Chapter 24: Anomaly

On the afternoon of the second day of military training, the boys in the performance camp had just finished learning the first eight moves of the sixteen-move baton routine. The instructor then allowed them to rest for a while before reviewing the moves learned that day until they could perform them smoothly in sequence.

Lu You sat beneath the shade of a tree, placing the water pipe that the instructor had handed out as a makeshift baton beside him. He took out his thermos and quietly sipped some water.

A voice came from nearby.

“Squad leader, are you into health maintenance too?”

Lu You turned his head to see a boy holding a red thermos. He recognized him from the class and had some impression of him.

“Not exactly health maintenance, just plain boiled water. How about you? Is that some kind of tea?” Lu You asked, curious about the tea-colored liquid in his hands.

“Yeah, it’s brown sugar ginger tea. My stomach isn’t very good, so my mom told me to drink more to help with digestion.”

“Oh, it can help with the stomach? I’ve only seen my mom drink it at home.”

The boy took a sip. “Indeed. My mom also makes brown sugar eggs for my sister every month. It’s pretty good for replenishing blood. Want some?”

“No thanks, I’m fine with water,” Lu You smiled, declining.

“If you need it, just let me know. I have a big bottle of brown sugar ginger powder.”

Wow, starting health care at this age already, Lu You thought to himself.

After Li Yu finished talking with others, he came over and asked, “Want to go to the convenience store to buy something to drink?”

Lu You picked up his thermos. “I brought my own, no need.”

“Just come along with me. There’s nothing to do sitting here anyway.”

“Alright then.” Lu You stood up and politely asked the boy who had spoken to him, “Is there anything you want to buy? I can pick it up for you since it’s on the way.”

“No, thanks, squad leader.”

The two headed to the convenience store.

“What are you going to buy?” Lu You asked as they walked.

“A few cups of mung bean juice to cool off, and a bottle of energy drink. By the way, how’s your progress with the moves?”

“I’m okay. I’ve memorized the moves; just need more practice.”

“Oh, and by the way, in my class, that guy Ni Tian didn’t come for practice this afternoon. I heard he was transferred by the teacher to wear the blue uniform.”

“Blue uniform? The ones for dormitory inspections and public hygiene?”

“Those. His dorm mates said Ni Tian kept complaining at noon that the morning’s moves were too hard to learn and wouldn’t improve his grades.”

Lu You wasn’t surprised. “He’s Ni Tian, so isn’t it normal for him to do whatever he wants?”

Li Yu suddenly realized, “You might be right.”

Arriving at the convenience store entrance, Lu You saw Tang Wan sitting alone on a stone bench under a tree, gazing blankly at the sky.

“Don’t you want to say hi?” Li Yu whispered, seeing Lu You hesitate.

“I feel something’s off,” Lu You whispered back.

“Hm?” Li Yu glanced over twice but saw nothing unusual. “I don’t see anything strange.”

“There is.” Lu You said firmly. “Her aura feels different from usual. I don’t think she wants to talk to us.”

“Ah? You can tell by her aura? Have you learned aura reading or something?” Li Yu nearly laughed.

Lu You gave him a blank look. “Forget it, it’s no use discussing this with you. Let’s just pretend we didn’t see her and get our stuff quickly.”

At that moment, Tang Wan’s face was paler than usual, her lips slightly whitened, and she gently rubbed her lower abdomen to ease the pain.

Her eyes shifted toward the convenience store just in time to see Lu You come out without even glancing her way before walking off.

Tang Wan’s heart inexplicably grew restless. She thought, I’m sitting here all alone; not even a few words? Am I invisible to them? The thought brought a wave of sadness.

The two soon returned to the training field under the tree.

Li Yu held his drink, about to head back to class, when Lu You said, “Go call Xu Nian for me. I have something to ask her.”

Li Yu nodded without suspicion. “Okay, wait a moment.”

Lu You returned to his original spot, and Xu Nian arrived shortly after.

“Do you need something?”

“Did Tang Wan get her period today?”

“Who?” Xu Nian was momentarily confused.

“You know, her menstrual cycle,” Lu You bluntly said.

“How do you know?” Xu Nian was surprised. “Do high school boys even understand this? Have you had many girlfriends?”

Lu You was speechless. Could one question lead to so many assumptions? He was practically thirty and had been a teacher, so he had seen many such leave notes and had some knowledge. But he couldn’t say it like that; he needed a proper excuse.

“I have eyes. I didn’t see her with the girls this afternoon, only just now in front of the convenience store. She was radiating a very ‘don’t mess with me’ vibe—like my mom when she’s in a bad mood every month.”

Seeing he had some understanding, Xu Nian didn’t hide it. “Wanwan started her period at noon today. She usually doesn’t have much pain, but the change in environment might be hitting her hard this time.”

“No medicine?”

“Who brings medicine to military training? Besides, she really wasn’t expecting it.”

Xu Nian sighed.

Lu You thought for a moment, glanced at Xu Nian’s watch, then asked, “How much rest time is left?”

Xu Nian looked at her wrist. “About ten minutes.”

“That’s enough. You tell the instructor you’re delivering medicine to Tang Wan, then wait downstairs by the dorm. I’ll go get it from my dorm now.” Lu You quickly made the plan.

“You have medicine?”

“Painkillers. Should work. You check it out later. I’m off.” Lu You said and jogged away.

...

Lu You soon returned with a plastic bag containing a medicine box and met up with Xu Nian.

“See if this can be used.”

Xu Nian took the bag. “Wow, ibuprofen? Why do you have this?”

“My mom said it’s great for inflammation and pain and gave it to me for emergencies. Just tell me if it’s usable.” Lu You’s tone was urgent.

“It works, definitely. Nothing’s better for periods.”

Lu You breathed a sigh of relief and urged, “Good, then hurry and give it to her. I didn’t ask for leave, so I need to get back to the group.”

“Why don’t you deliver it yourself? This is a chance to show off...” Xu Nian started to tease.

Lu You interrupted, “At this time, you’re more suitable. Also, she wouldn’t want me to know about this. Don’t ask anymore, just say it came from your homeroom teacher. I’m off.”

...

Xu Nian found Tang Wan sitting with her head down, quietly upset in front of the convenience store.

“Wanwan, take your medicine. After this, the pain will ease, and you can train.”

She sat beside her and placed the ibuprofen on her thigh.

“Niannian, do you think I’m really annoying?”

Xu Nian looked puzzled. “What’s wrong? Did Ni Tian bother you again?”

“Who’s Ni Tian? Is Lu You that amazing?” Tang Wan looked up, confused.

The atmosphere fell silent.

“Uh, never mind... So, why did Lu You do something to you?” Xu Nian changed the subject.

“Does he dislike me? When he came to buy stuff, he didn’t even talk to me, like I was invisible.” Tang Wan became sad again.

Xu Nian glanced at the medicine box on her leg, thinking: Dislike you? He’s probably just wondering how to get you home.

“For that question, you better ask Lu You himself. I don’t know how he feels about you, but I’m sure he doesn’t dislike you.”

“Really?” Tang Wan’s mood lifted a little but remained doubtful.

“Miss, take your medicine first before talking about anything else. The sooner you take it, the sooner it works. You still have dagger practice, and it won’t be good if you can’t keep up and get scolded.”

“Alright.” Tang Wan opened the medicine box and asked, “By the way, where did this medicine come from? Didn’t you say you didn’t bring any?”

Xu Nian recalled what Lu You said. “Teacher Liang brought it. She anticipated some students might need it, so she brought some along.”

Tang Wan nodded. “Teacher Liang is really kind.” She then took water from her thermos and took the medicine.

Xu Nian felt conflicted inside.

...

By the time Lu You returned to the training ground, it was a bit late; the team had just assembled.

“Reporting to the instructor, Lu You requests to rejoin!”

“What were you doing?”

“Diarrhea!” Lu You made up an excuse casually.

Luckily, the team had just gathered, so he wasn’t too late, and the instructor didn’t press further.

“Don’t let it happen again. Get back quickly.”

“Yes, sir!”

After practicing the first eight moves of the baton routine twice, Lu You’s peripheral vision caught Tang Wan and Xu Nian returning to the neighboring dagger exercise group. It seemed the medicine was working.

“Focus. Now start performing the moves continuously. Remember, as you finish one move, start thinking about the next to avoid mistakes...”

Around 5:30 p.m., the instructor announced dismissal.

Lu You relaxed his arms and the muscles in his thighs and calves. During continuous moves, a few people kept making mistakes. The instructor couldn’t help but punish each mistake with a set of push-ups or frog jumps.

Fortunately, Lu You’s physical training prevented severe muscle soreness. Li Yu, however, was limping badly on the way back.

“I’m incredibly grateful our dorm is on the second floor.”

Lu You laughed seeing his hobbling. “Will you still be able to hold the baton tomorrow?”

“You sound like you’re fine,” Li Yu shot back with an eye roll.

“I really am fine. I’ve trained all summer; push-ups and frog jumps are nothing.”

Li Yu had no comeback.

Lu You looked toward the dagger exercise group. Tang Wan was now chatting and laughing with classmates, her previously distant aura vanished.

She seemed much better, at least not in pain enough to ask for leave. Later, he planned to visit that health-conscious guy who had the brown sugar ginger powder; it might help Tang Wan feel more comfortable.

Lost in thought about what else could be done, Li Yu spoke up.

“What are you smiling at? Let’s go eat.”

Lu You snapped back to reality. “Nothing. Let’s go. After eating, we can shower and practice singing.”

“Damn, still singing practice. Just want to die. We might as well do a chorus,” Li Yu grumbled.

Lu You gave him a disdainful look. “Hey, wasn’t that your idea? Since we have to sing anyway, why not go solo now? Why the change of heart?”

“Damn, because I wasn’t supposed to sing originally. You dragged me into this.”

“Be lenient with yourself but strict with others, huh?”

...

Tang Wan was feeling down again. “Niannian, why didn’t he ask me to eat with him?”

Xu Nian was exasperated. “Wanwan, have you lost your mind? What kind of relationship do you have that he has to invite you to eat?”

Tang Wan suddenly remembered that was true and cheered up.

“Indeed! Must be my brain not getting enough blood. I was overthinking. Come on, go with me to buy some bread.”