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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.