Leo suddenly froze, his gaze becoming somewhat unfocused. As Leo stood in a daze, the weeping of the white-robed woman gradually ceased. With a turn of her eyes and a hint of shy smile on her face, she firmly grasped his hand and said, “Husband, come with me.” With that, she pulled him forward.
Leo wanted to resist and refuse, but his feet seemed to have a mind of their own, involuntarily following the woman as she led him forward. A voice deep within him shouted, “Let go quickly, this person is a ghost! A ghost!”
Deep in his heart, like a clear mirror, but he couldn’t control his own body. It seemed like a mysterious force was pushing him forward.
Leo also felt that the hand of the woman called Alicia had no warmth; what he held was just a cold touch.
As they walked, a quaint wooden door appeared ahead, its vermilion lacquer peeling, and the copper rings on the door showing deep verdigris.
On both sides of the door hung a pair of couplets, but the paper on top was already torn, except for a few traditional characters that were visible, it was impossible to discern what the couplets were about.
The woman led him to the front of the door, and the wooden door opened by itself. Inside was a small courtyard with an old locust tree casting mottled shadows in the faint light.
Ahead was a small hall, the kind often seen in ancient dramas.
Entering the courtyard, Alicia became joyful, letting go of Leo’s hand and running forward. Her dress fluttered like a dancing white butterfly.
Leo stared in astonishment, standing still and forgetting to move forward.
“Honey, come over!” Alicia turned around, waving to him.
Her waving hand and the gentle smile on her face fell into Leo’s eyes and entered his mind with an indescribable magical force. Leo almost subconsciously walked towards her.
Following the woman named Alicia into the house, the furnishings inside were warm and pleasing, giving a delightful feeling. Antique tables, chairs, and stools, a censer emitting a faint smoke on the table corner.
Several ink landscape paintings hung on the walls, and the entire room was arranged in a simple and fresh style. Coupled with the unique fragrance in the house, Leo’s consciousness became even more blurred.
“Honey, this is our home. After you left, nothing in the house has changed. Do you remember?” Alicia’s face was full of smiles, looking at him expectantly.
Leo’s eyes at this moment had lost the luster of the past and appeared somewhat dim, as if covered with a thin layer of mist. Hearing Alicia’s words, he just subconsciously shook.
Seeing Leo shake his head, a hint of disappointment flashed in Alicia’s eyes. Then, she pointed to a landscape painting on the wall and spoke in an expectant and slightly sorrowful tone, “Honey, take another look at this painting of A Tired Bird Returning To The Mountains on the wall. I painted it while accompanying you. Do you remember?”
After Alicia finished speaking, she waved her hand in front of Leo’s eyes, and a scene appeared in his vision.
He was wearing a coarse blue robe of ancient scholars, holding a brush, with a piece of paper on the table. He was about to paint, while Alicia was carefully grinding ink beside him.
He made a few strokes with the brush, then turned to look at Alicia grinding ink. Their eyes met, conveying emotions, creating a picturesque and affectionate scene.
“Honey, do you remember now?” Alicia looked at his expression and asked again in a tender tone.
Leo just stared at the ink landscape painting on the wall, nodding gently.
Alicia, seeing him nod, immediately became happy. Her face showed incredibly charming. She then held his hand and led him towards a side room on the left.
Entering the room, what appeared before Leo’s eyes was a bed, a bed full of ancient charm. The white canopy held a crimson quilt, and a unique atmosphere permeated the room.
This seemed to be the bridal chamber of a newlywed couple. A bookshelf was placed in the corner, and a wooden shelf with a potted orchid stood, emitting a peculiar fragrance. On the table by the window, there was an embroidered screen, and the air carried a strange scent.
Leo still stared blankly at the scene before him, his face expressionless, as if he had lost his soul.
“Honey, do you still remember this room?” Alicia said, her face showing a touch of charming red. “This is our bridal chamber. That night was the last day we spent together.”
Alicia’s voice became slightly lower as if it touched the emotions deep within her.
After Alicia finished speaking, she walked to the bedside covered with a white canopy and sat down. Strangely, Leo also followed suit and sat down beside her.
“Honey, do you remember the words you said to me on our wedding night?” Alicia held his hand, her eyes full of a wife’s tenderness towards her husband.
Leo nodded, and another scene appeared in his eyes.
On that day, it was their wedding day. The banquet lasted until late at night. After bidding farewell to relatives and friends, Leo, somewhat intoxicated, came to the bridal chamber, which was this room.
Alicia, wearing a red bridal gown, sat motionless on the bed, her hands resting on her lap, quietly waiting for him.
He slowly walked to her side and sat down, then, with the excitement of a newlywed, slowly unveiled her red veil.
Alicia was exceptionally beautiful that night, with crescent-like eyebrows, eyes as clear as spring water, shyly looking down at him but with an indescribable clarity. Delicate and exquisite nose, cherry-like lips with a hint of light lipstick, just perfect. Her hands were tender, skin like condensed fat, neck slender, teeth like ivory, embodying utmost beauty.
Feeling his intense gaze, Alicia blushed even more. When he didn’t react, she couldn’t help but gently pull at his sleeve.
Waking up from admiring Alicia’s beautiful face, he couldn’t help but call out softly, “Alicia…”
Alicia slightly lifted her chin, looking at him affectionately. In her eyes, besides the joy and shyness of being a newlywed, there was also a faint trace of reluctance.
“Honey, tomorrow is the day you go to the capital for the imperial examination. I really don’t want to part with you.” Alicia said this with a gentle and reluctant tone, her eyes shining with teardrops.
He held Alicia’s hand and his face also showed reluctance. Softly, he said, “Alicia, rest assured, we will be reunited soon. If I pass the palace examination, achieve success, and gain fame, I will come back to fetch you at the earliest opportunity. If not, I will still come back, and we’ll live a simple life together.”
Alicia was deeply moved, tears streaming down her face.