“How is it? Is there anything that needs improvement?” Chu Qianze walked over and inquired. Although he exuded confidence, there might still be some unnoticed details.
“It’s fine, this shot is a wrap!” He Luo grinned.
They were prepared for several NGs, it was now completed in one go, not only saving time but also reducing shooting costs.
“It’s really impressive. Look here, a hundred percent alignment. I’ve never seen anyone achieve what you did!” His voice was naturally loud, deliberately raised to echo through half of the film crew.
“Seizing the good atmosphere, let’s shoot the following scenes directly. You’ve memorized all your lines, right?”
He Luo wasn’t worried about Shen Hezhi; he had been in the business for a long time and had a reliable memory. But Chu Qianze had only just started…
“We can give it a try,” Chu Qianze said, maintaining a sense of conscientiousness as a newcomer but not committing fully to the idea.
“And what about Xiao Shen?” He Luo looked towards Shen Hezhi.
“No problem.” Shen Hezhi began to look forward to the official shoot when he saw Chu Qianze’s set of movements.
“Then it’s settled. Everyone, get ready! Let’s start the fourth scene directly!” He Luo called out.
“Director He, how about asking for my opinion?” Mo Jiao couldn’t resist interjecting.
“You?”
“Of course, as Hu Jia, I must have a say!”
He Luo glared and said, “Just say a few lines. If you manage to mess this up, I’ll twist your head off!”
“…Fine, let’s pretend I didn’t say anything.”
“Get ready, everyone. Is everything set up? Let’s move to the next location!”
“Action!”
With the command, Chu Qianze entered his character’s state.
After dealing with the foreign enemies, the scavenging team brought them back to the camp, and Chu Qianze followed suit.
“Boss Chu, all the new recruits have arrived,” Hu Jia stepped forward from the side, reporting simultaneously with Chu Qianze.
Rolling up his sleeves, Chu Qianze responded, “Where are they?”
“They’re continuing their training outside.”
Hu Jia approached, speaking in a hushed tone, “This time, there’s someone. They hope you can take care of him appropriately.”
Taking care of him appropriately typically meant assigning lighter tasks and avoiding sending them to the front lines.
With a mocking laugh, Chu Qianze unbuttoned two buttons at the collar, saying, “Someone managed to get here by mixing up their resume. I wonder which young master it is.”
Hu Jia took out the file he had prepared earlier.
Chu Qianze took it and casually flipped through it, saying, “Shen Zhuofeng, studying at A University, and still a top student. Instead of staying obediently at school, he comes here looking for excitement.”
Reason for joining the army: To become someone like Chu Qianze.
“This rainbow fart has blown to me.” Tossing the file onto the nearby table, Chu Qianze walked out, taking long strides.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“As the leader, I should at least go and welcome the new recruits.” He chuckled lightly twice, quickening his pace.
Wait, does this mean he’s going to deal with people?!
Worried, Hu Jia ran after him in small steps. “Wait, Boss Chu, wait.”
“We’ve brought back a few foreign enemies. You handle it.” Chu Qianze casually delegated the task.
“Well… how about you assign someone else for that? I also want to go and see the new recruits.” If I don’t keep an eye on you, who knows what you’ll do?
Hu Jia dared not speak such words, only managing a sheepish smile.
“I’ve heard lately that you can always smell the fragrance of alcohol around the Sophora flower tree. How about sending someone to dig around there? You might find something interesting.” Chu Qianze stopped in his tracks, turned to face Hu Jia, and gave a smirk that was more sinister than genuine.
Hearing this, Hu Jia abruptly stopped.
Chu Qianze’s smile disappeared, and he spoke in a cold tone, “Go and deal with the bodies.”
“Yes, sir!” Hu Jia snapped to attention, hands at his waist, shouted a command, then briskly ran off, turning a corner until he disappeared from sight.
Walking down the path, when someone spotted him, they immediately stood at attention and saluted, “Commander.”
Nodding.
“Commander Chu.”
Nodding as he walked past.
“Boss Chu!”
Chu Qianze: “Hmm.”
Stepping into the courtyard, he saw several groups of people standing in the middle, seemingly awaiting the commander’s orders.
The new recruit instructor, upon seeing Chu Qianze’s arrival, eased the serious expression on his face, jogged over, and said, “Commander, how come you’re here?”
“How are things now?” Chu Qianze inquired about the quality of this year’s new recruits.
“It’s not entirely clear yet. Why don’t you say a few words?” The instructor suggested.
This suggestion hit the mark, and Chu Qianze didn’t decline, saying, “Sure, I’ll say a few words.”
Watching Chu Qianze’s expression, a sense of unease suddenly crept up on the man.
These new recruit members were still new and unfamiliar with everything, but they knew Chu Qianze, or rather, anyone paying even a little attention to the developments in the war would be familiar with him.
Now that they saw the real person, an excitement that couldn’t be suppressed erupted.
“It’s Chu Qianze! I can’t believe I’m seeing him in person,” someone whispered.
Shen Zhuofeng remained silent, maintaining a military posture, but his gaze was firmly locked onto Chu Qianze. He watched as Chu Qianze walked towards the formation, facing their direction.
Once he stood in front of the formation, Chu Qianze didn’t immediately speak. Instead, he scanned the faces of the soldiers, pausing briefly when he reached Shen Zhuofeng before moving on.
As Shen Zhuofeng felt the gaze on him, he internally straightened his back, trying to stand even more upright. He made an effort to maintain a standard posture, and when Chu Qianze’s gaze moved away, he didn’t relax.
“I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll just play the bad cop. I don’t care who you were before or what achievements you had. Now, it’s all irrelevant.
This is a military camp, and you’re all rookies who don’t know anything and haven’t achieved anything. When you haven’t received orders, stay here and train honestly. Don’t try anything funny when there’s nothing to do.”
As Chu Qianze spoke the last sentence, his gaze landed directly on Shen Zhuofeng.
“Starting today, we’ll conduct unified special training. The mission for the day should be completed on the same day. Assessments every three days, and if you fail, pack your bags and go home.”
His volume didn’t intentionally increase, but it resonated explosively in the hearts of those below.
Seeing them staring at him, Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow, “Feeling dissatisfied? Keep it to yourselves. Let’s warm up first with a ten-lap run carrying weights.”
Seeing no one move, he drawled, elongating his tone, “Not enough? Make it twenty laps.”
With those words, everyone dared not delay and quickly ran outside to get sandbags. Shen Zhuofeng tied a sandbag to himself, preparing to catch up with the group.
“Hey—”
Chu Qianze called out and, seeing Shen Zhuofeng looking over, said, “Yes, you. Come here.”
“What’s your name?”
Shen Zhuofeng stood at attention and said, “Reporting to the commander, Shen Zhuofeng!”
“Nice name.”
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Chu Qianze’s mouth, and Shen Zhuofeng felt a trace of joy in his eyes.
He praised my name.
Chu Qianze said, “Thirty laps.”
What?
Shen Zhuofeng was stunned.
Chu Qianze added, “Feeling like it’s not enough? Let’s add a bit more.”
“For— What?”
“What do you say before speaking?” Chu Qianze interrupted.
“Report,” Shen Zhuofeng tightened his face and shouted.
“Louder.” Chu Qianze placed a hand beside his ear, indicating that he couldn’t hear.
“REPORT!!”
Rubbing his ear, Chu Qianze finally spoke, “What’s the matter? Speak.”
Seeing the other person not saying anything, he patiently admonished, “If there’s nothing, go train.”
…Do you hate me?
Shen Zhuofeng pressed his lips together, adjusted his tone, and said, “Yes.”
Nodding, Chu Qianze said, “Keep up with the rest of the team.”
As Shen Zhuofeng passed by him, Chu Qianze casually added, “Forty laps.”
Shen Zhuofeng’s steps hesitated briefly, his eyelids lowered, and then he quickened his pace to leave.
“Boss Chu, this…” The instructor wanted to say something but was silenced by a glance from Chu Qianze.
“Keep an eye on that one named Shen Zhuofeng. If he runs fewer laps or doesn’t persist, count it as a failed assessment and send him home,” Chu Qianze said, and without lingering any longer, he turned and said something to the instructor.
“Double his training from now on. If he doesn’t complete the mission of the day, he goes home too.”
Chu Qianze’s voice was not suppressed, and it happened that Shen Zhuofeng had finished a lap and arrived at this side, directly hearing the command. Facing the gazes around him, he showed no reaction, just lowered his head, quickened his pace, and overtook the person in front.
More resilient than expected.
Hands in his pockets, Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow slightly and left the training camp directly.
If he couldn’t endure it, leaving early might save some trouble.
This matter was just a minor episode for him, quickly cast aside.
On that day, after finishing up his affairs, he happened to pass by the training camp. Looking at the familiar arrangement of buildings, Chu Qianze suddenly remembered that there was still the matter of the new recruits’ training.
Since there was nothing else to do, he decided to take a look.
As he walked in, he saw the new recruits sitting cross-legged on the ground, taking a break. As expected, there were fewer people than before.
In the entire area, only one person was still training.
Upon getting a clear look at the person, Chu Qianze understood.
This kid is still here.
Seeing Chu Qianze arrive, everyone forced themselves to perk up, stood up together, and shouted, “Commander, hello!”
During their time in the military camp, everyone around them praised Chu Qianze endlessly. In their conversations, they gained a deeper understanding of Chu Qianze’s deeds and held great admiration for him.
However, when this man first came to the training camp, he gave them a taste of his authority, and the painful feeling still lingered.
Chu Qianze nodded in acknowledgment.
The group squatted back down.
“Just take a break.” Chu Qianze, with his hands behind his back, looked more approachable than before.
With no response to his statement, and considering that these questions should be answered by the team leader, Chu Qianze inquired, “Who is the team leader?”
Members exchanged glances, and someone spoke up, “The team leader is Shen Zhuofeng.”
That kid…
Chu Qianze glanced at Shen Zhuofeng, who was in the middle of training, and said to the others, “It’s alright, you can rest.”
His gaze then shifted to the instructor. “How have things been these past few days?”
“Report to the commander, the plan is proceeding as scheduled!”
Chu Qianze twitched at the corner of his mouth. He had the team stand aside, and in a slightly lowered voice, he asked, “Since there’s no one else, just tell me casually. How are these new recruits doing?”
“The plan has been progressing all along. Up to now, four have voluntarily withdrawn, and thirteen have been eliminated. After this period of high-intensity training, everyone is quite tired, and their mental states are not great… Do we continue?” The new recruit instructor hesitated.
The training plan was newly devised for this year and was stricter than before.
“Switch when there’s only half left,” Chu Qianze casually said.
“Is that a bit too few?” The new recruit instructor hesitated.
Originally, the recruitment here targeted talents from various military academies and some gifted young individuals. Eliminating half of them in the first round, what would happen next? Would the remaining people be enough to form a team?
“Better to have quality than quantity. If they can’t handle it, they can roll over to another military camp. It’s better than staying here uncomfortably and risking their lives.”
Chu Qianze raised his hand and adjusted his hat’s brim downward. “The sun is quite strong.”
“How is that person?” His gaze fell on Shen Zhuofeng.
“His understanding is excellent. He quickly grasps what he’s been taught, and he completes all the training very accurately. He has consistently received ‘A’ grades in all the past assessments.”
Chu Qianze acknowledged with a sound but refrained from making a comment. “How about his training conditions?”
“According to what you said, we doubled everything, and he completed them all.” The new recruit instructor continued, glancing at Shen Zhuofeng. “He goes back the latest at night and arrives the earliest in the morning. He’s very resilient.”
“Is that so? Quite commendable.”
At this moment, Shen Zhuofeng was engaged in simulated propulsion training. After running through all the obstacles, he sprinted back to the starting point and continued.
“Boss Chu, if this continues, I’m worried he won’t be able to handle it…”
“If he can’t handle it, he’ll be eliminated. Wasn’t that the deal for everyone?” Chu Qianze chuckled. At this moment, after finishing a round, Shen Zhuofeng moved to the next training area. His gaze fell on Chu Qianze, and with an expressionless face, he returned his focus to training.
Well, this kid.
Chu Qianze walked over to Shen Zhuofeng. “Were you cursing me just now?”
Shen Zhuofeng paused, stood upright, and faced Chu Qianze. “Report, I wasn’t.”
“You don’t even dare to admit it?” Chu Qianze sneered. “No guts.”
Shen Zhuofeng’s hands, hanging at his sides, suddenly clenched, but his expression remained unchanged.
“Answer again. Did you or didn’t you?” Chu Qianze crossed his arms, his eyes devoid of any amusement.
“Report, I didn’t.”
Shen Zhuofeng looked up at Chu Qianze. “You’re impressive, and I admire you. I wouldn’t curse at you.”
“But I have a request. I hope you can take back what you just said.” His tone became firm as he spoke.
As Chu Qianze walked over, everyone concentrated their attention on their conversation. Upon hearing Shen Zhuofeng’s words, they couldn’t help but gasp.
This was too audacious, and Shen Zhuofeng was too fierce.
Chu Qianze smirked and casually said, “Sorry, I don’t lie. Disobey the commander, double the training.”
Shen Zhuofeng furrowed his brows slightly. “This is unfair.”
“Fair? Do you even know what fairness is?”
Chu Qianze chuckled. “Here, I am the definition of fairness. Train seriously when you have nothing else to do; that’s the only thing you can do.”
As he turned to leave, his steps halted suddenly. He lowered his head, looking over, and someone grabbed his arm from behind.
Shen Zhuofeng said, “Reporting to the commander, I want to challenge you. If I win, I hope you can take back that statement.”
Article 32: No private fights are allowed.
Article 33: If necessary, conflicts can be settled in the combat arena.
Article 34: Simple fights are boring; add some flair.
The above rules were written by Chu Qianze himself. If there are any questions, the interpretation rights also belong to him.
Chu Qianze turned back, finding the situation interesting. “What if you lose?”
“I’ll accept any punishment.”
“Even letting you roll up your bedding and go home?”
Shen Zhuofeng fell silent. He couldn’t discern the other’s expression, but he understood that the other party would really do that.
Seeing no further response, Chu Qianze prepared to leave.
“Wait, I haven’t violated any rules, and I passed the assessment. You have no right to eliminate me!” Shen Zhuofeng blocked his way.
At this moment, Hu Jia, who happened to walk in from outside and overheard Shen Zhuofeng’s words, realized the situation wasn’t good. He quickly intervened, “What’s going on here, Boss Chu? They said upstairs that they need you for something urgent.”
“No time.” Chu Qianze didn’t even think twice, and he had no patience for the convoluted talks of the higher-ups. One thing could lead to another, and then they would go on and on with a bunch of grand principles. It was too troublesome.
“We’re having a meeting, they said it’s urgent.” Hu Jia covered his mouth and whispered.
He was truly a headache. How did he end up with such a boss?
“I have urgent matters too.” Chu Qianze rolled his eyes.
“Boss Chu, don’t mess around,” Hu Jia pleaded, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
“How am I messing around? There’s a newbie challenging me; it’s related to my personal reputation. Should I accept or not?”
“Wait, I didn’t mean that.” Shen Zhuofeng never thought it would escalate to a matter of personal reputation, and he became anxious.
“Boss Chu…” Hu Jia sighed. Even if he didn’t want to go, he should find a better excuse. Now, he even dragged a newcomer into it.
“If it’s a challenge, let’s get it over with. Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to go home,” Chu Qianze said, directing his gaze at Shen Zhuofeng and pulling him towards the center.
Shen Zhuofeng observed Chu Qianze’s expression, confirming that he wasn’t joking. After glancing at Chu Qianze, then at Tiger, he ultimately chose to comply.
“I’ll stand here, and I won’t use both hands. That’s not considered bullying a newcomer, right?” Chu Qianze had one hand behind his back and raised the other, gesturing to start.
“I’m starting,” Shen Zhuofeng took a starting stance and then charged toward Chu Qianze.
A horizontal kick was easily blocked.
A straight punch was deftly dodged.
Shen Zhuofeng relentlessly attacked, but no matter how fierce the assault, it was effortlessly dismantled by Chu Qianze. The techniques that should have been sharp enough to shatter the opponent felt like hitting cotton at this moment. It was akin to attacking in water – despite feeling like he should be hitting the opponent, the results were often unsatisfactory.
Being pushed back didn’t matter; he just ran back in.
Being thrown to the ground didn’t matter; he got back up.
Time and time again, he was knocked down, and time and time again, he stood back up.
Shen Zhuofeng gritted his teeth. He could endure the judgmental glances from others, endure the intensified training and assessments, but he couldn’t bear the way Chu Qianze treated him.
I’m not weak; I’m strong! I can show you right now!
Once again, he fell to the ground, emitting a dull thud. Shen Zhuofeng placed one hand on the ground and, leveraging the momentum, attempted a sweeping leg.
Chu Qianze sidestepped, raised his foot, kicked towards Shen Zhuofeng’s leg, and then pressed him down. With one hand grabbing Shen Zhuofeng’s fist, he directly brought him to the ground.
Using grappling techniques to control his opponent, Chu Qianze’s knee pressed against Shen Zhuofeng’s abdomen. Seeing that Shen Zhuofeng was still determined to resist, Chu Qianze said, “You lost.”
Shen Zhuofeng’s struggling movements paused. His chest heaved due to the intense exertion. He didn’t say anything, just waited for Chu Qianze to release his grip and stood up on his own.
It was embarrassing, completely one-sided, yet he still wanted to save face and even imagined winning against the opponent… It was simply self-inflicted humiliation.
“What do you want me to do?”
Shen Zhuofeng tightly pursed his lips, unwilling to reveal any emotions.
“Well, originally I was thinking of letting you leave here, but now,” Chu Qianze pondered for a moment, “let’s put this matter on hold and discuss it later.”
Shen Zhuofeng looked puzzled.
“But you have a point. Things should be done according to the rules. Skip the doubled training. Stick to the current intensity. As for whether you can stay, it depends on your performance. If you get eliminated, maybe I can still send you off.” Chu Qianze’s lips curved into a smirk.
Shen Zhuofeng’s eyelashes trembled, and he raised his head, standing tall. “I won’t give you that chance.”
Chu Qianze didn’t respond and turned to lead the way, saying to Hu Jia, “Let’s go.”
“Boss Chu, where are you going?”
“Didn’t they say there’s an urgent matter? It’s a meeting, right? Let’s go now.”
It wasn’t anything important, but they were summoning a meeting here and there. He was just an onlooker, didn’t need to speak, and didn’t really know why he had to go.
Shen Zhuofeng watched Chu Qianze’s departing figure, clenching his fists. “I will stay!”
Chu Qianze didn’t turn back, just raised his hand in acknowledgment.
The day’s shooting schedule concluded, and He Luo checked the time. It was 2 p.m.
“Are we progressing too quickly?”
The entire shoot went without any mistakes, and the speed was impressive. Though no one said it aloud, their expressions hinted at that sentiment.
All of them immersed themselves in the scene, delivering their lines passionately. It felt as if they were the characters, living in that era. The sensation was truly amazing.
“Shall we take a break and continue later? Do you remember your lines for the upcoming scenes, or do you need some time to familiarize yourselves?” He Luo asked.
Shen Hezhi wiped away some sweat. “I’m good.”
“Same here,” Chu Qianze replied.
“The chemistry between you two feels more harmonious than I imagined. Have you acted together before?” He Luo arranged for the crew to set up the next scene while engaging in some casual conversation.
Shen Hezhi glanced at the people around him and coughed lightly. “We’ve acted together before.”
A mix of serious acting and playful banter—it still counted as acting together.
“No wonder, I was wondering why it felt so good. Keep up the good work for the rest of the scenes!” He Luo nodded in satisfaction. With the two main actors giving their best, the filming process went smoothly and joyfully.
The day’s shooting concluded, accomplishing two days’ worth of progress.
There were no issues with newcomers slowing down the pace. Even the newcomer who joined later performed exceptionally well when facing off against Shen Hezhi. The scenes were harmonious without any imbalance.
Got it, this is very Chu Qianze.
In the dead of night, when the world was quiet, Shen Hezhi woke up from a dream.
Closing his eyes, the scenes from the dream continued to linger in his mind. Unlike before, this time he dreamt directly of the daytime scenes from the film shoot.
In the dream, he played the role of Shen Zhuofeng. In order to become someone like Chu Qianze, he chose to drop out of school and enlist midway. After passing various assessments, he successfully entered the territory where Chu Qianze was stationed, becoming a new recruit.
The first time he saw Chu Qianze, he was full of anticipation, wanting to make a good impression by putting in extra effort. However, he was immediately subjected to double punishment.
The other person seems to dislike him.
Sensing this fact, a faint sense of grievance rises in my heart. Most importantly, he didn’t even know where he went wrong.
He trains hard, strives to complete tasks, successfully maintain an all-A performance in assessments, becoming the most outstanding member of the team.
After finally unable to bear it, he challenged the other person and was miserably defeated. Yet, he saw a smile on his face—not the polite smile from before, but a genuine one, emerging from the depths of their heart.
It looks beautiful, unforgettable, and he wanted to see more. He wanted this person to smile at him and only him.
The idea just popped up, and he watched as the other person, along with a person named Hu Jia, left together, appearing very close. After inquiring, he learned that Hu Jia is Chu Qianze’s deputy and also a comrade who has been through life and death with him.
This dream is too realistic, with tight and coherent logic, and it’s so flawless that no loopholes can be found.
This dream is too beautiful, as if truly traveling through a hundred years to have a genuine encounter with that person, allowing them to see oneself, be influenced by oneself, and even be touched because of oneself.
If it weren’t for waking up naturally in the end, Shen Hezhi felt that he would probably be directly immersed in it.
In contrast to the dream, reality becomes particularly ruthless.
Unable to fall asleep, Shen Hezhi simply poured a glass of cold water, opened the window, and walked out to the balcony.
Below were all the filming equipment, still in a standby state, and under the moonlight, one could almost feel their hardness and texture.
Those buildings and landscapes were all projected through these machines, all fake, all things that had already passed.
“Snap out of it.” Shen Hezhi muttered, finishing the water in his cup.
The refreshing sensation flowed down his throat and quickly disappeared, while the restlessness in his heart reemerged, not weakening but growing stronger.
“At this hour, you still want me to snap out of it? Don’t you finish filming during the day?” A male voice rang out, and Shen Hezhi looked over to see Chu Qianze.
Chu Qianze opened the window and walked to the balcony.
For the convenience of their scenes together, Director He deliberately arranged them in adjacent rooms.
The two stood on their respective balconies, separated only by a railing and a palm-sized gap.
“Why aren’t you sleeping either?” Looking at that face, Shen Hezhi’s mood calmed down strangely.
“Let’s not talk about it,” Chu Qianze sighed, leaning against the window glass. “Maybe I slept too much before, and recently, I’ve been dreaming a lot, which is annoying.”
Hearing this word, Shen Hezhi couldn’t help but pay more attention.
Approaching the railing, hands resting on it, Chu Qianze also looked down. “I always feel it’s quite magical.”
“Hmm?”
“Just feels good.” Chu Qianze reached out and pinched the railing, supporting himself as he lifted one leg and hopped onto it.
Shen Hezhi was startled when he saw the other person jumping up. He reached out to grab him, but Chu Qianze sat steadily on the railing, freezing Shen Hezhi’s movements.
Looking at the hand extended in front of him, Chu Qianze blinked and gave him a high-five. “Yo.”
Yo, what the heck.
Shen Hezhi felt a bit helpless but still reminded him, “Be careful not to fall.”
“Rest assured, I know what I’m doing. If I fall, I can give you a performance of gecko climbing.” Chu Qianze raised his hand, pointing to a certain support below. “Grab there, then land on that spot, and jump to the side on the anti-theft net…”
Following the other person’s line of thought, Shen Hezhi couldn’t help but ponder the feasibility of the actions. Wait, why am I even thinking about this?
Glancing at the person next to him, it seemed like he was eager to give it a try?
Although it sounded reasonable, who knows what accidents might happen? If the railing is damaged, or if there’s a slip somewhere and you fall… Forget about the filming then.
“You’re not seriously considering trying that, are you?”
Shen Hezhi prepared to pull him back.
“You still want to try?” Chu Qianze looked surprised. “I was just joking. It’s not practical, isn’t taking the elevator much better?”
Isn’t that my line?
Shen Hezhi leaned back, not saying anything.
Feeling the night breeze on their faces, they chatted with each other, with or without a purpose.
“Hey, young man surnamed Shen, you haven’t been eliminated yet,” Chu Qianze suddenly said.
It’s a line from the script, and Shen Hezhi quickly realized that it’s also a scene they’ll be shooting tomorrow.
In this scene, Shen Zhuofeng has completed various training sessions and is about to face the final assessment. If he passes, they will truly step onto the battlefield. Chu Qianze happens to be guiding the newcomers, and they meet again here.
Shen Hezhi glanced at the person beside him. He saw that Chu Qianze was looking straight ahead, seemingly observing something, yet appearing as if he wasn’t seeing anything at all.
“I said I would stay here and not give you a chance to eliminate me.”
He changed his tone, sounding genuinely joyful but forcefully suppressing it. “Promises are meant to be kept.”
“Oh, really? You seem quite happy. Enjoy your laughter now; I allow you to laugh. Hopefully, two hours later, you won’t be crying too hard.” Chu Qianze sat on the balcony railing, slightly bending his index finger, and the texture of the marble seemed to transmit from his fingertip.
Shen Hezhi took the cue, “What do you mean by that?”
“Curious?” Chu Qianze turned his head, a strange curve lifting the corner of his mouth. “Leave it as a suspense. You’ll know soon.”
At this moment, it felt as if time had reversed.
Shen Hezhi quietly gazed at the other person, a strange palpitation in his heart.
Sensing the psychological changes, a flash of insight occurred. Something was about to emerge.
As the bright light appeared, Chu Qianze looked ahead. On the distant horizon, at the end of the convergence of heaven and earth, the sun awakened from the darkness, illuminating the world with endless clouds.
Raising his hand to shield his eyes, Chu Qianze spoke, “It’s dawn.”
One person stood on the left balcony, and the other sat on the right balcony railing, witnessing this scene together.
“I seem a bit tired,” Chu Qianze suddenly remarked.
“Me too,” Shen Hezhi checked the time. “I can get another hour of sleep.”
“Then I’ll take off. See you in an hour.” Chu Qianze jumped down from above, opened the window, and walked inside. Suddenly remembering something, he leaned backward with his upper body: “By the way, if you don’t see me in an hour, chances are I overslept. Please give me a call.”
“Sure, make sure your ringtone is on,” Shen Hezhi reminded.
Chu Qianze made an OK hand gesture, saying, “Alright then.”
In the morning, on the film set.
He Luo stood by the display screen, watching the performances of the two actors. Unable to resist, he stroked his beard.
What’s going on with these two? Did they undergo some transformation overnight? He originally thought they performed well enough, but today’s acting is even better, as if they have refined their skills.
“Not bad, you two,” after completing a round, He Luo spoke as the two approached.
“What did you guys do last night? The change is too significant.”
Chu Qianze took off his hat to fan himself. The night was quite cool, but when it came to daytime, it got hot.
“We had a candlelight discussion. Stayed up all night discussing the script. Isn’t it inspiring?”
“Stayed up all night for real?” He Luo was surprised.
“Yeah, stayed up until dawn, even watched the sunrise,” Shen Hezhi added.
“Get some rest early tonight when you go back,” He Luo advised.
“It depends on how you arrange it, Director He. If we finish early, then I’ll definitely sleep early,” Chu Qianze chuckled.
“All right, are you here to persuade me to leave early?” He Luo said, sounding a bit annoyed.
“Of course not, I wouldn’t dare,” Chu Qianze shook his head, as if this would demonstrate his innocent nature.
“Okay, that’s enough. I guess it’s time for a break. Let’s continue shooting. The next scene is an action scene,” Director He interrupted as he saw that it was almost time.
“Sure~ Let me show you the new moves I’ve been researching. It’s something Shen Hezhi and I came up with last night.” Chu Qianze formed a gesture by crossing his index and middle fingers.
“Research results? Sounds interesting. I really need to take a close look then.”
Research results? Where did that come from?
Shen Hezhi didn’t catch on. They didn’t discuss anything related to action scenes last night. If there was any connection, it could only be the part where they talked about jumping off the balcony.
Ready, Director He shouted, “Ready, action!”
Today is the day of the final assessment for Shen Zhuofeng and others. Here, they will face the aliens for the first time and have to confront these extraterrestrial beings on their own.
Chu Qianze strapped the propulsion device around his waist and repeated the situation with several rookies: “If you can beat them, fight; if you can’t, run. You’ve been running with heavy loads every day, so there should be some effect, right? If those things stick closely to you and won’t let go, congratulations, you’ve successfully attracted their hatred. But if you can’t beat them, it’s useless. You’ll have to run quickly.”
“The first time encountering those things, remember to control your emotions. It’s part of the assessment, and the whole process is recorded. It will be documented and will probably follow you for a lifetime. That’s all I have to say; understand the specifics yourselves.” There was a hint of schadenfreude in Chu Qianze’s eyes; he enjoyed watching these scenes.
Shen Zhuofeng put on all the equipment and proceeded to check each one.
He had practiced these steps privately many times, and he knew the purpose of each piece of equipment. He had even reviewed the characteristics and flaws of all the different types of aliens. With everything ready, he only waited to reach the destination ahead and eliminate the aliens, drawing a perfect conclusion to the final assessment.
“I will definitely stay.” Shen Zhuofeng thought to himself.
The detection instrument showed that there were already three or four aliens ahead.
Chu Qianze glanced at the messages displayed on the detection device.
“Attention, the assessment location is up ahead. Are you all ready?”
Shen Zhuofeng nodded, indicating that he was ready.
“I’ve brought you here; the path ahead is for you to walk on your own. If you encounter any issues, use the distress signal, and I will bring you back.” He pressed a button, and the car door opened.
“Get off, comrades. Perhaps after today, we will be comrades in arms.”
“Yes, Commander!”
“We won’t let you down!”
Hearing the term “comrades,” Shen Zhuofeng tightened his grip on the weapon, and in his mind, scenes of the earlier conversation between the commander and Hu Jia flashed back.
To become comrades—could he naturally interact with him like that?
Watching the others leave, Chu Qianze leaned back in his chair, adjusting the camera to follow the movements of the newcomers.
Unlike others who were cautious and careful, Shen Zhuofeng swiftly headed in a specific direction as soon as he identified it. His actions were rapid, indicating a clear objective. The instruments showed signs of alien activity not far from his route.
It seemed that Shen Zhuofeng would be the first to meet them.
What would it be like?
“Hope he doesn’t perform too miserably.” With a finger resting on his chin, Chu Qianze flashed a meaningful smile.
On the other side, Shen Zhuofeng remained vigilant, a long knife held horizontally in front of him. Suddenly, a massive skull appeared before him.
Points!
Shen Zhuofeng reacted instantly, swiftly processing relevant information in his mind, then charged forward.
Decisive response, precise movements—there was nothing to criticize. This was exemplary behavior that anyone would commend. The assessment officials exchanged glances.
“Not bad, very quick response.”
“Swift movements,” said Examiner Two.
“Facing the alien for the first time, he remained calm, showed no fear whatsoever. That’s quite rare,” added Examiner Three.
“Number One did very well; I’ll give a high score.”
“Looks somewhat familiar.” Like that young master from City A. But why would the young master be here enduring this? Must be a mistaken impression.
“This combo attack is quite impressive too.”
In the cabin,
Chu Qianze checked his temple with his fingers and glanced a few times. “So composed.”
Seeing that the situation was more or less stable, he sighed, “Boring.” Saying that, he switched to another channel.
Others, on the other hand, were more interesting.
Number Two, the moment he saw the alien, stood frozen in place, then reflexively hid, wanting to observe the surrounding environment before making a decision.
He turned his head and looked outside, making sure he wasn’t discovered, and breathed a sigh of relief.
A huge shadow was cast, and as he was letting out a sigh, he suddenly stopped, then slowly raised his head to look forward. His eyes widened, his facial features slackened, and he nearly dropped his weapon.
“Hahaha, you’ve hidden in the enemy’s lair.” Chu Qianze slapped his thigh, laughing heartily.
“Hahaha, you went straight into their nest.”
“The safety catch of the gun wasn’t released, hahaha.”
In the examination room, the examiners frowned.
“Too poor awareness.”
“Poor mental toughness.”
The screen switched to the performance of the third new recruit.
Inside the compartment.
“Hahaha, there’s a puddle ahead, and he stepped in it and rolled!” Chu Qianze wiped away a tear, laughing until his stomach hurt.
In the examination room.
“No, not qualified.”
The screen returned to the first recruit, Shen Zhuofeng, who had already killed three aliens.
After killing the aliens, he glanced at the points in his hand. Although there were already quite a few, it still wasn’t enough.
He wanted to secure the first place to suppress.
Reverse Advantage.
With this in mind, Shen Zhuofeng pulled out the blade and continued walking inside.
In the examination room, the examiners nodded in approval, their satisfaction evident.
Chu Qianze lifted his chin, took a sip of water, and exhaled. “This is quite good, it gives people a chance to take a break.”
Suddenly, his gaze paused, lifting his eyes to the testing device, confirming that there was no response from it.
Although the detector showed no abnormalities, his intuition told him that something was indeed peculiar.
Switching screens, Chu Qianze looked through each one, finally pausing at a certain location.
It turned out to be this thing, unrecognizable by the detector and capable of emitting disruptive signals… Tsk, a troublesome type.
This thing had limited destructive power and wasn’t much of a threat, but the tricky part was that it would appear simultaneously with another type of alien. At this moment, these aliens were advancing in the direction where Shen Zhuofeng was located.
Connecting to Shen Zhuofeng’s earpiece, Chu Qianze called out but received no response. Frowning, he reconnected to the other’s earpiece, only hearing crackling sounds.
Indeed, the signal was being interfered with.
“Troublesome.”
He brought up the map and placed it to the side. Leaning forward, Chu Qianze manipulated the steering wheel with one hand, rotating it a few times. Simultaneously, he quickly drank the last bit of water in his cup and forcefully stepped on the accelerator, driving straight ahead.
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