"Cough, cough!"
Fan Tianlei directly suppressed the excitement of the crowd. Finally, with some lingering unease, he warned them,
"Don't get too carried away. Look at how wide your mouths are splitting. Last time, during the exercise, you caused such a mess. Luckily, you were new recruits and didn't know the truth, and no one was sacrificed, so the higher-ups couldn't really hold you accountable."
"However..." Fan Tianlei's tone shifted, and he continued, "Those soldiers were injured because of you. You're fine, and I took all the blame. If something like this happens again, I won't cover for you, and you'll face the punishment yourselves."
Fan Tianlei became increasingly angry as he spoke. It was one thing to get punched out of nowhere during this training, and it was understandable to receive no compensation. But to be officially reprimanded in the end? How could anyone possibly feel good about that?
Upon hearing this, Qin Feng immediately responded with utmost seriousness, "Understood. We won't do it again. We will certainly remember this lesson."
"Forget it!" Fan Tianlei stared at Qin Feng and said directly, "I won't say any more. Just remember my kindness. Oh, and when you have time, go visit the brothers you injured. Especially Qin Feng, you *must* go visit Octopus, or I'll beat you up."
"Understood!" Qin Feng readily agreed. After all, it was his doing. Visiting wouldn't cost him anything, and it meant he wouldn't have to train.
"There will be even more dangerous missions awaiting you in the future. Then..." Fan Tianlei continued to caution Qin Feng and the others not to be careless, fearing they might suffer losses. Finally, as Fan Tianlei's throat became parched, he delivered one last piece of good news: "You have a week to rest well. This is to compensate for the grueling training over the past few months, so you can recuperate. Then, you'll be returning to defend our country."
The news sent everyone almost leaping for joy. The high-intensity training had been suffocating, and now they finally had time to rest.
Afterward, Qin Feng and the others moved into new dormitories with much better facilities. They no longer had to sleep in tents.
Later, the group discussed and decided to visit their wounded comrades as soon as possible so they could completely relax afterward.
And then, they bought a lot of things and headed straight to the hospital.
"Squad leader, you have to lead us to achieve great deeds! Following you, we're guaranteed to feast," Li Erniu said with a grin.
"That's true. I wouldn't want anyone else leading me, but with you, Qin Feng, I give a hundred percent approval," Song Kaifei also expressed his support.
"Agreed," Wang Yanbing chimed in.
"..."
Seeing that everyone felt the same way, Qin Feng was actually quite pleased. Sense of belonging +1.
It didn't take long before they arrived at the hospital to visit the wounded soldiers. Qin Feng, however, went alone to see Octopus.
After walking for a while, Qin Feng arrived at Octopus's ward. He knocked on the door and waited quietly outside for a response.
"Come in!" Hearing the knock, a voice quickly responded from inside.
With that, Qin Feng opened the door and walked in, closing it behind him as he entered.
Upon entering the ward, Qin Feng first surveyed the environment. The room was nicely furnished.
Octopus was lying in bed, his leg cast and elevated. He was holding a book, indicating he had been diligently studying its contents.
Hearing someone enter, Octopus's gaze shifted from his book to the newcomer.
The moment Octopus saw Qin Feng, his expression immediately darkened, clearly showing he was unhappy.
A tense atmosphere filled the ward for a moment.
After staring at each other for a while, it was Octopus, albeit reluctantly, who spoke first, "Sit down!"
"Yes, Commander!" Qin Feng walked to the chair beside the bed and sat down, straightening his back, waiting for Octopus to speak.
After a moment of silence, Qin Feng, feeling increasingly nervous, quickly said, "Commander, please give your instructions!"
"Peel an apple for me."
"Yes!" Qin Feng picked up the apple and fruit knife from the table and began peeling it with great concentration.
Octopus watched Qin Feng for a while, then, after considerable hesitation, said, "Qin Feng, I was too impulsive yesterday. I apologize. Afterward, I realized I was wrong, and I hope you don't hold it against me."
"Report, Commander. It's not your fault. I don't mind," Qin Feng said, slightly surprised by Octopus's words, but he spoke his mind.
Seeing that Qin Feng genuinely didn't mind, Octopus continued, "Are you currently the captain of the Red Blood Cell Special Operations Team?"
"Report, Commander. Yes, the Chief of Staff appointed me this morning," Qin Feng replied honestly, answering every question.
"Then what about you and Director Tang? What's your relationship?" Octopus abruptly changed the subject.
Qin Feng was astonished by Octopus's question. Why would Octopus ask this? Could it be that Octopus liked Tang Xinyi? Right, no wonder he was so furious when he saw Tang Xinyi worrying about him yesterday. So, it was a case of rivals meeting!
"Report, Commander, I don't know what you're talking about." Having figured out the reason, Qin Feng chose to play dumb instead of answering directly.
Octopus, seeing Qin Feng avoid the question, stated it plainly, "Don't pretend. I believe you can see it yourself. Director Tang likes you. To be honest, I've been pursuing her for a long time, but she's always rejected me. Yesterday, when I saw how worried she was about you and how she kept caring for you, I suddenly realized that she can indeed like someone. She's a good girl."
These were heartfelt words from Octopus. He had never understood what he was doing wrong that Tang Xinyi wouldn't like him. Only after seeing Tang Xinyi's behavior yesterday did he realize it wasn't that he was doing poorly, but rather that she already had someone she liked. So, he could only give up and wish her well. Perhaps this was also a form of love.
Qin Feng was truly shocked by Octopus's words: "Ah! Commander, I..."
Before Qin Feng could explain, Octopus interrupted, "It's fine, you don't need to explain."
Seeing this, Qin Feng could only hand the peeled apple to Octopus.
"Good, you can go now. Remember to close the door," Octopus took the apple and waved his hand, signaling Qin Feng to leave.
"Yes, Commander! I'll be going now. Get well soon." With that, Qin Feng stood up and left the ward, closing the door as he exited.
As soon as he stepped out of the ward, Qin Feng saw He Chenguang and the others waiting at the door. After a brief discussion, they decided to go their separate ways.