Suo Qingjun Chapter 49

Peony

The days flow slowly like clouds outside the apartment window. Unknowingly, the tacit understanding between the four of them has reached the point where no words are needed.

As soon as the first ray of sunlight in the morning climbed onto the window sill, Song Xu’s footsteps sounded softly in the kitchen.He knew that Xu Baiyan loved to drink sweet soy milk but was afraid of getting tired of it, so he would always add two spoonfuls of sugar accurately; he also remembered that Qing Feng had to add a few more red dates when making porridge to calm his stomach, and he had to cook the porridge for twenty minutes until it was glutinous to his liking.Jin Xianling wakes up early and squats on the balcony to water several pots of green plants that Xu Baiyan bought to decorate the house. He has figured out the habits of each pot of flowers. If they are succulent, they should be watered less. Pothos likes shade and cannot be exposed to the sun.

When Qing Feng’an walked out of the bedroom under the mist-like morning light, the dining table was always filled with porridge and side dishes at just the right temperature.Jin Xianling immediately went up to him, pulled up a chair for him, handed him a pair of clean chopsticks, and said in a familiar and gentle tone: “Master, today’s red date porridge is very soft, please eat more.”

Xu Baiyan was often awakened by the fragrance. He rushed into the restaurant with messy hair, grabbed a bun and stuffed it into his mouth, shouting vaguely: “Song Xu, where is my soy milk?”

Song Xu would push the warm soy milk in front of him and wipe the bun crumbs from the corners of his mouth for him. There was a look of indulgence in his eyes: “Eat slowly, no one will compete with you.”

Qing Feng’an looked at this scene with a gentle smile on her face.He gradually figured out Song Xu’s habits – this man looked cold, but was actually very thoughtful. He would remember which drawer Xu Baiyan’s sketchbook was placed in, and would calmly demonstrate how to use it when Jin Xianling had trouble with modern appliances. He also knew that Jin Xianling seemed to be out of touch, but always took his preferences into consideration. Knowing that he didn’t like noise, he would take the initiative to turn down the TV volume. Knowing that he liked to read landscape albums, he would pester Xu Baiyan to bring back a few more books.

On weekends, the four of them would sit in the living room together.Xu Baiyan was holding a sketchbook and drawing, while Song Xu sat aside and handled the work. Occasionally, he would look up and his eyes would fall on the side of Xu Baiyan’s face, and he wouldn’t look away for a long time.Jin Xianling accompanied Qing Fengan to watch those landscape documentaries, and would gently press his fingers on his temples – he knew that Master would get a headache if he watched the screen for too long.

Once, Xu Baiyan got excited about painting and suddenly raised his head and asked: “Mr. Qing Feng’an, are the peonies in your school really blooming all over the mountains and plains like you said?”

When Qing Feng’an heard this, her eyes drifted out the window, with a bit of nostalgia in her tone: “Well, every year in late spring, the fragrance of peony can fill the entire valley.”

Jin Xianling held his hand, her fingertips warm: “When there is a chance in the future, I will go back with Master to take a look.”

Song Xu suddenly said: “Maybe we can plant a few peonies on the balcony.”

Xu Baiyan’s eyes lit up and he immediately put down his sketchbook: “Okay, okay! I’ll go to the flower market to buy flower seedlings tomorrow!”

They did what they said, and early the next morning, the four of them went to the flower market.Xu Baiyan squatted in front of the flower stall and picked, while Song Xu carried the bag of flower seedlings for him; Jin Xianling held Qing Fengan’s hand and strolled slowly, picking up a flower from time to time, leaning into his ear and asking: “Master, does this look good?”

Qing Feng’an looked at the smile in his eyes and nodded: “It looks good.”

On the way back, the setting sun stretched the shadows of the four of them very long.Xu Baiyan walked in the front, humming a tuneless song, Song Xu followed him, his eyes always following him; Jin Xianling held Qing Fengan’s hand and walked behind, the two of them walked at a leisurely pace, occasionally looking at each other and smiling, the tenderness in their eyes was better than the sunset on the horizon.

Back at the apartment, the four of them started planting several peony seedlings in the open space on the balcony.Xu Baiyan dug a hole clumsily and almost broke the roots of the flower seedlings. Song Xu reluctantly took the small shovel from his hand and taught him step by step. Jin Xianling carefully watered the flower seedlings. Qing Fengan stood aside and looked at his serious look, the smile on her lips getting deeper and deeper.

The evening breeze blew through the balcony, carrying the fragrance of earth.The four of them stood side by side, looking at the few small peony seedlings, all with the same thought in their hearts.

Song Xu suddenly turned to look at Xu Baiyan, the light in his eyes was brighter than the stars: “When the peonies bloom, let’s take a photo together.”

Xu Baiyan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and rolled his eyes: “Okay! When the time comes, I will hang the photo in the most conspicuous place in the studio!”

Jin Xianling held Qing Fengan’s hand tightly and said with a bit of solemnity in her voice: “Master, every spring from now on, I will accompany you to look at peonies.”

Qing Feng’an looked at him, then at Song Xu and Xu Baiyan beside her, and nodded, with an indescribable warmth in her eyes.

As the night grew darker, the lights in the apartment turned on, reflecting the small peony seedlings on the balcony and the four figures accompanying each other.

The days are still long, and they still have a lot of time to spend together.

Banxia novel, a lot of fun