"Speaking to the mosquitoes?" the black-faced instructor bellowed.

"So! Ugly! Dead!" Jane Sampson’s heart collapsed in frustration. This black-faced instructor was definitely doing this on purpose! On purpose!

"Continue!" ordered the black-faced instructor.

Mair Williams didn’t dare to look at the soldier she had boldly called handsome. Imitating Jane, she closed her eyes and said, "Do you have an eye disease or something? Seriously handsome, okay?"

Jane Sampson choked up again.

She wondered how much courage cost per catty and if she could possibly wholesale a ton to have a taste first.

"Jane Sampson, if you hesitate one more time, run ten laps before continuing!" the black-faced instructor warned Jane.

Jane Sampson looked up at the sky, helpless and despondent.

"If I say ugly, then it’s ugly, the ugliest in the entire world." Jane Sampson said.

"Can’t hear you," the black-faced instructor said.

Here we go again, here we go again...

"If I say ugly, then it’s ugly, the ugliest in the entire world." Jane Sampson repeated for the second time.

"You drank two bowls of peanut soup this morning, and that’s all the energy you’ve got?" the black-faced instructor asked.

Given Jane Sampson’s fame in the guard team, such a small thing didn’t need the black-faced instructor’s inquiry. A group of fanboy comrades by his ear would chatter about it. Wow, Goddess Sampson is so cute, she downed two bowls of peanut soup in one go!

So Jane wondered, probably, would all the national audience know after the program broadcast that she could consume an amazing two bowls of peanut soup in one morning?

"If I say ugly, then it’s ugly, the ugliest in the entire world."

At this point, Jane Sampson felt as if she had transcended worldly desires, utterly resigned.

Meanwhile, from the moment Jane blurted out her first "ugly to death" comment, Peter Gingery had not dared to utter another word. Observing James Black’s expression, he silently retreated two steps.

Excellent, Jane Sampson, in Peter Gingery’s heart, she had the bravery of a real man.

If she didn’t survive tonight, then on this day next year, he would surely burn lots and lots of paper money for her.

And then he would write on her tombstone:

On this date, died of excessive bravery.

Amen.

"Jane Sampson, Mair Williams, step aside and wait until you have repeated it fifty times before rejoining the formation!" the black-faced instructor commanded, gesturing towards a spot under the big sun.

James Black watched Jane Sampson and Mair Williams move with grimaced faces to the designated spot, sneaking glances in his direction several times as they did. Hah, they still knew to be afraid?

James Black turned and walked away, not surprised in the slightest that Jane Sampson, whom he had rejected earlier this morning, couldn’t bring herself to compliment him.

Hah, the ugliest in the entire world.

After this was over, it seemed he would need to take her to the ophthalmology department for a specialist consultation – her vision was practically no different from that of a blind person.

Repeating the dialogue fifty times made Jane Sampson and Mair Williams the subject of onlookers on the practice field, as if they were monkeys put on display, making the cameraman laugh so hard that his shoulders shook as if they were about to fall apart.

And for Jane Sampson and Mair Williams, after fifty times, their throats were dry and parched. Desperate to return to formation sooner, they hastened their shouting ever faster.

Jane Sampson swore, she never had such a good memory for reciting lines as she did now.

When James Black walked away, his face was dark, right?

Gloomy, like the clouds before a storm.

Tonight, even if she were starving, she absolutely must not approach James Black for food. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Even if she shamelessly went begging, James Black would mercilessly kick her out.

Better to save some face for now and wait until his anger cooled to apologize.

After the morning training ended, Jane Sampson and Mair Williams were as tired as dogs. The moment the black-faced instructor called for dismissal, they both collapsed to the ground without a care for their image.