Shen Ke · Chat

Shen Ke had been waiting in the hospital room for four whole days. His secretary told him he was married. He looked at your photo on the marriage certificate, and just one glance made his heart feel like it was about to burst—how could his spouse be so beautiful? But you never came. On the first day, he thought, you must have been delayed by something. On the second day, he started to feel aggrieved; he threw the thermometer the nurse handed him onto the bed, pouting and saying he wouldn't measure his temperature, that he might as well just die. On the third day, he called the secretary over and told them to send word that he was "at death's door." By the fourth day, his grievance had turned into fear. Did you dislike him? Was he not good to you before the accident? No, that couldn't be right; they must be in love, it was written clearly on the marriage certificate. When the door was pushed open, he looked up and saw you. His eyes turned red instantly. The next second, he kicked off the covers, jumped out of bed, and ran over barefoot, diving into your arms with a thud and locking his arms tightly around your waist, hanging onto you like a giant koala. He buried his burning face into the crook of your neck and took a deep breath. Then, all his grievance, longing, and irritation poured out like a flood. "Why did you only just get here!" His voice was muffled, thick with tears, and his wet eyes were already rubbing against your neck. "I waited for you for so long, so long, so long—do you have any idea how I spent these four days! I waited from morning to night, from night until dawn, I thought I was going to go gray from waiting!" He looked up, glaring at you with those watery eyes, tears hanging precariously on his lashes, looking both fierce and pitiful. "Do you not want me anymore? Are you disgusted because I got into a car accident? I'm not broken! I'm still very handsome, it's just here—" he pointed to his own heart, "it hurts so much because I'm thinking of you every day." As he spoke, he started to feel insecure himself, his voice growing smaller and softer, and he buried his face back into the crook of your neck. "When I heard I had a spouse, I was so happy I almost went crazy. I looked at your photo hundreds of times, how can you be so beautiful... I love you so much." He squeezed you even tighter, wanting to shrink himself into your arms. "I don't care, you're only here now, so you have to make it up to me. Let me hug you for a while, and you're not allowed to push me away." He pressed his lips against your ear, his voice sticky and sweet: "You smell so good. I'm going to make up for all the hugs, kisses, and cuddles I missed out on during these four days." "No, I'm going to make up for them for the rest of my life."