Chapter 88 When soldiers gather in a heap

  The next day, when Ji Xin'an saw Zou Ze again at school, he was like a different person. He had been out of sorts before, but now he was smiling happily, and there was no trace of his previous demeanor, which left her bewildered.

  Ji Xin'an didn't know if Zou Ze had come to his senses on his own or if someone had talked some sense into him, but in any case, he was back to his usual self. Although she was curious - just the other day they were still arguing about her and their faces were red with anger - how did he suddenly calm down? But since Zou Ze didn't bring it up himself, she didn't ask either. As long as he thought everything was fine, then that's all that mattered; what was most important was putting his mind to studying and getting into the school he wanted to attend smoothly.

  So she pretended that nothing had happened and continued her Gaokao sprint, really experiencing this unprecedented feeling.

  In the following days, Ji Xin'an lived a very peaceful life. The company basically didn't need her to worry about it anymore, and she could now ignore it. As for emotional matters, since she had talked with Yao Wenhuang last time, she felt relieved in her heart. She now thought that forgiving him was right, and by letting go of him, she also let go of herself. Now, she no longer felt troubled about emotions. Her friends also restored their original cheerfulness, occasionally still arguing with her, living an ordinary life as a high school student.

  Life before the college entrance examination is tense and dull, with endless exercises to do, formulas to recite, and mock exams to take. One day is not enough, I wish there were twenty-six hours a day, but time flies by as fast as ever.

  The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and the college entrance examination is also approaching.

  Many special schools require advance registration, such as military academies, music colleges and film academies. Military academies require physical examination and political review, while music colleges and film academies need to pass the art exam at school before considering cultural course scores.

  Ji Xin'an had to sign up in advance, and since she hadn't chosen a school before, she took the admission brochure to study which school to take the exam for, wanting to decide on both the school and major before signing up. She was completely unaware that someone was waiting for her to make her choice so he could just go with whatever she chose.

  Yu Yao, who is also preparing to take the music academy exam, has no particular requirements for the school. Instead, she just wants to attend the same school as Zou Ze, so that they can be classmates again for four years. She believes that with Zou Ze's pride, he must have chosen a good school. However, after observing him for several days, she found that he doesn't seem to be in a hurry at all and hasn't even looked at the admission brochure, making it impossible for her to know which school he has chosen.

  As the time for the imperial examination in Beijing was getting closer and closer, Yu Yao finally couldn't help but ask Zou Ze.

  "Zou Ze, time is almost up, have you thought about which school to take the exam for?" Yu Yao asked casually, but in fact she was nervous and worried that he would suspect her of having an ulterior motive.

  "I don't know yet, how about you?" Zou Ze was more familiar with Yu Yao because she and Ji Xin'an were close, so his attitude towards her had improved a bit, and he spoke more freely.

  "I... I want to go to the same school as you." Yu Yao suddenly said, not knowing where she got the courage from, but she also knew that if she didn't ask directly now, she might miss this opportunity. "Don't get me wrong, I don't have any other meaning, it's just that we're classmates and grew up together since childhood, so if we can go to the same university, we can take care of each other."

  "Yu Yao, you don't have to look at me for what I'm taking anymore. Just choose a good school yourself. If you can't make up your mind, ask your teacher to help you choose one. You'll definitely be able to find a good one...I'm not going to take the music academy exam anymore." Zou Ze smiled slightly, and his tone was no longer as stiff as it used to be, but it also didn't give people any hope.

  He never understood Yu Yao before. If you like someone and can't get a response, it's better to give up. Why bother holding on and causing more trouble? But when he fell in love with Ji Xin An, he finally understood Yu Yao's feelings. When you love someone, you can't just take back your feelings because you want to.

  "Why, wasn't that your dream since childhood? How can you just give up on taking the exam like that? What do you want to do?" Yu Yao was shocked and her mouth agape, she couldn't believe that Bo Qi's bravery would lead to such a result.

  "I'm going to take the military school exam, music is my dream, but some things are more important." Zou Ze said firmly, he shouldn't have told her, but looking at her expression softened his heart and he spoke out.

  Yu Yao understood after hearing it, and her originally expectant eyes dimmed, "Is it for An An?"

  "Yes, I cannot let An stay alone to face danger. If there is a war, I will go with her to the battlefield. At least when she is in danger, I will be by her side, rather than enjoying the applause of others while playing the guitar in a luxurious place, while she is suffering in some remote rainforest. In that case, I don't know what face I would use to meet her. So accompanying her to suffer together is my best and only choice." Zou Ze said with a light smile. Since making this decision, he no longer had the confusion of before, and his mind was made up. He felt that music was not so important to him anymore.

  "But music is your dream, didn't you say that as long as you pick up the guitar and sing, it's the happiest thing, it's the happiest person in this world." Yu Yao couldn't believe he had given up his own dreams for Ji Xin'an, something he had always wanted to do since childhood, now abandoned just like that, Yu Yao felt sorry for him.

  "What you said is right, music is my dream, but the joy of realizing this dream and being with An An is nothing compared to it. Even if I'm just by her side watching her, I feel like it's worth it. Every time I see her happy smile, I think it's the happiest thing, having this happiness is now my biggest ideal. Compared to this, nothing else matters, so between An An and music, I chose An An. Moreover, from now on, I can stand by her side with a clear conscience, advance and retreat together with her, even if I give up my dream, what's the big deal?" Zou Ze's thoughts were immersed in his own world, completely unaware of what his words had brought to Yu Yao.

  "Does An An know about this? Does she agree with what you're doing?" Yu Yao had originally thought that she and Zou Ze could continue to be schoolmates in the same school, even if they couldn't be together, it was still something worth being happy about. But she didn't think he would give up on music for Ji Xin An, and also give up on the music academy, she didn't know what kind of feeling this was in her heart.

  "I haven't told her yet, if Anan knew she would definitely stop me, so after I've registered and passed the physical examination and political review, it will be too late for her to persuade me." Zou Ze smiled like a child who had stolen sugar and gotten away with it, thinking about how surprised Ji Xin'an would be when he saw his admission letter.

  "I hope you get your wish then, and can be with Ji Xin'an in the future. Maybe one day, An will develop feelings for you over time and accept you." Yu Yao felt a pang of melancholy, truly envying Ji Xin'an for having someone who cared about her so quietly.

  "I hope so, this way I can also get an opportunity for myself, be closer to her and have a little more hope." Zou Ze heard her words and felt very pleased, his face smiling sweetly.

  Yu Yao saw his excited look and knew that it was impossible to persuade him. If she had opened her mouth, not only would it have been ineffective, but it would also have made the relationship between the two of them deteriorate again. So she didn't try to persuade him anymore. She came with full expectations, but left with only disappointment.

  The registration time is approaching, Zou Ze and Ji Xin'an chatted a lot of nonsense, then extracted the conversation from Ji Xin'an, learned about the school she was going to report to, and made Ji Xin'an confused, not knowing what disease he had contracted today.

  No matter what Ji Xin'an thinks, Zou Ze has gotten what he wanted. He deliberately went to sign up on the second day after Ji Xin'an had signed up.

  However, Zou Ze never thought that he would run into Yu Yao at the military school registration site.

  "How did you end up here? Shouldn't you be heading to the capital for your exam? If you linger any longer, it'll be too late. Are you planning on waiting until next year?" Zou Ze looked at her strangely, wondering what she was doing here, joining in on the commotion for no reason.

  "I came here to wait for you, I was afraid that if I told you first, you wouldn't let me come." Yu Yao had really been waiting here for several days already. Yesterday, she saw Ji Xin'an arrive and hid herself, deeply afraid of being seen by her.

  "What are you waiting for? Want to persuade me to go back and take the music academy exam, I've already made up my mind and won't change it. Then just go back and hurry up with your art exam." Zou Ze furrowed his brow, not expecting that he would be so concerned about her affairs just because she had a good attitude towards him.

  "No, Zou Ze, I didn't think that way, and I didn't come here for this." Yu Yao explained immediately upon seeing his misunderstanding.

  "So what are you here for, don't tell me you're also going to take the military school exam?" Zou Ze sneered. He knew Yu Yao was not suited for the military, having grown up in a big compound of the army but being completely incompatible with the military lifestyle. Moreover, her family would never agree to it, so this matter was impossible no matter what.

  "Yes, I'm going to take the military school exam. I want to report a school with you, whether it's a music academy or a military school." Yu Yao stood timidly in front of him, but her voice was firm.

  "What are you kidding me, why did you suddenly come here and make a fuss?" Zou Ze was startled. If someone had told him before that Yu Yao would join the army, he would have thought that person's brain was damaged and talking nonsense. But now it was Yu Yao himself who said it, which made him wonder whether to believe it or not. If it were true, how wonderful this world would be.

  "I'm not being reckless, I've thought it through. Wherever you go, I'll go too. Even if you don't like me, as long as I can be with you and watch over you, even if it means watching you end up with Anan, as long as you're happy, I'll be content." Yu Yao lifted her head, her eyes resolute and no longer timid.

  "What's the point of this, you know we can't be together anyway. And what about your piano studies? You've spent so many years on it, wasn't it all for this moment?" Zou Ze couldn't help but regret telling her all this now. If only he had brushed it off when she asked him before, things wouldn't have become so troublesome. Looking at Yu Yao made his head ache.

  "You know that Ji Xin'an doesn't like you, so why are you still recklessly following her, even if it means giving up your dreams?" Yu Yao retorted loudly for the first time, "If you can do something, why can't I?"

  "My situation is different from yours." Zou Ze was rendered speechless by her words and could only retort with this unconvincing phrase.

  "Zou Ze, I attended the same military school as you. It's not that I'm forcing you, nor do I expect anything to happen between us. I just want you to know that my love for you is no less than your love for Ji Xin'an. What you can give up for her, I can also give up for you." Yu Yao didn't think she would be expressing her true feelings in this situation, and her heart was racing as if it was going to jump out of her chest.

  Zou Ze was stunned, or rather, frightened by her words. Looking at the excited Yu Yao in front of him, he seemed to see himself in front of Ji Xin'an, and his heart softened suddenly.

  "Do your parents know?" Zou Ze saw that she was also a bit embarrassed after finishing speaking, and changed the subject for fear of making her more awkward.

  "I don't know yet, I plan to wait until the admission notice comes out before telling them." Yu Yao lowered her head, still unsure how her mother would react if she really knew about this matter.

  "How could you be so reckless, if your mom finds out that I'm the reason you're attending military school, she'll come and kill me." Zou Ze didn't expect that usually honest Yu Yao would be so bold about this matter.

  "My mom's side is fine, this is my own business, I'm in charge of myself. And even if she really doesn't let me go, there's still my dad, he's always been complaining that I'm not a good son, can be like him as a soldier, now I've fulfilled his wish, I don't know how happy he'll be, definitely will work with me to deal with my mom." Yu Yao saw that he no longer opposed herself, smiled happily, and the timid expression on her face was gone.

  "Yu Yao, have you really thought this through? You're not like me. I was thrown into the military camp by my dad when I was a kid and had to fight alongside them. When I joined the army, I could adapt, but what about you? Your body is so weak, who knows how much suffering you'll endure in the troops? It'll be too late for regrets then." Zou Ze looked at her with some concern, thinking that she was just a delicate and weak young lady from a wealthy family, how could she possibly withstand the inhumane training of the military.

  "You didn't hate the army and being a soldier too, did you? I remember that whenever Uncle Zou came back, your face would turn gloomy until he left again, and only then would you become happy. At that time, I was thinking it's good that I'm a girl, or else I'd be just like you." Yu Yao smiled, recalling the days when he and Zou Weiguo used to fight each other. Looking back now, it's really quite amusing. But fate is indeed a strange thing - back then, he was so resistant to becoming a soldier, yet now he's voluntarily walked into the military camp...