I panicked and tried to run, but I was firmly caught by the paper figures on both sides.

The people around me also shouted:

"The groom is in a hurry to enter the bridal chamber!"

I looked at the plaque again, and it had changed to "Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious."

But I felt that something was wrong with my surroundings and struggled hard.

"No, no! I left when school started, I can't get married!"

The bride walked gracefully and leaned against me, whispering softly:

"It's okay, we agreed..."

As she spoke, the bride grabbed the corners of the red veil.

All ten of her fingernails were turned over, and there were ink stains on her hands. Blood dripped down the nail seams.

"...Let's go together—"

The veil, adorned with jeweled gold thread, lifted, and I saw Qiu Ge again.

But she looked completely different from what I remembered.

Her face was pale, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were wide open, and she grinned at me with bared teeth:

"Let's go together!"

Before I could react, Qiu Ge had already covered my head with the red veil.

I felt darkness all around me, and she held me tightly. Qiu Ge's eerie laughter echoed in my ears.

"Ahahaha, let's go together—to the city! To university!"

The red veil wrapped tighter and tighter, and I gradually couldn't breathe.

Just as I was about to faint, I struggled violently and suddenly found myself standing in front of the chaotic cemetery outside the village.

I faintly saw several mounds among the weeds, still adorned with tattered floral wreaths. After the rain, they were incomplete.

The red veil from earlier was just a piece of tattered cloth, emitting a stench of decay.

I threw away the cloth and ran home without thinking.

I lay on the kang, still gasping for breath, my heart pounding.

Why did this happen?

Since I returned to the village, I felt that something was off, as if I was being watched by something, but I couldn't figure it out.

Xiao Yong was sleeping soundly with his back to me.

My father and mother were also fast asleep.

I thought I would tell them about all these things tomorrow.

Clatter, clatter...

A faint knocking sound came from outside the door.

It grew louder.

I gathered my courage and asked:

"Who is it?"

No response from outside.

Just the knocking.

Clatter, clatter...

The sound gradually increased.

Not only the knocking sound, but I could also sense that more and more things seemed to be gathering in the courtyard.

I was afraid and went to shake Xiao Yong.

But Xiao Yong didn't move.

When I touched him, he was cold. I was frightened and quickly lit the oil lamp.

On the kang, Xiao Yong, my father, and my mother.

All three of them were lying straight, wearing their clothes neatly.

They were in burial clothes.