Chapter Seventy-Five: How Can Siblings Born of the Same Parents Be So Different?

Luo Yixia sat beneath the tree, leaning against its trunk. From a distance, she watched Song Chengyi sitting on the lawn. She couldn’t tell what Song Chengyi was saying to the boy beside him, but soon he got up and left. Luo Yixia puffed her cheeks in frustration. If only she were standing just a bit behind Song Chengyi, she could have watched him openly. But here she was, separated, and in the front row no less—she didn’t even dare turn her head. How could she watch Song Chengyi now? All her earlier happiness had been for nothing. She sighed softly.

A patch of shade fell overhead. The sunlight that had filtered through the leaves onto her was now blocked by someone standing before her. Luo Yixia looked up and smiled.

“Tired?” Song Zeming sat down next to her, handing her a bottle of mineral water.

“I’m exhausted, Zeming brother,” Luo Yixia exaggeratedly replied, taking the bottle.

“It was only half an hour of standing at attention. Later you’ll have to run, and field training is coming—how will you manage?” Song Zeming eyed Luo Yixia, thinking she seemed even thinner.

“Then, Zeming brother, can you go easy on me?” Luo Yixia winked playfully.

“No way. With your fitness, I need to pay special attention to you,” Song Zeming replied firmly.

Luo Yixia pouted in protest. “Zeming brother, why did you come back? And why are you an instructor at our school?”

“I’m on leave. Thought I’d drop by and see you and that kid,” Song Zeming leaned back against the tree, hands behind his head.

“So that’s why! I thought it was such a coincidence, but it must’ve been your arrangement. And you put me and him in the same class,” Luo Yixia said, suddenly enlightened.

“You flatter me. I only requested to lead your class—I didn’t expect that kid to be assigned with you. Seeing you two standing together surprised me,” Song Zeming admitted.

“So it really was luck this time,” Luo Yixia mused.

“By the way, Mom called and said you two got your marriage certificate? Things progressing so fast?” Song Zeming turned to her with a smile.

Luo Yixia felt guilty under his gaze. “Getting the certificate was an accident, there’s no progress at all,” she replied, lowering her head in sadness.

Song Zeming sat up straight. “What’s wrong? Did Song Chengyi bully you?”

Luo Yixia shook her head. “No, he’s better to me than ever. It just feels unreal.”

“Silly girl, you two are already married and it still feels unreal?” He chuckled, knowing how sentimental she was.

“It’s hard to explain.” She herself wasn’t clear on her feelings.

“Everyone’s gathering, I have to go. Drink some water and come over,” Song Zeming said, watching as the students returned, then stood up. After all, it wasn’t proper for an instructor to sit under a tree with a female student.

Song Chengyi returned with water and saw them talking beneath the tree. Luo Yixia held a bottle in her hand—it was obvious who had given it to her.

When everyone was lining up, Song Chengyi hurried to Luo Yixia, snatched her water, handed her his own, and then went to his place. Luo Yixia stared at the bottle in surprise—why take her water? But she didn’t dwell on it, placing it with her jacket before returning to her spot.

“Did everyone rest well?” Song Zeming asked with his hands behind his back.

“Yes!” came the loud reply.

“Then let’s continue standing at attention.”

Groans echoed below. They stood until noon.

Finally, Song Zeming announced, “It’s lunchtime now. Assemble at two in the afternoon. Go eat.” Luo Yixia felt her legs turn to jelly.

Students began to disperse across the field.

A few girls from the class surrounded Song Zeming.

“Instructor Song, are you eating in the cafeteria?”

“Yes,” Song Zeming nodded.

“Come with us, Instructor!”

“Yes, join us!”

“Alright,” he agreed.

Though Song Zeming had entered military school and become a soldier, Luo Yixia felt his personality wasn’t suited for it. Compared to him, Song Chengyi’s perpetually stern face seemed more fitting. Song Zeming was warm and sunny—a big brother type. How could two siblings born of the same parents be so different?

Luo Yixia was pulled to the cafeteria by Gan Yanyan and others. Since the whole class sat together, Song Zeming naturally sat not far from her, at the table opposite.

Gan Yanyan looked enviously at the table in front. “If only we’d gone over earlier, we could sit with the instructor now.”

“Eat your food. Afterward, let’s go back to the dorm—I’m melting,” Luo Yixia ignored her.

“This instructor is really handsome. No wonder people say all the good-looking guys and girls are handed over to the country,” Gan Yanyan started swooning again.

In Luo Yixia’s eyes, Song Zeming was always the best-looking and most captivating. She never paid much attention to other boys. But Zeming brother really was handsome—and so warm, always good to her.

Nearby, Song Chengyi poked at his food, watching the little woman swooning over his brother.

“Chengyi, what are you looking at?” Yu Bin followed his gaze. Wasn’t that toward the instructor?

“This Instructor Song is really popular. See how the girls flock to him? Today, you’re not even the most dazzling in the cafeteria. Are you jealous?” Yu Bin teased, laughing.

“Eat and shut up,” Song Chengyi replied, lowering his head to his meal.

“How can I eat and shut up? Instructor Song is indeed handsome. But, I feel you two look a bit alike. Hey, now that I think about it, both your surnames are Song,” Yu Bin speculated. He’d thought the instructor looked familiar, and seeing Song Chengyi brought it together—the resemblance was striking.

“I don’t know him,” Song Zeming said, picking up his tray and leaving.

Luo Yixia returned to her dorm, wanting to message Song Chengyi, but hesitated. At this hour, he was probably resting—she didn’t dare disturb him. Her indecision lasted until the wake-up bell rang.

Though it was supposed to be a nap time, few actually rested. Most played games or watched TV. Only the four single girls in the dorm weren’t tangled up with boyfriends—except, perhaps, Luo Yixia, though she hadn’t sent a single message all noon.

After the afternoon assembly, things were different from the morning—no endless standing at attention. Song Zeming led the students for a few laps, then taught them horse stance. It was far more exhausting than the morning.

When military training ended that afternoon, Luo Yixia dragged herself back—her legs felt foreign, as if they weren’t hers. Sometimes, when tired, you lose your appetite. Luo Yixia skipped dinner altogether, staying in her air-conditioned dorm.

While everyone was at the cafeteria, she slipped into the shower. Fresh and clean afterward, she felt much better.

At six-thirty, evening training was scheduled, and everyone arrived promptly at the field. All the school’s streetlights were on, illuminating the grounds.

Before Song Zeming arrived, everyone had already lined up.

The evening wasn’t really for training; Song Zeming was quite relaxed. After a few brief words, he had everyone sit in a circle, according to their standing positions—so Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi sat together once more.

Song Zeming stood in the center. “To ensure everyone gets along for the coming month, let’s get familiar, chat, and show off some talents.”

Applause erupted.

Song Zeming looked for a place to sit, originally intending to squeeze between Luo Yixia and Song Chengyi. But seeing his younger brother’s fierce glare, he thought better of it and settled beside Luo Yixia, causing the girls to sigh in disappointment.

Gan Yanyan was beside herself with excitement—the instructor sat right next to her!

Some bold girls began to ask questions. “Instructor, are you a soldier? How did you end up at our school?”

“No, I graduated from military school and now I’m a soldier—just home on leave, happened to catch this training,” Song Zeming explained.

“Are you from City C?”

“Yes, I am.”

Song Zeming intended to chat more, but the girls were so talkative he could hardly keep up. So he suggested, “How about we show some talents—singing, dancing, that sort of thing?”

“Instructor, you should sing first! How about it?” someone called, and the crowd egged him on.

Song Zeming realized he’d dug himself into a hole.

“I can’t sing. If there’s a physical challenge, you can compete with me. Or, how about this student beside me—you go up and sing,” he said, looking past Luo Yixia at Song Chengyi, who wore a look of disdain.

Typical brother—setting him up like that.

“I’m tone-deaf. I won’t torture everyone’s ears,” Song Chengyi refused outright.

The crowd had hoped for a performance from their idol, but his rejection was firm.

“How about this student?” Song Zeming’s gaze shifted to Luo Yixia.

Caught off guard, Luo Yixia stammered, “Ah, I… I can’t.”

But a true friend, Gan Yanyan, saved the day. “Xiaxia, you’ve studied dance, why not perform a piece?”

“Ah?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on her. The crowd began to cheer, some boys even whistling.

Song Chengyi’s face darkened.

He never expected Luo Yixia to agree, but she got up and walked to the center. Watching her clenched fists, he knew she was nervous.

Luo Yixia took several deep breaths. If she didn’t perform, it would only embarrass the brothers, Song Zeming and Song Chengyi. She’d trained in dance for years, so she performed a routine—not particularly difficult, just a few simple turns and somersaults.

But the reaction was overwhelming. The applause was thunderous and unending.

Luo Yixia returned to her seat, cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

“Didn’t expect this student to dance so well,” Song Zeming praised with a smile.

Others went up to sing or dance, all excited.

Finally, it was time for the physical challenge.

Standing in the center, Song Zeming asked, “Anyone willing to give it a try?”