Chapter 2 — After the Fire Ends, I Return

"Giving it to the dog is better than giving it to him! The hotel just called to confirm the flowers with me, saying that Van Lan lobby was changed to Lam Vi's birthday party. I thought I heard wrong."

My movement of changing shoes stopped for half a second.

“You didn't hear wrong.”

“Did he really do it?”

“Yes.”

Khuong Van rushed forward, grabbed my wrist and pulled me out.

"Go, now go slap him. If you don't do it then let me, break my arm and pay for the medicine."

“Not necessary.”

"Hua Duong, don't pretend to be okay with me! The scar on your back hurts so much on rainy days that you can't sit still. He used that as a card to bully you, and you said it wasn't necessary?"

I reached out and pulled down my sleeve.

“I didn't say forgive him.”

Khuong Van was stunned. I gave her the phone. On the screen is Luc Canh Xuyen's circle of friends. A 9-panel photo, Lam Vi wearing a white dress sits next to Luc Canh Xuyen, her head resting on his shoulder. On the table is a specially designed invitation card from Van Lan lobby. The comments section is as bustling as a festival.

"Mr. Xuyen spoils people so harshly."

“If it weren't for Hua Duong to help save that fire, the position of Lady Luc wouldn't have been her turn.”

"Lam Vi is back, someone should know better and retreat."

Luc Canh Xuyen replied to one of those comments:

"Don't talk nonsense, Hua Duong is not a narrow-minded person. If she makes a fuss over this matter, then this wedding doesn't need to be done anymore."

Khuong Van burst out laughing: "He really thinks of you as a soft persimmon."

“He's always like that.”

“So what are you going to do?”

I walked to the closet and took out the marriage registration appointment paper.

“The day after tomorrow, his family will pick up the bride, all the guests will arrive, and the MC will read the oath.”

Khuong Van looked at the appointment paper in my hand.

“You won't go, will you?”

“Yes.”

Khuong Van was impatient: "Hua Duong, are you crazy?" I tore the appointment paper in half and threw it in the trash.

"I'm going to register my marriage."

“With whom?”

I did not answer. The phone rang, it was Luc Canh Xuyen. There was a terrible noise on the other side, the sound of clinking glasses echoed through the receiver.

"Hua Duong, tonight I'm throwing a bachelor party for you. Go to bed early, don't wait."

I looked at the scraps of paper in the trash: "Okay."

"Don't worry about the wedding, I've arranged everything fine. When that time comes, it's okay for you to come, don't cause me any more trouble."

Khuong Van grabbed the phone.

"Luc Canh Xuyen, you took the wedding hall that someone had prepared for three years and gave it to Lam Vi to celebrate her birthday, but you still dare to tell her not to cause trouble?"

The other side was silent for a moment. Luc Canh Xuyen's voice was low.

"Khuong Van? Please give the phone to Hua Duong."

Khuong Van cursed: "Give it to your grandfather! What else can a trash like you marry? Hug your Lam Vi and live." Luc Canh Xuyen lost patience.

"Hua Duong, what is your friend crazy about? What does she know? I just changed a hall, that doesn't mean I won't marry you."

I picked up the phone again.

“Luc Canh Xuyen.”

"You're finally willing to talk? You'd better take care of Khuong Van, don't let her come to the wedding and make you lose face."

“Did you cancel Van Lan Hall?”

“Yes. Vi Vi's birthday is very important, she just returned home and doesn't have many friends, I can't let her lose face.”

“What about me?”

He paused, but quickly became reasonable perhaps:

"Why are you comparing yourself with her? You are my wife, a member of our family. She is a guest."

Khuong Van scolded from the side: "If you use your wife's wedding hall and give it to guests, if your ancestors heard it, they would probably crawl up from the grave and slap you." When Luc Canh Xuyen heard it, his voice became firm.

"Hua Duong, if you make a fuss over this trivial matter, don't blame me for not leaving a way out for you."

I asked him: “What if I don't get down?”

"So I'll take care of the wedding myself."

I smiled: “Okay.”