Chapter 1 — Realizing It's Too Late

I worked as an interpreter at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for eight years, fluent in seven languages, but my husband always thought I was just an order tracking employee at an import-export company. That day, he took customers out to eat and asked me to help pour wine. During the meal, the guest said to my husband in Russian: "Your wife is really good, not as difficult to please as your little elf." My husband smiled and nodded, also answering in Russian: "Yes, later I still have to comfort that ancestor." I asked the guest in Russian: "How long does the bottle of red wine you requested need to breathe?" Both of them stiffened at the same time. I wiped my hands, smiled and looked at my husband: "Forgot to tell you, the first foreign language I learned is Russian." 1 “Since when did you learn?” Ha Canh Chau tightened his grip on my wrist, using such force that it caused me pain. The guest at the table, Roman, looked at me and then back at him, raising his wine glass to hide his awkwardness. “I took elective courses at university, but I will need to use them later when I work.” “An order tracking employee also needs to use Russian?” Ha Canh Chau stared at my face as if trying to judge how much I had understood. I pulled out my wrist and put down the wine bottle: "Who is the ancestor you just mentioned?" Roman pulled up his chair, stood up, said in Russian that the company still had work, then quickly took his coat and left. In the private room, only me and Ha Canh Chau remained. His phone kept vibrating, and a name appeared on the screen. Sam Man Thanh. Ha Canh Chau turned off the screen: "The customer just casually joked, do you take it seriously?" "It was the customer who took the initiative to mention it. He knew that there was a little elf in my house, and he also knew that she was very difficult to appease." "How many statements on the business table are true? Tonight I questioned you in front of the customer, the one who lost face was me." I looked towards my seat. On the back of the chair was a woman's scarf, and in front of it was a half-drunk glass of juice. Apparently before I arrived, someone was sitting here. After that person temporarily left, Ha Canh Chau called and asked me to come over and pour wine. “You said the customer suddenly brought more people and the service staff couldn't handle it?” “People are gone.” “Sam Man Thanh used to sit here?” Ha Canh Chau held the phone, an impatient expression appeared between her eyebrows: "She is the brand consultant appointed by Roman and wants to meet. After talking, go home first. Is there a problem?" The door was pushed open and a woman wearing a long beige dress entered. She picked up the shawl on the chair, curled her lips and looked at me: "Sister-in-law, don't blame Canh Chau. It's because my stomach isn't feeling well that's why he told me to go to the room to rest first. And that 'ancestor' is just a joke. We've been calling each other that since we were little." She raised her hand to grab the glass of juice, revealing a men's watch on her wrist. Before leaving the house, Ha Canh Chau was still looking for that watch. I moved my eyes to his wrist. That place was empty. Sam Man Thanh took the opportunity to cover his watch face: "This afternoon I went to meet guests without wearing a watch, Canh Chau let me borrow it to save face. Sister-in-law doesn't mind, right?" "Have." Her smile stopped for a moment. Ha Canh Chau pulled out the chair next to me: "It's just a watch. Tell her to return it to me tomorrow." “It's a wedding anniversary gift.” “Since it was given to you, how you handle it is your right.” The waiter carrying the hot soup walked in. Hearing the last sentence, the tray in his hand immediately stopped in mid-air. Sam Man Thanh took the spoon and carefully scooped me a bowl. "Sister-in-law, please eat something. Canh Chau remembered that your stomach is not good, so he specially told the kitchen to keep the yam soup for you." Ha Canh Chau pushed the bowl of soup in front of me: "Don't make a fuss over a joke. After drinking, I'll take you home." There is no pepper in the soup, nor coriander. He still remembers the things I don't eat. I grabbed the spoon, the lump in my chest seemed to loosen a bit. Maybe it's really because I think too much. He and Sam Man Thanh have known each other for many years. Borrowing a watch doesn't mean anything. Sam Man Thanh holds it

phone, smiled and shook it gently: "Canh Chau, the porridge I ordered for you has been delivered. Roman is a picky eater, I was with him all afternoon, now I'm really hungry." I looked down at the bowl of yam soup in front of me. The porridge delivery store is the Ha Canh Chau store that just opened on the phone. This bowl of soup is just a gift that comes with the meal. He knew I was coming so he conveniently told the hotel to warm it up. Ha Canh Chau picked up her bag: "If you have a stomachache, you're still running around. I'll take you to the room to rest." “What about sister-in-law?” “She knows the way.” Sam Man Thanh did not leave immediately, but instead took off his men's watch and placed it in front of me. "If your sister-in-law cares so much, then give it back to her. Canh Chau, you really know that she doesn't like others touching her things, but you still insist on giving it to me." Ha Canh Chau picked up the watch and put it back on her wrist. “Just wear it, there's a meeting tomorrow.” My hand holding the spoon stopped. He stood up and walked to the door, then turned around and draped his scarf over my shoulders. "It's cooled down outside, don't be angry without wearing more clothes. Text me when you get home. Be good." The familiar voice made me raise my head. He adjusted my scarf, his fingertips brushing the shell of my ear. I almost asked him what time he'd be home tonight, and I almost swallowed all of his words. Sam Man Thanh leaned against the door, raised his hand and shook the watch on his wrist. "Canh Chau, hurry up. Aunt is still waiting for us to come back and try the dishes for the engagement party." I raised my head to look at Ha Canh Chau. His hand was still on my shoulder, but his face had changed. 2 “What engagement party?” Ha Canh Chau withdrew his hand and turned to look at Sam Man Thanh. She covered her mouth, looking regretful: "I said something wrong. My aunt told me not to tell my sister-in-law for now, I'm afraid she'll think too much." “I ask you, what engagement party?” "The engagement party is for you and the Hua family. Auntie said your taste is good, so she asked you to come with me to try the food. Sister-in-law won't take this to heart, will she?" Sam Man Thanh answered very naturally, Ha Canh Chau's tense shoulders gradually relaxed. He held the scarf on my shoulder: "Do you hear me? Don't always think of other people as dirty." I didn't explain, just folded the towel and placed it in his hand. Three years ago, if I forgot to bring a towel, he would go halfway across the city to bring it to me. Now, with that same scarf draped over my shoulder, the first thing I smell is the woody perfume that Sam Man Thanh often uses. “I'll go home on my own.” Ha Canh Chau chased me out of the private room and grabbed my arm: "Thu Y, don't make trouble anymore. Take her downstairs and be right back." “She has a driver.” "The Hua family temporarily changed locations, her stomach hurts again, and my mother is also waiting. You go home first, I will be back at the latest at ten." When angry, he calls me Khuong Thu Y. Only when coaxing him did he call me Thu Y. This call made me stop.