Han Zhennan stopped wrestling with Lu Zhenhai and dropped to the ground with a long sigh. Lu Zhenhai sat beside him, stretching his arms lazily before turning to him.
"So, I figure your father might've told you to marry one of them?" he asked casually.
Han Zhennan looked up at the sky and muttered, "Both of them… my father is going to marry me to the two of them."
Lu Zhenhai froze, blinking in shock. "Wait, what!? Both Xue Lian and He Ruying? You're telling me you're marrying two of your closest friends? That's… a bit odd, don't you think?"
Han Zhennan nodded, rubbing his temples. "I said that to my father, but he ignored me."
"Do those two even know about this?" Lu Zhenhai asked.
"My father said they do," Han Zhennan replied grimly. "And apparently… they've agreed to be my brides."
Lu Zhenhai whistled low. "Well, on the bright side, it looks like they're okay with sharing you. If they agreed knowing the situation, maybe it won't be as bad as you think."
Han Zhennan sighed again. "I guess that's true… but still, I don't know what to do. Father said I can choose the wedding date myself, but it has to be within three months."
Lu Zhenhai leaned back against the tree, smirking. "You're gonna have to talk to them before then. At least clear up the awkwardness before the wedding day comes. Start with He Ruying—she'll be easier to talk to. Xue Lian will probably be all dramatic about it."
Han Zhennan glanced at him suspiciously. "Maybe you really are an expert on these things. But I still don't understand how you know all this."
Lu Zhenhai just laughed, standing up and brushing dirt from his robes. As he did, a small book slipped from his pocket and fell to the ground. His eyes widened instantly.
"Hey, what's that?" Han Zhennan bent to pick it up, but Lu Zhenhai snatched it away in a panic.
"Nothing! It's just… a diary where I write down my father's tasks," he stammered, stuffing it back into his sleeve.
Han Zhennan narrowed his eyes. "Alright…" He pretended to let it go, only to suddenly lunge forward, wrestling him down and prying the book free. With a quick sprint, he dashed up a nearby tree, flipping the cover open.
"The Journey to Love," Han Zhennan read aloud, his grin growing wider by the second. "Oh, this is rich." He skimmed the introduction, which spoke of winning the heart of the woman one loved.
By the time Lu Zhenhai leapt after him, Han Zhennan was nearly doubled over with laughter. "So this is where you got all that so-called knowledge? Hahaha! You've been reading a love manual? You, Lu Zhenhai, the 'expert' on women?"
Lu Zhenhai's face turned crimson. "Shut up! It's not even mine, it's my sister's! I just… borrowed it. I was planning on giving it to you later since you were getting married, but I forgot!"
Han Zhennan shook his head, grinning ear to ear. "Sure, sure. I guess I'll take it and see if it's any use."
"I haven't read it yet, so don't blame me if it's useless!" Lu Zhenhai shot back.
"Of course you haven't," Han Zhennan teased, flipping through the pages. "When have you ever talked to a woman to test it anyway?"
That barb hit deep. Lu Zhenhai immediately snatched up a rock and hurled it at him. Han Zhennan dodged it effortlessly, still grinning.
"I'll get you back for that, Zhennan. Just you wait!" Lu Zhenhai growled.
Han Zhennan only laughed as he hopped down from the tree, walking beside his friend. Despite his turmoil, being around Lu Zhenhai always lightened his burden. With him, problems faded, laughter returned, and the world felt easier to bear—though it always came with the cost of keeping an eye out for the next prank or trick. Still, it was better than drowning alone in his father's decree.
Han Zhennan went into his room and sat there cross-legged, trying to cultivate, but no matter how much he focused he couldn't push the matter out of his head. He tried training, but even his blade swings felt hollow. In truth, he had spent the entire night awake thinking about it.
When the sun rose again, he couldn't run any longer. He went to his usual meeting spot where Lu Zhenhai often slept under the trees. Sure enough, his friend was snoring away, sprawled lazily as always.
With no other choice, Han Zhennan had asked Lu Zhenhai to tell He Ruying that he wanted to meet her here. He had taken Zhenhai's advice: start with her, the gentler one, the softer one.
He Ruying approached wearing a long green robe, her black hair tied back with a ribbon. Her emerald eyes flickered nervously, glancing at him, then quickly away, before returning again. He had been leaning against a tree, but when he saw her coming, he straightened at once.
They stood side by side in silence for a moment, the air heavy between them. Finally, Han Zhennan broke it.
"Hi, Ruying… I guess we haven't met in a while."
Still shy, she answered, "I tried to look for you after… you know, our fathers arranged the engagement. But Lu told me you were avoiding me, so I couldn't find you."
Han Zhennan gave an awkward smile. "Well, I wasn't exactly avoiding you, I was just… well, you know…" He trailed off, scratching his head, words failing him.
To his relief, He Ruying smiled gently. "It's okay. I do know you, after all."
That eased him. They sat down, and as their words began to flow, the awkwardness melted away little by little.
"I guess we're going to get married," Han Zhennan said at last. "To be honest, I'm excited… but also kind of scared of the future."
Her lips curved as she leaned a little closer, and his heart began to pound violently in his chest. "Sometimes we don't know the difference between excitement and fear. I think this is a good example."
He chuckled nervously. "I guess… maybe it is."
Then her smile faded into seriousness. "Han, I want to ask you something."
He felt her eyes on him, close enough that he couldn't escape them. He scratched his head again, avoiding her gaze. "Sure, ask away."
She drew a breath, then said directly, "Do… do you like me? Are you truly happy and okay with marrying me? Or is it only because your father told you to? Because I know you—you always follow his orders, no matter what they are."
Her emerald eyes locked with his. He could see the worry in them.
For a long moment he sat frozen, searching himself. In the past, he had only thought of her as a dear friend, never questioning it. But maybe those feelings had been buried too deep for him to notice. Maybe what stirred in his chest now had always been there.
He looked at her and said, his face burning, "You're right—the marriage was my father's idea."
Her eyes dulled instantly, but before she could look away, he went on. "But… after these past days of thinking, and now seeing you today, I can tell—this constant feeling in my chest… I do, in fact, like you. Maybe I wasn't running away because I feared marriage. Maybe I was just overwhelmed with something new—this excitement, this happiness—and it made me shy away. So yes… I like you."
His words tumbled out as his eyes darted nervously between hers and the ground, his cheeks hot red.
For a heartbeat, He Ruying was still. Then color returned to her face, blooming as red as a sunset. She stood up quickly, flustered. "I… I'm really happy to hear that. But I should go now. I have… some things to do. You should talk to Xue Lian too—she's been chasing Lu Zhenhai around trying to find you."
Han Zhennan smiled faintly. "I will. Take care, Ruying."
She gave a quick nod, turned to leave—then suddenly stopped. She spun back, and before he could react, she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
His body stiffened. He sat frozen as her warmth pressed against him for just a heartbeat—then she let go and fled, her robe fluttering behind her.
Han Zhennan remained still beneath the tree, his face slowly reddening as the moment replayed in his mind, burning into him like a brand.