Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

36 Waiting for News, Just a Dream?

Both men were in a complicated mood when they were finally home. On one hand, they were happy that they had managed to confess their feelings and that the other person was in love with them too. Just thinking about the fact that they had gotten together and could marry in the future, filled their hearts with endless sweetness.

On the other hand, they couldn't help but feel strange now that they were alone again. This afternoon ... it felt too good to be true. So the two of them couldn't help but feel afraid to lie down in the evening. What if when they woke up the next morning, they found out that they had only dreamed all this? When they saw each other again, would the person that had captivated their heart still acknowledge them as their future partner? Or maybe they would once again be filled with endless longing toward the person they couldn't have. They couldn't help but fear that possibility.

When they finally got up the next morning, this was exactly the mood they were in. Yu Huang Rong paced up and down in his room and waited for any news from Zhang Shi Lan. They had talked about the next steps. The first should be to meet up together with Qian Mu Qing so that they would be able to see each other without inviting gossip. After that, Madam Yan's next event should come up.

Unfortunately, thinking about it now, they hadn't been too thorough in their planning. Just how would they organize their meeting with Qian Mu Qing? They hadn't even settled on a time and place! Would they go to the same establishment as yesterday? But the more often they went to a place, the more likely somebody would notice something.

No, it would still be better to go somewhere else. He was sure that Zhang Shi Lan would also think so. But if they did ... Then how were they supposed to get together? Maybe he should send a letter to Zhang Shi Lan telling him where to meet up? But in that case, he had to make sure that it was a letter that wouldn't tip off anybody. Whether it was his family or Zhang Shi Lan's, they couldn't know.

Ah, this wasn't good. Even though he had said those things in front of Zhang Shi Lan's house yesterday so that Zhang Shi Lan's family would know that he thought of him as a knowledgeable person and wanted to learn from him, that might not be enough to stop them from having any thoughts. After all, the more often they met up, the more likely this was to be exposed. Was there no way to get around this?

In Minister Zhang's house, his son was going through the same motion of worrying himself sick. Just what should he do? Invite Qian Mu Qing first? Or ask the General where to meet up? He really didn't know. But he definitely had to do something. Then again, they had gone out only yesterday. If he did something today, then wouldn't things be too suspicious? He couldn't help but worry about that. No, it was likely better not to do anything today. He should still wait a while.

Zhang Shi Lan felt reluctant but he knew that it was better to wait at least one day longer. Certainly, Yu Huang Rong thought the same. Otherwise, he would've told him a time and place yesterday already, wouldn't he? He sighed and sat down in his study, picking up a few books and leafing through them. If he studied a little, then the time until tomorrow might not feel as long.

One page after the other was turned over but when Zhang Shi Lan reached the end of the book and tried to summarize in his mind what he had read, he only came up with a blank. What he had read just now ... who knew for sure? He pushed the book away and gave another sigh. There was no use in doing this. Even if he read until the end, he still wouldn't learn anything. His thoughts just weren't there. No, until he saw Yu Huang Rong again and they managed to talk to the matchmaker, he probably wouldn't be able to focus.

Zhang Shi Lan got up and walked over to the window, looking at the courtyard outside. Seeing the stone table, he couldn't help but think of the stone table in the bamboo grove where they had sat together yesterday. They had been so close ... When he closed his eyes, he felt as if he could still feel those strong arms around his waist, that breath brushing his cheek, that smell enveloping him, the voice drifting into his ears ... It felt too good to be true. As if this was indeed merely a dream.