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.”