Chapter 2 — Marriage and Love Are Two Things, So Divorce Is Also My Thing

He turned to look at me.

"Tri Hoa, don't take it to heart. She's just talking about her college days."

On Thu Dieu also looked at me and smiled.

"That's right. I don't mean anything different. It's just that I think you're quite different from the type of girl that Mr. Thua Nghien liked before."

Pho Thua Nghien smiled slightly. That smile seemed like it was trying to help everyone end the awkward atmosphere.

“Love and marriage are two different things.”

He spoke very softly. It's as easy as hanging a shirt on the back of a chair. It was as light as conveniently pulling me out of the position of wife... Then placing it in a frame with a suitable name for marriage. I looked at him for three seconds. He still thought I would smile and nod like always. I put down my chopsticks. The tip of the chopsticks touched the ceramic plate, making a crisp "click" sound.

“What a coincidence.”

Pho Thua Nghien's eyebrows slightly frowned.

“What do you mean?”

I looked straight into his eyes, my voice calm.

“If I love... I will never choose a man like you.”

The whole room... No one spoke. The turntable just stopped in front of me. The steamed fish lay on the plate with its white eyes wide open. A few pieces of onion soaked in the soup were soft. The smile on Pho Thua Nghien's face finally couldn't be held anymore. Wen Shuyao tightened his grip on the wine glass. Finger joints turn white. I pulled out a tissue. Slowly wipe the corners of your mouth.

“But getting married is different.”

“We still have to consider reality.”

"He is stable, obedient, his monthly salary comes on time, his parents live far away, and I don't have a headache every day because of conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."

I folded the tissue neatly. Place it next to the plate.

“So you see.”

“The right person to marry... may not be the type of person I like.”

Pho Thua Nghien's throat moved slightly. Tran Uc coughed dryly.

“Tri Hoa... you're just kidding, right?”

I turned to look at him.

“If you find something funny, just say it.”

“I will explain it to you in more detail.”

Tran Uc immediately fell silent. Wen Shuyao put down the wine glass. The smile stiffened at the corners of his lips.

"Tri Hoa, did you misunderstand? I really didn't mean to cause a breakup between you two."

"I know."

I nodded.

“You're just reminding me that he didn't value people like me before.”

Her lips moved slightly. I didn't give her a chance to speak up.

“Then I will also remind you something.”

"For exes, don't always hold on to the past like a certificate of ownership."

“Men are not houses.”

“Just because you were in it... doesn't mean it belongs to you forever.”

Pho Thua Nghien's voice became lower.

“Lam Tri Hoa.”

I turned my head to look at him.

“When calling both my full name and my first name…”

“You should think carefully.”

“I want me to leave you some dignity…”

“Or do you want me to continue talking?”

His hand rested on the edge of the table. Fingertips turned white from exertion. I hold my bag. The chair's legs scraped hard against the floor, emitting a shrill screeching sound.

“I have already paid my share for this meal.”

“The rest... everyone just slowly review the past.”

Pho Thua Nghien also immediately stood up.

“Where are you going?”

I walked to the door. Hand just placed on the door handle. Behind him came his low voice.

“Don't overdo it.”

I turned my head to look at him. The crystal light from the ceiling shined down on that face. There was anger in his eyes Angry... Also panic. I smiled slightly.

“Deputy Thua Nghien.”

“Ever since you brought me here just to be a backdrop for the two of you…”

“Then you should think about something.”

“The background... sometimes steps out of the picture itself.”

When I walked out of the restaurant, the rain had just stopped. The stone steps in front of the door were still filled with water, the neon lights were broken in each puddle, speckled with patches of red and green. Pho Thua Nghien chased after him, his leather shoes stepping on the puddle, shooting up a circle of dirty streaks.

“Lam Tri Hoa.”

I don't stop. He grabbed my wrist, his palm squeezed very tightly, squeezing until my wrist bones were in pain. I bent down to take a look.

“Let go.”

He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress his anger.

“Do I have to embarrass you in front of so many people?”

I raised my head to look at him.

“So you also know what it means to lose face?”

His lower jaw tightened.

"Thu Dieu just returned home, everyone is just reviewing old stories. Is it appropriate for you to say such harsh words?"

The wind after the rain seeped into my collar, my fingertips were cold. I looked at him and slowly pulled my hand out.

"She stood right in front of you and said that you didn't value people like me before, and you said that marriage and love are two different things. Do you think that's appropriate?"

Pho Thua Nghien frowned.

“I didn't mean that.”

“So what do you mean?”

His lips moved slightly. In front of the restaurant, customers still come in and out continuously. The glass door kept opening and closing, the heat and the smell of food spilled out, the smell of fried garlic, the smell of alcohol and the smell of cigarette smoke mixed together, making my stomach cramp. Pho Thua Nghien lowered his voice.

“I just don't want the atmosphere to get awkward.”

"Are you afraid that someone will be embarrassed?"

He didn't answer. I replied for him.

"Afraid that she will lose face, afraid that my friends will lose face, afraid that as soon as my white moon light returns to the country, there will be no way back."

He stared at me.

“Why are you so sharp today?”

I laughed.

"Am I sharp today? Pho Thua Nghien, it's just that I won't help you fight fires anymore today."

His phone suddenly vibrated. He bowed his head and looked at the screen. The corner of my eye just happened to glance at the three words Wen Shu Dieu. The message appears right at the top.

"Mr. Thua Nghien, is Tri Hoa angry with me? Please calm her down, don't let it affect the two of you because of me."

The corners of my lips curled up slightly.

"See? She knows how to be a better person than you."

Pho Thua Nghien turned off the phone screen.

“Don't say sarcastic things like that.”

“I'm just telling the truth.” I took a step back. "With just one sentence, don't let it affect the two of you, she took all responsibility away from herself. As for you, with just one sentence don't overdo it, she pushed all the blame onto me."

Pho Thua Nghien rubbed hard between his eyebrows.

“I called you here today because I wanted you to join my circle of friends.”

“Integrate?” I looked at him. "Three hours, how much did everyone talk, how many sentences did I say? How many shrimps did you peel for her? How many times did she criticize me? And have you stood up for me just once?"

He pursed his lips. I took my phone out of my bag and glanced at the time. Nine forty-two minute.