The festival venue was a beautiful creek, its waters bubbling from a groundwater spring high on the mountain. The main road, unusually wide, was flanked by vibrant yellow flowers and lush trees. Food stalls lined the street, their tempting aromas mingling with the cheerful chatter of villagers selling their goods. The roadside, though not steep, led gently down to the creek. On its banks, countless lovers sat, holding hands, a magnificent and breathtaking sight of serene affection.
Ping'an turned to Guo Baiyu, a soft smile gracing her lips. "I want you to remember this scenery," she murmured, gesturing towards the serene couples on the creek bank. "When we get home, please paint it for me."
Guo Baiyu smiled warmly at her, lightly patting her head. "Should I write poems too?" he teased, his eyes twinkling.
"That would be even better," Ping'an chuckled, her eyes sparkling.
Shui Aichi, walking beside them, nudged Ping'an playfully. "Ping'an, if you don't tie that string to his wrist, I will tie it!" She looked longingly at the creek bank. "Then he will sit there with me."
"Even if she doesn't tie it," Guo Baiyu replied, his voice firm but gentle, "I am not sitting there with anyone but her."
Shui Aichi feigned a pained expression, clutching her chest. "Ouch! Your words are like a poisonous dagger pierced my heart!" She then burst into infectious laughter.
Guo Baiyu smiled and shook his head, a fond exasperation in his eyes. "You would be my cousin's perfect partner."
Shui Aichi's eyes widened with excitement. "Really? Is he as handsome as you?"
"He is also very talented," Ping'an added, a proud note in her voice.
"I must see to believe it," Shui Aichi declared, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Shui Aichi continued to walk around the lively festival road. After looking around for a while, they decided to eat something first, then continue their search for Zhao Renshu. They settled at a small bamboo table, waiting for their food.
Meanwhile, Zhao Renshu and Hu Qingge were walking on the bustling main road. Food stalls lined every inch, and Zhao Renshu, ever a gourmand, could not stop eating. He held a banana leaf bowl full of meatballs in his left hand, popping them into his mouth as he scanned the crowd, searching desperately for Ping'an and Guo Baiyu.
"I want to tie this on your wrist," Hu Qingge said, holding up a delicate, braided string.
Zhao Renshu glanced at his wrists. "Tie it on this side," he mumbled through a mouthful of meatballs, gesturing to his left wrist. "I still need my right hand free."
Hu Qingge smiled, a sweet, knowing curve of her lips. "Can I really tie it on your wrist?"
Zhao Renshu nodded, swallowing. "Of course," he affirmed, stuffing two more meatballs into his mouth. "It must be nice for you to walk freely among these villagers."
Hu Qingge's fingers deftly tied the string onto Zhao Renshu's left wrist. He turned around and saw the same white and red braided thread, now familiar, tied neatly on Hu Qingge's right wrist.
"You knew?" Hu Qingge asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
Zhao Renshu smiled wryly. "It's not hard to tell. Why tie this on you too?"
Hu Qingge's smile widened, becoming more alluring. "If you agree for me to tie it on your wrist," she explained, her voice soft and tempting, "it means you accept me as your lover."
Zhao Renshu's jaw dropped open. "What?!" He coughed violently, the chewed meatballs in his mouth going down the wrong way, a sudden, panicked realization dawning on him. "You didn't explain that to me!" He dropped his bowl of meatballs, sending them scattering across the dirt, and frantically reached out to untie the string from his wrist.
Hu Qingge stopped him with her left hand, her grip surprisingly firm. "You can't do this! I will be very embarrassed by all these people!" she pleaded, her eyes wide with feigned desperation. "If you really want to untie it... how about after the festival? You can untie it then."
Zhao Renshu stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. As long as he could remember, he had been the deceiver, the master of trickery. Now, he, Zhao Renshu, had been thoroughly outsmarted, cheated by another. He turned around, facing the bustling crowd on the riverbank, and laughed bitterly at his own stupidity, shaking his head in self-mockery.
"Karma is a bitch," Zhao Renshu muttered softly, the words a raw whisper. "When it turns around to bite you in the ass."
"What?" Hu Qingge asked, confused by his sudden introspection.
"Nothing," Zhao Renshu grumbled, rubbing his temple.
Hu Qingge walked to Zhao Renshu, standing close beside him, her scent sweet and intoxicating. "Don't be angry," she said, her voice soft and consoling. She stared at his handsome face; her eyes filled with admiration. "I really like you."
Zhao Renshu was still processing his predicament. Just then, a familiar pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind. Zhao Renshu, assuming it was Hu Qingge, instinctively took his hand and prepared to pull it away, but the uncanny familiarity of the embrace, the delicate scent that was undeniably Ping'an's, made Zhao Renshu freeze, then slowly turn around.
Zhao Renshu was staring right into Ping'an's eyes, his own widening with shock, then overflowing with pure, unadulterated joy. With a whoop of delight, he picked Ping'an up and spun her around twice, his laughter echoing. Ping'an lowered her head, a tender smile on her lips, and kissed his forehead.
"It doesn't take two full days to fetch water," Ping'an teased gently, her eyes twinkling.
Zhao Renshu, reverting to his childish brat persona, buried his head on her chest. "I know... I am also hurt," he whined playfully.
Guo Baiyu, walking up behind them, noticed the curious glances of people as they passed by.
"How long will you hold her like this?" Guo Baiyu asked, a dry amusement in his voice.
"Lower your head down," Zhao Renshu commanded Ping'an, ignoring Guo Baiyu.
Ping'an lowered her head, and he gently kissed her lips, a deep, tender kiss that spoke volumes. "Two days apart feels like two centuries," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. He slowly put her down. Then, he walked directly to Guo Baiyu and pulled him into a fierce, brotherly hug. "I am glad you are up and walking," he said, genuine relief in his voice.
"Wow..." Shui Aichi gasped, her eyes wide with admiration as she took in Zhao Renshu's striking appearance. "You are very handsome!" Her gaze then fell upon the white and red string tied on his left wrist. Her expression shifted to confusion. "Wait a minute... Wait... I thought Baiyu was your husband." She looked at Ping'an, bewildered.
Zhao Renshu, his temper flaring at the suggestion, scoffed, "Says who?"
"I thought they were married," Shui Aichi pressed, pointing to Ping'an and Guo Baiyu. "Why would you kiss her when you have a string tied to your wrist?" She pointed accusingly at the string on Zhao Renshu's left wrist.
"She didn't tell me the whole story before she tied it on my wrist," Zhao Renshu explained, his frustration rising. "She promised to untie it after the festival."
"After the festival?" Shui Aichi repeated, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Do you agree?"
"Yes," Zhao Renshu admitted, his face grim. "I don't want her to lose face in front of these people."
Shui Aichi scoffed, a look of profound disbelief on her face. "If the rope is still tied to your wrist after the festival, it means you agree to marry her. You will hold your partner's hand and cross one side of the stream to the other side. Then, you two will become married couples."
Zhao Renshu turned slowly to face Hu Qingge, his expression a mixture of disbelief and growing fury. "You forgot to mention about that part!"
Hu Qingge's face fell, a genuinely sad frown replacing her alluring smile. "I don't want to lie to you," she murmured, her voice soft with regret. "But I really, really like you, Renshu." She reached out and held his left arm, her fingers intertwining with his.
Zhao Renshu pulled away, gently but firmly. "Qingge, I have told you that I cannot love anyone else. I believe you will find a good person for you in the future."
"Don't say that to me!" Hu Qingge pleaded, her voice cracking. She clung to his left arm again, tears welling in her beautiful eyes. "Last night was real!"
Guo Baiyu and Ping'an both looked at Zhao Renshu, their eyes as round and wide as an owl's, their expressions a mixture of shock and dawning comprehension.
Guo Baiyu grabbed Zhao Renshu by the collar, his usual calm shattered by disbelief and a hint of something darker. "What did you do last night?!" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"I didn't do anything!" Zhao Renshu protested, his eyes wide. "I was....."
Ping'an took two steps back, her eyes fixed on Zhao Renshu, her face pale. "Baiyu, let go of his collar," she said, her voice strained but firm.
Guo Baiyu immediately let go of Zhao Renshu's collar, realizing that curious people were starting to stare at them.
"Renshu..." Hu Qingge interjected, her voice filled with a desperate plea, "The woman you love has another man! You said you could love me if there were no her!"
Ping'an looked directly at Zhao Renshu, her voice barely a whisper, filled with pain. "You said that?"
Zhao Renshu moved towards Ping'an, a desperate need to explain in his eyes, but she instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between them.
"Did you really say that?" Ping'an pressed, her voice trembling.
Zhao Renshu felt a fresh wave of frustration and self-loathing. He saw Ping'an's eyes, red-rimmed and watery, and hated himself more than ever for causing her pain.
"I told her, maybe if there were no you, but I have you!" he pleaded, his voice desperate. He approached her again, but she took another step back. "Please don't cry, don't do this." He took his right hand and began to frantically untie the string from his left wrist.
"Please don't do this!" Hu Qingge pleaded, struggling to get rid of his hand as he worked on the knot. "Please, I have given you my heart! Our kisses, our touches, our intimacy, all of those feelings are real!..."
"Stop it, Hu Qingge!" Zhao Renshu shouted, his voice raw with anger and desperation, a vein throbbing in his temple.
Ping'an bit her lips, holding back her tears, her face a mask of profound hurt. "You kissed her? You two even went as far as... that...?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Zhao Renshu exhaled slowly, a heavy, defeated sound, and nodded, his eyes fixed on her pained face. When he looked at Ping'an's expression, he knew his actions had struck her in the heart like a poisoned arrow.
"I know you have feelings for me, too," Hu Qingge insisted, her voice still clinging to hope.
"Stop! Stop talking nonsense!" Zhao Renshu yelled, his voice strained with fury. "Stop interrupting and put wood in the fire!" He was referring to the festival tradition, desperately trying to change the subject.
Ping'an didn't need to hear more. She was not a child who didn't understand these types of things. Although tears had filled her eyes, blurring her vision, she chose not to cry outwardly. She knew, from the beginning, that Zhao Renshu or Guo Baiyu owed her no explanation of their lives outside of their shared bond. Between the three of them, there had been no such promises of exclusive fidelity. What she gave them was out of her own free will, and she had asked nothing in return.
She sighed, a deep, weary sound. "This... this issue," she said, her voice quiet but firm, "here is not the place to talk about. Perhaps... you two should find a better place to talk over this issue together." She turned away, leaving Zhao Renshu stunned silence in silence with Hu Qingge.