Chapter 15
They had just gotten married a few days ago and were still considered newlyweds. This was their first night living together, so it could indeed be considered their “wedding night.”
Lu Xuefeng had been prepared to live together, but hearing Song Muqing say these words made his face flush slightly.
The term “wedding night” carried a certain intimacy.
Now they faced another question.
Should they sleep separately, or together?
Or rather, would they…?
Having married for the practical purpose of needing a spouse, would there be such needs?
Lu Xuefeng’s thoughts wandered.
They exchanged glances.
Song Muqing was clearly thinking about the same thing, so he asked, “Shall we sleep together?”
Fearing he might be too forward, he added, “Is that alright with you?”
Lu Xuefeng didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
He thought that as adults, sleeping together wasn’t a big deal. There was no need to be overly shy about such things.
Song Muqing looked at the tips of Lu Xuefeng’s ears, which had turned slightly red, but didn’t say anything.
He simply hung up the towel and stepped back, creating some distance.
They had been busy all day and were slightly sweaty; they needed to shower.
Song Muqing had already bought new toiletries for him, a matching set similar to his own.
They looked like a couple’s set.
Lu Xuefeng looked at the matching toothbrushes and cups, finally feeling the reality of living together.
He emerged from the bathroom after his shower, changed into clean pajamas, his cheeks flushed from the steam.
This was the first time Song Muqing had seen Lu Xuefeng in such a relaxed, casual state at home. He seemed much softer.
His hair was still wet, and he had a towel draped over his head.
Song Muqing brought him a hairdryer. “Would you like me to dry your hair for you?”
“No, thank you,” Lu Xuefeng took the hairdryer. “I can do it myself.”
“Alright, then I’ll go take a shower.”
Song Muqing went into the bathroom.
Lu Xuefeng slowly dried his hair, placing the hairdryer on the nightstand for Song Muqing.
This was the master bedroom, quite spacious. He walked to the window and drew the curtains, revealing large floor-to-ceiling windows.
Lu Xuefeng thought Song Muqing must like bright, comfortable designs.
Being on a higher floor, the view was excellent, overlooking a large part of Wu City’s nightscape.
Lu Xuefeng gazed at the expanse of lights below, the glow of countless homes.
He thought, I have a home now too.
“What are you thinking about?” Song Muqing walked over to him.
The fresh scent of shower gel lingered around him, almost enveloping Lu Xuefeng.
“The night view is quite beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Song Muqing glanced at the time. It was getting late, and they had to work tomorrow, so he suggested they go to bed.
There would be plenty of time to enjoy the night view later.
The blackout curtains were drawn again.
Lu Xuefeng walked back, looking at the large bed. He had sat by the window earlier and knew the bed was soft, the blankets light and comfortable.
Lu Xuefeng had never shared a bed with anyone before.
He looked back at Song Muqing, who was watching him with a faint smile, seemingly observing his reaction.
“I should sleep in the other room.”
“No,” Lu Xuefeng started to explain, “I…”
That wasn’t what he meant.
Song Muqing knew what he was about to say and interrupted him. “I know.”
He said, “I’m afraid you might not be used to it. We can take it slow.”
There was no rush.
They hadn’t known each other for long.
Accepting a family, sharing a bed, allowing the other person into their personal space in such a short time wasn’t easy.
Just because Song Muqing was comfortable with it didn’t mean Lu Xuefeng could adapt quickly.
“…Okay.”
Lu Xuefeng agreed.
He felt slightly apologetic, as if Song Muqing was always accommodating him.
“Just to confirm,” Song Muqing continued, “how do you feel about physical intimacy?”
“It depends on the level of intimacy.”
Lu Xuefeng said holding hands and casual touches were fine.
Song Muqing was silent for a few seconds, then stepped closer, raising his hand and gently touching Lu Xuefeng’s ear with his fingertip.
Lu Xuefeng flinched slightly, not exactly pulling away, but he felt a tickle.
“How about this level?” Song Muqing asked.
Lu Xuefeng felt his ears warming from the touch.
“I don’t mind,” he replied.
“Good.”
Song Muqing smiled, wanting to touch his ear again, but he resisted, simply saying, “I wanted to say earlier, you have beautiful ears.”
Both the shape and the earlobes were lovely, especially when they were flushed.
Lu Xuefeng had received many compliments, but this was the first time someone had complimented his ears.
He hadn’t paid much attention to them before, so he subconsciously touched his ear, feeling the warmth.
“What time do you start work tomorrow?” Song Muqing asked.
“Nine o’clock.”
Song Muqing nodded, acknowledging this. “Then, good night.”
He gathered his things and went to the other bedroom.
Lu Xuefeng called out to him, but not knowing what to say, he simply reminded him, “…Remember to dry your hair.”
Song Muqing had emerged from the shower with his hair still slightly damp.
He smiled. “Okay.”
The next morning, Lu Xuefeng was woken by his alarm.
He hadn’t been very sleepy last night and had watched a few dance videos before finally drifting off into a deep sleep.
He slept soundly until morning.
He could still smell the faint fragrance of the air freshener when he woke up.
He woke up quickly, without lingering in bed, and went to wash up.
The master bedroom had an ensuite bathroom. After freshening up, Lu Xuefeng changed clothes and prepared to leave the room.
As he opened the bedroom door, he saw Song Muqing emerging from the kitchen, holding a plate.
“You’re up?” Seeing him, Song Muqing set the plate down. “Come and have breakfast.”
Lu Xuefeng walked to the dining table, where two bowls of tomato and beef noodle soup and freshly fried eggs were waiting.
“Did you make all of this?”
Lu Xuefeng was surprised. It looked delicious.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I made something simple.”
Simple noodle soup was always a safe bet.
“You made breakfast specifically?” Lu Xuefeng sat down, stirring his noodles, the aroma of tomato soup wafting up.
It immediately stimulated his appetite.
“I usually make breakfast if I have time,” Song Muqing sat opposite him. “If I’m busy, I just grab something quick.”
“You’re not busy today?”
“No, I don’t have any classes this morning.”
Nor did he have any other engagements.
Lu Xuefeng nodded, taking a bite of the noodles.
Song Muqing asked how it tasted. He hadn’t cooked in a while and his skills were a bit rusty.
“It’s delicious,” Lu Xuefeng complimented him.
It wasn’t flattery. Lu Xuefeng preferred lighter flavors, and Song Muqing’s seasoning was just right. The warm noodles warmed his stomach, a perfect breakfast for an early winter day.
Since his grandmother’s hospitalization, he hadn’t had breakfast at home, usually buying something quick outside or skipping it altogether.
Previously, only his grandmother had made breakfast for him.
This was the first time he had eaten breakfast made by someone other than his grandmother.
“That’s good,” Song Muqing was relieved. “I prefer lighter flavors, so I was worried you might not like it.”
His family shared the same preference, not fond of oily or spicy food. Occasionally, it was fine, but not too often.
“No,” Lu Xuefeng said, “I prefer lighter flavors too.”
Song Muqing considered this, using breakfast time to learn more about his preferences. “Do you like sweet things?”
“Not really,” Lu Xuefeng replied.
Song Muqing responded, “I’m okay with sweet things.”
They chatted intermittently during breakfast, learning about each other’s dietary habits.
Lu Xuefeng quite liked this way of getting to know each other’s preferences through casual conversation, not too forced or purposeful.
Then he went to work as usual.
He had lunch at the theater canteen and took the opportunity to tell Jin Hong about his marriage.
Jin Hong, mid-meal, was so startled by the news that he choked.
He drank half a bottle of water, still in shock, then bombarded him with questions: “Who is she? What does she do? Is she reliable? When is the wedding banquet?”
Lu Xuefeng calmly answered his questions.
He and Song Muqing had discussed it; they didn’t plan to have a wedding banquet for now, simply wanting to register their marriage and start their lives together.
“Let me see a photo,” Jin Hong asked.
He wanted to see what this person looked like.
Lu Xuefeng had always given him the impression of someone unwilling to get married.
He was independent and clear-headed, seemingly not needing anyone to take care of him, his life not requiring a partner. He had never shown interest in anyone.
After his grandmother’s illness, Jin Hong knew Lu Xuefeng had been on blind dates to fulfill her wish.
But now that he was actually married, it felt too sudden.
Lu Xuefeng didn’t have a solo photo of Song Muqing, so he showed Jin Hong a photo of their marriage certificate he had taken with his phone.
Jin Hong looked at it. They looked well-matched. Then he asked, “Is this the only photo?”
“Yes.”
Their only photo together was their marriage certificate photo.
Jin Hong felt a strange sense of being shown off, but he knew Lu Xuefeng didn’t mean it that way.
A university professor… Jin Hong thought that someone with that profession couldn’t be too young. Photos couldn’t accurately reflect a person’s age and could be retouched.
“How much older is he than you?”
“Three years.”
“Thirty-one?”
Jin Hong considered this. Being a professor at that age was quite an achievement, indicating capability.
Despite this, he was still reserved.
“Isn’t it a bit fast?”
Lu Xuefeng, almost finished with his meal, set down his chopsticks. “It is a bit fast. I’m still adjusting.”
“What if you can’t adjust?”
He thought for a moment, unable to answer. “I don’t know.”
Lu Xuefeng couldn’t predict the future, but for now, everything was fine.
“I know you wanted to get married quickly, to fulfill your grandmother’s wish, but sharing a life with someone isn’t as simple as it seems.”
Jin Hong wanted to add, especially without a foundation of romantic love.
They had come together because they needed a spouse, but what if one day, they no longer needed one?
These were his concerns, and knowing Lu Xuefeng’s way of thinking, he must have considered these issues as well.
“I understand.”
Lu Xuefeng looked at Jin Hong, showing no sign of backing down. “I’m prepared.”
Seeing his seriousness, Jin Hong suddenly smiled.
He knew that these worries might not materialize; he was simply concerned for his friend. But Lu Xuefeng was an adult, aware that marriage wasn’t a game, capable of independent thought and handling challenges.
“Then I wish you a long and happy marriage.”
Jin Hong clinked his water bottle against Lu Xuefeng’s.
“Thanks,” Lu Xuefeng replied.
After they finished eating, Jin Hong was about to get up when Lu Xuefeng stopped him, hesitating before asking, “…Does sleeping separately affect a marriage?”
Jin Hong: “?”
“You’re asking the wrong person. I haven’t slept separately from my Xiao Mei in years.”
Xiao Mei was Jin Hong’s wife, whose real name was Xu Yimei.
Their relationship was stable, their marriage happy and fulfilling.
Jin Hong quickly understood the implication of his question, asking with a smile, “What, you two are sleeping separately even after getting married?”
He sounded amused, commenting that it seemed rather distant.
Lu Xuefeng’s expression remained unchanged. “Wouldn’t sleeping together be uncomfortable?”
“Of course not.”
Jin Hong said matter-of-factly, “How would you know if you don’t try?”
“That’s true.”
Lu Xuefeng considered this, realizing it was indeed true.
Jin Hong was intrigued by this topic, having never seen Lu Xuefeng express such concerns, even asking about sleeping together. It suggested that the other person was a gentleman, giving Lu Xuefeng space.
“He’s quite considerate of you.”
Lu Xuefeng agreed with this statement.
“But you’re married now. Partners sleep together. Some couples don’t even sleep separately when they argue.”
Jin Hong offered some advice. “Partners need intimacy.”
Lu Xuefeng took his words to heart.
After he told Jin Hong about his marriage, the news spread within an afternoon.
Everyone who knew him even slightly learned about it, expressing their surprise and congratulating him.
Lu Xuefeng had to thank people almost reflexively.
Lan Xin was the most surprised. She recalled their recent conversation about marriage. Director Lu must have just gotten married then and hadn’t wanted to say anything.
That afternoon, Song Muqing came to pick him up as usual.
Song Muqing noticed several furtive glances directed at him, but he didn’t say anything, accepting them calmly.
On their way to the hospital, he asked Lu Xuefeng, “Did you tell everyone?”
Lu Xuefeng replied, “Yes, I told them today.”
Song Muqing had guessed as much.
“I’ll tell them next time to be more discreet.”
“It’s fine,” Song Muqing said it didn’t matter.
His spouse was a renowned choreographer in the dance world. It was natural for people to be curious about his marriage. Song Muqing understood and wasn’t offended.
They visited his grandmother, had dinner with her, and spoke with the doctor.
This time, they were together, both listening to the doctor’s advice.
Lu Xuefeng having someone to discuss these matters with felt good.
On their way back, Song Muqing suggested, “We could have dinner at home from now on.”
“…I’m not a good cook,” Lu Xuefeng said.
His limited cooking skills were sufficient for himself, but not for Song Muqing.
“I can cook,” Song Muqing reassured him. “You just need to tell me what you want to eat.”
Seeing that Lu Xuefeng might feel bad, he added, “You can help me with grocery shopping and food preparation.”
“Okay.”
Lu Xuefeng agreed.
As agreed, after washing up, they were supposed to return to their separate bedrooms.
However, Song Muqing had been busy with his work in the study, likely writing a paper, and hadn’t gone to bed yet.
When Song Muqing came out to get some water, he saw Lu Xuefeng reading on the living room sofa. It was quite late.
He told Lu Xuefeng to rest early.
Lu Xuefeng agreed, setting his book aside, but he didn’t go to his bedroom.
He walked over to Song Muqing, hesitating before tugging lightly on his clothes.
Lu Xuefeng wasn’t good at initiating such conversations.
“Shall we sleep together?” he asked.
