Chapter 1 — Messages From the Extra Bedroom

Twelve o'clock midnight, I suddenly received a WeChat message from my colleague Truong Thien. "Sister, isn't the spare bedroom in your house vacant? Let me rent it." I tried to hold back my sleepiness and replied: "Not for rent." I thought that was the end of the matter. Unexpectedly, the phone rang again and again. "I'll pay you nine yuan a month, is that okay?" "Anyway, the room is empty, if I rent it to you, I'll still make a profit on the electricity and water bills, there's no loss." I turned on silent mode, not wanting to get involved anymore. Who would have thought that she would call directly. "Lam Duyet, don't be silent anymore, I think this is really okay. Think about it, it's very boring for you to be alone in such a big house. I moved in so I can talk to you and help you share the housework. Nine yuan is not a small amount, nowadays even the apps that attract new users don't pay that much." "Tut." I hung up immediately, threw the phone on the nightstand, Then he turned over and covered his head with the blanket. The world immediately became quiet again. The next morning, I went to the company. As soon as the elevator door opened, Truong Thien stood right in front of her. She smiled brightly, holding two cups of coffee in her hand. "Ms. Duyet, good morning! I bought you a cup of latte." She handed a cup to me. I leaned forward to avoid it. "Thanks, I'm not used to drinking." Her hand stopped in mid-air, the smile on her face also stiffened for a moment. The surrounding colleagues began to look over. She quickly regained her composure, placed the cup of coffee on my table, and said in a moderate voice: "Miss Duyet, I must have called too late last night and bothered you, right? Don't be angry, I'm just in a hurry. My lease is about to expire, and I still haven't found a place to live." She bowed her head, looking pitiful. Several colleagues who were close to her immediately gathered around. "What's wrong with Thien Thien? Don't have a place to stay?" "Oh my god, so where are you going to stay these days?" Truong Thien sniffed her nose, her eyes red. "I don't know anymore... if that really doesn't work, I'll probably have to sleep temporarily at some 24-hour restaurant." As she spoke, she glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "Doesn't Ms. Duyet's house have a spare room? Let her stay there." Please ask for a few days.” A colleague suggested. Others immediately followed: "That's right, we're all colleagues, it's okay to help each other a little. Ms. Duyet is alone in such a big apartment, one more person is fun." Truong Thien looked at me, her eyes filled with expectation - and calculation. "Mrs. Duyet, I'm asking you, just let me stay temporarily for a few days, I'll move out right away." I opened the computer, logged into the company system. "My house, it's not convenient." I refused to finish. definitely, leaving no gaps. Truong Thien's face immediately turned pale. The surrounding air sagged. She clutched the hem of her shirt, her knuckles turning white. "Lin Duyet, what do you mean? Your house is so big, who will die if you leave a room empty if you don't let me stay for a few days? Are you so jealous that you can't bear to see other people feel comfortable?" Her voice was shrill. I still didn't raise my head, my eyes glued to the screen. "It's my house, I have the right to decide." "You—!" She trembled with anger. "Don't think that having money is good! Living in a luxury apartment, driving a good car, but your heart is as cold as ice! People like you, deserve to be alone all their lives!" The whole office looked at us and whispered. I finally looked up and calmly looked at her. "Are you finished? When you're done, go back to work." Maybe she didn't expect me to react so calmly, frozen on the spot. I didn't pay attention anymore and went back to processing emails. At lunch break, I went to make coffee. As soon as she entered the break room, she heard Truong Thien's voice inside. "You don't see the look on her face, she's so arrogant. What if she has a little money, I think."

Who am I?" "That's right, normally I think I'm a good person, but I would have thought that he would be so cold." "Thien Thien, stop being sad. People like that are inherently selfish, so in the future I can stay away." I picked up the glass and walked in. The conversation immediately stopped. The people in the room were confused, avoiding my eyes. Only Truong Thien was still staring at me, her eyes full of malice. I calmly walked to the coffee maker, pressed the button. Hot water poured down, steam rising. I turned around, looking straight at her. "Speaking ill of others behind their backs, it's not a good habit." Truong Thien smirked. lips smiled coldly. “Yes, I said, what can you do to me? Lam Duyet, I'm telling you - this isn't over yet." In the afternoon, the director called me into the office. He looked at me with an awkward expression. "Lam Duyet, about Truong Thien... see if you can..." I stood in front of the desk, silent. "That girl, being alone in society is not easy. Just now he was crying and ran to me, saying the rental house had expired and he didn't know where it was." The director sighed. "Don't you have an empty room in your house? Consider doing the company a favor and letting it stay temporarily for a few days. Rent, electricity and water, whatever, just let him pay it himself.”