Chapter 196: You’re the Rare Childhood Sweetheart Attribute!

The car drove past the snow and headed straight to the city center. Patrol officers were seen everywhere, and public security had finally returned to a reasonable level, giving off a sense of civilized prosperity.

The neon signs were like light pollution in a nightlife district, always full of people lost in intoxication. When the traffic light turned red, the people finishing their shifts hurried past. Ryan quietly watched the crowd emerge from the office buildings, unsure of what kind of job there could be in this situation.

But people still had to find something to do, as if sticking to their usual habits could grasp onto the already fading normality.

The green light turned on, and the car entered the underground parking lot. Hua turned off the engine and grabbed the luggage as she got out of the car.

"Senior brother, we're here."

Ryan, who had been dozing off in the front passenger seat, instantly woke up, looking around. "This doesn't seem like a hotel?"

"This is the Fire Moth dormitory, or rather, it's my home. The hotel rooms were fully booked, so please make do with this."

Ryan glanced at Carol, who gave him an ambiguous look, but didn't say anything. He had lived under the same roof with Hua when she was twelve, and had watched her grow taller, so there was nothing to mind.

"Send me the address later."

"What's this about?"

"Nothing. Just ask Vil-V to send a gift, and Elysia keeps pestering me about some kind of dumplings. I'll try to send them back to her."

Hua immediately stiffened her face and turned away, silently leading him inside. "Please follow me."

Thud.

As Ryan walked in, he heard a muffled sound behind him and turned around to see Carol excitedly waving her fists, her face full of frustration.

What a strange girl.

Ryan shrugged, not bothering with this girl who was still wearing hot pants and purple stockings in this cold weather, and quickly followed Hua.

They took the elevator to the tenth floor, and when they got out, Ryan saw it was an older-style Japanese apartment. One side of the corridor was completely open, and snow had blown inside. A middle-aged woman was sweeping the snow.

She smiled when she saw Hua. "Lieutenant, have you eaten? I still have some dinner left."

"Aunt Chuan, no need to be so polite. We're neighbors."

"Hehe, without your help, after my husband died in the battle on Kyushu Island, I wasn't sure we'd still be able to stay here. Oh, Carol is here to visit, huh? I made some shrimp balls, come and try them."

"Yay, I love Aunt's shrimp balls!"

Watching Carol happily skip over to the kitchen, Ryan returned the bow to the middle-aged woman, then walked over to Hua, who was unlocking the door.

"Warrior's widow?"

"Yes, she's Sergeant Tan's wife. He died in the Kyushu Island offensive. I thought they were pitiful, so I had Captain Himeko report to the higher-ups," Hua paused for a moment as she turned the key, then hesitantly looked at Ryan.

"Senior brother, is this considered meddling in other people's business?"

"It's not. This is exactly what I mean—no matter how strong someone is, they must retain their humanity. Seeing you think this way, I feel reassured." Ryan sighed in relief. He knew Hua life hadn't been easy.

The never-ending war inevitably led to mental strain, but Hua reserved nature was a good thing—it made her hard to be influenced by the outside world.

Hua didn't quite understand, but she was happy to be praised by Ryan, and she opened the door.

The apartment was a standard Japanese-style one-room, two-hall layout with an open kitchen, wooden floors, and two pairs of slippers placed neatly by the entrance. Everything was clean and tidy.

Hua leaned against the wall and pulled her legs out of her snow-covered boots, putting on pink bunny slippers. She then took off her coat, revealing a gray turtleneck sweater underneath.

"I've already prepared the room for you. I'll heat up dinner right away, you can take a bath and relax first."

Everything felt so natural, it was easy to forget that they hadn't seen each other for months.

"You go ahead, don't worry about me."

Ryan wasn't shy about it, changed into slippers, and wandered around the house. Sure enough, the guest bed was made up, with an electric blanket added. This 'strongest human' found it a little amusing.

He then went to the living room, where a plush toy was placed on the coffee table, which made it clear this was a young girl's room. Next to the TV cabinet were several old photos. He picked one up and saw it was from many years ago.

A young man with black hair and gray eyes stood with his hands behind his back, looking mature for his age. A girl in a baggy school uniform was peeking out from behind him, about eleven or twelve years old, looking shy.

Ryan turned to look at the kitchen, where Hua, in a turtleneck sweater, black woolen skirt, and cotton socks, was tying on an apron and busy preparing food. She had a youthful figure, but there was a sense of a young woman about her.

"Where's your father?"

"My father is in Su City. He didn't want to come to Neon, and he didn't want to hide either," Hua paused for a moment, looking somewhat troubled. "But don't worry, he's doing well. He asked about you a while ago."

Ryan picked up the second photo, which showed the defiant girl being pinned to the ground by the young man. Despite tears in her eyes, she didn't beg for mercy. He remembered the person who took the photo—Hua father, with his mischievous laugh.

Later, Ryan had asked him if Hua was his biological daughter. The result was a severe beating, though he got his revenge later.

Ryan smiled and then asked, "What did he ask about me? By the way, why didn't you give me his new number after he changed his phone?"

Hua face immediately turned red, and she sneakily glanced at Ryan, who was looking at the photos, then gently patted her chest.

That silly old man. Every time he opened his mouth, he asked when I was going to marry you, telling me to hurry up and go back to inherit the martial arts hall and make the Chunxin Fist flourish!

How could I let you two get in contact?

"Heh, it's because my father didn't let me give it to you."

"Hmph, still holding a grudge, am I just ten wins and ten losses?"

"But my father said he's ashamed of it."

"What's there to be ashamed of? I've beaten all the martial arts sects in China. I've long since earned back his face," Ryan grunted. Back then, he was obsessed with martial arts and hadn't yet taken the path of research. After all, violence provided the most direct sense of security.

At that time, he was a renowned physicist, best known for explaining truths through physics.

With his talent, he not only learned quickly but could also draw analogies. Even without the power of the Herrscher, ordinary humans were no match for him.

"Yeah, senior brother, you were once known as 'Invincible Fists' and 'Martial Arts Calamity,'" Hua turned around with a face full of admiration, then stood with her legs together, one hand pointed up, and her back to Ryan.

"I still remember your victorious pose after the fight."

Uh, let's not bring up those middle-schooler nicknames.

Ryan's face turned red, recalling the youthful exuberance he had when he was on top. Now, those were embarrassing memories.

"I'll go take a bath. You keep doing your thing."

He put down the photo and almost ran away as if escaping.

Huh, I was going to tell you the things I said back then, I've memorized them.

"'Heaven did not create me, Ryan, the long night of eternity; one sword in the frost, loneliness like snow;'"

Hua mumbled to herself, and just as she heard someone running into the bathroom, she tilted her head, confused.

It seems like senior brother really cares about it? Eh, I can't come up with a similar phrase, the gap is really big.

She sighed, throwing the cut ingredients into the pan and stirring them. Just as she opened the salt, she heard the sound of the door opening.

"Carol, wait a bit, I'll finish it right away."

"I already ate at Aunt Chuan's," the girl walked over with a lively step, gently wrapping her arm around her friend's waist. "How can I disturb your good work? If I stay, you'll hate me."

"Stop it." Hua squirmed, feeling ticklish, and gently twisted her waist. "Senior brother and I are not like that. I respect him."

"Pfft, always backing out when it's important. When he mentioned Elysia earlier, I could see the expression on your face," Carol teased.

Hua hand paused as she stirred, her expression becoming conflicted. After a while, she sighed.

"I'm too ordinary. I can never compare to Miss Elysia. She's like a blazing sun, naturally the center of attention."

"Yeah, you're a bit ordinary, your personality is quiet, like an old scholar, your chest is small, and your clothes are inconspicuous..." Carol said, then saw Hua irritated look, forcing a chuckle.

"But you do have a unique advantage—you're the rare childhood sweetheart attribute!"

"Childhood sweetheart? Didn't you always say childhood friends can't beat sudden arrivals?"

"That's what they say in comics. Honestly, when I talk about you, my stomach starts hurting. Anyway, you have an advantage, just bring out your usual unyielding spirit!"

"But..."

"You're afraid this relationship won't last, right? Don't worry, your senior brother won't be so heartless. As for awkwardness, if you're not awkward, the awkward one is everyone else."

Hua quietly stared at her friend with an expert look, then snorted. "You've never been in a relationship, and you dare teach me?"

"Can't I watch pigs run if I've never eaten pork? I've read plenty of magazines like that. Also, I've already divined your fortune for today, and the book says you should have courage, and good things will happen."

"How do I show courage?" Hua picked up the salt. She had her own opinions but thought it wouldn't hurt to listen to Carol's advice.

"This requires me to bring out the winning weapon I got from Aunt Chuan. Close your eyes."

"I'm cooking, how can I close my eyes? Hurry up and take it out."

"Really no fun." Carol pouted and took out something from her back pocket. "This is Aunt Chuan's winning lingerie from her younger days. It has to work!"

Pfft.

Hua couldn't hold back and dumped the entire jar of salt into the pan. She quickly scrambled to turn off the heat.

It was a purple lace lingerie, looking very delicate, completely different from the sports-type ones Hua usually wore.

She stared at it, her face slowly turning red.

"Ah, you're shy."

"Carol, give it back quickly. If senior brother sees this..."

Click.

The bathroom door opened, and Hua quickly hid the lingerie under the couch, then grabbed Carol's mischievous face.

"And you didn't even look, how could I possibly fit into that size!"