Chapter 9 Julian didn't come by for several days. Leo told me that his father was about to carry out a joint mission with Violet. The little boy stood arrogantly beside me, standing there with his nose in the air. "Hey, you. Even you get it, right? Dad likes Aunt Violet." "Stop getting in their way." "I'm about to have a new mom. If you try to ruin it, I won't let you off."Leo raised his fist as a warning. I was at a loss for words. It wasn't me trying to interfere-it was Julian who refused to cancel the engagement. Seeing me remain silent, Leo assumed I was still clinging to false hopes. He opened his mouth to threaten me further...until a pillow flew from the bed next to ours and smacked him in the back of the head. The boy across from me furrowed his delicate brows, looking displeased. "You're too loud. Get out." His words were concise but firm. Leo, intimidated by the boy's unyielding presence, ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Once he left, the ward grew quiet again. He finally looked over at me, his expression a blend of exasperation and something almost like concern. "No backbone. Letting a little punk like that push you around." I fidgeted with my fingers. I had a feeling that beneath his cold exterior, he had a good heart. Like just now... he had stood up for I quickly grew familiar with the boy in the next bed. But he was busy. So busy that even while hospitalized, he spent every day drawing blueprints and writing things I couldn't understand. Once, I asked him what those scribbled letters on his paper were. He tapped my head and said, "Silly! Those are English letters." I didn't know what English letters were-I hadn't even fully learned all the alphabet. Chapter 9 64.29% Though he teased me for being slow, he patiently sat shoulder to shoulder with me and explained everything. He told me that English letters were like the building blocks for words in language. He wrote formulas for calculations. I asked what those formulas were for. He was silent for a long moment, then quietly said, "They can build rockets and cannons." "So that our country will never have to be pushed around again." I gaped in shock. Even without him explaining further, I already knew-this boy was someone extraordinary. Because my deceased parents had done the same kind of work. I would never forget that, when I was very young, a few military men came to our home. They told me that my parents had been engaged in a quiet but noble mission. Due to confidentiality, they couldn't tell me the details. Later, they left me my parents' belongings. From the Hawthornes, I learned that they had died from severe nuclear radiation. I tugged at the boy's sleeve, nearly incoherent with worry. "It's...it's dangerous!" This kind of work was dangerous. Life-threatening. He shrugged casually, leaning back. Moonlight fell on him, calm and serene. He didn't care whether I understood or not, and whispered with a smile, "For the country, I would face death a hundred times and never regret it." I struggled to repeat after him, "For...for the country..." He pinched my cheeks, patiently explaining. "Little fool. Simply put, it means I am willing to give everything for my country." He truly was a great person. A hero. Just like my parents. The moment I looked at him, my gaze was instantly filled with awe. Chapter 9 64.29%