Another sleepless night.
Shi Nian saved and closed the document, tilted her head and glanced at the pillow next to her that had been empty for yet another night, and sighed softly.
She had lost count of how many nights Xiang Yuan hadn't returned.
The eastern sky was already showing the pale light of dawn. She forced herself to crawl under the covers to catch a little sleep. She had an important interview later, which she had worked hard to secure, and she couldn't mess it up.
The interviewee was said to be a particularly tough nut to crack.
She was just starting to feel drowsy when the sudden ringing of the phone jolted her awake. With her eyes closed, she reached out from under the covers, her fingers deftly grabbing the phone from the bedside table, swiping the screen open, and pressing it to her ear.
She didn't need to open her eyes to know it was Xiang Yuan calling.
No matter how tacit the understanding between them, he still knew he owed her an explanation. And she had long since learned not to question its truth, simply accepting it at face value.
Xiang Yuan's voice was low on the other end of the phone as he said, "Last night, I was entertaining clients. I drank too much and fell asleep until just now. I just called you... Did I wake you?"
With her eyes closed, she tried to maintain the semblance of sleep, smiling softly at the phone, "I'm fine. Drink less. Before work, I'll match a spare suit and tie for you and have it couriered to your company. Remember to pick it up."
Xiang Yuan's voice sounded slightly congested, hesitating a moment before he said, "Shi Nian... I'm sorry."
"Heh." Shi Nian couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, "It's only right; no need to be so polite."
She wanted to hear him say sorry, but not so late, much less so insincerely.
Shi Nian deliberately yawned, "I'm going to sleep now. You should get some rest too, bye."
She had waited all night, just to have him call and let her know he was safe. It wasn't to hear his excuses, but just to know he was safe—perhaps a professional hazard, having seen and reported countless cases in the night, always worrying when he didn't come home.
In this marriage, it seemed this was the last care she could afford him.
Shi Nian was about to hang up when Xiang Yuan called out quietly, "Shi Nian, wait."
She sighed, forced to open her eyes. She had refrained from asking, she was struggling to maintain decency between them... Why wouldn't he let her go?
Shi Nian couldn't help but speak coldly, "Xiang Yuan, what else do you want?"
On the phone, Xiang Yuan was taken aback for a moment, tentatively asking, "Are you in a bad mood?"
Shi Nian couldn't help but laugh.
So, he still cared about her feelings.
Shi Nian replied perfunctorily, "It's nothing. It's just that there's an important interview today. At the police station, a police officer is being awarded, among them a Chinese person whom I've arranged to interview, but I hear he's not easy to deal with."
Xiang Yuan made a grunt of acknowledgment, pausing slightly before saying, "I wanted to say, my mom's bird's nest has run out of stock, and I wondered if you could go to the neighboring city to buy some for her and deliver it. You know, I can't get away these days."
Shi Nian clenched her fist in despair. She could only try to smile, "Okay, got it."
The call ended, leaving Shi Nian with a hollow echo in her ear. A husband who should have shared the same pillow now could only be reached through this wireless signal. This signal, already intangible, would eventually be severed silently and lost in oblivion.
Shi Nian smiled bitterly, got up, and went into the bathroom.
It seemed she wouldn't be able to sleep now.