Chapter 23 — Married 8 days, I bought a house in my own name

“There is something…”

I looked at her.

“In the future, if you really like a man…”

“Let's see first…”

“When he encountered trouble, who was he protecting?”

Giang Duyet raised his head and looked at me. Eye sockets are slightly red.

"I got it."

She said softly.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

I picked up the cup of coffee.

“We are all growing up.”

Giang Duyet left first. I sat in the bar for a while longer. Afternoon sunlight passes through the glass and falls onto the table. I suddenly realized... I have truly stepped out of that period of time. No more anger. No longer want to pursue. No longer trapped in the feeling of betrayal. Later that year, “Thieu Quang Sang Tao” won the award for emerging creative company of the year in Cam Thanh. The awards night was held at a riverside hotel. I wore a very simple black dress. When the MC read the company name, Doan Hao whistled so loudly offstage that the whole hall burst into laughter. I walked up to receive the award. The light shines down. There were a few very dazzling seconds. The host smiled and asked me:

“General Tong.”

“The company, established in less than a year, has achieved such achievements.”

“What do you feel is the most important thing?”

I held the microphone and was silent for two seconds. Then said:

“It means keeping the right to choose.”

The hall fell completely quiet. I looked at the light in the distance and continued:

“Sometimes people will tell you…”

“What is stable?”

“What is right?”

"What should we be patient with?"

“But in the end…”

“What truly keeps a person standing…”

"They themselves have the right to choose the life they want or not."

Applause rang out from the stands. After the awards ceremony, I went out to the hotel balcony to get some fresh air. Cam Giang at night still sparkles as always. Behind me there were footsteps. I turned my head. It's Tran Chi Vien. He wears a black shirt. Compared to a year ago, the whole person is much more mature.

“Congratulations.”

He gave me a small bouquet of flowers. Not a rose. It's a white lily of the valley flower.

“Why this flower?”

“I remember you said before…”

He smiled slightly.

“If we really start over again in the future…”

“I want everything to be clean from the beginning.”

I bowed my head and looked at the bouquet of flowers in my hand. After a moment, he smiled softly:

“Do you remember?”

He looked at me.

“A lot of things I didn't do well before.”

“But there are some words you said…”

“I have never forgotten.”

The two of them stood outside on the balcony for a long time. The night wind carries water vapor from the river surface. No one said anything more. A long time later, Tran Chi Vien spoke:

“Thieu Hoa…”

“Now I still feel…”

“Is being around you a scary thing?”

I turned my head to look at him. The man who disappointed me the most. Also a person who is learning little by little how to grow up. I was silent for a long time. Then slowly replied:

“It's not scary anymore.”

His eyes trembled slightly. I looked at the bouquet of white lilies in my hand.

“I still need time.”

He laughed.

“I really know how to wait.”

Outside the balcony, the lights on the other side of the river bank lit up in a long strip. I stood in the night wind, suddenly remembering a long time ago. The day I signed the contract to buy that apartment. In the homebuyers section, I once wrote down three words very slowly: Tong Thieu Hoa. At that time, I thought I was holding back the way out self. Only later did I understand... That was never the way back. It's the path that truly belongs to me.

“In this matter…”

I looked at Giang Duyet.

“The person with the biggest problem is not me.”

“It's him.”

“During our five years of love…”

“He chose to hide.”

“Choose to be ambiguous.”

“It was his choice.”

“It's not like I forced him to do that.”

Giang Duyet's eye sockets were red.

“Thank you.”

She said softly.

"Nothing."

I stood up.

“I invite you for coffee today.”

Leaving the coffee shop, I texted Tran Chi Vien a message:

“Giang Duyet came to find you.”

A moment later he replied:

“What did she say?”

“What should be said has been said.”

I looked at the screen and smiled faintly.

“Your part…”

“She did half the talking for you.”

“Thieu Hoa…”

His message just arrived.

“No need to explain.”

I answered very calmly.

"The past is over, let it go."

“But remember one thing carefully.”

“What happens later…”

“Don't let me know from other people's mouths anymore.”

The other party replied almost immediately: