Sing your three favorite songs
Song Zicheng's face was grim. He couldn't figure out what Lu Zhiyan was doing, what he was thinking, or why he would do such a thing, as if he had completely forgotten the request he had made.
"It's cold outside, let's get in the car," Song Zicheng said.
Lu Zhiyan stared at him without blinking and hummed in response.
"Back to the apartment."
"Yes, Mr. Lu."
"Park the car at the entrance of the residential area," Lu Zhiyan said to Cui Junyu when they were about twenty meters away from the residential area.
"yes."
The two got out of the car at the door. Song Zicheng looked puzzled, but he didn't ask any questions. He knew exactly what he should and shouldn't ask, and he never overstepped his bounds.
"We're out of vegetables at home, so I'm going to the supermarket to buy some," Lu Zhiyan explained.
Song Zicheng frowned upon hearing this, thinking he had misheard. Lu Zhiyan was actually going to the supermarket to buy groceries; this was truly a once-in-a-century event.
At first, he followed behind Lu Zhiyan with his head down, not noticing that Lu Zhiyan had stopped. So, his head bumped into Lu Zhiyan's broad back with a "thud".
Song Zicheng suddenly raised his head and apologized profusely. Lu Zhiyan looked down at him without making a sound, and his thin lips moved: "Aren't you watching where you're going? Why are you walking behind me? Stand next to me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Zicheng quickly stepped forward and stood to Lu Zhiyan's right. Lu Zhiyan looked at him, nodded as if satisfied, and said, "Let's go."
Before Lu Zhiyan went on his business trip, Song Zicheng took care of all the groceries in the apartment, leaving no room for waste. During those five days, he didn't set foot in the apartment at all, let alone refill the refrigerator in advance.
He didn't care at all whether Lu Zhiyan would come back or when he would return. In fact, he was hoping that Lu Zhiyan would come back later and later. In the five days without Lu Zhiyan, he felt much happier.
There's no need to waste time and energy dealing with Lu Zhiyan, no need to be trembling with fear and nervousness, no need to say things against one's conscience or do things against one's conscience.
Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so too do people experience joy and sorrow. Song Zicheng had no idea when this kind of life would end. He couldn't see the end of the road, only the thorns that lined the way. Even with all his precautions and utmost care, he couldn't escape being covered in wounds.
The two didn't buy too much, just enough for today. Song Zicheng carried the groceries to the front desk to pay. Every week, Lu Zhiyan would transfer two thousand yuan to him for groceries. Song Zicheng would record every bill in his memo, and on Sunday night, he would send the money he spent that week to Lu Zhiyan. Any extra money would naturally be returned to Lu Zhiyan.
Lu Zhiyan refused to accept it, and Song Zicheng also refused. The previous agreement had been clearly stated that he would not take a single extra penny from Lu Zhiyan; he would only take what he was entitled to. Therefore, Song Zicheng would automatically include any extra money in next week's grocery bill. After much persuasion, Lu Zhiyan reluctantly agreed.
There weren't many things; Song Zicheng could have carried them all in one hand. But Lu Zhiyan insisted on taking some, so the two of them each carried a few bags in their right hands and walked into the residential area.
The two remained silent the entire way. Song Zicheng didn't feel awkward at all; on the contrary, he actually hoped that Lu Zhiyan wouldn't speak, so he wouldn't have to agree. It would be best if they just stayed like this, in peace and quiet.
He walked quickly, his mind preoccupied with other things, and naturally didn't notice the glances Lu Zhiyan gave him from time to time, glances that seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.
Song Zicheng, who had just finished cleaning up the dishes and came out of the kitchen, was called to the study by Lu Zhiyan. He knocked on the study door, and after hearing the voices inside, he gently pushed the door open and went in.
Lu Zhiyan was sitting at his desk, staring intently at the computer screen, his brow furrowed, as if he were dealing with something thorny.
Song Zicheng walked over without saying a word, simply standing quietly to the side, waiting for Lu Zhiyan to speak.
Yu Guangzhong noticed that someone had arrived. Lu Zhiyan's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a bit, but his face remained serious. He looked up at the sofa and raised his chin: "This is for you."
Following Lu Zhiyan's gaze, Song Zicheng saw an extremely exquisite and gorgeous ukulele on the sofa. Although it was not close, Song Zicheng could tell at a glance that the ukulele was very valuable.
Seeing that there was no response for a long time, Lu Zhiyan stared at Song Zicheng and asked, "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
"This is too valuable, I cannot accept it."
"I told you to take it, so take it. Besides, it's not free. Now, sing me a song with it."
That day, Lu Zhiyan had just finished a dinner party and was wandering around with nothing to do. He was wondering what to give Song Zicheng when he suddenly seemed to see something, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked someone to stop the car.
He straightened his clothes and walked into the store wearing a pair of thin-soled leather shoes. As soon as he entered, his eyes were drawn to the ukulele in the center. He walked straight to it, his fingers sliding from the headstock to the body. The moment he saw it, he felt that this ukulele was tailor-made for Song Zicheng.
Song Zicheng remained standing still. After a couple of seconds, he spoke up, "I'm taking Zian to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow. Can we skip it today and leave earlier?"
Lu Zhiyan clicked his tongue but didn't say anything.
Song Zicheng sensed something was wrong. He wasn't sure if his words had angered Lu Zhiyan. Just as he was about to look up at Lu Zhiyan's reaction, he heard him say, "After you finish singing three songs, you can leave."
Hearing him say that, Song Zicheng's eyes lit up. He took three steps at a time to walk to the sofa, picked up the ukulele, and started tuning it.
What song do you want to listen to?
Lu Zhiyan turned off the light and walked over by the moonlight. He sat down next to Song Zicheng and looked at Song Zicheng's perfect profile. He smiled and said, "Sing your three favorite songs."
Without hesitation, Song Zicheng cleared his throat, pressed the strings, and began to sing.
The first song is Jay Chou's "Blue and White Porcelain".
The sky is the color of rain after a storm, and I am waiting for you.
"Smoke rises in wisps, across thousands of miles of river."
...
Song Zicheng has loved this song with its traditional Chinese style since elementary school, and it remains his favorite song even after more than a decade.
"It's another quiet night."
A person nestled in a rocking chair to cool off
...
If I look at you again
Will I still have feelings?
...
The second song Song Zicheng sang was Xu Song's "Plain Face". As a fellow Anhui native, I always feel a strange homesickness whenever I hear his songs.
Lovers always separate and get back together.
But our love only grew deeper.
Getting to know you
"Make my happiness so melodious"
...
Perhaps it was the music that gradually relaxed Song Zicheng. He was immersed in the flow of music, his face gentle, as if he had forgotten where he was and who he was singing to.
The room, though without lights, wasn't pitch black. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Song Zicheng's face. His face, now bathed in light, was filled with a sense of ecstasy, his eyes sparkling like twinkling stars in the night sky.
In all the time Lu Zhiyan had known Song Zicheng, she had never seen him like this before—dazzling, radiant, and vibrant, without any pressure, worries, pain, or fatigue.
Lu Zhiyan stared intently at Song Zicheng. Unlike his usual cold gaze, he now possessed a tenderness and affection that he himself was unaware of. Just like Song Zicheng, who was as clear as a pool of spring water, Lu Zhiyan could never forget him after just one glance.
"Thump thump thump"
Along with the rhythm of the music came Lu Zhiyan's heartbeat. In the darkness, he quietly placed his right hand on his heart, pressing it tightly against his chest. His warm palm felt the heat and throbbing there. At that moment, he seemed to hear the sound of his own heart beating and feel the deep throbbing within him.
The singer was so engrossed in the performance that the listeners were completely captivated and unable to tear themselves away.
In the stillness of the night, under the twinkling stars, only the melodious singing filled the quiet study. At this moment, there was no scheming, no pretense, no harsh words; only the purest and most genuine emotions deep within their hearts, and a heart silently opening for the other, growing fiercely and rapidly, like a wildfire.
"Let the感动 (feeling of being moved) be remembered for a lifetime."
After the last line was sung, Song Zicheng was still lost in the music. He paused for a few seconds, put down his ukulele, and turned his head. He met Lu Zhiyan's eyes, which were shining brightly in the moonlight. Lu Zhiyan looked at Song Zicheng with deep affection and tenderness, which made Song Zicheng's heart tremble for a moment.
"I'm done singing, can I leave now?"
Lu Zhiyan was still looking at him, without answering.
"I'm done singing, can I leave now?"
Song Zicheng asked again.
This time, he still didn't get a reply from Lu Zhiyan. Seeing that he didn't react, Song Zicheng withdrew his gaze, got up, and was about to leave.
However, he had only half-squatted up when Lu Zhiyan pulled him onto his lap. The action was too sudden, and Lu Zhiyan was strong, so Song Zicheng bumped directly into his arms.
The two sat facing each other, their eyes locked. Lu Zhiyan's hand touched Song Zicheng's waist, and he pinched it slightly, causing Song Zicheng to let out a muffled groan.
Lu Zhiyan tightened his grip, which angered Song Zicheng. Just as he was about to speak, his mouth was blocked by a kiss that came fiercely and without warning, as if expressing his longing for the past five days.
The kiss carried a faint scent of alcohol. Even though Song Zicheng hadn't been drinking, he felt as if he were getting drunk. His mind was foggy, his whole body was limp and powerless, and even his hands, which were supporting him on Lu Zhiyan's chest, were about to slip down. Only his heart seemed out of place, beating strongly.
The person he had been thinking about day and night for the past five days was in his arms, and the kiss he had been longing for was now in full swing. Lu Zhiyan was excited all over. He didn't know what was wrong with him. From the first day of his business trip, he had inexplicably thought of Song Zicheng.
I miss his kisses, his warm embrace, his busy figure in the kitchen, and the way he sat beside me eating together.
Every time he couldn't help but turn on the camera with anticipation, all he saw was the desolate apartment. Five days, a full five days, Song Zicheng hadn't come this time, and hadn't even sent him a single message.
Thinking of this, Lu Zhiyan felt a dull ache in his heart. He knew that he had fallen for Song Zicheng from the very first time he met him.
Lu Zhiyan kissed Song Zicheng for a long time, and when he released Song Zicheng, he still looked reluctant to part. Song Zicheng's lips were swollen from the kiss and hurt when touched. When they separated, there were still some silver threads on their lips, which shimmered in the moonlight.
Song Zicheng's eyes were moist, brimming with tears. He took a minute or two to catch his breath before calming down slightly. His voice was hoarse and tinged with desire: "Can I leave now?"
Lu Zhiyan kissed him again, giving him a loud smack. The sound made Song Zicheng's ears turn red before he smiled contentedly and said, "Okay."
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