Honghui’sadmissionsurprisedMulan.Whywouldheadmitthistoher?Whatdidheexpecthertosay?Andshecouldn’thelpwonderingwhathewouldthinkofher—ifhecouldtrulyseeher.Luckily,Honghuiwastoocaughtupinhisownthoughtstonoticeherexpression.
“Imean,”hewenton,“howdoyouevenbegintoknowhowtotalktoawoman,letalonebemarriedtoone?”Forthefirsttimesincetheyhadmet,Honghuiseemedunsureofhimself.Mulan’sheart,whichhadalreadybeguntothawtowardthehandsomeconscript,grewwarmerstill.
Takingachance,Mulananswered,“Justtalktoherlikeyou’retalkingtomenow.”
“Iwishitwasthateasy,”Honghuisaid.Hepaused,andhisexpressiongrewmoreuncertain.“What??.??.??.whatifshedoesn’tlikeme?”
Onceagain,hisresponsesurprisedMulan.Sheturnedand,forthefirsttime,reallytookthetimetolookathim.Hiseyeswerefocusedonthebarrackceiling,hischestrisingandfallinginslow,evenbreaths.ButMulancouldseethathewasgenuinelyworried.Inbeinghonest,hewasallowinghimselftobevulnerable.
“Shewill,”Mulansaid,thewordssofterthanshehadintended.
Slowly,Honghuilookedover.Theireyesmetandforahushedmoment,neithersaidanything,theairgrowingheavywithunspokenemotion.
Shakingitoff,Mulanclearedherthroat.Shehadnoideawhathadjusthappened,butsheknewsheneededtolightenthingsup.“Imean,Ithinkshewill,”shesaid,thistimemakingsuretokeepanyemotionoutofhervoice.“Youneverknowwithwomen??.??.??.”sheaddedwithashrugandaconspiratoriallook.