Is Our Great Matchmaker
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month marks the Lantern Festival, one of the Three Yuan Festivals of the year. The moon is full, and it is said that on this day, the Heavenly Officer of Upper Yuan blesses the people of the mortal world. Therefore, the day before the Lantern Festival, families prepare lanterns and sacrificial altars, offering to the True Lords and begging for continuous blessings. Buddhist temples also hold a three-day lantern festival, where the lights and the sound of scriptures do not cease throughout the night.
The day before was a trial lighting, and today is the actual lantern festival. Even though it was still daylight, hundreds and thousands of lanterns were already hung in the streets. The government even erected grand lantern towers and trees at the center of the market, and workers were climbing up one by one to light the candles, layer by layer, resembling a bright full moon descending from the heavens.
Yu Jinnian had woken up early to open the shop. In the kitchen, large and small pots were filled with various stewed dishes simmering overnight. Though they retained their shape, the meat had become tender and melted in the mouth. After checking on the stews, Yu Jinnian went to the yard to look at the baskets stacked on the wooden racks. Inside were the yuanxiao (glutinous rice balls) that had been prepared over the past few days. Each basket had a red paper note indicating the flavors.
Xinan County had a diverse palate, with both savory and sweet preferences. So Yu Jinnian had prepared a variety. Not only that, but to add a festive touch, he also made colorful tangyuan, which were twice the size of ordinary ones, with thin skin and ample filling, and they wouldn’t break apart when cooked. Each bowl contained just four tangyuan.
He even named these colorful tangyuan Four-Colored Fortune Balls.
Even though the colorful tangyuan were slightly more expensive, their bright appearance and auspicious meaning, along with their plump shape in white porcelain bowls, made them hard for people to resist. Many customers came specifically to try the new Four-Colored Fortune Balls. In addition to regular yuanxiao, the shop also offered fermented rice dumplings and red bean dumplings, which were quite popular with young ladies and gentlemen.
Yu Jinnian followed a list and waited for people to come and collect their pre-ordered food. Once the orders were picked up, One Bowl Noodle House closed for the day. The shop didn’t need to earn money for one or two more days, and it was clear that all the ‘employees,’ including Yu Jinnian himself, were eager to visit the lantern market. As the small boss, he was especially excited, counting the hours until it was time to go.
As soon as the lion dance team’s gong struck its first note, a loud voice called out from the street, “—Light the lanterns!”
Yu Jinnian immediately jumped up from behind the counter, full of energy, and rushed to the backyard to fetch Ji Hong.
Min Xuefei wasn’t fond of such crowds, so he stayed behind with Shiqing and Huayi to take care of Aunt Xu. Aunt Xu even took out some private money, telling Sui Sui to buy whatever she fancied, but Yu Jinnian naturally refused. He had long considered Aunt Xu and her daughter his own family, so how could he spend Aunt Xu’s private money?
He insisted that he had plenty of money and took Sui Sui out to have fun.
That day, whether it was noble young ladies confined to their homes or courtesans from high balconies, everyone could come out to play with their friends. The lantern market was crowded, and the entertainment was varied. As soon as Yu Jinnian’s group entered, they were quickly separated by the crowd. Yu Jinnian followed the lion dance team for a while, enjoying the lively scene. But when he turned around, he found that everyone else had disappeared. He stood on tiptoe and called out a few times, but his voice was drowned in the waves of laughter and cheers.
Yu Jinnian looked around anxiously, not afraid but feeling a bit disappointed that he had been separated from Ji Hong.
He wandered through the sea of lanterns, occasionally buying small snacks to eat. A vendor selling crispy peanut brittle caught his eye. Yu Jinnian handed over a coin, and the vendor scooped a handful of peanuts into a paper cone and handed it to him.
There was also a stall selling tangerine peel candies, so he bought a bag as well.
Now, with a paper cone of peanuts in his left hand and a bag of tangerine peel candy hanging from his right wrist, Yu Jinnian walked and munched, watching a street performer swallow swords. Just as he was engrossed in the show, someone suddenly grabbed him from behind, pulling him off balance. When he regained his footing, he was startled to see a ferocious beast mask in front of him!
He was so shocked that he dropped the peanuts from his mouth. After calming down and looking to the side, he saw another beast mask! But this one didn’t seem to be trying to scare him and was holding a bunch of bags.
A pair of eyes peeked out from the ferocious mask in front of him, staring intently at him, before letting out a sinister laugh and dragging him toward a deserted alley. Yu Jinnian’s mind immediately jumped to thoughts of robbery, kidnapping, and other criminal acts…
Seeing Yu Jinnian’s confused expression, the person in the beast mask couldn’t hold back their laughter anymore.
The taller beast-masked person beside them shook his head and lifted his mask, revealing half of his face, and said helplessly, “Little master, it’s us.”
“Shi Xing?” Yu Jinnian suddenly realized, turning to the other person laughing hysterically. “—Jiang Bingren!”
Young Master Jiang pushed his mask up onto his head, laughing, “Scared you, didn’t I? You scare so easily!” He looked around and asked curiously, “Where’s your Young Master Ji? Did he abandon you? I tell you, during the Lantern Festival, people love to steal girls! And though Young Master Ji isn’t a young lady, with a face like his, he’d be worth stealing, even as a man!”
Yu Jinnian knew Jiang Bingren was teasing, but he couldn’t help worrying that someone might actually take advantage of Ji Hong. Just as he was about to leave, Jiang Bingren grabbed him again. “Alright, alright, the lantern market isn’t that big. The best stuff is inside, and there’s a riddle guessing contest too. Let’s look around together, we’ll definitely run into him.”
“Let’s go!” Young Master Jiang pulled out another beast mask and placed it on Yu Jinnian’s face. Then, smiling mischievously, he whispered in Yu Jinnian’s ear, “And don’t you want to see if he recognizes you with your face covered?”
Yu Jinnian had been about to tear the ugly mask off but was tempted by Jiang Bingren’s suggestion. He gave up resisting.
The three of them wandered through the lantern market, and Jiang Bingren spent lavishly on a bunch of small trinkets. More and more people with beast masks joined the crowd. Young gentlemen in extravagant clothes, adorned with jewels, were full of youthful energy. The masks were like a colorful shell, protecting the subtle emotions between young men and women, allowing them to walk freely side by side, or even secretly touch hands.
Beneath his mask, Yu Jinnian could hear his own breathing. The festive atmosphere around him filled him with excitement, and he couldn’t wait to experience that special moment of connection with his own beloved.
As they walked, Jiang Bingren suddenly nudged Yu Jinnian.
Looking up, Yu Jinnian saw the very person he had been eagerly waiting for, approaching from the crowd.
Jiang Bingren whispered, “Don’t look at him, don’t look at him.”
Yu Jinnian quickly lowered his head, suppressing the urge to run over and greet Ji Hong. Instead, he acted as if they were strangers, walking casually toward him. He had intentionally dressed plainly, with no distinguishing features, and had even left his small knife behind at home. With his face hidden, he blended into the crowd, like a drop of water in the ocean.
His heart pounded as he imagined several scenarios of Ji Hong recognizing him and rewarding him for the effort. Just as he felt a smile forming under the mask and quickened his steps, Ji Hong walked straight past him without even a glance.
Yu Jinnian slowed down, looking at the peanut cone in his hand. His pace grew sluggish, like a turtle, as he consoled himself: Wearing a mask makes it hard to be recognized, and with so many people around, it’s noisy and chaotic. Maybe he just didn’t notice me. I can’t blame him for not recognizing me!
Ji Hong suddenly stopped in his tracks and glanced back.
Yu Jinnian was racking his brain trying to make excuses for him when, all of a sudden, he felt a weight on his wrist as it was grabbed by a hand as smooth as jade.
“Jinnian!” Ji Hong called out urgently.
“You…” Yu Jinnian, who had been feeling disappointed, was suddenly overwhelmed with joy. He almost rushed forward but then, for reasons he couldn’t quite comprehend, he instinctively lowered his voice and said, “You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
Ji Hong was relieved and wrapped his hand in his own. With a playful smile, he teased, “Since it’s a mistake, why not just let it be?”
Yu Jinnian could hear the amusement in his words and knew Ji Hong had recognized him. Delighted, he couldn’t help but smile so widely that it nearly broke through his mask. Yet neither of them revealed the truth, sharing a tacit little secret. Yu Jinnian allowed Ji Hong to hold his hand and, as they walked a bit further, he lifted the peanut tube in his hand and asked, “Want some?”
Ji Hong lowered his head and slightly parted his lips. Yu Jinnian’s left hand was occupied with the paper tube, and his right hand was being held by Ji Hong. Knowing this, Ji Hong still lowered his head, clearly wanting more than just peanuts. Yu Jinnian glanced around through the eye holes of his mask, seeing the dense crowd, and felt it wasn’t the right place for Ji Hong’s playful request. He snorted, “Just take it yourself!”
Ji Hong laughed as he picked up two peanuts and ate them, then led him to look at the lantern riddles.
Rows of small lanterns were hung on racks, each with a riddle pasted on it. If you guessed the answer correctly, you could win a prize—nothing too valuable, just some festive trinkets. Yu Jinnian quickly solved five or six riddles in a row and exchanged them with the prize vendor for a clay bird whistle. He brought it to his lips and blew, making a playful whistling sound.
Ji Hong, amused by Yu Jinnian’s childlike behavior, continued to tear off more riddle papers. Often, before Yu Jinnian could even read a word, Ji Hong had already solved it and torn the paper down.
Jiang Bingren, who had come along to join the fun, looked at the few riddle papers in his hand and snorted in frustration. Shi Xing, who usually indulged Jiang in almost anything as long as it wasn’t a major issue, found himself helpless this time. Asking him, a warrior, to take down a tower was one thing, but expecting him to solve lantern riddles was akin to torturing him.
Yu Jinnian picked up a nearby riddle and read aloud, “In the moon resides a guest, sharing seeds; on earth, no flower dares to rival its fragrance… I know this one!”
“What is it?” Ji Hong asked.
Yu Jinnian, beaming, replied, “It’s our great matchmaker!”
Ji Hong hadn’t expected such an answer, but when he realized what Yu Jinnian meant, he couldn’t help but chuckle and nodded in agreement. “Indeed.”
Yu Jinnian held the riddle paper and was about to run off to claim his prize. But after taking just two steps, he suddenly stopped and glanced around. Despite the noisy crowd and the laughter all around, with lanterns everywhere, something felt off. A chill ran down his spine, making him uncomfortable.
Ji Hong asked, “What’s wrong?”
After hesitating for a moment, Yu Jinnian shook his head and muttered, “I just feel like someone’s watching us.” He had planned to run off quickly and come back, but now he stubbornly insisted that Ji Hong accompany him. They bantered with the prize vendor for a bit, and just then, Duan Ming and the others arrived, striking up a conversation. The eerie feeling abruptly vanished.
Yu Jinnian turned to look into the distance, his suspicion lingering.
Before he could spot anything unusual, a group of seven- or eight-year-old children carrying lanterns rushed past him. Leading the pack seemed to be a few young masters, dressed in fine clothes, their bearing confident as they led their younger servants.
After the large group passed, two small figures lagged behind, having been left quite a distance by their companions. Leading the way was a little boy dressed in embroidered garments, holding a fish-shaped lantern, walking briskly with a haughty air. He hurriedly called to the little servant trailing behind, “Hurry up! The sky lanterns will be all gone soon!”
“Master, Master…” The skinny, delicate little servant panted as he chased after him, grabbing the sleeve of the young master. “Wait for me… I can’t run anymore.”
The young master frowned, looking ahead at the companions who had already run out of sight. With a sigh, he, like a small adult, impatiently said, “You’re such a bother.” The little servant looked up at him tearfully, but before he could cry, the young master shoved a lantern into his hands and offered his sleeve. “Alright, here’s a lantern for you. Now stop crying.”
“Okay.” The little servant wiped his tears, sniffled, and grabbed the young master’s sleeve.
Watching the two of them walk away, Yu Jinnian thought to himself, how sweet, such innocent affection. So, he also grabbed Ji Hong’s sleeve and, in a deliberately childish tone, said, “I want a lantern too.”
Ji Hong laughed. “Alright, I’ll buy you one.”
The group followed the crowd toward the riverbank, where sky lanterns were steadily rising into the night. One by one, the glowing lanterns floated up to the heavens, gathering in the sky like a river of stars. Boats adorned with lights drifted on the river, and the soft melody of strings floated out from the brightly lit boat houses, their thin walls casting delicate shadows of dancing girls and singing women.
Crowds returning from the ‘Walking the Hundred Diseases’ ritual gathered along the riverbank to admire the lanterns and make wishes.
‘Crossing Three Bridges, Walking the Hundred Diseases’ was a traditional festival custom of the Da Xia dynasty. Every year after viewing the lanterns, women, especially sisters and friends, would dress up and invite each other to walk off illness. Leading the way would be an older, blessed woman holding a stick of incense, and the group would chant as they walked, touching walls and crossing bridges until they left the city.
It was said that if you crossed three bridges and touched the nails of a temple, you could rid yourself of all illnesses and enjoy peace, prosperity, and fertility. As the saying went, ‘Better than drinking medicine twice a day; all ailments vanish into dust.’ However, to Yu Jinnian, it was merely a symbolic ritual for seeking blessings. Thus, though he had seen the group walking earlier, he hadn’t joined in.
The walking group was mostly made up of women, but occasionally men would join along the way. The crowd was a mix of all ages, and no one paid attention to who entered or exited the procession.
Bai Haitang, carrying a round lantern, and Su Ting, with a bag slung over his shoulder and a basket in hand, followed the procession from a distance, stopping to rest whenever they grew tired. They didn’t follow the crowd all the way out of the city, but after crossing three bridges, they decided to stop. Seeing Bai Haitang’s weary expression, Su Ting suggested they drop out and take a break at a nearby wonton stall.
Knowing Bai Haitang didn’t like to touch others’ things for fear of passing on his illness, Su Ting carefully pulled out their own bowl from the basket, bought wontons, and watched Bai Haitang eat as he silently observed him.
There seemed to be something different about Haitang today. Before they left, he had spent a long time getting ready in his room, and when he came out, he appeared slightly bashful. Su Ting noticed a wooden hairpin in his hair and wooden beads hanging from his ears—ordinary items, really, but Su Ting understood this was Haitang’s way of dressing up.
Su Ting had been so taken aback that he’d been momentarily speechless before finally blurting out, “Haitang, you… you look beautiful.”
Bai Haitang didn’t seem to have much of an appetite. After taking only two small bites of wontons, he lost interest. Turning his head, he noticed a tavern across the street, festively decorated, with the aroma of wine wafting out, sweet and enticing. He looked at Su Ting and said, “Ting Lang, how about we get some wine?”
Su Ting snapped out of his thoughts, looking slightly troubled. “Haitang, your health isn’t good…”
“Just a little, it’s the Lantern Festival today…” Bai Haitang softly pleaded, gazing at Su Ting with gentle eyes, “Just a little.”
Su Ting hesitated but, unable to resist Bai Haitang’s earnest gaze, he nodded. “Alright, we’ll get some sweet wine, just for a little taste.” He added, “Finish your wontons first, and then we’ll go.”
Bai Haitang’s eyes lit up with a smile, and to earn the wine, he quickly finished the wontons and even drank the soup. Holding up his empty bowl to Su Ting, he said, “All done.”
“You really want that wine, huh?” Su Ting muttered under his breath. He asked the shopkeeper for some clean water, rinsed the bowl, and put it back into the basket. Then he reached for Bai Haitang’s hand. “Let’s go see what wine they have.”
Bai Haitang beamed and followed Su Ting across the street to the tavern. Once inside, he was immediately captivated by the variety of wines on display. Besides the few he had tasted in the past, most were completely unfamiliar to him. He curiously inspected each one, smelling this and examining that, unsure which to choose. Even the sweet fruit wines Su Ting had mentioned came in many varieties.
They stopped in front of a small wine jar. The shop assistant scooped out a little with a bamboo ladle, pouring it into a white porcelain cup. The wine was a brilliant red, like a ruby. The richness of the color dazzled Bai Haitang’s eyes, and they seemed to sparkle with excitement.
“Do you like this one? Then we’ll get it.” Su Ting pulled out some coins and asked the assistant, “What’s this wine called?”
“Red Heaven Brew,” the assistant replied with a smile. “It’s made from pomegranates.”
The wine was placed in a small gourd, tied at the waist with a hemp string, making it easy to carry. Seeing Bai Haitang so pleased, Su Ting suggested they go for a boat ride. Bai Haitang blinked at him. “…A boat ride?”
Su Ting explained, “The sky lanterns will be released by the riverbank, and from the middle of the river, we can see hundreds of lanterns floating in the distance. We won’t have to go where the crowds are; it’ll just be the two of us on the boat, drinking and talking.”
Bai Haitang hesitated. “But where will we get a boat?”
Su Ting, acting mysteriously, led him further away. The path became more secluded as they left the city and entered a small grove by the riverbank. Pushing aside the overgrown grass and tangled branches, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a small pier, likely built by someone for personal use. Tied to the shore was a small covered boat.
“Be careful,” Su Ting said as he helped Bai Haitang into the boat. He placed the lantern at the bow and ducked into the cabin, lighting a candle from the basket before inviting Bai Haitang to sit. “I borrowed the boat from a friend. It’s all been cleaned up,” he explained as he took out some prepared snacks from the basket. They were simple homemade treats, leftovers from the New Year, but both were content.
With a push of the bamboo pole, the small boat swayed gently as it floated toward the middle of the river.
This area was quiet and somewhat secluded. The fancier boats didn’t bother coming here, and under the indigo sky and on the jade-green water, it felt as though the vast world around them belonged solely to them.
Not planning for a drink, Su Ting hadn’t brought wine cups, so they had to settle for pouring the wine into bowls. Bai Haitang didn’t mind. There was a small table on the boat, just big enough for the two of them to sit across from each other. Bai Haitang, captivated by the appearance of the pomegranate wine, held his bowl and admired it for a while before finally taking a sip. After their walk, the cold had seeped into the wine, making it cool and refreshing when it hit the tongue.
Su Ting unfolded the cloth he had brought, which turned out to be a small blanket. He draped it over Bai Haitang’s shoulders. “It’s cold on the river, don’t catch a chill.”
Wrapped in the blanket, Bai Haitang looked down at his bowl of pomegranate wine, his lips curling into a smile. “This is nice.”
“That’s it? It’ll get even better,” Su Ting chuckled.
“The future…” Bai Haitang pondered for a moment, but whatever he thought of softened his gaze until it was as gentle as a pool of water. He said, “I never thought much about the future before. Life in the opera troupe was hard. Our master took care of nine of us, constantly traveling. With nine mouths to feed, and all of us boys, going hungry was common. But the master had a good eye. Even though we came from different backgrounds, we were all determined, striving to get on stage as soon as possible to repay him. Unfortunately, Master didn’t live to see the day when all nine of us performed ‘Thanking the Master’… He passed away.”
Over the years, Bai Haitang had occasionally mentioned bits of his past, but he would often stop short, as if there were too many painful memories wrapped up in it. Su Ting, sensing this, had never pressed for more. Today, however, Bai Haitang seemed willing to share more than usual, and Su Ting listened attentively, thinking this was a moment of true openness.
“When I was young, my eldest senior brother had the best voice among us. Master placed great hopes on him, expecting him to be the pillar of the troupe. But fate had other plans. When my senior brother turned fourteen or fifteen, his voice suddenly changed. You know how important a good voice is to an opera singer. Though no one said it outright, we all knew… he wouldn’t be able to sing anymore.”
“At that time, Master’s health was already declining, and this blow completely broke him. I was only six, too young to understand what was happening, but Master started hanging me up and forcing me to learn opera. We knew he had lost his mind. He didn’t have much time left and was terrified the troupe would fall apart. So, he pushed us relentlessly, making us practice our forms and train our voices day and night.”
Worried that the conversation might be too heavy, Su Ting said, “Haitang…”
Bai Haitang smiled at him. “It’s alright. I want to say this. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken about it.” He continued, “When I was ten, after my first performance, Master fell gravely ill and soon passed away. The troupe was thrown into chaos for a while, and a few senior brothers left. In the end, only half of us remained, willing to follow my eldest senior brother. Even though his voice wasn’t what it used to be, he was smart. When we reached Xinan County, he suddenly decided to use all his savings to buy an opera house so we wouldn’t have to wander anymore.”
Su Ting suddenly understood. “So your eldest senior brother is the current head of the troupe?” He recalled that desperate time when he had gone to the opera house, only to be humiliated with a few coppers.
“Yes,” Bai Haitang nodded, noticing the confusion on Su Ting’s face. “Though we no longer wandered, business was still unpredictable. I never really thought about the future. I ate when there was food and performed when there was a show. After Master passed, there were misunderstandings and grievances between me and my senior brothers… But that’s just how things are.”
“And after that…?”
Bai Haitang smiled warmly. “Then I met you, Ting Lang.”
He finished the wine in his bowl. “Move the table, I want to show you something.”
Puzzled, Su Ting moved the small table to the bow of the boat. The lantern at the bow had dimmed slightly, so he picked up a small twig from the boat and stirred the wick until the flame crackled back to life. When he turned around, he was stunned.
Bai Haitang was kneeling inside the cabin, undoing his robes. The small blanket that had been draped over his shoulders was now piled up at his feet in soft layers.
Su Ting had thought about being intimate with Bai Haitang before—more than once, in fact. Being younger than Bai Haitang and in the prime of youth, he wasn’t the type to adhere strictly to the rules. He had even dabbled in risqué plays and fantasies. Night after night, his dreams were filled with Bai Haitang, and often, he’d wake up in the morning to find his trousers damp from those dreams.
But he had never intended to take advantage of Bai Haitang, nor did he want to be with him if Bai Haitang wasn’t willing. And now… what had changed? Why had Bai Haitang, who had refused him so many times, suddenly…?
Su Ting could hardly believe what was happening. He knelt down, staring at Bai Haitang in a daze. It took him a long moment before he clumsily sprang into action, lowering the reed curtains at both ends of the cabin. Even though there wasn’t a soul on the river, he couldn’t bear the thought of anything—or anyone—stealing a glimpse of Haitang’s body.
When he returned inside, he was still in a daze, unsure where to put his hands and feet. Though he had longed for this moment, an unexpected wave of shyness overcame him. His eyes, as if rusted in place, remained fixed on the edge of Haitang’s robe without daring to move up.
As he gazed, Su Ting suddenly noticed something. He reached out and pulled a piece of red fabric from beneath Haitang’s gray outer garment. It was like pulling a thread from a spool; as he tugged, the outer garment slipped off with a soft rustle. His eyes widened, and he stammered, “H-Haitang, this… this is…”
When he finally lifted his gaze, Bai Haitang’s cheeks were as red as a ripe persimmon. “Do you… like it?”
“I-I do. It’s beautiful,” Su Ting replied, staring in awe without realizing how embarrassed Bai Haitang had become. He touched the fabric in wonder, his eyes gleaming. “This wedding attire… when did you make it?”
Bai Haitang, still feeling shy, replied, “A long time ago. I sewed it myself. There’s still a bit left unfinished, but I didn’t have time. I… I always thought that one day, I’d wear it for the one I love.” He tugged on the hem of his skirt, blushing as he said, “Would you like to see it?”
Su Ting swallowed hard, utterly at a loss. His heart raced in a panic, unsure if it was the sight of the wedding clothes or Bai Haitang’s mention of “the one I love” that affected him so deeply. His emotions swelled up, and despite his smile, he felt tears threatening to spill. His heart melted, and he could only stammer, “Haitang, Haitang… I… I don’t even know what to say…” He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, repeating over and over, “It’s beautiful.”
Bai Haitang chuckled helplessly. “Why are you acting like a child?”
The more Haitang teased him, the more Su Ting’s heart ached. He tried to explain himself, “Anyone would cry if they saw their bride looking so beautiful!”
Bai Haitang’s face reddened. “Who said I’m your bride?”
Su Ting dried his eyes and took a step back, studying Haitang from head to toe with admiration. At Haitang’s remark, he immediately stopped breathing, staring at him wide-eyed. “You’re not?”
“…” Cornered by the question, Bai Haitang had no choice but to admit, “I am… I am. Go on, take a look.”
Su Ting circled around, looking at Haitang from every angle, as if no amount of gazing would ever be enough. He had dreamed of Haitang wearing wedding attire many times, but in his dreams, it was always hazy and fleeting, like an unattainable vision. Now, seeing it with his own eyes, he felt as though he might be dreaming again, but this time, everything was so real—touchable, palpable.
He was utterly mesmerized, wishing he could etch every detail into his memory.
Suddenly, a seam in the bright red wedding robe parted, revealing a sliver of pale white skin beneath. The gap widened as it traveled downward, exposing more with each passing second. Su Ting’s breath grew heavier, and as his hand reached toward the waistband, he snapped back to reality. Alarmed, he grabbed Haitang’s hand.
Bai Haitang’s face turned pale, as if stunned. “Ting Lang… haven’t you always wanted to see?”
Su Ting stared at him intently, now fully awake from his overwhelming joy. Panic set in as he hastily pulled Haitang’s wedding robe back up over his shoulders, speaking in a rush, “I want to see, but not today… Haitang, not today. Let’s wait, alright?”
Bai Haitang reached out again, but Su Ting recoiled as if he had been burned, retreating to the bow of the boat.
“…” Bai Haitang grasped at empty air, nearly falling over before catching himself with his other hand. A terrible possibility flashed through his mind—was Su Ting afraid of him? Feeling desperate, he continued undressing, determined to show Su Ting everything.
The night was cold, and the wind on the river was unrelenting. Su Ting leapt back into the cabin in an instant, grabbing the small blanket they had tossed aside earlier. Without a word, he wrapped Haitang up tightly, holding his hands down. “What are you doing? What do you want to do?”
What did he want? He only wanted Su Ting to see his body, to understand the nature of his illness. Haitang struggled, breaking free for just a moment before being caught again by Su Ting. Though he had forced this on the other, he was the one left feeling embarrassed and defeated.
Su Ting’s eyes reddened. “Bai Haitang… are you testing me? Do you think you need to test me? You’re wearing your wedding clothes for me, yet you still think you need to test me?”
His voice became fiercer. “If you keep this up, I’ll consummate our marriage right here and now! I don’t care what illness you have, I’ll die with you if I have to!”
Terrified, Bai Haitang shrank back, scurrying to the other end of the cabin, afraid that Su Ting might actually go through with his threat.
Su Ting let out a deep breath, slowly approached, and gently draped the small blanket back over Haitang. “Alright, put your clothes back on. I was just worried you’d catch a cold.” He pulled Haitang close, his tone softening. “You don’t have to test me. No matter what, I won’t leave you. Trust me, Haitang.”
Haitang, his voice muffled, asked, “Ting Lang, will you marry someone else in the future?”
“What kind of question is that?” Su Ting replied. “Aren’t I already holding my bride?”
“Mm.” Bai Haitang let out a quiet laugh. “Well… if I die, you should remarry. It doesn’t matter if they’re poor, as long as they treat you well. You don’t like studying, so don’t worry about it. If you can’t pass the imperial exams, it’s fine. Just live comfortably. Being a clerk isn’t a bad life.”
Su Ting froze, his spine stiffening. “…What are you saying?”
Bai Haitang’s thoughts wandered. “Ting Lang, I’ve always had good luck. A fortune-teller once said I was born under Heaven’s pardon, blessed with a life of ease and prosperity. No matter the disaster, I could always turn misfortune into fortune.”
Su Ting’s heart filled with dread. He grabbed Haitang’s hand and, with the other, reached for the bamboo pole. “We’re heading back. We’ll go home, and on the way, I’ll buy you a lotus lantern for blessings and some of your favorite kidney bean cakes.”
“Alright,” Bai Haitang replied with a smile, but something in his sleeve stirred.
Su Ting finally got hold of the bamboo pole and turned around, only to see Bai Haitang shove something into his mouth. Terror seized him, and he scrambled toward Haitang, tripping on a wooden plank. His knee slammed into the boat’s deck, but he barely registered the pain. He crawled forward in desperation, but it was too late. All he could do was watch as Bai Haitang swallowed whatever it was.