Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

Mrs. Shang didn't say anything.

She simply watched her son quietly. For a moment, only the low hum of the refrigerator and the faint sound of chess pieces being played outside filled the kitchen.

After a long while, Mrs. Shang finally let out a soft sigh.

She walked to the counter, picked up a few washed apples, and began to slowly peel them.

The long peels of the apples hung down, in circles.

"Songsong. Mom isn't old-fashioned. I've been teaching for so many years, what haven't I seen? I understand all the道理 (principles/reasons)."

Mrs. Shang cut the apple into small pieces, handed one piece to Shang Song, and put the rest into a fruit bowl. "I just didn't expect this..."

She paused, as if unable to find the right words, and could only say, "If you like men, then like them. Your happiness is more important than anything else."

Shang Song clutched the apple, but didn't eat it.

My nose feels sore.

"But," Mrs. Shang raised her eyes, her gaze piercing through the glass door of the kitchen, landing on the figure sitting upright in the outer room. She paused for two seconds before turning back to look at Shang Song, "Professor Xie... I can tell he's extraordinary. Very extraordinary."

She didn't elaborate on what this unusualness specifically referred to.

But Shang Song understood.

It wasn't just outstanding looks and demeanor, but also a sense of distance that set it apart from ordinary people.

Like snow on a mountain peak, or jade in a deep abyss, it is beautiful, but cold.

She was afraid her son wouldn't get warm enough, and even more afraid he would get cold.

"Mom, I know he's not ordinary." Shang Song sniffed. "But I don't want anything from him. I just want him to be good to me, and I want to be happy when I'm with him."

He looked up at his mother, his eyes filled with the stubbornness and clarity typical of young people: "If in the future... he treats me badly, or he bullies me, then I won't stay with him. It's not like I can't live without anyone. I have hands and feet, I have a job, I can support myself, and I can support you too."

He spoke as if it were the simplest of truths.

Mrs. Shang was stunned.

His own son made no promises or vows, nor did he show any signs of inferiority or fear; he only displayed a clean and decisive resolve.

If you like each other, be together; if you're happy, continue; if things aren't going well, separate.

Do not be greedy, do not be dependent.

No matter how extraordinary the other party is.

She suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and the anxiety that had been hanging over her subsided a little.

"You..." In the end, she just shook her head, raised her hand, and gently patted Shang Song's head. The heaviness in her tone completely disappeared, leaving only a hint of helplessness: "You've always been opinionated since you were little. Okay, Mom knows."

She picked up the fruit plate and shoved it into Shang Song's hands: "Take it out. What kind of behavior is this, blocking the way here? Don't let people think we're having a private conversation."

Shang Song sighed, took the fruit plate, her nose still a little sore, and turned to open the kitchen door.

In the living room, the chess game had reached the middle stage. The black and white pieces were evenly matched, but the outcome was already decided.

Mr. Shang was studying Xie Jing's moves on the chessboard. "Professor Xie's chess skills are superb! Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Xie Jing heard the door open, turned around, and saw Shang Song carrying a fruit platter out.

His gaze swept over Shang Song's reddened eyes, lingered for a moment, then calmly looked away, saying to Shang's father, "Uncle's plan is far-reaching; it was the junior who took the easy way out."

"Hahaha! A loss is a loss!" Mr. Shang laughed heartily, took the fruit plate from Shang Song, forked a piece and handed it to Xie Jing, "Come on, have some fruit, take a rest. Songsong, you have some too."

The day after tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve. Although smoking is prohibited in the urban area of ​​the small city, fireworks can still be seen occasionally, in twos and threes, both near and far, outside the window.

Shang Song sat down next to Xie Jing, holding a piece of apple in his hand and taking small bites.

He secretly asked Xie Jing with his eyes if he was adjusting well, and Xie Jing nodded at him.

After Mrs. Shang came out and sat down, Mr. and Mrs. Shang started asking her some trivial questions, which Xie Jing answered one by one, while Shang Song occasionally chimed in.

The fruit platter was empty, and the TV program was nearing its end.

Mr. and Mrs. Shang are getting old and are used to going to bed early, so they got up to go back to their bedroom.

"Songsong, take good care of Professor Xie and get some rest," Shang's mother instructed, then said to Xie Jing, "Professor Xie, our home is simple, we're sorry to trouble you. If you need anything, just tell Songsong, don't be shy."

"Auntie, you flatter me. This place is very nice. Thank you for your hospitality."

Mr. Shang chuckled, "Yes, yes, make yourself at home! Let's play a couple more rounds tomorrow!"

"Okay, goodnight, Uncle."

The elderly couple went back to their room, leaving only the young couple in the living room, which was unusually quiet for a moment.

"Go take a shower first. The hot water in the bathroom might take a while to heat up." Shang Song stood up and started taking things out of his suitcase: "I prepared new towels and toiletries for you... I couldn't find the same ones as you, so please make do with these."

Xie Jing stood up as well: "Okay. What about you?"

"I'll shower later." Shang Song placed the toiletries on the sink for Xie Jing. "You shower first, I'll go back to my room and tidy up."

Xie Jing nodded and walked towards his suitcase.

Shang Song returned to his room, closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and let out a long sigh before looking around at his upgraded doghouse.

The new bed is made of solid wood, the mattress is brand new, the bedding is a pale white that Xie Jing might like, the curtains have been changed to a light-blocking, elegant color, and a new bedside lamp has been added.

He quickly turned on the air conditioner, set the temperature, and adjusted the air purifier and humidifier.

He carefully tidied the bed, smoothed out the quilt, felt the thickness of the quilt, checked whether the quilt cover was soft enough, and whether the pillow was high enough.

After cleaning up his doghouse inside and out, he finally stopped, hands on his hips, looking a little nervous.

Everything was prepared to the best of his ability, and he spent all of his year-end bonus and extra income.

But when Xie Jing was actually going to sleep in this room, he still felt a little uneasy.

He shook his head, took out the old bedding from deep inside the wardrobe, and prepared to sleep on the floor in the living room later.

He was carrying an old quilt as he walked out when there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in," Shang Song replied, holding the bedding.

Xie Jing pushed open the door and came in. He was wearing his own light gray pajamas, and his hair was half-dry and damp.

"Finished washing? How does it feel? Is the water temperature okay?" Shang Song asked in a series of questions.

"Very good." Xie Jing placed the clothes he had changed out of on a chair beside him, his gaze sweeping over the comfortably furnished room, finally landing on the thick pile of bedding in Shang Song's arms. He paused slightly, "What's this?"

"Oh, this?" Shang Song smiled a little embarrassedly, pulling the blankets closer to his chest. "My house is small, with only two rooms. I'll sleep on a makeshift bed on the floor in the living room, and you can sleep on the bed."

"This mattress is new; I picked it out specifically, so it should be fairly comfortable. I've already turned on the air conditioner, air purifier, and humidifier. Please check if the temperature and humidity are suitable..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Jing frowned.

"No need," Xie Jing interrupted him.

"Huh?" Shang Song was taken aback.

"No need to sleep on the floor," Xie Jing said, looking at him. "Let's sleep together."

Shang Song: "!!!"

Shang Song almost jumped up, clutching the blankets, her cheeks burning. "No, no need! I'm a restless sleeper, I'll steal the blanket! I'll roll around! I might even kick someone! And, and I snore! Yes! My snoring is really loud! You definitely won't sleep well!"

He stammered, his voice trailing off: "Besides...and you're not feeling well, are you? Sleeping together...you'll feel uncomfortable."

Sharing a bed might be cozy for ordinary couples, but for Xie Jing, it probably means a whole night of discomfort.

Xie Jing looked at him silently, his deep gaze particularly profound. He took a step forward, getting closer to Shang Song.

"No," Xie Jing said. "I want to try."

His gaze fell on Shang Song's wide eyes, and he continued:

"With you by my side, perhaps... things would be better."