Chapter 15

The evening breeze kissed the old windowsill

Chapter Fifteen: A Glimmer of Light at the City Corner

As the car entered the city, it was rush hour, and neon lights lit up one after another, turning the asphalt road into a flowing river of color. Song Mingye smoothly turned the steering wheel, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Song Linchuan in the passenger seat resting his chin on his hand, looking at the scenery. A gentle smile appeared in his eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Song Mingye asked softly.

Song Linchuan turned his head, his fingertips lightly brushing the condensation on the car window: "I was thinking about the stars in the guesthouse; they're much brighter than in the city."

"Let's go back and see after we're done with this." Song Mingye reached out and ruffled his hair. "Or, we can go somewhere farther away and see even brighter stars."

Song Linchuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously: "Okay!"

The car stopped in front of the Song family's house, and as soon as I got out, I saw Song Zhenhong standing there waiting. He looked much better, wearing loose casual clothes, and had a gentle smile on his face. "You're back?" Song Zhenhong walked over, patted Song Mingye on the shoulder, and then looked at Song Linchuan, "Achuan, did you have fun?"

"I'm so happy!" Song Linchuan nodded with a smile. "Uncle, we watched the sunrise on the mountain and made two great friends."

"That's good." Song Zhenhong said with a smile, "Come in quickly, I've asked the kitchen to make your favorite dishes."

Meanwhile, Chu Xiaoche parked his car downstairs at Qi Zihao's apartment building. Qi Zihao unbuckled his seatbelt but didn't get out of the car immediately; instead, he turned to look at Chu Xiaoche. "What's wrong?" Chu Xiaoche asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I…” Qi Zihao bit his lip, his cheeks flushing, “Can I ask you to go to an exhibition tomorrow? There’s a photography exhibition that I think you’ll like.”

Chu Xiaoche laughed and reached out to pinch his cheek: "Of course, I'm always free."

Qi Zihao's eyes lit up, and he happily pushed open the car door: "Then I'll call you tomorrow morning!"

"Okay." Chu Xiaoche watched his retreating figure as he ran upstairs, the smile on his lips lingering for a long time.

Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin returned to Mu Nanjin's apartment together. The apartment wasn't large, but it was decorated very warmly, with bookshelves filled with poetry collections and several potted plants on the windowsill. "Have a seat for a while, I'll get you a glass of water," Mu Nanjin said with a smile.

Jiang Ziyu nodded, walked to the bookshelf, and casually picked up a poetry collection to browse through. Tucked between the pages was a photograph of a boy in a white shirt reading under a locust tree, the sunlight gently bathing him. "Is this you?" Jiang Ziyu asked softly.

Mu Nanjin walked over with a water glass, saw the photo, and nodded with a smile: "Yes, it was taken in high school."

“It’s very beautiful.” Jiang Ziyu’s voice was a little deep. “Like a person from a poem.”

Mu Nanjin's cheeks flushed slightly as he handed her the water glass: "Have some water."

In the days that followed, the four couples each lived their own sweet lives. Song Mingye was busy with company affairs, while Song Linchuan returned to school to study diligently. Every evening, Song Mingye would come home on time, prepare dinner for Song Linchuan, and then study with him. When Song Linchuan encountered difficult problems, Song Mingye would patiently explain them to him, occasionally teasing him on purpose, and feeling happy watching him pout.

Chu Xiaoche and Qi Zihao often went to exhibitions and took photos together. Qi Zihao's camera gradually filled with images of Chu Xiaoche: him intently looking at paintings at an art exhibition, him gently feeding pigeons in the park, and him busy in the kitchen. Chu Xiaoche also frequently surprised Qi Zihao, such as booking an entire photography studio for him to shoot to his heart's content on his birthday, or preparing a hot late-night snack for him when he came home late from work.

Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin's life was exceptionally quiet. They would go to the library together to read, Jiang Ziyu would paint, and Mu Nanjin would read poetry; they would go to the market together to buy groceries and cook a sumptuous dinner at home; they would bask in the sun on the balcony together, chatting and enjoying the peaceful moments. Mu Nanjin's figure gradually appeared in Jiang Ziyu's paintings, and each painting was filled with a gentle atmosphere.

Over the weekend, Song Mingye suggested that everyone get together. Everyone readily agreed, and they arranged to meet at Song Mingye's house. Song Linchuan started preparing the ingredients early, while Song Mingye helped out. "Brother, do you think Qi Zihao and the others will like my cooking?" Song Linchuan asked nervously.

"Of course they will," Song Mingye said with a smile. "Your cooking is so delicious, they'll definitely love it."

In the afternoon, Qi Zihao and Chu Xiaoche arrived first. Qi Zihao was carrying a camera and started taking pictures as soon as he entered. "Look at you, you're busy taking pictures as soon as you arrive," Chu Xiaoche said with a smile, reaching out to take his camera bag from him.

"I want to photograph every corner of this place to keep as a memento," Qi Zihao said with a smile.

Not long after, Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin arrived. Jiang Ziyu held a painting in his hand and handed it to Song Mingye with a smile: "This is a painting I specially made for you. I hope you like it."

Song Mingye took the painting. It depicted him and Song Linchuan watching fireflies in the courtyard of their guesthouse, the night gentle and the stars twinkling. "It's beautifully painted, thank you," Song Mingye said with a smile.

The group sat together, chatting and sharing their lives. Qi Zihao excitedly showed off his recent photos, while Chu Xiaoche gently explained them to him. Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin flipped through a poetry collection, occasionally exchanging quiet words. Song Mingye and Song Linchuan sat to the side, watching them with smiles of satisfaction on their faces.

For dinner, Song Linchuan prepared a sumptuous feast, including sweet and sour pork ribs, cola chicken wings, steamed fish, and various vegetables. "Wow, Achuan, you're amazing!" Qi Zihao couldn't help but exclaim, picking up a piece of sweet and sour pork rib with his chopsticks. "Delicious! Even better than in restaurants!"

Song Linchuan's cheeks flushed slightly, and he said shyly, "I'm glad you like it."

After dinner, everyone sat in the courtyard chatting. Song Mingye took out a beer and poured a glass for everyone. "To our friendship, and to our love!" Song Mingye raised his glass, his smile radiant.

"Cheers!" everyone responded in unison, their glasses clinking together with a crisp sound.

A gentle evening breeze carried the fragrance of flowers. Qi Zihao leaned on Chu Xiaoche's shoulder, gazing at the stars with a sweet smile on his lips; Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin sat side by side, holding hands and whispering softly; Song Mingye put his arm around Song Linchuan's shoulder, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

As night deepened, the stars shone brightly. They knew that the days to come might bring various challenges, but as long as they stood hand in hand, they would surely overcome all difficulties and usher in their own happiness. The evening breeze kissed the old windowsill, bringing the sweet scent of lovers and the warmth of peaceful times. Their story continues, carrying the vibrant atmosphere of the city and the tenderness between lovers, flowing slowly and gently through the long river of time, warm and enduring.