He Zhilan wasn’t particularly articulate, and she tended to be more reserved in unfamiliar surroundings, always preferring moments of tranquility.
Perhaps it was the simple heartfelt ’thank you’ that won the men at the table. No flattery, no extravaganza, straight and real. They appreciated He Zhilan and agreed that Lin Chan didn’t make a wrong choice. She was well behaved, cultured, and had a pleasant demeanor. Of course, being beautiful was a bonus. A beautiful woman is always more easily accepted.
Bian Xiulin, being born into a distinguished family, was unlikely to engage with the ’short-term bed companions’ Lin Chan had mentioned. So instead, she gave He Zhilan an inquisitive look, before swapping places with Xing Ye and moving closer to He Zhilan, readying herself for a chat with another woman.
He Zhilan, who had been quietly sitting on the sidelines, caught on to the move. Seeing Bian Xiulin and Xing Ye switch places, she guessed Bian Xiulin’s intention. So once Bian Xiulin settled, He Zhilan smiled at her proactively.
"He Zhilan, your name sounds nice. I’ve heard from Lin Chan that you’re from the countryside. Compared to my rural classmates’ names like Guihua or Cuihua, your name sounds quite elegant. You’re just eighteen so you are the youngest on this dining table, yet you are the first one to get married." Bian Xiulin moved closer to He Zhilan, lowered her voice, and asked, "How does it feel to be married?"
He Zhilan paused for a moment before laughing out loud. Bian Xiulin was Xing Ye’s bride-to-be, so was she the soon-to-be bride? Or was she the one seeking advice and insight into marriage out of ignorance and confusion about marital life?
"Stop laughing~ quickly tell me about it. I tell you, Xing Ye has been nagging me to get married. But for some reason, I always feel scared when I think about getting married." Bian Xiulin put her hand under the table and nudged He Zhilan’s arm.
"Marriage is nice. Your beloved man becomes your husband, and you become his wife. It’s a joyous thing. Being married means you can stay together all day, every day, holding hands through the rest of your lives, sharing joys and sorrows." He Zhilan softly responded. It seemed like a broad-brush and scripted answer, but in retrospect, maybe that’s precisely what marriage is.
"That’s it?" Bian Xiulin paused, surprised that He Zhilan had no complaints. Like getting married means you have to revolve around your home and husband all day, having no time for yourself, or husbands changing their temperaments after marriage, and so on. These were the common complaints she heard from her married colleagues at the hospital, and it was why she was scared of getting married.
"What else should there be? Marrying the one you love is exactly ." He Zhilan responded earnestly. She had noticed that all the people around the table were children of high-ranking officials, probably growing up together. Bian Xiulin’s fiance, Xing Ye, was likely very much into her. He had already glanced in Bian Xiulin’s direction twice during their short conversation, and Bian Xiulin’s bowl was filled with all her favorite dishes.
"So how long have you been married? What does your husband do for a living?" Bian Xiulin felt that He Zhilan’s married life did not match up to what she had imagined.
"We got married during the summer vacation, so it’s been a little over two months." He Zhilan responded accurately, "My husband is a soldier."