Chapter 12
They went to Lu Xuefeng’s apartment together to retrieve the necessary documents.
Song Muqing waited downstairs, leaning against the car door, glancing up at the building.
As Lu Xuefeng collected his household registration booklet and ID card, walking through the bedroom towards the door, he paused.
He saw the bouquet Song Muqing had given him, now arranged in a vase on the counter. The flowers hadn’t wilted yet.
He went back inside.
Ten minutes later, Song Muqing saw Lu Xuefeng approaching and couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.
Lu Xuefeng stopped in front of him and asked, “Does it look strange?”
“You look good.”
Hearing this, Lu Xuefeng relaxed, explaining, “I thought we would be taking photos, so I changed clothes.”
He had changed into an outfit similar in color and style to Song Muqing’s, for a more harmonious look in the photos.
He rarely wore this color and wasn’t quite used to it.
Song Muqing looked at him, offering another compliment. “It suits you very much.”
Lu Xuefeng smiled slightly.
They didn’t go to the Civil Affairs Bureau immediately. Song Muqing said they needed to go somewhere else first.
He took Lu Xuefeng to a jewelry design store.
To order wedding rings.
This store was unique, offering only one-of-a-kind ring designs, each sold only once.
For those seeking something even more special and meaningful, custom designs were also available.
Song Muqing said, “I didn’t prepare in advance, so we can only choose a design and have them custom-made today.”
“It’s alright, I don’t mind.”
Lu Xuefeng wasn’t concerned about this; sooner or later didn’t matter.
But Song Muqing had been more thoughtful.
They browsed the selection. The designs were all quite nice, but none of them particularly stood out, so they decided to create their own.
Lu Xuefeng had his own ideas. He communicated with the designer, who sketched designs based on the elements and style he described, making revisions as needed.
Song Muqing deferred to Lu Xuefeng’s preferences, offering no objections.
The final design was minimalist, understated yet elegant, with subtle details. The Möbius strip-like shape was flattering and suitable for men.
The staff measured their ring sizes and explained that due to the recent increase in marriages, the production time might be slightly longer. The store offered a complimentary pair of plain silver rings as a placeholder.
However, the design was too simple for wedding rings, more like decorative trinkets.
They shared the same opinion and didn’t take them, willing to wait.
Then they headed to the Civil Affairs Bureau, queued, and completed the procedures.
There weren’t many couples registering their marriage today, so the process was quick.
They finished everything before the staff’s closing time.
Everything went smoothly, a good omen.
Lu Xuefeng remembered their ID photos being taken rather casually. The person taking the photo had asked them to stand closer together.
He had touched Song Muqing’s shoulder.
This pose lasted only two seconds before the photographer said it was done.
It was very quick.
Neither of them had fully reacted.
Lu Xuefeng felt he hadn’t even adjusted his expression before it was over.
He tilted his head slightly to see Song Muqing’s reaction, just as Song Muqing looked at him.
They exchanged a knowing glance, a smile forming in their eyes, as if they knew what the other was thinking.
“That was fast,” Song Muqing murmured.
Lu Xuefeng hummed in agreement. He hadn’t even prepared his expression, wondering if the photos would look awkward and perfunctory.
Fortunately, they turned out alright.
A female staff member even complimented them, saying they looked very well-matched and that their ID photos were lovely.
“Thank you,” Song Muqing accepted the compliment politely and requested a digital copy of the photos.
They completed the procedures, received their marriage certificates, and left the Civil Affairs Bureau.
The weather outside was beautiful.
There was another newlywed couple who had just registered their marriage. They had been behind Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing in the queue, so they recognized each other.
As they exited, they exchanged smiles.
Both couples held their red marriage certificates.
Registering their marriage on the same day felt like a special connection.
The woman smiled brightly, seeming cheerful and friendly.
Before leaving, she said to them, “Congratulations!”
A heartfelt blessing.
They reciprocated, congratulating the other couple as well.
Lu Xuefeng noticed that as they walked away, they were still holding hands, their fingers intertwined, looking very much in love.
They walked slowly.
Song Muqing glanced at Lu Xuefeng, wondering what he was thinking.
Sitting in the car, Lu Xuefeng held the marriage certificate, the clear lettering reminding him that he was now married.
Seeing him staring at the certificate, Song Muqing asked what was wrong.
Lu Xuefeng lowered his eyes, murmuring softly, “It feels… strange.”
A week ago, he had been anxious about blind dates and unable to fulfill his grandmother’s only wish.
Now, he and Song Muqing were officially married, legally recognized as husbands.
They had exchanged vows and signed the documents.
Although not out of love.
Simply because they both needed a spouse, and the timing was right.
Lu Xuefeng thought it was fine this way.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice that Song Muqing had been looking at him for a while. Song Muqing took the marriage certificate from his hand.
“Let me keep this for now,” Song Muqing said. “We’ll keep them together.”
“Alright.”
Lu Xuefeng readily agreed, watching as Song Muqing placed the two certificates together.
Song Muqing rested his hand on the steering wheel and asked, “Shall we go for dinner, or… tell your grandmother the good news?”
Lu Xuefeng considered this. “Let’s go to the hospital first.”
He hadn’t visited his grandmother today.
They decided to go directly. On their way to the hospital, they stopped at a flower shop.
“I’ll go buy them,” Song Muqing offered.
On his first visit to his grandmother’s ward, he had noticed the fresh flowers on the bedside table, clearly prepared by Lu Xuefeng.
When Song Muqing returned, he held an even larger and fresher bouquet. Since he was driving, he handed it to Lu Xuefeng.
“Is it too big?” Lu Xuefeng asked.
“No.”
This was a joyous occasion, deserving of a large bouquet.
When they arrived, his grandmother had just finished a minor examination and was lying in bed.
Sister Xu was with her. Seeing them enter, she naturally stood up and moved towards the foot of the bed, giving Lu Xuefeng and his grandmother some space.
This was her first time seeing Song Muqing, holding a bouquet, so she couldn’t help but glance at him a few times.
Seeing Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing together, his grandmother tried to sit up to talk to them.
Lu Xuefeng adjusted the pillows behind her.
“Why are you here so early today?”
Then Deng Yuzhen looked at Song Muqing, smiling. “Xiao Song is here too.”
She had a good impression of Song Muqing and hoped Lu Xuefeng would bring friends over more often, to have company.
Moreover, knowing that Song Muqing was the person Lu Xuefeng was seeing, she was even more pleased.
She urged them to sit down.
“Grandma, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Noticing the seriousness in Lu Xuefeng’s expression, his grandmother became slightly nervous, thinking something was wrong.
Lu Xuefeng glanced at Song Muqing, receiving a reassuring look, which gave him the courage to speak. “I got married, today.”
Deng Yuzhen was speechless for a moment, her gaze fixed on them.
Song Muqing didn’t speak, knowing that Lu Xuefeng should be the one to announce this.
“We just got our marriage certificate,” Lu Xuefeng held his grandmother’s hand. “I wanted to tell you first.”
As he spoke, his eyes lowered, not daring to look at his grandmother.
The ward was unusually quiet.
When Lu Xuefeng finally looked up, sensing something amiss, he saw that his grandmother’s eyes were red.
“Good… good.”
Deng Yuzhen’s voice trembled as she spoke, unable to finish her sentence before wiping her eyes.
Lu Xuefeng’s heart ached.
Deng Yuzhen was overwhelmed with emotions, mostly relief.
Lu Xuefeng had a partner now, someone to share his joys and sorrows, someone who cared about him, understood and respected him.
She felt the weight on her heart finally lift. They were married, which meant Lu Xuefeng now had more family.
Even after she was gone, he wouldn’t be alone.
Thinking of this, tears welled up in her eyes. She held both Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing’s hands, placing them together. “As long as you’ve made up your minds.”
Deng Yuzhen patted their hands reassuringly.
“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll take good care of Xuefeng.”
Song Muqing gave her his assurance, and Deng Yuzhen nodded approvingly. “Support each other and live a good life.”
“We will.”
Lu Xuefeng suppressed his emotions, echoing his words.
His grandmother nodded with relief, tears welling up again, which Lu Xuefeng gently wiped away.
Sister Xu, standing quietly beside them, was touched by the scene and quickly tried to lighten the mood. “This is wonderful news! Be happy.”
She congratulated Song Muqing and Lu Xuefeng, saying she wanted to share in their joy.
Her own children weren’t married yet, and although she wasn’t in a hurry, that day would eventually come.
“No wonder I thought you two looked well-matched when you came in. I didn’t dare to ask, afraid of misunderstanding. Turns out my intuition was right.”
Sister Xu smiled, and the atmosphere became more relaxed. His grandmother smiled along with her.
Lu Xuefeng peeled an orange for his grandmother.
Song Muqing took the initiative to clean the vase and prepare it for the new flowers.
“Let me do it,” Lu Xuefeng offered.
“It’s alright, you just sit.”
Although Song Muqing said this, Lu Xuefeng still helped him arrange the bouquet.
Standing together, they looked very harmonious.
Sister Xu wasn’t very familiar with same-sex relationships. While not exactly supportive, she wasn’t opposed either.
They were both good people.
She found Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing pleasing to the eye. Not usually talkative, she was happy for them and asked curiously, “Have you been together for a long time?”
Sister Xu didn’t know how they had met or anything about Lu Xuefeng’s past relationships, so she naturally assumed they had been dating before getting married.
Lu Xuefeng paused, his hand holding a flower stem still, considering how to answer.
Song Muqing continued arranging the flowers calmly, glancing at Lu Xuefeng, receiving a silent nod of approval before replying softly, “Yes, for a long time.”
His grandmother didn’t doubt this, looking at her grandson. “You, keeping secrets from me.”
Lu Xuefeng wanted to explain, but the atmosphere was so pleasant that he didn’t say anything.
Let them believe they had been together for a long time.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t approve,” he said.
His grandmother said helplessly, “Silly child, why wouldn’t I approve? He’s someone you love, so of course, I’ll love him too.”
Lu Xuefeng’s heart warmed. He knew his grandmother would say that.
She always prioritized his feelings. Even though she had never imagined her grandson marrying a man, she was willing to accept it and wouldn’t object.
“There’s a thorn here.”
Song Muqing reminded him, seeing him lost in thought, and took the rose stem from his hand. “Let me do it.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Lu Xuefeng thanked him softly. Song Muqing expertly trimmed the thorns.
Sister Xu whispered to his grandmother, teasing, “Look, they’re so polite with each other.”
His grandmother chuckled.
Soon, the flowers were arranged.
The fresh flowers filled the vase, looking beautiful and vibrant, brightening the entire ward.
There were still some flowers left. Song Muqing bundled them together, setting them aside, and said softly to Lu Xuefeng, “Take these home with you.”
“There are already many flowers at home.”
Song Muqing replied, “Then it’s perfect. One more bouquet won’t hurt.”
They waited until it was late and his grandmother urged them to go home and rest before preparing to leave.
Song Muqing carried the smaller bouquet for Lu Xuefeng.
Inside the elevator, there was another couple, likely visiting a friend in the hospital, chatting and laughing with each other.
They held hands, their gestures intimate.
Unreserved and oblivious to their surroundings.
Lu Xuefeng looked away.
When the elevator reached the ground floor, the couple left first, and they followed slowly, exiting the inpatient department.
Under the eaves, Song Muqing handed the flowers back to Lu Xuefeng.
Lu Xuefeng reached out to accept them.
“Shall we hold hands?” Song Muqing suddenly asked.
Lu Xuefeng was surprised by the unexpected request, hesitating for a moment.
Did they need to hold hands?
After all, they weren’t in a romantic relationship.
“Consider it a celebration.”
With that, Song Muqing naturally reached out and held Lu Xuefeng’s hand before he could respond.
