Chapter 3 — Seven Years, Letting Go Once

"Don't sit at the main table. Chieu Tuyet just came back, many people don't know her. Let Nghien Tu take her with her, it will be easier to introduce her."

I looked towards the central banquet table. Wen Chieu Tuyet wore a high-end custom-made white dress. On her wrist... Is my jade bracelet. That bracelet is the last relic my mother left behind. Last night I searched for a long time. Tong Lan Anh also said she had never seen it. Yet right now... It was lying on Wen Chieu Tuyet's white wrist. Under the light, the bracelet shines with a gentle jade color. So beautiful that it's as if... It never belonged to me. When Bui Nghien Tu raised his glass to toast, the host laughed teasingly:

"The lady standing next to General Director Bui is so beautiful. Is she General Director Bui's wife?"

The whole audience immediately burst into laughter. Wen Chieu Tuyet quickly waved her hand.

"No, I'm not."

Mouth denies. But his face was red. What makes me more funny is... Bui Nghien Tu didn't explain right away. He just glanced at me. His eyes passed through the crowd, stopping on me for a few seconds. Then calmly moved away. Tong Lan Anh elbowed me.

"Stop showing your gloomy face. Today is a happy day for Nghien Tu."

On stage. Bui Nghien Tu accepted the microphone.

"Chieu Tuyet is a very important person to me."

Applause immediately rang out.

"She has suffered too much these past few years. In the future, I will try to protect her."

On Chieu Tuyet's eyes filled with tears. The glass in my hand shook slightly. Red wine spilled down the hem of her dress. There were whispers nearby.

"What about So Van Duong?"

"I heard they still haven't registered their marriage yet."

"We've been in love for seven years but still not married... I understand."

At that moment, a man's voice rang out from behind.

"Miss So, do you want to go to the break room to treat the stain?"

I turned my head. Ta Hanh Xuyen gave me a clean handkerchief. He is the company's new legal advisor. Normally very quiet. When Bui Nghien Tu saw that scene, his face immediately darkened. He got off the stage and walked straight in front of me.

"Who let you stand with him?"

I tightened my handkerchief.

"My dress is dirty."

"If it's dirty, go wash it."

He lowered his voice. In every sentence, every word is a warning.

"Don't cause trouble with me on occasions like this."

Ta Hanh Xuyen frowned slightly.

"General Manager Bui, Ms. So just needs a little help."

Bui Nghien Tu smiled faintly.

"The matter between us and our husband is not yet the time for outsiders to interfere."

Finally... He also admitted my identity in front of everyone. The only regret... Is when you see me as something that belongs to you. Wen Chieu Tuyet quickly ran forward and blocked in front of him.

"Mr. Nghien Tu, don't be angry. It's all my fault."

She raised her hand to wipe her tears. The jade bracelet followed that movement and slid out of her sleeve. I stared at her wrist.

"Give me back the bracelet."

Wen Zhaoxue was stunned. Tong Lan Anh immediately stepped forward.

"What are you paying for? I just let Chieu Tuyet wear it for a few days."

I looked straight at her.

"That's a relic my mother left behind."

The surrounding space suddenly became quiet. On Chieu Tuyet's face turned pale. She quickly tried to take off the bracelet.

"Miss Van Duong, sorry... I didn't know..."

The bracelet stuck tightly on the wrist. The more she panicked, the more she couldn't get it out. Bui Nghien Tu held her hand.

"Don't take it off anymore."

I looked up at him. He frowned. His eyes looked like he was looking at an unreasonable person.

"It's just a bracelet. If Chieu Tuyet likes it, let her wear it for a few more days."

My chest felt like it was being hit by a heavy object. The last souvenir my mother left me. I reached out to take it back. Wen Chieu Tuyet instinctively retreated. The jade bracelet hit the corner of the table hard. A crisp sound rang out. The bracelet... Broken pieces of jade were scattered all over my feet. The lights in the banquet hall were so bright that it made every crack in the jade pieces turn white. On Chieu Tuyet hugged her wrist, tears falling.

"Miss Van Duong... I didn't mean it."

Bui Nghien Tu's first reaction was to hold her hand.

"Are you hurt?"

I squatted down and picked up each piece of jade. The tip of the finger just touched the sharp edge. Blood immediately flowed out. No one saw. The person who spoke first was Tong Lan Anh.

"So Van Duong, have you done enough? Look how you scared Chieu Tuyet!"

Bui Kien An's face also darkened.

"It's just a small thing that makes a fuss right at the company's anniversary celebration. What else can be done?"

Ta Hanh Xuyen bent down to help me. Bui Nghien Tu immediately pushed his hand away.

"You don't need me to touch you."

I raised my head to look at him.

"Then you can pick it up for me."

He stopped. Wen Chieu Tuyet sobbed, clinging to his sleeve.

"Mr. Nghien Tu... my hand hurts..."

Bui Nghien Tu lowered his head to look at her. His eyes immediately became gentle. When he looked at me... Only a tired look remained.

"Van Duong, don't embarrass me."

This sentence... He has said it to me countless times. The day Wen Chieu Tuyet moved into my house, he said:

"Don't embarrass me."

The day Tong Lan Anh took my salary card, he also said:

"Don't embarrass me."

The day Bui Kien An got into debt, the creditor came to his door, I paid for it, but he still said:

"Don't embarrass me."

The person who always forced me to take a step back never thought... I was forced back to the edge of the cliff. I quietly picked up each piece of jade and put it in my palm. The sharp edges were covered with small blood stains. Ta Hanh Xuyen gave me a tissue. I don't accept. Suddenly, Bui Nghien Tu shouted loudly:

"So Van Duong, that's enough!"

All eyes in the banquet hall immediately turned to me. His expression was extremely unsightly.

"Today is an important occasion for the company. Do you have to make everyone unhappy?"

I slowly stood up.

"The relic my mother left behind... is broken."

"I will make it up to you."

He replied very quickly. So fast... As if just spending money could compensate for my pain. On Chieu Tuyet cried and choked up and said:

"Mr. Nghien Tu, don't blame Ms. Van Duong. She just cares too much about you and is afraid that I will steal you away."

Bui Nghien Tu's expression softened a bit. Tong Lan Anh immediately followed suit.

"Originally jealous. Chieu Tuyet has done nothing to get in her way."

The surrounding gossip arose again. Everyone's eyes looked at me with even more contempt.

"It's been seven years and I still can't keep a shred of dignity."

"General Manager Bui is really patient."

"If it were me, we would have broken up a long time ago."

Bui Nghien Tu heard everything. But he did not object. Just quietly took off his vest. Then put it on Wen Chieu Tuyet's shoulders. That shirt... I ironed it for half an hour last night.