When he came out of the shower, Wei Zijin was already in bed, with a corner of the covers on Wang Xiaoliang's side turned back.
Wang Xiaoliang walked into the bedroom, drying his hair with a towel. She was leaning against the headboard, the light from her phone screen illuminating her face, her brows tightly knitted. Wang Xiaoliang knew what she was reading-those comment sections, those private messages, that overwhelming flood of doubt.
"Stop looking."
Wei Zijin put her phone on the nightstand, plugged it into the charger, and began following him with her eyes.
Wang Xiaoliang switched off the light. A small bedside lamp remained on, spreading a little pool of warm yellow light. It put him at ease.
He lifted the covers and lay down, then reached over and drew her into his arms.
Her hair was not completely dry yet. It rested against his chest, cool to the touch.
They lay like that, neither of them speaking.
After a long while, Wei Zijin spoke first. "What exactly are you thinking?"
Wang Xiaoliang did not answer right away. His hand rested on her shoulder, his fingers stroking her earlobe now and then.
"Compensation."
Wei Zijin waited for him to continue.
"Brother Huang and Boss Xiao were right. Paying compensation is the most direct approach." Wang Xiaoliang kept his voice low in the darkness. "You think so too, right?"
"Mm." Wei Zijin rubbed her chin against his chest. "But we can't leave it all to your brother and Nuomi."
Wang Xiaoliang looked down at her.
"Half from each side." Wei Zijin's voice was level; she had apparently already thought it through. "I couldn't live with myself if we let them bear it alone."
Wang Xiaoliang laughed, his palm sliding toward her chest. "Well, look at you. You haven't been