Chapter 13 — I Have Conceded Enough

“It was my aunt's birthday gift to me.”

“It is now the main stone for Hua Tinh Mien's wedding jewelry set.”

Luc Tram Le stared at me.

"Tinh Mien doesn't know that she can't cut it."

“It says in the document.”

“She said she didn't see it.”

“So that's her problem.”

“Do you have to be that cold?”

I burst out laughing.

"She destroyed my things, and you come to ask me why I'm cold?"

Luc Tram Le's forehead frowned.

“Now is not the time to seek responsibility.”

“The wedding jewelry collection must be announced next month.”

“If something happens to the sapphire, the entire project will be affected.”

“So what?”

"I'll go home and deal with it."

“I have resigned.”

“Ta Tri Vi.”

He lowered his voice.

“Stop sulking.”

It's sulking again. I broke off the engagement and was sulky. I resigned, sulking. I didn't come back to clean up the mess for them, so I was sulking. It seems that just by labeling every decision I make as "emotional", they will have an excuse not to take it seriously.

“Luc Tram Le.”

“Huh?”

“You came to me now, is it because of me, or because of the project?”

He was silent. The answer is too clear.

“Go home.”

I turned and walked away. He suddenly pulled me back.

“Okay.”

“It's not because of the project.”

"I came to ask you, what's going on between the two of us now?"

I turned my head to look at him. Rainwater dripped down his eyelashes. We've known each other for so many years, this is the first time I've seen him so disheveled.

"You told me to give you to Hua Tinh Mien."

“What right do you have to make decisions for me?”

“So have you rejected her yet?”

He did not respond.

“Not at the engagement party.”

“Not even after that.”

“You just keep asking me if I mind or not.”

“What you want to see is not whether I choose you or not.”

"It's up to me whether or not I will fight with her for you."

Luc Tram Le's face changed slightly.

“No.”

“So tell me.”

“Who do you like?”

The rain was pouring, he couldn't give an answer for a long time. This silence said it all.

“Understood.”

“You're always like this.”

“Don't say anything.”

“But I want everyone to run around guessing what I mean through that silence.”

“I'm no longer interested.”

I withdrew my hand. Luc Tram Le suddenly said:

“Next week is my aunt's birthday.”

“Auntie is still waiting for me to prepare the gift.”

My steps stopped.

“Not available this year.”

“Every year I prepare.”

“Not this year.”

“Because of Tinh Mien?”

“Because I don't want to.”

I looked up at him.

“Not all changes are related to Hua Tinh Mien.”

“Some things are simply due.”

7

On my mother's birthday, I didn't go to the Ta family's house. At ten o'clock in the morning, she sent me a photo. The emerald brooch I gave her last year is lying quietly in the jewelry box. Below the photo there is only one sentence:

“Didn't you prepare anything this year?”

I did not answer. Every year for her birthday, I have to prepare a month in advance. Choose jewelry. Bring antiques for repair. Party arrangements. Finalize the menu. Even what she wore that day, I was the one who coordinated it. Hua Tinh Mien is in poor health. Big brother is busy. Dad doesn't care about worldly matters. These things suddenly fell on my head. I did so well. Good to the point where everyone thinks that everything comes naturally. At noon, Aunt Tran called.

“Miss, the flowers delivered to the banquet hall were mistakenly delivered.”

“The second lady placed white chrysanthemums.”

I was silent for two seconds.

“Tell the flower shop to change it.”

“The flower shop said the order clearly stated white daisies.”

“Then ask Hua Tinh Mien.”

“The second lady cried and said she only saw white flowers that were beautiful and clean.”

I looked at the blue French brooch on the desk.

“Aunt Tran.”

“Yes?”

“Who is in charge of celebrating the birthday today?”

“Second Miss.”