Chapter 8 — Before Closing Time, I Changed Grooms

I'm really not interested. I have a supply chain project in hand. The first phase took a lot of time, even the warehouse route had to be redesigned. But before signing the contract, the partner inserted an exclusivity clause, wanting us to only buy from them in the next few years. After that, Bui Tu Xuyen came again. This time no flowers. He waited outside the coffee shop I often went to, not entering the company's management range. I reported to the police. When the police arrived, he repeatedly said he just wanted to apologize.

“Apologizing needs to be accepted by the other person.”

The police said:

“If people don't want to listen, you have to leave.”

He looked at me through the glass.

“Kien Vi, she has already signed an installment agreement.”

I continued to look at the computer.

“I broke it off with her.”

I turned the report to the next page.

"The house we used to rent, I rented it again. Your things are still in the same place. The light in the master bedroom was broken, I also fixed it."

I raised my head. His eyes immediately lit up.

“Bui Tu Xuyen.”

“Here I am.”

“Everything you just said has nothing to do with me.”

His face gradually became gray.

“Now I know I was wrong.”

“If you know, fix it.”

“Can I look at you once?”

“Fix it for yourself.”

The police took him away. I finished my coffee and reopened the project documents. The figure outside the window quickly disappeared. The edit mark on the screen still stopped last night. The past seven years will not be rewritten just because of this apology. I also don't need to see him struggle to prove his decision to leave was right. That evening, Bui Tu Xuyen's mother called me.

"Kien Vi, I just want to confirm one thing. Have you really made a decision?"

“Yes.”

She was silent for a moment.

"I know. I will watch over Tu Xuyen and not let him continue to bother you. For the previous things, I apologize on his behalf."

“Thank you, aunt.”

The phone call ended there. The next day, the wedding chat group of mutual friends suddenly became bustling. Someone asked if the wedding was cancelled. I didn't explain, just sent a new electronic invitation. Groom: To Ky Bach. Bride: Duong Kien Vi. The date of marriage registration is that day at the Civil Affairs Department. Bui Tu Xuyen quickly left the group. Nguyen Tinh Hoa also left the group. Trinh Man was the first to respond:

"Received. Don't be late this time, groom."

To Ky Bach replied:

“I'll be there an hour early.”

In the group, a row of lucky money immediately appeared. No one mentions Bui Tu Xuyen anymore. When looking at photos of group chats, To Ky Bach only asked:

“Do I need to send a lawyer letter?”

“No need for now.”

“So what can I do?”

“Take the clothes out of the washing machine to dry.”

He immediately stood up. He put the phone down on the table, rolled up his sleeves and went to the balcony to dry clothes, completely without mentioning Bui Tu Xuyen's name. Ten minutes later, he poked his head in from the balcony.

“Can my silk shirt be ironed?”

“No way!”

When I ran out, he pressed the pause button. Luckily. The first major marital crisis is saved by a pause button. Project negotiations went through several rounds. The partner said that we could not bear to give up the previous investment, and our attitude became increasingly tough. Final meeting lasting from noon until dark. The air conditioner blows cold enough to the back of your hand. The coffee on the table was changed twice, and no one touched the boxed lunch that was brought in afterward. The deputy general director of the partner side turned the contract towards me and smiled very gently:

"Tang Manager, the terms are all regulated by the legal department. Now you want to turn it around, aren't the previous things all a waste of effort?"

I flipped to the page with the exclusivity clause, pushing the document back.

"If the previous work turns out to be in vain, the losses will stop today. If the contract is signed, the trouble has only just begun."

The smile on his face faded.

“Can you take responsibility for this decision on behalf of the company?”

I'm very familiar with this sentence. Bui Tu Xuyen often asks me, do I really want to destroy seven years because of a small matter? It's like the time and money spent will grow into hands, pulling people to continue on the wrong path. I don't preach morality to the other side. I just put the prepared exit plan on the table. Alternative suppliers, delay costs, how to handle finished materials are all included. The other person flipped through a few pages and finally stopped laughing. The meeting was silent for a long time. Outside the windows, the lights in the office buildings turned on one after another. Our legal staff stopped by and asked in a low voice if we needed a break. I shook my head, closed the pen cap and continued to wait. It wasn't until the other side went into the hallway to call first that the deadlock was gradually resolved. Upon their return, they removed the exclusivity clause and renegotiated delivery responsibilities. When I signed, it was very late. My hand holding the pen is a bit tired. After signing, someone in the group breathed a sigh of relief. The manager directly asked me in the elevator:

“Were you really not afraid of the project failing just now?”

“There is fear.”

“Can't see it.”

"Even if you're afraid, you have to prepare another path. Just sitting there in fear will not make the contract better on its own."

He looked at me once but said nothing. In the HR email at the end of the month, I was promoted. When the news was announced, I was confirming the first shipment with the warehouse. Trinh Man was the first person to send a fireworks symbol in the company group, then privately messaged:

“General Manager Duong, should we finally be happy this time?”

“I invite you to dinner tonight.”

“What about To Ky Bach?”

“Let him pay.”