Song Mianfeng hesitated a bit, and Liu Chengyin spoke up for him, “No time, very busy, still have photos to edit.” After saying this, he teasingly added, “Remember to make an appointment next time.”

Lu Yin Zhen gently folded the top of the paper bag and pinched the crease with his fingers, saying, “Sorry… I didn’t know you were so busy.”

Song Mianfeng neither agreed nor refused, only saying, “I still have another set of photos to edit. I’ll be free after that.”

Lu Yin Zhen relaxed his grip on the folded crease. “I can wait for you.”

Song Mianfeng smiled. “Okay, then wait for me for a while.”

“I’ll wait for you in the living room.” Lu Yin Zhen said, “I won’t disturb your work.”

Lu Yin Zhen’s politeness and courtesy seemed ingrained in him, with a sense of propriety but also a hint of distance. Song Mianfeng couldn’t help but tease him, “Actually, it’s a bit of a disturbance.”

At his words, Lu Yin Zhen blinked, and his fingers unconsciously pinched the crease.

Song Mianfeng looked at him, the light laughter in his eyes gently rippling, “If you wait nearby, I might not be able to focus on my work.”

Lu Yin Zhen blinked, unsure of how to respond to Song Mianfeng’s straightforward remark. He coughed lightly, leaving with a “You continue working,” and quickly stepped out of the office, thoughtful enough to close the door behind him.

Liu Chengyin clicked his tongue and joked, “Boss, you scared him away.”

Song Mianfeng glanced at him. “Edit your photos.”

Liu Chengyin asked curiously, “What’s going on? Are you pursuing him, or is he pursuing you? Why does it seem like your relationship is so complicated?”

“Blind date.” Song Mianfeng sat down at the computer, shook his mouse, and continued editing photos. “Neither of us is pursuing the other, just flirting.”

Liu Chengyin took a moment to react, then chuckled, “Is our studio finally getting another boss?”

For the past few years, Song Mianfeng had been traveling around the country, capturing mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and the celestial bodies. Two years ago, he returned to S City, settled down, and opened the Zhanyue Mianfeng Photography Studio. But his parents were still worried that he wouldn’t settle down, so they urged him to go on blind dates, date, and even get married.

However, most of those blind dates were just going through the motions for Song Mianfeng, at most having a meal and then nothing more.

So far, Lu Yin Zhen was the most intriguing one.

Thinking of Lu Yin Zhen’s WeChat chat window, which was the only one pinned, Song Mianfeng smirked, “Probably.”

…

It was almost seven o’clock when the photos were edited. Song Mianfeng walked out of the office, his shoulders slightly sore, and when he saw Lu Yin Zhen sitting in the living room, seemingly flipping through a magazine, he inexplicably felt relieved.

Approaching, he realized Lu Yin Zhen was looking at his photography collection. When Lu Yin Zhen looked up at him, he turned another page before reluctantly closing the book and putting it down.

Song Mianfeng found it amusing. “Like it?”

Lu Yin Zhen nodded. “Each photo is beautifully taken.”

Song Mianfeng said, “I can give you a copy.”

“No need.” Lu Yin Zhen rubbed the photography collection in his hand and put it back on the shelf. “It should be exhibited here, not collecting dust on my shelf.”

Song Mianfeng watched him put the photography collection away and smiled. “Let’s go, let’s have dinner.”

After about twenty minutes of driving, they parked by the river in a maze of winding alleys, where the aroma of wine drifted. Song Mianfeng took a sniff and smiled. “You’re good at picking places.”

Hidden in the alley was a small tavern called “Huajian Yipot Jiu,” with an elegant name, fragrant fruit wine, and famous Jianghu cuisine in S City. It was hard to get a reservation.

“Have you been here before?”

“I’ve heard of it.” Song Mianfeng followed him into the alley. “I wanted to come before to try it out, but it’s not fun alone, so I didn’t come.”

Once inside, a waiter came over and asked, “Do you have a reservation?”

Lu Yin Zhen answered with a surname, and the waiter led them to a private room.

Although it was called a private room, it was simply separated by bamboo curtains, with calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, antique wooden tables and stools, and a revolving lantern. Lu Yin Zhen stood under the light, his features becoming even more handsome, like a gallant gentleman stepping out of a painting, leaving Song Mianfeng momentarily stunned.

The waiter placed the menu on the table, and Lu Yin Zhen naturally handed it to Song Mianfeng.

When Song Mianfeng came back to his senses, he lowered his head to look at the menu. In reality, all he could see were images of Lu Yin Zhen, making it hard to focus on the words on the menu.

He simply pushed the menu back to Lu Yin Zhen. “You order.”

Lu Yin Zhen asked him, “Is there anything you don’t like to eat?”

As the waiter poured tea for them, Song Mianfeng said, “Thank you,” took the tea, and took a sip. “I eat everything except carrots.”

“You don’t eat carrots?”

“Don’t like them.” Song Mianfeng didn’t think it was embarrassing for a grown man to dislike carrots. He said confidently, “They’re not tasty.”

Lu Yin Zhen asked again, “Then what do you like to eat?”

“Meat.”

“Do you like spicy food?”

“Not really.”

“If you have to order a vegetarian dish, what would you like?”

“Water spinach.”

After Lu Yin Zhen finished asking about Song Mianfeng’s taste preferences, he began to order.

He ordered sour and spicy fish, salt and pepper chicken, tofu soup, stir-fried water spinach, and yam porridge. Then he asked, “Anything else?”

“I’ll have a bowl of rice.”

As the waiter left with the menu, Song Mianfeng said slowly, “Why do I feel like you know what I like to eat?”

Lu Yin Zhen took a sip of tea and smiled at him, “Maybe it’s because we’re on the same wavelength.”

When Lu Yin Zhen smiled, there was a warm and gentle smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, like soft marshmallows, sweet and tender. Song Mianfeng fell into it, embracing the warmth.

Unconsciously, he curved his lips and asked, “How about you? What do you like to eat, what don’t you like, any dietary restrictions?”

“I don’t particularly like anything, but I don’t like bitter melon,” Lu Yin Zhen paused, then added, “I don’t eat spicy food. I prefer… lighter flavors.”

Song Mianfeng took a sip of tea and changed the topic, “Are you going on a business trip to M Country at the end of the month?”

“To J Province,” Lu Yin Zhen said, “Probably for about a week.”

“J Province, huh.” Song Mianfeng searched his impressions of M Country in his mind. “This season, the flowers in J Province should be in full bloom.”

Lu Yin Zhen looked at him, his admiration clear in his eyes. “You’ve really been to many places.”

Song Mianfeng smiled and asked him, “For a busy businessman like you, haven’t you traveled to many places?”

Lu Yin Zhen chuckled. “It’s different.”

Actually, due to his health, he didn’t travel much. The major investment projects that required his personal attention and important work that needed his handling were purposefully directed to specific locations. After finishing the business, he would leave without stopping to admire the scenery.

“If you have time, you should go and see,” Song Mianfeng said. “The flower fields are so beautiful, it would be a pity to miss them.”

“The weather in M Country should be nice this season. But when you’re on a business trip, take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally. Don’t tire yourself out too much. Focus on work when you need to, but also enjoy good food…”

Lu Yin Zhen listened attentively, not interrupting, just looking at him.

When Song Mianfeng paused, he lowered his head and took a sip of tea. “Did I say too much?”

Lu Yin Zhen shook his head with a smile. “Not at all.”

He said, “You too, busy as you are, remember to eat on time and rest well.”

This conversation made Lu Yin Zhen vaguely think of his grandmother in B City.

Every time he went on a trip, his grandmother would help him pack his bags while reminding him to take care of himself, her tone gentle. Although it was always something like “Remember to dress warmly in cold weather, eat three meals a day on time, and remember to call home to let us know you’re safe,” repeated over and over again, he liked to hear it. Only at such times could he truly feel that someone was caring for him.

Song Mianfeng cared for him too.

Those WeChat messages sent during breaks were genuine, as was the concern in his words.

Actually, he knew that Song Mianfeng said these things because he had feelings for him.

Feelings might eventually turn into affection, into love; or they might become disappointment, leading to estrangement.

Emotions were like seeds planted in the heart, absorbing love as nutrients and growing. But before planting them, no one knew whether they would grow into towering trees or wither like bitter melon. They might even die before sprouting due to lack of nourishment, be plucked off just as they began to sprout, or fail to reach a proper conclusion for various reasons.

In his barren heart, he had personally planted this seed. At this moment, he hoped it would bloom and bear fruit.

“If you have time,” Lu Yin Zhen said, “I’ll go and see the flower fields you mentioned.”

…

After dinner, Lu Yin Zhen drove Song Mianfeng home.

Song Mianfeng’s apartment was in the Shuoguang District, Xinyi Road, No. 365.

In the car, Song Mianfeng closed his eyes and took a brief rest. He had been too tired in recent days. After eating and drinking his fill, the drowsiness in his body dragged him into a dream. When he woke up, his consciousness was still a bit hazy.

He didn’t know when the car had stopped in front of the apartment building, and Lu Yin Zhen was leaning back in his seat, eyes closed, whether he was asleep or just resting with his eyes closed.

Returning from his dream, Song Mianfeng slowly regained his senses, rubbing his temples. “Did I sleep for a long time?”

“For about ten minutes.” Lu Yin Zhen glanced at his wristwatch, where the hour and minute hands overlapped near the ten.

It was 9:49 PM.

With the moon high in the sky, its silver light spilled onto the ground, mingling with the warm yellow light of the street lamps, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Even simple words carried a hint of warmth: “You seemed so tired, so I didn’t wake you.”

Song Mianfeng rubbed his temples. “I am a bit tired.”

“Get some rest when you get back.”

“Yeah, I’ll head back now.” Song Mianfeng opened the door and got out of the car. “Drive safely.”

As the driver’s side window slowly rolled down, Lu Yin Zhen called out to him.

Turning back under the moonlight, Song Mianfeng met a pair of eyes even brighter than the stars.

Lu Yin Zhen smiled at him and said, “Goodnight.”

For a man who had been single for four or five years, and was in good health, this “goodnight” was like a spark, igniting a prairie fire with a gust of wind.

Song Mianfeng was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

“Goodnight.”

That night, neither of them could settle down.