Chapter 177


    The next day, at lunchtime.


    In the army canteen.


    Eileen was munching on grilled pork chops, lobster, and sipping on corn chowder, feeling like she was


    on cloud nine.


    The army’s regr food certainly couldn’tpare to this.


    But the food that Aaron had specially prepared for her, that was a whole different story.


    Aaron was sitting across from Eileen, smiling and watching her eat, her cheeks stuffed like a hamster.


    “Take your time, there’s plenty more,” Aaron said.


    After swallowing her food, Eileen picked up arge piece of pork chop.


    She took a big bite, her nose getting all greasy.


    Aaron handed her a napkin, saying, “You yed a big part in our victory yesterday, so feel free to ask


    for whatever you want to eat. I’ll get more if it’s not enough!”


    Eileen was falling hard for Aaron!


    Of all the people she knew, besides Egbert, only Aaron would treat her to meals and let her order


    whatever she wanted!


    After swallowing the meat in her mouth, she said without hesitation, “I want to eat fish.”


    “Fish, huh.” Aaron stood up and said, “Alright, let me go and ask.”


    Eileen was thrilled.


    Aaron went to the kitchen.


    She took another bite of her food, continuing to enjoy her feast.


    After a while, a shadow appeared above her.


    Thinking that Aaron was back, she looked up excitedly, only to find Egbert.


    It was lunchtime, the time when all the instructors woulde to eat.


    Chewing her food, Eileen carefully watched Egbert, silently pulling her tes closer to herself.


    She was worried that Egbert would steal her food.


    Egbert put down his tray, sat across from her, and quietly started eating.


    Was he just here to share the table?


    Eileen lowered her head and continued eating.


    After a while, Aaron came back.


    Seeing her seat taken, she was taken aback, walked around and saw that it was Mr. Reed.


    Looking at the two of them sitting together, Aaron had a knowing look.


    She had long noticed that there was something going on between Mr. Reed and Eileen.


    They had been secretly meeting in her office, and she had found out.


    Being in the presence of a superior, Aaron was somewhat reserved.


    She said to Eileen, “They have fish in the kitchen, it’s being cooked now. Enjoy it, there’s more to


    come.”


    Eileen was over the moon!


    Egbert suddenly said, “Is there more?”


    Aaron opened her mouth, wanting to exin something.


    But Eileen beat him to it, “Aaron invited me! You’re not getting any!”


    Egbert was silent.


    Egbert was looking at her indifferently.


    Eileen felt somewhat guilty under his gaze.


    She silently lowered her head and continued eating her pork chop.


    Aaron chuckled, “Let her eat if she wants to.”


    Egbert said sternly, “Cancel it, no more fish.”


    Aaron was stunned.


    Eileen felt like it was the end of the world.


    She looked at Egbert in disbelief, and was instantly furious!


    Egbert looked at Eileen and said calmly, “Eating too much is not good for your digestion.”


    Eileen immediately retorted, “My digestion is fine!”


    Egbert squinted at Aaron, “Aren’t you going?”


    Aaron was helpless.


    In the end, Aaron had no choice but to go to the kitchen to cancel the order.


    Watching Aaron’s retreating figure, Eileen felt like crying.


    She turned to look at Egbert, her gaze piercing into him like little knives.


    Aaron never came back after going to the kitchen.


    Clearly, she had slipped away.


    When Eileen had finished eating and put down her cutlery, she noticed that Egbert had also finished


    eating.


    Egbert stood up, took his tray, and said to Eileen, “Let’s go.”


    Eileen was taken aback, “Where?”


    The Training Officer’s Office.”


    Eileen was puzzled.


    Eileen didn’t know why she had to go to the Training Officer’s Office every day.


    She might as well just move into Egbert’s office!


    In the Training Officer’s Office.


    Egbert opened a drawer and pulled out an application form.


    Eileen looked at the form and saw “Camp-wide Shooting Competition” written on it.


    Egbert handed her the form, saying, “This is a small shootingpetition in the camp, it’s not big, but


    it’s fun, you should like it.”


    Eileen did like it.


    She carefully read the rules on the form, saw that there were rewards at the end, and her eyes lit up.


    “Is there a cash prize?”


    Egbert said, “No.”


    Eileen asked, “Any gifts? What are the gifts?”


    Egbert said, “A hardcover notebook and a pen.”


    Eileen was silent.


    Egbert continued, “And a certificate.”


    Eileen was even more speechless.


    Well, one can’t expect great rewards from a smallpetition.


    Eileen still filled out her name on the form.


    Eileen wasn’t a formal soldier, so she probably wasn’t eligible to participate in this kind of internal


    competition.


    Egbert knew she liked it and got her the form, which made her very happy.


    It was probably not easy to get this form. Egbert must have pulled some strings.


    Eileen was grateful for Egbert’s kindness, but she also remembered his sin of not letting her eat fish!


    ed hislicatio


    She stayed in Egbert’s office until the end of lunch break, then left.


    As soon as she got back to her dorm, the squad leader handed Eileen an application form, saying,


    “Shootingpetition, are you participating?”


    Eileen didn’t know what to say.


    Taking the form, she looked at the contents, feeling a bit lost, “Thispetition…”


    The squad leader said, “This is a smallpetition within the camp, everyone can sign up. Edna and


    the others have already signed up, do you want to participate? If you do, fill it out quickly, I need to


    submit itter.”


    Eileen was speechless.


    She hadn’t expected that anyone could participate in thispetition.


    Then why had Egbert mysteriously called her to the Training Officer’s Office?


    She thought this was some sort of big secret or something!


    The whole camp’s shootingpetition was happening in two days.


    The venue? Right here in our own shooting range


    Since thepetition was open to the whole camp, fresh men and experienced soldiers could allce


    up their boots.


    On the day of thepetition, the whole area around the shooting range was buzzing like a school


    sports day.


    There were three toons in the camp.


    Eileen was part of the second toon.


    Since Eileen’spetition slot was scheduled for the afternoon, she spent her morning hanging out


    with Eddie and Colin, strolling around the venue, and shooting the breeze with people from the other


    toons.


    Inside the venue, Egbert, along with the head instructors of the other two toons, served as the


    judges.


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    Around noon, the head instructor of the first toon grumbled, “The morningpetition was pretty


    mediocre.”


    The head instructor of the third toon chimed in, “The cream of the crop arepeting in the


    afternoon. Patience, my friend.”


    They were having a grand old time chatting when all of a sudden, a soldier burst in, stammering,


    “Instructor!”


    It was a soldier from the first toon. Without missing a beat, the head instructor of the first toon


    asked, “What’s the matter?”


    The soldier blurted out, “Instructor, you gotta stand up for us! Eileen from the second toon came with


    a bunch of people and beat up our soldiers!”


    As soon as he finished speaking, the room went silent.


    The head instructors of the first and third toons turned their heads simultaneously to look at the


    head instructor of the second toon in the middle.


    The second toon’s head instructor, Egbert, looked rather helpless.