“Xiao Liu, touch up the photo and post it on Weibo.”

“How should I touch it up?” Liu Chengyin took the SLR camera, feeling a bit confused. “Boss Song, why are you leaving work so early today?”

Song Mianfeng explained while packing up, “The Empress Dowager issued an edict for me to go home for dinner. There’s no way around it. Thank you for your hard work. Just touch it up however you think looks good.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of it.” Liu Chengyin joked, “Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly summon you home? Is it about marriage or something?”

“Shut up.” Song Mianfeng laughed and scolded, “Daring to make up stories about the Empress Dowager, I’ll punish you for disrespect later.”

It wasn’t surprising that Liu Chengyin teased him. It was because his parents were always concerned about the major life events of him and his sister. If they weren’t arranging blind dates for him, they were arranging them for his sister. A sudden call to go home for dinner like this usually meant another blind date.

Song Mianfeng was actually quite impatient with his parents always trying to play matchmaker, but he recalled their open-minded attitude when he came out, so he let it slide.

Song Mianfeng also thought that it had been a while since he last saw Zhenyue. What’s wrong with going home for a meal?

He bought some fruits on the way home. Upon entering, he saw Song Zhenyue brewing tea.

Song Mianfeng was a bit surprised. After changing his shoes and placing the fruits on the coffee table, he glanced at the cleaned and warm teacups, five of them, and understood: “Do we have guests at home?”

Song Zhenyue smiled at him but didn’t say anything.

Su Jieyi came out of the kitchen holding a soup pot and said, “Your dad’s friend from Mingyuelou.”

Oh, a friend met at Mingyuelou for tea and dinner.

Song Mianfeng was relieved. It seemed like it was just a regular family dinner.

“Zhenyue, help set the table.”

Song Zhenyue smiled strangely but meaningfully, then went to get the tableware from the kitchen.

Without thinking much, Su Jieyi said again, “Your dad is in the study on the second floor playing with his phonograph. Mianfeng, go call him down for dinner.”

Song Mianfeng agreed and went upstairs.

As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he heard the melodious sound of the guqin and soft singing coming from the phonograph. The sound had a unique texture and charm, exceptionally enchanting and lingering.

The study door was open. Song Mianfeng lightly knocked twice before pushing it open.

A middle-aged man, his eyes half-closed as he gently tapped to the rhythm, looked up at him. Song Mianfeng greeted him with a smile, calling out “Dad.” Then, he noticed another man, thin and with his head bowed, seemingly studying the phonograph. He addressed him as “Uncle” and said, “It’s time for dinner.”

Song Shaochen coughed awkwardly.

The man caressed the phonograph for a moment, then turned around, looking up at Song Mianfeng.

“Clear shallow pond, mandarin ducks playing in the water, red robes, green covers, intertwined lotus flowers.”

The phonograph was playing “Full Moon and Beautiful Flowers.” Song Mianfeng suddenly remembered the exceptionally beautiful lyrics in it.

The man, with a spring-like gaze tinged with a hint of coldness, smiled slowly as he saw Song Mianfeng lost in thought, and the chill dissipated, replaced by a gentle ripple, reflecting his stunned expression.

Song Mianfeng snapped out of it, blushing slightly as he nodded. “Sorry.”

The man, who looked about the same age as him, but misunderstood and was called uncle by him, felt a bit awkward. Song Shaochen intervened, introducing him, “Mianfeng, this is Lu Yin Zhen. He’s two years older than you, call him ge, not uncle.”

Song Mianfeng, with his head lowered, sighed inwardly at the shrewdness of his father. He obediently called out “ge.”

Song Shaochen smiled satisfactorily. “Let’s go downstairs for dinner first.”

As they sat down for dinner, there were already dishes on the table. Two sets of dishes were set on one side, and three sets were set on the other. Su Jieyi and Song Zhenyue were serving soup, Song Shaochen sat down, warmly welcoming Lu Yin Zhu, “Sit wherever you like, treat it like your own home, don’t be polite.”

Lu Yin Zhu chose the seat furthest away.

Song Mianfeng breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, no one wants a stranger sitting between themselves and their own sister at the dinner table, right?

Song Zhenyue smiled slightly, blinked at Song Mianfeng, and Song Mianfeng understood. He sat down next to Lu Yin Zhu, then pulled out a chair for Song Zhenyue.

Song Zhenyue smiled and sat down, speaking in a suppressed voice with a fast pace, “Thank you, little brother.”

At the dinner table, the two siblings tacitly adhered to the fine tradition of “eating without speaking.” Song Shaochen didn’t want to appear too much in front of Lu Yin Zhu, so he could only use his eyes to signal the siblings not to ignore the guest next to them. Su Jieyi found it amusing and occasionally brought up one or two topics. After a meal, it didn’t feel awkward.

After dinner, Song Zhenyue received a prepared call and said that her teacher had something to discuss with her, using it as an excuse to leave early.

Song Mianfeng walked her to the door, feeling a bit annoyed that she left him alone. He reached out and pinched her face. “Drive safely.”

Song Zhenyue smiled mischievously. “He looks quite handsome. He’s even better-looking than those blind dates our dad and mom introduced before. Brother, seize the opportunity!”

Song Mianfeng patted her head. “You’re not interested?”

“I’m not interested.” Song Zhenyue pursed her lips. “Besides, you haven’t dated anyone yet, why should I be in a hurry?”

Song Mianfeng chuckled, “We were born on the same day. I’m not in a hurry. Men are still in their prime at forty, but you’ll turn into tofu if you don’t hurry.”

Song Zhenyue glared at him. “How can you say that about your own sister!”

Seeing her instantly bristle like an angry kitten, Song Mianfeng chuckled and comforted her, “Okay, you’re not in a hurry either. My dear sister in her prime, will be as beautiful as a flower. Even if she never gets married, I’ll take care of her.”

Twenty-seven years old was indeed an adult.

So what? Song Mianfeng thought to himself. Of course, he hoped that Zhenyue could find someone who loves her, but if she couldn’t, it didn’t matter. After all, he would always be there to dote on her. His Zhenyue could forever remain a little girl.

After seeing off Song Zhenyue, Song Mianfeng braced himself to face his father, mother, and Lu Yin Zhen.

Song Shaochen was sipping the tea brewed by Song Zhenyue, his brow furrowed in displeasure.

Song Mianfeng glanced at Lu Yin Zhen sitting beside him. He noticed that Lu Yin Zhen effortlessly steered the conversation towards tea every few sentences, which eased Song Shaochen’s tension. Suddenly, Song Mianfeng found this person quite intriguing.

Despite being two years older, Lu Yin Zhen had forged a close friendship with his father, sharing similar interests. There seemed to be an old soul residing within this young man’s body, sparking curiosity and a desire to understand him further.

Quietly sitting on the side, Song Mianfeng listened to the two men chat about tea, discreetly observing Lu Yin Zhen.

Lu Yin Zhen appeared thin, as if he had been chronically ill, yet his demeanor did not betray any weakness. His spirit was strong, his eyes bright, his features handsome. His brows were like mountain ridges, his eyes like rippling water. When not smiling, he exuded a coldness akin to the moon, yet when he did smile, he was as warm as jade. Despite the apparent contradictions, his demeanor seemed perfectly natural.

Suddenly, Song Mianfeng understood why his father admired and liked Lu Yin Zhen so much, even going out of his way to invite him home as a guest and introduce him to his kids.

“A true gentleman: polished, refined, precious like gold, and flawless like jade.”

If he had children of suitable age, he would also want to bring someone like Lu Yin Zhen home.

Song Mianfeng twirled his fingertips, his long-dormant heart stirring. He had a gut feeling that Lu Yin Zhen might be like him.

Should he give it a try?

As Song Shaochen and Lu Yin Zhen were engrossed in conversation, Song Mianfeng glanced at them pouring tea, realizing that there must be some ulterior motive.

There’s always something behind gratuitous kindness.

Nonchalantly, Song Mianfeng poured tea for Lu Yin Zhen as well.

Song Shaochen looked at Lu Yin Zhen, then at his own son, and chuckled. “Look at me, dragging you along to drink tea with me. Young people should go out and explore, enjoy life.”

The reason sounded somewhat contrived. Lu Yin Zhen felt awkward but didn’t want to directly refuse and embarrass Song Shaochen, so he looked towards Song Mianfeng.

Song Mianfeng, who never played by the rules, grinned and chimed in, “The scenery by the river is beautiful, want to take a look?”

Without a word, Lu Yin Zhen got up and followed him out the door.

The Song family resided in an independent old mansion along Pingchao Road by the river, with white walls, black tiles, small bridges, and flowing water, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Walking along the riverside, Song Mianfeng didn’t dwell on the awkwardness of addressing Lu Yin Zhen as “uncle” and instead initiated conversation. “Can I call you by your name?”

He hesitated for a moment before adding, “Calling you ‘ge’ feels a bit strange.”

After all, he was always the one being called “ge,” so it felt odd to call someone else that.

Lu Yin Zhen responded with a simple “Hmm.”

Song Mianfeng smiled. He had a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes, with clear features. When he smiled, the corners of his eyes would gently curve, his long eyelashes casting a faint shadow, resembling a butterfly about to take flight. There was a mole at the corner of his eye, resembling the pattern on a butterfly, which was stunning.

Song Mianfeng asked, “What are your characters?”

Lu Yin Zhen looked away. “Drinking poison to quench one’s thirst.”

The phrase “drinking poison to quench one’s thirst” lingered in Song Mianfeng’s mind, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

However, Lu Yin Zhen seemed unfazed and continued in a calm tone, “My surname is Lu, Lu Yin Zhen.”

Song Mianfeng was stunned for a few seconds before composing himself and introducing himself, “I’m Song Mianfeng. ‘Sleeping under the moon, dreaming in the wind,’ that’s Mianfeng.”

Lu Yin Zhen suddenly laughed. “I know.”