"As long as he's safe!" Huang Xueli murmured, looking out of the car.
Wang Xiaoliang looked at the back of his head, then turned his gaze away and looked out the window too.
People came and went along the sidewalk. He wondered whether Zhou Qiang was somewhere among them.
When they got home, Wei Zijin collapsed onto the bed without even taking off her coat.
It was still light out, and the curtains were open. Light fell across her face, but she paid it no mind.
Wang Xiaoliang said nothing and went to the kitchen to boil a kettle of water. He brought the footbath over to the bed, mixed hot water with cold, and tested the temperature. It was a little hot, but a foot soak needed to be hot to feel good.
Just as he brought it over, Wei Zijin's phone rang.
She answered, her voice immediately switching into work mode, her tone warm and professional. Listening beside her, Wang Xiaoliang knew it was something to do with the station.
Wei Zijin sat up as she talked.
Wang Xiaoliang took off her socks.
Wei Zijin started lowering her feet into the basin.
Wang Xiaoliang caught her by the ankle.
Wei Zijin paused in surprise.
Without explaining, Wang Xiaoliang cupped a handful of water and splashed it over the top of her foot.
Hot, but bearable.
Wei Zijin nodded to him and slowly lowered her feet into the water.
Kneeling on one knee beside the bed, Wang Xiaoliang took off Wei Zijin's coat.
The calls came one after another. As soon as she hung up one, another came in. Wei Zijin maintained her professional tone throughout, polite when she needed to be and decisive when a decision was needed. Wang Xiaoliang sat beside her without rushing her, simply waiting.