One Life, One Incarnation, Beautiful Bones

39

And so, it was best to ask little and speak little.

Surprisingly, he did not return that evening and also left her to have dinner alone in that little courtyard wing.

She knew that his mother had arrived together with Zhou Wenchuan and his wife, and it was likely out of worry that his mother would make things difficult for her that he made such an arrangement. Luckily, there was still Zhou Wenxing, who always seemed to turn up at just the right time to help settle her heart. She arrived after Shi Yi had finished her dinner specifically to go release floating water lanterns with her.

"My mom won't be going tonight to float the lanterns," Zhou Wenxing smiled, exposing her canine tooth. "You don't need to be nervous."

With an "mm," Shi Yi inquired, "Is she not feeling well?"

"Maybe. Not too sure. She still looked okay at dinner." Zhou Wenxing thought for a moment. "Maybe she just doesn't want to go."

While the two were still speaking, they had already set the lanterns in their hands onto the water.

A breeze was blowing over the surface of the water, and the flame of the floating lotus-shaped lanterns flickered, shadows fluttering one over another.

People of the Zhou family, young and old, stood all along the riverbank. Three to five of them would gather together in casual conversation.

Originally, she had not wanted to take a boat but Wenxing had been insistent, so she did not say any more.

Wenxing sat along the edge of the boat, and as she became excited about what she was discussing, she could not contain her low chuckle. "One year during Ghost Month, I went to Singapore. There was an open-air concert. The big star celebrities were up on stage singing, but there were some seats that were empty... I ran up really happily and sat down there..." She laughed as she told her story and then was unable to hold back her coughing. "Later, when my classmate pulled me out of my seat, I learned that those seats were reserved for the ghosts to sit."

She looked happy, but for some reason, her coughing was becoming more and more fierce.

Shi Yi patted her lightly on her back. "The wind is strong. Should we go back to shore?"

"Mm, sure." Wenxing's face was a little pale as she breathed rather laboriously, gently pressing her hand against her own chest.

Shi Yi touched her hand to Wenxing's wrist.

The pulse was rapid and also very weak.

She was not knowledgeable and only sensed that this was very bad. And seeing Wenxing's complexion confirmed this thought.

"Pardon me for troubling you. Let's go back to shore." Shi Yi turned around to look at the person propelling the boat with a pole.

Very quickly, the person responded and began turning the boat around in the direction they had come.

"Sister-in-Law, I'm really dizzy sitting here." Wenxing's voice was unsteady.

Hurriedly, Shi Yi stretched out her hand to help her move towards the inside of the boat to sit, but the boat suddenly pitched several times. Losing her footing, she fell forcefully to one side. In that instant when she was thrown off balance, she only had time to let go of Wenxing before she abruptly plunged into the river.

Completely submersed into an icy cold. And darkness.

She did not know how to swim and swallowed several mouthfuls of water, already drowning.

This moment seemed as if it was several hours long. All the lights were up on the surface of the water. Water invaded her from every possible direction. And the feelings of sinking and darkness. Before she lost her awareness, she could only force herself with all her might to hold her breath...