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Thebarrackswere,foronce,quiet.Mulansatontheedgeofhersleepingplatform,pullingonherboots.Thesmallestofeffortsmadehermusclesscreaminagonyandshelongedtogoletthehotwateroftheshowerswashoverherbody.Butshehadvolunteeredfornightdutyagain.Shehadnochoice.

Shewaslacingupherbootwhensheheardthefrontflapofthebarracksswishopen.Lookingup,shesawHonghuienter.Spottingher,hesmiledbroadly.Mulanforgothersoremusclesasherheartbegantobeatalittlefaster.TherewassomethingdecidedlycharmingaboutHonghui,whichmadeherufortable.Shewasunsurewhyhewasherenow.Wasshesupposedtothankhimforearlier?Whenhehadspetoheraid?Shewasn’tsurewhata“man”woulddoinsuchasituation.

Luckily,shewassavedfrommakingthatdecisionasHonghuiwalkedoverandthrewhimselfdownonthesleepingplatformbesideher.“Don’tletthembotheryou,”hesaid,puttinghisarmsbehindhishead.“EspeciallythatdonkeyYao.”

Mulanallowedherselfasmallsmile.Somehow,andshewasn’tquitesurehow,sheandHonghuihadgonefrombeingenemiestobeing??.??.??.allies.Well,almost.HerthoughtsdriftedbacktoYao’sridiculousspmentsinthedininghall.Shestillcouldn’tbelievethathecouldviewwomenassuchobjects,tobevaluedonlyfortheirphysicalappearanceandnotfortheirstrengthofcharacter.Athoughturredtoher.Honghuihadnevergivenhisideaofwhata“perfect”womanwas.Shewonderedwhyhehadbeensoquiet.

“Areyoumatched?”Honghuiasked,breakingintoherthoughts.“CanIask?”

ThequestionstartledMulan.“No,”shesaidreflexively.ButthensherealizedthatbeingmatchedinHonghui’smindwouldmakeherseemmore“manly.”Soshecorrectedherself.“Imean,yes.Iwas.Almost.Itdidn’tworkout.”

“Luckyyou,”Honghuisaid,hisvoicequiet.

Theysatthereforamoment,hisanswerhangingintheair.Mulanwasn’tsurewhattosay.DidHonghuimeanshewasluckyforhavingbeenmatched,orforgettingoutofthematch?

“I’mmatched,”Honghuisaid,answeringherunaskedquestion.“AndI’mhopingshe’scourageous.Andfunny,andsmart.”Hepausedandhiseyesgrewdistant.Mulanwondered,asshelookedathim,whathewaspicturing.Thenheadded,“Becauseshelookslikeaman.”