C12 (1/2)

I turned off the light, climbed onto the bed with River Branch, cut a strand of our hair and divided it into twenty pieces. Then I tied our little strands together, tied them with little red strings, and placed them on twenty small plates.

After the hair was done, he placed twenty large red candles on a small plate and pressed them against our hair. They were arranged around the edge of the bed and lit. Then I took out the red rope and looked at the branch.

The red candlelight illuminated her flushed face. She whispered, ”Turn around.”

I obediently turned around with my back facing her. After a while, River Branch said, ”It's done.”

When I looked back, she was in the quilt, beside the clothes she'd taken off. I took off all my clothes and lay down under the covers and tied our hands together with a red rope and lay side by side.

The candlelight flickered, and River Branch asked, ”Is this really okay?”

”I can.”

”It's a little hot.”

”That's right. It's summer and the electric fans aren't open yet and the blankets are still covering them. Other than us, there's no one else.”

”Hmph, you're being dishonest!”

”Of course not, River Branch, what plans do you have for the future?”

”I don't have a plan. I just want to be a white-collar worker or something. ”Don't earn too much money. Be carefree every day. Go shopping after work, eat good food, watch a movie on the weekend, or be lazy at home, listen to songs, watch TV, and live my life.”

”Yes.” I returned softly.

We talked about life as if we had never talked to her like this before.

Time passed bit by bit. By the time 12 o'clock arrived, all the candles had been extinguished.

I sat up and said to River Branch, ”Put on your clothes, I'll go turn on the lights.”

”En, you can open it after I'm done!”

I swiftly put on my clothes and used the moonlight coming through the window to walk to the switch. I waited for River Tree to finish shouting before I turned on the light.

I quickly checked the candles on the edge of the bed. Ten of them had already been burnt, and the other ten were only half burned.

The number of candles burned out meant that the lifespan of the River Branch had increased by many years. Ten of them were burnt out, and each of them was burnt in half. The total amount of them should be fifteen candles, so I lost fifteen years of my lifespan.

I lost fifteen years, the River Styx has gained ten more years, and there are still five more years left, which is to bribe this generation's Yin Division.

”Are you done?” River Branch asked softly.

I nodded. ”Okay, you can live now.”

I didn't tell her that in order to let her live another ten years, I wanted to live fifteen years longer.

”River water, you are really capable. It would be better to not stay in our village and go to a big city. Who knows, you might even have some achievements!”

I smiled, noncommittal. From the conversation I had with River Branch, I also discovered that there was a difference between my understanding of life and hers. She was deeply influenced by the melodrama, looking forward to the living environment of the sunny city, while I prefer the quiet countryside.

If we were to be together, this disagreement would only get worse and worse, and eventually, it would just get worse and worse. ”But I don't regret it, because at this moment, I still like her very much.

”I'm going back.” I said with some sadness.

River Branch was stunned for a moment and was a little disappointed. When I held onto the door handle, River Branch suddenly pounced on me and hugged me. After a deep kiss, she shyly ran to the bed with her back facing me.

I opened the door and went downstairs. Her parents were anxiously walking around the living room, and when they saw me come down, they asked, ”How is it? Is it okay? ”River water?”

”Alright, Uncle and Auntie, let's break up the happiness words. The River Branch is fine now, I'm going back to sleep.”