At times, Su Ling found himself wrestling with doubt, wondering if his own charm had lost its spark, as his boyfriend’s gaze seemed devoid of any desire.
The moment arrived at last — two months into their relationship, when Su Ling and Lin Feng’s lips finally met in a passionate kiss.
On that New Year’s Day, love was in the air as lovebirds spilled out of the campus, eager to embark on their romantic dates. And just like the rest, they, too, joined the throngs of lovers.
It was often said that a woman would only doll herself up for those who hold her dear, yet the sentiment resonated just as strongly for men deeply in love. After all, they also strove to present their best selves to their beloved.
Dressed to the nines in the latest fashion, Su Ling’s shoulder-length locks cascaded in gentle waves around him. With every step, he exuded a princely grace as he made his way toward his eagerly awaiting boyfriend outside the dormitory.
While he had obviously taken care of his appearance, his focus was on functionality and comfort. Wrapped snugly in a long black woolen overcoat, he exuded an air of effortless style and practicality.
Noticing Su Ling’s thinly clad figure, he chose to remain silent and reached out to hold Su Ling’s hand before tucking it into the warmth of his own coat pocket.
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“Let’s get married!” Lin Feng proposed in a low, raspy voice.
Su Ling’s eyes sparkled with certainty as he answered, “Absolutely.”
At that precise moment, his heart surged with unyielding conviction and an unstoppable resolve to build a life with Lin Feng.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
The insistent ring of the doorbell shattered Su Ling’s slumber, forcefully wrenching him from his dreams. He peeled open his heavy eyelids, still mired in a haze of sleepiness. His hand fumbled for his phone, only to be stunned by the glaring 8:00 AM on the screen. The drowsiness that had clung to him moments ago vanished in an instant. Soon after, he flipped over and shot up in bed.
Gasp!
His brows knitted together in discomfort as he instinctively reached for his aching lower back.
Despite the soft cotton bedding, the unforgiving wooden bed inflicted a toll, leaving him with an aching back and relentless soreness that seemed to seep into every limb. Even so, he summoned every ounce of determination to push himself out of bed as the doorbell continued its insistent clamor.
As Su Ling reluctantly peeled himself from the warm cocoon of his blanket, he was rudely greeted by a frosty gust of air. Achoo! Achoo! Two sneezes echoed through the room as he sniffled and cursed the lack of a central heating system. Hastily, he scrambled to fetch clothes from his nearby luggage as his shoulder-length locks tousled into delicate curls. Hastily, he dressed himself and dashed downstairs.
Yesterday, he had arranged with Aunt Zhang for her to come over bright and early at seven-thirty to tackle the tangled mess of weeds in the courtyard. But his mind was besieged by restless musings, leaving him tossing and turning all night long. And so, when morning came, he jolted awake only to realize he had overslept.
Creak…
With a groan, the gate swung open, revealing the familiar sight of Aunt Zhang’s round face.
“I’m sorry, Aunt Zhang. I overslept,” Su Ling said sheepishly, his embarrassment evident in his voice.
“No worries, no worries. It’s my bad for setting the time too early,” Aunt Zhang reassured, having made a trip at seven-thirty to find the courtyard gate tightly shut. With that, she reckoned that Su Ling was still in bed, so she returned at eight before ringing the doorbell.
The thoughtful gestures from Aunt Zhang stirred a warm feeling within Su Ling, radiating throughout his heart.
“Oh, right! These are the steamed buns I made. If you don’t mind, you can have them for breakfast.” Aunt Zhang pressed an old aluminum lunchbox1 铝饭盒 (lǚ fàn hé): It is a type of lunchbox made from aluminum. It’s commonly used in Chinese culture to carry meals, typically for school or work. The design can vary, but it’s durable, lightweight, and convenient for transporting food. 
into Su Ling’s hands, its nostalgic appearance enhanced by the lid with a delightful panda design.
Su Ling’s eyes widened in disbelief as he accepted the unexpected gift, his heart fluttering with gratitude. “Thank you, Aunt Zhang,” he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with sincere appreciation.
“Oh, come on now. What’s there to thank for? You’re the one who gave me this job, so it’s me who should be thanking you!” Aunt Zhang’s eyes narrowed mischievously as she locked gazes with Su Ling. “Now, don’t mind me and dig in.”
With a gentle nudge, Su Ling was ushered back into the house. Setting down the warm aluminum lunchbox, he bounded up the stairs to prepare for the day ahead. Moments later, he descended and took a seat at the Eight Immortals table. There, amidst the comforting aroma of steamed buns, he savored the simple meal paired with a refreshing glass of boiled water.
Obtained from the mini-mart the previous day, the plain boiled water was used to make a bowl of instant noodles. Now, a half-filled thermos sat, its contents having cooled to lukewarm overnight, and it was just suitable for a refreshing sip. And then there were those milk-scented steamed buns. White and plump, they practically dissolved on the tongue, delivering a taste sensation beyond compare.
With great gusto, Su Ling delighted in consuming his first breakfast in the countryside.
After stepping out of the storage shed with a gleaming sickle in hand, Aunt Zhang entered the courtyard, ready to tackle the unruly weeds. With each slice, she exerted herself, her breath heavy with effort. Standing on the colonnade, Su Ling watched her efforts before stepping forward. “How about we skip the weeding today, Aunt Zhang?”
Perplexed, Aunt Zhang straightened her back and questioned, “Skip the weeding? That won’t do! I can’t possibly collect my pay without putting in the work!”
Su Ling noticed her growing agitation and hastily interjected, “Manual weeding is just too exhausting, so I’m thinking of buying a lawn mower and a hedge trimmer. They’d make life so much easier!”
The spacious courtyard in the Lin Residence was teeming with a rich assortment of flora and fauna. In her daily routine, Aunt He expertly wielded her trusty lawn mower and a hedge trimmer to tame the unruly foliage with a blend of efficiency and aesthetic finesse.
Without hesitation, Aunt Zhang objected, “Why waste money on a lawn mower? I’ve been doing the weeding by hand for over a decade! Trust me, I have the skills to make the garden shine. I guarantee it will be flawlessly maintained and look absolutely stunning.”
Faced with her unwavering persistence, Su Ling reluctantly gave up on the idea, recognizing the futility of pressing on.
As Aunt Zhang bent over to trim the tufts of grass, a sudden thought crossed her mind. Straightening up, she turned to Su Ling and inquired, “Would you like to go up the mountain to pay your respects to Second Master Su’s resting place, Xiao Su?”
Startled, Su Ling blurted out, “Eh?”
Ty for the chapter! *｡･+(人*´∀`)+･｡*