Wang Xiaoliang turned over and gathered his wife, who was so limp she seemed boneless, into his arms. His chin rested lightly against her forehead, and every breath carried the sweet, fresh fragrance of her freshly washed hair.
"Honey, thank you... You saved my life today, too."
"What are you talking about? We're husband and wife. Of course we stand together against outsiders!" Wang Xiaoliang's voice was husky from his shower.
They lay holding each other beneath the soft covers. The air conditioner was turned up high, and a thin quilt covered them. Their skin felt cool where it touched, while the bed was snug and warm, so comfortable it made them want to hum.
This was their habit. Neither could settle down to sleep without chatting first. Anything under the sun, however trivial, was fair game.
Only when one fell asleep and stopped answering would the other stop talking.
"What were you whispering to Zeng Haiyan about over dinner this afternoon? You were being so mysterious, and you got her all delighted." Wang Xiaoliang remembered what had happened at the table.
"Oh, that." Wei Zijin nuzzled against him, finding a more comfortable position. "It was that character for 'concubine.' Hasn't Haiyan been having great career luck lately? I thought, if you split that character apart, doesn't it become 'stand' and 'woman'? A self-reliant, strong woman. How nice is that? I'd been meaning to tell her for ages. She could never let it go, and it happened to come up today. I remembered it, too, so I told her. It helped put one of her worries to rest."
"Stand and woman..." Wang Xiaoliang mulled it over and grinned. "Hey, you're right! With that brain of yours, it's a waste not to have you interpreting fortune sticks at a temple. Doesn't