Chapter 4 — Six-in-One Sugar Baby

4

When I woke the next morning, I felt refreshed. Ta Tuy, on the other hand, had dark circles under his eyes, as though he had not slept all night. He looked deeply resentful.

“You light the fire every time and leave me to put it out. Where is your conscience?”

“When have I done that? It isn’t that serious.”

I laughed awkwardly twice and tried to salvage my image.

“I only touched you. I didn’t actually do anything.”

“I may have had five ex-husbands, but things never went very far with any of them.”

His eyes grew even more accusing, and his voice came out through clenched teeth.

“You’re sure about that?”

Good. At least he understood.

I nodded with satisfaction and patted his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’ll try to forget them.”

“Let’s go on a date later. Try your best. From now on, I’ll support only you.”

Ta Tuy closed his eyes. I could not tell whether he wanted to cry or laugh.

I dragged him to a noodle shop. He still looked half-dead. The owner smiled as brightly as a wrinkled steamed bun.

“Pretty girl, bringing your boyfriend here for dinner again?”

“Last time he was a doctor, and the time before that he was a plumber. This time he’s wearing a suit, but it’s the same man every time.”

“Role-playing? You two are pretty bold.”

I gave an awkward laugh. What was wrong with the owner’s eyes? Obviously, none of them were the same person.

Ta Tuy shot me a cold look.

“Is this bowl of noodles meant only for me, or do my brothers get a share too?”

“If I had known they were coming, I wouldn’t have come.”

I, a shameless glutton, began to sweat. I hurriedly pushed the freshly served bowl toward him.

“Trust me. This place is really good.”

Ta Tuy: “...”

When the silence finally ended, all the dishes had been served. I rolled up my sleeves, ready to begin the feast. Sitting opposite me, Ta Tuy quietly picked the cilantro out of my noodles.

He did it with such practiced ease that I felt oddly touched. From touching my abs to removing cilantro from my bowl, why did he know so many of my everyday habits?

Could this man be secretly in love with me?

Delighted, I placed my hand on his thigh.

“Don’t fall for me. I’m only a legend.”

“Even though I like you, I still need to make one thing clear.”

“Between us, it’s only a cold financial arrangement. The person I love most is still my white-moonlight first love.”

Ta Tuy put down his chopsticks with a click. His eyes were complicated, and his lips pressed into a tight line. At last, he looked down at the hand I had left on his thigh.

“If you’re not going to eat, stop picking at my food.”

5

Our simple, pure financial arrangement lasted only a month.

Then I received a message from the bank.

“Dear customer, your account has been frozen due to insolvency.”

I called my parents, but neither of them could be reached. My bank cards were frozen. At last, I faced the painful truth: the rich big sister’s life had come to an end.

Life without money was extraordinarily difficult. I started taking every odd job I could find. My savings dwindled, and before long I could no longer afford to support Ta Tuy.

I gritted my teeth, stamped my foot, and decided to confess. But when I pushed open the door, Ta Tuy was already leaning against the frame. His lowered eyes made him look as though he had been waiting for me for a long time.

“You’re home.”

He did not look at me. He simply took the bag from my hand.

“Dinner is ready. Eat while it’s hot.”

I sat down at the table, overcome with guilt. Lately, I had often worked late and stayed out all night. Ta Tuy had become a devoted househusband, quietly cooking for me and never asking questions.

But as time passed, even a slow-witted person would realize that something was wrong.

I swallowed.

“There’s something I want to talk about. About us...”

He lowered his head, as if avoiding something.

“Eat first. We’ll talk afterward.”

The meal felt like torture. I had no idea what Ta Tuy was thinking. He looked like a man whose heart had already died.

Finally, he set down his bowl with a heavy thud.

“Are you cheating on me again?”

The hand holding his glass trembled. His voice was hoarse and self-mocking, each word seeming to catch in his throat.

“I knew it. You can’t come back to me every time.”

“Tell me. Who is it this time?”

The air froze for a moment.

I wanted to cry, but I had no tears left.

“This time... it’s worse than cheating.”