Chapter 8 — After Marrying, I Was Pampered

He took his jacket from the car and covered my shoulders. The warmth is still there. The smell of fir envelops me. I got in the car. He collected his umbrella and sat in. The shoulder of the shirt was soaked. Sticks closely to the skin. He didn't pay any attention. The car started running. The rain is getting heavier and heavier. The wipers continuously swept across the windshield. The car was so quiet that only the sound of water could be heard.

“Meet Wen Di Ninh?”

I tilted my head to look at him.

“How do you know?”

“Luc Hanh's people saw her appear near that cafe.”

“Are you following me?”

“Not following you.”

He looked ahead.

“It's about following her.”

Oh.

“What did she say to you?”

"Told me to let go. Said I could compensate."

His jawline immediately tensed. Hands placed on knees, knuckles slightly white.

“What do you say?”

I looked at him. He looked ahead. The face is tilted and tense.

“I said…”

“Don't go.”

His breathing stopped for a beat. Really stop. The chest did not rise and fall for a second. Then restore. Very slow. His breathing became heavy. He didn't turn around. But the hand from the knee moved. Set down the space on the chair between us. Palms face up. Five fingers slightly open. Say nothing. But that hand just stayed there. Wait. I looked at that hand. The fingers are long and slender, the bones and joints are clear. Fingertips have thin calluses, perhaps from frequently holding a pen or typing. The rain outside the window tapped on the roof of the car. Fence. It was like the whole forest was breathing. I held out my hand. Put it up. His fingers closed. Take my hand. The force is not great. But very tight. So tight I'm afraid that if I let go, I'll disappear. From the cafe to the villa is an eighteen minute drive. He held my hand for eighteen minutes. Don't say a word. I don't say either. When he got home, he let go. Get off the bus. Cover me with an umbrella. Enter the door. Close the door. Didn't look at me from start to finish. But his ears are red. Not a little. It's red. Red up to the neck. I stood at the entrance changing my shoes. He went to the stairs. Stop. Turn your back to me.

“Khuong Duong.”

“Yes?”

“…Cherry will arrive tomorrow. Kind of JJJJ.”

Then he went upstairs. Walking quickly as if running away. I squatted at the entrance. The palm of the hand is still hot. His temperature is still there. I buried my face in my knees. Laughed for a long time. 【Chapter 10】 The speed of development of the following events far exceeded my expectations. Bui Chinh Thanh started to apply pressure. Not secretly. But it's public. The next morning, Luc Hanh sent a text message telling Bui Chinh Thanh to meet Bui Tu at the company this afternoon. At the same time, I received a lawyer's letter. Not to me, but to Bui Tu. But Luc Hanh sent me a copy. The content is related to "re-evaluating the terms of the marriage agreement with Bui Thi Group". The meaning between the lines is very clear: The Khuong family is no longer qualified to carry out the agreement, there is no need for this marriage to continue. Enclosed with the lawyer's letter is also a cooperation proposal from the On family. Conditions are very generous. There was only one condition attached: Wen Di Ninh married into the Bui family. I sat in the living room, finishing reading the electronic version of those documents. Place the phone on the tea table. Take a deep breath. Very good. Combat coordination. Wen Di Ninh is in charge of emotional attacks. Bui Chinh Thanh is in charge of putting pressure on the injured commercial. The Wen family is in charge of providing cards. Three parties join forces, with only one goal. Pull me from Mrs. Bui's position. Quite cruel. If he was a normal person, he would have panicked. Must have cried. He must have called and complained to Bui Tu. But who am I? I'm Khuong Duong. I have been invisible in the Khuong family for twenty-three years. What I'm best at is... Waiting. I don't need to do anything. Because Bui Tu said:

“There are things that are not transactions.”

You held my hand for eighteen minutes. His ears turned red. He drank the milk I warmed up in the middle of the night. He bought me JJJJ cherries. If this isn't enough... Then when it's time to leave, I won't be at a loss. At least cherries are really sweet. Four o'clock that afternoon. My phone rang. It's Bui Tu. I answered the phone.

“Hello?”

The other end was silent for two seconds. Then he spoke up. Voice lower than usual. Carrying a solemnity that I have never heard before.

“Don't eat tonight. I'll take you out.”

“Where to?”

“Meet grandma.”

I held the phone, my heart suddenly beating fast.

"Meeting grandma? Why suddenly..."

“I need you there.”

He said:

“I want to clarify a few things with you.”

He stopped. The next sentence seemed to be forced out word by word through gritted teeth.

“Our story.”

We. He said “we”. Not “this marriage”. Not a “intermarriage agreement”. It's not "her business". It's "us".

“Okay.”

I said:

“What time?”

“I'll come pick you up at six o'clock. Wear a blue dress.”

“Which one?”

"The dress Bui An bought for me. I wore it last time."

I remember. Do you remember which dress I used to wear?

“Okay.”

Hang up the phone. I sit on the sofa. My heart beats like a drum in my chest. Exactly six o'clock. Your car arrived on time. I went down wearing a light blue shirt dress. He stood next to the car waiting for me. Today he is not wearing a suit. Just wear a dark gray sweater and black pants. It looks a lot gentler than usual. Seeing me walk out, his eyes stopped for a moment. Then move away. He opened the car door.

“Get in the car.”

I sat down. He went around to the other side and then up. When he closed the door, the distance was very close. Shoulders almost touching each other. The car drove towards the Bui family's house. On the way, he spoke up.

"Today's story, you just need to listen. No need to stress."

“I'm not stressed.”

“Yes.”

Silent again. At moment later.

“Khuong Duong.”

“It's me.”

“No matter what you hear later…”

“Don't go.”

I turned my head to look at him. He looked ahead. The profile of his face in the evening light is extremely clear. The pharynx moves slightly.

“Okay. I won't go.”

Go to the ancestral house. The old lady sat alone in the flower room drinking tea. Seeing us walk in together, her eyebrows slightly raised and then relaxed.

"Come together? Rare."

Bui Tu walked up to her, not sitting. He stood straight. Back straight.

“Grandma, I have something to say.”

The old lady put down her teacup. Look at me. Look at me again.

“Say it.”

“Dad wants you to divorce Khuong Duong. Then remarry with the On family.”

The old lady's expression did not change. Obviously she knew.

“What happens after that?”

She asked. Bui Tu took a deep breath.

“I will not divorce.”

The old lady's tea cup stopped in mid-air.

“No matter how good the On family's conditions are, I will not divorce.”

His voice wasn't loud, but Each word is like nails firmly driven into the ground.

"Bui Thi's problem, I will solve it myself. There is no need to use marriage as an exchange."

The old lady slowly put down the tea cup. Bright eyes.

"Tu, have you thought about it carefully? You don't need the resources of the On family anymore?"

“No need.”

“What about pressure from your father?”

“I carry the burden.”

“Can you bear it?”

Bui Tu did not respond immediately. He turned his head to look at me. Just one. He quickly withdrew his gaze. But that look... The old lady saw it. She was silent for ten seconds. Twenty seconds. Thirty seconds. Then she laughed. Not the gentle smile from before. It's a smile... Relieved.

“Okay.”

She said:

“Then no divorce.”

The walking stick tapped the ground once.

"Go back and tell your father, I'm still in control of the Bui family's affairs. If the On family wants to get married, tell On Di Ninh to marry his secretary."

Bui Tu's shoulders relaxed. Just a little. But I see. He bowed slightly.

“Thank you, grandma.”

The old lady waved her hand. His eyes crossed him, looking at me.

“Little girl, come here.”

I walked up. She held my hand. Like last time, she turned my hand over to see my palm. Then he raised his head, his eyes were experienced and sharp.

“The look in his eyes just now, did you see it?”

Me: “…” I saw it.

“Remember carefully.”

The old lady said:

"This boy's mouth is tough but his heart is soft. If he hurts you, just find grandma. She'll deal with him."

Bui Tu stood next to him and coughed softly.

“Grandma.”

“Shut up. I'm talking to your wife.”

I laugh. Really laugh. Laughter burst out from the bottom of my heart. On the way back. The night sky is very beautiful. Stars are very bright. The car was very quiet. Bui Tu drove himself. There is no driver. It's just the two of us. The whole way was silent. When he was near the villa, he suddenly stopped the car on the side of the road. Turn off the machine. Both hands placed on the steering wheel. Don't look at me.

“Khuong Duong.”

“Yes?”

“I want to tell you something.”

I looked at his profile. His breathing was unstable. The chest rises and falls faster than usual.

“The day she moved in. First day.”

“Yes.”

“Actually I know.”

I froze.

“What?”

"Luc Hanh once sent me a message. He said the second lady of the Khuong family had moved in."

His fingers gently tapped the steering wheel.

“I got it. But I… didn't pay attention.”

“Oh.”

I said:

“What happens after that?”

“Then, on the third day, I returned. Opened the door.”