Chapter 32
Despite his words, Lu Xuefeng was still sick, and Song Muqing wouldn’t do anything to him.
He would wait until he recovered.
Lu Xuefeng blinked slowly, realizing Song Muqing had been teasing him.
Professor Song was a bit of a tease.
Recovery was a slow process.
By the time Lu Xuefeng fully recovered, it was Qingming Festival.
Every year during Qingming, his grandmother would return to their hometown to pay respects to his grandfather.
His grandparents had had a loving relationship. Although their marriage had been arranged, they were compatible and happier than his grandmother’s siblings.
Their life had been simple but peaceful.
His grandfather had passed away early from an illness, and they hadn’t been able to grow old together.
Even after moving to Wu City, Deng Yuzhen would still return to their hometown for Qingming.
Lu Xuefeng’s hometown, Pinghe County, was quite far away.
His grandmother was still recovering and wasn’t suitable for long car rides; they made her feel carsick.
When she brought fresh vegetables and cherry tomatoes from her balcony garden, she mentioned this.
Qingming Festival was a three-day holiday.
Lu Xuefeng had time and hadn’t been back in a while. He could go to their hometown, saving his grandmother the trouble.
Song Muqing, seeing he had agreed, considered this, then turned to him, asking, “What about me?”
His tone was light, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his voice.
As if Lu Xuefeng going back without him would leave him all alone.
“Then…” Lu Xuefeng hesitated. “Would you like to come with me?”
He had initially planned to go in the morning and return the same evening, not wanting to waste any time.
He wasn’t sure if Song Muqing would want to go; a small county town wasn’t very exciting.
His grandmother, hearing Song Muqing’s question, smiled, thinking he had probably never been to Pinghe County. “Xiao Song hasn’t been to our hometown yet, has he? Why don’t you go together? Xuefeng can show you around.”
Sharing Lu Xuefeng’s sentiment, she added, “It’s just a small county town, nothing special compared to a big city like Wu City.”
Song Muqing nodded, not minding at all.
“I’ll go with Xuefeng.”
He agreed readily, having already considered it. He wanted to see Lu Xuefeng’s hometown.
“It’s quite far,” Lu Xuefeng said.
“It’s fine. We have a car. We’ll be back before the holiday ends.”
Song Muqing wasn’t worried about the distance; they had several days and there was no rush.
They could keep each other company on the long drive.
The day before Qingming, after breakfast, they set off.
The drive from Wu City to Pinghe County took over three hours.
It was spring, and the scenery along the highway was pleasant.
Soothing music played in the car. Song Muqing drove there, and Lu Xuefeng would drive back.
Song Muqing followed the navigation, his mood light.
They chatted occasionally, enjoying the leisurely drive.
They arrived in Pinghe County in the afternoon.
Lu Xuefeng gave Song Muqing directions.
He found a parking spot and they stepped out of the car.
The streets looked old and worn, the buildings low, mostly shops on the ground floor with residences above.
But despite its age, many shops were still open, having been there for years.
His grandmother’s small grocery store was closed, easy to spot.
There were quite a few people around, mostly elderly, so Song Muqing and Lu Xuefeng, two young men, stood out.
They walked towards the store.
As they reached the building, a loud voice called out. A woman, wiping her hands, emerged from the noodle shop next door, looking at Lu Xuefeng. “Is that Xuefeng?”
They both turned to look at her.
She looked to be in her forties, her hair tied up loosely, strands framing her face. She wore an apron, her skin tanned, wrinkles etched around her eyes.
Lu Xuefeng greeted her. “Aunt Li.”
“Oh, Xuefeng!”
Aunt Li responded enthusiastically, wiping her hands on her apron, her face alight with joy. “It’s really you! It’s been so long.”
The last time he had been here was when he moved his grandmother to Wu City.
Lu Xuefeng nodded. “It has been a while. I came back for Qingming.”
Aunt Li glanced at the man beside him, his refined demeanor unlike anyone from this small town.
“Is this your friend? He’s very handsome.”
Lu Xuefeng glanced at Song Muqing, a rare smile on his face.
“He’s my husband. We got married last year.”
“Oh!…”
Aunt Li blinked in surprise.
Same-sex marriage wasn’t common in this small town, but it wasn’t unheard of.
Song Muqing also greeted her politely.
She smiled. “That’s wonderful. It’s good to bring him back for a visit.”
“Yes.”
“You must be hungry after the long drive,” Aunt Li quickly invited them. “Come and eat at my place. I have everything.”
“No, thank you, Aunt Li. We’ll eat at home,” Lu Xuefeng didn’t want to trouble her.
“There’s nothing at your place; it’s empty. What will you eat?” Aunt Li insisted, leading them towards her noodle shop.
Her shop had been next to his grandmother’s grocery store for years; they were practically neighbors.
It was a small gesture of kindness to offer them a meal.
Aunt Li was so enthusiastic that Lu Xuefeng couldn’t refuse.
He realized they had eaten breakfast early that morning, and it was now afternoon; they must be hungry.
Besides, they still had to clean the apartment; it hadn’t been lived in for a while. His grandmother had given him the task of cleaning it thoroughly.
They needed to eat to have the energy.
So, they sat down at the small noodle shop.
The shop was old and worn, but clean, well-maintained by Aunt Li.
It was past lunchtime, so it wasn’t busy.
Aunt Li told them to order whatever they wanted.
They ordered two bowls of the signature noodles.
Lu Xuefeng explained to Song Muqing that Aunt Li’s noodles were freshly made and always delicious, the shop often crowded during mealtimes.
The noodles arrived, topped with beef slices, courtesy of Aunt Li.
Uncle Li, finished with his work in the kitchen, came out to greet Lu Xuefeng, asking why his grandmother hadn’t come this year and inquiring about her health.
Aunt Li, sitting beside them, smiled. “Everyone says your grandmother is enjoying a better life in the big city with you, and it seems to be true. She’s finally living comfortably after all these years.”
“It’s all thanks to Xuefeng’s hard work. He was always a good student.”
“Yes, and he still found time to practice dancing…”
They praised Lu Xuefeng profusely.
Lu Xuefeng felt slightly embarrassed and looked at Song Muqing, who was looking at him with a gentle smile.
He mouthed silently, “Impressive.”
Lu Xuefeng understood.
After finishing their meal, although Aunt Li insisted they didn’t have to pay, Lu Xuefeng still paid.
It was a small business, and they shouldn’t take advantage of her kindness.
They left the noodle shop and went upstairs to his grandmother’s apartment.
His grandmother had cleaned it before returning to Wu City last year, but after a year, there was still some dust.
The air was stuffy.
It hadn’t rained today, and the afternoon sun was shining, so they took the blankets and pillows outside to air them on the rooftop.
They also cleaned the living room briefly.
Song Muqing looked around. Although the furniture was old, it held traces of their past life.
This was where Lu Xuefeng had grown up.
While tidying the bedroom, Song Muqing saw many things Lu Xuefeng hadn’t taken with him, including his childhood toys and books, and old clothes his grandmother had kept.
There was also a copy of his university acceptance letter.
His grandmother had made a copy as a keepsake.
It was an acceptance letter from the best art school in Wu City.
One of the top art schools in the country. Lu Xuefeng had excelled both academically and in dance.
His acceptance had been a given.
Song Muqing suddenly thought of something. “Did you attend middle school here in the county?”
Lu Xuefeng said yes.
Song Muqing considered this. “Then why did you choose a university so far away?”
Pinghe County and the surrounding cities had decent universities. He hadn’t expected Lu Xuefeng to choose a university so far from home.
Especially since it was just him and his grandmother.
He had assumed he would choose a closer city to stay with her.
Lu Xuefeng looked at the slightly faded lettering on the acceptance letter, then after a moment of silence, replied, “Perhaps… I wanted to leave this town.”
He had been eighteen then, young and eager to leave, and with Teacher Xiao’s support, he had the opportunity to pursue his dreams.
“Did your grandmother feel the same way?” Song Muqing asked.
He guessed that if his grandmother hadn’t supported his decision, Lu Xuefeng wouldn’t have chosen Wu City.
Lu Xuefeng nodded, recalling, “Yes, she also encouraged me to leave, not to stay here.”
Song Muqing understood.
He felt grateful that eighteen-year-old Lu Xuefeng had chosen Wu City.
Otherwise, they might never have met.
So many cities, so many universities, yet Lu Xuefeng had chosen Wu City.
It felt like fate.
“It’s good,” Song Muqing said, his voice steady, “that you chose Wu City.”
Lu Xuefeng smiled faintly.
“Pinghe is a nice place. I lived here for a long time. It wasn’t a deliberate escape,” Lu Xuefeng paused, sighing softly. “I just thought… a new city would bring a new life.”
Many things had happened, memories etched deep within him. His grandmother had encouraged him to leave, hoping he would forget the unpleasant past.
Pinghe was a good place, but not one he wanted to stay in.
So, he had brought his grandmother to Wu City for a new life.
“Yes,” Song Muqing agreed.
He looked at him. “Is this your new life now?”
Lu Xuefeng’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
“Yes.”
Song Muqing, receiving his answer, didn’t look away, his gaze still fixed on him.
“And marrying me?” he pressed.
Lu Xuefeng saw his own reflection in Song Muqing’s dark eyes.
Only himself.
“That too,” he replied, meeting his gaze.
