Chapter 65


    Commander Ford opened up a rug before cing the nket on it, showing the crowd how to stack the


    nkets.


    “After cing the nket evenly, pick a spot one third away from the edge of the nket and fold it three


    times. The corners of the nket must be folded properly. After that, fold it this way, this way, andstly,


    this way…”


    Everyone watched in awe as Commander Ford folded the nket into a neat square in the blink of an


    eye. They were all impressed when they saw that there was not even a single crease on the folded


    nket.


    Commander Ford asked, “Are you guys clear with it now? You may start folding it if you have


    remembered the steps.”


    The students looked stunned, for most of them couldn’t follow at all. However, they couldn’t stand there


    and do nothing, so they could only try folding the nkets themselves.


    Commander Ford then walked around to inspect how the students were doing while scolding them at the


    same time. “What is this? A pile of crap?”


    “Did you not eat anything earlier? Why are you trembling while folding a nket?”


    “You,e over here! I asked you to fold a nket, but what are you doing? Such a crybaby. Stop


    crying!”


    Finally, he came across a student whom he was rather pleased with. He then praised her in front of


    everyone. “Everyone,e over and have a look. This nket that Sophia had folded has passed the


    test.”


    Everyone turned to Sophia. The nket in front of her was a standard square with its edges well-defined;


    even the nket which Nathan had folded looked decent.


    Sophia then replied bashfully, “Since I couldn’t catch up with the earlier training because my leg is


    injured, I can only work harder on the housekeeping training.”


    After Michael got back home, the house was handled in a military style. She was not allowed toze in


    bed and she had to finish her breakfast within ten minutes; even her nket had to fold into a square,


    military-style. Thus, this was the result of Michael’s training.


    She was a step closer to getting full marks in military training.


    Feeling very pleased with her, Commander Ford showered her with praises. He had been the officer for a


    few terms now, but this was his first time seeing such a diligent and motivated student. Everyone then


    learned from Sophia, who did not hold anything back and taught everyone the techniques of folding the


    nket.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Sophia’s status in the ss had steadily risen.


    After the housekeeping training, everyone returned to their barracks. They had ended a tough day of


    training, and it was finally time for them to rest.


    The moment they returned to their dorms, the girls embraced each other and started bawling their eyes


    out. They wanted to withdraw from the military training, but they did not have the courage to do so. The


    thought of having to wake up at 7:30 the next morning to start training on time and to get their


    housekeeping checked devastated the girls.


    This was only their first day, and they still had twenty-nine more days to go.


    After washing her face, Sophia sympathized with the group of girls who were crying when she entered


    the barracks, even though one of them had probably ced a nail in her shoe before.


    She advised everyone, “Stop crying, everyone. You have to think positively. The General is the eldest


    son of the Fletcher Family. He’s a rich bachelor. If one of you can get his attention, that’ll be amazing!”


    Any woman from prominent families in Bayside City would want to marry into one of the Four Great


    Families, but even though they were famous in the city, the chances of them meeting a member of the


    Four Great Families were disproportionately small. Now that this opportunity of seeing Joel Fletcher daily


    had presented itself, it was something that many could only wish for.


    Catching the attention of Joel was the only motivation that made the girls continue with their military


    training. If they could perform well and attract Joel’s attention, that would be great.


    Sophia then added, “All our facial masks and makeup have been confiscated. If you guys continue


    crying, your eyes will be swollen tomorrow. Then, the General wont eveny his eyes on you guys.”


    Her words seemed to be quite persuasive, for the barracks instantly turned quiet. Sophia then carried an


    iced watermelon over. “Go to sleep when you’ve finished eating.”


    Everyone cheered before snatching their portions of the watermelon. Their moods had improved greatly.


    The barracks were packed with beds and even the fan was barely working, let alone the refrigerator and


    air conditioner. Hence, it was a huge deal that they could get some watermelon to eat.


    Sophia’s watermelon had be a hard currency in training camp. With the absence of a refrigerator


    and air conditioner, her iced watermelon was like an oasis. Everyone started cottoning up to her just so


    that they could get themselves a piece of iced watermelon.


    Military life was simple yet robotic in nature. The lights would be switched on at seven in the morning


    daily and they were given half an hour to freshen up and have their breakfast. After starting their run for


    one kilometer at 7:30 sharp, their training for the day would thenmence at eight. Their lunch was


    okay, while those who wanted to have a heartier dinner would have to run faster.


    Every electronic device had been confiscated in the military camp. The only leisure activity after a day’s


    training was sleep. The most interesting thing that would happen was if they had a bedtime chat before


    bed. They would talk about their dream men, gossip about who was good-looking in a certainpany,


    and who was the most muscr.


    The difference in everyone’s status seemed to be getting less obvious, for they were now all equals in


    hardship. Unknowingly, they had forged a military friendship among themselves.


    Sophia had be the co-leader of Company 49, second to Commander Ford; even Nathan was


    basking in her limelight.


    If this persisted, she felt like getting full marks in her military training would not be a dream anymore.


    During the second afternoon of the military training, Sophia used the excuse that she needed to get her


    bandage changed so that she could sneak into theputer room to use theputers with Nathan


    again.


    She took a look at the stocks, checked the futures and housing market, but in the end, she logged on to


    her Messenger ount and looked for Michael on her own ord.


    Michael, who was in front of theputer screen, had juste back from ate filming session. The


    moment he returned to the hotel, he immediately noticed that Sophia had taken the initiative toe and


    look for him, which was a first.


    Chica asked, ‘Are you there, Honey?’


    Micheael’s reply came. ‘My dear chica, you finally talked to your hubby first!’


    Eww. Sophia was so annoyed that she wanted to turn off the screen. She then cut to the chase. ‘Honey,


    I’m secretly surfing the Inte, so my time is limited. I want to ask you something. What should I do to


    get full marks in military training?’


    Sophia had asked this question before. Ever since Bayside University had started the military training


    system, only a handful of people managed to obtain full marks. Furthermore, most of them were the


    Fletchers.


    If she could obtain full marks in military training, she would get significantly more credit hours as well.


    Then, it would be easy for her to get a schrship. She thought to herself that since she was already


    here and had put in so much effort, she needed to obtain full marks so that she wouldn’t let herself down.


    Michael, who was sitting in front of theputer, rubbed his chin while looking at Sophia’s question, his


    eyebrows raised.


    He did not expect Sophia to have such ambition, for it was almost impossible to get full marks in military


    training.


    He replied, ‘The full marks for military training is 100, but you already pass the test if you get 60. Chica,


    don’t be greedy. It isn’t easy to get marks in military training. It’s already good enough if you can pass it.’


    Sophia quickly answered, ‘I’m just curious. Honey, quick, tell me. Tell me!’


    Michael must be thinking that Sophia was acting coquettishly as she typed out those words. It was a pity


    that he could not hear her voice. He then replied, ‘There are too many rules and I’m toozy to type them


    out. Look for the personnel in charge of theputer room and ask for an earphone. I will say them out


    for you.’


    Sophia swiftly looked for the personnel and asked for an earphone. After plugging it in, her audio was


    connected and they began chatting.


    Michael went straight to the point when the call was connected. He immediately started exining the


    rules of training camp. “Bayside University’s training camp is very strict. It may seem like they let you


    have your freedom, but the instructors whom they have assigned to you guys are from the special forces.


    Every one of them has been specially chosen. There are less than forty people in onepany, so the


    instructor can clearly see everyone’s actions. The training grounds and every corner of the ce have


    been installed with surveince cameras. Besides, there are more than 100 people watching your every


    move in the surveince room.”


    Sophia was drenched in cold sweat after listening to him. It turned out that there were so many secrets in


    training camp. Would that mean that she had been exposed for pretending to be injured?