At first Anna was a little uneasy when she heard what Karenin said, but after a while, after she understood, this uneasiness turned into a smile, and finally when she went back, she giggled Make a sound.
"What's wrong?" Karenin looked at his wife suspiciously.
Anna stretched out her hand to hold the other's little arm, and said softly: "She likes you."
"The Madame de Mallelle."
Anna was a little surprised to see Karenin, but quickly restrained her emotions.
"You needn't bother about it, Anna."
"That's not right, Alexey. If a wife doesn't mind at all that a woman likes her husband, I think it must be because she doesn't care about him."
"Mrs. de Marelle is elegant, beautiful and very smart. She has the qualities that every man loves. She is a perfect example." Anna stated this fact calmly, and then looked at Karenin, wanting to get him reply.
"It's a fact, but it has nothing to do with me. There are all kinds of people in this world, and there are even many people who are more perfect than you and me, but that doesn't mean we need to change anything for it .”
Karenin looked calm and indifferent. Although he didn't know about Madame de Marelle's admiration for him before, but now that he knew, he didn't avoid it or show any joy. No matter how good the world is, it has nothing to do with him, only what is in front of you is where you cherish it.
But these words are too affectionate, and the sincerity seems clichéd, losing its preciousness.
"I just like it when you speak the truth in such a serious manner, that's very sweet." Anna said in a low voice, pinching the other's little finger with her fingers, this intimate movement made Karenin's muscles tense for a moment, and then relaxed again Come down because his little wife is leaning on his shoulder.
"I don't think it's appropriate to do that outside," Karenin said.
"oh."
Anna made herself sit up, feeling a little frustrated.
After a while, Karenin's calm voice came again: "But I think it is allowed to hold hands now."
Then, a white and delicate hand moved its fingers to gently rub against the opponent's big hand, and then it was wrapped into the palm of the hand.
Outside the carriage, Mr. Binoche coughed.
At night, Anna was going to fall asleep contentedly leaning on a pillow that was not very soft but warm, but apparently Karenin was still the person with a clear memory and a clear memory, and he liked to finish the day's work on the same day.
"The happiness of two people, Anna, we haven't discussed this matter yet."
Karenin was sitting at the desk reading a book, and he raised this question again after Anna came out of the bathroom.
Anna laughed. She almost danced and came to Karenin. She stood in a cheerful posture, bent slightly, and said, "I like to see you jealous."
His wife's saponin-scented hair was close to Karenin's skin, and the pleasant smell in his nostrils was slowly entangled with the water vapor.
Karenin returned his mind to the question.
"It's not jealousy, it's just a question," he said.
"Husband and wife should be honest with each other. If you ask me, I will know everything."
Anna stood up straight, giggling, and twirling her curly hair with her fingers.
"You can't ask me to be honest with you about everything, Alexey, life will always be boring if I do. A woman without secrets is unattractive." She blinked charmingly.
"You are very attractive," Karenin whispered.
Anna stopped moving her hands for a while, and after a while, she said dryly: "I was referring to Mr. de Marelle at that time. Although he is not smart, he can be seen to be a good man."
"You don't have to worry about him, Anna," Karenin said. "If you want to make a serious argument, M. de Marelle has achieved what he is today, half because of the reputation accumulated by his ancestors, and the other half because of his wife .”
"Yes, but obviously, his wife doesn't like her husband, and she likes you more."
When Anna said this, Karenin felt a little uncomfortable, as if it was his fault.
"I don't know," he said, recalling again whether he had been inappropriate in his conversation with Madame de Marelle.
Karenin regards marriage as very sacred and solemn. Although he lives in this circle, he has always kept himself clean.
In his view, once married is a lifetime thing, only God and death can separate husband and wife. It is incomprehensible to fall in love with another person in a marriage.
"In short, Anna, your happiness has nothing to do with M. de Marelle's. If I insist, your happiness as a wife should concern me."
Anna looked down at her husband, looked at the line of his lips that would not be curved when he made a serious statement, and then came to a cheerful conclusion in her heart-he was indeed jealous.
Anna did not answer her husband immediately, but kissed him on the forehead.
"My God, I'm so happy!" she said with bright eyes.
"You're right, Alexis."
Anna gave affirmation and praise, but she was smiling in her heart.
Karenin felt a little strange. His words were affirmed by his wife, but he felt a little defensive and wanted to cover his forehead.
That's not where a wife kisses, and forehead kisses are not supposed to happen to a grown man.
When a man is a boy, he can get this kind of kiss, which means comfort, affection, and joy, but when he grows up, getting it again is like a grown man acting like a spoiled child to his mother, which will be shameful.
Karenin stood up and said in a low voice, "I'm going to wash up."
Looking at the hurried figure, Anna blinked her eyes suspiciously, but soon, out of joy, she hummed a song and danced a short dance on the spot.
In the next half month, Karenin's work was not so busy. They went to many places together. Surprisingly, Karenin was very good at explaining, whether it was landscape or painting, he knew a lot.
"I didn't know you liked art."
"I don't like it." Karenin denied it, and they were standing under an oil painting of "The Bridge of Sleep at Night". Everything was sleeping, only a mother in ragged clothes was still awake, humming a song softly and coaxing her child.
"My job requires me to know a lot, and talking is part of the job."
Anna nodded, she likes that a person can work hard, even though he has never been interested in this aspect.
"She is a good mother. She may be poor, but she takes good care of her children." Anna sighed, with a little water in the corner of her eyes.
Some parents in this world may not be so responsible, but in general, great parents still account for the majority. Just like her mother, she gave birth to her but never raised her well.
At that time, she was not yet twelve years old, and her mother took her abroad, but she didn't care about her. She needs to live to earn bread. Those days were very difficult, and she would fall if she didn't pay attention.
There is only one simple sentence to support her, a person like her who has nothing, should cherish herself even more. Life's hard times don't kill an optimistic person, she's always believed, and now she's proven right.
Karenin looked at his wife, who seemed sad with some unknown emotion, but soon became hopeful again.
Karenin swallowed gently the words that came to his lips.
"Yes." Karenin replied. The blue eyes are also looking at the mother and child in the painting, but in fact, the person who created the painting told him secretly that this is a death.
"The rich don't like to see death, they like to sympathize with the poor occasionally, but they loathe and fear real death."
The eccentric painter showed the picture and only told his friends.
Karenin did not tell his wife the truth. In the past, he did this to protect his friend, but now, it is a purer reason.
He just needs to know some things. If the person he cares about has a bright heart, then he doesn't mind accompanying her to see a better world.
"I'm a little too emotional." Anna took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed.
"That's not a bad quality. One needs compassion and empathy, and it's terrible not to have that," Karenin said quietly.
"A man with a conscience may do wrong with good intentions, but a man without a conscience is an indifferent thug."
Anna looked at Karenin, then smiled.
"I've had some bad things happen to me before, but now I think it's all worth it."
Karenin looked at his wife, then spoke slowly.
"I have the same idea."
Anna held Karenin's arm and continued to listen to his explanation of other paintings. The voice was calm and the tone didn't fluctuate too much. His explanation was professional, but not too boring. The high nose was as straight as his own.
Anna remembered that a few days ago she declined the tea party hosted by Mrs. de Marelle, and the next day, the latter invited her to the cafe on the Champs Elysees alone.
In the King's Cafe, Mrs. de Marelle praised Karenin's reason and rigor, and praised Karenin without hesitation within the scope of etiquette.
"Your husband is one of the rare smart people. He is very outstanding and has a promising future. He needs to participate in more social activities, which will be very helpful to his future."
Madame de Mallelle suggested to Anna that she should not disturb an intelligent political official with her shallow little daughter's thoughts. Because she sent out several invitations, but was politely rejected by Karenin. There had never been such a thing before, so Mrs. de Marelle naturally thought that it was Anna who said something. After all, the intuition between women is always the most accurate.
Anna looked carefully at Madame de Marelle, who had very charming fair hair and eyes that were passionate and intelligent. She has the unique charm of women, but also the intelligence and means that most women lack.
Anna could not have accused her of talking purely about the woman Madame de Marelle. But such a smart woman has only one problem, possessiveness.
Smart women also mean greed, not just other people's desire for her beauty, but also their own desire for smart people. As long as she finds such a goal that she can devote herself to, the so-called, they are from the same world, then this kind of smart woman will also become stupid, like moths flying to the flame, wanting to achieve this man's success And give everything.
Unsurprisingly, if Karenin is that kind of smart person, he knows how to use this love to gain more resources for himself. Karenin is no ordinary man, he is a kind of strong man.
"My husband is a stubborn person. He doesn't like to accept apples from others. He likes to climb alone. I don't think anyone in this world knows him better than me." Anna replied with a smile.
She was no longer jealous of this Madame de Marelle, and even her beauty and intelligence faded quietly in front of her, for no other reason than she understood one thing.
"Madame de Marelle didn't really love him."
"What she loves is nothing more than a phantom of her own imagination. Because of a little appearance, she believes that Karenin will be what she thinks she is. She loves him now and admires him because of his intelligence, calmness and wisdom." The calmness of the superior."
"She regarded him as the lustful man who seduced him with his beauty and intelligence, but never really tried to understand him. This is a hunt, and Madame de Marelle just wants win."
Anna woke up from the memories of that day, Karenin had explained everything, and he took her out.
"I heard that there is a very good restaurant nearby. You can eat on the open-air balcony. The maple trees outside will become beautiful in autumn."
"But it's winter now, and the essence of dining should be the food itself, Anna."
"What does it matter, I like to dine with a beautiful view." Anna smiled, holding Karenin's arm.
"Then go." Karenin nodded slightly, agreeing to this sudden proposal.
Anna looked at Karenin's side face, from the peak of the eyebrow to the tip of the eyebrow, the line crossed the blue eyes, slowly moved towards the high bridge of the nose, and finally settled the pen steadily on the light pink lips.
Such a face is too calm, and it is indeed scary when the facial features are prominent and unsmiling.
Before she got married, her sister-in-law Tao Li had faintly revealed to her that a person like Karenin was too serious and strict, and getting along with him would make people tremble with fear, just like he was afraid that he would accidentally make a mistake the next moment.
And Anna can now softly argue for her husband.
"Although he is not funny enough and is a bit too rational, he is not a heartless person. On the contrary, he has the most delicate and gentle emotions in his heart, so he can understand the thoughts of others. This should not be the experience of a politician. It was something that was embedded in him long before he became a bureaucrat."
"A man who works hard for Russia and his work should not be blamed. But as a wife, and ordinary people, I should discover more of his strengths, instead of standing on the sidelines and coldly joining in the crusade against his shortcomings. .”
She looked at her husband with a soft look, and the latter retorted softly after noticing her look: "Anna, don't look at me with this kind of look at a child, don't forget that I am the stronger among us." For the older one."
Anna burst out laughing, and gently approached Karenin, holding him tightly with both hands, and said in her heart:
"Alexis, everyone loves your cleverness and wit, but I love your clumsiness and jealousy."