The old inn, a vibrant tapestry of afternoon life, hummed with activity as the lovers, the Huang sisters, and Hu Qingge stepped through its wide-open door. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air and glinting off polished tankards. Laughter spilled from a corner table where a group of merchants, their voices boisterous, recounted tales of their morning dealings. The rhythmic clatter of dishes and the sizzling of food from the bustling kitchen blended with the lively murmur of conversation—a constant flow of animated discussions and casual greetings. The rich, inviting aroma of simmering stews and freshly baked buns hung heavy in the air. Amidst this cheerful din, a diligent waiter, his towel on his shoulder spotless and a welcoming smile on his face, met them just inside the bustling entrance.
"Welcome to our inn. Are the guests dining or staying?" the waiter asked as the group sat down at a table.
"We want to reserve three rooms," Zhao Renshu said.
"I'm sorry, we only have two rooms left," the waiter replied. "One big room, one bed and one day bed. The other room is a smaller room with one bed."
"We will take it," Zhao Renshu declared. "Please get us extra blankets and pillows for the bigger room." He looked at the waiter and ordered all the meat dishes available. Then he looked at the Huang sisters and Hu Qingge. "The three of you don't mind sharing a bedroom, do you?"
"Let's go to another inn," Huang Hongse quickly suggested, clearly unhappy.
"Miss, you will not find any available rooms in other inns," the waiter explained patiently. "You are lucky; we are located further away. Those inns that are close to the center of the town are booked by visitors already. It is the annual Lantern Festival."
"We'll stay here," Zhao Renshu said, his decision firm. "If the three of you want to find a place elsewhere…" He smiled, a clear hint that he hoped they would leave.
"We can stay in the same room with Miss Hu tonight," Huang Yueliang said, compromising.
"You two can take the bed, and Qingge can take the daybed," Zhao Renshu suggested, solving the sleeping arrangement. "Sleeping situation problem solved."
"Where are you sleeping?" Huang Hongse asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"With them," Zhao Renshu replied simply, gesturing to Ping'an and Guo Baiyu.
Huang Hongse was enraged by Zhao Renshu's response. Her teeth bit tightly behind her lips, and she said angrily, "With them? Are you crazy?"
"Why?" Zhao Renshu teased Huang Hongse, a wicked glint in his eye. "Do you want me to sleep with you?" He winked at her.
Huang Hongse's face burned crimson, while Hu Qingge's face darkened, a stormy expression settling over her features.
"Pervert," Huang Hongse said coldly, turning away.
"Ha...ha...ha... I have told you many times that my perverted mind is not toward you, so you can rest assured," Zhao Renshu laughed, enjoying her discomfort. He raised his brows and smiled at her.
When the waiter put the food on the table, the rain poured down outside. Zhao Renshu suggested, "Last time we came here, we didn't have a chance to enjoy this festival. Should we walk around and play this year?" He looked at Ping'an, hope in his eyes.
"To be honest, I have never been out on the night of Lantern Festival," Ping'an admitted, her gaze distant.
"What?" Zhao Renshu exclaimed, surprised.
"It was always busy, and I had no one to go with me," Ping'an explained softly. "Taking grandmother out on Lantern Festival Day always made her very sad."
"Then this year is your lucky year, dear," Zhao Renshu smiled, his heart touched. He gently pinched her right cheek with his right hand. "I will take you out, we can enjoy all the food."
Huang Hongse couldn't stand Zhao Renshu's behavior anymore. Her confusion was intertwined with the anger deep in her heart. She slammed the teacup on the table, the sharp sound echoing through their corner.
"Hongse, behave yourself," Huang Yueliang said, raising her voice, a rare sternness in her tone.
"Renshu, you need to behave yourself!" Huang Hongse snapped back, her eyes blazing. She looked at Guo Baiyu. "You... on the other hand, why are you letting your brother flirt with your wife?"
"What do you mean?" Guo Baiyu asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Let him sleep in the same room as you," Huang Hongse insisted, her voice rising. "He is too close to your wife!"
"This is not the first time we share the same room," Guo Baiyu replied calmly, his eyes unwavering.
"Why don't you care that another man, especially your brother, is flirting with your wife?" Huang Hongse demanded, her anger unchecked. "Even outsiders like me are embarrassed by his behavior!"
"You tell us," Guo Baiyu said, turning to Zhao Renshu, a hint of challenge in his voice. "You already make it clear to her."
Zhao Renshu smashed his chopsticks on the table. He raised his voice, a dangerous edge to it. "That is it... Huang Hongse." He looked at Huang Hongse and then at Hu Qingge. "Let's make it clear today. Since we are all here, speak out! What confusion still lingers in both of your minds? I am tired of this cat-and-mouse game. I want to clarify this once and for all!"
The Huang sisters and Hu Qingge stopped eating, their eyes wide, and both stared intently at Zhao Renshu.
"Ping'an is my wife, and she is also Baiyu's wife," Zhao Renshu declared, his voice firm and clear. "We have been together for two and a half years. Hongse and Qingge, I cannot be more than a friend or a brother to the two of you. If you want to be our friends, then we will continue to be friends, but if you want to be more than friends, then I am burning the bridge between us. The only woman I will love and will continue to love is only Ping'an."
"Miss Huang," Guo Baiyu added, his voice calm but authoritative, "when Renshu told you about us, you might not have taken it seriously, because you might think that Renshu used this as an excuse to avoid you. Ping'an is our wife, and we are her husbands."
"That won't change in this life or the next life," Zhao Renshu added, his gaze unwavering.
The three women sitting at the dining table were utterly shocked to learn the news, their faces pale.
"But he is your brother?" Huang Hongse stammered, pointing at Guo Baiyu.
"Marrying Ping'an makes us brothers, just like a man with two wives makes them sisters," Zhao Renshu replied, the logic simple to him. "In other words, she's not my sister-in-law, but she's my wife."
"Childe Guozhao, people will talk," Huang Yueliang warned, her voice concerned.
"It's their mouths," Guo Baiyu shrugged, "we can't stop it."
"I do not wish to address this problem ever again," Zhao Renshu declared, looking utterly fed up. He turned to Hu Qingge. "I'm sorry, I have kissed you and gave you hope unknowingly." He turned to Huang Hongse. "The same goes for you too. I was trying to save your life. I accidentally kissed you and apologized for my actions. This may have affected your understanding of the wrong idea." He looked at the three speechless women. "Do you have any other questions? If not, then eat." He picked up his chopsticks and started to eat, as if nothing momentous had happened.
"You would rather live with another man with a wife than with me in Border Town?" Hu Qingge asked sadly, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes, that won't change," Zhao Renshu said, his voice firm. He looked at Hu Qingge. "I am telling you two now because I don't want to give anyone false hope."
"That doesn't explain why you want to be with her," Huang Hongse persisted, tears welling in her eyes. "Did you do this out of sympathy?"
"No," Zhao Renshu replied curtly.
"Renshu, this is not going anywhere. How about you stop?" Ping'an suggested, trying to de-escalate the situation.
"Why is it difficult for you two to accept the fact that I love Ping'an?" Zhao Renshu demanded, his voice filled with frustration.
Ping'an looked at the two women, her gaze calm and confident. "Miss Huang and Miss Hu. I must be greedy in this lifetime. I will not let others have them. Either Renshu or Baiyu. They don't need to prove to anyone how much we love each other. Our love for one another can be traced back to five hundred years ago. People's gossip will not separate us, because heaven itself cannot even separate us. We promised with our blood and cursed ourselves. As long as Nüwa still loves the human race, there is still water flowing to the sea, and mountains full of green trees, we will be with each other."
Usually, Ping'an did not talk to other people or express her feelings to anyone. She was a quiet person who kept everything to herself. The two men looked at her and smiled at each other, deeply impressed by her words. Ping'an continued, her voice resonating with conviction, "If you are looking for a relationship, please look elsewhere. If you are looking for friendship, we will welcome you with open arms. I gave them my heart, and they gave me theirs. Love cannot be forced, because love is love and there is nothing more."
Guo Baiyu held her left hand, his eyes shining with pride. "Love is love and there is nothing more to it," he echoed softly.
"There, you heard our wife's wonderful speech," Zhao Renshu smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. Zhao Renshu gently squeezed Ping'an's right cheek. "I didn't know you could be so impressive with words."
"You once agreed that if there is no Ping'an, you will fall in love with me," Hu Qingge said, her voice filled with a desperate last hope, directing her words to Zhao Renshu.
"If she dies, I will wait at her grave until I die, and never leave her side," Zhao Renshu replied, his voice flat and unwavering. He looked directly at Hu Qingge, his eyes holding no sympathy for her delusion. "There may be thousands of women more beautiful than Ping'an, but there is only one Ping'an in this world."