On an ordinary weekday morning, Li Jingru opened her tired eyes, felt the body temperature of her husband next to her, and the atmosphere of the city outside was not fully awakened. Last night, after she and Wang Qiang embraced, the familiar sense of security gradually brought her to sleep. Wang Qiang's breathing was still echoing in her ears, and at this moment, he was lying next to him, his face was calm. Li Jingru looked up at the time, and the hands of the clock showed 4:40.
"Strong, get up. Li Jingru nudged Wang Qiang. Although she would love to enjoy more comfortable moments with him, she knew that Wang Qiang was going out early today, and an important project in the company had entered a critical period.
"Well, lie down a little longer. Wang Qiang reluctantly responded, his voice hoarse and warm.
"Strange, didn't you say you had a very early meeting today?" Li Jingru said as she stroked his chest, half worried.
Wang Qiang opened his eyes and sighed softly, "yes, I almost forgot." He quickly got out of bed and began to get dressed and prepare. Although love and warmth permeate this home all the time, Wang Qiang's responsibilities and livelihood have always forced him to leave in a hurry in the early morning.
"Jingru, I'm sorry to leave you alone again. Wang Qiang looked at Li Jingru apologetically while wearing his tie.
"It's okay, your work matters. I also have things to do at home, you don't have to worry. Even so, Li Jingru was always a little lonely in her heart.
Wang Qiang walked up to her, lowered his head and kissed her forehead, "I'll come back as soon as possible." With that, he grabbed his briefcase, turned and walked out of the bedroom.
Li Jingru got up, opened the curtains, and let in the hazy morning light. She quietly watched Wang Qiang's back walk out of the downstairs and get on the bus that must be taken every day. Wang Qiang's figure gradually integrated into the newly awakened city, and her heart slowly sank.
Li Jingru has always known that such mornings are very common and special. She and Wang Qiang are not like the couple in TV dramas, they always have dramatic quarrels and fierce resolutions. Their love and marriage are more often trickle, warm and plain.
I turned my head to look at the alarm clock, and it was not even six o'clock. Li Jingru packed up her bed, put on comfortable loungewear, and prepared to start the day. Although there is no Wang Qiang's voice to accompany her, this home still needs her to maintain, those trivial housework, as well as the small clothing store that is about to open, will not stop because of the loneliness in her heart.
She heads to the kitchen and begins to prepare breakfast, the sky outside the window begins to turn white, and the chirping of birds reminds the world that a busy day has begun.
Li Jingru was busy in the kitchen, the light outside the window was getting brighter, and she was the only one left in the huge house in the early morning. Omelettes, toast, everything is familiar and natural, but a hint of worry quietly rises in my heart.
The phone ringing broke the silence in the kitchen, she dried her hands, picked up the phone, but a strange female voice came from the receiver, "Hello, I'm looking for Mr. Wang Qiang." He forgot what he had been with us yesterday. ”
Li Jingru, who was shocked, suddenly became nervous, "Where are you?" Mr. Wang Qiang is not here now, what can I tell him?" ”
"This is the Maple Leaf Nursing Home, Mr. Wang Qiang came to us yesterday, and he forgot a folder. The female voice is polite and distant.
"I see, thanks. After hanging up the phone, Li Jingru's cranky thoughts began to spread. When did Wang Qiang go to a nursing home? Why didn't he mention it to himself at all? Could it be ......
In the afternoon, Li Jingru stood in the clothing store with an apron, thinking about the phone call over and over again. Seeing this, the female clerk Xiaoli asked in a low voice, "Boss, what's wrong with you today?"
"Oh, no, it's fine. Li Jingru came back to her senses, shook her head, and squeezed out a smile, but she was thinking deeply about whether to tell Wang Qiang.
At the end of the day, Xiaoli left first, and Li Jingru locked the store and prepared to go home. She passed by Lao Li's shop, Lao Li is a neighbor who lives next door, while looking at the groceries, she asked tentatively: "Lao Li, do you think that if a person hides something from the other half, does it mean that there is a problem between them?"
Lao Li glanced at her thoughtfully and replied, "It depends on what is going on." Some things may be concealed because they want to surprise the other person, while others may be for other reasons. ”
Li Jingru nodded, and she decided to observe it again. After returning home, she made a phone call to her best friend Xiao Zhao and told her about the mysterious phone call.
"Jingru, don't think about it yet," Xiao Zhao persuaded on the phone, "You have to find evidence, if there is really anything, we can't be kept in the dark." ”
Li Jingru nodded secretly, "It makes sense, I have to figure it out first." ”
A few days later, one weekend, Wang Qiang said that he was going on a business trip, and Li Jingru decided to take action. She made an appointment with Xiao Zhao and planned to go to the mysterious Maple Leaf Nursing Home to investigate.
When they arrived at the nursing home, the two pretended to be visitors who had come to consult, and looked around. Li Jingru noticed that the name plate of the employee did not have the name of the lady on the phone yesterday. A suspicion intensified in his heart, but he remained calm.
Xiao Zhao whispered to her, "What should I do?" Do you want to ask them?"
At this moment, Li Jingru's eyes fell on the bulletin board in a corner, and a photo caught her attention. She stepped forward to see that the smiling man in the photo was not Wang Qiang, and there were several old people next to her, looking happy. The description below the photo reads "Volunteer Wang Qiang had a good time with the elderly".
A warm current welled up in her heart, and her doubts and uneasiness seemed to be lifted at that moment. She and Xiao Zhao looked at each other and smiled, and they understood each other in silence: to understand a person, you have to look at his actions.
This is the beginning of suspicion, but it is also a harbinger of the truth gradually emerging. After a few days, Li Jingru decided to find an opportunity to talk to Wang Qiang face-to-face. Wang Qiang had just returned from another short business trip, and Li Jingru mustered up the courage to spread out the matter at dinner time.
"Qiang, are you hiding something from me?" Li Jingru looked directly into Wang Qiang's eyes.
Wang Qiang put down his chopsticks in some surprise, "What's the matter, Jingru......?
"Don't change the subject, you've been to the Maple Leaf Nursing Home, right?" Li Jingru's voice trembled a little.
Wang Qiang was silent for a moment, sighed, and nodded, "Yes, I've been there." ”
Li Jingru's heart was like a knife, "Who is it? Who are you visiting there?"
"I ......" Wang Qiang hesitated, he knew that this matter had been hidden from Li Jingru was not a method, and he also knew that this was a test between them, "It is an old friend of mine, she ......"
"Old friend, do you still have feelings for her?" Li Jingru interrupted him.
Wang Qiang looked at Li Jingru, "No, Jingru." It was her, my first love, who now has dementia and no family, and I ...... I just want to take care of her. ”
Li Jingru had mixed feelings in her heart, but at the same time she saw the helplessness in Wang Qiang's eyes, "Why haven't you mentioned it for so many years?"
"I don't want you to misunderstand, and I don't want you to worry. Wang Qiang was very helpless, "I promised to take care of her, we were young then, but now we ...... She's so pathetic on her own. ”
"But is this fair to me? How can there be such a secret in our marriage?" Li Jingru was a little emotional.
Wang Qiang stretched out his hand and stroked Li Jingru's hand, "I'm sorry, I know this incident is a blow to our relationship, but I promise, I only treat her out of humanity and nothing else." ”
Li Jingru was silent, she knew that Wang Qiang was a kind person, and she could understand his distress, but this did not mean that she could fully accept it.
Wang Qiang held her hand tightly, "The person I love is you, Jingru." Between me and her, it was just the memories of my youth and the care of an old man. ”
The atmosphere at the table was solemn, Li Jingru lowered her head, and the jealousy and uneasiness in her heart hit like a wave of anger, but she still forced herself to calm down. "What if...... If so, can I meet her?"
"Yes, of course. There was a hint of relaxation in Wang Qiang's voice, as if the burden had suddenly lightened.
In fact, during those countless nights, Wang Qiang also repeatedly thought about whether his decision was right or wrong, and whether his care would hurt Li Jingru. And now, at least the secret is no longer a secret, at least they can face the problem together.
That night, the two didn't say much, but the estrangement in each other's hearts has begun to slowly dissolve - there is explanation, communication, expectation and the possibility of facing the future together. One warm afternoon, Li Jingru and Wang Qiang walked into the Maple Leaf Nursing Home together. After that night's conversation, her mood had calmed down a lot, and although she was still a little reluctant, she decided to try to understand Wang Qiang as much as possible.
The atmosphere of the nursing home was warmer than expected, the sun poured into the house through the window, and Wang Qiang took Li Jingru to an old man sitting by the window, the first love.
"Auntie, this is my wife, Jingru. Wang Qiang introduced.
The old man didn't seem to be very conscious, but he nodded politely, "Hello, young man." ”
Li Jingru's heart swelled with an inexplicable emotion, "Hello Auntie, I heard Qiang say something about you, I hope I can also help." ”
The old man didn't seem to understand, but smiled, "Thank you, I think of my younger self when I see you." ”
Li Jingru and Wang Qiang smiled at each other, sat next to the old man, and began to chat with her. This is a new beginning, not only a bridge they build for the elderly, but also a sublimation of their feelings.
As time passed, Wang Qiang's behavior was gradually understood by Li Jingru, and she even volunteered to participate in Wang Qiang's volunteer activities. As a result, the couple's lives have more common memories and topics, and the relationship has become stronger in this mutual support.
A few months later, the Maple Leaf Nursing Home held a small celebration with all the volunteers and families invited to participate. The husband and wife participated in the preparation together, making games, assistants, Wang Qiang was in front of the stage, and Li Jingru was silently supporting behind the scenes.
At the closing, the dean specially thanked Wang Qiang and Li Jingru for their selfless dedication, and the two stood together and received generous applause. Looking at the old people laughing in the audience, Li Jingru felt that all the efforts were worth it.
That night, the two were walking home together, and the starlight dotted the night sky, and Li Jingru suddenly asked: "You say, if we hadn't tried to understand and tolerate like this, what would our marriage be like?"
Wang Qiang held her hand, and the two stepped into the night, the unknown was precisely the most beautiful part of their common life.