Chapter 17 — After the Marriage Aborted, I Became Something You Couldn't Reach

Maybe these words will make me waver for a second. But now…

“Phuong Minh Vien.”

I looked at him.

“You can save those words for the next person.”

His face immediately turned pale.

“I don't need you to regret it.”

“There's no need for me to apologize.”

“You never really apologized to me.”

“You never really had me.”

“What I once had…”

“It's just a 'Tham Nhuoc Van' that you imagined.”

“That person does not exist.”

I took a step back.

“You go.”

“This place is not suitable for you.”

He stood still. Lips moved slightly. But in the end, I still couldn't say a word. Then he bowed his head, turned and left. After taking a few steps, he turned around. Turned to continue talking to customers. I don't know what the last expression on his face was. No need to know anymore. That night after the party ended, Trieu Khoi Van stayed and said something to me.

“Nhuoc Van.”

"I heard Tran Viet say that the person just now is your ex-boyfriend?"

“Handle very well.”

“Definitely, clean.”

“Miss Trieu is too complimentary.”

She looked at me and smiled.

“You are the type of person…”

“When designing, you are gentle.”

“When dealing with personal matters, he is very decisive.”

I also laughed.

“Wherever you should be soft, be soft.”

“If you want to be decisive, be decisive.”

"That's right."

“I'll buy you a drink.”

In the spring of her second year, Te Tri won an industry award.

“Brand with the most potential of the year.”

Awarded by local design association. The award ceremony was held at a theater in the city center. More than three hundred people were present. When I stepped on stage to receive the award, below were Trieu Khoi Van, Ha Tranh, Tran Viet... And all the customers and partners who have accompanied me for the past year. MC read the introduction:

“Te Tri Studio was established four years ago, using the philosophy of storytelling using space to quickly make its mark in the industry.”

“Founder Tham Nhuoc Van, as a 9x generation designer, has led the team to complete twelve high-quality projects…”

“Annual revenue exceeded 30,000,000 yuan…”

30,000,000 yuan. Applause rang out below. I stood under the spotlight, holding the trophy in my hand. Suddenly remembered two years ago... When we were sitting in the living room of Phuong's house. Phuong's mother patted the back of my hand and said:

“You are a stable, trustworthy child.”

I'm really stable. Steadily leave that cage. Stable step forward today. No need to make a fuss. No need to tear off your face. I just need to live as myself. After receiving the award and stepping off the stage, Tran Viet waited backstage. Her eyes were red.

“Nhuoc Van…”

“30,000,000 yuan.”

“That 30,000,000 yuan…”

“It's been hard for you, Viet Viet.”

“What are you talking about!”

“That's the right thing to do!”

She sniffed.

“Ah yes.”

“Guess who's sitting in the stands?”

“Phuong Minh Nguyet.”

“She bought a ticket to come.”

“Sit in the last row.”

I paused a bit.

“What did she come for?”

"Don't know."

“But as soon as the awards ceremony ended, I left without coming to look for you.”

Phuong Minh Nguyet. The sister-in-law, who was in the family chat group, sent a thumbs-up emoji and smiled and said:

“Sister-in-law is really good.”

What are you here for now? To confirm how powerful the "old sister-in-law" really is? Or come and take a look at Phuong's family... Is it possible? Is there still a chance to restore the relationship? But whatever the reason... It's no longer important. A week after the awards ceremony, I saw a news article online. Phuong's hot pot chain closed three branches. The remaining two stores are reluctant to maintain. Phuong's father is retired. Phuong's mother posted a line to her friends circle:

“In a person's entire life, the scariest thing is looking at the wrong person.”

I don't know who she is saying she looked at wrongly. Or maybe... It's seeing yourself wrongly. But all... It's no longer important. I turned that page off. Five years later. Te Tri is no longer a small studio. It is a design company with more than forty employees, with offices in both Hangzhou and Shanghai, and annual revenue exceeding 100,000,000 yuan. The cooperative relationship between me and Trieu Khoi Van also upgraded from an "affiliated brand" to a co-founder model. Minh Hoa Alliance · Te Tri... Has its own position in the world. I am thirty-two years old. Buy a house with a garden in Hangzhou. Not too big. But enough to live comfortably alone. In the yard grows a cassia tree. Every autumn, the whole yard is filled with fragrance. One afternoon, I was watering the plants in the yard. The phone suddenly rang. It's a number I haven't contacted in a long time.

“Nhuoc Van.”

"It's me... Minh Nguyet. Phuong Minh Nguyet."

I stopped watering the flowers.

"What is up?"

“It's no big deal.”

“I have cut off contact with my family.”

“Go out and work on your own.”

“I want to talk to you.”

She stopped for a moment.

“My brother remarried last year.”

“The subject is an office worker in the company.”

“Just a normal life.”

I was silent for a few seconds.

“What are you telling me this for?”

“For nothing.”

“Just feel…”

“I owe you an explanation.”

“Things from the past, even though I didn't directly participate…”

“But I never stood up to say a word for you.”

“I'm quite regretful.”

The wind blows from the garden. The scent of cinnamon is very light.

“Minh Nguyet.”

"There's no need to repeat old stories."

“You can live your life well.”

“Nhuoc Van, goodbye.”

"Goodbye."

I hung up. Standing in the yard, looking up at the sky. The sunset spreads out in layers of color gradually changing from dark blue to red orange. Cinnamon leaves gently sway in the wind. I suddenly remembered many years ago. That afternoon, while sitting in a taxi leaving my hometown, I looked at the blue-gray sky outside the window. At that time I thought... I'm running away. Only later will I understand. That's not running away. Which is departure. The phone vibrated again. Message from Ha Tranh.

“Mr. Shen, the new project concept is finished.”

“Come over and see tomorrow, okay?”

I bowed my head and answered one word. Then put the phone down and continue watering the flowers. Water from the shower dripped drop by drop, clicking and falling on the ground. The yard is very quiet. My life is also very quiet. But this kind of quiet… It's not like before. In the past, that silence was because I was muted by others. And now... It's my own choice.