Chapter 2 — Five Missed Registrations

5th time — Today. He received a phone call. Bach Linh texted me immediately to ask. I stared at these five lines of notes for a long time. Can't say clearly what's wrong. But there's a voice inside that says — Investigate. You should investigate.

—

【Chapter 2】 What to investigate? How to investigate? To be honest, when I made this decision, I had a moment of disgust with myself. It's been four years. Four years together, Co Dien Chu's kindness towards me is not fake. Late at night, after working overtime, he would come pick me up. During my period, he would prepare red sugar and thermal patches. When arguing, he would always bow his head first. What right do I have to doubt you? Can't get a marriage certificate based on five times? Maybe it's really just a coincidence. But these two words "maybe" can no longer reassure me. It took me all night to convince myself. The next day at work, I sat in front of the computer at the design institute all morning, the drawing did not move a single line, the mouse pointer blinked three hundred times. At noon, Bach Linh walked over carrying two cups of milk tea.

“Nien Niem, don't think about yesterday's events.”

She placed a glass of milk tea on my table, tilted her head to look at me, her eyes shining with complete concern.

“I understand what kind of person Co Dien Chu is, he's just workaholic, it's certainly not that he doesn't want to register his marriage with you.”

“Um.”

I took the cup of milk tea and took a sip. So sweet.

"That's right," Bach Linh suddenly lowered her voice, "Have you ever thought about asking him directly?"

“Ask what?”

“Then ask him when he can finally register. You two have been in love for four years, if he still hesitates, you have to give him an ultimatum.”

I looked at Bach Linh. Today she's wearing light makeup and a light yellow cardigan, looking so gentle and friendly. Like every day for the past four years.

“You're right.” I smiled. “I will find time to ask him.”

Bach Linh patted my shoulder with satisfaction: "That's right." After she left, I took out my phone and didn't call Co Dien Chu. I opened my web browser, typed in a keyword —

“How to look up a person's marital status”.

The search results tell me that normal people cannot directly look up other people's marriage registration information. Unless authorized by the owner, or through legal means. But I am an architect. We have worked with the land registration center and planning department countless times. I have a senior from college, Luc Tu, who is currently a practicing lawyer. His law office has represented many civil and commercial cases, and has legal information lookup channels. I pondered for a whole afternoon. After work, I sat at the coffee shop downstairs from the company for half an hour, typing and deleting, deleting and typing that message again, repeating seven times. The last message sent was: 【Tham Niem Duong: Senior Luc, can you help me look up someone's marital status information?】 Luc Tu answered very quickly: 【Whose?】 My finger hovered on the screen, paused for three seconds. 【Tham Niem Duong: Co Dien Chu.】 The moment the message was sent, I felt like I was doing something very dirty. Secretly investigate your boyfriend. Like a suspicious person. But if the answer is "Single", then I can completely rest assured, right? If the answer is "Single" — I've even thought of a way to reconcile with myself. I will delete that note file, I will smile and hold your hand at the next marriage registration appointment, and never think about it again. Luc Tu didn't ask much. He only said one sentence: "Give me two days."