Chapter 7 — After Marrying, I Was Pampered

When she opened it again, she stood up.

“Okay. Then I won't let her succeed.”

“Sister…”

"Don't worry. I'll handle it."

She went to the wine cabinet, poured a glass of wine and tilted her head back to drink it all.

“Bui Chinh Thanh wants to interfere with your younger brother's marriage, it must be seen whether you agree or not.”

I looked at her back. Suddenly I felt that this sister-in-law was more useful than any golden hand. That evening. When I returned to the villa, it was very late. Entering the door, I discovered that the living room light was still on. Bui Tu sat on the sofa. He was still wearing a suit, but his jacket had been taken off and hung on the armrest. Shirt sleeves rolled up to elbow. In his hand he held a glass of amber wine. On the tea table are several files of documents. Seeing me return, he looked up from the document.

“What time is it?”

I looked at my phone. Twelve minutes past eleven.

"It's late. Sorry. I'm going to eat with Ms. Bui An."

He didn't say. Look at me for a few seconds. His eyes seemed to be looking for something. Finally stopping at the area under my eyes. Maybe a little red. It's because of drinking. Bui An insisted that I drink the same few glasses.

“Have you been drinking?”

“A little.”

“Do you have a good tolerance for alcohol?”

"I don't know. I didn't drink much before."

He frowned slightly. Put down the wine glass. Get up and go to the kitchen. Come back a minute later. Hold a cup of warm water in your hand. Give it to me.

“Drink it. Then go to sleep.”

I take it. When his finger touched the edge of the cup, it also touched his fingertip. Warm. Just in the blink of an eye. He immediately let go. I drink water. Standing in the middle of the living room. He sat back on the sofa and continued to hold the documents. The light fell from above, creating sharp shadows on his face.

“Bui Tu.”

“Yes.”

"You know about Wen Di Ninh? Your father's plan."

His hand flipping through documents did not stop. But the force at the tip of the finger has changed. The page is squeezed into a faint fold.

“I know.”

“What happens after that?”

“Not after that.”

He raised his head and looked at me. Calm eyes. But the calm this time is different from usual. Not cold. Which is certain.

“I told you. The marriage has been registered.”

“But if the Wen family's resources are very important to you…”

“Khuong Duong.”

You interrupted me. I shut up. His eyes stopped on my face for a few seconds. Then leave. He bowed his head and continued to look at the documents. His voice was light as if he was talking to himself.

“There are things that are not transactions.”

I stood in place. Heart missed a beat. Just one beat. Then return to normal. I turned around and went upstairs. Take three steps.

“Sleep well.”

There was no response from behind. But I know you heard it. That night I couldn't sleep. First time. Not because of worry. But because I keep repeating that sentence in my head.

“There are things that are not transactions.”

What? What do you mean? What is it if it's not a transaction? Can't think of it. Don't think anymore. I turned around seven times. It's two o'clock in the morning when I can't sleep. When I woke up the next day, there was something else next to my bed. A box of cherries. Just opened. Next to the box is a blocked note.

"J type is not sweet enough. Changed to JJJJ type. Try it."

It's still the same handwriting. Clean, decisive. I picked one up and put it in my mouth. Sweeter than all the previous ones. Excessively sweet. So sweet that my eyes sting a little. It's really overdone. It's just a cherry. Have need that? Have. 【Chapter 9】 The storm officially hit in the fourth week. That day was Monday. I was at home when I received a text message from an unknown number.

"Miss Jiang Tang, I'm Wen Yining. Can you spare some time to meet me? There are some things I want to talk to you in person."

I looked at the message and thought for three seconds. Should we meet? According to the normal scenario, at this point I should report to the male lead, or find a close friend to discuss, or feel uneasy. But I am Khuong Duong. He was invisible for twenty-three years. Are there any big waves or winds that you have never experienced before? Although mostly because other people forgot I was there, I accidentally stood next to them and heard everything. I answered with one word: Yes. The location is a quiet cafe in the city center. Three o'clock in the afternoon. When I arrived, she was sitting there. She sat next to the window, a cup of Americano in front of her. Still a white dress. It seems she really likes white. Seeing me enter, she smiled and stood up.

“Thank you for agreeing to come.”

I sat down opposite.

“Just say it straight.”

She laughed.

“You are very straightforward.”

“Save time.”

Her smile faded. Hands clasped together on the table. Look up at me.

“Khuong Duong, I won't beat around the bush with you.”

She said:

"Bui Tu and I had a very deep relationship. We broke up for four years, but there are things that time cannot erase."

I listen. Don't interrupt.

“This time I returned, partly because of work, partly because…”

She looked at me with straight eyes. Don't hide. There is no false politeness.

“I want to give us one more chance.”

"I know the nature of the marriage between you and him: the Khuong family's debt and a transactional marriage. You don't love him. He doesn't love you either."

I bowed my head and stirred the coffee. The spoon gently touches the rim of the cup.

“So what?”

“So I wanted to ask you…”

She looked at me.

“Are you willing to let go?”

Her voice was calm, even carrying an almost sincere pleading tone.

“I can compensate you, whether financially or otherwise. You just set the conditions.”

I stopped. Raise your head. Look at her. Her eyes are very beautiful. Clear dark brown color. Inside is filled with certainty and confidence. She was sure I would agree. Because in her logic, there is nothing between me and Bui Tu. A replacement. A tool. A stranger took over the position. As long as you give enough money, of course you will leave.

“Wen Dining.”

I called her name.

“Yes?”

“She asked me if I agreed to let go.”

“Yes.”

“Let me ask you a question first.”

She leaned forward slightly, indicating she was listening.

“Do you know that Bui Tu has insomnia?”

Her expression froze.

“What?”

"He often has trouble sleeping. At two o'clock, three o'clock, even four o'clock in the morning, the light in the office is still on."

I said:

“Do you know what he drinks to help him sleep?”

She was silent.

“Hot milk. Warm it in the microwave for forty-five seconds, right temperature.”

“…”

“Do you know he doesn't eat onions? In every dish, he picks onions. But he never speaks, just quietly picks them himself.”

“I…”

“Do you know when he gets angry? yell at others? He just closed the door, then stayed inside until he calmed himself down.”

Wen Di Ninh's expression changed. It no longer looks as certain as it did at first. A crack has appeared.

“You know these things because…”

“Because I live there.”

I said:

“Every day.”

“You left four years ago. During those four years, every late night, every glass of milk, every anger, every insomnia...

“You weren't there.”

“But now I'm back.”

Her voice quickened a beat.

“What about returning?”

I looked at her. Calm down. No provocation. Do not declare war. Just calm down.

“On Di Ninh, I don't love him. At least for now, I still can't determine it."

Her eyes lit up, thinking she still had a chance.

“But I won't go.”

The light immediately turns off.

“Miss…”

“Because that position is mine. The law recognizes that. He also admitted it.”

I stood up, put the coffee money on the table.

“If you want me to leave, don't come looking for me. You should ask him.”

“If he told me to go, I wouldn't stay another second.”

“But if he doesn't say…”

I looked at her.

“So that means he doesn't want me to go.”

I turned around and left. Don't turn around. High heels click on the wooden floor of the cafe. Clack. I pushed the door. It's raining lightly outside. I don't carry an umbrella. Standing under the porch, I took a deep breath. My hands are shaking. Very light. The words just now were spoken too fluently. It was so smooth that even I was startled. Since when did I become so confident? Since when did I start to feel like that position was "mine"? Rain splashed on my face. It's cold. I took out my phone to call a car. The screen just lit up, there was an unread message on it. Sent by Bui Tu.

— It's raining. Where are you?

I looked at that text for ten seconds. Then I typed a few words. Delete. Knock again. Delete again. Finally, just answer in two words:

— Outside.

Three seconds later.

— Send location.

I send. Twelve minutes later. A black car stopped in front of the cafe. The car door opens. Bui Tu walked down. In his hand he holds a black umbrella. He wasn't wearing a vest, just a white shirt. The shirt was partially wet by the rain. Faintly revealing the skin underneath. He walked in front of me. Cover my head with an umbrella. Leaving half of my shoulder exposed to the rain.

“I knew it would rain.”

His voice is a bit hoarse.

“No umbrella?”

“Forgot.”

He didn't say. Look at me. His eyes stopped on mine. Then the tip of the nose. Then… Move away.

“Go. Go home."