roccoschili Chapter 308
Chapter 308
The class came to an end.Many students gathered around, asking Old Master Ji for his autograph.
After Old Master Ji signed autographs and took photos with the students, he looked toward the door. His mother was still there waiting for him, which instantly filled him with a profound sense of security.
He trotted over eagerly. "Mom, how was I during the lecture just now?"
"Yingbao did great," Rong Yu said with a smile. "Military training will be over in a week. When the weekend comes, I'll go home and stay for a couple of days, so stop tiring yourself out by coming to the campus, okay?"
Old Master Ji obediently agreed.
Rong Yu made a call, asking the third son, Ji Mohan, to drive over and pick up her elderly son to take him home.
Once she got used to the intensity of the military training, time flew by like water. In the blink of an eye, it was already the last two days of training.
"Rong Yu, step forward!"
Instructor Yan roared, and Rong Yu stepped out of the formation.
Throughout the military training, she had frequently been called out by the instructor to serve as a model for the rest of the class. She had long since grown accustomed to it.
"You will be the flag-bearer for the entire freshman camp," Instructor Yan said, looking at her with admiration. "You don't need to participate in the class training anymore. Go to the East Field for the flag-bearer's special training."
Rong Yu didn't have much interest in being the flag-bearer and asked, "Reporting to the instructor, can I decline?"
"Do you think this is a personal matter?" Instructor Yan's voice suddenly rose. "On the day of the exhibition, you will be carrying the spirit of the entire freshman camp! It's the collective dignity that says we cannot be cowards once we put on this uniform!"
He paused, his tone softening slightly. "Being a flag-bearer isn't just an honor; it's a responsibility. Do you want other universities to treat Huaqing as a joke?"
Rong Yu's blood instantly boiled with passion. She raised her hand in a standard military salute. "Yes, Instructor."
The flag-bearer training ground was located in the open space behind the gymnasium.
When Rong Yu arrived, several people were already there, all preparing for tomorrow's military training exhibition.
One of the girls looked somewhat familiar. She recognized her as Luo Xuan, the runner-up on the campus beauty ranking whom Yu Kexin had constantly nagged in her ear about. Tall and sweet-looking, she was a beautiful sight just standing there.
They were the only two girls; the rest were all tall, robust male students.
The chief instructor stood at the front and announced loudly, "You are all the most outstanding students selected from various colleges and departments. You will take on an important task in the military training exhibition. Now, I announce that the flag-bearer is Rong Yu from the Tianxingjian Class. The flag escorts are Luo Xuan, Lei Zhan..."
One flag-bearer, six flag escorts.
"Report!" a very tall and muscular boy shouted. "Instructor, why is a girl the flag-bearer?"
The chief instructor replied coldly, "What, does gender affect one's ability to carry a flag?"
"Instructor, what I mean is..." The boy, named Lei Zhan from the Sports College, continued, "A flag-bearer doesn't just need to march well; they also need stamina. The national flag plus the pole weighs nearly twenty pounds. Not just anyone can carry it."
Rong Yu's expression remained indifferent. "Thanks for the reminder, but I should be fine."
Lei Zhan choked for a moment, then raised his chin and said, "Instructor, I believe the flag-bearer selection should consider overall strength. I request an open competition with student Rong Yu, and the instructor panel can judge who is more suitable to be the flag-bearer."
Without waiting for the instructor to respond, Rong Yu turned directly to Lei Zhan. "What do you want to compete in?"
Lei Zhan clearly hadn't expected Rong Yu to be so straightforward. He hesitated for a second. "Goose-step, turning, and flag-holding endurance. A comprehensive test of all three."
Rong Yu nodded, then looked at the instructor. "Instructor, I accept the challenge. This is fair to everyone."
A hint of appreciation flashed in the chief instructor's eyes, but he quickly returned to his serious demeanor. "There's no need. Being a flag-bearer is not a sports competition. Aside from various physical qualities, what we need more is someone who can remain calm under pressure."
His sharp gaze swept over Lei Zhan. "Lei Zhan, your abilities are very strong, but a flag-bearer needs an aura as steady as Mount Tai, not an aggressive edge that shows off. Choosing Rong Yu was a unanimous decision by all the instructors, and it will not be changed. The reason you are a flag escort is that escorts must be even more vigilant than the flag-bearer to protect the flag behind them. This is a sign of trust, not a waste of your talents."
Lei Zhan's face turned livid, but military orders were absolute. He could only grit his teeth and reply, "Yes, Instructor."
"Now, attention everyone! Right face! Double time, march! Let the training begin!"
Once the training started, Rong Yu quickly grasped the essentials.
Although she had never been exposed to flag-bearer training before, her excellent physical coordination and observational skills allowed her to learn at a rapid pace.
When holding the flag, her arms were as steady as a rock, without the slightest tremble. When marching in a goose-step, her rhythm was precisely consistent, generating a breeze with every step.
The next day was the freshman camp military training exhibition.
The sun was blazing. The perimeter of the sports field was filled with teachers, students, and leaders who had come to watch the ceremony. On the rostrum, the university leaders sat upright and proper, while the formations of various colleges lined up neatly, waiting for inspection.
Rong Yu stood below and immediately spotted three particularly noticeable figures on the stands: her Yingbao, Hai Dadun, and Sima Gang. These three were truly eye-catching no matter where they went.
Old Master Ji looked displeased. "What are you two doing here?"
Old Sima replied, "You made the news a few days ago for your lecture at Huaqing. Are we not allowed to come and join in the fun?"
Old Hai chimed in, "You were the one who dragged Old Sima and me into becoming Miss Rong's fans. Today is Miss Rong's exhibition, so of course I have to come and take some photos. You have no idea, but hundreds of thousands of fans are currently waiting for me, their top fansite manager, to take pictures so they can feast their eyes."
Old Master Ji said, "Before you post them, let me review them. Don't go posting any messy or unflattering photos."
Old Hai retorted, "Shut up. When it comes to photography, I'm way better than you."
The few of them continued their noisy banter.
The host's impassioned voice came over the broadcast: "Next to enter the field will be the representative formations of the various colleges from the freshman camp. They will be led by the camp flag, showcasing the youthful elegance of Huaqing's students!"
Old Master Ji craned his neck. "Old Hai, get ready to take pictures. They're coming out soon. Rong Yu is the flag-bearer, so she'll be the very first one. Make sure you take good photos!"
Old Master Sima looked forward. "Where? Where? How come I don't see her..."
In the stands, a large crowd of students, both boys and girls, also craned their necks to look down at the field. After all, she was the new campus beauty and an outstanding student from the Tianxingjian Class. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of her divine looks.
Rong Yu stood in the preparation area, wearing a crisp and straight military training uniform. With her back perfectly straight, she stood tall and proud like a pine tree. Her sharpness was restrained, yet impossible to ignore.
She gripped the flagpole, ready to step off in a goose-step.
Right at that moment.
Crack—
Rong Yu's brow darkened. She looked down, only to see that a crack had surprisingly split open at the base of the flagpole.
Luo Xuan's eyes widened. "How did this happen?"
"The flagpole is actually broken?" Lei Zhan said loudly. "Rong Yu, you were responsible for the final inspection, right? You actually failed to spot such a massive problem. You don't deserve to be the flag-bearer at all!"
Rong Yu looked at him coldly.
Ten minutes ago, when she did the final check, everything was perfectly fine.
To ensure the exhibition went smoothly, she had gone to the restroom and left the flagpole right at the front. The person who could have damaged the flagpole was right there on the scene.
Luo Xuan had little strength and couldn't lift the flagpole, so it was impossible for her to do such a thing.
The remaining four boys all diligently fulfilled their duties as flag escorts. Lei Zhan was the only exception; during practice, he was always looking for all sorts of excuses to carry the flag instead...
She gave a soft laugh. "If I'm not fit to be the flag bearer, are you?"