Chapter 1 — Marriage and Love Are Two Things, So Divorce Is Also My Thing

Marriage and Love Are Two Things, So Divorce Is Also My Story My husband's first love returned from abroad. He personally took me to the purification party. Just halfway through the meal, she smiled, as if unintentionally saying:

"The other day, Mr. Thua Nghien once said that if you love, you will definitely not love a girl like me."

Pho Thua Nghien slowly peeled the last shrimp and placed it in her bowl. Only then did he turn to look at me.

"Tri Hoa, don't take it to heart. Marriage and love are inherently two different things."

I put down my chopsticks. Looking up at him, the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

“What a coincidence.”

“If it's love…”

“I would never choose a man like you.”

The air conditioner in the private room is very strong. The turntable's glass surface is covered with a layer of cold light. Next to Pho Thua Nghien's hand was a pile of peeled shrimp shells, red oil flowing along the edge of the white ceramic plate in streaks. Wen Shu Dieu sat on his right hand, his fingertips holding a glass of wine, the rim of the glass filled with tiny drops of water. She put the shrimp he had just peeled into her mouth and slowly chewed it bit by bit. I sat on the left hand side of Pho Thua Nghien. The bowl of soup in front of me had long since cooled, and the layer of fat floating on the surface had congealed into a thin ring. This is the first cleansing party since Wen Shuyao returned to the country. That's also the way Pho Thua Nghien used to notify me. At five twenty in the afternoon, he texted me a message.

"Thu Dieu is back. Some old classmates are holding a purification party for her. You can come too."

"Is it appropriate for me to come?"

He replied:

"Everyone brings their family along, don't think too much."

I stared at the words family for three seconds. Then change into another dress and call a car here. There are seven people in the private room. Five people were university friends of Pho Thua Nghien. The other person is Wen Shu Dieo. As soon as she saw me, she stood up, smiled and extended her hand.

"Are you Tri Hoa? I heard Mr. Thua Nghien mention you a lot."

I shook her hand. The palm of my hand is cold. Pho Thua Nghien pulled out a chair for me very naturally, his voice was as calm as usual.

"Sit next to me."

That moment... I thought I was being respected. Until the party had been going on for about twenty minutes. On Thu Dieu suddenly smiled and asked:

"Mr. Thua Nghien, do you remember the wonton shop behind the school gate?"

Pho Thua Nghien's movement of picking up food stopped.

"It looks like it's been dismantled."

"Unloaded a long time ago."

On Thu Dieu laughed, his eyes curved.

"In the past, every time I was about to take an exam, I insisted on eating a bowl and said I'd pass it no matter what."

Tran Uc sat opposite, banging the table and laughing loudly.

"I know about this. Back then, he even took Thu Dieu to skip self-study class at night to eat. When he returned, the instructor stopped him right in front of the gate."

Pho Thua Nghien bowed his head and smiled softly. From beginning to end... Never looked at me once. I picked up a pair of chopsticks, picked up a slice of lotus root and put it in my mouth. The sour taste of vinegar rushed straight to the throat. Their college years... Without me. Their twenties... Also without me. All of that is okay. The past never belonged to me. But I never wanted to win it. But the second time Wen Shu Dieo mentioned the old story... Her eyes fell on me.

"Tri Hoa, don't take it to heart okay. We are all old friends, sometimes we don't know how to talk."

I put down the glass of water.

"It's okay. Everyone just keep going."

Pho Thua Nghien looked at me. It seemed like it wanted to confirm that I really wasn't paying attention. Then he turned to her again. For the next hour... I heard them talking about their college club. Hear them talk about their trip after graduation. Heard the story of how we all got stuck in the library on a rainy day. Listen to Tran Uc tell how many girls pursued Pho Thua Nghien that year. Listening to Wen Shu Dieu tell the story of the year she left, Pho Thua Nghien saw her off to the airport, standing in front of the security check gate still unable to leave. I quietly used a spoon to stir the soup. The bottom of the spoon touched the bowl, making a soft sound. Finally, Pho Thua Nghien turned to me and asked:

"Why don't you eat?"

I looked at his shirt cuffs. There was a streak of shrimp oil on it. Just now Wen Shuyao said his hands were dirty. He immediately pulled out a tissue and gave it to her. Then conveniently peel the shrimp for help. First child. Second child. Third child. He remembers she doesn't eat onions. Don't eat fatty meat. Eating fish makes you afraid of bones. He also remembers... I don't eat coriander. Because the first year after getting married, he used to put coriander in my bowl. That night I vomited until morning. He remembers it well. It's using my stomach... In exchange for that memory. I said softly:

"The soup is cold."

Pho Thua Nghien frowned and waved for service.

"Please warm up this bowl of soup."

On Thu Dieu looked at the bowl of soup, the smile on his lips faded a bit.

"Mr. Thua Nghien still knows how to take care of others as always."

Tran Uc also joined in teasing.

"Of course. Now Deputy General Director is a model husband."

Pho Thua Nghien raised his hand to gently touch my glass of water.

"Tri Hoa Binh is often busy with work, so he will do whatever he can do."

When he said that... Everyone in the room looked towards me. I should have cooperated. Like every time. Then said he was really nice. I was about to pick up the glass of water. Fingertips just touched the glass. The cold had crept straight from the fingertips into the palm of the hand. I picked up the glass of water and took a sip. On Thu Dieu leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning my face.

"What does Tri Hoa do?"

"Do brand planning."

"It's very hard, isn't it?"

She tilted her head to look at Pho Thua Nghien.

"A while ago, Thua Nghien said he didn't like girls who were too strong. He said work at the company was busy enough, and when he got home and had to listen to discussions about plans, it was very tiring."

Someone laughed. But I quickly tried to suppress it. Pho Thua Nghien's movement of picking up food suddenly stopped. I looked up at him. Don't immediately deny it. Wen Shu Dieu seemed not to notice his pause and continued to say:

“At that time, Mr. Thua Nghien also said that when it comes to love, you should find someone who makes him feel comfortable. Personality is a bit gentle, emotions are a bit stable, it's best not to be too sharp.”

Having finished speaking, she gently placed the wine glass on the table. The collision sound is not loud. But it was enough to make the whole room fall silent. I saw Tran Uc bowing his head to drink wine. The two remaining friends quietly looked at each other and exchanged glances. Fu Thua Nghien placed the just-peeled shrimp on Wen Shu Dieu's plate.