Chapter 12 — I Never Made It to Nam Thanh With You

In my previous life, during the inauguration banquet, she had worn that very dress, standing beneath the moon-shaped window I had designed myself. Beside her stood Yan-Li, while I, adorned with the ancestral jade of the Gu family, lingered in the periphery. When the cameras flashed, everyone praised us as the perfect, ethereal couple. Only I knew the truth: Yan-Li’s gaze had never once rested upon me.

"Aunt Ha, I will not be going for the fitting."

The line went silent for several heartbeats.

"Is Yan-Li bothering you again? That boy truly lacks any sense of tact. I have already scolded him for it. No matter how pitiable Ning-Yuan may be, she is still an outsider. He should not be prioritizing the feelings of an outsider over the dignity of his future wife."

His future wife. She had never once asked if I desired that title. She simply spoke as if my position were a static, waiting ornament, as if occupying that role were the greatest honor I could ever hope to attain in this lifetime.

"Aunt Ha, I have to begin preparing my documents tomorrow afternoon."

"Then what about the day after?"

"I am afraid I am not free then either."

She finally sensed that something was amiss. "Kien-Nguyet, tell me the truth. Are you acting out like this because of that girl, Ning-Yuan, hoping to use your university applications and our broken engagement to threaten Yan-Li?"

I did not answer immediately. So, it was not just Yan-Li. All of them viewed my entire life as nothing more than a tool to keep him in line.

"I have already submitted my enrollment for the Northwest University," I said quietly. "I will not be going to the South City."

Ha Man-Nhu’s voice sharpened instantly. "Since when?"

"Since the final deadline for applications."

"Does your father know?"

"This was my choice, not his."

She drew in a sharp, jagged breath, though she quickly regained her mask of maternal tenderness. "Kien-Nguyet, university applications are not a game. The field of heritage conservation is grueling, and there is no guarantee you will find a place in a major city after graduation. The South City School of Architecture is much better suited to your future. If you and Yan-Li stay together, our two families can continue to support one another."

Every word mirrored the exact sentiments Yan-Li had voiced. They did not care for my passions; they only cared for the path that yielded the highest dividends for them.

"My decision is final. It cannot be changed."

Ha Man-Nhu fell into a long, icy silence. "Let us meet tomorrow afternoon." It was not a request; it was a summons.

At noon the following day, she met me at a teahouse near the Te-Nguyet estate. She was already waiting when I arrived. A velvet red box sat on the table, the ancestral Gu jade lying dormant within. As I sat down, she poured the tea for me herself.

"Yan-Li returned home yesterday, and he did not sleep the entire night. He has been stubborn since he was a child, burying everything deep inside. In truth, he cares for you very much."

I picked up my teacup but did not drink. "The only thing he cares about is that I have ceased to follow his script."

Ha Man-Nhu frowned slightly. "You two grew up together; there is no need for such harsh words. Yan-Li is only kind to Ning-Yuan because her circumstances are so dire. You know her father was injured at the construction site, and her family has struggled for years. Yan-Li is simply soft-hearted. Once you two are married, he will naturally understand who is truly meant to walk through life by his side."

I stared at her. "So, you have known all along that he favors Tong Ning-Yuan?"

Ha Man-Nhu did not deny it. "The passions of youth do not put bread on the table. Ning-Yuan is sensitive and unstable, and her background could never sustain the weight of the Gu family. But you are different. You understand Yan-Li, you understand the company, and you understand the ancient architectural projects. Our families know each other’s roots intimately. You are the only ones truly suited for one another."

In my previous life, I had mistaken those hollow words for comfort.