AMBTICPIB Chapter 2

The next morning, Chu Yi didn’t see Shen Jin when he went downstairs. He didn’t know if Shen Jin had gone out or was still asleep.

Last night, Chu Yi had a dream. He dreamt of a dark silhouette in the distance. He waited and waited, finally reaching the figure. Just as he looked up, he woke up.

In Chu Yi’s previous life, breakfast had always been a casual snack. Most of the time, he didn’t even consider breakfast, because he was poor.

But now, Chu Yi decided he couldn’t treat himself so poorly. For him, eating his fill at any time was crucial.

Originally, Chu Yi had planned to go to the kitchen and make himself some noodles.

But when he went downstairs, he found a lavish breakfast already laid out on the table: steamed buns, meat pies, eggs, ham, and even fragrant coffee.

Butler Wen smiled. “Chu Yi, come eat breakfast.”

As Chu Yi sat down, Butler Wen told him that Shen Jin had already left. So the person he’d seen yesterday must have been Shen Jin.

The Chu Family’s description of Shen Jin was clearly inaccurate.

This was the most lavish breakfast Chu Yi had ever eaten since he was a child.

He bit into a steamed bun, and the rich, savory juices burst in his mouth, so delicious he almost lost his tongue. Chu Yi devoured five in a row.

Then there were the meat patties, golden and crispy on the surface. Each bite offered a satisfying crunch, thanks to the lotus root diced into the meat filling, which kept them from becoming cloying. Chu Yi ate two patties.

“Uncle Wen, did you make all this?” Chu Yi asked. “It’s incredibly delicious, the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”

Butler Wen’s eyes crinkled with joy, adding several new lines to his face. “Eat more, eat more.”

Chu Yi also drank a glass of milk and half a cup of coffee.

Though he ate quickly, he was far from rude. In fact, it was a pleasure to watch him, because his face was so beautiful. When his mouth was full, his cheeks puffed out like a cute little hamster.

After breakfast, Butler Wen handed him a card. “Mr. Shen gave you this. Tell me your phone number later, and I’ll have them link it to your account. Young people these days all prefer mobile payments, don’t they?”

Chu Yi accepted the bank card. “Thank you, Uncle Wen.” He really needed it today for university registration.

Butler Wen was quite impressed with Chu Yi and even sent a driver to take him to school. He told Chu Yi to call him if he needed anything.

With his admission letter, ID card, and other documents, Chu Yi successfully completed registration.

Walking through the campus, Chu Yi was overwhelmed with emotion. He had almost given up, believing he was destined to miss out on university life altogether.

After registration, Chu Yi wandered around the campus. The school was vast and beautiful, with scenic spots everywhere. Many freshmen and their parents, who had accompanied them for registration, were taking photos.

From a sign, Chu Yi learned about Thousand Carp Lake, a lake filled with colorful koi and spanned by a wooden bridge.

As Chu Yi was walking across the bridge, someone called out to him, “Hey, classmate!”

Chu Yi turned around and recognized the male student who had called him. They had met earlier during registration; he was also a freshman.

The student seemed naturally friendly. “I thought you looked familiar earlier. It really is you! We just met. My name is Jiang Xu.”

Chu Yi replied, “I’m Chu Yi.”

Jiang Xu walked over to Chu Yi’s side. “I’m also exploring our school. Are you too? Want to explore together?”

Chu Yi said, “Sure, that sounds great.”

Jiang Xu was incredibly enthusiastic, and before Chu Yi knew it, he was being led around the campus.

Jiang Xu talked a lot, explaining that he was also from this city and that his parents had wanted to accompany him for registration. However, he had insisted on coming alone. Seeing Chu Yi alone too, he had paid him extra attention.

The campus was vast, and even after half a day of exploring, they hadn’t seen it all. Chu Yi wasn’t in a hurry; he knew he’d have plenty of time to explore the school later.

By the time Chu Yi returned to the Shen Family Villa, evening had fallen. Butler Wen had prepared a table laden with delicious food to celebrate Chu Yi’s official status as a university student, but Shen Jin still hadn’t returned.

Chu Yi arrived at the classroom early the next morning and was surprised to find Jiang Xu, the classmate he had met the previous day, already there.

Jiang Xu was equally surprised to see him. “What a coincidence!”

“What a coincidence,” Chu Yi replied.

They naturally sat together.

Soon, their homeroom teacher arrived. After a brief self-introduction and opening remarks, she asked the class monitor to collect everyone’s sizes to determine the correct camouflage uniform sizes, as military training would begin in two days.

When it was Chu Yi’s turn to report his size, Jiang Xu said, “You should report a smaller size. 175 is too big for you.”

Chu Yi glanced at him, correcting him, “My actual height is 175cm.”

Jiang Xu chuckled. “Don’t you know camouflage uniforms are usually big and loose? If you report 175, it’ll definitely be too big on you.” Chu Yi looked rather slender.

Chu Yi insisted on reporting his true height.

When the camouflage uniforms were distributed, Chu Yi realized just how loose they were. Wearing one felt like being inside a burlap sack. It was indeed too big, but thankfully, there was a belt. While it was a bit oversized, it shouldn’t affect his military training too much.

It was already September, but the sun still blazed fiercely, especially in the afternoon.

Standing at attention, Chu Yi felt his back grow damp. The sweat-soaked uniform clung uncomfortably to his skin.

He wasn’t the only one feeling this way. All the students were drenched in sweat, yet no one dared to move a muscle.

Their drill instructor was extremely strict, meticulously inspecting each student’s posture. Anyone caught fidgeting was punished with sixty push-ups before being forced to resume standing at attention.

In the scorching heat, several students had already collapsed from heatstroke and been taken to the infirmary.

The drill instructor walked back and forth several times, but each time Chu Yi stood perfectly straight, unmoving.

This surprised Jiang Xu. Chu Yi looked so thin that he’d assumed he’d be the first to collapse.

Several taller, more muscular boys had already fainted from heatstroke, yet Chu Yi remained standing firm. Of course, some were deliberately faking it.

Indeed, a slender frame could hold immense reserves of energy.

The drill instructor noticed Chu Yi, probably thinking he wouldn’t last much longer, and stationed himself nearby.

Chu Yi felt an inexplicable tension, as if he were meat on a chopping block. Sweat poured down his back, itching intensely. He desperately wanted to move, but the drill instructor was right there.

He endured the itch, but the more he resisted, the more intense it became. Chu Yi bit his lip, hoping the pain would distract him from the torment on his back.

The drill instructor’s stern, intimidating gaze swept across the formation before settling back on Chu Yi.

Their drill instructor was a towering figure. Being stared down so fiercely, with his lip aching and his back itching, Chu Yi’s tears began to flow uncontrollably. Yet he stood perfectly straight, unmoving, silently weeping. Tears streamed down his cheeks, tracing paths to his chin before dripping onto his uniform.

At first, the drill instructor thought the tears were just sweat from Chu Yi’s brow. But on closer inspection, he realized they were tears streaming down his face.

The drill instructor was startled by the boy’s tears. He thought to himself, “It’s just standing at attention. How could he be crying so violently? And why is he stubbornly refusing to move while he cries?”

The drill instructor stared at Chu Yi again, and the boy’s tears flowed even more profusely.

Drill Instructor: …He hasn’t done anything wrong. Why does it feel like I’m the one bullying him? Hey, hey, can’t you stop crying?

Chu Yi’s tears were getting on the drill instructor’s nerves. If this were his own troop, he’d have kicked the boy by now.

Drill Instructor: “Attention! Break!”

The students had prepared themselves for an hour of grueling standing at attention. But no one expected the drill instructor to call for a break after only half an hour. Was he showing mercy today?

They didn’t know the drill instructor was feeling guilty and questioning his life choices because of Chu Yi’s tears.

As soon as the drill instructor called for a break, Chu Yi quickly wiped away his tears. Fortunately, it seemed no one else had noticed except the drill instructor.

During the break, Chu Yi felt a soreness in his calves. When he plopped down on the ground without a care, Jiang Xu chuckled beside him. “I thought you weren’t tired earlier, standing so still.”

During military training, Jiang Xu had been standing right behind Chu Yi, watching the drill instructor, waiting for him to catch Chu Yi’s eye.

Chu Yi replied weakly, “Actually, I’m really tired.”

Jiang Xu then noticed Chu Yi’s red eyes. “Why are your eyes so red? Did you cry?”

Chu Yi explained, “No, it’s just that it was too hot earlier, and sweat got in my eyes.” Of course, he couldn’t admit that he’d been scared into tears just because the drill instructor had glanced at him a few times.

Jiang Xu thought for a moment and nodded in understanding. Earlier, sweat had almost dripped into his own eyes, and his eyes had burned so badly that he’d almost cried too.

After military training ended, Chu Yi felt utterly exhausted. He fell asleep the moment he got into the car.

It was the driver who woke him up when they arrived back at the Shen Family Villa. Whether it was because he hadn’t rested properly, Chu Yi felt a bit dizzy.

As he was about to enter the villa, a car slowly drove past.

Chu Yi stopped in his tracks. If he remembered correctly, Shen Jin had been in this car when he left earlier. That meant Shen Jin must be inside.

As Shen Jin returned to the Shen Family Villa, he saw a young man in camouflage fatigues walking inside.

It was Chu Yi.

Lately, Shen Jin had been leaving early and returning late, sometimes staying in hotels for convenience.

Although Chu Yi had been living at the Shen Family Villa for several days, they had never met. More precisely, Chu Yi had never seen Shen Jin.

This was the second time Shen Jin had seen his arranged marriage partner.

The camouflage attire was far too loose and baggy on Chu Yi. He cinched them with a belt, making him look even thinner.

Uncle Wen seemed to genuinely like Chu Yi, his voice softening unconsciously whenever he mentioned him.

Shen Jin watched Chu Yi with a blank expression.

He had only agreed to this arranged marriage to reclaim his mother’s business empire. He didn’t care who his partner was; he would eventually make them leave the Shen Family.

Shen Chunhan had deliberately tried to disgust him, thinking Shen Jin would back down at such a condition. But Shen Jin had surprisingly agreed, leaving Shen Chunhan looking as if he’d swallowed a mouthful of flies. Now, Shen Chunhan was subtly sabotaging him, and Shen Jin had already dealt with several people involved.

Shen Jin remained motionless in the car, and his bodyguards naturally dared not move either, waiting for his command while also observing the young man in the courtyard.

Suddenly seeing Shen Jin, Chu Yi’s heart began to race, his mind growing dizzy. He stared intently at the car.

He had been at the Shen Family Villa for several days, yet he still hadn’t seen Shen Jin’s face.

When the Shen Family maids spoke of Shen Jin, it was with both reverence and fear. They seemed terrified of him. Chu Yi couldn’t help but wonder if Shen Jin was particularly fierce. Everyone seemed to fear him, even the Chu Family.

But none of this mattered to Chu Yi.

He watched as the car slowly came to a stop, settling into place.

The driver exited the vehicle and respectfully opened the rear door.

After a moment, movement finally came from within.

Chu Yi felt his vision blur and his legs grow unsteady, yet his gaze remained fixed on the car.

Finally, a long, powerful leg emerged from the vehicle.

The moment the black leather shoe touched the ground, Chu Yi fainted.

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