Chapter 11 — Eight Years Is Not Equal to One Betrayal

The children at the rural elementary school wrote letters to me. One neat girl wrote: 【Teacher Lam, when I grow up I also want to become a gentle teacher like you.】 I cherished the page, my nose stinging. Giang Tu Bach sat next to him, rearranged the survey forms, and asked softly: "Are you crying?"

“No, it's just the wind blowing.”

He quietly handed over the tissue, not bothering to bother with the fact that the window was closed so there was no way to get any wind. A moment later, he pushed a training form in front of me: "Next month there will be a core teacher training course at the provincial level, do you want to register?" I was surprised: "You yourself have a spot, why don't you sign up too?"

“I signed up for another training course.”

“Why don't you decide for me on your own?”

Giang Tu Bach stopped writing and looked at me seriously: "The choices in your life are of course yours to decide." A simple, blinking sentence softened all the rigid defenses in my heart. I looked at him and softly called his name: "Giang Tu Bach."

“Here I am.”

“Do you want to actively pursue me?”

The fountain pen in his hand suddenly stopped, and the tip of his ear became slightly red.

"I thought, I've always been slowly approaching you."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Your way of pursuing things is already too profound and introspective." He put down his pen and opened his mouth with a slightly awkward expression: "Lin Van Tinh, I like you. It's not because I sympathize with the things you've been through, nor is it a habit of companionship. I want to prepare lesson plans with you, go on business trips, spend three meals and four seasons together, and go home together. If you don't want to accept, I can slowly continue to pursue, absolutely not forcing you." I lowered my head to look at the children's immature letter, the spring sunlight outside the window scattered across the table. It turns out that after stepping out of the dark area, life will truly be filled with light again.

“Then keep pursuing.”

The bottom of Giang Tu Bach's eyes immediately darkened a bit, I immediately added another sentence: "After work, I will agree to be with you." He was stunned for a few seconds, slowly smiling gently. Late in the afternoon, he took me back downstairs to the dormitory, paused for a moment and then softly asked: "Can I hold your hand?" I proactively reached out my hand. His palm was warm and he held it tightly, leaving me space to withdraw at any time. I never let go. … Two years of time passed in an instant, and Jiang Tu Bach and I went to the Civil Affairs Department to register our marriage. He booked the number half a month in advance, and the day before he checked all the documents three times. I laughed at him being so nervous and cautious. Giang Tu Bach replied with an extremely serious expression: "The matter of a lifetime cannot be ignored." Someone once said the exact same thing to me before, but that person ended up taking our whole life story and acting out a fake show for others. Below the steps of the Civil Affairs Department, Luc Nghien Tu stood there quietly. Seeing Giang Tu Bach next to me, the document bag in his hand almost fell down. Compared to two years ago, he is much more mature and mature, there is no longer the pressure in his eyes, taking everything for granted like before.

“Van Tinh.”

Giang Tu Bach tilted his head and looked at me, me Gently shook his head to show it was okay. Luc Nghien Tu took a few steps forward, then stopped, not daring to come closer.

“Are you going to register your marriage today?”

I nodded: “Yes.” He grinned bitterly: "Very good." Just two short words, but it seemed like it took all my strength. He looked at Giang Tu Bach, lowered his voice and said: "Take good care of her." Giang Tu Bach held my hand tightly and calmly replied: "I will respect her thoughts no matter what."