Chapter 2 — Left Behind in the Rain

"Ha Ha simply does not understand how to bake; she only borrowed a few tools. Tong Diem, stop being so unreasonable and causing a scene," Bui Chinh said.

Unreasonable and causing a scene. I was merely protecting my own rights, yet in the eyes of Bui Chinh, I was being irrational and difficult. Lam Ha huddled behind his back, sobbing brokenheartedly.

"I truly did not know those were the items you were using for the competition... Diem Diem, are you really going to throw away our years of friendship over a single cake base?" Lam Ha pleaded.

Of course, it was not just about a cake base. But I had no desire to list every single grievance one by one. There was no point. I reached for my phone and dialed the police emergency number.

"Officer, there is a case here involving suspected grand larceny and the intentional destruction of property. I request that you dispatch someone to the scene immediately," I said.

Bui Chinh's expression darkened instantly. "Tong Diem, you really are impossible to reason with!" he accused.

Ten minutes later, the officers pushed through the door. Clutching my lease agreement and the original purchase receipts, I firmly insisted that they open an investigation and seal the shop to clarify the financial records. In front of everyone, I pointed directly at Lam Ha and declared, "From this day forward, the friendship between Lam Ha and me is officially over. There will be absolutely no reconciliation."

Bui Chinh's face turned deathly pale. He was forced to accompany us to the police station for two hours of negotiations before he could begrudgingly secure Lam Ha's release. Before leaving, he suppressed his rising temper and forced his face back into that facade of gentle concern. "If you are done making a scene, come home. Do not push your luck any further," he said.

I looked past his shoulder toward the gate, a mocking smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Your dear friend is crying her eyes out because the police have been questioning her. If you do not go comfort her now, she might just jump into the river right here on the street."

Bui Chinh immediately spun around to see Lam Ha squatting beside the police cruiser, trembling uncontrollably. He turned and rushed toward her. Before disappearing, he glanced back at me with a dark, venomous look. "Tong Diem, you will pay for your impulsiveness today."

I watched his back as he walked away and wiped my dry eyes. I had already paid the price for my mistakes long ago. Everything I was doing now was a necessary choice.

I returned to the apartment and began packing my luggage. The moment I pulled open the wardrobe, I felt a sharp pang of realization: in the four years of this relationship, beyond providing free labor like a servant, I did not even have enough personal belongings to fill the trunk of a car. Just as I zipped up my suitcase, Bui Chinh pushed open the door. He was carrying the pastries from the south side of the city--the ones I used to love--with an expression as casual as if the conflict earlier that day had never occurred. He walked up to me and asked with a light smile, "Are you done being angry yet?"

I kept my face cold and remained unmoved, pulling the handle of my suitcase up. "I already said it: we are over."

For once, Bui Chinh did not lose his temper; instead, he softened his voice. "Fine, let us not talk about this for now. You wanted to go to the organic fruit orchard deep in the mountains of the neighboring city to secure the contract for fresh produce for your competition, right? Let me drive you."

The courier service I had originally booked had suddenly canceled. The orchard manager warned me that if I missed the deadline, they would give the exclusive supply rights to another competitor. This was crucial for my most important baking competition. My hand, gripping the suitcase handle, hesitated for a moment.

"Let us go. The mountain roads are difficult to navigate."

Bui Chinh gave me no room to refuse. He took my suitcase and insisted on driving me in his off-road vehicle to the remote orchard, tucked away in a desolate wilderness. Along the way, he coaxed me gently, saying that once the contract was signed, I could go wherever I pleased and he would no longer force his will upon me. Two hours later, we arrived at the deserted warehouse of the orchard. Bui Chinh told me the owner had gone down the mountain to receive a shipment and instructed me to go inside to inspect the samples first. Just as I stepped inside to check the goods, Bui Chinh's phone rang. He answered it. On the other end was the sound of Lam Ha wailing about how she had lost followers on her livestream. Bui Chinh glanced at me and made an excuse about needing to go to the car to retrieve an umbrella. A few seconds later, the roar of an engine starting echoed outside. I turned and sprinted toward the door, only to see the back of the off-road vehicle speeding away, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. My phone vibrated; it was a call from Bui Chinh. His voice remained calm and mild.

"You made Ha Ha lose face in front of her fans today, so you can stay in these mountains and reflect on your behavior. Once you publicly post on your social media admitting that the shop was actually Ha Ha's to begin with, I will send someone to pick you up."

I looked at the black, roiling clouds gathering on the horizon and screamed, cutting him off. "Bui Chinh! There is a special warning for a massive storm today! Do not play games with this!"

Bui Chinh chuckled softly over the phone, sounding utterly certain. "Tong Diem, as long as you obediently post the clarification, not only will I come to get you, but next month, I will even open a new shop for you."

With that, he hung up and blocked my number. Almost instantly, a violent tempest began to pour down. A notification from the local weather bureau flashed on my screen: a Red Alert for mudslides and landslides.