Chapter 1 — He Never Looked Back

The company had just finished the party when it suddenly started pouring rain, and there was only one shared umbrella left in front of the door. As soon as I walked towards Ly Tu - my boyfriend who had been secretly in love with me for the past 3 years, he immediately passed me and called out to my best friend: "To Yen, come over here, come with me." The surrounding colleagues immediately burst into laughter, some even took a picture of the two of them sharing an umbrella and sent it to the group chat. 【Doesn't Director Ly hate sharing an umbrella with others?】 【Don't you guys notice? Oh, he's tilted all the way to To Yen's side, half of the boss's shoulder is still soaked.】 【This kind of unconscious bias can't be played, there's definitely something going on between the two of them!】 During the walk to the parking lot, Ly Tu, wanting to "avoid being jealous" of me, never looked back once. Until I stepped on a puddle, fell and scraped my skin, my knee was bleeding, he still didn't bother to turn his head to look, his hands were still busy brushing To Yen's wet hair. At that moment, I suddenly didn't want to chase anymore. This 3-year relationship always forced me to run after him, I don't need it anymore. 1 I sat down on the cold, damp steps, hugging my legs for a long time before I could hold the wall and stand up. The blood in his knees mixed with the rainwater flowing down. The entrance to the underground parking lot was less than twenty meters from me, Ly Tu's black car was parked right there. If he just turns around once, he can see me. But he didn't. To Yen didn't know what she said. Ly Tu bowed her head and smiled softly, reaching out to brush away the wet curls sticking to her cheeks. The black umbrella, which was not very large, now tilted almost completely towards her, and his right shoulder was soaked by the rainwater. I suddenly remembered that two months ago, Ly Tu and I went on a business trip and encountered rain. I instinctively leaned closer to him, but he didn't change his expression, instead stretching the distance, lowering his voice and reminding: "This place is not far from the company, what if my colleagues see me?" Then, he gave me the umbrella and walked first into the rain. At that time, I was moved by his "delicacy" for a long time. It turns out it's not that he doesn't like sharing an umbrella with others, he just doesn't want to share an umbrella with me. The phone in my pocket vibrated. Ly Tu texted. 【Please call the car yourself.】 Two seconds later, he added: 【To Yen's shirt is all wet, I'll take her home first. You're her best friend, don't think too much.】 I looked at the three words "don't think too much" at the end and suddenly thought it was funny. Over the past three years, every time I felt uncomfortable because of the special favor he gave To Yen, he told me "don't think too much". To Yen had just joined the company and did the wrong thing. He surpassed the team leader to personally correct her plan and told me not to think too much. While going to teambuilding, To Yen got drunk, he carried her to the car in front of the whole company, telling me not to think too much. To Yen's rented apartment leaked, he told her to move to the house he and I rented temporarily, still telling me not to think too much. It seemed that as long as nothing really happened between them that crossed the line, all my discomfort was unreasonable and childish. I didn't answer, exited the chat with Ly Tu, and called a hotel near the company. When we arrived at the hotel, it was almost midnight. The receptionist saw that I was soaked and quickly took out the medical kit to help me treat my wound. The moment the antiseptic touched the torn skin, I was in so much pain that I took a sharp breath. The receptionist girl asked me: "Is your boyfriend not coming to pick you up?" I paused. "I don't have a boyfriend." After saying this, I didn't feel as uncomfortable as I imagined. Maybe

Since the first time Ly Tu denied our relationship in front of others, I've lost him little by little. Only today did I admit that truth. After booking the room, I opened the company's work application and sent my resignation letter to the human resources department. The reason for leaving was just four words: "Personal reasons." After that, I replied to a message from Chu Minh - Brand Director of Phuong Chu Group. A month ago, he invited me to join Phuong Chu. At that time, because I was afraid of Ly Tu, I refused. Phuong Chu is the company's largest customer. If I change jobs there, we will turn from colleagues into an A-B relationship. Ly Tu is always a person who respects his dignity, I don't want to let him be criticized because of my choice. But now, I don't want to think about him anymore. 【Director Chu, is your previous invitation still valid?】 Chu Minh replied almost immediately. 【Always valid.】 【Welcome to join Phuong Chu.】 Outside the window, thunder boomed. I stared at that text for a few seconds, feeling for the first time that this storm wasn't so hateful. At least, it woke me up. The next morning, Ly Tu called. "Didn't you come home last night?" I looked in the mirror to change the bandage and calmly replied: "I slept at the hotel." "Why didn't you tell me in advance?" I couldn't help but laugh. "Have you ever looked back to look for me?" The other end of the line was silent for a moment. Ly Tu seemed to remember something at this moment, his voice softened: "Yesterday it rained so hard, I didn't pay attention and you couldn't keep up. To Yen had a little fever, I was impatient to take her home." "Um." "Don't be angry. She is staying at our house, we are responsible for taking care of her." He said "we". But the only person left behind in the rain was me. Ly Tu said again: "Tonight is our 3-year anniversary. I've already booked a restaurant. Wait for me after work." I looked at the words "Waiting for approval" on the resignation letter on the computer screen and said softly: "No need." "What do you mean?" "Nothing." I hung up the phone, took off the ring that he gave me three years ago, and put it in the innermost compartment of my bag. Once the resignation procedures are completed, I will return all of his belongings to him. It seems like there is water in common. 2 When I arrived at the company, To Yen was sitting in Ly Tu's office holding a cup of hot milk. She was wearing his vest, the sleeves were long, making the whole person look even smaller and fragile. A few colleagues gathered in front of the door to tease. "Director Ly, are you too subtle? All the hot milk and then your jacket." "Yesterday, To Yen was riding in Director Ly's car, right?" "That's not all, I heard they live in the same apartment complex." To Yen blushed and waved her hand. "Everyone, don't talk nonsense, Director Ly and I really have nothing." She denied with her mouth, but did not explain why she was wearing a shirt. of Ly Tu, and did not clearly state that the house she was "living in" was actually rented by me and Ly Tu. As I walked over, someone deliberately raised their voice: "Hua Dong is here, everyone stop talking. She hates us the most when we ship her with Director Ly." Another person pouted. "Doesn't she really like Director Ly?" "It's not strange, Director Ly is young and talented, his female colleagues like him a lot."