Watching people?
Hua tilted her head, slightly confused. What was there to watch in this crowd? It wasn't particularly crowded.
Fortunately, she was in a good mood and smiled. "Senior Brother, you have the talent of a philosopher; you always say things people don't understand."
"You call me a philosopher, yet you expect to understand?" Ryan ate his shaved ice, amused. "Want to hear more incomprehensible, yet profound, statements?"
"Okay, sounds interesting."
Hua ate and watched, her mood improving. Ryan rarely took her out; their time together was mostly spent practicing martial arts.
"Hua, do you have dreams about me?"
Taken aback, the girl hesitated for a moment before nodding without hesitation. "Yes, I want to follow in your footsteps, to become your strong support."
The answer was clear; among the 13 Flame-Chasers, Hua was the earliest to meet him and the most profoundly influenced.
"Yes, but don't let dreams imprison your life. You need to know…"
Ryan removed his glasses, extending his right hand, brushing the hair from his brow to the top of his head, his tone calm yet gentle.
"Dreams are the furthest distance from understanding."
Hua's hand holding the plastic spoon paused. She stared at the man, a shiver running down her spine; her mind went blank.
Ryan suddenly seemed distant, as if on a star; she couldn't reach him. This short sentence filled her with a sense of fear.
Fortunately, Ryan smiled, wiping his hair, then putting his glasses back on, instantly resuming his gentle demeanor.
"A little incomprehensible, yet profound, right?"
It wasn't just profound; it was terrifyingly insightful.
Hua blinked, dejectedly propping her chin on her hand. "Senior Brother, you're best when you're normal. Don't play philosopher."
"Actually, there's another philosophy I won't share today; you might not be able to handle it." Ryan cleared his throat, finishing the last of his shaved ice, then tossing the plastic bowl aside. "Let's go. I saw that squid at that stall looks good. Want more tofu pudding?"
"Actually, savory tofu pudding is better." Hua countered, standing up. "Senior Brother, were you reciting lines just now?"
"Yes, a villain's lines. Honestly, if I hadn't met you, I might have become one." Ryan shrugged, sighing inwardly.
The statement was rich with philosophy, half-truth, half-lie. He didn't want Hua to be overly influenced. She should be strong, independent, and enthusiastic about life. Guidance was a double-edged sword.
Of course, he wouldn't be so callous as to stab her in the back and call her a naive junior sister.
"A villain, huh? That's fine. Senior Brother is definitely not a villain." Hua breathed a sigh of relief, preferring Ryan's playful side; this warmth was reserved for a select few.
"Then what am I?"
"A hero! A brave, unwavering hero!"
"Such flattery. Tell me, what else do you want to eat?"
In the summer heat, the two navigated the crowded alley, eating their way from one end to the other. By dinnertime, they were both full.
Then Ryan was dragged to a tea shop near Shanghai University. Hua explained she'd worked there last year, liking the atmosphere, often finishing her homework there before going home.
Seeing her enthusiasm, as if wanting him to delve into every aspect of her life, he didn't object and entered Shanghai University through a side gate.
Ryan took in the shop. It was small but tastefully decorated—white walls, simple wooden tables, several decent oil paintings, and some preserved flowers.
The owner was a middle-aged woman with a refined air, wearing a floral dress. She greeted Hua warmly.
"Haven't seen you in months. Found a boyfriend so quickly? Which department is he from?"
"No, Manager, this is my Senior Brother." Hua quickly explained, noticing the manager's smile deepening.
Senior Brother, huh? Probably here to spoil his junior sister—she'd seen it often.
"Really not!"
"Okay, okay, I understand. Hua, why don't you make a blueberry milk tea for your Senior Brother? It's on me."
"Thank you, Manager." Hua politely bowed, heading behind the counter.
The middle-aged woman smiled at Ryan, exchanging nods before returning to work.
Classy and refined.
Ryan felt a surge of good will. As for the boyfriend comment, he didn't bother explaining, going to a bookshelf, picking up a magazine and a novel, then choosing an empty seat.
June in Shanghai wasn't excessively hot. The afternoon was tranquil. Ryan leisurely browsed the novel, feeling time slow down.
Ryan didn't dislike this slow pace; as he'd told Hua, excessive focus could lead to obsession; a rich life fostered resilience.
Urgency and delay, action and stillness—these were aspects of life; of course, he hadn't experienced the pain and temptation of succumbing to darkness.
"Dr. Ryan?"
A voice made Ryan turn; a man with a bowl-cut hairstyle and a somewhat effeminate appearance stood behind him.
"Dr. Damian. I didn't expect to see you here."
He recognized this former colleague. He closed his book, stood up, and shook hands. Before Damian could ask, he explained his presence in Shanghai.
"Your junior sister?" Damian glanced at the busy girl, slightly puzzled.
Hua looked like an ordinary high school student; how could she be this genius's junior sister? Damian said with a drawn-out tone, "Dr. Ryan, your taste is exquisite."
Another misunderstanding.
Ryan shook his head, not bothering to explain. They weren't friends; there was no need to discuss personal matters.
"Since arriving in Shanghai, you've still been researching Imaginary numbers?"
"Yes, old habits die hard. Unfortunately, I don't have Dr. Mei's talent; many projects are stalled." He sighed, looking dejected.
Ryan noticed Damian's bloodshot eyes, unkempt beard, and stained collar; he looked like an exhausted beast.
Research was more despairing than combat; in combat, you could fight; academic research demanded utmost rigor. Even if you fail to find answers, you keep trying.
"I think you should rest; you might have a breakthrough."
Like you, sitting here drinking coffee and reading novels?
A flash of resentment crossed Damian's eyes; he forcibly suppressed it, shaking his head frantically, muttering like a madman. "I can't rest; I must seize every moment to study the nature of Imaginary numbers, even if I die in the lab. Last month, I made a breakthrough, submitted a paper, and then discovered Dr. Mei was already ahead of me."
This guy is on the verge of a breakdown.
Ryan didn't know what to say; he frowned slightly, sensing a hint of Honkai energy, but since it wasn't directly affecting him, he didn't worry.
"You really should rest."
"Later. I have a particle collision experiment in two days; I need to prepare." The man turned, almost frantically, then turned back, grabbing a coffee from the counter. At the door, he turned again.
"Dr. Ryan, ordinary people like me must give everything to catch up to you. Excuse me."
Ryan lifted his book, watching the departing figure. He felt neither amusement nor contempt. Even if this was just a nameless passerby, he respected this persistence, reminding him of Mobius.
They were similar, yet different.
"Senior Brother, was that someone you know?" Hua approached with the milk tea.
"A former colleague from Japan." Ryan took it, taking a sip. "Not bad; the sweetness is just right."
"I trained for six months."
"See? Seriousness is your greatest strength."
Flattered twice, Hua's mood improved; a smile played on her lips. "Senior Brother, that colleague of yours doesn't look too good."
"That's the result of obsession. When things don't go smoothly, they fixate on trivial matters, then become obsessed." Ryan lifted his milk tea, somehow still aware of the Honkai energy. "Obsession leads to breaking boundaries, resorting to any means to achieve their goals."
"A mythological dark transformation?"
"Something like that, but more troublesome than a simple dark transformation. Why are you concerned about him?"
Hua, still holding her plate, answered without hesitation. "Because I want to understand every aspect of you, just as you understand me today."
Her words reminded Ryan; he'd gained a deeper understanding of Hua's daily life and preferences.
It seemed insignificant, yet profound.
"Not bad. You're finally using your brain."
"That sounds like you think I'm stupid."
"Not completely, but quite naive." Ryan ignored her annoyed expression, smiling gently. "Thanks to you, today was pleasant. After this milk tea, let's go home."
"Okay." Hua didn't argue. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke bravely. "I know you're busy, so I'm glad you took a day off for me."
After the village battle, she was no longer naive; she understood the importance of Ryan's responsibilities; today was a small indulgence.
"Don't overthink it. Life, combat, and research are equally important; they're just different avenues of exploration. Besides…"
Ryan turned to the window; the sunny sky had suddenly turned dark; ash-colored clouds obscured the sunlight, as if transitioning from day to night. A strong wind howled through the trees.
"What we don't see or remember today may become a regret later."
Seeing the sudden storm clouds, a phrase flashed in his mind:
The wind blows, heralding an impending storm.