Chapter 4 — After the Cracks, I Become Myself

It's Deputy Hanh Chi. He lost a lot of weight. The chin line is sharper than two years ago. Dark circles under the eyes are also clearly visible. He looked at her. There were so many emotions in those eyes. There is also an emotion that Wen Nhuoc Van cannot understand. She quietly moved her eyes. Standing in front of the microphone to read the award acceptance speech. Think again later. She also doesn't remember what she said. The voice from beginning to end remains very steady. Just stepped off the stage. On Nhuoc Van immediately walked quickly towards the backstage exit. Footsteps sounded.

"Nhuoc Van."

She didn't stop.

"Wen Ruo Wan."

That voice chased her. Much more hoarse than two years ago. She stopped walking. Not because I want to stop. That voice sounded so tired. On Nhuoc Van turned around. Pho Hanh Chi stood three steps away from her. The shirt was wrinkled. It's like I just sat in a car for a very long time to get here. He looked at her. The pharynx moved slightly.

"Nhuoc Van..."

"It's been two years."

On Nhuoc Van did not answer.

"You why..."

His voice suddenly choked. As if trying to suppress something.

"That year... why didn't you ask me a question?"

Wen Ruo Wan looked at him. Night two years ago. Yellow light in the hotel hallway. The door to room 6018 is tightly closed. The woman's laughter echoed from inside. Each image. One after another, they appear like old photos. She wanted to say a lot.

"What else is there to ask?"

"I gave you a chance to explain. It's that you didn't walk out that door."

Also want to say:

"It was you who made me no longer have the courage to ask."

But in the end. Wen Nhuoc Van just looked at him calmly. Then slowly spoke.

"Pho Hanh Chi."

"Say whatever you want."

"I'll give you five minutes."

Pho Hanh Chi did not immediately speak. He just stood there. Quietly looked at On Nhuoc Van for a long time. In the backstage passage there were only the two of them. The applause from the hall came in waves, sounding distant as if coming from another world. A while later. He just said softly:

"That night..."

"You used to stand outside the door, right?"

Wen Nhuoc Van did not deny it.

"I know."

Pho Hanh Chi's voice was hoarse.

"The next morning I looked at the hotel hallway cameras."

On Nhuoc Van paused.

"I checked out at two in the morning."

"The front desk still has the records."

He stopped for a moment.

"I looked for you all night."

On Nhuoc Van calmly looked at him.

"But you didn't chase."

"Because I didn't know you went to Hangzhou."

Pho Hanh Chi's hands clenched and then loosened.

"Nhuoc Van..."

"That day... Tong Thanh Nghi came to see me to ask him to correct an exam plan."

"At that time she was preparing to change careers, time was very tight."

"I agreed to help."

On Nhuoc Van leaned his back against the wall. Bow your head and look at the toes of your shoes.

"What about the suitcase?"

Pho Hanh Chi was stunned. Then I immediately understood what she was talking about.

"That day she took the high-speed train from Nanjing."

"She brought the suitcase herself."

"It was too late at night, I couldn't book the room next door, so..."

Speaking of this. He stopped himself. Perhaps he himself knows. No matter how you explain it. It still sounds very powerless. On Nhuoc Van raised his eyes.

"It's so late."

"Why doesn't she leave?"

"Because the plan hasn't been fixed yet?"

Pho Hanh Chi was silent for a few seconds.

"Fixed it."

"Then Miss He drank some wine."

"Not in a good mood."

"Let her rest on the sofa for a while."

Wen Nhuoc Van looked straight into his eyes.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Every word."

"It's all true."

Wen Nhuoc Van did not say that he believed. Not saying I don't believe it. She just stood there. Be silent for a long time.

"If nothing really happened between you and her that day..."

On Nhuoc Van's voice was very soft.

"So what about that whole year?"

"The times I worked overtime."

"The times I deliberately avoided you."

"The phone calls you secretly listened to behind my back..."

"All of that..."

"Is it all just to change the exam plan?"

Pho Hanh Chi did not answer. The answer, both know. Not quite. It is true that during that time, he and Tong Thanh Nghi went back and forth a lot. Changing the plan is real. Being busy is also real. The times he intentionally came home late. Meetings he actively hid. Things he always thought...

"Saying it out only makes Nhuoc Van think more."

That's not adultery. That is a betrayal of trust.

"I know."

Pho Hanh Chi's voice was hoarse.

"At that time... you did wrong."

Wen Ruo Wan looked at him.

"You used to like her?"

The question just ended. The air in the aisle behind the stage seemed to freeze. Pho Hanh Chi looked straight into her eyes.

"In high school..."

"It's true that I was a bit shaken."

On Nhuoc Van's face remained calm. Not a ripple.

"What about later?"

"Then I met you."

"What about after marriage?"

He said those two words very seriously. But also full of helplessness.

"But I admit it."

"You didn't keep your distance clearly enough."

"You made me uneasy."

"It's your fault."

On Nhuoc Van bowed his head. Fingertips gently stroke the fabric on the dress. A long time later. She just looked up.

"Five minutes are up."

Pho Hanh Chi was stunned.

"What you said..."

"I heard it all."

On Nhuoc Van calmly looked at him.

"But, Hanh Chi."

"That doesn't change anything."

"I have stepped out of the past."

She stood straight. Gently smooth the skirt.

"Thank you."

"Honestly."

"Thanks for telling me."

She turned around and walked towards the hall.

"Nhuoc Van."

On Nhuoc Van paused for a moment.

"Divorce petition..."

"You haven't signed yet."

On Nhuoc Van turned his head. For the first time after the meeting, a crack appeared on her calm face. Not angry.

"What did you say?"

"I left the divorce petition on the tea table."

"Been lying there for two years."

Pho Hanh Chi looked at her.

"I never signed."