Yi Roujing was a bit surprised that Hua Yiran would speak up for her, and she smiled at her and nodded.

Zhang Mengdi was taken aback when she heard Hua Yiran also used sanitary pads. She was at a loss for words.

"Are you two on your period?" Wang Ruohua asked before flipping open her luggage bag and struggling to pull out a pack of sanitary pads from the middle. "Roujing, if you don’t have enough, I have more here. I brought them since I was almost done with mine, and now I’m clean, so you can use them. Fourth, you can use them too, but this is all I have left. What Roujing said makes sense; you should still go to the infirmary and ask."

Wang Ruohua’s manner of addressing the two made it obvious who she liked and who she didn’t, but Zhang Mengdi, being one of the mentioned, completely ignored it. "Thank you so much, Ruohua, this is more than enough. I also have sanitary napkins that I rotate."

"Thank you," Yi Roujing followed up with gratitude. "I’ll return them to you after the military training ends."

Wang Ruohua nodded, and Zhang Mengdi suddenly felt that the pads in her hand were burning. Wang Ruohua clearly said they could use them, which implied she didn’t need them back, but now Yi Roujing said she would return them, making it awkward if Zhang Mengdi didn’t do the same.

"My mom also says things like these should be borrowed and returned," Le Xinxin chimed in, "Roujing and Mengdi both said so too. I don’t really get it."

"These are sanitary pads, right? I’ve never seen this before," Ren Xuejuan exclaimed as she looked at the items. "Where I’m from, we always use sanitary napkins."

"Can I take a look?" Ren Xuejuan asked, and Zhang Mengdi, of course, handed them over.

Ren Xuejuan was sensible enough to just look at them or hold them by the outer packaging. "These single-use ones are much cleaner than sanitary napkins. By the way, how much does a pack cost? Do you need a ticket?"

Yi Roujing was momentarily taken aback by the question. She’s been using them for two or three years now, and except for the first time she bought them herself, it’s always been Ancheng who bought these things for her and prepared them. He even packed them for this military training. The price... she really couldn’t recall. One yuan? Two yuan?

"One pack is one yuan and fifty cents," Wang Ruohua replied.

"How much!" Zhang Mengdi exclaimed in shock, feeling that the items in her hand were like a hot potato.

"That’s so expensive," Ren Xuejuan was also somewhat surprised.

"It’s not cheap, I’ve heard, so most households still find sanitary napkins more economical," Yu Cuiyu responded.

"In that case, I won’t use them." Zhang Mengdi handed the sanitary pads directly to Yi Roujing. "Those who can afford them, go ahead and use them."

Yi Roujing took them without acknowledging Zhang Mengdi and said to Wang Ruohua, "Then I’ll borrow them first, just in case. Thanks."

"No worries."

"Roujing, the teachers at Jing University earn quite a bit, huh," Zhang Mengdi said to Yi Roujing, her words inevitably tinged with jealousy.

"A teacher’s salary is fixed. If you’re curious, you can ask the advisor," Yi Roujing responded. "Our family’s just started this month and hasn’t even received the Jing University salary yet."

Zhang Mengdi laughed to cover her embarrassment upon hearing this.

"Roujing, you’re married!" Deng Yiyi exclaimed, "And your husband is a teacher at our Jing University, impressive! Do we have such young teachers at Jing University?"

Hua Yiran smiled slightly at Deng Yiyi and said, "You’ve met him, from our Mathematics Department."

Deng Yiyi’s face froze upon hearing Hua Yiran’s words. "Is it, is it Mr. Xu?"

"Mr. Xu is your husband, Roujing," Shu Yujie said, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Yi Roujing with admiration. "Roujing, you’re amazing."

Shu Yujie gave Yi Roujing a thumbs up, "Mr. Xu is practically the star of Jing University’s Mathematics Department. Many people come here because of him. During this year’s admissions for the Mathematics Department, it was clearly pointed out, and as a result, Jing University snagged quite a few outstanding students from Qing University."

"Before, Mr. Xu graduated from Jing University and didn’t want to stay. He returned to his hometown for many years. Was it all for you, Roujing?" Shu Yujie’s eyes shone with deep curiosity.

"Not at all, we didn’t even know each other back then," Yi Roujing said truthfully.

"But you are excellent too, beautiful and smart, no wonder Mr. Xu married you," Shu Yujie leaned in, quite gossip-prone, and asked, "How did you two meet?"

"Ah, it was just natural," Yi Roujing smiled serenely, brushing off the question with a single sentence.

"It must have been an introduction," Deng Yiyi said, "That’s such great luck."

Yi Roujing understood who was considered lucky, but she didn’t mind. Xu Ancheng did have the kind of allure that made people yearn.

...

On the third day of military training, Instructor Wei taught the students military boxing, which Yi Roujing was quite familiar with. However, she was a low-key person and just went through the motions casually.

"Wow—" A nearby class broke into surprised cheers. When everyone looked over, they saw a student sparring with the instructor in military boxing.

Yi Roujing immediately recognized Hua Yiran. As expected, she was skilled in martial arts; her moves were impressively executed. However, the instructor wasn’t slacking either; in the end, the instructor slightly edged out in skill.

On the fifth day of military training, the president of Jing University, along with some school officials, professors, and teachers, came to observe the new students’ training. Yi Roujing noticed Xu Ancheng among them, and when their eyes met, his gaze was so intense that it made Yi Roujing’s knees weak.

After the morning training ended, Xu Ancheng walked directly towards Yi Roujing. Many students from the Clinical Medicine Department of Jing University noticed and stopped in their tracks, watching as Xu Ancheng stopped right by Yi Roujing’s side, smiling gently.

"Roujing, is this your brother?" a classmate who previously took attendance, Tu Lindong, and a few male students hadn’t left yet, came over and asked.

"You’re mistaken, he’s Roujing’s husband," Ren Xuejuan laughed, clearing up the misunderstanding.

The male students present all widened their eyes, with quite a few of them showing a hint of disappointment. Xu Ancheng looked them over, feeling a small pang of annoyance.

"Alright, let’s go." Ren Xuejuan wisely called everyone to leave, giving the couple some space.

"I brought some dishes, my mom cooked them herself, and they’re all your favorites," Xu Ancheng leaned in and whispered, "Come eat with me."

"Oh," Yi Roujing readily agreed.

But after taking just a few steps, three figures suddenly dashed over.

"Mr. Xu, it’s really Mr. Xu! Are you here to see the students from the Mathematics Department?" Deng Yiyi beamed with joy, staring intently at Xu Ancheng.

"Deng Yiyi, it’s obvious, can’t you tell? Mr. Xu is here to see his wife," Hua Yiran teased, cleverly redirecting the topic from Deng Yiyi to Yi Roujing.

"Hua Yiran," Xu Ancheng recognized her.

"Hello, Mr. Xu," Hua Yiran respectfully greeted.

"How’s your brother?" Xu Ancheng asked.

"Comrade Hua Yizhong is doing very well, training every day, staying fit," Hua Yiran loudly replied, "All thanks to big brother Ancheng’s guidance."