Seventeenth day (14) Bridal Chamber Candle Night

  We realized that in this massacre, there would be no survivors, and there was no assumption of who should die or not. So under Fengyue's proposal, we divided into several small groups, taking care of each other while supervising each other. Every group did everything together, including going to the toilet and sleeping.

  Looking back on these past few days, this decision was undoubtedly very correct. If it were really a ghost, then there would be no way to guard against it, but if it were a human calamity, then the other party is obviously someone who likes to pretend to be a god and play tricks on people.

  The wind and moon also cleared their suspicions with this proposal.

  It was just that previously, I had narrowly escaped becoming a murder suspect. Luckily, I quickly came up with the idea to drag Ma Tiancheng into it. At the time, I was indeed in extreme danger, but my method wasn't bad after some thought. I said we should thoroughly search the inn; if Ma Tiancheng had something to hide, he definitely wouldn't agree. If he didn't have anything to hide, then the package of salt wasn't a controlled substance, so even if they found what was in my thermos, it wouldn't be a big deal.

  What I did was tantamount to shifting my crisis onto Ma Tiancheng's head. And, as it turned out, he really fell for it and denied the search plan at the time.

  At that time, denial did not arouse anyone's suspicion. After all, the fortune teller's words had scared everyone to death, and no one was in the mood to search other people's rooms.

  As for Fengyue's suggestion to search the thermos at that time, I don't know if it was also an idea to divert the crisis like mine, and I don't care either. Because at this moment, I am extremely grateful to her, because tonight I can enter the bridal chamber!

  I entered the bridal chamber with Xia Ai, waited until the mountain cave opened, and then I took the beauty home, got married, had children, became a CEO, and reached the pinnacle of life.

  How great it would be if this were true.

  I smiled foolishly, and Xiao Ai pinched me. At this moment, everyone was moving into the dormitory. My room had a single bed of 1.5 meters, while Xiao Ai's room had an upper and lower bunk, but there was nothing on top.

  As a man, I naturally look forward to the arrival of night, and I want to squeeze with Xia Ai on my single bed. If two people can't lie down side by side, we can stack together, whether she is on top or I am on top, I have no opinion.

  Is it?

  Is it?

  As a result, my idea was vetoed, but before that, I poured the water from the thermos that almost caused trouble into the face basin. The water was indeed not in good condition. I used a large amount of soap to create foam and then splashed it outside the hotel when no one was paying attention.

  After that, I completely fell into uncontrollable reverie, my thoughts were indescribable even in the largest text, in short, my world was filled with men and women's romantic entanglements for thousands of years, representing the process of human reproduction for billions of years.

  Xiao Pang'er carried a quilt and walked in front of me, then said to Er Lu Zi, "Look at this guy, he's so happy that he's become stupid."

  The two donkeys said they had never seen a woman in their lives.

  Xiao Ai didn't adopt my suggestion, the two of us chose her room, which is a bunk bed. We were indeed stacked together, but just a bit far apart, not on the same plane.

  But I'm also thrilled, since we're dating, who has stipulated that everyone must be honest all the time, right? Xiao Ai has always liked me, and these days I've started to like her too. We're mutually in love, and this small room will soon be filled with romance.

  Is that right?

  Is that right?

  Two donkeys pushed me and said, can you stop smiling stupidly? Can't you wipe your snot? Don't you see your wife glaring at you?

  Xiao Ai gave him a white eye and said, "Who is his daughter-in-law?"

  The two donkeys said, anyway, you two will be in the bridal chamber tonight. I said this is too fast, Little Ai, have you thought it through? The three of us can squeeze together, although it's not convenient, but at least we're better than that cheap guy.

  As soon as I heard someone ruining my good deed, I immediately woke up from my somnambulant state, went over and pushed the two donkeys, saying: "What are you talking about? Hurry up and make the bed, and after that hurry back to your own room. You know now is an extraordinary time, small groups need space for solitude, we need to support each other, supervise each other."

  Two donkeys said, look at you being anxious, I know you're in a hurry, but... actually there's nothing much, I see Xiao Ai is also quite anxious.

  Xiao Pang'er burst out laughing on the side, Xiao Ai's face turned red like a drop of blood, she turned around and made my bed on the upper bunk, then said to me, "Give me the dagger."

  I was stunned for a moment, then handed it over. Little Ai put the dagger under her pillow and said, "You'd better sleep honestly, or I'll make you useless."

  I scratched my head, and the two donkeys and Little Fatty exchanged a glance, stuck out their tongues at each other, and then they were going to run away after causing trouble. The second donkey said, "Alright, we've finished our work, and we need to clean up our rooms too." It's almost time for dinner, and after dinner, everyone should go to bed early. You two can do whatever you want, but we're leaving first.

  After finishing speaking, the second donkey patted my shoulder, and the little fatty patted my butt. The two of them winked at each other and ran out.

  Xiao Ai glared at me, huffing and puffing, I actually didn't know how to coax a girl, so I could only sit obediently in the chair. Xiao Ai glared at me for half a day, then said, "They bully me, and you just watch?"

  I was taken aback, then said, I'll beat them up in a minute.

  Xiao Ai said, it's not necessarily what others think of me.

  After finishing speaking, Xiaoyi turned her head, and I knew I should coax her, so I sat down beside her and trembled to put my arm around her shoulder. Xiaoyi twisted her shoulder, and I quickly let go.

  After half a day, Xia Ai hummed again, and I stretched out my hand once more. This time, Xia Ai didn't move.

  I used a bit of force, then Xiao Ai leaned on my shoulder and said, actually all these years I've been missing you.

  I said so too.

  Xiao Ai said, "Don't talk nonsense, you're so young and already gone, can you still remember me?"

  I scratched my head and said, but you're even younger than me, aren't you a few months younger than me?

  Xiao Ai smiled and said, "Maybe I'm different from others, but I've always been thinking of you."

  Really?

  Xiao Ai said, I used to miss you a lot, but this time when you came back, I found that you're very brave and always protecting me. Then I realized that I've fallen in love with you. But I don't know what's on your mind, do you love me or not?

  I hastily nodded and said, love, love.

  Xiao Ai said, do you love me or love my sister?

  I say, I love you, I love you.

  Xiao Ai said, what about that beautiful woman Feng Yue, do you love her?

  I waved my hand and said, I don't love it, absolutely don't love it.

  Xiao Ai hummed and then said, "Do you know why I took the initiative to confess to you?"

  I said, Er Duzi they say you are generous type.

  Xiao Ai said, damn it, because I found that this time we might really die here, I don't want to leave this world with this regret.

  I whispered, don't talk nonsense, I will definitely protect you.

  Xiao Ai said, "Today I thought carefully about the cause and effect, and I found that it's not us who chose to come back here, but rather this place chose to let us return at this moment. Really, it seems like there is a force in the dark that compelled us to come back here and fulfill this curse. Haven't you heard? Even the students were cursed, their deaths are also related to the curse."

  I'm telling you, stop daydreaming.

  Xiao Ai said, really. A year ago we gathered together, Xiao Pang proposed to come back here and take a look, then he decided to develop this project. But in fact, now private hospitals are gradually walking into a dead end, their reputation is getting worse day by day, public hospitals are still reforming, Xiao Pang's family plans to transform, tourism industry has always been the project they have been investigating. As for Xiao Bao, originally he was doing well in Beijing, working as a programmer in a company, but the company was acquired by Ali and he was laid off. He came back to the city and planned to open a computer company, business was not good, we met when he was at the most difficult time of his life. Er Lüzi has been messing around in society all along, as a result one of his friends was killed by someone, he didn't die at that time, after escaping he became afraid and vowed to never mess around again, at that time he was also in a period of transformation. I had just graduated from nursing school, my job was still uncertain, being an intern nurse had no future prospects.

  I'm saying, your meaning is that at that time you were all in a state of urgent need to change, and then came back here, only then did the development of tourism happen?

  Xiao Ai nodded and said, "You say, isn't there another force that brought us together?"

  I'm telling you, stop daydreaming, none of this is going to happen.

  Xiao Ai said, "No, I think we will both die here. Before we die, I want to express my feelings. I was prepared for rejection at the time, but unexpectedly... you also like me."

  I say, it's like a thin layer of silk between a man and a woman who is pursuing him.

  Xiao Ai hummed and said, "You're not saying you like me just because you want to take advantage of me, are you?"

  I hastily waved my hand and said, no, no, I really like it.

  Xiao Ai slapped my hand away from her shoulder, stared at me with her big round eyes for a long time, and then said, "If you dare to touch me randomly these days, I'll really make you useless."

  I'm telling you, don't be like this, boyfriends and girlfriends should talk about love, under the moonlight, do you understand or not? If you keep being like this, how can you get married and have children in the future?

  Xiao Ai giggled and then said seriously, I'm not joking.

  I waved my hand and said, okay, okay.

  Xiao Ai saw that I was a bit down, put her hand on my leg and whispered, "I want to make sure you really like me, not just for my body." I promised her, if we can get out of here alive, everything of mine is yours.

  My heart was touched, I put my hand on hers, but Xiao Ai pulled it back.

  I saw her cheeks flush, her head lowered, and her long eyelashes fluttering restlessly. My heart was racing faster and faster, I had lost all sense of myself, almost forgetting the danger that surrounded me.

  Forget that there are ghosts wandering around outside.

  Then my door was knocked on with a bang.

  My hand was originally stretched out, intending to linger on Xiao Ai's waist for a while, but it was ruined by this annoying knock on the door. Xiao Ai stood up and asked, "Who is it?"

  Outside the door was Erzi's voice, saying "Come down and eat". He said, "Hurry up and put on your clothes, you two".

  Xiao Ai said, don't ask for trouble.

  The two donkeys hehe laughed three times, I walked over and opened the door, saw him winking at me, I said, why eat so early?

  The two donkeys said, "Isn't it almost noon and we haven't eaten yet? Everyone has finished moving the room, let's eat early and rest early." My brother said there are still things to announce.

  I let out a sound and followed Xia Ai downstairs, Xia Ai's face was still very red, I guess making a public confession was too much for her, she didn't think it through at the time and now regrets it.

  But this red face, I reckon others think it's coming from a small bedroom with unlimited spring light, I don't care, men let others guess and make themselves happy.

  Xiao Ai sat beside me, head down, dinner was eaten relatively early, a big bowl of hot soup noodles. At this time, of course, no one was still thinking about what to eat, everyone lowered their heads and drank the soup, everyone had eaten almost the same amount, Ma Tiancheng said, have the rooms been allocated yet?

  Everyone nodded, and Ma Tiancheng said, "Since everyone has made up their minds, I'll announce a decision here. You all know that so many things have happened recently, and it's unclear what's going on. I've decided to impose a curfew; I don't think anyone will object."

  Suddenly, a loud noise came from all directions. Xiao Bin said, "Curfew? What does that mean?"

  Ma Tiancheng said, "Don't you understand the curfew? Later on, everyone will come to my place to take out the trash cans, which are piled up in the warehouse. After dinner every day, no one is allowed to leave their room or visit other rooms. Got it? If anyone needs to, they can solve it in the bucket. If it's really not possible, then the people in each room must go out together. And after opening the door in the corridor, you have to shout loudly which room's person went out."

  Fengyue frowned and said, "Isn't it too inconvenient?"

  Ma Tiancheng said, I'm not targeting girls, but everyone thinks about it carefully, reducing going out and mobility, is it a good thing for us? At this time, I think nothing is important, life is the most important, right.

  Ma Tiancheng said that at this moment when so many people have died, a curfew is the best method. At night, everyone is not allowed to move around, and when entering or exiting, several people must be together. The murderer will not have any alone time unless he kills all the people in his own group. Of course, if something happens to someone in a group, then the murderer will also be exposed.

  Of course, if a group of people are in cahoots with each other, this method is useless, but... it's still better than not using any method at all.

  The wind and moon no longer make a sound, then Ma Tiancheng said, at this time everyone is a collective, cannot sacrifice the interests of the collective for some people. Or else, let's vote. Those who agree with the curfew raise their hands.

  Hands were raised one after another, I took a look and basically all the boys had their hands up, including me. Xiao Ai didn't raise her hand, Feng Yue did, Si Yao and Shen Po hesitated for a moment before ultimately not raising theirs.

  Ma Tiancheng nodded and said, Alright, let's get the buckets then. The curfew policy starts from today. At night, no one is allowed to appear alone in the corridor. If someone does, that person will be considered the murderer, got it?

  Everyone nodded whether they wanted to or not, then stood up and each took a bucket back.

  You'd better believe it, although this bucket is a filthy thing, I'm delighted because I'll be having my wedding night soon.

  This will be the happiest time in the rest of my life.

  We went upstairs together. Xiao Pang and Er Duzi lived in the room I used to live in, right next door to me. Er Duzi whispered to me, "Be quieter at night."

  I said in a low voice, I'll try my best.

  Xiao Pang said, how did you become so perfect?

  Xiao Ai opened the door and said to me, "What's going on? You three are being so sneaky."

  The three of us burst out laughing and then each went back to our own rooms.

  It's actually still a while before dark, after all we ate dinner early, but there's a curfew and I don't think it's possible to go out. And with just the two of us alone in this room, who knows what might happen? You know what I mean.

  I was full of expectation, but Xiao Ai completely ignored me. She took out a book and read it with great interest, seemingly completely ignoring my existence.

  I'm the legitimate husband and the golden boyfriend, I was scratching my ears and cheeks trying to get close to her, but Xiao Ai just ignored me, as if I didn't exist.

  The sky gradually darkened, and I also made myself thirsty. Xia Ai put down the book and said to me, "Are you done yet?"

  I said weakly, it's over.

  Xiao Ai said, go to bed after finishing.

  I felt like I was going to explode from deep within my soul, and almost jumped up, stuttering, "O-okay, okay."

  Xiao Ai glared at me and said, "Get back on the bed. If you keep daydreaming, I'll really hit you."

  I reluctantly climbed up to the top bunk, Xia Ai thought for a moment, stood up, and slowly began to unbutton her clothes. I stared blankly at Xia Ai as she undressed with an extremely slow hand, it felt like time had stopped.

  Xiaoyi stood in front of me, her clothes stripped off and gently tossed onto the bed. I gazed at her like a newborn baby, her skin radiating soft light that filled the entire world and enveloped everything around me.

  She looked at me, our eyes locked, her gaze was so firm, she said softly to me, you have to survive, no matter what happens, you must use all your strength to survive. As long as you are alive, everything is yours.

  I swallowed hard and said, don't worry, I'll be fine.

  Xiao Ai smiled slightly, changed into her own pajamas, lay on the bed, kicked my bed board with her foot, and said, as long as we are both alive, our future time is still long, don't be in a hurry, and don't rush me, I will be afraid.

  I let out a sigh and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

  This world is so beautiful, I really can't die.

  The ticking sound in my ear is still there, but it's much softer now.

  My world is filled with love again, and for this I must live on, even if it means fighting against the curse of death. Not just me, but everyone must live on.

  I want them to witness my happiness.

  The seventeenth day slowly passed by, and the sixteenth day gradually arrived.

  This day was really long, it was a cursed beginning, and also a happy beginning.

  I believe everything will get better slowly.

  I am looking forward to the sixteenth day's arrival.

  Everything will be alright.

  Believe me!

  Little Ai

  I love you.