The next day, Song Mianfeng woke up to the sound of the alarm clock, and Lu Yin Zhen was also awakened by the alarm clock. They both sat up, one after the other. Song Mianfeng got up to change clothes, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and asked him, “Why are you getting up?”

Lu Yin Zhen reacted, “Why are you getting up?”

Both of them were still in a daze, their memories of waking up together on the same bed still lingering from their time in City B. Song Mianfeng was on vacation at the Meng family’s place and never had to wake up early, while Lu Yin Zhen was recuperating at home, handling work remotely without the need for strict schedules. So now both of them were a bit confused.

Song Mianfeng remembered that he had to go to the studio, but Lu Yin Zhen, just waking up, was still not fully awake and had no idea why he got up.

Song Mianfeng chuckled, “I’m going to the studio, starting work at nine.”

“It’s only eight o’clock now, still early, you can go back to sleep,” Song Mianfeng added, “The spare key is in the bedside table, and breakfast…”

“I’m going to the company,” Lu Yin Zhen thought for a moment and decided to get up, “Shall we have breakfast together?”

“Didn’t you just come back? Give yourself a few more days of rest,” Song Mianfeng expressed concern.

“Since I’m back, I should go see,” Lu Yin Zhen put on his shirt leisurely and tied his tie.

Song Mianfeng was still worried, “What about your health…”

“It’s already much better,” Lu Yin Zhen smiled at him, “Shall I come pick you up in the afternoon?”

Song Mianfeng adjusted his collar for him, “Hmm,” he nodded, “It’s Wednesday today, but I might be busy with work these few days. How about we go home to see my parents during the National Day?”

Lu Yin Zhen leaned down and kissed the corner of his lips, “As you wish.”

Song Mianfeng made a soft grunt, “You kiss me without shaving!”

Lu Yin Zhen kissed him again, “It’s early in the morning, don’t tease me.”

…

Living together was even better than imagined. They woke up together every morning to go to work, and in the afternoon, Lu Yin Zhen would pick him up from work, then they would go grocery shopping together and cook at home. When Song Mianfeng was busy with work and needed to work overtime, Lu Yin Zhen would accompany him in the studio, and they would have takeout meals together in Song Mianfeng’s small rest area.

The weather was getting colder day by day, but Song Mianfeng’s days were warm and sweet, enviable to others.

In the blink of an eye, it was National Day. Song Mianfeng had already called home in advance to inform Song Shaochen and Su Jieyi that he would bring Lu Yin Zhen home.

On the afternoon of the first day of October, Lu Yin Zhen carried several gifts and went to visit Song’s parents. He was dressed in formal attire, even styling his hair meticulously, looking as if he were attending a wedding.

Standing beside him in a loose sweatshirt, Song Mianfeng looked two or three years younger.

After unlocking the door, Song Mianfeng placed the gift boxes on the ground, helped Lu Yin Zhen find a pair of shoes, and then changed into his own slippers, calling out, “I’m back.”

Su Jieyi put down the knitting work she had been working on and stood up from the sofa, smiling gently, “You’re back, but why did you buy so many things again?”

“These are all bought by Yin Zhen,” Song Mianfeng placed the gift boxes he was holding on the coffee table and also took the ones Lu Yin Zhen was carrying, putting them on the table, “The tea and tea set are for Dad, some donkey-hide gelatin cakes for you.”

“We don’t lack any of these at home,” Su Jieyi tidied up the things, although her words carried a hint of reproach, her smile remained warm, “There’s no need to spend so much all the time.”

“It’s the first formal visit to you and Uncle,” Lu Yin Zhen said, “It’s only appropriate.”

Song Mianfeng didn’t see Song Shaochen and asked Su Jieyi, “Where’s Dad? Did he go to Mingyue to watch the opera?”

“He’s in the study upstairs,” Su Jieyi said, “I’ll go call him.”

“I’ll take Yin Zhen up,” Song Mianfeng suggested.

Song Shaochen was sitting in the study, listening to storytelling, sitting upright on the sofa, a tea set on the coffee table, brewing tea. When he heard the knock on the door, he said, “Come in.”

Song Mianfeng and Lu Yin Zhen pushed the door open and entered. When Song Shaochen saw Lu Yin Zhen, he smiled warmly, “Yin Zhen, it’s been a while since I last saw you.”

“I went back to City B for a while, just returned these past few days,” Lu Yin Zhen stood tall and straight, nodding slightly, “Work has been busy, didn’t have the chance to visit you and Auntie until now, my apologies.”

Song Mianfeng had concealed his illness from his parents, so he had to go along with the lie, saying that work had been too busy.

“Please sit,” Song Shaochen turned off the storytelling and glanced at Song Mianfeng standing obediently beside him, “You go downstairs and accompany your mom, I’ll talk to Yin Zhen alone for a while.”

Song Mianfeng hesitated, “Dad…”

Song Shaochen didn’t say anything, just looked at him steadily.

Lu Yin Zhen smiled at him reassuringly, “You go downstairs first, don’t worry.”

Song Mianfeng twiddled his fingers and obediently left, closing the door gently.

Song Shaochen shook his head, sighing softly.

At twenty-eight years old, his son’s temperament still hadn’t settled, doing everything according to his mood, without considering interpersonal relationships. Song Mianfeng used to come home infrequently, it was common not to see him for several months. Occasionally, he would make a phone call and say— he’s on a business trip in another city…

Only during this period did Song Mianfeng become more steady in his actions, knowing to plan his work in advance and report to his family when going on business trips, also showing care and consideration for others. He noticed all these changes, and since being with Lu Yin Zhen, Song Mianfeng had become much more stable.

This made him feel relieved but also somewhat emotional.

Seeing both his children grown up and reaching the age to start their own families, but when he looked at them, he still felt like they were childish and immature, making him unable to rest assured.

Lu Yin Zhen was a junior he admired and befriended. Although there was an inexplicable difference in age now, he had adjusted his mindset during this period. After all, both of them were his chosen ones, and he was the one who set them up. There was no reason for him to make it difficult for the two children when they were really together.

“This may sound abrupt, but I am Mianfeng’s father. There are some things I can’t rest assured about if I don’t ask,” Song Shaochen poured a cup of tea for him, “Try it, it’s a good Biluochun.”

During the months when he got to know Lu Yin Zhen, he had also subtly asked about Lu Yin Zhen’s family situation. Lu Yin Zhen didn’t deliberately conceal anything from him, nor did he reveal too much, only saying that his mother passed away early, and he was raised by his maternal grandparents.

People naturally worry about things they don’t know about themselves, and Lu Yin Zhen didn’t mention a word about his father, which always made him slightly worried.

The tea leaves in the cup were slender and curled like screws, the tea water was clear and green, carrying a rich aroma. Lu Yin Zhen said thank you and slowly took a sip of tea, “Flowery and fruity, it’s good tea.”

Even sitting down, he still sat with a straight back, showing that he was raised in a well-mannered family, speaking with poise and confidence beyond his years, “I know what you want to ask.”

“My family doesn’t have many relatives, only my uncle’s family, and I have two cousins of the same generation. My grandparents know about my sexual orientation and have met Mianfeng,” Lu Yin Zhen said, “You don’t need to worry about my family, they all like Mianfeng very much.”

“As for my father,” Lu Yin Zhen didn’t want to bring up old grievances, and simply stated his position in plain and simple terms, “He remarried after divorcing my mother and has his own family with a wife and children. He has never been in contact with me over the years, as far as I’m concerned, he’s just an unrelated person.”

Song Shaochen calmly took a sip of tea, many prepared arguments and questions rolling down his throat along with the tea, and his mind settled.

“I was worried unnecessarily. I should have known that you have your own principles,” Song Shaochen’s gaze fell on Lu Yin Zhen’s face, paused for a moment, and he sighed with emotion, “Since you’ve both met each other’s family, have you thought about your future?”

“…We plan to live separately for a while so that we can take care of both sides.”

“Can’t you bring both elderly people to live with you?” After asking, Song Shaochen paused for a moment, then sighed lightly, “Don’t blame me for being selfish. As parents, no one wants their children to be too far away from them, worrying about them. Mianfeng and Zhanyue, one after the other, have found love. If both children… get married and move out, it will be just me and Jieyi left, and these days will be much lonelier.”

Lu Yin Zhen lowered his head, unable to speak.

He was filial to his maternal grandparents, but Song Mianfeng also had parents and a sister. None of them could selfishly demand that the other give up everything and move with them.

After a long silence, Lu Yin Zhen finally spoke, “My mother… she married into S City and also passed away there…”

Just this one piece of information made it impossible for him to selfishly ask Meng Yushan and his wife to move to S City. Moreover, both elderly people had lived in City B for their whole lives, and the attachment they couldn’t let go of was even stronger than his…

Song Shaochen stood up, patting his shoulder lightly, not too heavy, but his words felt like a heavy burden pressing on Lu Yin Zhen’s heart.

“Now that you’ve discussed and decided, let it be like this,” Song Shaochen’s tone was calm, “You should know, this road isn’t easy. In the future, I hope you… will treat him well.”