Real is Rare

Loving someone who is of lower status is not a wrong thing if you can see a future with them. But understanding that this mere attraction and dependency she feels towards a man will fade away when she grows up and start facing the reality of living a life she has never even imagined."

She continued after a sip of tea, "Tell me, will you both be able to live a life where you don't have enough money to spend on your everyday life. A restrained life till you die." She left both of them to ponder on it.

Lin Huiying: "What that girl did was wrong. Parents understand what is at stake, but she doesn't have any idea. Now it only goes for her case. She was a naive child. While others will not be. There are many people our age who would be mature enough to encounter something like this.

I used to think that children should be given the freedom to love and marry whomever they want. And till some point, I still believe in that. But that step comes after the child has matured enough to weigh all the pros and cons. Love is not some fairyland. For long period, it is all about commitment and understanding. Commitment to make this work, to never break the marriage with just a huge fight. To understand the other person, their feelings and passion. That is the reason why arranged marriage works more than love marriage. Because in that setting, the person enters the relationship without having any expectations from the other person and is ready to accept all the hardships to make it work.

That girl is so young, that she doesn't even understand these dynamics. And look love is not a façade or anything, it is a real thing. I truly believe in it, but I'm mature enough to look through the whole reality. And both of you understand that none of us are easy to be with. We all suffer from something. So, when you meet someone who is willing to say committed to understanding you and actually wants to grow with you, don't let lame shit like your pride and ego get to you. Real is rare."

FLASHBACK ENDS

The Zhou trio had a deep impression of that girl. They had never heard anything like that. Especially the last advice she gave to the two gentlemen across her.

'Real is rare.'

"Hey, look there are two boys sitting next to her, so maybe they are the gentlemen we saw that day." Zhou Dongyu whispered.

"It would be really incredible they both are the same person. A high status, beauty, and wisdom." Zhou Meng slightly shook his head.

Zhou Shen wanted to talk to her. And ask her many things.

"What are you looking at, ha?" Lin Dan who was sitting next to Lin Huiying teasingly asked.

Lin Jiang who was sitting on her other side laughed at the comment knowing what his brother was doing.

Lin Huiying who got the clear message, turned to look at the tease on her left side, narrowed her eyes, "What do you think?"

"What do 'I THINK'? Do you want to know?" Lin Dan questioned with a playful smirk.

Lin Huiying raised an eyebrow at him and slightly titled her head telling him to answer.

"Sexy!" Zhou Dongyu commented while looking at her face.

"We should stop before someone misunderstands us for be interested in her." Zhou Meng advised.

Zhou Dongyu: "But I really am! She just looks so cool."

Zhou Shen who had already stopped minding these two was siping his tea while looking at the front door while thinking about something.

"I think that you are interested in Third Prince. After all, you might get married to him in the future." Lin Dan spoke.

Lin Huiying made a distorted face upon hearing it, "Spare me! Do I look that shallow to fall for a man's looks? I am hurt." She kept a hand on her heart and made a hurt face.

"Ha!" Lin Jiang scoffed while Lin Dan needed a moment to process his sister's antics.

There were few youngsters in the hall who were looking at the trio since they were the only ones who were chatting and laughing. Others were just awaiting the entrance of the emperor. They didn't do much in the presence of the Royal children.

Zhou Zuoren had also noticed Lin Huiying. Despite her beauty, she was still the girl his father wanted him to marry, and that did not sit well with him. Aside from that, her demeanor and etiquette were sorely lacking in comparison to the girl he was invested in.

Then he turned to look at Zhang Ziyi who was sitting and elegantly sipping the tea. Her back straight, a serious face with a lonely figure.

Feeling his gaze, Zhang Ziyi looked up and met his eyes.