The Wedding Banquet's Lament: A Haunting Reunion

In the heart of the old town, shrouded in the mists of history, stood the abandoned hotel known to the townsfolk as The Whispers. Once a place of elegance and celebration, its grand ballroom had long since been reduced to a relic of the past, its opulence buried under a shroud of neglect. Now, under a sky that threatened to pour its rain upon the world, the hotel would once again become the setting for joy and sorrow, for the wedding of Liang Ming and Jingyue.

The air was thick with anticipation as the guests began to arrive, each dressed in the finest of gowns and suits. Among them was Xiao Mei, a local journalist with a penchant for uncovering the stories behind the stories. She had been invited to the wedding after writing a piece on the hotel's storied past.

As the doors of The Whispers opened to admit the first couple, the wedding banquet was underway. The music played, the candles flickered, and the food was set before the guests. Yet, despite the festive atmosphere, something was amiss. The guests felt a cold breeze, as if the hotel itself were breathing, and they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Xiao Mei's curiosity piqued, she found herself drawn to the old piano at the far end of the room. She approached it, the keys feeling cold under her touch. As she played a few chords, a haunting melody echoed through the hall, chilling the air.

Suddenly, the music stopped. A woman's voice, both sweet and sorrowful, cut through the silence. "Welcome, dear guests, to my wedding day." The room went still, the only sound the distant哭声 of a baby.

Xiao Mei's eyes widened. She had heard stories of the hotel's tragic past, but nothing had prepared her for this. The voice continued, "My name was Hua'er, and I was to be wed to the love of my life. But on this very day, my groom was lured away by a rival family, and I was left at the altar, alone."

The guests were silent, their eyes filled with horror. Xiao Mei turned to look around, and that's when she saw it. The figure of a young woman, dressed in the finery of a bride, appeared at the edge of the room, her face a mask of eternal sorrow.

Hua'er continued, "I wandered the halls for days, searching for him, but he never returned. I became trapped here, a ghostly specter forever tied to this place."

As she spoke, the air grew colder, and the room seemed to shrink. The guests exchanged worried glances, but no one dared to speak. Xiao Mei felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that she, too, was now part of this ghostly tale.

Hua'er's voice grew fainter. "And so, on this day, I will watch over your wedding, ensuring that the joy of love is never forgotten. But remember, for in this hotel, love is but a whisper among the dead."

As the woman's image faded, the guests felt a wave of relief. The wedding proceeded as planned, but something had changed. They couldn't shake the feeling that they had been touched by something beyond the living.

In the days that followed, whispers of The Whispers spread through the town. Couples were hesitant to hold their weddings there, but for those who did, the hotel seemed to grant them the love they sought. In return, they were left with the chilling memories of a woman's ghostly wedding banquet, a reminder that some loves are not meant to be.

As Xiao Mei reflected on her experience, she realized that the hotel's story was far from over. It was a testament to the power of love and the enduring spirits that watched over the living, even in the most unlikely of places. And so, The Whispers remained, a silent witness to the joy and sorrow of those who dared to enter its halls.

In the quiet of the night, when the world was at rest, Xiao Mei often found herself at the piano in the hotel's ballroom, her fingers dancing upon the keys. She played the haunting melody that had once brought Hua'er's spirit to the room, a tribute to the ghostly bride who had chosen to share her story.

The hotel's legend grew, and the whispers of Hua'er's wedding banquet became a part of the town's folklore. Yet, for those who dared to listen, the true story of The Whispers was still being told, a tale of love, loss, and the eternal bond between the living and the departed.