Chapter 4 — Change players in the final match

I walked over and sat down. Chu Mac Bach gave me a glass of juice:

“Calling you personally, I know you don't drink.”

“Thank you.”

“What politeness.” He smiled warmly, "How have you been? I heard you just took on a big project?"

We talk about work. Chu Mac Bach is an architect, and was related to the art museum renovation project I was working on. He gave some very professional suggestions, I listened attentively, completely unaware of when Giang Nghien Tu on the other side had been quietly silent. Until a shadow fell.

“What a fun thing to talk about?” Giang Nghien Tu stood in front of him, holding a glass of wine, his voice was light, "Mac Bach, since when do you care about art?"

Chu Mac Bach did not change color:

“Always interested, just haven't had the opportunity to learn from Thu Nguyet.

What about you, aren't you with your little girlfriend?

"Van Tinh is not my girlfriend." Giang Nghien Tu immediately responded.

After speaking, as if regretting, his lips pursed tightly. To Van Tinh's face turned a little pale. Comments popped up at the right time: 【It's begun, it's begun! Classic performance: 'Not my girlfriend, but sitting next to me to annoy you!'】 【Chu Mac Bach's level is really high, let's move forward, block attacks and win points.】 【The female lead looks at Chu Mac Bach's phone! The loading screen is your photo! It's you!】 I reflexively glanced at Chu Mac Bach's phone on the table. The screen is off, nothing is visible.

“Thu Nguyet,” Giang Nghien Tu sat down next to me, so close that I could smell the slight scent of alcohol coming from him.

“Can we talk?”

“I don't want to talk now.”

“So when will I want it?” He lowered his voice,

“You didn't pick up the phone, didn't respond to messages, and I stopped by the dorm three times and you avoided the detour.

Lam Thu Nguyet, even the court has a deadline for executing the sentence, right?" Chu Mac Bach stood up:

“I'll go get the fruit tray.”

He left, Giang Nghien Tu immediately moved closer:

"What exactly do you want? I told you I would change—"

“Giang Nghien Tu,” I interrupted, “Do you know what you look like now?”

He froze.

“Like a child whose toy has been taken away from him.”

“Not because I really love that item, but just because I'm unwilling.”

Giang Nghien Tu's eyes turned red immediately.

“You think I'm just unwilling?”

“If not, what else is there?” I objected.

"For the past twenty-two years, when have you ever known how to appreciate me? I am like your shadow, forever behind you. You are used to turning your head to see me.

Now that shadow wants its own light, I'm not used to it anymore."

“It's not like that…” He shook his head, his voice trembling. “Thu Nguyet, it's really not like that.”

The music in the room suddenly changed to a tragic love song, some people in the room started screaming along to the music. In the midst of that noise, Giang Nghien Tu spoke softly, just loud enough for me to hear:

“I blocked you… because I was scared.”

I was stunned.

“Every time we argue, I'm afraid you'll say: 'Giang Nghien Tu, I'm tired, let's stop.’”

He didn't dare look at me, just stared at the glass of wine in his hand.

"I blocked you so I wouldn't see you send that sentence. So I could fool myself into thinking... you're still waiting for me to turn around."

It was the first time I heard him speak his mind like that.

“What about tickets?” I asked. “Why did you give it to me? To Van Tinh?”

“Because…” He said with difficulty, “After arguing that day, you said: 'Giang Nghien Tu, I will never know how to treat others well.'

I wanted to prove that I could, so I agreed with whatever she said. But when I gave her the ticket, I was just thinking... are you angry..."

“You think I'll be jealous?”

“I hope you're jealous.” He raised his head, tears shining in his eyes.

“I hope you will come and question me, scold me, even hit me... That way I will know that you still care about me.”

I couldn't say a word. Comments scrolled frantically: 【What a joke! He... is actually speaking human language!!】 【But it's too late, my friend, the damage has already been done.】 【Don't believe it, female lead! This is the new form of PUA: hit one, give one candy!】

“Mr. Nghien Tu!” – To Van Tinh suddenly ran up, her eyes red – "Mr. Tran Mac called me to come over and cut the cake!"

Giang Nghien Tu didn't move, still staring at me.

“Go away.” I said.

He gritted his teeth, then stood up and left. To Van Tinh glanced at me, in her eyes there was guilt, self-pity, and a bit of jealousy that I couldn't understand. Chu Mac Bach brought back the fruit plate and sat down next to me naturally:

“Did he apologize to you?”

“It seems so.”

“Do you forgive me?”

I shook my head:

“Sorry is the past tense, forgive is the future tense. Between those two things... there is a difference of one word 'believe'."

Chu Mac Bach was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Thu Nguyet, if... I'm just saying if... if you want to start a new life, you can consider trying the person next to you."

I turned my head to look at him. Under the dim lights of the karaoke room, his facial features looked gentle and pleasant. He is two years older than Giang Nghien Tu. Since childhood, he has been like an older brother who always takes care of us. I remember when I was bullied in middle school, the first person who rushed out to fight was him. When I had a fever in high school, he climbed the wall to buy medicine for me.

“Brother Mac Bach,” I called out using my childhood address, “You are a very important friend to me.”

He smiled bitterly:

"I know... It's okay, just pretend I never said it."

But the comment line exposed him: 【Chu Mac Bach just unlocked his phone! The loading screen is actually a photo of the real female lead! It's a photo taken last winter!】 【He asked you: 'How to pursue your childhood sweetheart?' You answered: 'First of all, don't follow Giang Nghien Tu and self-destruct.'】 【Laugh out loud, Jiang Nghien Tu officially became an example of a villain.】