What's it like to wake up earlier than your loved one
Anna had never imagined it before. She had had a chance to see it once or twice, but nothing compared to this moment.
She woke up from the arms of the other party, and she was surrounded by warmth in the haze, before her vision was clear. Although it is summer, it is still a bit cold when the sky is slightly bright.
Then she wants to stretch her arms and legs. Awakening with awareness was the slow opening of the eyes.
After a little confusion, she understood her situation.
In a reassuring embrace, looking up slightly, she could see the person who was holding her, her husband.
From this private vantage point, she can see more of Karenin.
A little new stubble on his chin, his lips softened and curved differently than when he was awake during the day.
It is often said that people with thin lips are also thinner.
Karenin's lips were neither thick nor thin. Compared with the upper lip, the lower lip is a little thicker. After habitually pursing it, people who are not familiar with him will think that he is a cold and ruthless person, but only Anna knows that his heart is soft.
A fickle person will not despise the tears of women and children, and a fickle person will not make her feel that she is deeply loved.
Thinking of this, Anna smiled silently.
She raised her head and kissed him on the lips.
As if sleeping beauty had been awakened by a kiss, she saw her husband's eyes move. The long eyelashes that were different from ordinary men trembled a few times in the air, and then opened.
The blue eyes seemed to have a lingering mist in the mist, which obscured a little light of reason, but soon, it was replaced by some vivid emotion. Like a long river drawing the sun and the moon, looking straight into Anna's heart.
"Morning." Anna said, and then snuggled into the other person's arms again, and found a place where she felt the most at ease to rub and act coquettishly. There is no better moment than this.
"Morning," the man said.
Unlike usual, he didn't get up immediately after waking up.
This lingering affection seemed to still have a lingering warmth, which made this rational official become a little lazy.
He stroked his wife's hair gently with his fingers, and the silk pajamas rubbed against her smooth and delicate skin, as if leaving a red mark, sighing silently.
Anna hugged her husband tightly, like a chick saw someone for the first time, with the strongest sense of dependence in her life, wanting to get closer to him.
"I always thought it would be more imaginative," she chuckled slightly.
"What?"
Hearing Karenin's question, Anna raised her head, looked up at her, and said, "Like, when you wake up, you will be by the window sill, and you will hug me and watch the sun rise together. Or when you wake up Before that, I will prepare a delicious breakfast for you."
"It's going to be cold, and I don't think we'll be able to wake up. The cook will prepare breakfast for us," Karenin pointed out, and then he thought for a moment before continuing, "And, I really don't see doing that. meaning. Maybe you can tell me?"
Hearing the man's serious question, Anna couldn't help but kissed him, and then said with a smile: "It's okay, those really don't have too much meaning."
"That's just," she blushed a bit, "the fantasy before things happen. Under what kind of situation you fantasize, you can make everything better and happier. But I found that the original intention of happiness is never those auxiliary things, but you still Just by my side."
"So, I want to ask you, why are you still by my side?" She asked with a smile. Although she might know the answer in her heart, at this moment, she was eager to know clearly from the other party.
The man didn't answer immediately, his eyes were still on his wife, and after a while, he whispered: "Before you asked me, to be honest, Anna, I didn't think about this question."
"But since you want to know, I'll tell you."
"I'm here just because I want to stay, and I think it's special for you, but for me, even though I never thought it was going to happen to me before this, it did. special."
"You," he paused, but finally decided to speak out, his voice was deep and deep, but it was clear that there were lingering emotions flowing.
"You make everything in my life special."
Such as the dawn, the air, the sound of the wind... everything becomes more meaningful because of you.
It was clearly a confession, although it was not earnest, and it seemed to be words learned by some kind of guidance, but Anna felt that they were really very beautiful.
She was married to a man, and he was really not very good at speaking sweet words, but every word remained in Anna's heart like a diamond, and it would never fade in the years to come...
The time always comes quickly.
After that night, life did not change much for Anna and Karenin.
Karenin is still the high-ranking official who likes to plan his time in an orderly manner, while Anna is preparing for the banquet.
The days should have continued like this, but the calm in Petersburg was broken on June 13th.
Anna was notified that Karenin would not be coming back tonight.
"It must be that, madam," said Annushka softly, and almost all of Petersburg was talking about it.
Anna responded, for she had heard about the incident—the only son of Mr. Prince Yuspov had been kidnapped.
"In fact, there have been rumors a while ago." Anuschka said, she should not have said these words to increase the worry of the lady, but the only son of Mr. gets tricky.
"I know." Anna said.
Karenin was originally a civilian, and the kidnapping incident would not directly contact them. However, who can say that no one took the opportunity to stir up this rumor, which happened to be the time when he wanted to actively promote the implementation of positive policies.
She knew that she shouldn't panic even more at such a time, so when the housekeeper asked her for instructions, Anna just told them four words—"business as usual".
After Anna finished speaking, although the servants were a little trembling, they still obeyed their orders and continued to do their own things. Only Mr. Xilin did not move.
"Is there anything else you want?" Anna asked.
Mr. Xilin was originally in a listening posture with his arms folded, but now he has put his hands down, but his brows are slightly frowned, and his handsome face looks a bit serious.
"Ma'am, do you need me to find out some news?"
Anna looked up at the other party, and said, "I don't think it's best, Mr. Xilin."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Anna said seriously, "Because of your status, I think you'd better not make any extra moves during this time."
"Are you doubting me?" Mr. Xilin asked in a low voice.
Anna looked at the other party and smiled slightly: "I don't know. If I say that I am doubting you, I can tell you that I am not. But I am not sure if I will doubt you in the next second. After all, it is about my husband."
Mr. Xilin listened and looked relieved. He smiled: "Then I'll go first, ma'am, just tell me what you want."
Anna watched the man's leaving back until he disappeared, and Anushka asked softly, "Ma'am, do you need me to watch him?"
"Yes, I need it." Anna said casually. She was not entirely sure whether Mr. Xilin was trustworthy, but at least one thing could prove that the latter was a smart man.
Let Anushka look at him, although it doesn't make much sense, but it is always better than nothing.
She sat for a while longer, but really couldn't see anything, so she called Annushka into the bedroom.
"You understand what's going on these days, don't you?" she asked Annushka, who looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"Anushka, now tell me everything you know. Don't limit yourself to Prince Yuspov and the others."
"Okay, ma'am," Anushka replied.
During this one-hour narration, Anna learned about what happened in Petersburg these days. Before the young master was kidnapped, the Petersburg Police Department had received several reports of missing children.
After listening to this, Anna thought for a while and said, "Call Sasha over for me."
Annushka answered, and after a while, Sasha, the cook, came over. Ana sat Sasha down and asked her the same thing.
Unlike Annushka, Sasha is a native of Petersburg, her words may not be so clear and organized, and sometimes it is inevitable to bring more personal touches, such as sympathy for those poor children and contempt for the police agency, but Anna has learned enough.
"There were no such intensive cases of missing children before?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Anna let the cook leave, and she stayed alone in the bedroom and thought carefully.
Judging from the information that can be learned so far, this is not a simple case. The relatively dense number of missing children cases is obviously premeditated, and the planner will not be alone.
These children are poor, from different families. That is not a targeted crime, but out of interests. Cases of child abduction and trafficking still exist in the new era, not to mention the old era when people were not very valuable.
But, the strange thing is, why is an earl's child added alone in the middle
"Is it aimed at? Or, to cover up people's eyes and ears." Thinking of this, Anna lowered her gaze. She didn't know much about politics at first, and she wasn't even interested. She basically didn't talk about it in front of Karenin, but he was her husband after all, and even though she didn't have much talent, she always hoped to help him.
"But now, it's better to wait." She thought, but there was a slight pain in her heart.
The moon was shining brightly outside the window. In the office, Karenin was snuffing out the first cigarette. The flame lit up again, and the smell of the second cigarette slowly spread in the air.
There was a bit of muffled noise outside the office, and his own office was like a small fortress, but he knew it wouldn't last long.
This is not the most difficult thing he has ever encountered. As he grows older, there is nothing that can make this man feel a little panicked in his heart. Although, in the eyes of those outside, he should be worried, but Karenin is actually very calm in his heart.
He knew what to do next, it just took time.
His eyes glanced at the document, his blue eyes were a little deep, but he casually moved away after a while.
The figure of Vorobyev was slowly moved in his mind, and Karenin puffed out the smoke ring, thinking.
Ordinary people would probably be a little startled when they saw his current appearance. After all, the actual power of this government official was greater than his position. If he started to meditate, there must be a big movement about to get up.
Literally, yes. However, Karenin had considered these considerations a long time ago, and now he is just adjusting some corners, but he is indeed thinking about one thing. To be precise, it has always been daunting in this room. In his office, he was thinking about his wife.
The nicotine taste in cigarettes is addictive, but this powerful man is not firmly controlled by nicotine. If he wants to admit that there is something that can make him addicted, it can only be his wife.
Politics was fun, sophistry, and he was used to it.
Although the incident with Prince Yuspov's only son was not planned, Karenin was not forced to return home. He just, at this moment, didn't want her to be contaminated by these things.
He wanted to protect her, protect everything, so he decided not to go back tonight.
If this had been a drama, there would have been thunder and lightning outside the window, but in fact, the moonlight was shining brightly.
The moonlight in summer is like spring water in a stream, clear and bright. Seeing this light, it seems that the stickiness in the air will gradually fade away. Like his wife's big, bright eyes.
Thinking of this, the man's eyes turned from a certain calmness to softness, and there was a slight smile on the corner of his mouth.
When the second cigarette ran out, Karenin got up and carefully smoothed the folds of his hem. Just like his expression when he came in, the right hand holding the doorknob went down, and the parts of the lock cylinder flicked gently in the air.
The door opened, and Karenin rushed to his own battlefield.
The next day, early in the morning, the light of the dawn was neither stingy nor flattering, and fell fairly on the gates of the government departments.
In the promenade, Karenin's eyes looked tired, but his whole body was still sharp and calm like a sword.
He just came out of the meeting room, and Vorobev followed behind him. The latter looked tired, and his eyes were blue. The clever secretary didn't have any more words at the moment, exhaustion made the eloquent man also silent.
"Come back here in three hours," Karenin said to Vorobyev.
As much as he hated it, Vorobyev would never speak out. In fact, he is not as enthusiastic about work as Karenin. What he enjoys is never work, but the rights attached to it.
"Do I need to order flowers for you?" Vorobiev cheered up and asked with a smile, "After all, you didn't go back last night."
Karenin thought for a moment, then asked Vorobyev to do it.
He watched Vorobev's leaving back, thought for a while and then walked towards his carriage.
"Good day, sir," said Peter the coachman to him. Karenin nodded. He was about to get into the carriage when the former whispered beside him.
Karenin's eyes moved.
He opened the car door, stooped in, sat down after the door closed and gently held his wife's little hand.
"How long have you been waiting?" Karenin asked hesitantly.
Anna looked at her husband. At first, she didn't get close to him right away, but she didn't show any angry expression. In fact, there was a strange tenderness in her expression all the time.
After Karenin held her hand, she realized that her hand was a little cool in the summer morning. No wonder a smart person like him hesitated.
"About forty minutes. I'm not that stupid, Alexei," replied Anna, smiling.
"You should stay at home and wait for me to go back." Karenin said, his eyes looked at his wife carefully, and the blue eyes did not show a little fatigue until he confirmed that she was all right.
Karenin was not a young man in his early twenties after all, and all his composure was just a disguise, but he couldn't let those people see it.
He had planned to use those few hours to rest himself when he got home, but after seeing his wife, he found that the tense muscles in his shoulders had relaxed against his plan.
"You're tired, aren't you?"
His wife's words were soft, as if they were touching Karenin's heart lightly, and he nodded slightly uncontrollably.
"You need to rest, Alexei," said the wife affirmatively. She actually rarely said that.
He wanted to refute, and use other words to explain that he could still hold on and tell her not to worry, but Anna's distressed eyes made those words stuck in his throat.
"It only takes twenty minutes. I'll wake you up when I get home." Anna said. As she spoke, she took his hand and let him lean on her weak shoulder.
Karenin was too tall, but fortunately Anna was prepared.
She was sitting on the cushions, looking a little funny, but she didn't care.
"It's just for a while, no one will see, but it can at least restore your spirits. You have to go back later, don't you?" Anna looked at her husband, patted herself on the shoulder, and said.
After a while, when Anna felt that she had to come up with a second reason, the husband had followed her will and chose to rely on her somewhat thin shoulders.
"I didn't say I would go back later, Anna." Karenin closed his eyes and whispered.
Anna allowed herself to behave properly, she did not complain, nor discouraged. If she hadn't known she had to fulfill a cushion charge, she might have shrugged. But at this moment, she could only keep her shoulders open and flat, just to make the person leaning on her shoulders feel more comfortable.
"I know you want to go back. I also know you want to protect me." She said calmly, without even a tremor.
"Look, I just want to tell you that I accept your protection, but you have to accept mine too." She paused, feeling her husband's hand tightly hold her folded little hand, gently laughed.
"As it is now, Alexis. Make me feel needed and accept my little help."
"no."
"What?"
"Your help is not insignificant..." Karenin murmured.
Anna tilted her head slightly, she couldn't see Karenin's complete expression, but she knew that her words had been conveyed.
"Sleep, Alexei," she said softly.
At this moment, Anna felt that she had become very brave. Even though it was insignificant and weak, in his world, she had been told by him just now that she was indeed needed. In addition to those gentle aspects, on the other side, in a calmer world, there is also a place for her to exist.
Back home, Anna had already prepared everything.
When Karenin went to wash up, she went to the kitchen to look around, and when she returned to the bedroom, Karenin happened to come out.
He was wearing a blue bathrobe, his feet were rarely bare, and his hair was still dripping with water. Karenin looked even more sober after taking a bath.
"You sleep for a while, and then leave everything to me?" Anna asked, leaning against the bedpost.
Karenin didn't say anything, just came over, handed her the towel, and silently agreed to her proposal.
Because of his height, Karenin sat on a small round stool so that Anna would not feel tired on tiptoe, and the latter could wipe his hair more easily.
When her hair was half dry, Anna sat on the edge of the bed, patted her knees, raised her head and asked with a smile, "Pillow, or here?"
Karenin lay down on the bed and once again allowed himself to choose the most comfortable place.
"Go to sleep, I will wake you up when the time comes." Anna said softly, her eyes met Karenin's.
The man looked at her, his blue eyes were quiet. He was indeed tired, and he didn't even speak much, but the way he looked at this moment made Anna the most happy, because it also showed that she was indeed a very important existence to him.
Anna can accept Karenin's protection, but as a wife, she also wants to be able to protect him, even if she can't provide much help, but at this moment, it is enough for him to trust her and show her fatigue in front of her.
"Did what I did last night make you sad?" Karenin suddenly asked in a low voice, his voice was tired and hoarse, but he still insisted.
He didn't realize this before, but after he returned home, his brain, which was supposed to have a good rest, was keenly aware of it.
This is Karenin, he doesn't like to tell himself anything, especially when it's about his wife.
Anna smiled.
"A little bit, only a little bit."
"Why?" Karenin asked.
He moved to lie on his wife's lap in a comfortable and relaxed position with his eyes closed. This shows that he doesn't really don't know, just like Anna sometimes needs Karenin to express the emotions they both know. At this moment, this reserved official also wants to try this method to make himself understand better. wife's mood.
Anna raised her hand, brushed lightly on the man's cheek, and then cherished a kiss on the man's forehead. After a while, she replied in a soft voice:
"Remember those vows?"
She recited it, as if it was still the same day, and the solemn mood never changed.
"The two of us are going to get married. In the future, whether we are healthy or sick, whether we are happy or in trouble, we must care about each other. It is not one person, but two people, but one body. We will work hard, we will be happy, and we will be happy. That goes to the end of the world."
"kindness… "
There was a soft answering sound accompanied by light snoring, Anna lowered her eyes, she looked at her husband, as if he was still a child.
She never enjoyed the love of her parents, and Karenin hardly ever.
In those years, in Anna's world, she grew up stumbling and groping bit by bit. So there is no temper, so gentle, because there is no escape, no protector, and no strong enough to resist the coldness of this world, so the way to make yourself live happily is to try to discover the beauty of this world.
She never said those shortcomings, but in fact she had some regrets in her heart. But now, after marrying this man, she has some regrets that she didn't say, and it's even more impossible for Karenin to know, but his casual words and actions gradually filled those gaps for her.
No one knows the value of those little changes better than Anna.
People exist independently in this world. How can we tolerate another person's shortcomings if we don't love deeply enough
She is used to confessing, because she doesn't have the bond of blood, trying to let others understand you and carefully exploring your emotions will only hurt herself.
Because of these experiences, when she decided to marry this man, she always wanted to treat him better, as if she saw her once small self through Karenin, longing for love, longing for someone to listen to, longing for someone to talk to him one by one. Point to teach you to understand the world.
This kind of empathy gave this somewhat hasty marriage the best foundation - tolerance.
Therefore, Anna has long understood something. The man she married was not handsome enough, he was smart, but he couldn't read minds, and sometimes he would protect her in the way he thought was good, but he didn't know that this kind of protection might make her feel pushed away. But fortunately, none of them are the kind of naive young people.
In the two worlds of the two of them, there may be some places that can never be fully integrated into a complete circle, but as long as there is always the other party in each other's hearts, there are thoughts, listening, understanding, and changes, then that's fine.
After all, marriage is never over. During this period of mutual support, they still have a lot of time to love each other.
The author has something to say: The story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert will be serialized soon:
"Little Bambi's Wish" small theater
Little Bambi, five years old, solemnly hangs the wish card on the Christmas tree.
Little Bambi: [Firm face] I want to be a man like my father this year!
Anna: Then do you still eat small cakes
Little Bambi: [Continue to firm face] I won't eat so much anymore!
Anna: It seems he is serious
Old Bambi: [Not really convinced] Maybe
Bambi: Baba, I'm serious!
Later, the family went to the street to feel the festive atmosphere, and Bambi insisted on taking the biggest box with all his might
Little Bambi: [Hypnotize myself] I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man...
Little Bambi: [Stopped and saw a child sitting on his father's neck in front of him, very envious]
Old Bambi: [Saw it too, stopped walking] Do you want to hug
Bambi: [bites lip] But wish card
Old Bambi: Let it be next year
Bambi: [blushes, whispers] hugs
Twenty seconds later, little Bambi looked at the things on the street with a curious face, eating a small cake in his mouth.
Old Bambi: [looks at his wife] Obviously, maybe next year he'll have a little more credibility when he says that
Anna: [laughs]