Surprise

As night deepened, the city's clamor outside the window faded, leaving only the occasional sound of distant traffic. A single dim bedside lamp remained lit in the bedroom, gently casting their shadows onto the wall.

They had only just lain down, the quilt not yet warmed, when Gu Yue turned onto her side. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of the blanket, and her voice was several shades softer than usual, carrying a rare hint of hesitation. "Wulin, there's something I want to tell you..."

Tang Wulin was still immersed in the lingering sweetness of his wife's kiss and the contentment of a full stomach. At her words, he immediately turned to look at her in the lamplight. "Hm? What is it? Why so mysterious?" He gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Gu Yue lowered her lashes, avoiding his overly direct gaze. Her voice became even quieter. "I... I think my phone is broken. I want... to get a new one."

The moment the words left her mouth, she seemed to realize something. She abruptly looked up and hurriedly added, "It doesn't have to be replaced! It's just that the touchscreen sometimes doesn't respond well, and I keep making typos. It's actually fine. The old phone still works, and I can use a watch to check the time. Really!"

The more anxiously she explained, the clearer that cautious look became in Tang Wulin's eyes—the look of someone afraid of becoming a burden to her husband. At that moment, it felt as though something had lightly pinched his heart. It was sour and soft, with a faint sting to it.

He thought of Gu Yue's phone, which she had used for nearly seven years. Fine cracks had long appeared along the edges of the screen, but she always kept a thick screen protector on it and couldn't bear to replace it. Yet when it came to new hairstyles and new clothes for him, she had always been generous.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Tang Wulin sighed softly. He reached out, took hold of her slightly cool fingers, and clasped them tightly. "Of course you need to replace a broken phone. Tomorrow's the weekend. Want me to go pick one out with you?"

Gu Yue shook her head and nestled closer into his arms, her voice muffled. "No need. You still have to go 'shine and give off heat' tomorrow. I'll go take a look myself. Something decent will be enough."

"How could that do?" Tang Wulin tightened his arms around her, pulling her fully into his embrace, his chin resting atop her head. "My wife should use the best."

Gu Yue said nothing more. She simply leaned against him quietly, her breathing gradually becoming steady and deep. Tang Wulin, however, felt no sleepiness at all. He lowered his head and looked at the peaceful sleeping face in his arms, and the thought in his heart grew ever clearer and more resolute.

Early the next morning, while the sky was only beginning to lighten, Tang Wulin got up as quietly as he could. Gu Yue mumbled in her sleep, turned over, and continued drifting through her dreams.

After washing up, Tang Wulin dug out the backpack he rarely used from the back of the wardrobe. Then he counted out 7,800 yuan from the drawer—his secret savings. Looking at the thick stack of red bills in his hands, he took a deep breath, with not the slightest hesitation in his eyes.

He got in the car, and the cool morning wind brushed against his face. Tang Wulin drove straight to a flagship phone store in the city center.

The store had only just opened, and there were not many customers yet. Tang Wulin headed directly for the counter displaying the newest models. The sales clerk enthusiastically introduced them to him. He did not really understand more than half of the complicated specs, but he remembered the clerk saying, "the best camera available right now," "the easiest screen on the eyes," and "the fastest performance."

"This one." He pointed to the top-tier model priced at 7,999 yuan. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally decisive. "No package. Just the phone."

The sales clerk gave him a surprised look, likely not expecting such a casually dressed young man in an ordinary T-shirt to spend money so boldly.

Card swiped, signature given, purchase collected. When the exquisite white box with the logo on it was handed to him, it felt heavy in his hands. Tang Wulin carefully tucked it into the deepest part of his backpack and pulled the zipper shut.

More than 7,000 yuan was a full month's salary for him now. In the past, he might have felt the pain of spending it and calculated how many hotpot meals it could buy. But at this moment, all he could think of was Gu Yue's timid expression from the night before, as though she had not dared to speak up.

"Even if it hurts, I have to give it to her." He adjusted his collar in the mirror and murmured to himself.

By the time he left the phone store, it was already nine-thirty in the morning. Tang Wulin calculated the time, turned the car around, and drove toward the area near Gu Yue's company. He remembered her saying there was a subway station near her new workplace.

Two streets away from her company, Tang Wulin stopped the car and sent Gu Yue a WeChat message: [Honey, are you awake? Have you made it to work?]

Gu Yue replied quickly: [Just got here! I'm getting ready to start work. What's up?]

Tang Wulin's lips curved upward as he replied: [Nothing. Just wanted to ask whether you picked out a phone yet. Don't buy one that's too cheap. It'll hurt your eyes.]

Gu Yue sent a surprised sticker: [Not yet. There's training this morning. Why are you more eager than I am?]

Tang Wulin: [I'm afraid you'll shortchange yourself. We'll talk tonight. Work hard!]

Putting down his phone, Tang Wulin took a deep breath, started the car, and once again headed for the "battlefield" that belonged to him—the residential complex's security monitoring room.

The air conditioning in the monitoring room was a bit too strong. Old Wang was holding his big teacup, filled with cassia seeds and goji berries, frowning at a flickering screen.

"Little Tang, you're back?" Old Wang looked up when he saw him and set down his teacup. "How was it? Did you deliver it?"

"Not yet. I'll surprise her tonight." Tang Wulin stuffed his backpack into his locker and changed into his uniform. "Old Wang, thanks for covering the morning shift. I'm here now."

"Go on, go on." Old Wang waved him off with a cheerful smile. "Young people should handle what they need to handle. I can keep watch. But next time, you have to tell me in advance. Don't spring it on me."

"Thanks, Old Wang!" Tang Wulin smiled gratefully, sat down before the main control console, and swept his gaze over the rows of surveillance screens. Everything was normal. The residents of the complex were beginning a new day.

He adjusted the angle of one camera, but his gaze wandered. One moment, he imagined Gu Yue's surprised expression when she received the gift; the next, he thought of the bill for over 7,000 yuan.

To be honest, there was still a subtle emptiness in his heart. That was the hard-earned money he had saved by living frugally, and it had gone just like that. But then he thought about how good Gu Yue usually was to him. She never looked down on his low salary and was always finding ways to help with the household expenses while protecting his pride.

"Worth it." Tang Wulin rubbed his face to wake himself up and focused on the screens in front of him.

The moment his shift ended, Tang Wulin was practically the first to rush out of the monitoring room. He hurried home much faster than usual. The setting sun stretched his shadow long, but his heart was pounding like there was a little rabbit tucked inside it.

When he got home, Gu Yue had not returned yet. Tang Wulin hurried into the kitchen, washed rice and started it cooking, then took ribs from the refrigerator to thaw. He clumsily copied the way Gu Yue usually chopped vegetables. Though the pieces came out uneven, at least he managed to cut them all.

Just as everything was ready, the door lock clicked.

Gu Yue pushed the door open. Her face carried some fatigue from a full day of work, but her eyes were still bright. "I'm home!"

"Welcome home, honey!" Tang Wulin went to meet her, took her bag, and naturally reached for her coat as well.

"Tang Wulin, what's gotten into you today? Why were you so eager about me buying a phone? I thought it over again. A new phone costs too much, so I'm not buying one for now."

Tang Wulin's heart tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm and pointed at the coffee table. "There's something there that you'll definitely like."

Gu Yue walked over in confusion and immediately spotted the brand-new white phone box. She picked it up, and when she saw the brand and model, she sharply sucked in a breath. She abruptly looked up at Tang Wulin. "Th-This... what is this? You bought it? How much was it?!"

"Over 7,000." Tang Wulin admitted honestly, scratching his head. "You said last night that your phone wasn't working properly, so... so I got you a replacement. Don't you like this color? I thought it suited you."

Gu Yue stood there holding the phone box. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Her eyes, however, reddened at a visible speed.

"What's wrong? You don't like it?" Tang Wulin panicked, thinking she found it too expensive. "If you don't like it, we can exchange it! We can get a cheaper one instead! Don't cry!"

He fumbled around, trying to find some tissues.

But Gu Yue suddenly stepped forward, set the phone box aside, spread her arms, and tightly hugged Tang Wulin. She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled and nasal. "Idiot... Who said I don't like it... I just... I just didn't expect you to buy something so expensive..."

Tang Wulin breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her back, gently patting her back. "As long as you like it, it's worth any price. You're priceless. What does this little money matter?"

Gu Yue raised her head. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but she laughed through them and lightly punched him. "You really know how to sweet-talk people. That's a whole month of your salary!"

"It's fine. I'll keep working hard next month!" Tang Wulin puffed out his chest and declared solemnly, "Once I get promoted and get a raise, I'll buy you something even better!"

She picked up the phone box, her fingertips gently stroking its smooth surface, a soft curve lifting at the corners of her lips.

"Then... thank you, husband," she said quietly. Then she stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his lips, carrying the taste of tears and joy.

Dinner was clumsily but earnestly prepared by Tang Wulin. The stir-fried greens were a little salty, while the braised ribs did not have enough salt, but Gu Yue ate with exceptional relish.

That night, lying in bed, Gu Yue held her new phone and skillfully set up its various functions. Tang Wulin lay on his side, watching her focused profile, his heart filled with tenderness and contentment.

"Wulin." Gu Yue suddenly put down her phone, turned to face him, and looked at him with clear, bright eyes. "Thank you. I'll use this phone until I can't use it anymore."

"Okay. I'll wait for that day." Tang Wulin smiled and reached out to switch off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, he felt Gu Yue's cool fingers slip voluntarily into his palm, their hands clasping tightly together...