Chapter 3 — After Marrying, I Was Pampered

Perhaps I didn't expect that at four o'clock in the morning, someone would still appear at the office door in my own house.

“Are you still not sleeping?”

I leaned against the door frame. He didn't answer. His eyes left me and returned to the screen.

“You haven't slept yet.”

“I got up to go to the bathroom.”

I looked at a row of empty coffee cups on his table.

“How many days in a row have you not slept properly?”

He didn't say. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, seemingly considering whether to answer me or not. Finally…

“It has nothing to do with you.”

Okay. I turned around and left. Go to the door and stop for a moment.

"There is hot milk in the refrigerator. I warmed it up last night but didn't drink it all. If you want to drink it, go warm it up yourself."

Don't wait for me to answer. I close the door. The next morning. I opened the refrigerator. The milk is gone. The cup is washed and placed on a rack to drain. I looked at the empty cup, the corners of my lips curled up. Just don't admit it. It's okay to drink. 【Chapter 4】 The turning point happened on Wednesday of the second week. At two o'clock that afternoon, I was sitting in the living room watching an entertainment program full of bloody details. The doorbell rang. I have never heard the doorbell of this villa ring, because anyone who can enter has the right to open the gate, there is no need to ring the bell. I dragged my slippers to open the door. Outside is a woman. Looks over thirty years old, wearing a Chanel tweed dress, delicate makeup, sharp aura. Carrying a gift bag in hand. The moment she saw me, her expression changed from “politely smiling” to… Freezing.

“Are you…?”

I also looked at her. The mind quickly searches for information: Is it familiar? Are not. Are you a member of the Bui family? Unlikely. Come for what? Don't know.

“I live here.”

Her eyes scanned from my slippers to the T-shirt I wore at home, then to the bowl of cherries I was still holding. Eyebrows gradually furrowed.

“Live here?”

Her voice rose a notch.

“Are you the new maid hired by Bui Tu?”

Me: “…” Okay. Domestic worker. I thought that after marrying into a rich family, at least my misunderstood status would be upgraded a bit. Unexpectedly, it still only reached this level. At the Khuong family's house is the atmosphere. Coming to the Bui family's house is the maid. Is my life installed with a negative effect called "cannot be accurately identified"?

“Not a maid.”

“So who are you?”

“Madam Bui.”

Her face cracked. Even more flamboyant than Bui Tu that day. His mouth opened and he couldn't close it, his eyes seemed about to fall out of their sockets, and the gift bag in his hand almost fell to the ground.

“What... what did you say?”

“Madam Bui.”

I repeat, adding:

“In terms of law.”

She stood outside the door for a full ten seconds without moving. Like being hit with acupuncture points. Seeing that she was tired of standing forever, I leaned over to make way.

“Do you want to come in and sit?”

She went in. Sitting on the living room sofa, refusing the glass of water I offered. Stared at me for three minutes. Then take out your phone. Call a number. As soon as the phone connected, she asked directly:

"Bui Tu, when did you get married? Why don't you know?"

The other end was silent for a few seconds. There was a very light sigh. Then…

“Sister, I was about to tell you about this.”

Oh. Bui Tu's older sister. I immediately understood. After hanging up the phone, the way she looked at me changed. From shock to... investigation. Type of attack price from head to toe, wanting to determine whether "she is worth it or not".

“Are you from the Khuong family?”

“Yes, second lady.”

"Which second lady? Why have I never met you in this world before?"

“Maybe because my sense of existence is relatively low.”

She looked at my calm expression, her eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

"What is your relationship with Bui Tu? Why did he suddenly get married? Do you two have feelings for each other?"

I thought and answered honestly:

"No. The first time we met was three days ago. That was the time he thought there was a ghost in the house."

The corner of her mouth twitched.

“Is there a ghost?”

"Yes. He didn't know I had moved in. When he came home and saw me lying on his bed, wearing his clothes, he thought he had broken in. He also told Luc Hanh to call the police."

She closed her eyes. The chest rose and fell once.

“Khuong Duong.”

She called me by my full name, her voice became serious.

“I ask you a question, you must answer truthfully.”

“Just ask.”

“What is your purpose in marrying here?”

I looked at her. The standard answer to this question must be "because of love" or "because of a marriage between two families". But I, Khuong Duong, am an honest person.

"Fast internet. Spacious house. Cherry can eat comfortably."

I said:

“There is also a swimming pool.”

She looked at my face, probably trying to confirm whether I was joking or not. Confirmed for ten seconds. She laughed. Not a sarcastic laugh. It's the kind of person who can't help it, laughter bursts straight out of his throat.

“Interesting.”

She placed the gift bag on the tea table. Stand up, adjust your skirt.

"Khuong Duong, my name is Bui An. If you have any problems in the future, you can find me."

After saying that, she immediately left. Definitely neat. Before the door closed, she left a sentence:

"You can rest assured to eat the food in the refrigerator. My brother's food is also yours."

I bowed my head and looked at the bowl of cherries in my hand. Suddenly it felt like the move to marry here became more and more correct. Half an hour later. The phone vibrates. Lu Heng sent a WeChat message.

— Mrs. Bui, general manager Bui told me to convey: Cherry has been added. From now on, it will be delivered three times a week, two and a half kilograms each time. Would you like to add any other fruits?

I looked at that message for a long time. Two and a half kilos. Three times a week. This man did not say a word, but silently delivered supplies on time more than the supermarket. I answered: Lychee must be Phi Tu Tieu type. Musang King durian takes two. The mango must be a large Tai Nong mango. After sending it, I hesitated a bit. Another addition: Thank you, General Director Bui. Three seconds later. Luc Hanh replied: Sent. General Manager Bui said: "No need to thank me, just eat less of my Wagyu beef." I placed the phone face down on the sofa. Laugh out loud. Still remember that piece of Wagyu beef. Truly hostile. 【Chapter 5】 In the following days, the way Bui Tu and I lived together gradually formed an extremely strange balance. You are the shadow. I am a ghost. We both know the other person exists, but we absolutely do not proactively create intersections. He goes to work, I sleep. He works overtime, I watch movies. He couldn't sleep, I left hot milk. You add food, I'm in charge of consumption. A perfect symbiotic relationship. Lighter than any love affair. Until the third week. The day came for the Bui family party. Luc Hanh announced give me one day in advance. It was said to be a birthday party for the old lady of the Bui family, all immediate relatives had to be present. Including Bui Tu. Including Mrs. Bui. It's also me.

“Can I choose not to go?”

“…I suggest you go.”

Luc Hanh chooses his words very carefully.

"The old lady still doesn't know that General Manager Bui is married. If she doesn't show up, it might cause some... unnecessary speculation."

In other words: If you go, you might lose face. If you don't go, you will definitely be talked about behind your back. Okay. Go. Anyway, this is not the first time I have experienced this loss of face. The dinner party was held at the Bui family's ancestral house. I didn't have any fancy formal clothes. Luc Hanh was very thoughtful and had someone deliver one in advance. It's a long ink blue dress, very good material, neat cut. Not too ostentatious, but not too simple either. Accompanied by a set of jewelry and a pair of high heels. I put on my makeup and adjusted myself in front of the mirror for a while. Well, when dressed up, it's still pretty good. At least I won't be mistaken for a maid. Probably so. Six o'clock in the evening. Bui Tu's car stopped in front of the villa. He sat in the back seat, didn't get out of the car, just told the driver to honk. When I walked out, he saw me through the glass door. Stunned again. I've lost count of the number of times he's looked at me in a daze since we met. But this time it's a bit different from before. Previously it was style:

“Who is this person?”

Or:

“Why is this person still here?”

And this time... His eyes slid from my face to my collar, pausing for a second. Then slide from the waist down to the skirt. Stop for two seconds. Then immediately move away. He cleared his throat. Turn to look out the window. The pharynx moved once. I opened the car door and sat inside. Inside the car was the familiar smell of fir. The space was very large, but when he sat next to me, I suddenly felt the distance was a bit close.

“General Director Bui.”

I nodded to greet him.

“Do I look okay today?”

You don't look at me.

“Normal.”

Normal. Okay, if you say normal then it's normal. I turned my head to look out the window. On the glass surface, his profile was reflected. His eyes returned. Stopped on my shoulder for a moment and then left again. Normal, right? So don't look anymore. The car stopped in front of the Bui family's house. A Chinese-style garden, brightly lit, a row of black cars were parked outside. Before getting off the bus, Bui Tu suddenly spoke:

“Wait a minute.”

I turned around.