Zhang Hua sat at the deserted dining table, looking at the empty chair opposite, with mixed feelings in his heart. This is the fifth night in a row, and Li Jing has not gone home for dinner. When night falls, the silence of home adds a suffocating atmosphere.
"Isn't she coming back today?" Zhang Hua silently poured himself a cup of hot tea, but his heart was as cold as frost.
When Li Jing didn't return home for the first time, Zhang Hua thought it was just occasional overtime. The conversation also maintains the warmth of the family.
"Wife, why did you come back so late today, are you busy working overtime?" Zhang Hua asked with concern.
"Well, I'm sorry, the company has been really busy lately, and the project is about to go live. Li Jing explained while busy sorting out her briefcase, looking unwilling to talk more.
Zhang Hua didn't think much about it at the time, but just had an understanding attitude.
However, as time went on, the continuous late return made Zhang Hua begin to doubt this statement.
"Jingjing, isn't your company's project finished yet? Why come back so late every day and don't call me, I'm almost worried to death. Once, he couldn't resist bringing it up at dinner.
"Oh, that project is delayed, and it may be busy for a while. Don't worry, eat well. Li Jing still seems to be understating.
Seeing that Li Jing not only returned late from work, but did not return all night, Zhang Hua finally couldn't hold back the anxiety and suspicion in his heart.
"Jingjing, are you hiding something from me? Can you be honest? Zhang Hua tried to start the conversation on a weekend morning, when both of them were more relaxed.
"Huahua, you're thinking too much, it's nothing, really. That's what work is, and you know I've always been conscientious. When Li Jing said this, her eyes flickered, as if she was avoiding something.
That night, Zhang Hua once again faced the empty room alone, and his heart was panicked, as if he couldn't say a thousand words. Trust in marriage, like a castle on the beach, is eroded little by little by the sea of doubt.
In the early morning of the next day, Zhang Hua was lying on the bed tossing and turning, and the sound of the door opening came from outside the house. He pretended to be asleep, listening to Li Jing's light movements, but his heart felt like he had been hit by a heavy hammer.
"Did you go out again yesterday?" Zhang Hua couldn't help but ask the next morning.
"Well, I'm sorry, you know, sometimes work is like this..."Before Li Jing's words were finished, Zhang Hua had already shook his head and went out to work with a blank face. Zhang Hua decided to take action to solve the mystery in his heart. He began to secretly observe Li Jing's every move, so as to understand her whereabouts at night.
"Hey, Mr. Zhang, are you free tonight, a few of our old classmates get together?" One day, Zhang Hua received a call from an old friend.
"Ah, not tonight, I've got something. Next time. Zhang Hua made an excuse. After hanging up the phone, his eyes were firm and deep, and he was ready to follow him secretly.
After dinner, Li Jing began to pack her documents as usual and prepared to go out.
"Are you going out again?" Zhang Hua tried to make his voice sound calm.
"Well, I'm sorry, it's still about that project, I'm really going to end it pretty quickly. Li Jing replied lightly.
"If it's late, don't come back, just rest in the office. It's not good for your health to come back every night. Zhang Hua planned silently in his heart, and said pretending to be concerned at the same time.
"It's not too late, and you get an early rest. Li Jing hurriedly went out.
After confirming that his wife's figure disappeared, Zhang Hua picked up the car keys and quietly followed. He stopped at a street corner not far from his home and set up an ambush, his eyes locked on Li Jing's every movement.
Li Jing didn't notice that Zhang Hua's gaze followed closely behind her. She quickly walked through the city to a small, nondescript restaurant. She made a phone call and hurried in.
Zhang Hua hesitated outside the door for a while, and finally decided to go in. He pushed open the door, sat down in a corner, and ordered a cup of coffee. His eyes searched the restaurant, and finally saw Li Jing sitting at a table near the window, talking to a middle-aged woman, both of whom had serious expressions.
"I'm really grateful that you can help me, quietly, without Lao Zhang, the restaurant really can't hold on. The middle-aged woman's voice was choked.
"Don't say that, we're friends, and I should help as I can. Li Jing's voice was resolute.
"But if you come every night like this, won't your husband have a problem?" the woman was a little worried.
"Hua Hua he... He wouldn't mind. It's the work of your husband and wife that we run this restaurant together, and I'm not going to watch it go out of business. Li Jing looked resolute and gentle.
Seeing the conversation between the two, Zhang Hua felt a burst of guilt and shock. It turned out that Li Jing came to help every night, and the other party seemed to have experienced family changes. He secretly made up his mind to wait for Li Jing to have a good talk when he went home.
Just as Zhang Hua was about to leave, Li Jing suddenly looked at him. The eyes of the two froze in the air, and Li Jing's eyes were surprised and embarrassed.
"Huahua, why are you here?" Li Jing stood up, a touch of panic on her face.
Zhang Hua put down the coffee, stood up and walked to Li Jing, "Let's go home and talk about it, it seems that we have a lot of things to talk about." His voice was gentle but firm. Back at home, the light in the living room is soft and warm, not like the inexplicable tension in my heart.
"Jingjing, why don't you tell me the truth, why do you hide from me to help run the restaurant?" Zhang Hua asked impatiently, looking directly at Li Jing.
Li Jing took a deep breath and said slowly: "Huahua, I... I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just that... It's just that I'm afraid you'll misunderstand, you've always thought that women should be at home, not go out and work every night. "
"Then you just hide it from me every day?" Zhang Hua was a little annoyed and a little lost.
"That restaurant belonged to my college roommate Xiao Wang, do you remember her? Last year, her husband was in a car accident and never came back. She was alone with the restaurant and the children. I really can't help her. Li Jing's eyes began to glisten with tears.
Zhang Hua was silent. He remembered Xiao Wang, the angry and independent girl, but he didn't expect her to suffer such a tragedy.
"I know I shouldn't hide it from you, but I'really... I really want to help her. I can't watch her lose everything. I... I'm sorry for you, Huahua, I shouldn't have hidden it from you. Li Jing choked up, tears finally bursting out of her eyes.
"Quietly, I... I'm not mad at you. Zhang Hua's voice also began to choke, "I'm just worried about you, worried about between us." I thought I was a good husband, but I couldn't understand even the most basic busyness of my wife. "
Li Jing wiped away her tears and looked up at Zhang Hua, "Huahua, thank you for understanding me, I really know it's wrong." I shouldn't hide it from you, we are husband and wife and should bear it together. "
"Forget it, let it pass. Zhang Hua gently wiped away the tears on Li Jing's face, "Let's go to the restaurant tomorrow and see what we can do." "
Li Jing was surprised, and her eyes were full of gratitude: "Really, are you willing to help?"
"Of course, it's something you value, how can I not support it. Zhang Hua's voice was full of determination, "We are a family, aren't we?"
At this time, the mobile phones of the two rang at the same time, and it was a message from Xiao Wang: "Jingjing, why did your husband come to the restaurant." Does he know? Could there be some misunderstanding?"
Li Jing looked at the news and smiled at Zhang Hua: "It seems that we still have a lot of things to face together." "
"Yes, face it together, what is there for us as husband and wife?" Zhang Hua smiled and gently held Li Jing's hand.
In this way, in a warm and harmonious atmosphere, their relationship suddenly seemed to be much closer again. The confusion, suspicion, and anger are gone, and in the face of explanation and understanding, the power of love and friendship makes this marriage go further. The next day, when the sun had just poured into the bedroom, Zhang Hua and Li Jing got up early to prepare for Xiao Wang's restaurant.
"Where do you think we should start?" Zhang Hua asked Li Jing lightly while tying his tie.
"Since you've decided you want to help, start by understanding the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. Li Jing suggested with a smile, obviously pleased with her husband's participation.
When they came to the restaurant, Zhang Hua and Li Jing were warmly and gratefully greeted by Xiao Wang.
"Zhang Hua, thank you so much, willing to help. Xiao Wang's eyes were full of sincerity.
"You're welcome, Xiao Wang. We are friends, as we should. Zhang Hua responded with a smile.
Zhang Hua found that although the restaurant was small, it was warm and humane. He began to help clean up tables and chairs, sort customer orders, and make suggestions to optimize the service process.
"Huahua, I think we can launch some new dishes or do some promotions to attract customers. Li Jing made a suggestion while wiping the table.
"yes, we can use the resources of the community and do some publicity. Zhang Hua nodded in agreement.
With the addition of Zhang Hua, the restaurant's operation is gradually on the right track. More and more customers come to the restaurant every day. The cooperation between Zhang Hua and Li Jing not only allowed Xiao Wang to regain hope in life, but also passed on this positive energy to the entire community.
One night, after the restaurant closed, Zhang Hua, Li Jing and Xiao Wang sat together at the door of the restaurant.
"Who would have thought that the three of us could make this small restaurant so warm and vibrant?" Zhang Hua couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, thank you very much for your help, I now feel that my life with Xiaobao is finally hopeful. Xiao Wang's eyes were full of gratitude.
Li Jing held Zhang Hua's hand and said with a smile: "This is our joint effort. Huahua, your ideas and help are really crucial. "
"Because I finally understood that home is not just four walls, but people and things we care about. Zhang Hua looked at the starry sky and thought.
They looked at the stars in the night sky and seemed to see more possibilities. This small restaurant is like their miniature society, reflecting the warmth and challenges of each family in thousands of households.
"Perhaps, that's what life should be, isn't it?" Zhang Hua asked Li Jing softly, and both of them were full of beautiful expectations for their future lives.