In the golden autumn of September, during persimmon season, Xing Shuishui climbed up with a stool to pick persimmons, her sleeves rolled up to reveal fair arms. When He Liansheng returned, he saw her sitting on the tree trunk, staring blankly at the persimmon tree.
He looked up at her in the tree, arms crossed: “Have you decided what you want for a wedding gift?”
Xing Shuishui shook her head: “I’ve noticed something strange.”
He Liansheng asked: “What is it?”
She touched her chin thoughtfully: “I picked a small basket of persimmons the day before yesterday, but today there are even more persimmons on the tree! It’s as if… as if they were never picked at all.”
He Liansheng lowered his eyes, his tone soft: “I used some magic. Made the persimmons grow a bit faster.”
Xing Shuishui didn’t dwell on it. They were getting married soon, and there was so much to prepare. She climbed down the tree and ran inside with the freshly picked persimmons. They still hadn’t written their marriage document.
Her way of speaking was different from this world. For the same things, she would say “headband” while He Liansheng would say “forehead cloth.” After thinking for a long time, she still didn’t know how to start writing.
Xing Shuishui bit her pen, clearly troubled: “Do you know how to write a marriage document?”
He Liansheng made an affirmative sound and dipped his brush in ink. Xing Shuishui rested her chin in her hands, watching him write as her hair ribbons fluttered in the wind. He Liansheng smiled softly.
He wrote: I, He Liansheng, love Xing Shuishui and wish to become husband and wife with her. I swear by our souls, for the rest of our lives, to never part in this life or the next.
No Lingshan, no He family.
Just him and her.
Xing Shuishui turned to look at him: “You wrote it beautifully.”
Her eyes were bright. He Liansheng loved seeing her like this. After finishing the marriage document, his fingers played with her hair, wrapping it around and around, lingering: “Shuishui, do you want to write a letter to your family?”
Xing Shuishui smiled: “Sure. Help me send it!”
Dear Sister and Brother:
It’s been years since I’ve returned home, and I miss you dearly. In this world, some view me as lighter than a feather, while others value me above their own lives. I am overwhelmed, yet I have found love with him and wish to become his bride, to be his lifelong companion.
Young newlyweds, never to part.
Don’t worry about me.
He Liansheng repeated: “Young newlyweds, never to part.”
Xing Shuishui nodded. During their time together, He Liansheng seemed to always seek confirmation, tirelessly. She remembered his temper hadn’t been very good before, yet here he was showing such patience.
She smiled and said: “We’re getting married soon, cheer up. Okay?”
She cupped his face, her cheeks rosy. He Liansheng gazed at her for a long time, his eyes dark, but only held her hand and bent down slightly to kiss her forehead.
Their robes tangled together as he remained gentle. “Okay.”
Xing Shuishui blinked, her bangs messy. That butterfly-light kiss made her heart incredibly soft. He was so handsome that just looking at him made her heart race.
After a very long time, she finally pushed him away with a red face, muttering softly.
“Before we’re married, you’re not allowed to seduce me anymore.”
He Liansheng gave her a mischievous look, placing her hand over his heart. His chest rose and fell strongly, and Xing Shuishui couldn’t help but think about how she had stabbed him right there before. Her palm trembled. She tried to pull away, but he was helping her feel at ease.
Xing Shuishui, stop running away.
It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.
There seemed to be flowing light in her eyes, and he was chasing that light.
Then he whispered in her ear: “Shuishui, I can’t wait any longer.”
Time seemed to pass very slowly here. The sunlight shifted, and He Liansheng didn’t practice his swordplay, just stayed by Xing Shuishui’s side, tending flowers, hanging persimmons to dry, combing hair, doing particularly mundane things.
She asked if he was very free lately? No need to go down the mountain to catch spirits. He Liansheng said Li Guanyu went in his place.
Xing Shuishui made an “oh” sound, saying Sister Guanyu was so nice, and continued sitting under the eaves peeling persimmons. She accidentally cut her finger with the knife, blood splashing onto the window paper. She felt no pain but furrowed her brows.
Seeing this, He Liansheng took out medicine for wounds and applied it for her, then lifted his arm to tuck the loose strands of hair by her cheeks behind her ear. She said it tickled, her ears turning red. He said he loved her so much.
Not knowing which festival was approaching, Lingshan was lit up all night, lively outside but quiet inside.
Xing Shuishui looked up, suddenly thinking of something, and circled her hands around the red lantern hanging from the eaves, asking: “Hey, is my wedding dress ready?”
“What kind do you want?”
“The most beautiful one.”
“Shall I choose for you?”
“Sure.”
He Liansheng went to get the wedding dress. Xing Shuishui glimpsed the Taoyuan sword placed beside her, picked it up with trembling hands, and drew it — whoosh!
She looked down, the bright blade reflected the lantern from the eaves, but didn’t show her reflection.
There was no blood on the window paper.
The persimmons on the tree grew more numerous the more they were picked.
There was no mirror in the room. He Liansheng never let her look at her reflection in water.
She was clever and had long sensed something.
Gently, she put the Taoyuan sword back, exactly as it was.
He Liansheng returned, not yet noticing her unease, and placed a pile of wedding dresses beside her. Xing Shuishui stared at them, lost in thought.
He asked: “Don’t you like any of them?”
She answered: “I do.”
“Which one?”
She chose the plainest one.
He Liansheng frowned: “Don’t you want to look at the others?”
She smiled: “No need. Simple is good.”
“Why are you crying again?”
The young man leaned closer, his floating black hair touching her cheeks. Xing Shuishui didn’t dodge this time, lifting her eyes to meet his gaze, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
“I’m happy because I’m marrying you.”
“I thought you would hate me.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t like me. I forced all of this on you.”
“I like you. Why else would I agree to marry you?”
“You don’t like someone like me. You prefer gentler people.”
“But I do like you. What you’re like doesn’t matter anymore.”
“He Liansheng.”
She told him seriously.
Sometimes He Liansheng really wanted to imprison her in his eyes.
He said softly: “Go to sleep.”
Perhaps after sleeping, she would wake up.
Today is September fifteenth. A good day for weddings.
Last night autumn rain came gently, today it passed quickly. After the drizzle, the sky was blue-green. Opening the window, the persimmons were red, covered in white frost, a scene of good fortune. It made one think: We must enjoy life’s pleasures while we can.
The wedding was set for today.
He Liansheng did Xing Shuishui’s makeup and hair. There was rouge on the table, but no mirror. Fearing she would grow suspicious, he said the mirror had broken and was being repaired.
Xing Shuishui nodded obediently.
She didn’t know how she looked after being fussed over, and after He Liansheng finished drawing her eyebrows while holding her chin, Xing Shuishui opened her eyes and looked at him, resting her chin in her hands.
“Do I look pretty?”
“Beautiful.”
“Am I the prettiest bride you’ve ever seen?”
“The most beautiful. I’m so fortunate to marry you.”
Hearing these words, Xing Shuishui’s eyes curved in happiness.
Today, He Liansheng had changed from his usual snow-white clothes, seeming less detached and showing signs of being touched by mortal affairs. He wore red clothes like fire, his features handsome. This red-lipped, white-teethed young man stared at her unblinkingly, his eyes like lantern flames.
“Li Guanhang and Li Guanyu are waiting for us. Let’s hurry over, we need to perform the ceremony.”
“Mm.”
Just as she responded, Xing Shuishui seemed to sense something, pressing her hand to her heart, lost in thought for a long time.
It felt like she was about to disappear.
He Liansheng asked what was wrong.
She lowered her eyes, forced a smile, and said softly: “I have a surprise for you.”
He paused, his voice pleased: “What is it?”
Xing Shuishui pointed: “Sit on the stool and close your eyes.”
He Liansheng sat by the window, closing his eyes to wait for her. He was actually being obedient for once.
Xing Shuishui stood facing him, gazing at him for a long time.
This fool was still asking: “What’s the surprise?”
She suddenly hugged his neck, sat on his lap, and lowered her head to kiss his lips. As their lips met, He Liansheng was startled. The chair tilted, pressing against the low wall.
He felt like he was dreaming, his voice hoarse: “Shuishui…”
Watching herself disappear would be too cruel for him.
She couldn’t bear it, so she tricked him into keeping his eyes closed.
Xing Shuishui’s throat choked with tears: “He Liansheng… I have to go… you need to… quickly find… the real me.”
Tears fell onto the young man’s face, the weight on his legs growing lighter and lighter. He Liansheng’s heart stopped, his eyes flying open as he reached to hold her waist, but grasped nothing.
There was no Xing Shuishui before his eyes, only an empty room and him in his wedding clothes. This room had been uninhabited for years. The persimmon tree bore fruit every year.
The persimmons grew more numerous with each picking.
The teacup remained full after being drunk.
Young newlyweds, never to part.
But sadly, her handwriting had never existed on the paper.
A wedding is meant for two, but he had performed this one-man show alone, not even getting to deepen that kiss before the dream cicada stopped singing. On the fifteenth day, the dream shattered.
The day she disappeared, the rain fell heavily.
He couldn’t accept it, running out to grab the red bridal veil, as if catching it would bring her back.
The rain mercilessly soaked the young man’s clothes, his smooth hair, his pale cheeks. He stumbled and knelt on the ground, supporting himself with the Taoyuan sword, clutching the veil tightly, repeating her name over and over in his heart.
He Liansheng suddenly missed her terribly.
Before losing consciousness completely, he seemed to see Xing Shuishui.
The young woman held an apricot-colored oil paper umbrella, walking to him without hesitation, saying softly: “Why are you in such a mess? You need to take better care of yourself.”
But when he opened his eyes, He Liansheng realized he had a fever. Li Guanhang had passed by and found him in time, bringing him back to his own courtyard.
Recently, the young servant watching over his courtyard had been on edge, barely daring to breathe. The autumn wind blew open the servant’s record book.
September 1st. Young Master has been acting strange since returning from Cangchuan. He refuses to see anyone, always going alone to that empty room, sometimes bringing dried persimmons, sometimes bringing tinkling candy, never having been so happy before.
September 2nd. We went to clean that room, but no one was there. The dried persimmons and candy on the table were untouched. The teacup was full, the tea long cold. We don’t understand why.
September 3rd. Young Master was very happy.
September 4th. Young Master was very happy.
September 5th. Young Master was very happy.
September 6th. Young Master was very happy.
…
September 11th. Young Master asked us to mail a letter to Jiangsu. We inquired for a long time but couldn’t figure out where this Jiangsu place was or how to get there. Even stranger, there wasn’t a single word written on the letter. Could it be haunted?
September 12th. Young Master asked us to find someone to make a woman’s wedding dress, saying it had to be the most beautiful in the world. We were confused but didn’t dare disobey. We heard the weaver in Pan Village was skilled, making wedding dresses worth their weight in gold. We went to ask Young Master, but saw him standing under the peach tree, seemingly talking to someone, even laughing. He’s been like this for several days.
September 13th. I saw Young Master trying on wedding clothes alone. Has the Mountain Master given him some new task?
September 14th. Young Master said it was a golden millet dream, waking with summer’s end. But he wanted to believe it was real.
September 17th. We’ve never seen Young Master so distracted, often holding a sachet and staring into space. Thinking of that day he collapsed in the rain like a defeated dog, we don’t know what happened, but he seemed to be in terrible pain, suffering from severe hysteria. Only that young woman could make him suffer so much.
Later, a distant cousin told me: “Your Young Master has been heaven’s chosen one since childhood, Lingshan’s finest. What an enviable life.”
I said he had his downfalls too.
“Because of what?”
“Did he fail to get first place?”
“No.”
“Was he scolded by his master?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
I said: “For love.”
He fell even more silent than me.
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