Chapter 3 — Love Can Be Wrong, Money Can't

7 I was almost pulled into the back seat by Ky Canh Nhien following the force of his hand. You really are a simple person... or rather, pure in personality, completely unable to see the strange atmosphere between me and Zhou Jingzhao. Just now, he kept introducing us to each other, but none of us replied a single word. But from your perspective, this is not unusual. Chu Kinh Chieu is famous for being cold, not everyone he respects, and not paying attention to me is also very normal. Ky Canh Nhien is still talking non-stop: "I've been practicing very hard lately. Every morning at eight o'clock I'm the first person to come to the club. I'll definitely win the championship!" I met Ky Canh Nhien in my second year living in America, we lived in the same apartment complex, and we took care of a stray cat. He doesn't have any of the bad habits of rich kids. Besides his hobby of racing, he doesn't even hang out in bars. I was in Shanghai for a few months when I still knew Zhou Jingzhao, and at that time he also mentioned the Ky family. Now that I think about it, in fact, if it weren't by chance, the first time I met Chu Kinh Chieu wouldn't have been a show off at all. Just like the first time I met Ky Canh Nhien, except for the backpack on his back, he was no different from normal international students. To the point, I have never associated him with the famous "Ky family" in the construction and real estate industry. Perhaps in families like theirs, children have to keep to themselves when they go out, modesty is an unwritten rule. Don't look at Ky Canh Nhien like a little overlord every day, but when he pursues a girl, he's extremely stupid. Just holding the cat food package, squatting next to the little cat, waiting for chance encounters. When he couldn't find a topic to talk about, he opened the bag of cat food and seriously introduced the brand. The five-year struggle with Zhou Jingzhao had consumed all my thoughts and energy. Even though a year has passed, I'm no longer in the mood to start any other relationships. But that day, Ky Canh Nhien wore the simplest white T-shirt, maybe it was ironed, or maybe he was born handsome, just standing there was clean and radiant. When he was rejected, he did not hide, his eyes were bright, and he sincerely said: "It's okay, I... I can wait." After that, he followed me back to his country. When she really ran out of options, Ky Canh Nhien burst into tears, her eyes were red, her forehead gently resting on the back of my hand: "Try to get to know me... I... I really have no choice anymore. You can play with me for a while, if you really don't like it then... you can kick me." At that moment, I felt like I saw my old self again. And at that moment, I seemed to understand the mood Chu Kinh Chieu had when he faced me that year. Unrequited love overflows like a gamble—inherently unfair. When he is the host, he can sit up high and look at the world. And you can only look up at that man, placing each layer of his crown on your head, but forever unable to touch it. I was like Chu Kinh Chieu that year, sighing in silence: "Wait... wait until you win the PD racing championship, then confess your love to me." I'm not sure I love him that much. But me You can't just let yourself indulge in the past. Ky Canh Nhien is still passionately talking about the championship. In the dim car, he was as excited as a puppy, proudly holding out the match schedule. I raised my head and took a quick look—it was filled with a schedule, each round of competition, with a red check mark behind each completed match. He bowed his head, crawled on the table, marking and muttering: "There are three more, only three more red marks... then I can confess my love to Ninh Sanh." I clenched my fingers, turned my head to look out the window, the quiet night scene. After deciding, I turned to look at him and said: "Canh Nhien, sister..." Before I could finish my words, the phone suddenly rang and interrupted me. He hung up and muttered: "That's strange, didn't my brother just come to your house yesterday? Why did he come again today..." 8 In the middle of the road, Ky Canh Nhien was urgently called home by his family. He got out of the car halfway and told the driver to take me home. I was not surprised to see Chu Kinh Chieu again so soon. The fact that he got the address and then stood in front of my house was exactly right, I wasn't surprised. Chu Kinh Chieu called out: "Ninh Sanh." After that, without saying anything more, the hallway sensor light turned off. He leaned back against the door, cigarette between his fingers, firelight flickering in the darkness. “Break up with Canh Nhien.” He extinguished the cigarette and spoke, his voice hoarse as if it were stuck in his throat. {Read full at Van Ha Tuong page} Suddenly, anger surged, like a fire burning my limbs. What do you rely on? Finally, on what basis do we say this? I laughed coldly: "What right do you have to say that? What? Are you Ky Canh Nhien's mother? Or does everyone in your family like to do this kind of thing?" Chu Kinh Chieu grabbed my wrist tightly: "Ninh Sanh, you always get yourself into trouble." Who said it's not true? First was Chu Kinh Chieu - the Buddha who lived a noble life, then Ky Canh Nhien - with an equally illustrious family background. God just waved his hand, causing trouble for anyone I met! I pulled away from his hand and pushed hard: "I like that." Chu Kinh Chieu burst out laughing, a laugh just like before—confident, arrogant, not shy at all. Just like that year, when I made up my mind to say the words: "Let's not see each other anymore." He looked at me, smiled, and said: "Okay. When you want to meet me, I will come pick you up." That certainty and calmness made my determination crumble to nothing. And now, every word he says is still like a knife cutting straight into the heart: "What do you like about it? Stupid naivety, or a smooth, talkative mouth? You've been with me for so many years, and in the end you fall into the hands of such a useless guy?" When he looked into my eyes, his voice softened: "Okay, be a little better. Ky Canh Nhien is not suitable for you." I realized my hands were shaking, but clearly I had nothing to fear anymore. I soon took back all the love I once offered him as a blind sacrifice. In this man, I have nothing left to lose. "From the contract to the villa key, you even came to the place yourself..." I also followed his nonchalant style and said faintly: "Don't tell me... you want to come back to me, okay?" Chu Kinh Chieu's expression froze. Under the gentle light, I saw hesitation your eyes. So, I smiled cruelly: "But now you don't have a chance. If you don't mind, I still have a position as a lover—no name, no identity, no face. How's it? Are you interested?" “Ninh Sanh.” Chu Kinh Chieu was clearly angry, but laughed because he was so angry: "Don't joke like this." “Are you kidding?” All these years have passed, but the resentments from those years have not gone away. "Only I am qualified to be your anonymous lover, and you can't stand it? When you said this to me that year, was it sincere or just a joke?" Recalling the past, all memories feel like they are being torn apart. Chu Kinh Chieu was silent for a long time, then said: "That year was for me... except for the unfortunate things, most of the time, it wasn't like you were that bad." I did not respond. Perhaps human memory always prioritizes retaining pain. To the point where… I had forgotten— all these years, actually… there was more tenderness than hurt. At the beginning, everyone thought I was just Zhou Jingzhao's temporary interest. That year, there were even people betting—betting how long I could be with him. The person who dared to bet the longest only boldly bet... three months. I secretly joined and tried to boldly bet... four months. When Chu Kinh Chieu discovered him, he just held a cigarette and smiled: "Is the money enough? If not, I'll add a little more, put more in." I straightened my back and instinctively waved my hand: "Forget it... I'm afraid I'll lose all your money." Chu Kinh Chieu laughed so much that his chest trembled. I didn't understand what was so funny. After laughing, he gently squeezed my cheek with two fingers: "What are you afraid of? I'll let you win." Later, that bet was a big win for me, a full bag. Chu Kinh Chieu is a person who cannot sit still, bright lights, places like the clubhouse, bars—when he has free time, he often goes there. But he also doesn't like to drink and have fun. In such busy places, he just sits quietly in a corner. Chu Kinh Chieu took me out a few times. Seeing that I didn't like it, he didn't force me. There was a time when he went out at night to play alone, and I stayed at the villa to do my own work. At that time, the only roommate who knew about it, sadly blamed me: "You're so stupid, you didn't follow him closely. That place is full of girls, aren't you afraid that Chu Kinh Chieu will be lured away by someone? You have to follow him to claim sovereignty, right?" Sovereignty? I didn't say anything, just smiled. For a very long time, I never asked for anything from Chu Kinh Chieu—not even for him to reciprocate my love. I just sometimes, a little selfishly, wish he belonged only to me. I don't know when, he gradually started going home at night, and some days he drove home after finishing work. Chu Kinh Chieu is very picky about eating. When he gets excited, he will go to the kitchen to cook the dishes he likes. Over time, he also started cooking the dishes I like.