Chapter 6 — Before Closing Time, I Changed Grooms

“No need to give it all to me.” I said. “I don't have many things either.”

To Ky Bach stood at the door, holding the bed sheet he had just changed in his hand.

“Just leave it blank first. Order whatever you want.”

This sounds very thoughtful, but I suddenly feel annoyed. The suitcase stood in the middle of the floor as if reminding me that I was only a temporary resident. I don't want to play the role of a well-cared-for guest in his house, and I don't want to wait every day for him to guess what I need.

“To Ky Bach, do you think giving everything to me is respectful?”

He froze, placing the bed sheet on the back of the chair.

“Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?”

"This place was originally full of your things, but now you can't see your things anywhere. You clean the room like a hotel, and when I move in, I have to worry about making a mess."

He followed my gaze towards the empty closet, finally understanding.

“I'm afraid you're not used to seeing men's things.”

"That's your thing. The marriage certificate has already been received, sooner or later I will have to see it."

To Ky Bach stood for a while then went to the office to bring back a few shirts and hung them on one side of the closet. The box of ties was also brought back, placed next to my bag. The colors are so messy that it's a bit jarring.

“Is this okay for now?”

I pushed the suitcase in front of the wardrobe.

"That way it's like someone is alive."

That night, we cleaned together until very late. I found expired stomach pain medicine in your drawer. He found three identical charging cords in my bag. No one laughs at the other. We only throw away what needs to be thrown away, the rest gradually mixes together. He gave me the master bedroom, and I still slept in the office. After a few days, I couldn't help but ask:

“How long do you plan to sleep in the office?”

He was washing the cup, and the sound of water immediately stopped.

“Waiting for your invitation.”

“What if I never invite?”

“I will change to a better folding bed.”

I leaned against the kitchen door and laughed. Living together is not as dramatic as imagined. We would fight over the last electrical outlet in the bathroom, forget to empty the dust box of the robot vacuum cleaner, and argue across two subway stations about whether tofu should be sweet or salty. Of course, his shortcomings were also quickly revealed. The first time he cooked, he mistook sugar for salt, creating a plate of meat stir-fried with green chili so sweet that it could be pulled apart. I took a bite and pushed it to him.

“Lawyer To, do not destroy evidence.”

He gritted his teeth and ate half the plate. The next day, a label printer appeared in the house. The salt jar is labeled with the word "Salt". The sugar jar was labeled with the word "Crime tool". I took a photo and sent it to Trinh Man. She replied:

“This marriage is quite worthwhile.”

Then a small thing happened that made me gradually feel secure about this marriage. The project I was in charge of suddenly had problems, I had to go to Hangzhou for a week. To Ky Bach has booked a restaurant for the weekend. When I told him, he casually asked a few questions:

“What time is the train?”

“Have you brought enough documents?”

“Do you need me to take you there?”

I said no need. I really didn't give it. At eleven o'clock at night, I received your text message:

“When you arrive at the hotel, answer with a dot.”

I sent a dot. He sent back a photo. Is the confirmation page The restaurant canceled the reservation and successfully issued a refund. He didn't mention that he had specifically booked the restaurant, nor did he make me feel indebted to him for it. The refund page looks very normal. But after watching it, I held the phone for a long time.

8

Some time after the marriage registration, Bui Tu Xuyen stood under my company building holding a large bouquet of roses. Receptionist calls internally:

“Manager Duong, there is a man named Bui who says he is your fiance.”

"No. Please call security to handle it."

I'm not going down. Not long after, a strange phone number called.

“Kien Vi, I just want to say a few words to you.”

“During working hours, do not talk privately.”

“So after work.”

“Don't talk after work.”

“Do you have to be that cruel?”

I finished signing the purchase order in my hand.

“Cancel the marriage, settle finances, end contact. I thought the meaning was very clear.”

“So what about the past seven years?”

"Has happened. Can't refund, can't extend."

He was silent for a moment.

“Did Tinh Hoa come to find you?”

“No.”

“There's a problem with that bracelet.”

My pen stopped. Finally, he was able to say something new.

“What's the problem?”

“You come down here, I'll tell you.”

“Send email.”

“Kianwei Road!”

“Speaking on the phone.”

He lowered his voice.

“In a silver bead there is a microscopic recorder.”

I looked out the window. The bouquet of roses downstairs was blindingly red.

“Who placed it?”

“Love and Peace.”

“Recording what?”

“She said she wanted to write down her wishes when we registered our marriage. After she put the bracelet on my arm that day, I didn't take it off. Last night while washing my hands, the silver bead hit the sink, the cover came loose, revealing a circuit board.”

At this point, his voice became tense. At first Bui Tu Xuyen thought it was a navigation device, so he brought it to a friend who specializes in phone repair to remove it. In the device there is a memory card. The recording started from the moment Nguyen Tinh Hoa cut the wire in the office, extending all the way to the lobby of the Civil Affairs Department. Perhaps at first she really wanted to record the sound when we registered, then used the greeting as a tool to cause trouble. But she forgot that before she went out, she received a phone call.

"The original file is at my place, never cut and merged. I also took photos of the device and the outer shell."

“Send content via email.”

“Can you come up?”

“No.”

I hung up the phone. The email was quickly sent. In addition to the audio file, the attachment also includes a photo of the silver bead after removal and a receipt from the repair shop. At the beginning of the recording, there is the sound of a scissors closing, then the beads roll across the table one by one.