Chapter 2: Picking Someone Up

Xu Qiao could not help but let a look of triumph cross her face.

However, it was precisely this smile that snapped Xu Gao back to reality. His expression darkened, and he gave a cold snort. "I see you've been busy indulging yourself these past few days. Your injuries are long healed; let's see how many more days you can drag this out!"

Mentioned by him like this, it suddenly hit Xu Qiao that she indeed had troubles of her own to deal with.

From the memories of this body, she clearly understood her current identity. It was remarkably similar to her past life, though the terminology was different—something called a "second-generation rich kid."

Yet, her status was not merely that of a wealthy heir; she was also a soldier. Although she had been thrown into the military by her father for discipline, she was, nonetheless, a soldier through and through.

When she first learned of this identity, Xu Qiao had felt a sense of relief, even joy. In her past life, she had given her life for her country, but she could only be considered a "half-soldier." Now, being able to be a true soldier and wear the uniform openly was something she would never have dared to imagine before.

But as the saying goes, what you fear most is what happens. Just as Xu Qiao was fretting over this, someone arrived at the door.

This time, it wasn't the security guards or the housekeeper letting them in; it was her father, his face black with anger, who brought the visitor inside.

Seeing the man in uniform behind him, Xu Qiao found him somewhat familiar, though not enough to recall his name. Upon seeing his rank of Colonel, she instinctively gave a military salute.

The Colonel was taken aback. Although he found her non-standard salute awkward, he at least acknowledged the gesture.

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, feeling a sense of daze. Suddenly, she felt a newfound anticipation for the life ahead.

"I know you might not believe me..." Xu Qiao paused, realizing there was no way to convince him, and could only sigh helplessly.

"As if you even need to say that?" Xu Gao said disdainfully, though he added with a hint of reluctance, "Don't worry, I'll look after Mom."

"Do you even care about such things?" the Regiment Commander glanced at her. "I thought you were completely indifferent to any disciplinary actions."

It was the same father-daughter dynamic, the same strained relationship. But the difference was that her current father possessed the means and the courage to send his own daughter to the military—a level of resolve her own father had lacked.

Furthermore, her own physical condition had not been ideal in her past life; she had never reached the standards of a true professional soldier by the time she left, which remained one of her greatest regrets.

Before she knew it, they had arrived at the barracks.

Xu Qiao was stunned for a moment, recalling that the previous Xu Qiao had a poor relationship with her family and a long history of misconduct, making it normal for her to be misunderstood.

In the past, she had truly been a good soldier. However, after only a brief and rather unprofessional period of training, she had been sent to the battlefield to execute missions.

Fortunately, the former Xu Qiao had committed so many impolite acts that it no longer mattered whether she offered greetings or not.

Looking at him, she said with a hint of apology, "I was wrong. From now on... I truly won't do it again."

Ignoring the surprise of those behind her at her change in demeanor, Xu Qiao returned to her room to pack her things and prepare for departure.

"Old Xu, Qiaoqiao's injuries haven't fully healed yet. How can you send her back to the unit? With that level of training intensity, what if she has a relapse?" Her mother, having received the news, had rushed over regardless of the consequences to intervene.

Hearing this, Xu Qiao understood; the previous version of her had been so outrageous that even the Regiment Commander, whom she wasn't particularly close to, knew her reputation well.

Her words left them both stunned, and they looked at her in disbelief.

Only then did Xu Qiao realize that her military unit was actually very close to home.

Xu Qiao didn't mind. She walked straight to her mother's side and gave her a light tug. "Mom, I'm all better."

It seemed that despite his outward dissatisfaction, her younger brother cared about her after all.

After a moment of thought, she decided not to dwell on the topic and asked directly, "Commander, can you tell me in advance what the disciplinary decision is?"

Of course, she wasn't the only one; most soldiers were the same, and she was just one among them.

"Just behave yourself in the unit and don't give your mother any more cause for worry, and everything will be fine." Seeing her concern for her mother, her father felt she still had a conscience, but he was unskilled at expressing affection, and his words came out gratingly.

Xu Qiao cut him off directly. "There is no running away from this. Sooner or later, I have to go back and face it."

Xu Qiao nodded. She didn't know how to address the man before her, so she didn't dare to speak rashly.

When Xu Qiao came out to get into the car, her mother was watching with reluctance, while Xu Gao ran out and glared at her fiercely. "Xu Qiao, did you bump your head?"

Thinking of this, she felt a strange sense of envy for the original Xu Qiao.

Just now, she hadn't really thought that much. She wanted to explain, but had no way to start, so she could only give up helplessly.

Hearing her mother ramble on, Xu Qiao quickly interrupted. "Mom, I'm going to pack my things. Let's not keep the Commander waiting."

This made it impossible to continue the conversation; the atmosphere of departure had been completely ruined.

Hearing this, her mother sighed with frustration. "It's all your father's fault, insisting on sending you into the military..."

She had been here for many days, but Xu Qiao had yet to fully adapt to this new face.

Being scolded, Xu Qiao didn't get angry; instead, she looked at him and smiled. "Take good care of Mom at home. Don't worry about me."

She offered him a grateful smile, only to receive a very impolite eye-roll in return.

Even Xu Qiao was startled, and upon seeing Xu Gao beside her, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"You..." her mother stuttered, rendered speechless.

Without further delay, she briskly changed into her military uniform, packed her belongings, and walked out.

Not only did her father seem to adapt, but the Colonel before her didn't find it strange either, though his expression remained stern.

Returning the salute, he looked at her again. "Are your injuries fully healed?"

To her surprise, seeing herself in the uniform in the mirror, she found a sense of familiarity—a rekindled passion for the battlefield. It was as if only in this state could she find her true self.

She gave an awkward cough. "Regardless of anything else, I've had a brush with death, and many things have become clear to me."

Seeing Xu Qiao looking back repeatedly, the Commander felt no sympathy. "You don't need to put on a show for me."

No one had expected that, upon joining the unit, instead of restraining herself, she would become even worse, driving her father to gray hairs.

At this point, he looked at her and let out a long, heavy sigh, his helplessness evident. "You know perfectly well what your situation in the unit is. Since you've made such a mistake again, the unit will decide how to punish you. It is a lesson you deserve, and I will not intervene."

Perhaps it was the act of putting on the uniform again, or the journey back to the base, that made her heart—which had been calm these past few days—agitated once more.

"The disciplinary decision regarding you has already been handed down. It will not change due to any external factors."

"Just... in the future..." he wanted to advise her further, but swallowed his words. "Forget it. Take care of yourself."

If only she had had these conditions back then, she wouldn't have died so easily in that assassination, would she?

The person before her was not her own father, but seeing him made her think of her real father.

Sending her to the military had been her father's last resort; he couldn't control his daughter and hoped that the discipline of the army would change her.

Even as dissatisfied as her father was, he still maintained appearances for his daughter in front of outsiders. He didn't yell, but said in a cold, stern voice, "Your injuries are mostly recovered. The military has come to take you back; it's time for you to return."

She hadn't been here for just a day or two, and she had learned much about the rules of this strange world. Especially after learning her profession, she had taken a special interest in the soldiers of this era.

She also knew that even in times of peace, the military needed to maintain stability, so soldiers were generally not stationed too close to home.

Yet, Xu Qiao's unit was not only within the same city, but also just over an hour's drive away. From this alone, one could tell how special her situation was.

Xu Qiao let out a soft sigh.