Chapter 78: Living Together

The tenth day of the first lunar month.

The Sheng family members stayed for just over a day, finalized all the matters, selected an auspicious date in mid-year for the engagement banquet, and planned to return to Z City that day.

The old lady had wanted to take Lu Jia back with them, but with the Qinghui Cup approaching after spring, the girl wanted to return to school first to prepare. In the end, not only did they fail to bring home the prospective student they had their eye on, but even their granddaughter went off to C City with her.

Fortunately, there was plenty of time ahead.

Looking at the two youngsters holding hands in front of her, Sheng Tianqin smiled warmly.

“I heard from A Yun that Xiao Bai gave you quite a bit of grief before.”

Sheng Tianqin didn’t forget to remind Lu Jia, “If she bullies you again in the future, just call me. Your aunt and I will stand up for you.”

Her waist was subtly pulled tighter by the woman, but Lu Jia kept her composure and smiled in agreement.

Their flight was in the afternoon.

They arrived in C City near evening. When the taxi driver asked for their destination, Lu Jia gave the name of her neighborhood and added, “Then, please drop her off at C University afterward.”

“You’re not coming back with me?” Sheng Shubai’s brows furrowed slightly.

Lu Jia explained, “In a couple of days, Professor Rong will check on holiday progress. At home, I only reviewed some literature, and the few print blocks I carved were all rough drafts. I didn’t bring them.”

That woman Rong Yi was truly troublesome.

Sheng Shubai rubbed her brow, well aware of how dedicated Lu Jia was to her studies.

“Just drive straight to the neighborhood. No need for C University.”

Sheng Shubai told the driver, then gently squeezed Lu Jia’s hand. “I’ll stay at your place for the next few days, okay?”

Of course it was okay.

They had been inseparable for days, and Lu Jia found herself growing accustomed to this life: someone always there to care, to share with, and… a soft embrace ready at any moment.

Before they dated, she had thought Sheng Shubai was like an untamable wind, always free-spirited. Perhaps in the wilderness or by a mountain stream, but never stopping for anyone.

Even when Sheng Shubai finally said she needed time to think it over, Lu Jia had prepared herself for a long period of ambiguity between them.

She had believed Sheng Shubai wouldn’t willingly be bound by anyone or any emotion.

She also knew what the woman had been hung up on.

It wasn’t until that confession night, followed by days of constant contact, that Lu Jia’s views began to shift.

Seeing Sheng Shubai fly thousands of miles to be with her, and after spending those days together, the possessiveness and clinginess the woman showed were far from what she had imagined—yet she loved it.

That night, they had fooled around secretly in the guest room and gone to bed later than usual. Sheng Shubai held her close, warm lips brushing her forehead in a quiet kiss.

Sheng Shubai made her many promises. No more bars, less drinking, and from now on, only Lu Jia by her side—no flirtatious words to other girls.

Though there hadn’t been any to begin with, Lu Jia chuckled softly.

She had always trusted Sheng Shubai but still nodded along to each promise.

Lost in thought as she gazed out the window, Lu Jia recalled the murmur she heard just before sleep that night: “This is great. Now I have you.”

The ending note carried a faint tremble.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously, and the woman noticed.

Sheng Shubai looked up from her email on her phone screen. “Hm?”

“Nothing.”

Lu Jia smiled lightly. “We’ve been on the plane so long. I just want to get home and rest properly.”

It was the second day of her period. Perhaps due to the tension of meeting the Sheng elders and poor rest beforehand, her lower abdomen ached with a dull, heavy sensation.

Soon, the car pulled up outside the neighborhood.

Each pushed a suitcase, only letting go to call the elevator.

Back home, Sheng Shubai opened her suitcase with practiced ease, taking out its contents.

She hung her clothes in the master bedroom closet, placed her toiletries next to Lu Jia’s. Only the unused items remained, to be taken back to her apartment tomorrow.

Lu Jia brought over two glasses of water and asked, “What do you want to eat? There’s only noodles in the kitchen. We’ll need to order ingredients now.”

The two matching mugs—one color each—were the ones they had used before.

Sheng Shubai raised a brow. “Anything’s fine. I’ll cook later.”

She urged Lu Jia to take a hot shower first; changing into pajamas would feel more comfortable.

While waiting for her to finish, she unpacked Lu Jia’s suitcase as well.

She knew exactly where the girl’s things went. The transition from neighbors to cohabitants felt seamless, as if it was only natural.

Pan-fried egg steak pasta—a simple meal.

A bouquet of flowers sat on the table, ordered along with the groceries.

Sheng Shubai had originally thought their first official day living together deserved some ceremony, like dining out. But considering Lu Jia wasn’t feeling well, they stayed in.

Lu Jia didn’t care much for ceremonies, but she loved anything from Sheng Shubai.

After dinner, she admired the flowers for a good while, reluctant to set them down even as eight o’clock approached.

“I’m going to the studio to work on something for a bit. I’ll be out before ten, okay?”

Sheng Shubai nodded and rubbed Lu Jia’s waist. “If you feel uncomfortable later, don’t push yourself.”

Lu Jia had her own private space, and Sheng Shubai had no intention of clinging too tightly.

They could cuddle again when it was time to rest.

Seeing how diligently the girl worked, Sheng Shubai opened her graduate student group chat and tossed in a red envelope.

It was snatched up in under two minutes, followed by a string of “thanks, Big Sis Sheng.”

They were all online, it seemed.

Unhurried, Sheng Shubai posted a message asking about everyone’s holiday progress and planned return to school.

She set a date for the post-semester group meeting, took a sip of warm water, and felt a twinge of envy for Rong Yi.

If only her own students were like Lu Jia.

–

C University, College Building.

Lu Jia spent three days in the studio hugging her print blocks.

That morning, she had to report progress to Rong Yi. She rushed and finally finished the last rough carving section.

Sheng Shubai had accompanied her these days but always headed to her own office upon reaching the College Building to avoid disturbing the girl. She only came to fetch her near mealtime.

“Professor Rong is too harsh on her students. School hasn’t even started, and she’s assigning new tasks?”

Sheng Shubai leaned against the door, holding coffee, and tossed the light remark at Rong Yi as she passed. “It’s almost lunchtime. When do you plan to let her go?”

Lu Jia had just been grilled on professional knowledge in the studio. Following behind Rong Yi, she paused her steps. She barely suppressed a smile, her gaze drifting involuntarily to Sheng Shubai.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t hold back a grin at her mentor; seeing Sheng Shubai simply lifted her spirits inexplicably.

Even the print block in her arms—which Rong Yi had just marked with nine areas for improvement—felt less heavy.

Rong Yi’s head ached at the sight of Sheng Shubai.

She knew exactly what was going on between her and Lu Jia.

Just days after the New Year, Shi Mengxi had told her. The woman had flown straight from Z City to M City and was preparing to meet each other’s families.

Even though Shi Mengxi kept her tone neutral, merely relaying facts, Rong Yi—having spent over a year with her—could easily detect the unconcealed envy.

Shi Mengxi had always been obedient and was fully aware of their situation.

Their relationship was all but confirmed; she didn’t want to trouble Rong Yi in any way.

She was willing to wait, to give her a chance.

It was already the best outcome Shi Mengxi hadn’t even dared dream of before.

Shi Mengxi hadn’t brought it up, and Rong Yi hadn’t asked. But after the video call ended and the screen went dark, Rong Yi booked a ticket for the next day, made an excuse about fieldwork to her family, and left.

She spent a few days with Shi Mengxi, learned the girl wanted to stay for her family’s Lantern Festival birthday, approved her leave, and returned to C City first.

“Professor Sheng seems so leisurely. Your students must not give you any worries—truly enviable.”

Rong Yi replied coolly.

Sheng Shubai was choked by the retort. The woman was just leveraging her star student to openly shade her.

Seeing the initially thawed atmosphere between them turn tense again, Lu Jia rubbed her brow and quietly tugged Sheng Shubai’s sleeve.

Please don’t fight anymore.

Catching her student’s little gesture, Rong Yi’s expression darkened further. Yet she was the one with the least ground to complain.

Given the connection between Shi Mengxi and Lu Jia, it was obvious. If she knew about Sheng Shubai and Lu Jia, Sheng Shubai would surely have heard from her student about her and Shi Mengxi’s progress.

Instead, she felt a bit guilty.

With a light cough, Rong Yi softened her expression and said to Lu Jia, “Let’s go to my studio first.”

She paused, then added flatly, “Half an hour. I’ll let her go around noon.”

In Rong Yi’s studio.

Lu Jia held the mug her almost-fiancée had just slipped her—unsure whether to drink or set it aside.

It contained a small cup of hot ginger tea.

Her period discomfort had long passed, but Sheng Shubai had dug out the wellness pot from her apartment, brought it to the neighborhood, and switched Lu Jia’s hot water to ginger tea.

Lu Jia wasn’t particularly fond of the taste but didn’t mind it. Because Sheng Shubai made it, she always finished every cup obediently.

Rong Yi had always been strict about the studio environment.

Even purified water could only be drunk in a small area near the door, let alone coffee or milk tea.

Sheng Shubai knew her habits and had said breezily under Rong Yi’s near-solid glare, “To warm her hands. It snowed a few days ago; during the thaw, hands get cold and can’t hold the knife steady.”

Lu Jia thought of the woman’s own cooler fingertips but said nothing.

Rong Yi didn’t bother responding.

The Academy of Fine Arts College Building was well-funded: central AC from lobby to halls, individual vents in studios.

She waved it off. “Drink if you’re uncomfortable. Just don’t spill.”

Before the New Year, when things warmed up with Shi Mengxi, she had the girl over to critique her final print and allowed her to sip vegetable porridge while listening, as her stomach wasn’t well.

She couldn’t play favorites, Rong Yi thought.

Lu Jia thanked her and, mug in hand, discussed improvements with her mentor.

This woodblock was a test carving with satisfactory results, but Rong Yi had circled nine points in five minutes that morning.

The block intended for the Qinghui Cup still sat in the studio.

Sheng Shubai had personally ordered someone in Z City to select four, telling her to use them however she liked.

They dove deep into discussion.

By the time the mug’s exterior cooled, it was past noon.

Two minutes later, a knock sounded.

Rong Yi glanced at her phone screen lighting up with a missed call and let her go.

“Teacher, I’ll come find you again at three this afternoon,” Lu Jia said politely, knowing her mentor had afternoon commitments.

Rong Yi nodded. Once the two outside left, she called back.

It was Shi Mengxi.

The girl hadn’t gotten tickets for the next few days and was on the high-speed train back to C City, just two stops away.

Rong Yi grabbed her bag and headed out—she had promised to pick up Shi Mengxi.