Chapter 9 — Contact Person Number One

We had planned to go to the South Island for a week after our wedding anniversary. The schedule was finalized half a year ago. I turned to the last page and saw a new line of text added. [Accompanying health advisor: Diep Vi An.] I looked at that text for a few seconds, then called Thuong Du Bach.

“Who fixes the schedule?”

“Vi An.”

“You agree?”

“She said your current physical condition is not suitable for traveling unless accompanied by a medical professional.”

“So on our wedding anniversary trip, we have to bring her along?”

“She won't affect us.” Thuong Du Bach said it as a matter of course. “She is in another villa, only responsible for monitoring daily health data.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“Thuong Du Bach, do you find this reasonable?”

"It's because I want to go to the South Island."

“If I don't bring her along, this trip will just have to be canceled.”

“Then cancel it.”

The other end of the line paused.

“What did you say?”

“I said, cancel it.” I threw the schedule into the shredder. “I don't need to, on my wedding anniversary, go on vacation with my husband and his No. 1 emergency contact.”

“Gia Duong.” His voice was finally tinged with anger. “Can you please stop opening your mouth and saying such sarcastic words?”

“Impossible.” I watched the shredder slowly devour the pages. “Because when you talk normally, I don't understand.”

“Vi An is just a doctor.”

“Doctors will not arrange marital life for patients.”

"She based her recommendation on my health condition. I accepted her professional recommendation. Therefore, I canceled the trip. What else are you dissatisfied with?"

Thuong Du Bach was speechless when I questioned him. A moment later, he said: "You know this is our anniversary trip."

“I know.”

"And yet you still canceled?"

“The trip with Diep Vi An is not ours.”

I hung up the phone. Five minutes later, Diep Vi An texted. [Boss Dung, about the schedule to go to the South Island, I want to explain to you a little bit.] I didn't answer. She continued texting. [Mr. Thuong's current condition is not suitable for being separated from medical supervision for too long. My suggestion to go along is based on professional judgment only.] [If you care, I may not stay in the resort, just stay in the surrounding area.] I know how to behave in every word. Knowing how to behave as if if I refused any more, I would be using my husband's health to get angry. I looked at the screen for a moment, then answered her. [Doctor Diep, you can monitor Thuong Du Bach 24/7.] [But don't monitor my marriage.] She didn't respond to the message sent. That afternoon, I called an internal meeting. All private aircraft, home security systems and medical teams belonging to Dung Thi simultaneously updated their access rights. Diep Vi An can rely on Thuong Du Bach's authorization to enter areas related to his treatment process. But I'm not allowed to board my private jet, my pre-marriage apartment, and the Dung family's house. It is also not allowed to modify any of my schedules in the name of health management. After confirming, the assistant asked me: "Will boss Thuong's family priority be retained? huh?” I glanced at the screen.

“Temporarily hold it.”

“Until when?”

“When the observation period ends.”

The assistant did not ask any more questions. * On the thirteenth day, Thuong Du Bach came to the apartment to find me. He did not warn. The door lock recognized his fingerprint, but the system displayed a request for second layer confirmation. I sat in the office looking at the surveillance camera, not opening the door. He rang the bell. I turned on the speakerphone.

“What?”

“Open the door.”

“Speak first.”