Chapter 12: What in the World Is the Planet of Happiness!?

Roll call ended quickly; only one student was absent, reportedly due to illness. Cheng Yao glanced at Liu Hanyue—could that frail body of hers really make it through this? The military training was nothing more than the usual drills: standing at attention, standing at ease, turning in place, standing with feet apart… Discipline and uniformity were demanded, but compared to life in the barracks, this was a breeze. It was even a good way to foster camaraderie among classmates, far less strict than the real thing.

The sun blazed overhead, the sky a cloudless blue. The students started running laps around the field. It was still early, the sunlight not yet harsh, a light breeze cooling their faces. Even so, after a few laps, they were all about to collapse from exhaustion.

Sweat streamed down their faces,
Their breathing grew ragged,
No one complained aloud, but their eyes were full of silent reproach, cursing their fate in their hearts.

“Seriously? We have to keep running?!”

“My lungs are about to explode!”

“Don’t talk… it hurts more the more I talk…”

After a few laps, both boys and girls were doubled over, backs bowed, some clutching their stomachs, squinting as if they were about to die. The girls looked completely defeated—who ever runs like this in daily life?

The instructor chuckled, “I can understand the girls, but the boys? Just a few laps and you’re worn out?”

“Instructor, I don’t think that’s fair. Isn’t gender equality the standard these days?”

Well, well.

Everyone turned to see who had spoken.

Even Cheng Yao couldn’t help but glance over—what nerve! Wasn’t he afraid of getting pummeled by all the girls?

Sure enough, the girls were enraged, glaring daggers at him, ready to tear him apart.

“Was that you just now?” The instructor frowned.

A hapless fool from Class Two was dragged out. The instructor sneered, “So you like to argue, do you? Fine, step forward and give me thirty push-ups!”

Seeing how scrawny the boy was, the instructor almost felt sorry for him.

“Yes, sir!”

He didn’t even make it to twenty before collapsing on the field, his face a mask of agony, as if he were suffering menstrual cramps. In that moment, he lost all his prospects for romantic success at university.

The instructor shouted, “Are you fertilizing the field? Enough, back in line! Boys should be more magnanimous—what’s the point of competing with girls all the time?”

Cheng Yao wanted to laugh—this was a classic case of the nail that sticks out getting hammered down.

Next came posture drills.

Everyone stood at attention under the scorching sun. Because of the earlier run, standing motionless in the light breeze actually felt cool for a while.

But that didn’t last.

As time dragged on, their legs started to ache and swell, sweat soaking their backs, faces twisted in misery. Those with better stamina managed, but for the less robust—especially the girls—it was pure torture. They were simply too delicate to endure such strain.

Fortunately, the instructor was not without compassion. After a short time, he announced a break. Rested, they would resume.

During the break, some bought water, others grumbled about their fate.

Cheng Yao and Wang Wenbo huddled in the shade, their eyes wandering toward the girls.

“What is true happiness?” Wang Wenbo snickered, excitement gleaming in his eyes. “This—this is happiness!”

He ogled the girls shamelessly. Sweat had plastered their clothes to their bodies, and those with impressive figures were now on full display.

“Damn, Zhou Ziqing’s figure is explosive!”

“Keep your voice down…” Cheng Yao glanced around nervously, shoving him lest anyone overhear.

Still, he couldn’t deny it—Zhou Ziqing really did have the best figure in class. It wasn’t that she was particularly slim, but rather that certain curves filled out her uniform in a way no other girl could match.

Unlike Wang Wenbo, Cheng Yao cared more about faces—as long as a girl was pretty, that was enough for him, shallow as it was.

He glanced at Liu Hanyue; she didn’t look much different, except for her disheveled hair, a sweaty brow, and her shirt clinging to her body as it had from the start.

She truly was flat as a board.

For a moment, Cheng Yao’s gaze was full of sympathy.

Wang Churu tugged at Liu Hanyue. “Hanyue, Cheng Yao’s looking over here.”

“I think there’s something off about his expression,” Liu Hanyue whispered.

Wang Churu said nothing.

Just like that, the morning passed.

By noon, everyone’s stomachs were rumbling from hunger. The training was exhausting—they all dreaded missing the lunch rush or not getting a seat.

The moment the instructor announced lunch, the entire group stampeded toward the cafeteria.

Zhang Lei and Zhu Huiyang, the two strong guys, charged ahead to secure food, while Cheng Yao and Wang Wenbo followed behind to order, and two more dashed off to claim seats in the corner.

The cafeteria was packed at this hour—the trainees were so hungry it was as if they hadn’t eaten in days.

Liu Hanyue and Wang Churu arrived, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“I can’t take it anymore,” Wang Churu complained. “I need to sit down somewhere—my legs are killing me.”

“Mine are sore too.” Liu Hanyue nodded. “Let’s order food first, or we’ll be stuck in line forever.”

“Hanyue…”

A familiar voice called, and Liu Hanyue’s eyes lit up as she met Cheng Yao’s gaze.

Cheng Yao smiled, “What do you want to eat? I still owe you money, so lunch is on me.”

She understood instantly. “I’ll have the hotpot mix with Longkou vermicelli—medium spicy.”

“Duck blood vermicelli for me, thanks,” Wang Churu said gratefully.

Over ten minutes later, Cheng Yao and Wang Wenbo finally arrived with trays of food. “It’s packed in there. Here’s yours.”

Wang Churu grinned, “Yeah, if Hanyue and I had queued up ourselves, it would’ve taken forever. This training is killing me—it’s even worse than high school!”

“It’s only tough in the morning. This afternoon, we’ll be learning songs, which is easier. Evening is all entertainment.”

“If it’s like this morning, we’ll die. I nearly fainted—it was so hot!” Liu Hanyue stuck out her tongue, her delicate face flushed and sweaty.

Cheng Yao couldn’t help but stare—she really did look like a porcelain doll.

Liu Hanyue looked up. “Why were you two staring at the girls on the field earlier? So creepy.”

Wang Wenbo stiffened, burying his face in his food.

Cheng Yao replied, “We were admiring who had the best figure. How could you girls understand a boy’s happiness?”

Wang Churu was speechless.

Liu Hanyue gritted her teeth. “Men are dogs—watch out or you’ll get a sty in your eye.”

“You’re just jealous…” Cheng Yao teased with a grin.

“Idiot—and I am not jealous…” Liu Hanyue almost threw her hotpot at Cheng Yao’s face, then glanced at her own chest and snorted.

Flat and proud—
I help the country save on fabric.

Who needs those heavy things anyway? They’re just like dough—wouldn’t they be a burden to carry?

“Eat up, we’ve got song practice this afternoon,” Cheng Yao said, unwilling to argue further. If she really wasn’t jealous, she wouldn’t be so eager to deny it.

Wang Churu glanced at herself, then at Liu Hanyue, and quietly bowed her head, a strange little joy blossoming in her heart.

Liu Hanyue stamped on her foot under the table, and Wang Churu muttered under her breath.

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