Chapter Three: Delayed Registration

In Xu Yan’s understanding, although Ouyang Nan was somewhat proud, he was still sincere in his dealings with others. Thus, Ji Yu’s tone resembled that of a friend.

“It’s nothing special. I thought there’d be better scenery, but it’s all the same—just endless sea wherever you look,” Ji Yu replied.

Wu Mingjie showed a trace of envy and said, “Too bad I haven’t learned how to drive a yacht yet. Otherwise, I’d have gone out to sea with you.”

Behind them, Jing Dong came to himself and looked at Xu Yan. “What’s your problem, Xu Yan? You take my yacht for a spin and act like this?”

“It’s just a piece of junk, nothing to be proud of!” Ji Yu had always disliked those who were overbearing simply because their families had influence, even back on Ram Star. He spoke bluntly, without any courtesy.

Jing Dong was so angered by Ji Yu’s tone that he let out a mocking laugh. “You don’t even have a piece of junk! Don’t think just because you ranked first, you’ll be better than me in the Jinjiang Special Forces Team!”

With that, Jing Dong reached out and grabbed Xu Yan’s arm, but much to his disappointment, even with all his strength, Xu Yan didn’t move an inch.

Instead, Xu Yan turned, drew close to his ear, and delivered a punch.

With the swing of his fist, a faint sonic boom echoed by Jing Dong’s ear, making his hair stand on end.

The punch, masked by the sound of the sea wind, went unheard by Wu Mingjie and Ouyang Nan behind them, but Jing Dong was forced back another step, staring at Xu Yan in terror.

“Next time you speak to me in that tone...,” Ji Yu, standing before Jing Dong, spread his fingers and slowly clenched his fist.

Even if his sense of perception was gone, the strength of his body was still not something the people of Blue Star could rival.

Ouyang Nan and Wu Mingjie looked at Xu Yan in astonishment. The Xu Yan who had returned from a trip at sea seemed like a different person. He had always been one to seek harmony, but his aura and words just now were nothing like his usual self.

Could it really be that the sea breeze had gone to Xu Yan’s head? Or had something happened to make him suddenly more assertive?

Jing Dong stood there, his face alternating between pale and flushed, clearly shaken by Xu Yan’s sudden punch and threat.

He stared wide-eyed at Xu Yan but did not dare to provoke him further.

Ouyang Nan and Wu Mingjie exchanged glances, seeing the same surprise in each other’s eyes.

They had been classmates for four years but had never seen such a forceful side of him.

Although Xu Yan usually participated in all sorts of extreme sports, his temperament was gentle, and he would always choose to endure rather than respond to provocation. But today, he seemed like a changed man.

“What’s wrong, Xu Yan?” Ouyang Nan couldn’t help but ask, a trace of concern in his voice.

Ji Yu turned around to look at Ouyang Nan and gave a gentle smile. “I’m fine. I was just joking around with Jing Dong.”

He said this because Xu Yan had reminded him that Jing Dong had an uncle who was an instructor in the Jinjiang Special Forces Team.

To avoid trouble in the future, it was best not to escalate the conflict.

Afterward, Ji Yu said to Jing Dong, “Don’t tell me you can’t even take a joke. Come on, tonight’s our last meal with free drinks—tomorrow, we’ll be eating army rations.”

No matter how much Ji Yu tried to lighten the mood, Jing Dong was truly frightened.

A punch that caused a sonic boom—his uncle in the Jinjiang Special Forces Team couldn’t even do that.

Although he didn’t want to believe it, his ears couldn’t lie.

That dinner was the quietest of Jing Dong’s life; he barely spoke a complete sentence from start to finish.

The rooms at the resort hotel expired that day, and they had to drive overnight to another coastal city, Pingtong, to report in.

Originally, when they drove the three thousand kilometers from Meiling Academy to the coast, Xu Yan had been behind the wheel the entire way.

But from the resort to Pingtong was less than a thousand kilometers, yet Xu Yan seemed to dawdle along the route, leaving at eight in the evening and not arriving until seven thirty the next morning, just half an hour before the reporting deadline.

All three passengers were exhausted, but Xu Yan, who drove, seemed perfectly fine.

What they didn’t know was that, along the way, Ji Yu was not only taking in the sights of Blue Star but also discussing with Xu Yan how to interact with others.

Although Xu Yan had enjoyed extreme sports, he was mostly a loner and, aside from his classmates, had little social experience.

He could only share his own understanding and communicate with Ji Yu in that way.

At first, Ji Yu had been disappointed in Blue Star, but gradually, he found it intriguing.

Everything on Blue Star reminded him of Ram Star, where the concept of social interaction was almost nonexistent—people were straightforward.

After all, everyone’s perception of emotion was innate; unless you shut yourself off, it was impossible to prevent others from sensing you.

Especially during research, if you deliberately blocked others from sensing you, you became everyone’s enemy.

But on Blue Star, you couldn’t accurately sense others’ emotions. You had to judge based on context and various social relationships.

For Ji Yu, this was a formidable challenge, but he grasped the key point, and Xu Yan kept reminding him.

Just like his attitude toward Jing Dong at the seaside—it could easily cause him unspoken trouble in the Jinjiang Special Forces Team.

When their car reached the reporting station for the Jinjiang Special Forces Team, all vehicles had to be parked outside the main compound. Luggage was not allowed; even personal items were strictly forbidden, as they’d been warned in advance.

Regardless of gender, even some girls who had worn a bracelet since childhood had to reluctantly smash it if it couldn’t be removed.

The Jinjiang Special Forces Team held a remarkably high status in the eyes of ordinary people.

Apart from academic credentials, their physical condition was exceptional in every aspect.

It was no exaggeration to say that any qualified member, once discharged, would be considered outstanding in any regular unit.

But to earn the word “qualified” was not something you were guaranteed just by entering the Jinjiang Special Forces Team.

For instance, as soon as the four arrived at the gate, the sentry ordered them to wait outside and refused to let them in.

The sentry’s duty was to verify their identities. The other three had no issue, but when scanning Xu Yan, the alarm kept signaling a suspected identity.

Yet, facial recognition, fingerprints, and iris scans all matched.

Since the four had arrived together, the sentry would not let them in until the suspected identity was cleared.

With each passing minute, the deadline for reporting at eight o’clock drew closer. Feeling helpless, Jing Dong could only say to the sentry, “Please inform Instructor Jing Zhimin that I am Jing Dong.”

With just one minute left, the sentry had Jing Dong stand before a video intercom for confirmation. Only then were they allowed to enter.

With thirty seconds remaining, it was almost impossible for the four of them to complete the registration.

Ahead of them, a group of people ran swiftly from both sides, gathering on the parade ground, while they had no idea where they were supposed to stand.

“It’s all your fault!” Jing Dong, who had been so subdued the day before, now started blaming Xu Yan.