Chapter 12 The Iron Box
The day I moved into the new house, Song Zhong Zheng was abroad on a business trip.
He had been very busy lately.
Return date uncertain.
I hadn't contacted him for several days.
A week later, his mother sent me a huge box.
I was squatting on the floor unpacking when Song Zhong Zheng appeared at the doorway.
I didn't know how long he had been watching.
The warm light at the entrance fell across his face.
Under those cold, proud brow bones, a faint mole sat on the bridge of his nose.
"Why are you back?"
I ran over and took his suitcase.
He looked down at me and asked,
"Do you not know how to type?"
"Hm?"
I blinked, confused.
"Can you use your phone?" he asked.
"Of course."
He held out his hand for my phone.
I gave it to him. He didn't let go of my hand—his fingers covered mine, guiding me.
He opened WeChat, found his own profile picture.
Tapped into the chat box and typed:
Husband, when are you coming home?
I miss you so much.
"But I—"
I looked up and realized at some point he had pulled me completely into his arms.
His breath came closer. He smelled faintly of cedarwood and snow.
"Didn't miss me?" he asked.
"I did."
He smiled. His gaze stayed on my face, so gentle it seemed to hold an entire spring lake.
"Now you know how to type, right?"
He leaned down and kissed me. "Next time, send it like this."
Song Zhong Zheng had rushed back to spend the holiday with me.
His work wasn't finished yet.
After cooking dinner for me, he sat in the living room with earphones, in a meeting.
I didn't want to disturb him, so I ate noodles and watched dramas in the quietest way possible.
He tugged at his tie.
I looked up. He seemed deep in thought.
During a pause, I poured him a cup of honey water.
"Is it hard?" I asked.
"Yeah. I was distracted."
"Huh?"
He pulled me down onto his lap. "I've been thinking all night—where should we go for our honeymoon?"
I pushed him away.
"Be serious!"
I got up and knelt back in front of the sofa to continue unpacking the box his mother had sent.
Inside was an iron box.
The iron box was slightly rusted.
It held an A4 notebook and a box of empty Pilot pens.