Chapter 5 — Bright Moon Shining Hai Duong

29 Van Canh raised his voice, almost cautiously: "Tieu Duong, you're still angry, right?" I shook my head: "There's no need to be angry. It's been so many years." I stood up, turned my head and looked at the paper that had fallen to the ground. "That's right, if you really want to go to university to work, Le Minh Nguyet can arrange it. Dr. Harvard is probably capable of giving you a decent job. But he never said that your current job is a loss of face." I turned back to look at Van Canh. After many years of letting go of my attachments, I felt lighter: "Maybe... this is the difference between the two of you. The difference... lies in respect for you." Geniuses are inherently a minority. And I - Lam Hai Duong, representing the vast majority of ordinary people! 30 When I opened the tenth franchise store, Le Minh Nguyet's father began to feel impatient. He cleverly suggested to me: "Tieu Duong, career is really important... But marriage is equally important." Le Minh Nguyet was the only child he had when he was 40 years old. Now that his son is grown up, seeing people from three generations together... He really can't sit still anymore. Everyone understood those roundabout words - they wanted the two of them to get married quickly and give birth to grandchildren and great-grandchildren soon. Le Minh Nguyet was leaning on me at that time, naughtily asking me to feed her an apple. After hearing that sentence, he was unhappy and immediately argued back: "Dad, I don't like it when I hear you say that. Let's be frank - being able to marry a wife like you is my luck. Women deserve to pursue their own careers and lives. As for me, being a gentle and thoughtful husband is happiness enough. Isn't a man's life about building a home? The most important thing is... to keep his wife's heart." At that moment, Le Minh Nguyet's mother came in. When she heard it, she nodded with satisfaction: "Minh Nguyet said it's right. Tieu Duong, just do whatever you want. As long as you think it's right, then it's really right." Ba Le looked at the two of us, completely convinced, and finally stopped mentioning the matter of children and grandchildren. He waved and called, a big fat tabby cat jumped onto his arm very elegantly. While stroking it, he exclaimed: "It's strange, this cat was obviously rescued by you guys, yet it only clings to me? I don't even like it that much, yet it keeps clinging to me." Don't like it? Isn't it you who buys the most cat toys in the house? Huh. The mouth is hard, the heart is soft. 31 When I met Van Canh again after many years, he surprised me - he did not become a university professor, did not become a senior researcher, but chose to become a grassroots cadre. He went to the poorest, most remote village to work as a village official. I watched him in surprise. Sun-tanned skin with streaks on the shirt, simple, plain clothes. He helped the village build concrete roads, build factories, and repair schools. No matter how many love and hate arguments there were in the past, facing him like this - I couldn't say a single harsh word. Because, anyone who dares to step up to the plate — deserves respect. He is serious, responsible, progressive, and has excellent abilities. Leaders value him, villagers love him, society praises him. It's just... maybe you're not good to me, you despise me. Maybe I'm just unlucky. I only blame myself, meeting you - Just in time… it's not spring. 32 Van Canh was amused by my eyes: "What are you thinking? I'm not that carefree. With my academic ability, sooner or later I will be transferred somewhere else." He is now much more mature, and his temperament is more gentle than before. In the past, I always had a cold face and didn't bother to talk to anyone. Now when I meet people, I instinctively know to smile. Truly a "national team product", even the personality has been improved. I gave him the menu and told him to choose a dish. Van Canh bowed his head, his voice unclear: "I thought... you would never want to see me again in this life." I put my chin on my chin and said calmly: "Just breaking up, it's not a crime. Not every couple that breaks up has to make a fuss and tear each other apart. It's not necessary." Van Canh laughed: "You are more generous than I thought." A few sentences went back and forth, then there was nothing more to say. The two fell into silence again. 33 Van Canh spoke again, asking about my business. I replied: “It's okay.” To be polite, I also asked him about his work situation. Compared to before, he talked a lot more, and even knew how to make light jokes. At the end of the meeting, Van Canh was silent for a long time, then finally said the words he had never said before: "Sorry." We all understand what we're sorry for. I stirred my cup of coffee and slowly replied: "If you don't love someone, there's no need to apologize. It's just... you should say it a little sooner, or more decisively. Don't leave any hope." It's not like Van Canh and I never had good times. After my mother passed away, we grew up together, relying on each other. He once got into a fight because of me, got injured, and broke one arm. From small to large, each chicken only had two thighs — both of which he gave to me. So... sometimes I really resent him. If you want to be good to me, then be good to the whole. If you can't be kind, then be cruel to the end. Don't always be hot and cold, near and far, love and spurn like that... That's what made me stagger, stumble, and chase after him for many years. 34 After hearing what I said, Van Canh was stunned for a long time until he regained his composure. He tried to force a smile, tried several times, and finally could only press his lips tightly and softly say: "Maybe you don't believe it... but I really used to like you." I remember his cold words and eyes full of contempt and indifference. Remember how many times I cried while doing exams, cried myself to sleep, and woke up in the middle of the night startled by nightmares. Once I wake up, I can't go back to sleep. The only thing left to do is dry your tears, grit your teeth and continue taking the exam. I sighed: {Read the full story at Van Ha's love page} "To be loved by you once... is really unlucky." There are no words of comfort. There is no encouragement. Just know how to keep your head down and move forward. Just because sometimes there is a little gentleness, a sweet word, I try to live and die... to win some recognition from him. 35 Le Minh Nguyet texted, saying he had arrived at the door. I picked up my bag, turned around, and politely said to Van Canh: "This is probably the last time we'll see each other. Thinking about it, it seems like there's nothing left to say between us." Van Canh's breathing became rapid, his eyes turned red, his eyes looked frantic as if he still wanted to say something. But I turned around and walked away. Maybe… Van Canh want to thank me. Back then, he had accidentally said a word, but now it was true. I... have truly become a recruitment advertisement for state civil servants. It turns out I also have the gift of prophecy. I have to reward myself... 10,086 likes! 36 As soon as she stepped out, Le Minh Nguyet rushed forward and acted like a puppy. I patted his head, laughed and gently kissed him on the forehead. In the evening, I gave him the prepared birthday gift. Le Minh Nguyet hugged the sweater I hand-knitted, sobbing to the point of sobbing: "You are truly the most blessed person in the world...huhuhuhuhu..." 37 On the wedding day, I posted a status line on my personal page: 【My husband helps me build my will to reach the sky, I repay you with ten thousand taels of gold.】 — along with a photo of me wearing a diamond ring for Le Minh Nguyet. Friends competed with each other to drop hearts and comments, countless lines of "wish 99" followed each other, filling the entire page. Le Minh Nguyet's parents were also not satisfied, constantly posting wedding videos, spamming stories for dozens of clips, almost occupying the first page of hot searches among friends. His father stood at the door, still holding the familiar tabby cat, smiling brightly like Maitreya Buddha, behind were two large boxes full of red envelopes. He generously stuffed them into his hands when he met everyone: "If you don't take lucky money, dad will be angry!" Many of my old college friends also attended the ceremony. There was a male student who once pursued me, staring at Le Minh Nguyet with a puzzled expression: "How did you manage to crush Lam Hai Duong?" Le Minh Nguyet's cheeks were red - last night she was so excited that she didn't sleep until three o'clock in the morning, but today she looks extremely alert, her eyes are radiant and full of vitality. He smiled, his voice carrying pride: "If you want to be a general with her, you have to accept... marrying her since she was still selling on the street." The male student was blinded by his bright smile, turned his head away, his voice filled with a bit of jealousy: "You are... really lucky." 38 That evening. Le Minh Nguyet's eyes sparkled, clinging to me and not letting go: "You swear, you must cherish me for the rest of your life, never abandon me. Say you love me, say you love me, love me forever! Wife, say something~" I was so sleepy that I couldn't open my eyes, but still seriously replied to him: "Love me... forever." I once regretted: "Unfortunately, when the flowers in Luoyang bloomed like brocade, I didn't come in spring." But when I turned around and looked back, I realized: Time passed quickly, the dew ruined the green of summer, and the sun and moon had alternated countless times. Yet—the bright moon still shines on the sea. [Full text complete.]