After hours of rest, মুলান finally started feeling better. She got up to fix Ping something to eat. "We all got alittle worried about you." John said. "I'm fine, though." মুলান replied. "You didn't seem it this morning." John stated coyly. মুলান wanted to say "Why do আপনি know us too well?!?", but she blew it off like a fly because she knew how concerned everyone was. "I just forgot to eat. It'll never happen again." she ব্যক্ত simply. She went back to chopping up food.

John knew she was hiding a secret. Once he knew someone, he could read 'em like an open book. আরো like his পছন্দ book actually. He just had THAT good of a mind! "You're hiding something, aren't you?" he speculated. "What do আপনি mean দ্বারা that?" মুলান asked. "It's a secret. Only a secret আপনি and Shang know about." John profiled. মুলান felt her হৃদয় pounding through her chest.

"You don't have to admit it now." John eased. মুলান slammed the ছুরি she was using and turned angrily. "John, I don't know WHAT আপনি heard, but our private lives together are NONE of your business!" she exclaimed. John didn't know what to think. "I didn't mean any harm. I just-" "JOHN, আপনি MAY NOT THINK আপনি HARM, BUT আপনি DID!" মুলান cut him off expressing her anger like she never had before. She went to the রান্নাঘর sink and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry John." she apologized as she cried. "It's ME who should be apologizing." John comforted.

"I should've known better." he continued. "John, I know you're only looking out for me, but there are some things I like to keep to myself." মুলান wavered. "Perfectly understandable." John replied. মুলান clinged
to him like Pocahontas would when SHE was upset like this. "I didn't expect this." John half-joked. "I'm just glad আপনি understand!" মুলান cried. All John did was hug her. She slowly escaped the embrace.

"Ping's probably hungry." she said. John smiled and went outside. He noticed Shang holding back laughs. "This better not be about Merida's jinx again!" he jokingly scolded. "After ALL the turmoil Merida has been through with Rapunzel and The Ice Queen, I can't believe that Anna girl and Kristoff STILL haven't married yet!" Shang busted. "That IS funny. But, I guess time will tell when the time's right." John said. Shang jumped off a বৃক্ষ stump and walked up to his unusually troubled friend.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Mulan was all upset earlier." John answered. "It happens to expectant mothers." Shang humored. "But it seemed to me she was hiding something." John stated. Shang's jaw dropped. *Sometimes, I wish John had a not-so-brilliant mind.* he thought. "It only seemed that way." John altered. Shang was put at ease this time.

"I don't know if I should tell আপনি this..." he ব্যক্ত doubtfully. "Shang, whatever it was আপনি and মুলান went through, me, Pocahontas, and Merida are ALL here for you." John stated true to his word. Shang sighed a sad sigh debating অথবা not if he should tell the devastating secret he and মুলান had been carrying. He held back tears of sorrow as he lowered his head. "Shang, whatever's holding আপনি back is obviously troubling you." John altered. Shang wanted to মুষ্ট্যাঘাত him. Luckily, he had just enough calmness not to.

He took a breath as he regained himself. "I'd like to tell you, but right now isn't a good time." he answered somberly. "You know আপনি don't have to admit it if আপনি don't want to." John replied in a comforting tone. Shang put on a broken smile. (A/N: That part is inspired দ্বারা the song "She Will Be Loved" দ্বারা Maroon 5.) "What do আপনি say we get inside?" John suggested. Shang couldn't agree more. The two went in the cottage and called it a day.

At ডিনার that night, মুলান ate pretty good. *I needed some nutritious food.* she thought. "Shang, আপনি haven't eaten much." Pocahontas said. "I'm not too hungry." Shang replied. "Shang, আপনি need to eat." মুলান added. Even though Shang was often very protective of her, SHE was kinda on that protective thread with HIM too. "I know. I just can't right now." he replied. "What do ya mean ya can't right now?" Merida asked.

"Merida, I wish I could explain." Shang answered. His mind was still reeling in what went down earlier that afternoon. The memory was still fresh and he wished he had a quart of brain bleach to to cleanse it away. He got up from the টেবিল and walked outside. "What's his problem?" Merida asked. "It's not a problem, Merida. It's something traumatizing." John intervened. "I think I know why he's অভিনয় that way." মুলান confessed. Everyone looked at her.

"Doctors have advised me to eat more, because during my first pregnancy, I...I...I almost miscarried Ping." she cracked. She began bawling her eyes out as everyone's jaw dropped. Shang came back inside to comfort her. "That's what I was debating on telling you, John." he confessed. "I see..." John replied speechless. Pocahontas walked over and put a comforting hand on Mulan's shoulder. "Why don't we all go for a night-walk?" she asked. মুলান wiped her tears and everyone headed out.