Chapter 8 — Contact Person Number One

“I stayed abroad for a long time.”

Still the same saying. I closed my eyes.

“Just because I'm abroad for a long time, doesn't mean I'm not your wife.”

"But when it's needed, I'm not sure you'll be there."

“So whoever was present, you immediately gave his wife's location to that person?”

“Gia Duong.” His voice became lower. “Don't elevate a medical liaison to a marital position.”

“It's me who downgraded my marital status to first medical contact.”

He didn't say anything else. I also lost interest in continuing to ask.

“Twenty-six days left.”

“Do you have to clock in like that?”

“Of course.” I smiled faintly. "Anyway, it will take half a year for you to make a decision. I can't even give it to you for thirty days."

I hung up the phone, I didn't go to Thuong's house anymore. At nine o'clock in the evening, Thuong Nghien So sent a text message. [Sister-in-law, Dr. Diep really came today.] A while later, she sent another photo. On the Thuong family's dining table, there are seven or eight frugal dishes. Next to each plate is a small card, clearly stating the calories and sodium content. Diep Vi An sat next to Thuong's mother, explaining Thuong Du Bach's menu. Thuong Du Bach sat opposite, bowing his head to look at documents. The place that belongs to me at the dinner table is vacant. Thuong Nghien So asked me: [Have you done these things before when you two ate together?] [No.] She was silent for a while. [She said that from now on, the main house's menu must be sent to her for approval first.] I looked at that message and smiled. Diep Vi An has never crossed the line too openly. She didn't say she wanted to enter the Thuong family's door, but just used the name of health management to push that door open little by little. * The next day, I asked my assistant to send an official notification to the Thuong family. The content is very simple. Diep Vi An, as Shang Yu Bai's personal rehabilitation consultant, is only authorized to handle matters related to Shang Yu Bai's personal treatment. It is not allowed to adjust the dining and travel arrangements of the Thuong family, Dung Thi's private residential areas and me personally. The notice was sent simultaneously to the secretariat of Thuong Thi's board of directors and the lawyers of both parties. Thuong's mother called that same day.

“Gia Duong, what do you mean by doing this?”

“The meaning is in the words.”

“Vi An is just concerned about Du Bach's health, is it necessary for you to turn a family matter into an official document like that?”

“Very necessary.” I turned over the contract in my hand. “Because her suggestions have already begun to affect the living arrangements of both families.”

“She is not malicious.”

“Whether a person is malicious or not has no bearing on whether she has authority or not.”

Thuong's mother was speechless by me.

“Before, I was not such a meticulous person.”

“Before, no one decided for me how to cook rice at home.”

“She just gave her opinion.”

“Then let her go and give suggestions to Thuong Du Bach alone.”

“I am not under her control.”

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. Mother Thuong calmed down.

“Gia Duong, I know you feel uncomfortable inside.”

“But Du Bach's health is not good, you should understand now feel for it more.”

“When his health is not good, when his health is stable, Dr. Diep will tell you.” I let out a light laugh. “What else do you need my sympathy for?”

Thuong's mother could not answer. I hung up. On the eighth day of the observation period, Thuong Du Bach still did not change the contact person. On the tenth day, he sent his assistant to bring an itinerary to travel to the island.