Chapter 14 — Don't Run Anymore, Hua Tri Hoa

"I will pay the rest during the school year when I work part-time."

Luong Nghien Chu looked at the transaction history, his eyes wavered a bit.

“Hua Tri Hoa, you don't need to draw such clear boundaries to the point of being so unfaithful.”

I grabbed the handle of the plastic bag tightly.

“If I don't draw clear boundaries, sooner or later I will forget.”

“Forgot what?”

I looked up at the crystal chandelier hanging down from above in the middle of the shopping center, the broken light hurt my eyes.

“Forgot that everything I have now, I have to rely on myself to be able to stand.”

He didn't say anything. On the way home, the car was quiet. When he was about to arrive at Thanh Ngo, he suddenly received a phone call. He put on headphones and lowered his voice, but I still vaguely heard a few words.

“The intermarriage project.”

“Board of directors.”

“Mom.”

My fingers slowly tightened. After Luong Nghien Chu hung up the phone, the car's speed slowed down. I looked out the window, pretending to be indifferent and asked: "Did your family arrange a date for you?" His hand holding the steering wheel paused.

“Trade cooperation, not just an eye-catching object.”

I smiled, but my throat was dry.

“So it is.”

He pulled the car to the side of the road and turned to look at me.

“Not the same.”

I looked at him. He said every word: "I don't agree." I should have breathed a sigh of relief, but my chest felt even heavier. Because I suddenly realized that Trinh Nhuy's harsh words were just a small stone, what really stood in front of me was a whole system of rules that I couldn't even name clearly. Board of directors, intermarriage, family. Those things don't curse or scold, but they can oppress people to the point where they can't raise their heads. When I got back to the noodle shop, there was a strange car parked in front of the door. A woman wearing a beige suit stood in front of the door, her hair tied in a neat bun with not a single strand loose, carrying an expensive handbag. She saw Luong Nghien Chu, her eyebrows frowned slightly.

“Nghien Chu.”

Luong Nghien Chu's face darkened. I stood next to him, my palms gradually turned cold. The woman's eyes fell on me, there was no contempt, no anger, just a calm assessment. As if reviewing an item that shouldn't be here. She spoke up: "Miss Hua, is it convenient to talk for a moment?" * 【Chapter 9】 Luong Nghien Chu stood in front of me.

“Mom.”

My heart sank. She looked at him, her tone steady without any fluctuation.

“I canceled two meetings because of her, and people from the board of directors asked me.”

Luong Nghien Chu's voice was cold: "This is my matter."

“Everything you do now is not your own business.”

After speaking, her eyes went over his shoulder, looking straight at me.

"Miss Hua, my name is Tham Lenh Nghi, I am Nghien Chu's mother."

My fingers squeezed the handle of the plastic bag, the plastic cutting deeply into my palm. Luong Nghien Chu said: "Go in the house first." I stood still without moving. Tham Lenh Nghi looked at me: "I only ask for ten minutes of your time." She didn't curse, didn't use money to bribe, and didn't say anything that wasn't a good match. But she stood there, clean, neat, calm, and the dust of the small town's streets didn't seem to dare get on her shoes. I nodded. Hand Luong Nghien Chu squeezed my wrist tightly.

“Hua Tri Hoa.”

I raised my head to look at him.

“I can talk to myself.”

His eyes were so dark and scary. I changed my hand to carry the things and gently pushed his hand away.

“It's only ten minutes.”

Tham Lenh Nghi took me to the tea shop on the corner of the street. The tea shop in Thanh Ngo town is very small, the wooden tables are stained with old tea residue, and the air conditioner gives off a slightly musty smell. After sitting down, she placed a file on the table.