Though He Zhilan was not completely shocked by Zhou Hongjian’s confession, it certainly was unexpected, for Zhou Hongjin confessed with utmost seriousness.
The word ’meticulous’ fits Zhou Hongjin perfectly, as there are few men in this world who handle matters of the heart with such precision...
To the point of pedantry.
Zhilan firmly believed Zhou Hongjin was a good person, just as Lin Chan had stated, Zhou Hongjin was a mature and stable man.
But facing Zhou Hongjin’s confession, He Zhilan could only respond, "Zhou Senior, I’m sorry."
"Can you not reject me so quickly? You’re young and perhaps have never thought of relationships in school, so, I think I can wait for two years for your reply." He Zhilan’s apology would indeed make Zhou Hongjin regretful. Although he had anticipated scaring He Zhilan and even her rejection, her sorry still made him feel disappointed.
"Zhou Senior, you’re a wonderful person, but I am already married." After some contemplation, He Zhilan decided not to hide her marital status from Zhou Hongjin. It was the best way to reject Zhou Hongjin without hurting his pride.
Zhou Hongjin was taken aback. Before he could respond, Huang Cai called Zhilan from upstairs, "He Zhilan, your brother is on the phone!"
"I’m coming up!" He Zhilan was so excited that she even forgot to bid Zhou Hongjin goodbye. She turned and ran back to the building the moment she heard He Teng was on the phone.
Within a few seconds, Zhou Hongjin came to his senses, only to face the empty path in front of him.
Zhou Hongjin shook his head, somewhat helpless. Was he so invisible in He Zhilan’s eyes that she had to come up with such an absurd excuse to reject him?
Indeed, Zhou Hongjin didn’t believe that He Zhilan was already married. After all, He Zhilan was only eighteen years old. Zhou Hongjin’s thought was that He Zhilan was rejecting him with a clumsy excuse, either to let him back off or save face.
He Zhilan was unaware of the misunderstanding her abrupt departure and lack of explanation had caused Zhou Hongjin. She ran up the stairs, picked up the phone, and said, "Hello, Brother, it’s me!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Chan on the other end of the phone burst into laughter, "Zhilan, this is the first time you’ve addressed me as your brother!"
"What?" He Zhilan was taken aback. When Huang Cai had said her brother was on the phone, she had automatically assumed it was her brother He Teng and had forgotten that Lin Chan also considered her as his sister. If Huang Cai asked Lin Chan how they were related, Lin Chan would naturally say she was his sister.
"Don’t play dumb. Did you think your husband was calling you? Hearing you call me ’brother’ made my heart melt." Lin Chan teased He Zhilan before getting to the point. "Bian Xiulin just confirmed with me that Lan Lizhen is hospitalized at the General Military Hospital in the capital. Also, there’s no record of He Teng in the hospital’s records. So, your brother is undoubtedly fine. I just wanted to call you and tell you can stop worrying."
"I understand!" He Zhilan replied.
After hanging up the phone, He Zhilan remembered leaving Zhou Hongjin alone downstairs. But when she looked out of the window, he had already left.
He Zhilan was not worried that Zhou Hongjin would spread the news of her being married because Zhou Hongjin, given his character, was not the type to reveal personal secrets of others.
Although He Zhilan believed from the beginning that nothing could happen to He Teng, once Bian Xiulin had helped to confirm the facts, she felt even more reassured.