When Lu Huaizheng arrived at the hospital, Chen Rui was sitting on a bench with his head drooping, about to fall asleep.

Through the half-closed door, he glanced inside. Professor Jiang lay in the hospital bed, tubes all over his body, showing no signs of life.

He gently nudged Chen Rui’s foot with his toe to wake him.

Feeling someone touch him, Chen Rui jolted awake, springing up from his chair and adjusting his cap, about to speak when Lu Huaizheng raised his hand to stop him. He said in a low voice, “Go back and rest. I’ll be fine here.”

Chen Rui rubbed his face and said energetically, “No need. I’m fine. But Captain, you haven’t had a proper sleep these past few days. The commander specifically instructed me to stay tonight. Why did you come in the middle of the night? Didn’t you want to spend more time with Dr. Yu?”

Lu Huaizheng smiled and sat down beside him, legs sprawled out casually like an old uncle, leaning back against the bench with his head resting against the wall, shaking his head helplessly.

Seeing his melancholic expression, Chen Rui thought they had argued and sat down next to him. “No way, you just got back and already fought?”

Lu Huaizheng crossed his arms and shook his head meaningfully.

At three in the morning, the dark corridor was filled with gusts of cold air. All the patient rooms were dark, with only a few dim lights at the end of the hallway. Occasional coughs could be heard from the rooms, making the corridor seem even more desolate.

This made Chen Rui anxious. “What’s going on, Captain?”

Lu Huaizheng finally lowered his head with a sigh, patting Chen Rui’s shoulder with a troubled expression. “To be honest, I’m used to dealing with you guys. Suddenly having to form a family unit feels quite unfamiliar…” At this, he couldn’t help rubbing the back of his neck. “Sometimes watching Dr. Yu sleep, I think about how delicate she is—those slender arms and legs look like they could break with a few steps. I feel like I should wrap her in cotton while she sleeps. And she’ll have to bear children for your captain one day. Women have it so tough…”

The more Chen Rui listened, the more something felt off. He looked at Lu Huaizheng with some alarm. “Isn’t it natural for women to have children?”

“Who says so?” Lu Huaizheng gave him a sidelong glance.

“The law says so.” As soon as Chen Rui finished speaking, his head received a heavy knock.

Lu Huaizheng then hooked his arm around Chen Rui’s neck and solemnly educated him: “No one is obligated to do anything for you. Remember that.” After finishing, he looked at Chen Rui incredulously. “With that wooden head of yours, how did you ever find a girlfriend?”

Chen Rui’s girlfriend lived in his hometown, and they only saw each other a few times a year. Nevertheless, the young couple had a good relationship and planned to marry at the end of next year.

Chen Rui replied with his usual simplicity, “We were childhood sweethearts, so naturally we got together.”

The phrase “childhood sweethearts” struck a nerve with Lu Huaizheng, as Yu Hao and Shen Xiyuan were also childhood sweethearts.

Lu Huaizheng crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and snorted with a smile. “How precious.”

But then again, Chen Rui still felt that Lu Huaizheng seemed different tonight—more relaxed. His usual rigor and gentleness had completely vanished. He leaned back lazily, and in every gesture, there was an inexplicable sense of… casual confidence.

Looking carefully, still puzzled, Chen Rui spoke frankly: “Captain, tonight you look… very different.”

Lu Huaizheng curved his lips but didn’t respond.

Chen Rui mumbled, “It’s like you have more… masculinity than before.”

Lu Huaizheng raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing elsewhere, and in an unusually good mood, continued the conversation: “I thought I exuded masculinity when training you guys.”

Chen Rui chuckled, “That’s different. You know, the guys from the second squad were betting that you and Dr. Yu… you know.”

Lu Huaizheng froze and turned his head.

“Second squad?”

Chen Rui: “Yes, Captain Sun led the betting.”

Lu Huaizheng put his hands in his pockets and narrowed his eyes. “Write down their names. We’ll target them during the next exercise.”

“Will do.” Chen Rui felt inexplicably excited, sensing there would be an interesting show to watch.

It seemed the captain cared for Dr. Yu—not allowing anyone to say a word about her.

Chen Rui left after sitting for a while.

Lu Huaizheng stayed alone in the corridor keeping watch. Around five o’clock, the sky began to lighten slightly, showing a faint white glow. Dim light filtered through the windows, gently illuminating the corridor that had been dark all night, like a thin mist.

Gradually, rustling sounds emerged in the hallway as people got up to buy breakfast downstairs.

Nurses were changing shifts, and checking bed numbers and medications on their clipboards. They occasionally glanced toward Lu Huaizheng, asking their colleagues, “Has he been sitting there all night?”

“No, he came in the second half of the night.”

“How was Professor Jiang yesterday?”

“The night was relatively stable. He vomited twice. I figure Captain Lu barely slept. Every time there was movement inside, he went in. We originally wanted to add an extra bed for him to rest, but he declined, saying he needed to go back to take his wife to work and was afraid of oversleeping.”

The listener was surprised, “When did Captain Lu get married?”

The young nurse shook her head, “I don’t know, but we were all shocked at the time.”

“Ah, Nurse Zhang must be heartbroken.”

The young nurse covered her mouth and laughed: “Nurse Zhang isn’t heartbroken at all. She’s been getting close with a doctor from the cardiology department next door. She doesn’t care anymore.”

The head nurse waved her hand, “Enough, I don’t understand the world of you young people.”

…

At five o’clock, Jiang Yuanliang vomited again. After Lu Huaizheng cleaned up for him, he sat by the bedside for a while longer.

Jiang Yuanliang had lost a lot of weight, his features sunken, cheekbones protruding, his forehead full of wrinkles. In his fifties or sixties, he looked as old as a little old man. With an oxygen mask on his nose, when he spoke, his breath fogged the mask. Looking at Lu Huaizheng, his eyes seemed to hold tears, shining brightly: “If my son were still alive, he would be about your age.”

He gestured with his hand.

“In military uniform, he would look as spirited as you. His rank would be no lower than yours.”

Lu Huaizheng lowered his head with a smile, composing his emotions. “If my father were still alive, he’d be about your age.”

“Don’t take advantage of me. I won’t be your cheap father. My son was much more handsome than you.” Jiang Yuanliang maintained his pride, still bantering.

Lu Huaizheng smiled, “Of course.”

Jiang Yuanliang’s gaze gradually scattered, the warm fog on his oxygen mask dissipating before gathering again. “The ‘Black Hawk’ project is my life’s work. For it, I sacrificed almost all the time I could have spent with my son. I will hold on. I must wait until ‘Black Hawk’ comes to fruition. So please go back and tell your superiors to give me a bit more time. I want to visit the research institute in Hunan.”

Lu Huaizheng knew that Jiang Yuanliang had sacrificed all his time with family and friends. ‘Black Hawk’ had become his only spiritual sustenance, including his remorse toward his son. No one wanted him to leave with regrets…

He sat there silently with his arms crossed, legs slightly crossed, head tilted to one side.

Just as Jiang Yuanliang was about to speak, Lu Huaizheng interrupted, “What do you need to get?”

“Materials regarding the stealth aircraft. After hearing Hadlan’s exposition, I think some areas can be improved. Those documents are split between the Hunan research institute and classified archives.”

Lu Huaizheng suggested, “I can get them for you.”

Jiang Yuanliang didn’t refuse. “Then I need to talk to the person in charge. Also, I might need help bringing my computer here.”

Lu Huaizheng looked at him with a helpless smile. “You’re pushing your luck. I never agreed to let you work here.”

Jiang Yuanliang also smiled. “You’re very much like my son.”

“Come on, you just said little Jiang was more handsome than me.”

“For a soldier, you’re quite particular. With your looks, you’re more handsome than TV stars. Does that satisfy you?”

Lu Huaizheng smiled and shook his head without responding.

Jiang Yuanliang’s smile faded, his eyes gradually becoming serious. “Speaking honestly, when thinking of a test pilot for Black Hawk, you’re the first person who comes to mind. If that day comes, I hope you won’t refuse. Consider it fulfilling a wish for me, as you were my student. I know you fly fighter jets less often now. After transferring to the airborne forces, you barely have time to fly anymore, right?”

“I still fly, just less frequently. If such an opportunity arises, I’d be honored. And please, hold on.”

“Absolutely.”

Jiang Yuanliang beamed like a child, lying pale-faced in bed, giving a thumbs-up flight gesture.

Meaning: I’m ready.

As Lu Huaizheng left the room, there was a “click” sound—someone else opening a door across the hallway.

Their eyes met like two sharp swords suddenly crossing in a flash of electric light. After an intense collision with a “clang,” sparks flew everywhere.

Lu Huaizheng closed the door, put his hands back in his pockets, turned his head first, lowered it slightly, and smiled.

Before leaving, Lu Huaizheng had changed out of his military uniform. Thinking that he would come back to take Yu Hao to work, he thought the uniform might not be appropriate, so he casually put on a white tracksuit with three stripes on the sleeves and pant edges. It somehow made him look younger, less solemn.

Shen Xiyuan always wore a black suit or shirt. At the moment, he wasn’t wearing his jacket, just a shirt. He looked proper but somewhat wrinkled from not having been home for several days. Being older than Lu Huaizheng, to begin with, the contrast now made him look old enough to be Lu’s uncle.

Both men felt somewhat discontented with this encounter.

After making eye contact, they both headed toward the stairwell without prior agreement. When Lu Huaizheng pressed for the first floor, Shen Xiyuan didn’t move, simply glancing at the button as if to silently agree.

With a “ding,” the two men walked out of the building one after another, finally stopping at the smoking area of Building 5.

Outside, daylight shone brightly, sunlight pouring down under a clear blue sky.

The two men were about the same height, with Lu Huaizheng slightly taller. He leaned against the wall, put a cigarette in his mouth, and offered one to Shen Xiyuan. The other didn’t accept. With the cigarette between his lips, Lu Huaizheng put the pack back in his pocket but didn’t light it, just holding it in his mouth to satisfy the craving.

Shen Xiyuan spoke first: “Was it you who helped my grandmother change rooms?”

“Yes.” He didn’t hide it.

“Thank you. The nurse said rooms were tight here. It seems they make exceptions for certain people?” Shen Xiyuan laughed with some self-mockery.

“The nurse was right. Rooms are indeed tight here. I don’t have special privileges, so don’t read too much into it. It just happened that a nurse’s family member was scheduled to be discharged the next day, but they left a day early, so she gave you her room.”

“It seems you have good relationships with the nurses here?” Shen Xiyuan looked at him.

Lu Huaizheng smiled, took out his lighter from his pocket, cupped the flame, and lowered his head to light the cigarette. Hearing the question, he paused, not even raising his eyelids, and asked casually, “Is that all you wanted to say?”

“Then, that night, did you also hear our conversation?”

Lu Huaizheng frowned slightly, raised his head to exhale, and put his hands back in his pockets, showing a bit of impatience. “So what if I did?”

“Don’t misunderstand. Yu Hao and I…”

Lu Huaizheng was a very straightforward person. He hated it when people pretended with him. After so many years in the military, he believed in speaking plainly. He couldn’t stand people who beat around the bush while trying to hide their guilt. He didn’t even bother to humor them.

How could he not see what Shen Xiyuan was thinking?

Stammering explanations while hinting at things annoyed him. Lu Huaizheng had no patience to listen further and interrupted directly:

“You may not know this, but I studied psychology with FBI intelligence officers for a year. We’re both men—I know exactly what’s in your head. This hiding and evading only makes me unhappy. If you truly can’t let go of your feelings for my wife, saying it outright would at least earn my respect as a man. Brother!”

Shen Xiyuan was stunned. “…You two got married?”

Lu Huaizheng removed the cigarette from his mouth and exhaled. “Yes, we’re legally married. Disrupting a military marriage can result in imprisonment—I suggest you review Criminal Law Article 259. Besides, I have no interest in your past together. If you want to talk about it, I can help you contact a newspaper. Whether you want to make it into a TV drama or write it as a chronological history book, I spiritually encourage you. Goodbye.”

Extra Story:

Sun Kai and Zhao Dailin were threatening divorce.

Sun Kai went to Lu Huaizheng to complain, “Zhao Dailin is too domineering. Yu Hao isn’t like that at all. I feel like you have the highest family status among all the men in our squad.”

Lu Huaizheng drank his alcohol. “Absolutely.”

Sun Kai: “Brother, come on, teach me how to make my wife so obedient and submissive, making her stick to you all day, thinking of you constantly.”

Lu Huaizheng looked at him strangely from the corner of his eye and coughed lightly: “These things… are a matter of personal constitution, I suppose.”

Sun Kai: ???????????