Observation period?
Kay wanted to skip the dating phase entirely, but since Whitaker Scarlett wasn’t of marriageable age, he wished he could immediately get a marriage certificate with her.
If the observation period was necessary for dating, Kay thought it wasn’t too bad.
His arms were strong; he could easily pull a cart full of goods with one hand.
With the other hand, he naturally took Whitaker Scarlett’s hand:
“Can we hold hands during the observation period?”
If Whitaker Scarlett said no, Kay believed he could decisively end the observation period and move their relationship to the next stage.
However, as Whitaker Scarlett walked hand in hand with Kay on the streets of Sablewick, the night market was lively and hazy. There were many intimate couples around, yet she didn’t dislike this feeling.
“…We can.”
Let’s hold hands; after all, they had already done it before. She hadn’t pulled away then, so why be shy now?
Whitaker Scarlett thought to herself, feeling a bit like a single person, and her heart raced abnormally.
Indeed, love was about dating a handsome boy. Those men she met through blind dates who asked her on the first meeting whether to add names to the house—how could she possibly like them!
Whitaker Scarlett happily thought that they were both willing to date; if it didn’t work out, they could break up. The choice of whether to be a military wife was still far off.
Enjoy the moment; why think so much?
One thought she was having a romantic fling with a handsome young man, and love didn’t equate to marriage; just enjoy the present.
The other thought he had reached a consensus with his future wife; he would respect her, love her, marry her, and treat her well for a lifetime.
In this wonderful misunderstanding, Kay and Whitaker Scarlett miraculously reached a consensus. They both felt that the night was extraordinarily beautiful, and dating indeed surrounded them with pink bubbles, making their hearts tremble with comfort.
…
From Harborfield to Sablewick, Whitaker Scarlett and Kay were still quite proper.
On the way back from Sablewick, their relationship changed, naturally adding some youthful flirtation. Anyone could see they were a couple; Whitaker Scarlett was reviewing, while Kay looked on eagerly, worried she might be thirsty or hungry, and afraid the smell in the carriage would spoil her. Whitaker Scarlett instantly transformed into a porcelain doll.
However, Whitaker Scarlett was also a straightforward person. Since she had clarified their relationship with Kay, she wouldn’t act like a princess waiting for him to please her.
Her attitude towards Kay changed as well; she spoke more casually and naturally. With her body, voice, and appearance, just a little softer, it felt like she was being coy.
The men in the carriage looked at Kay with eyes full of jealousy.
Whitaker Scarlett wasn’t shy at all; Kay liking her was not a crime. Since they were going to be together, she naturally wanted to make others envy Kay. Did she have to call out to her boyfriend in public to have face?
Face was mutual; it was the joy brought by love, not about putting someone in their place.
Whitaker Scarlett hoped to gain Kay’s respect, and she would naturally give him respect in return.
“Then when you return to capital, can I write you letters?”
Kay’s eyes sparkled, “Can you write me one every day?”
Writing letters wasn’t like doing exercises; did she have to do it every day?
Whitaker Scarlett nodded slowly, “I will come to see you in capital.”
The train from Harborfield to Sablewick took over 30 hours, but the distance to Capital was just a little over a third of that. She figured it would take about ten hours by train. If she earned a bit more money, she could even fly to Capital. The plane tickets were expensive, but she was a bit worried about needing identification to fly in ’83.
“After the college entrance examination, I will also apply to a university in Capital.”
Regarding where to attend university after the college entrance examination next year, Whitaker Scarlett had been wavering between Zoriville and Capital.
However, since she was trying to date Kay, they couldn’t possibly be separated by a vast distance in a long-distance relationship. Whitaker Scarlett’s heart had already leaned towards Capital. She had even solidified her thoughts: weren’t Rosalie and Walter Janson in Capital? She had to go and meet these two!
Kay seemed only capable of a silly smile.
Wasn’t it right for him to cherish his wife? His wife was very good to him too.
This trip to Sablewick was incredibly worthwhile, directly solidifying the relationship between Kay and Whitaker Scarlett. Upon returning to Harborfield, Kay did something unexpected. He pulled a briefcase from the base of his truck’s cab and handed it directly to Whitaker Scarlett.
Whitaker Scarlett, sensing the unusual weight, opened it to find it filled with money!
Stack after stack of large denomination bills; it couldn’t have been less than tens of thousands of dollars.
Kay seemed to think it was still too little. “When I get back to Capital, I’ll send you all my bankbooks.”
