Chapter 1 — Aurora Doesn't Wait For You

On the day of departure to Finland to see the Northern Lights, I waited for Chu Nghien in the airport VIP lounge for three whole hours. This is our fifth anniversary trip together. To order that limited edition snow greenhouse, I stayed up all night for half a month and saved money for more than half a year. When there were only twenty minutes left until boarding time, Chu Nghien finally appeared. But accompanying him was Tong Van Van with red, swollen eyes. Chu Nghien expertly pulled the suitcase to help Tong Van Van, then gave me the plane ticket that had been rescheduled. "Van Van's depression has relapsed again. The doctor said her emotions are very dangerous now and she needs a change of environment to relieve herself." "I can't see the Northern Lights any time. I gave her the spot in the greenhouse first." "You've always been understanding. This time, please go home first. Next month, I'll take you to Sanya to make up for the anniversary." I looked at the domestic flight ticket that was returned and then issued a new one, my hands and feet kept getting cold. It turned out that the dream I had been waiting for for 5 years was not as good as Tong Van Van's emotional breakdown. He was always like that, making all exceptions and favoritism for that weak childhood girl. But the shackles called "understanding things, knowing how to think about the big picture" were placed tightly around my neck. I don't obediently nod and say "yes" like before. Instead, I took out my phone, right in front of him, and canceled his international flight ticket. "There's no need to make up for it anymore, Chu Nghien, I'll go see the aurora myself." Chu Nghien looked at the ticket cancellation notice on his phone and his face immediately turned cold. “Tham Duong, give me the phone.” I stuffed my phone back into my bag, pulled my suitcase and walked towards the departure gate. He reached out to stop me, pressing his palm against the suitcase handle. “Don't cause trouble at the airport, Van Van can't stand the attack right now.” Tong Van Van stood right behind him, her eyes still red, her hands clutching the ticket to Finland that originally belonged to me. "Miss Duong Duong, I really can't go. A Nghien is just afraid something will happen if I'm alone. Don't blame him." She spoke very softly. But the friends who went with us to see the aurora were standing right there and heard it. Giang Du, Chu Nghien's close friend, stepped forward and blocked the departure door. "Miss Duong, Mr. Nghien has no choice. You already know about Van Van's illness. If she collapses right at the airport, who will be responsible?" I looked straight at Chu Nghien. “So you secretly changed the name of the person checking into the hotel and also secretly changed my plane ticket?” An impatient expression appeared between Chu Nghien's eyebrows. “I'm afraid that if I tell you directly, you'll think in extreme ways.” "I booked a room, I bought a ticket, but you didn't even ask me a word." Tong Van Van pursed her lips and reached for her suitcase. "Then I won't go anymore, Ms. Duong Duong, don't argue with A Nghien because of me. The doctor said changing the environment is just a suggestion, not a requirement." After saying that, she pretended to go to the ticket cancellation counter. Chu Nghien grabbed her wrist tightly. “Don't do anything wrong.” When he turned to look at me, his voice carried a comforting tone. "Duong Duong, be good. This trip you go home first, I'll tell the driver to wait for you at the exit. When I get home, I'll take you to choose a wedding ring, okay?" The words "wedding ring" made my hand holding the suitcase loosen half an inch. I've been waiting for you to mention this for a long time. My friends also immediately followed suit. "Miss Duong, the ring has already been mentioned, why are you still thinking about a trip?" “That's right, Mr. Nghien has already given in.” Chu Nghien took out a pair of gloves from his coat pocket and stuffed them into my hands. "It's cold outside, your hands will hurt every time they get cold. Don't torment your body." I still remember. In the winter, my finger joints often hurt. Every year he prepares gloves. At that moment, I almost swallowed back my tears, swallowing all this humiliation down. Tong Van Van lowered her head and glanced at those gloves. "A Nghien, aren't these the pair you said you would give me yesterday? You said Finland is very cold, the dose of medicine you used is quite high, your hands must not freeze." Chu Nghi's movements

I stopped. But he quickly pressed the gloves back into my palm. “It's the same, I'll buy you another pair.” I looked at the cashmere gloves in my palm, suddenly realizing how ridiculously heavy they were. Turns out, even this little bit of gentleness isn't just for me. "I don't need it." Chu Nghien's face completely sank. “Tham Duong, know your limits.” The loudspeaker rang out, announcing that the flight to Helsinki was about to close for departure. I pushed past Giang Du and gave my passport to the staff. Chu Nghien strode after me, putting his hand on my shoulder. “You go abroad alone, I don't feel secure.” “I'm not a child.” “My emotions are unstable right now.” “The person whose ticket was suddenly switched was me, but the emotionally unstable person also became me?” He stared at me, there was impatience in his eyes, and also a bit of anxiety that he was trying to suppress. "It's not that I won't let you go, it's just that I can't today." Tong Van Van clung to the chair unsteadily, her breathing began to become erratic. “A Nghien, my chest hurts.” Chu Nghien immediately turned around and hugged her. “Where is the medicine?” Giang Du glared at me. “Miss Duong, do you have to make a fuss until she goes to the emergency room to be satisfied?” Everyone's eyes were on me. I held up my passport, in a dilemma. The staff reminded me that if I didn't get on the plane right away, the door would close. Chu Nghien was looking for medicine for Tong Van Van and turned to look at me. “Shen Duong, if you continue to be stubborn today, let's calm down together.” He was convinced that I would stay. Because in the past five years, every time he said he wanted to calm down, I was the one who bowed first. I watched him help Tong Van Van drink water, looked at her hand placed on his sleeve. The light at the departure gate changed from green to red. The employee withdrew his hand. “Miss Tham, sorry, the flight has stopped accepting passengers.” Chu Nghien breathed a sigh of relief. Tong Van Van leaned on his chest and looked up at me. “Miss Duong Duong, I'm sorry, I made a mistake.” I tightened my passport without saying a word. Chu Nghien gave the medicine box to Giang Du and reached out towards me. “Let's go, I'll take you home.” As soon as his hand touched me, I took a step back. "No need." Chu Nghien's hand stopped in midair. I looked at the tightly closed departure door and suddenly realized that it wasn't like he didn't know I would be hurt. He just thought that after the pain was over, I would obediently return to him. Chu Nghien didn't take me home, he had to go with Tong Van Van to do a psychological evaluation before boarding the plane. Giang Du pulled the suitcase for me, his tone conveying advice. "Miss Duong, Mr. Nghien has to fly later, don't distract him anymore." I stood in the middle of the airport lobby, looking at the flow of people passing by. “Is he still going?” Giang Du was stunned for a moment. "It's definitely not okay for Van Van to go abroad alone. Mr. Nghien promised Uncle Tong that he would take care of her." I laughed. “What about me?”