Chapter 9 — After the Cracks, I Become Myself

"I'm done."

"I'm bothering you."

On Nhuoc Van nodded slightly. Walk her out the door. Tong Thanh Nghi opened the umbrella. About to walk. Suddenly turned around.

"The past two years..."

"Hanh Chi's life is not good."

She hesitated a bit. Then still talk.

"He printed an entire album of her work."

"Put it in a transparent folder."

"Put it right on your desk."

"Every time there's a new article about you."

"He cut them all back."

"Exactly..."

"An old fan chasing after his idol."

On Nhuoc Van did not speak.

"I know."

"You don't owe him anything."

"Hanh Chi is not a bad person."

"It's just..."

"A bit stupid."

Tong Thanh Nghi turned around. Quietly step into the rain. The door closed. On Nhuoc Van stood alone in the vast space of the pottery workshop. The batch of pottery in the kiln is still slowly cooling. Occasionally makes very soft "click... click..." sounds. She bowed her head. Look at the cracked cup on the table. The crack is still there. The gold paint has not yet been applied. Right at that moment. The phone vibrates. Bright screen. This is a new message from Pho Hanh Chi.

"Nhuoc Van, I went to Loc Khe but couldn't find you. Mrs. Phuong said you went to Hangzhou."

Right after that. Another message was sent.

"I'm in Hangzhou."

"I want to see you."

"Tomorrow morning, the noodle shop is at the beginning of the old town alley."

"If you don't come..."

"I will sign the divorce papers and send it to you."

Wen Nhuoc Van tightened her grip on the phone. Fingertips placed on the screen. Those words were reflected in her eyes. If you don't come. It's a choice. It's not a choice... Whether to forgive him or not. It's a choice... Should I give myself a conclusion or not? Trinh Man is right. Doesn't mean forgiveness. It also doesn't mean turning around. Don't want to carry a knot that has never been removed to continue living. Wen Nhuoc Van opened the chat box. Type two words. Then press send. She turned off the light. Carefully place the unfinished Kintsugi cup into the shockproof box. She will mend that crack. Wen Nhuoc Van arrived at the noodle shop at eight o'clock in the morning. The alley is still quiet. The shop owner is rolling noodles. White steam rose from the large pot. Pho Hanh Chi had already arrived. He sat next to the window. Place two bowls of noodles in front of you. A bowl of Phien Nhi Xuyen noodles. A bowl of seafood noodles. That was the dish that On Nhuoc Van liked to order the most before. She sat down opposite.

"You came earlier than me."

"I came at six o'clock."

Pho Hanh Chi looked at her.

"I'm afraid if I'm late there won't be a seat."

On Nhuoc Van did not answer. Just pick up a piece of noodles with chopsticks. The taste is still very good. This noodle shop on the old town has been open for more than twenty years. The taste before and after remains unchanged. The two of them silently ate half the bowl. Wen Nhuoc Van was the first to speak.

"You said you wanted to meet to clarify everything."

Pho Hanh Chi put down his chopsticks.

"Nhuoc Van."

"I want to start from the beginning."

"Not just since that night."

"But that was a whole year before that."

"The end of the first year after marriage."

"I took on a very large commercial project."

"The customer side has extremely strict requirements."

"The plan had to be revised over and over again."

"Around that time."

"Every day I stay at the company until very late."

He speaks very slowly. As if carefully considering every sentence and every word.

"Just at that moment."

"Tong Thanh Nghi found you."

"She just quit her job at the old design office."

"Going to Hangzhou alone career."

"Want to switch to being an exhibition curator."

"So I asked you to help me see the plan."

Wen Nhuoc Van did not interrupt.

"Merely helping."

"But later."

"I found out."

"Stay next to her."

"There was a great feeling of relief."

"You don't need to explain work."

"She also understands."

Speaking of this. Pho Hanh Chi stopped.

"But every time I come home."

"I'll ask how your day is."

"Want to answer."

"You have to explain a lot."

"What project?"

"What's the progress?"

"Why overtime?"

Wen Ruo Wan looked at him.

"So..."

"I choose not to explain anymore."

Pho Hanh Chi did not justify.

"You were lazy."

"I feel like talking to Tong Thanh Nghi is effortless."

"I spent the time and energy that should be spent talking to you."

"Consumed on another person."

Wen Nhuoc Van tightened her chopsticks. Finger joints turn white.

"I know."

"What's that called?"

"I know."

Pho Hanh Chi looked at her.

"It's spiritual betrayal."

Wen Nhuoc Van was slightly stunned. She didn't expect it. He himself used those four words.

"For the past two years."

"I've been thinking a lot."

"You never touched her."

"Even."

"The thought of doing that has never occurred to me."

"You have placed part of the emotional needs that belong in marriage."

"Up another one."

"In essence."

"It's no different from adultery."

The bowl of noodles has cooled. On Nhuoc Van bowed his head. Look at the noodles wrapped around each other in the bowl. A while later. She just asked.

"You said these things to me."

"What result do you want?"

Pho Hanh Chi shook his head.

"I don't want any results."

"I just want you to know."

"My judgment that year."

"It's not wrong at all."

"My intuition."

"You should leave."

On Nhuoc Van raised his head. This conversation. Completely different from what she had imagined. She still thinks. He will say.

"Can we start again?"

"Give me one more chance."

But no. What he said.

"You should leave."

"It's just..."

Pho Hanh Chi looked straight into her eyes.

"You should leave."

"You don't deserve it."

"It's not because I'm not good enough."

"This saying."

"I owe you for two years."