Chapter 1 — My Lover and Best Friend Betrayed Me Together

My best friend, my boyfriend, and I have been working at the same law firm for the fourth year. People tease us as "the three that move together". When our colleagues tried to force us to play the game "you have, I don't", Nguyen Duong was the first to speak:

“I am Tan Tu Viet's best partner.”

I smiled and replied:

“I'm his live-in girlfriend.”

Nguyen Duong did not give up:

“He drives me to work every day.”

The smile at the corner of my lips stiffened, I bent down one finger. Tan Tu Viet always used the excuse of different work hours, telling me to take the bus or take the subway by myself. For four years. Nguyen Duong ignored my pale face and continued to say:

“One day he talked to me about the case for eight hours.”

“There are three nights a week when he stays up with me.”

“I bought the red underwear on him.”

The whole room burst into laughter. But after the laughter, the atmosphere fell into eerie silence. At this point, I only have one last finger left. Nguyen Duong leaned close to me and suddenly smiled:

"That National Day, he didn't meet your parents, but met my parents."

My breath stopped, I turned my head to look at Tan Tu Viet, who still calmly did not change his face. No wonder he didn't answer my phone calls, and even disregarded the taboo in his profession and turned off the phone for twenty-four hours. Turns out he was going to meet his future wife's parents. All my fingers are bent down. I left right in front of Tan Tu Viet. … Go out for two hours. My phone didn't ring once. No calls, no messages. Like whether I was there or not made no difference. After drinking an iced Americano in one gulp, I returned to the law firm. My colleague Tieu My winked at me:

"Why did you come back first? Where are the other two?"

At this law firm, everyone knows that Tan Tu Viet and Nguyen Duong are "twins" in the law department of Tsinghua University. The two of them cooperated well, had equal professional abilities, and were recognized by everyone as talented men and beautiful women. More than one person looked at me with pitying eyes. Even on this date, because we had to change shifts, someone advised me:

"Manh Gia, the three of you are crowded together, when will you retreat?"

At that time, I still foolishly laughed:

“Going to the movies today, there are many seats, you won't be able to squeeze in.”

But just entered the movie theater. Just because Nguyen Duong said he wanted to go for a walk. The three movie tickets in Tan Tu Viet's hand were immediately thrown into the trash. I still remember it now. Feeling a sharp pain when the ticket stub swipes across the back of your hand. As soon as we arrived at the shopping center, we met a group of colleagues. Nguyen Duong pulled them back and insisted on playing the game. Tan Tu Viet did not say a word. Turn around and book a luxurious room right away. I worked overtime for three months, and with great difficulty was able to get a day off, but just like that, I was devastated. During that process, no one asked me a question. Before every date, I always emphasize, don't change plans midway, don't talk about their project halfway through the meal. One person patted my head, one person stuck out his tongue at me:

“Obey!”

But the end result is always because Nguyen Duong wants to eat hot pot, wants to drink milk tea, wants to play a close game. The plans I worked hard to prepare, the tickets I bought in advance, were all finally thrown into the trash. Nguyen Duong will also apologize:

“Sorry Okay, recently the case I'm in charge of is so difficult, there's a lot of pressure..."

At this time, Tan Tu Viet will take the opportunity to ask about the case. The two of them looked like they were at a law firm, starting to discuss back and forth. During that process, I couldn't squeeze in a single sentence. You can only bow your head and listen silently. Otherwise count the white clouds in the sky, otherwise count the bubbles in the cup. Finally, he went with Tan Tu Viet to take Nguyen Duong home. When I get home, I want to say a few words to you. He frowned again:

“Gia Gia, I'm tired, let's talk later.”

The words stuck in my throat could only be swallowed back. Tan Tu Viet and I have loved each other for many years, and my parents have wanted to meet him for a long time. But he is always very busy. Because of me, my parents would rather change planes and fly to see him. He asked for leave, made reservations, but at the last minute he disappeared. The next day, he told me he was hit by a car. But I didn't know until recently. No incidents, no car accidents. He just went to meet my best friend's parents. My heart hurts to the point of numbness. I forced a smile and nodded:

“Everyone is right, three people traveling together is really tight. After that, I won't interfere anymore."

That's right. I am the oil bottle pulling Tan Tu Viet's feet. In college, I failed a class and asked him for tutoring. If I didn't pass the exam, I asked him for help. At that time, he always laughed helplessly:

"Gia Gia is so stupid, only you can take good care of me."

Not like now:

“You're an adult, can you stop disappearing like a child? It's really tasteless.”

He returned to the office. Only whispers remained outside the door. Nguyen Duong curled his lips and smiled meaningfully, as if nothing had ever happened, comforting me:

“Don't pay attention, he's had a lot of cases lately, it's just a lot of pressure.”

I slowly withdrew my hand, my voice was very soft:

“He's right, I should comfort myself well.”

That afternoon, I submitted my resignation letter. The HR director took off his glasses in surprise:

“Meng Gia, are you sure?”

“That year, she relied on her achievements to stay close to the bottom of the list to get into this law firm, and endured countless hardships. Why say go?

I gave a bitter smile. Taking the exam for this law firm was probably the most beyond my ability in my life. But I didn't study law, I didn't understand the law, I didn't read the documents. Before, because of Tan Tu Viet, I gritted my teeth and tried to resist. But now, I'm tired. Whether it's this relationship or this job, if it's not compatible, it's just not compatible. Cannot be forced.

“I just… thought it through.”

The director patted my shoulder, smiled and said:

"There are times when one step back, the sky is high and the sea is wide."

After setting a time off from work, I returned to my work position and started processing documents. Nguyen Duong held the documents and walked to my side, looking awkward:

“Gia Gia, are you in a bad mood? This official dispatch is wrong..."

I calmly stood up, opened the document and looked at it a few times. Then directly shook his head:

"You're wrong, I didn't do this."

After speaking, Nguyen Duong's eyes gradually turned red. She looked at me, lowered her voice:

“Are you angry with me?”

“If you have an opinion with me, I'm sorry, but Gia Gia, legal work is not child's play, it cannot be so arbitrary.”

I was about to refute, but was stopped by Tan Tu Viet's cold voice:

“Manh Gia, sorry Go."

I raised my head in shock and looked straight at the person in front of me.

"Tan Tu Viet... haven't you asked a question yet?"

“No need to ask. With that mind of yours, it's definitely you who's wrong."

Tan Tu Viet took one look at me and made an extremely certain judgment. He hadn't even opened the document yet. Don't even know what we're talking about. Yet he firmly stood on Nguyen Duong's side like that. I looked at him, then looked at Nguyen Duong standing next to him. The last thread in my heart suddenly broke. There was constant laughter around.