Chapter 203: Selection Day
Zou Tian had no desire to look at houses. He really had no desire to go with Wan Ai to look at houses. All such an activity would do was bring up very uncomfortable subjects.
If she wanted a place with a single bedroom, did that mean she wanted to live by herself or that they should escalate their relationship? Did she want marriage? Were they ready for marriage? Was he?
He felt like he was too young for such a decision, and that opinion was supported by people in Sixth Flawless Flowing City generally waiting to be wed until they were older. In contrast, marriage at his age was common in the village.
On the other hand, what did it say if she didn’t want to continue to live in the same house as him? Was their relationship not as secure as he assumed?
If she wanted a house with two bedrooms, it would perhaps signal that they should continue building on the relationship they had until maybe one day progressing it to another form. The problem was that an unrelated man and woman living together and not being married would invite rumors.
At the moment, men and women were thrown together wherever a spare house could be found in the village, so it wasn’t much remarked upon. With the plethora of choices available at the sect grounds, however, every choice would be scrutinized.
Older villagers especially would look at the two of them in a very unfavorable manner. It would represent a loss of face both for themselves and, because of their high rank, for the Rising Tide Sect.
There seemed to be no choice that could be made regarding housing that didn’t lead to difficult outcomes. He wished he could delay the decision. Actually, he wished he and Wan Ai could simply remain in the village until they might be ready to advance their relationship.
But Master had ordered that they each had to choose a house that day. So he and Wan Ai walked through what Master called a “neighborhood” and looked at the possibilities.
There were three basic types of dwelling available—small structures clearly designed for a single person, houses with one to five bedrooms, and what Master referred to as “apartments” in tall buildings.
He and Wan Ai pretty much had their pick. After all, there were so many places available that it was unlikely they’d just happen to choose one selected by another council member.
Feeling like an absolute coward, he let her take the lead as they looked over the options.