Zhao Hu also looked fearful.

Qin Feng patted their shoulders and comforted them: "You aren't training for the first day; it's just a routine project. You'll get used to it."

"Brother Feng, why are you here? Didn't you go to the veteran camp?" Zhao Hu asked curiously.

"I came back with our squad leader to handle some business today, and by the way… by the way, I'm treating you to a meal." Qin Feng said nonchalantly.

"By the way?"

"Brother Feng, you're really something. We're just an afterthought to you."

The three instantly deflated like punctured balls, their faces full of existential despair.

Just as they were having a lively reunion on this side, Shen Youchu and Murong Zhe on the other side were completely dumbfounded.

The smiles on their faces froze at the corners of their mouths.

The script… went off-track again?

He… why isn't he coming over?

Why did he go to chat with those guys?

Did he not see me? That's impossible; I'm a living person lying right here!

For the first time, a trace of panic arose in Shen Youchu's heart.

"A… Ah-Zhe…" She looked at Murong Zhe somewhat uncertainly.

"What… what does he mean by this?"

Murong Zhe's expression was also quite ugly, but he was still stubborn.

"Ahem, Shen Youchu, don't worry. This… this is called feinting to the east to attack in the west! Right, that's it! He just wants to get your attention. Don't fall for it!"

He forced an explanation: "Look, he must be afraid that coming straight to you would seem too deliberate and beneath his dignity.

So he went to find his friends first, pretending to chat. In reality, his attention must have been on you the whole time!"

"Just watch, once he finishes chatting with those guys, his next step will definitely be to come find you!"

"Hmm… that makes sense."

Once Shen Youchu heard this, she felt a bit more settled.

She straightened her back again, assuming a pose of "I've already seen through you," and coldly watched Qin Feng's direction, waiting for his next move.

Qin Feng chatted with Zhao Hu and the others for a while. Seeing that they had recovered, he said:

"Alright, I have business with the company commander, so I'm leaving first. You guys train hard, I'll come find you at noon."

Having said that, he turned around and walked towards the command post.

From beginning to end, he didn't glance at Shen Youchu's side even once.

It was as if she and Murong Zhe were just two blobs of insignificant air.

He left?

He just left like that?!

Shen Youchu and Murong Zhe were instantly dumbfounded.

Like two statues, they stood frozen in place.