Chapter One: I Am Going to Join the Army

Qitian, you’re so bad, I really like you!

How much do you like me?

I want you to kiss me, hug me, lift me up high—I want to be with you always!

Reading the two syrupy messages on his phone screen, Qitian’s lips curled into a subtle smile. He replied with a sticker: “You can admire me, but don’t love me too much.” He had no idea what stroke of luck he’d stumbled upon lately.

Just a week ago, he was lounging on the sofa, dreaming of joining the army, serving his country, and making a name for himself on the battlefield. Yet when he awoke, he found himself inexplicably transported to a parallel world. Not only that, he inherited the memories of the body he now occupied—a man with the same name and a similar appearance. Along with those memories came the original owner’s family, friends, and the online girlfriend he was currently chatting with: Leng Qingbai.

After spending a week together, Qitian was very impressed with Leng Qingbai. From the photos she sent, she looked exquisite and lovely, like a delicate porcelain doll. Her figure was flawless—curves in all the right places, not a single fault to be found! Especially those snowy white legs she showed off, sometimes intentionally, sometimes by accident—they left Qitian utterly spellbound.

Abiding by the principle of “accept what comes,” Qitian naturally didn’t want to miss out on such a sweet and gentle girl.

Brother, I’ll be going out with my parents soon. I’m off to shower now. Please wait for me patiently~

Baby, I’m worried you might encounter danger in the bathroom. Do you want to video call so I can protect you?

No way! You’re so naughty now. You weren’t like this before!

On the other end, Leng Qingbai’s cheeks flushed pink. After replying, she added a sticker of a pretty girl waving her little fist. When she first met him, Qitian seemed like a clueless, straightforward guy who didn’t really understand girls. But in the past week, he seemed to have transformed completely: witty, perceptive to her little thoughts. Their relationship had quickly grown closer and more passionate.

“Hurry up, sweetie, we’re leaving in an hour!” As Leng Qingbai was lost in thought, her mother Zhao Xueling’s voice called from outside the bedroom.

Leng Qingbai put her phone aside, her face glowing with the wisdom of new love. She dashed into the bathroom and hurried through her routine.

Just as she turned on the shower, the bedroom door creaked open. A woman with impeccably maintained skin and features similar to Leng Qingbai’s entered slowly—a distinguished lady.

“This silly girl is getting more and more sluggish these days!”

Ding-dong!

Just as Zhao Xueling finished speaking, the phone Leng Qingbai had tossed onto the bed chimed with a notification. The mother and daughter had a close relationship; it was common for them to check each other’s phones. But in the past two weeks, Leng Qingbai had suddenly set a password on hers. Coupled with the occasional peals of laughter from her room over the past week, Zhao Xueling felt an ominous premonition creeping into her heart.

And indeed, her suspicions were justified. She easily unlocked Leng Qingbai’s password. When Zhao Xueling saw the green message bubbles labeled “husband” and the photo of Qitian with dyed blond hair, her face instantly dropped to freezing point.

She had painstakingly raised her precious daughter for more than ten years, cherishing her every moment. Now, it seemed, her daughter was about to throw herself into the arms of an aimless, dyed-blond troublemaker—just like the jokes so often seen online.

For a moment, Zhao Xueling felt dizzy, her blood pressure spiking.

“A blond delinquent wants to touch my daughter? Dream on!”

Suppressing her rage, Zhao Xueling gritted her teeth, preparing to imitate her daughter’s tone and text Qitian to break up with him. But her anger made her hands tremble, and she couldn’t type out her intended words.

Meanwhile, Qitian’s phone chimed with a notification. He unlocked it hurriedly, expecting a message from Leng Qingbai, but it was a voice note from the original owner’s grandfather.

A week ago, the old Qitian would’ve ignored any family message. But the current Qitian was different. Having lived two lives, and experienced separation from loved ones, he cherished these bonds deeply.

He quickly played the voice note, holding the phone to his ear.

“Qitian, Grandpa knows you love freedom and want to live your own life. But you can’t make something of yourself just drifting through society. Listen to me: sign up for the army, break your bad habits. It’ll pave the way for your future and help you become a real man. When you finish your service, Grandpa will arrange a wife for you, and you can settle down!”

“Join the army?”

The original Qitian had been aimless, wasting his days. His family hoped he’d go to the military and reform himself, especially his grandfather, who, according to his father, had fought in the war and was a true veteran.

Unfortunately, the original Qitian had never intended to enlist.

But now...

Listening to his grandfather’s heartfelt advice, and admiring the military life, the idea took root in Qitian’s mind.

“Love without material foundation is just sand. For my own sake and for Leng Qingbai, I must change!”

If he remembered correctly, today was the last day to sign up for the autumn military recruitment. Fortunately, it wasn’t too late.

Without hesitation, Qitian opened the Dragon Nation’s conscription website, carefully filled in his information, and pressed submit. His phone immediately displayed all the steps after registration: medical examination, political review, and so forth.

“Grandpa, I’ve signed up for the army. Wait for me at home, I’ll come to talk with you soon!”

Qitian sent his grandfather a voice note, along with a screenshot of his successful registration.

Once both messages were sent, Qitian hesitated a moment and sent Leng Qingbai a message, attaching the screenshot as well:

Qingbai, I’ve decided to go to the army for our future. Maybe we won’t be together as often, but please believe me—when this time passes, I’ll marry you!

Meanwhile, Zhao Xueling, composing a breakup message in Leng Qingbai’s bedroom, paused in surprise when she saw Qitian’s message. Then she muttered, “Join the army? That blond delinquent actually dares to enlist?”

“Mom?!”

In the bathroom, Leng Qingbai heard her mother’s voice, especially the words “blond delinquent.” She instantly realized her mother had checked her phone and discovered her relationship with Qitian.

Ignoring her damp hair, Leng Qingbai threw on her robe and rushed out: “Mom, why did you touch my phone without permission?”

“I’m your mother, and I bought this phone for you! What’s wrong with me checking it? Besides, if I didn’t look, how would I know you’ve got yourself a useless boyfriend from society?”

Their argument grew louder, drawing Leng Qiangguo from the living room.

“Xueling, talk to the child calmly, don’t fight.”

Zhao Xueling’s eyes reddened with anxiety. She shoved the phone at Leng Qiangguo, her voice breaking: “Leng Qiangguo, look at what your daughter has done! You’ve spoiled her since she was little, and now she’s mixing with some blond troublemaker!”

Leng Qingbai knew there was no hiding her relationship with Qitian now. She no longer tried to grab the phone, but sat on the floor, hugging her knees and sobbing quietly.

Nearby, Leng Qiangguo glanced through the chat logs, his face growing dark and grim. He looked sideways at his heartbroken daughter, then nudged his wife with his elbow and said meaningfully:

“Xueling, I understand how you feel, but you must realize that Dragon Nation now encourages free love. As long as he’s not a criminal, we shouldn’t interfere too much. Besides, you checked your daughter’s messages with her boyfriend without permission—that’s your fault. From what I see, this young man is quite motivated, planning to join the army. That shows he has the responsibility and determination of a real man. Here’s my promise: if his medical and political review are fine, I’ll make sure he’s trained to be the best soldier! I’ll turn this unpolished jade into a beautiful gem that both of you will love. Is that acceptable?”