After Marrying Professor Song 40

Chapter 40

They left the dorm, the afternoon sunlight warm and pleasant.

It was May, and the weather was perfect, not yet the sweltering heat of early summer.

“Did you drive?” Song Muqing asked, turning to him.

Lu Xuefeng looked at him, the faint, clean scent of Song Muqing lingering in the air.

“No,” Lu Xuefeng knew Song Muqing had driven to the university, so he had taken the subway. “I was planning to take your car.”

“Shall we go to your grandmother’s first?”

“Okay.”

Song Muqing put the black baseball cap back on Lu Xuefeng’s head, adjusting his hair.

“Hmm?”

Lu Xuefeng chuckled softly; he hadn’t planned on wearing the cap again.

But if Song Muqing wanted him to wear it, he would.

Song Muqing took his hand, and they walked together, the lush green trees providing shade from the afternoon sun.

They reached the parking lot and left the campus.

It would take a while to get to his grandmother’s apartment.

It was her birthday, and they had bought food and a cake for her.

Lu Xuefeng had taken her for her follow-up appointment recently, and she was recovering well, the best news they had received lately.

They wanted to celebrate her birthday properly.

They bought her favorite food and a bouquet of flowers.

The florist was surprised to see Lu Xuefeng, commenting that it had been a while since he last bought flowers.

Lu Xuefeng smiled faintly, surprised she remembered him.

“It has been a while,” he agreed.

He used to buy flowers for his grandmother regularly when she was in the hospital.

Today, the flowers were for a celebration.

A different meaning altogether.

The florist, remembering him, glanced at Song Muqing.

Lu Xuefeng had always come alone before, but now, they were together, a well-matched couple.

She took the flowers they had chosen, asking, “Is this your husband?”

Lu Xuefeng nodded.

“You two are a perfect match,” the florist smiled. “You even look alike.”

“Alike?” Lu Xuefeng was taken aback. “How so?”

He had never heard anyone say that before.

The florist, seeing his confusion, explained, “Your aura, the feeling you give off.”

She expertly arranged the flowers, adding a few sprigs of greenery.

Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing stood there, considering her words. Soon, she presented them with a beautiful bouquet.

“You have good taste. The flowers are lovely,” she complimented them.

“Thank you.”

They paid and left the flower shop, then picked up the cake from a nearby bakery before heading to his grandmother’s apartment.

Lu Xuefeng leaned against the car window, feeling the gentle breeze on his face.

As they drove through a picturesque street, he noticed a couple taking wedding photos.

The white, vintage-style wedding dress was striking in the sunlight.

The bride and groom posed, the center of attention, surrounded by photography equipment.

The photographer gave instructions, and the couple, unable to contain their laughter, looked at each other, the bride leaning against the groom, their eyes filled with love.

They looked happy.

Lu Xuefeng pointed them out to Song Muqing, who glanced over.

“It’s a good day,” Song Muqing said. “Let’s share in their joy.”

Lu Xuefeng chuckled. “What joy are you sharing?”

Song Muqing, his gaze on the road ahead, replied gently, “It’s a good omen. Hoping for good things to happen.”

Good things always happened.

As they reached his grandmother’s building, Mu Ting called, asking where they were.

She and Song Hongfan had also come to celebrate his grandmother’s birthday.

They had arrived earlier, so Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing hurried upstairs.

They gave his grandmother the flowers, wishing her a happy birthday.

Deng Yuzhen smiled, taking the flowers and patting their hands, touched by their gesture.

It was almost dinner time, and Song Hongfan and Song Muqing were busy in the kitchen, preparing a birthday feast, including a bowl of longevity noodles.

Lu Xuefeng and Mu Ting chatted with his grandmother in the living room.

Before dinner, they brought out the cake, lit the candles, put a birthday hat on his grandmother, and sang “Happy Birthday.”

Mu Ting took some photos of his grandmother.

Lu Xuefeng was surprised when she took out a camera from her bag.

Mu Ting explained with a smile, “I thought, since Grandma rarely takes photos, the camera has better resolution, and the printed photos will look nicer. It’s a good keepsake.”

She said she had bought the camera a few years ago, mostly for trips, and it had been gathering dust, so she decided to use it today.

Deng Yuzhen said apologetically, “Thank you, Xiao Ting.”

“It’s nothing. We’re family.”

Mu Ting took a few photos, showing them to his grandmother.

Deng Yuzhen complimented her photography skills.

Looking at the photos, Mu Ting suddenly said, “Hey, let’s take a family photo after dinner, like a proper portrait.”

They didn’t have a family photo together yet.

Everyone agreed.

They had a leisurely dinner, celebrating his grandmother’s birthday, showering her with compliments. Song Muqing, always good with words, charmed her effortlessly.

They sat around the table in the small apartment, their laughter and conversation filling the room. The clinking of chopsticks wasn’t noise, but the sound of family.

After dinner, they went to the living room, where Mu Ting had already set up the camera and adjusted the lighting.

His grandmother sat in the center, the others standing behind and beside her.

Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing stood next to each other, holding hands.

Mu Ting adjusted the lens and set the timer, then returned to Song Hongfan’s side.

“Everyone, smile!” she reminded them.

They all looked at the camera, smiling.

The camera clicked, capturing the moment, and Mu Ting quickly checked the photo, pleased with the result, then took another one.

She put away the camera, smiling. “I’ll print them out later. Everyone will get a copy.”

After dinner, they finished the cake, which was just the right size for the five of them.

His grandmother, her smile never fading, watched them, wanting to remember this moment.

This was the happiest and most fulfilling birthday she had had in years. She was always frugal and didn’t need gifts; having her family around her was enough.

Nothing was more important than family.

It was getting late, so Lu Xuefeng and Song Muqing bid their grandmother farewell and returned home.

Song Muqing received the photos from Mu Ting and showed them to Lu Xuefeng.

“Our first family portrait.”

“Yes,” Lu Xuefeng looked at the photo, noticing the joy in his grandmother’s eyes. “Grandma was very happy today.”

The photo had captured everyone’s smiles perfectly.

Genuine smiles, a warm and loving atmosphere.

A precious photo.

Lu Xuefeng’s gaze lingered on it for a moment.

“What about you?” Song Muqing asked.

Lu Xuefeng looked up at him, leaning closer. “I’m happy too.”

Song Muqing leaned down and kissed him.

They kissed softly, their lips moving together. After a while, Lu Xuefeng pulled away slightly, his ears turning red, a puzzled look in his eyes. “Song Muqing, why did you lick me?”

Song Muqing chuckled softly. “You tasted sweet.”

The taste of cake lingered on Lu Xuefeng’s lips, the sweetness of cream and frosting.

It was tempting.

He wanted to taste more.

Lu Xuefeng’s ears burned.

Song Muqing, slightly embarrassed, stopped after a few licks.

“Kiss me again,” he said, leaning in.

After a lingering kiss, they went to bed. It was late, so they changed into their pajamas and washed up.

They stood together in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing their teeth, their mouths filled with minty foam.

Their toothbrushes and cups were a matching set, their movements synchronized.

Lu Xuefeng, looking at Song Muqing in the mirror, recalled the florist’s words that afternoon.

He still found it hard to believe.

After rinsing his mouth, he asked Song Muqing, “The florist said we look alike. Is that true?”

They both looked at each other in the mirror.

Lu Xuefeng considered the “aura” she had mentioned.

People often said he seemed aloof and distant, his expression cold, but now, his eyes held a gentle warmth.

Similar to the warmth in Song Muqing’s eyes.

Standing together, their demeanor seemed to merge, their auras strangely similar.

Song Muqing also found it strange, then said, “I’ve heard that saying before.”

“What saying?”

“Couples who stay together for a long time start to look alike.”

Lu Xuefeng nodded thoughtfully.

Living with Song Muqing, many small details were woven into their daily lives, changes he hadn’t noticed consciously.

But he was aware of their increasing similarities, their habits converging.

Living with someone did make you unconsciously adapt to them.

A subtle, gradual process.

“Perhaps,” he replied softly.

Song Muqing’s influence on him was undeniable; he had learned so much from him.

He had a family now.

And he had found love.

It gave him strength and confidence.

Lu Xuefeng pondered this.

Song Muqing leaned closer, embracing him from behind. “What are you thinking about?”

His breath was warm against Lu Xuefeng’s ear.

He rested his chin on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck, inhaling his scent.

A gentle, affectionate gesture.

Lu Xuefeng felt his warm breath on his neck, his heart fluttering.

“Xuefeng, let’s take wedding photos too.”

Lu Xuefeng’s neck tingled as he heard his voice, muffled yet clear.