The venue of the festival is a beautiful creek. This small river is groundwater on the mountain. The main road is very wide, with yellow flowers and trees on both sides. There are food stalls on the street. Villagers sell goods on the street. The side of the road is not steep, but it leads to where the creek is. On the bank of the creek, lovers sit holding hands. It was a magnificent scene. It was breathtaking to see the many couples sitting on the bank of the small river.
Ping'an turned to Guo Baiyu, "I want you to remember this scenery." She pointed to the lovers on the bank of the small river. "When we get home, please paint it for me."
Guo Baiyu smiled at her and patted her on the head lightly, "Should I write poems too?"
Ping'an smiled at him, "That would be even better."
Shui Aichi joked, "Ping'an, if you don't tie that string to his wrist, I will tie it." Shui Aichi looked at the creek bank. "Then he will sit there with me."
Guo Baiyu, "Even if she doesn't tie it. I am not sitting there with anyone but her."
Shui Aichi showed a disappointed expression, "Ouch.... Your words are like a poisonous dagger pierced my heart." She burst out laughing.
Guo Baiyu smiled and shook his head, "You will be my cousin's perfect partner."
Shui Aichi was very excited, "Really? Is he as handsome as you?"
Ping'an, "He is also very talented."
Shui Aichi, "I must see to believe it."
Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Shui Aichi walked around the open road. After looking around for a while, Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Shui Aichi decided to eat something first, and then continue to search for Zhao Renshu. They sat at a bamboo table waiting for food.
Zhao Renshu and Hu Qingge are walking on the main road. There are food stalls everywhere, and Zhao Renshu cannot stop eating. He held a banana leaf bowl full of meatball in his left hand. He eat and searched for Ping'an and Gou Baiyu.
Hu Qingge, "I want to tie this on your wrist."
Zhao Renshu looked at his wrists, "Tie it on this side. I am still need my right hand."
Hu Qingge smiled, "Can I really tie it on your wrist?"
Zhao Renshu nodded, "Of course." He stuffed two more meatballs into his mouth. "It must be nice for you to walk freely among these villagers."
Hu Qingge tied the string on Zhao Renshu's left wrist. Zhao Renshu turned around and saw the same white and red braided thread on Hu Qingge's right wrist.
Hu Qingge, "You knew?"
Zhao Renshu smiled, "It not hard to tell. Why tie this on you too?"
Hu Qingge explained, "If you agree for me to tie it on your wrist, it mean you accept me as your lover." She smiled at him.
Zhao Renshu's jaw dropped, "What?" He coughed badly because the chewed meatballs in his mouth fell in the wrong way down his throat. "You didn't explain to me." He dropped his bowl of meatballs and reached out to untie the string.
Hu Qingge stopped him with her left hand, "You can't do this. I will be very embarrass by all these people." She begged him. "If you really want... how about after the festival, you can untie it."
Zhao Renshu couldn't believe it. As long as he can remember, he is a deceiver. Now he was cheated by others. He turned around, faced the people on the river bank, smiled at his stupidity, and shook his head.
Zhao Renshu uttered softly, "Karma is a bitch, when it turns around to bites you in the ass."
Hu Qingge, "What?"
Zhao Renshu, "Nothing."
Hu Qinge walked to Zhao Renshu and stood beside him, "Don't be angry." She stared at his handsome face. "I really like you."
Zhao Renshu is still thinking. A pair of arms were wrapped around Zhao Renshu's waist. Zhao Renshu thought it was Hu Qingge. He took his hand and prepared to pull it away, but the familiarity of the hand made Zhao Renshu turn around.
Zhao Renshu was staring right at Ping'an. He was very happy with joy, so he picked Ping'an up and spun around twice. Ping'an lowered down her head and kissed his forehead.
Ping'an smiled and said, "It doesn't take two full days to fetch water."
Zhao Renshu was being a brat, he buried his head on her chest, "I know...I am also hurt."
Guo Baiyu noticed that people looked at them as they walked by.
Guo Baiyu, "How long will you hold her like this?"
Zhao Renshu, "Lower your head down."
Ping'an lowered her head down, and he gently kissed her lips. "Two days apart feels like two centuries." He slowly put her down. He walked to Guo Baiyu and hugged him. "I am glad you are up and walking."
Shui Aichi, "Wow... You are very handsome." She saw the string tied on his left wrist. In confusion, "Wait a minute....Wait.... I thought Baiyu is your husband." She looked at Ping'an.
Zhao Renshu got offended, "Says who?"
Shui Aichi, "I thought they were married. Why would you kiss her when you have a string tied to your wrist?" She pointed at the string on Zhao Renshu's left wrist.
Zhao Renshu, "She didn't tell me the story before she tied it on my wrist. She promised to untie it after the festival."
Shui Aichi, "After the festival?" Do you Agree?"
Zhao Renshu, "Yes. I don't want her to lose face in front of these people."
Shui Aichi scoffed and said, "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 to face Hu Qingge, "You forgot to mention about that part."
Hu Qingge sadly frowned, "I don't want to lie to you." She looked sad. "But I really really like you Renshu." She held his left arm.
Zhao Renshu pulled away, "Qingge, I have told you that I cannot love anyone. I believe you will find a good person for you in the future."
Hu Qingge, "Don't say that to me." She held his left arm again. "Last night was real."
Guo Baiyu and Ping'an both looked at Zhao Renshu with eyes that is as round and big as owl's eyes.
Guo Baiyu grabbed Zhao Renshu by the collar, "What did you do last night?"
Zhao Renshu, "I didn't do anything. I was....."
Ping'an took two steps back, "Baiyu, let go of his collar."
Guo Baiyu let go of Zhao Renshu's collar because he realized that people were looking at them.
Hu Qingge, "Renshu..... The woman you love has another man. You said you could love me if there is no her."
Ping'an looked at Zhao Renshu, "You said that?"
Zhao Renshu moved towards Ping'an, but she took a step back.
Ping'an, "Did you really said that?"
Zhao Renshu felt frustrated, "I didn't said that. She asked me if I didn't have you... would I consider giving her a chance."
Ping'an, "Your answer?"
Zhao Renshu scoffed and shook his head, "Yes, maybe."
Ping'an, "Yes maybe what?"
Zhao Renshu saw Ping'an's red watery eyes and he hated himself more than ever.
Zhao Renshu, "I told her, maybe if there is no you, but I have you." He approached her, but she took a step back. "Please don't cry, don't do this." He took his right hand and began to untie the string from his left wrist.
Hu Qingge pleaded, "Please don't do this." She struggled to get rid of his hand. "Please, I have given you my heart. The kissing, the touching, the feelings are real. We even go further..."
Zhao Renshu shouted in angrily, "Stop it, Hu Qingge!"
Ping'an bit her lips, held back her tears and asked, "You kissed her? You two even went as far as... that...?"
Zhao Renshu exhaled and nodded. When he looked at Ping'an's face, he knew his actions was like a poisoned arrow struck her in the heart.
Hu Qingge, "I know you have feeling for me, too."
Zhao Renshu yelled, "Stop! Stop talking nonsense. Stop interrupting and put wood in the fire."