Chapter 9 — I Don't Need The House You Returned

“The clothes in the suitcase are all packed by the owner himself.”

“But the boss told the young master that she wouldn't be able to stay for many days outside.”

"He also said that if you just ask once, if the master doesn't agree, you won't come back again."

My ears suddenly went silent.

“When did I say that?”

Ha Dinh Chau's expression stiffened for a moment.

“I'm just comforting you.”

“You left so suddenly, he asks every day when you will return.”

"I told him, when you calm down, I'll go home."

"So the boy didn't dare follow me."

I stared at him.

"He was afraid to follow me, so I brought him back."

Ha Dinh Chau frowned.

“I've been thinking a lot.”

“A child doesn't think that complicated.”

Aunt Dao said softly:

“Every night before going to sleep, Master Du An would ask if the landlady would come to pick him up again tomorrow.”

“I said yes.”

“The owner asked if I kept disagreeing, would the owner not need me anymore?”

Ha Dinh Chau finally remained silent. I bowed my head and looked at the agreement. The signature box remains blank. Just sign down, and I'll be able to return to my old Western-style house. The son is still there. The bakery room will also be restored. Everyone can pretend this time is just an argument. I pushed the pen aside. Take the agreement and tear it in half right down the middle. Ha Dinh Chau stood up.

“Kieu Tinh Dao!”

I placed the scraps of paper in front of him.

“You're right.”

“Du An needs me.”

"So I can't let him think that loving someone means he must constantly give in."

“Today I asked the boy to give up his room.”

“Tomorrow, tell the boy to give up his father.”

"In the future, if someone else is more pitiful, will he have to give up everything he owns?"

“I never told him to yield to his father.”

"So you sit next to Lam Man and take her and the two children to participate in Du An's parent activities, what does that mean?"

“School seating is only a temporary arrangement.”

“You knew I was coming.”

“It's just that you feel like it doesn't matter where I sit.”

“Just like the baking room.”

“Leaving it blank is useless.”

“No matter what, I will return in the end.”

Ha Dinh Chau clenched his fingers.

“You can change.”

“I told you, Lam Man will move to the living room, and the baking room will also be restored.”

“Why do you insist on clinging to the things before and refusing to let go?”

I say word by word:

“Because up until now you still think the problem is that I don't get the room I want.”

“It's not like you've never asked me if I'm satisfied or not.”

He opened his mouth. I don't continue to listen anymore.

"It's late."

“Go home.”

“Don't bring this kind of agreement again in the future.”

“Regarding divorce, the lawyer will contact you.”

Ha Dinh Chau stood for a long time. Before leaving, he looked towards Aunt Dao.

“I don't need to come to work tomorrow.”

Aunt Dao's face turned pale. I spoke up:

“Then that's just fine.”

“My store is short of people.”

He turned his head to look at me.

“I haven't got it yet at the store.”

“There will be.”

The door closed, and the room was immediately quiet. Aunt Dao was a little uneasy.

“Madam, I didn't mean to cause you any more trouble.”

"I know."

I opened the carton and took out each item inside. The bottom of the copper pot was black. Old frosting tips cung da hoi gi. Toi cam tam bang go da nut len.

“Tai sao cai nay khong vut di?”

“Cau chu Du An khong cho.”

“When the house renovation worker tried to take it away, the owner hugged it tightly and refused to let go.”

“Then the boss said it was just a broken piece of wood and not worth much money, so I kept it first.”

Toi vuot len vet nut tren do.

“Co sua duoc khong?”

Di Dao gat dau.

“Vet nut khong sau.”

The next day, I went to pick up Ha Du An from school. Seeing me, the boy was clearly stunned.

“Me den day lam gi?”

“I told you, I will come and ask you again.”

“Do you want to go home with mom today?”

He bowed his head and kicked the small pebble under his feet.

“Don't want to.”

Toi dua cho no mot hop banh.

“Vay mai me lai den.”

No nhan lay. Walked a few steps, then suddenly turned around.

“Me khong gian sao?”

“Neu con mai khong di thi sao?”

“Vay me se mai den.”