Chapter Text
Chapter 6
Again
Day 3 of Training.
Early in the morning, Lan Wangji is already in his office doing some training-related paper works. Then Song Lan arrives.
“Lan Wangji, shouldn’t you be interviewed by that TV director and shoot the promotional video?” Song Lan asked.
To which Wangji replied, “You do it. I’ll supervise the training.” Without looking at Song Lan and just focused on typing.
“But that’s not what you said last week.”
Lan Wangji stopped at what he was doing and look at Song Lan. I am the captain. Can’t I change my order?
Lan Wangji just stared and Song Lan already knows what he is thinking.
Song Lan and Lan Wangji are good friends. They are schoolmates at the Military Academy and just got separated during their army service. But there are times that they trained and go on missions together whenever they are assigned to the same base or mission.
Lan Wangji is not the talkative type if it is not about strategies, jobs, or anything related to his interest same as him so they immediately became friends. So, Song Lan learned how to read Wangji during those years of friendship.
“Yes.” Song Lan replied and left the office.
When Song Lan learned about Lan Wangji applying to the Special Police SWAT, he wanted to join him. The process was long but for Song Lan, it was worth it. Especially when he saw how Wangji’s eyes suddenly grew bigger upon seeing him being introduced by Chief Hua.
At the training field.
With all the trainees at the field, Jin Ling and Lan Jingyi brought over the orange basket stretcher which will be used during this day's training. Both of them are followed by Captain Lan, Lan Yuan, Zizhen, and Yin Yu. Yin Yu is the special police who is not yet officially part of the team and is still on probation. He needed to pass an evaluation test next month to be an official member.
“When you do emergency rescues, in the wild and the mountains, most of the time we will use this emergency stretcher. These belts are relatively important.” Looked at Yuan who picked up the belts and gave them to Wangji. “The protective belts must be fastened to prevent slipping and sliding.”
“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji called. “Work with me.”
Wei Ying stepped forward. Doing a good job of keeping her brows from frowning. Me again? Does Lan Wangji hate me that much? “How?”
“Lie down.”
Wei Ying hesitated for like a second before positioning herself on the stretcher. It’s not like I haven’t done it. Maybe he just chose me because I am the nearest?
This is not new to Wei Ying at all. Using the stretchers is one of the most important lessons that army medics should learn. So, it doesn’t matter if she will be used as an example.
Once Wei Ying is lying on the stretcher, Lan Wangji proceeds on securing the belt. One in her calves, the second one near her knees, and the third one…
“Lift your arms,” Wangji instructed.
“No. You are making fun of me. Both arms should be kept on the side and the belt should be on the shoulder area.” Wei Ying replied.
With Wei Ying’s reply, every trainee kept their mouth shut. Afraid for Wei Ying because she might anger the captain. But Yi Weichun just sneered.
Lan Wangji, “Good. You’re reading your training booklets.” Then he finished putting on the belt.
He stands up, “Do you understand? In the first row, try it first. Unfasten and do it again.”
The first row was led by Wen Ning and Jiang Cheng until the last row finished. Wei Ying can’t believe that she only lay down on the stretcher the entire session. After everyone was finished. Lan Wangji gave them a 30-minute lunch break.
Resting for a bit, Wei Ying decided to wash her hair.
“Why will you wash your hair now? Our break time is just 30 minutes, why not rest the whole time?” Meng Yao asked when she saw Wei Ying in the general washroom.
She didn’t get the chance to wash her hair last night because she did not bring her hair blower. She can sleep with wet hair. She was so sleepy last night and she can’t wait for her hair to dry.
With a basin, she washes her hair at the sink and then replied, “I cleaned the toilets last night. I feel that I stink.”
“Ah, then go ahead and wash it. I will go now.”
“Ok, Bye Meng Yao.”
After a few minutes, Wei Ying finished shampooing her hair and reaches for her water thermos to use to rinse her hair. With her head bowed down, she struggles to open the lid then suddenly someone does it for her.
“Thank you!” Wei Ying said to the one pouring the water at her basin. “It’s good. You can stop now.”
Wei Ying heard the person close the lid again and turn the faucet out of her way. After rinsing, she lifts the basin with water and pulls her head and hair up. Then she remembered that there was someone in front of her. Realizing she probably splashed some water she apologized. “Aiyo, I’m sorry!”
She hurriedly opened her eyes only to see Lan Wangji wiping his face and uniform. “S-sorry, Captain Lan.”
It took her five seconds before deciding on what to do. She hurriedly put the basin with soap water down the sink table. “I’m sorry.” She grabbed a towel and starts to dry her hair. What is he doing here?
“The training this afternoon is about to start. Hurry up.”
“Oh,” Wei Ying stepped forward towards the sink but due to the soap water that spilled from the basin, she lost control of her feet and slipped. She expects the hard surface of the floor to greet her but she felt Lan Wangji holds her weight and tried to support her but he also slipped. Wei Ying ended up on the top of Lan Wangji.
They stayed like that for half a second staring at each other. While Lan Wangji remembered how he caught Wei Ying for the grenade not to explode. Same pose, different scenario.
“Sorry, Captain Lan.” Wei Ying said, still not standing up.
“It’s okay.”
“You know that I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Mn. Get up.” Lan Wangji took the initiative to stand up and he assisted Wei Ying who glanced at him again. “I will be there right away.”
Then Wei Ying grabs her things out of the toilet room.
Meanwhile, Song Lan is outside of the base gate waiting for the TV director that will create a documentary about the Special Police Team. He is waiting for almost 10 minutes, thinking, his eyes close, about how he will talk and interact with the female director.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone approaching. A woman. The woman's stilettos are so loud that it was impossible for him not to hear her. With the stilettos, she’s also wearing a hoodie under a coat and a skirt.
“Excuse me, this area is off-limits to all unauthorized personnel.” He said while trying his best to mask his nervousness.
The woman smiled before replying, “I know it. That’s why they send you to pick me up, right?”.
Song Lan just stared at her.
“It’s me. I’m the Television Director, Xiao Xingchen. You have added me as your WeChat contact earlier.”
Hearing this, Song Lan immediately opened his WeChat contacts and clicked on Xiao Xingchen’s display photo.
“Really?” He zoomed the photo.
I thought her display photo is an actress. “I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you. Your picture is beautiful.”
“You mean I’m ugly in person.”
Song Lan only shakes his head to defend himself. Too nervous to explain. Why did she come up with that? I already said that she is beautiful. Did I say something wrong?
“Hello. My name is Son Zichen. Welcome to interview us.” He said while walking towards the ATV’s door opening it and said, “Please come inside.”
He gestured her towards the door, “Let me help you with your equipment.” He said about the suitcase and duffle bag that Xingchen is holding.
“It’s not my equipment, it’s my luggage for clothes.” Then she enters the car.
“Aren’t you staying here for three days?” Song Lan said in disbelief. Do all women need this many things for three days?
“Do you have any problems?” Xingchen smiled sarcastically.
“No. Not at all. Wait a moment.” Then he proceeds on loading the things at the back.
After that, Song Lan drives throughout the compound. Answering Xingchen’s questions about the areas that they passed through. It took them about five minutes to reach the dormitory for guests.
“This is where you will be staying.” Song Lan said while parking the ATV properly.
They both get off the car. Xingchen walks to the pathway while Song Lan gets her things. Song Lan just gestured for her to walk.
“If… If you are not used to living here, or if you… need anything, just tell…me directly.” Song Lan said while walking. Feeling proud of himself for being able to say that even though there are pauses.
Xingchen just made a sound of agreement then suddenly Song Lan used a lot of force when lifting the suitcase which caused the things inside the suitcase to fall.
Song Lan froze. What do I do? T.T
“I was just about to remind you that you have to be careful since its zipper is already broken.”
“I…why didn’t you warn me earlier?” Am I the wrong one? She should’ve warned me earlier.
“You—”
“Well…”
They said at the same time.
Song Lan being the shy and gentleman that he was, just apologized. “Sorry. I’ll pick them up for you.”
He just started grabbing the things on the floor. But Xingchen calls him out again. What did I do wrong again? Ugh, girls….
“Yah! They will be deformed if you squeeze them.” Xingchen said while pointing to the thing that he is holding.
He slowly looked at his hand while hoping that it isn’t what he thinks it is. To his horror, it is. What in the world?! Oh, gods! What did I do wrong to be in this situation! This is all Wangji’s fault! I should’ve taken a punishment.
Xingchen though irritated by what happened tried to keep an irritated expression to stop herself from smiling when she saw the officer’s reaction. It’s like he’s in a movie. “Put it down now!”
Song Lan was so embarrassed that he drops the bras and raised both of his hands like a suspect caught in action.
“No… I… I mean… I didn’t mean it. I, well, I’ll pick them up for you.” Then he proceeds on picking up other things. Makes sure that he looks at them in order not to touch anything too personal.
It took them a while to pick up all the items when Xingchen slowly stood up, holding something. She opens her new favorite eyeshadow palette and saw that it was broken.
“My snow frosts. It’s broken like this before it’s used.” She said sorrowfully.
Seeing that Xingchen is about to cry, he feels guilty. I feel guilty even though I’m not the only one at fault. As expected from the police.
“I’m sorry. I… I will buy another one for you.” He said to console Xingchen. I’ll just ask Jingyi to order it for me online.
“You can’t buy it in China.” She pouted. “I asked a friend to buy it for me.”
On the other hand, the trainees are preparing for their simulation test about the drill that they learned earlier. All trainees are divided into seven groups and so far, none of them passed. Have them do 20 laps of jogging.
One team dropped the stretcher, the other brought it down too fast, and some made the stretcher swing. Six teams were done; Lan Jingyi called for the last group which is Wei Ying’s team.
Wei Ying’s team consists of Jiang Cheng, Meng Yao, and Yi Weichun (To WeiChun’s dismay).
Meng Yao and Yi Weichun are the ones who are at the top. Securing the dummy patient at the stretcher while Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying are at the bottom holding the end of the ropes and ready to assist in bringing the patient down.
While the stretcher is going down, Wei Ying was the only one who noticed the problem in the position of the belts. She stops herself from saying anything when she saw Weichun happily going back to position while Jiang Cheng pats Meng Yao’s shoulder.
“The last group…failed.” Lan Wangji said while walking near them. “Everybody will take 20 laps later.”
“Why? Sir Lan. Are you professional at all? Our stretcher is fine. The wounded is fine. How did we fail? You can’t just fail our group just because of your grievances towards Wei Ying.” Yi Weichun complained while sending glares toward Wei Ying.
Oh, he noticed that. Wei Ying avoided Lan Wangji’s stare. As if it was asking her if he is acting unprofessionally.
“Do you think your group pass, Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji asked her.
She looked back at him asking mentally, Why the hell would you ask me, Sir?! Aren’t you supposed to be the one to explain?
All of her classmates are looking at her, Weichun still glaring. Wei Ying decided not to answer the captain’s question. Her saying anything will just make Weichun hate her more. For this reason, she doesn’t know.
“You don’t know? Yuan! Give her a helmet!”
With Wei Ying refusing to say anything, Lan Wangji decided to let her replace the dummy patient and let the group redo the task. Wen Ning replaced her position. Before going up, Lan Wangji told her something that only her heard it.
“Don’t say anything up there. Let them do what they did earlier.”
Wanji knew that Wei Ying knows the reason they failed. He just doesn’t understand why she refused to say anything. I’ll make you say it.
Up at the platform, Meng Yao is in charge of tying the ropes to the stretcher while Weichun is tasked to secure the belts. Locking the first belt on her knees while the second one was locked on her waist with her hands above the belt.
Before lifting her, Wei-Chun whispered, “Don’t screw this up.”
You’re the one who screws it up! Oh gods, guide me. She closed her eyes and hold the side of the stretcher to steady herself. But no use, she still struggles and feels like she will fall while the stretcher was being lifted down.
Knowing what went wrong, Lan Wangji asks the triplets to assist the members holding the ropes while he stands near the area where the stretcher will land.
Everyone except for Meng Yao and WeiChun can see that Wei Ying is not comfortable and her head bumps to the side of the stretcher. Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning looks worried and focused on pulling the rope carefully as they could to help stabilize the stretcher.
Once it reaches the surface, Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning unbuckled the belts and assisted Wei Ying to walk near the captain where they wait for Meng Yao and Weichun.
Weichun walks proudly while smiling. The other trainees couldn’t stop themselves from chuckling at his reaction.
“Do you think your team passed?” Lan Wangji asked Wei Ying again.
“No.” this made Weichun’s smile slowly disappear. “The place where the belt was fastened is low, leading to the instability of the upper body. Without a helmet, I might have wrecked my head.” Wei Ying said with her head down. Still dizzy. She can feel Weichun’s evil stare at her back.
“The most important thing about emergency rescue is to not let the wounded get hurt again. Just like what I said, every part is crucial and needs to be practiced repeatedly.”
“Are you convinced?” Lan Wangji looked at Yi Weichun who is still glaring at Wei Ying.
“How cou—” before Weichun could finish his sentence, the trainees shouted ‘Yes’ to stop Weichun from saying anything.
“Accept the punishment then! Dismiss!” Lan Wangji said before walking away. Yi Weichun was being dragged by his friend Fang Mengchen to stop him from going near Wei Ying.
When everybody almost left, Wei Ying called Wangji.
“Captain Lan.” The said captain turned around to face her. “Your helmet.”
Wei Ying stretched her arm with the one holding the helmet. Lan Wangji started walking back toward her to get the helmet and when he tries to grab it, Wei Ying drops it. That’s for making me the dummy patient instead of the one who complained!
Instead of the helmet dropping to the ground, Wei Ying was surprised when Wangji smoothly caught it with one hand. This scene made the quartets snickers making Wei Ying gulp.
“Sorry, my hands were shaking. I couldn’t hold it steady.”
“A surgeon’s hand can’t be shaking.” Lan Wangji started walking back and then said “See me alone for the training you missed yesterday. Two o’clock in the afternoon.”
Wei Ying wasn’t able to reply to anything as she remembers the last time someone said that exact line to her.
“A surgeon’s hands can’t be shaking.”
“I can’t help it.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________
After Xingchen settles down in her temporary room, Song Lan took her for a tour around the base training areas and showed her the vehicles and equipment that they use during training and operations.
While Song Lan explains, Xingchen jots down notes in a hurry and took some pictures for the documentary.
“This is an armored assault vehicle. It’s three-level bulletproof. There are gunports on the body and there is a rotating turret on it. Electric tear-gas launcher.” Song Lan wasn’t nervous when explaining since it is his area of expertise. Doesn’t matter if he was explaining it to a woman, as long as it’s about work.
“Okay. Can I see it inside?” Xingchen asked.
Her saying anything will just make Weichun hate her more. For this reason, she doesn’t know.
“Sure. Be careful.”
Inside, Song Lan showed Xingchen some of the interesting features of the vehicle. “This is an independent lift-up monitor cradle head which can allow the commandos to carry out surveillance and shooting without leaving the vehicle.”
Song Lan looked at Xingchen who is currently taking some pictures. Seeing that she is done, he said “Let’s check the vehicle ahead.”
After the vehicles, they checked out the pieces of equipment.
“What is this?” Xingchen asked curiously at the 10th item on the table.
“This is a pair of capture gloves with a lithium battery. It can make the suspect lose the ability to resist immediately. Do you want to feel it?” Song Lan asked absentmindedly. He was just excited to share his knowledge about the equipment that he didn’t remember the consequence of using the gloves on someone.
Xingchen who is also excited to try military police equipment wholeheartedly agreed. “Okay”
Song Lan wears the gloves and removes the safety pin while Xingchen rolled up her sleeves. She was not yet done when Song Lan suddenly hold her wrist which shocked her. Literal shock.
“AAAAHHHHH”
___________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Wei Ying is on her way to meet Lan Wangji. She saw him and was about to call his attention when her phone suddenly rings. She answers the call before turning her back against Lan Wangji.
“Hello?”
“I’m Nie Mingjue.”
“Dr. Nie.”
“Well, there is a doctor friend of mine abroad who is doing an experimental study of Mo Xuanyu’s case. I sent him the test results but he asked for extra information. Do you have time to bring Mo Xuanyu to the hospital this afternoon?”
“No problem!”
“Does she have any family members here?”
Lan Wangji looks at his wristwatch and looked at Wei Ying. Wondering who’s calling that it takes time.
“No, her mother is currently in their hometown. But I know her place.”
“Then you can come with her. You are a doctor and also her friend. She can be more at ease if you are there.”
“Okay, I’ll be there right away.” Wei Ying said before hanging up.
With her excitement for Xuanyu, she just shouted at Captain Lan while walking backward.
“Captain Lan! I… Something came up!” Then she ran away from Wangji.
Wangji tried calling her back but she is too far away already. She is crazy. Don’t expect me to be lenient.