Surprise

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

They had just lain down, and before the quilt had even warmed up, Gu Yue turned onto her side. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of the blanket, and her voice was several degrees softer than usual, carrying a rare hint of hesitation. "Wulin, there's something I want to tell you..."

Tang Wulin was still basking in the lingering sweetness of his wife's kiss and the comfort of a full stomach. Hearing that, he immediately turned to look at her in the lamplight. "Hm? What is it? Why so mysterious?" He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his movements gentle.

Gu Yue lowered her lashes, avoiding his overly direct gaze. Her voice grew 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. I can just wear a watch to check the time. Really!"

The more anxiously she explained herself, the more clearly Tang Wulin saw that cautious look on her face, as though she were terrified of becoming a burden to her husband. At that moment, something seemed to pinch his heart—not hard, but not lightly either. It felt sour and soft, with a faint sting.

He remembered Gu Yue's phone, which she had used for nearly seven years. Fine cracks had long appeared along the edges of the screen, and she always kept it covered with a thick screen protector, reluctant to replace it. Yet when it came to new hairstyles and new clothes for him, she was always generous.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Tang Wulin sighed softly. He reached over, took her slightly cool fingers in his hand, and held them tight. "Of course you should 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 can go look by myself. Something decent will do."

"How could that do?" Tang Wulin tightened his arms around her, enclosing her completely in his embrace, his chin resting atop her hair. "My wife should use the best."

Gu Yue said nothing more. She simply leaned quietly against him, her breathing gradually becoming steady and deep. Tang Wulin, however, had no trace of sleepiness. He lowered his head to look at her peaceful sleeping face, and the thought in his heart grew clearer and firmer.

Early the next morning, when the sky was only beginning to brighten, Tang Wulin got up as quietly as he could. Gu Yue mumbled in her sleep, turned over, and sank back into her dreams.

After washing up, Tang Wulin pulled out the backpack he rarely used from the back of the closet. 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. There was not the slightest hesitation in his eyes.

He drove out, the cool morning wind brushing against his face. Tang Wulin headed straight for a flagship phone store in the city center.

The store had just opened, and there were not many customers yet. Tang Wulin knew exactly what he wanted and walked straight to the counter displaying the newest models. The sales assistant enthusiastically introduced them to him. He did not understand most of the complicated specifications, but he remembered the phrases "best camera currently available," "most eye-friendly screen," and "fastest performance."

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

The sales assistant looked at him in surprise, probably not expecting this young man in an ordinary T-shirt to spend money so boldly.

Card swiped, signature given, item collected. When the elegant white box with the logo was placed in his hands, it felt heavy. Tang Wulin carefully tucked it into the deepest part of his backpack and zipped it up.

More than 7,000 yuan was an entire month's salary for him. In the past, he might have felt the pain of spending it and calculated how many hotpot meals the money could buy. But at that moment, all he could think of was Gu Yue's timid expression from the night before, when she had not even dared to ask.

"Even if it hurts, I still have to give it to her." He straightened his collar in the mirror and quietly told himself.

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

Two blocks away from her company, Tang Wulin parked the car and sent Gu Yue a WeChat message: [Honey, are you awake? Did you get to the office?]

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

The corners of Tang Wulin's lips curved up as he replied: [Nothing. Just wanted to ask if 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. I have training this morning. Why are you more eager than I am?]

Tang Wulin replied: [I'm afraid you'll make do with less. We'll talk tonight. Work hard!]

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

The air conditioning in the surveillance room was running a little too strongly. Uncle Wang was holding a large tea mug steeped with cassia seeds and goji berries, frowning at a flickering screen.

"Little Tang, you're back?" Uncle Wang looked up when he saw him and set down his tea. "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. "Uncle Wang, thanks for covering the morning shift. I'm here now."

"Go on, go on." Uncle Wang waved with a cheerful smile. "Young people have things to do. I can keep watch. But next time, you have to tell me in advance. Don't pull a surprise shift change."

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

He adjusted the angle of one camera, but his thoughts drifted. One moment, he imagined the surprised expression Gu Yue might have when she received the gift; the next, he thought of the bill for more than 7,000 yuan.

Honestly, there was still a subtle emptiness in his heart. That was his hard-earned money, saved through frugality, and it had floated away just like that. But then he thought about how good Gu Yue was to him. She had never looked down on his low salary. She was always thinking of ways to help with household expenses while making sure he did not lose face.

"It was worth it." Tang Wulin rubbed his face to wake himself up and focused on the screens before him.

The moment work ended, Tang Wulin was practically the first person to rush out of the surveillance room. He hurried home much faster than usual. The setting sun stretched his shadow long behind him, while his heart thumped wildly like he had a little rabbit tucked inside his chest.

When he got home, Gu Yue had not returned yet. Tang Wulin hurried into the kitchen, washed rice and started cooking it, 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 lock clicked.

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

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

"Tang Wulin, what's gotten into you today? Why are you so enthusiastic about me buying a phone? I thought about it 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 remain calm and pointed toward the coffee table. "There's something there. You'll definitely like it."

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

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

Gu Yue stood there holding the phone box. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. Yet her eyes 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, opened her arms, and tightly hugged Tang Wulin. She buried her face against 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 however much it costs. You're priceless. What does this little bit of money matter?"

Gu Yue raised her head. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, but she smiled 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 lightly caressing its smooth surface. A gentle curve rose at the corners of her lips.

"Then... thank you, husband." She spoke softly, then rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips, carrying the taste of tears and joy.

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

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 it can't be used anymore."

"Alright. I'll wait for that day." Tang Wulin replied with a smile 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...