Hugh Hu looked at Evan Lin, his face tinged with a subtle, inexpressible sadness.
That night, he hadn’t slept well either. Even though witnessing Evan Lin’s strength firsthand left him in awe and made him want to keep his distance, every time he remembered Selina Shi walking the whole campus with this guy named Evan Lin, Hugh couldn’t help feeling a faint, inexplicable bitterness.
It was like the girl you’d dreamed of in your youth finally chose someone else. Even if that someone was outstanding and you felt happy for her, you couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed—because, after all, that person wasn’t you.
"I suppose it's my honor."
Evan Lin nodded—he honestly hadn’t thought much about it before.
He’d always assumed that a free-spirited girl like Selina Shi probably had lots of friends, and that wandering around campus together was nothing unusual.
At this point, Hugh Hu didn’t say anything more.
The Capitalview Military Veterans’ Convalescent Center was still some distance from the Jinnan Military District, perfectly situated where Capitalview City’s urban core met the outskirts.
On one side were the city’s towering buildings; on the other, endless wheat fields. The convalescent center sat right in the middle—a row of spacious courtyards with green-tiled roofs nestled against a backdrop of lush hills.
These courtyards were separated from the main road by tall walls, creating a peaceful haven in the midst of the city’s bustle. Outside the compound, you’d occasionally spot patrols of men in their twenties or thirties. At first glance, they looked ordinary, but if you watched closely, you could see a hint of sharpness in their eyes.
The woman looked to be in her forties, and there was a definite resemblance between her and Selina Shi.
Hearing the woman’s words, Hugh Hu sheepishly scratched his head. "Yeah, it’s just that I haven’t seen Shi Lan at school these past few days, so I came to check on her—just in case something happened."
When they were kids, Hugh Hu and Selina Shi grew up in the same compound, but the woman knew what kind of person Hugh was—he’d never had the guts to come looking for Selina Shi at the Wu residence. Not to mention, Old Master Wu never liked boys who refused to join the army, and Warren Wu, that overprotective big brother, had pinned Hugh to the ground more than once.
She looked at Hugh Hu, thought for a moment, and said, "Shi Lan might come back today, or she might not. Why don’t you come in and wait? It’s been a long time since you’ve visited."
He saw Evan Lin give a slight nod, and only then did Hugh Hu hurriedly agree, "It’s been ages since I’ve seen Uncle Wu."
"Wait here for a bit. I’ll go call Uncle Wu out," the woman said with a smile, then headed toward the back of the hall.
As soon as she left, Hugh Hu visibly relaxed. He took a sip of tea and quietly explained to Evan Lin, "Uncle Wu’s full name is Wu Zhihan. He’s currently in charge of the Political-Legal Committee in Capitalview’s city government."
"He’s got a pretty rigid personality, trained in martial arts since childhood, and really respects the martial path. He’s also an inner-strength expert—no ordinary guy."