Lin Jing, a high school teacher, tied her hair and silently corrected the test papers under the fluorescent lights in the classroom, and the night outside the window became thicker and thicker. The school's cleaners had already started cleaning the hallways, but Lin Jing's desk was still a pile of papers waiting to be corrected.
"Teacher Lin, you've been working overtime so late, do you want me to pour you a glass of water?" Aunt Cleaner asked with concern.
Lin Jing smiled and waved her hand, "Don't bother you, Auntie, I'll just come by myself, you can go back and rest." "
The phone rang suddenly, Lin Jing took out a test paper while answering, it was her husband Chen Qiang, and his apologetic voice came from the other end of the phone: "Lin Lin, what do we eat at night, I'll go home late and work overtime." ”
"You know work. I'm still in the classroom, and the students have important exams tomorrow, and I have to finish these papers tonight. Lin Jing said. Her voice was tired.
"Don't be too tired, your body matters." Chen Qiang said anxiously.
Lin Jing's pen tip quickly swept across the test paper, and a wry smile squeezed out of her lips, "Body, who doesn't exchange health for salary." ”
After the phone hung up, the silence of the classroom fell again. She rubbed her sour eyes and subconsciously looked at her watch, it was already eleven o'clock in the night. Lin Jing sighed and decided that she would just hold on for another hour.
Time seemed to be particularly long on this night, and when Lin Jing opened the last stack of test papers, her eyes suddenly darkened, dizzy, and the test papers became blurry in front of her eyes.
"What's going on?" She wanted to get up and walk around, but she felt soft under her feet, staggered step by step, grabbed the edge of the table to stabilize her body, but all her efforts came to naught, she only felt top-heavy, and then, there was darkness.
......
When Lin Jing opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a white room with a dazzling light overhead. She had a cold infusion tube in her body, and there was a faint pain in the back of her hand.
"Are you awake, how much better?" The kind nurse next to her reached out to check the speed of the infusion.
"Where is this? What's wrong with me? Lin Jing asked in a daze, trying to sit up, but was gently pressed back to the bed by the nurse.
"You're in the emergency room, it's late at night when you faint and you're overworked. Your family has just been contacted and they should be there soon. The nurse said as she recorded her vital signs.
Lin Jing was stunned, and then became anxious, "My test paper..."
"Don't worry about work, life matters." The nurse shook her hand vigorously.
In a daze, Lin Jing felt a hint of comfort and slowly closed her eyes.
Lin Jing was lying on the hospital bed, the sound of coming and going in the emergency room outside was mottled, but her heart was blank. I was still nervous, and for some reason, the sudden loneliness made her feel unusually panicked.
Just then, the nurse walked in with two people. As soon as she heard Chen Qiang's voice, Lin Jing's heart jumped violently - her husband was here.
"Chen Qiang, why are you here?" Lin Jing raised her head slightly, and her voice was a little weak.
"I'm sorry, Lin Lin, I was in a meeting just now, and I came out a little late." Chen Qiang walked quickly to Lin Jing's bedside, his eyes full of concern.
But when Lin Jing's gaze fell on the woman standing beside him, all the excitement was fleeting. The woman was dressed in a simple dress, but Lin Jing recognized her at a glance, it was Zhao Hong, a colleague from the company.
"Who is this?" Lin Jing asked suspiciously, her eyes sharp.
Zhao Hong bowed slightly to express her greetings, with a hint of embarrassment in her tone, "Teacher Lin, I am Chen Qiang's colleague, I heard that you are in an emergency, so we will come over to see you together." ”
"Zhao Hong, yes, accompany me to help, you can rest first, don't be too nervous." Chen Qiang hurriedly explained for Zhao Hong.
Lin Jing couldn't help frowning, she didn't understand why Chen Qiang came with a female colleague. She recalled that Chen Qiang often mentioned Zhao Hong before, and she laughed at the interaction between the two at work, but now she suddenly integrated into her private space and felt a little uncomfortable.
"Are you really alright? I'm here tonight and I'm not going home. Chen Qiang had a concerned expression.
"No need, you still have a job, just have Miss Zhao Hong with you." Lin Jing simply refused.
Chen Qiang obviously didn't expect Lin Jing to say this, and looked at Zhao Hong with some embarrassment, Zhao Hong had to answer and say, "Teacher Lin, don't worry, the company knows that you are hospitalized and asks me to take care of you more." ”
But the uneasiness in Lin Jing's heart became more and more intense, not because she was worried about work, but because there seemed to be some invisible bond between Chen Qiang and Zhao Hong. The feeling irritated and powerless made her angry.
"You two usually have a good relationship?" Lin Jing asked tentatively.
Chen Qiang and Zhao Hong glanced at each other, Chen Qiang did not answer directly, but said, "We are colleagues, of course we must get along." ”
Lin Jing thought of how Chen Qiang usually supported herself at work, and never doubted him. But the reality is always so unexpected, and her heart is getting heavier and heavier. In the ward late at night, she heard Zhao Hong whispering to comfort Chen Qiang, "Chen Qiang, don't worry, I will help you." ”
In such an atmosphere, it was inevitable that a feeling of suspicion quietly rose in Lin Jing's heart. Maybe it was the nervousness that made Lin Jing too sensitive, but her unspeakable discomfort and doubts may need some time and space to clarify.
In the midnight ward, it was quiet and heavy. The conversation between Chen Qiang and Zhao Hong echoed in Lin Jing's ears, but her mood was like a fog.
Lin Jing couldn't sleep and decided to find answers. Early the next morning, she pretended to be relaxed and asked Chen Qiang: "Chen Qiang, I always feel that you and Zhao Hong have an unusual relationship, are you hiding something and not telling me?" "
Chen Qiang didn't look directly into Lin Jing's eyes, was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Lin Lin, I'...... Zhao Hong and I really didn't tell you something. "
Zhao Hong looked out the window and said slowly: "Actually, this matter is related to my brother. He died last year, leaving behind some debts that I've been trying to pay off. "
Chen Qiang then explained: "I just helped Zhao Hong out of the friendship of my colleagues. Her situation is really difficult, and I can't bear to see her suffer too much. "
When Lin Jing heard this, the stone in her heart seemed to fall halfway, but she still had questions: "Then why don't you tell me, don't you trust me?" "
Chen Qiang sighed deeply and shook Lin Jing's hand: "It's certain that I trust you, but I don't want to burden you more." You work so hard and you have to take care of your family, I ......"
"You are so stupid, we are husband and wife, what difficulties we should face together." Lin Jing interrupted him, tears rolling in his eyes.
Zhao Hong silently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes on the side, her heart was full of guilt: "Teacher Lin, it's me who is wrong and has messed up your life." "
Chen Qiang felt deeply guilty, but he also knew that all the deception would only make the relationship between the two sides more strained. He took a deep breath and confessed his feelings: "Lin Lin, I was wrong, I'm sorry. I will take it on with you in the future, both at home and at work. "
Lin Jing and Chen Qiang's eyes were full of deep understanding and concern, and their hands were tightly interlocked, knowing that only by experiencing wind and rain together could they see the rainbow.
"We have to be honest with each other in the future, and we don't have secrets anymore." Lin Jing said softly.
"Well, I swear." Chen Qiang nodded seriously.
Zhao Hong watched all this quietly from the sidelines, and was extremely grateful to Chen Qiang for his help, and also admired Lin Jing's tolerance. She silently decided that she must be self-reliant, pay off her debts, and stop causing trouble to anyone.
The morning light of the hospital spilled into the ward, and a new day seemed to bring a new beginning, and Lin Jing and Chen Qiang's hearts were more closely connected.
As the misunderstanding dissipated, the atmosphere in the ward gradually relaxed. Lin Jing's physical strength was also slowly recovering, and her communication with Chen Qiang was more frank and profound than ever.
"We may have been too busy in the past, home, and sometimes we really need a little more time and thought." Lin Jing said calmly.
Chen Qiang nodded, "Yes, we need to re-examine our lives and find the feeling of being home." "
The two worked together to help Zhao Hong plan for the future, and Chen Qiang said that he would continue to support the repayment of debts, but more importantly, encourage Zhao Hong to be independent.
"Chen Qiang, Mr. Lin, I can't express my gratitude in words." Zhao Hong said movingly, "I will work harder to pay off all debts, this is the best reward for you." "
"Zhao Hong, we don't ask for anything in return, we just want you to live the life you want." Lin Jing smiled gently.
Chen Qiang and Lin Jing plan how to balance work and life in the future, and the two are determined to give each other more time and support. Lin Jing felt strength in her body and decided to take care of the housework herself, while Chen Qiang promised to share the family responsibilities.
A few days later, Lin Jing was discharged from the hospital. Chen Qiang personally cooked a meal for her, and the table was a simple but warm home-cooked meal. The two sat opposite each other, their eyes warm and determined.
"My dear, this incident has made me understand that no matter how busy the outside world is, home is our last harbor." Chen Qiang said as he handed Lin Jing a bowl of soup.
Lin Jing took a sip, her eyes lit up with satisfaction, "We will have more time like this in the future, only our own time." "
"Well, everything will be fine." Chen Qiang responded affectionately.
After the meal, the two walked hand in hand in the community, with a gentle night breeze and a bright starry sky. Lin Jing leaned on Chen Qiang's shoulder and asked softly, "If our lives can be a little slower, will we be able to taste more of life?" "
They held each other's hands and walked slowly, without speaking, but they understood each other's answers in their hearts, and perhaps this was the beginning of their mutual tacit understanding.