Chapter 3 — Don't Run Anymore, Hua Tri Hoa

"I shouldn't have lied to you. I'm sorry. If you want to scold me, just scold me. If you want to explain, I've already explained it. But we're not from the same world, this ends here."

The air in the car suddenly dropped. Luong Nghien Chu reached out and pressed the car door lock button right next to me. My movement to push the door stopped. He asked each word, "Who agreed to end it?" * 【Chapter 2】 I didn't expect Luong Nghien Chu to chase me all the way to Thanh Ngo town. On graduation day, he didn't force me to stay. When Tran Mat pulled me out of the car, my legs were still weak, I was holding a chestnut cake in my arms, I couldn't throw it away, I couldn't hold it either. Luong Nghien Chu looked at me through the half-rolled car window.

“Hua Tri Hoa, I give you three days.”

I asked: “What about three days later?” His fingertips tapped on the steering wheel, his eyes extremely deep.

“I came to hear you tell the truth.”

After the car drove away, Tran Mat grabbed the cake, opened it and smelled it.

“This thing is probably worth my food money for the whole week.”

I was in no mood to eat, just staring at the direction the car had just disappeared from. Tran Mat elbowed me: "You really don't want to pay any attention to him, do you?" I opened my phone and pulled that strange number into the blacklist.

“Don't care.”

He looked at me working, the corner of his mouth twitching: "You're really good at adding fuel to the fire." Three days later, I was washing dishes in the kitchen of a small noodle shop. The water from the faucet flowed loudly, the greasy edge of the bowl slipped through my fingers, the smell of dishwashing liquid rushed straight into my nose, and the sound of cicadas outside in the alley echoed in my ears. My mother was standing in front of the reception counter, her voice carrying the hoarseness caused by tiring work all year round.

“Tri Hoa, table number two adds a bowl of noodles.”

I wiped my hands, carried the bowl of noodles outside, and as soon as I lifted the curtain, my steps were firmly planted in place. Luong Nghien Chu is sitting at table number two. A small noodle shop in Thanh Ngo town, the walls are yellow and greasy, the ceiling fan is creaking, the corner of the table is chipped and the paint is peeling. He sat there, his white shirt had changed to a black T-shirt, the watch on his wrist still emitted a cold light. A few guests at the surrounding tables secretly looked at him, picking up noodles with their chopsticks and forgetting to put them in their mouths. The broth in the bowl I held in my hand spilled out, burning the back of my hand. He stood up to help, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Are you burned?”

I pulled back: "Why did you come here?" He put the bowl of noodles on the table, pulled out two napkins, and tried to hold my hand. I wanted to dodge, but his wrist was held tightly. He looked at my red skin, his lips pressed tightly into a straight line.

“Hua Tri Hoa, your speed of blocking numbers is faster than the speed of washing dishes.”

I withdrew my hand: "What are you doing at my house?" My mother poked her head out from behind the counter: "Tri Hoa, do you know each other?" My back is stiff. Luong Nghien Chu let go of me, turned to look at my mother, politely and courteously as if turning into another person.

"Hello, I'm Tri Hoa's friend. I passed by Thanh Ngo on the way so I stopped by for a bowl of noodles."

My mother's eyes lit up: "Are you studying? Sit, sit, I'll give you some meat." I almost choked on my saliva.

“Mom, he's not a classmate.”

Luong Nghien Chu continued: "It's a senior." I glared at him. He raised the glass of water and calmly added: "Top lock... a few locks." My mother smiled even more warmly: "That's even better, Tri Hoa is about to go to college, remember to teach her a lot." Luong Nghien Chu glanced at me.

“I will.”

I held the tray, my fingers clenched the rim, wanting to put the tray straight on his head, but seeing my mother smiling brightly, I had to grit my teeth and endure. After the noon rush hour, I stopped him at the beginning of the alley.