Chapter 1 — Spring Never Ends

1After receiving my first month's salary, I bought three air conditioners for my house. But when I got off work and pushed open the door to enter the house, I discovered that my west-facing room was still as hot as a steamer. There is also a giant squash on the bed. Mom proudly patted the squash shell: "The air conditioner has been installed in your brother's and sister's rooms, and the spare one is installed in your sister's drawing room." "The position of the heater in your room is pointed directly at the window of your sister's room, the buzzing will make it impossible for your sister to sleep. At night, if you hug the squash to sleep, it will cool down just the same." I opened my mouth, my chest was so painful that I couldn't speak. She forgot, last month I was hospitalized for heatstroke, and when I was discharged, the doctor told me absolutely not to endure the heat any longer. I turned my head to look at the drawing room at the end of the hallway, cold air seeping out from the crack in the door. Dad is adjusting the light on the easel for her. The brother brought a piece of chilled watermelon that he had just cut and brought it to her mouth. And my boyfriend of three years, holding the remote, seriously helped her adjust the direction of the air conditioner: "Push the air vent up, don't let the cold blow." I wiped the sweat from my forehead, looked at the funny squash on the bed, and suddenly didn't want to argue anymore. I took out my phone and sent the leader a WeChat message: "You said moving to a new company in Van Thanh could be official soon, I agree." Having endured twenty-two summers, I just want to give myself a never-ending spring. …… Putting the phone away, I turned around and walked towards the kitchen, wanting to pour a glass of cold water. The drawing room door was just cleverly pushed open. Luc Ky came out, holding Ha Thu Man's empty cup in his hand. Saw me standing in the hallway. His footsteps stopped. "Thu Du, you're already done with work." He walked over, his eyes glancing at my sweaty bangs. "Yes." I replied, going around him to get the kettle. Luc Ky followed me into the kitchen, put the cup on the sink. "Auntie told me about the air conditioner." "Recently, Man Man is preparing for that very important illustration exhibition. The drawing room cannot be too hot, otherwise the paint will dry quickly, affecting the feeling of her hands." "That's why I bought the air conditioner for her." I picked up the cup and took a small sip. "Just borrowed it for a few days." Luc Ky frowned slightly, seeming to feel the calmness in his voice. I'm a bit unusual. He reached out to touch my forehead, I tilted my head away. His hand slipped into space, he awkwardly took it back, stuffed it into his pocket. "Your room is really exposed to the sun, but the heater installed there will really make a noise to Man Man." "She sleeps lightly, you know that." Of course I know. The whole family knows that Ha Thu Man sleeps lightly, has a bad stomach, and is afraid of cold and heat. So my room is always located on the most western side. Food must always satisfy her taste. “Yes, I know.” I put down the glass of water. Luc Ky breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "I know you're the most understanding person." He reached out and rubbed my hair. "Tomorrow weekend, I'll take you to choose a better cooling mattress, then buy a silent fan to make up for it." "No need." I took a step back, escaping his palm. Luc Ky's hand stiffened in midair. "Ha Thu Du, don't be petty." His voice lowered a bit. "This painting exhibition is really important to Man Man, you're my sister, how about a little sympathy?" "I didn't say I didn't sympathize." "You said you don't need to buy a fan, you really don't need it anymore." Luc Ky stared at me for a few seconds, as if wanting to find a trace of anger. sulk on my face. But I don't have it. Even his eyebrows didn't frown. "It's up to you." He turned around a bit annoyed and went to pour warm water for Ha Thu Man. "The water temperature is just right, please bring it in." He handed me the cup, “Just right

Man Man also mentioned you a while ago, saying that your first month's salary bought an air conditioner for the house. She was very touched. "I didn't accept it. "You're all sweaty, I'm going to take a shower." I turned around and walked out of the kitchen. Behind me came the heavy sound of a glass cup hitting the sink. I returned to the room that was as hot as a steamer. The large squash on the bed still lay there quietly, with a tiny layer of water on the surface. I pulled out the bottom drawer of my desk. Inside is a blue handheld fan. On the handle are engraved two words: Thu Du. This was my second year of college. The day was extremely hot and the dorm's air conditioning was broken. Luc Ky ran three streets to buy it for me. I stretched out my fingers and touched the two engravings. Fingertips are slightly white. I picked up the small fan with the name engraved on it and was about to put it in the drawer. The room door was suddenly pushed open. Ha T. Tu Hang's brother strode in carrying a plate of watermelon. The door hit my elbow hard. There was a crisp "click" sound. The small blue fan that had accompanied me for three years fell to the ground. The outer shell broke into several pieces, and the fan blade popped out weakly. Ha T. Tu Hang bowed his head and took a look. Without paying attention, he stepped over those broken pieces. Put a plate of watermelon on my table. "Tieu Du, Man Man said you've had a hard time after work, so tell me to bring you some watermelon." There were only a few pieces left on the plate. "Thank you." I didn't look at the disk, continuing to look at the computer screen. Ha T. Hang glanced at the debris on the ground and the squash on the bed, coughed. "Don't take that matter to heart." He scratched his head, "When I get my reward next month, I'll buy you one." "Okay." I turned off the website. Ha T. Tu Hang was stunned. Perhaps he thought I would be like before, because of an understanding compliment. But refuse all of his empty and polite promises. But I accepted. "Are you really not angry?" He asked a little uncertainly. “No.” I stood up, "I'm a little tired, I want to sleep." Ha T. Tu Hang smiled as if relieved of a burden. "I told you, Tieu Du is the most generous." He patted my shoulder, "Then you should rest early, tomorrow weekend, I'll take you out for a delicious meal." "Yes." I nodded obediently. He turned around and went out, closing the door. The room once again regained its sultry mood. I picked up the watermelon from the table and dumped it in the trash. Red water splashed onto the broken pieces of the fan, a bit dazzling. I didn't wipe, I just took out my suitcase and started packing my clothes to wash. No need to wait until next month. Because next Wednesday, I won't be in this house anymore.2The next day is Saturday. Early in the morning, the living room was already bustling. Mom was looking for a dress for Ha Thu Man, dad was cleaning leather shoes. "Tieu Du, hurry up and wash your face. Today Tieu Luc booked a private room at Cam Giang Cac, saying that she was celebrating the success of preparing for Man Man's painting exhibition." Mom knocked on my door. I opened the door and saw the silk scarf that belonged to me in her hand. It was a souvenir that the university lecturer specially brought back for me when traveling to Jiangnan. I've always kept it carefully, never used it. "Man Man said that today the air conditioner is cold, so I borrowed this shawl from you to wear." Mom didn't wait for my consent, she directly put the shawl on Ha Thu Man's hand. "Yes." I turned around and walked towards the bathroom. After washing my face and walking out, Luc Ky's car was parked downstairs. The whole family talked and laughed as they went down. I left last, watching Ha T. Tu Hang thoughtfully open the car door for Ha Thu Man. I was just about to open the car door when Luc Ky lowered the window. "Ha Thu Du, sit in the back." His hands were on the steering wheel, his tone was casual. My movements stopped. On the co-driver's seat, Ha Thu Man's special pillow was placed. "Man Man is a bit dizzy today, sitting in the back is afraid she will get motion sickness." Green

Ky explained in one sentence. “Okay.” I retracted my hand, opened the back seat door, and sat next to Ha Tu Hang. In the car, the air conditioner turned on very strongly. Ha Thu Man pulled back the silk scarf around her body and turned to look at Luc Ky. "A Ky, is the air conditioner blowing on you?" Her voice was very light. “No.” Luc Ky conveniently pushed the air vent a little further away, "Don't let it get cold." I leaned back in the chair, looking at his gentle face in the rearview mirror. Before, when I got car sick. Luc Ky just gave me a bottle of wind oil, saying to wait a bit and I'll be there. It turns out that he doesn't know how to take care of others. Just don't want to take care of me. Arriving at Cam Giang Cac, the waiter led us to a private room. In front of the round table, Luc Ky pulled out the chair next to the chairperson's position. Ha Thu Man naturally sat down there. "My boyfriend Tieu Du really knows how to take care of others. From now on, Tieu Du's happiness won't be a concern for his parents anymore!" She playfully joked. I didn't answer, I went directly to the waiter, picked up my order closest to the door, and sat down. Luc Ky looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed so slightly that it was hard to see, but didn't say anything. The menu was brought up, everyone took turns ordering. "Steamed grouper, boiled shrimp, plus a dish of stir-fried celery." Mother skillfully called the names of the dishes. Everything is a frugal taste that Ha Thu Man likes to eat. "Tieu Du, what do you want to eat?" Dad casually asked a question. "I want to eat spicy boiled meat." I looked at the menu. "Oh my god, Man Man's stomach is not good, he can't eat spicy food." Mom immediately interrupted. "Besides, it's hot like this, why eat spicy boiled meat, it's easy to catch fire. Order a simple dish of stir-fried vegetables." "Yes." I folded up the menu and gave it to the waiter. Luc Ky gently touched my knee under the table. I withdrew my legs, avoiding his touch. He turned his head to look at me, lowering his voice. "I'll take you out to eat hot pot tonight, just the two of us." "No need." I looked at the cup of tea in front of me. "What are you doing again?" His voice carried a trace of impatience. "Everyone is very happy today, don't always pull your face down like that." Look at his furrowed eyebrows. Things that are not so far away appear in my mind. Before bringing Luc Ky home, he introduced himself to his family. I was nervous for a long time. I'm afraid he's like everyone else, unconditionally leaning towards his sister who has always shone brightly from childhood to adulthood. I cried and told him my worries. He laughed softly, calling me an idiot. Say you will always stand by my side. You gave me courage. But then it was his own hand that punctured that ball filled with courage. The food was served very quickly. Ha Thu Man picked up a piece of fish, chewed it carefully and swallowed slowly, then suddenly looked at me. "Tieu Du, I have a few unfinished paintings for the illustration project at A Ky company." "Are you free this weekend? Can you help me with the sketch?" The eyes of the whole table were focused on me. Before, when she received the application, when she encountered a part she couldn't draw, she always gave it to me. The signature is my sister, the royalties are also hers. "I'm not free." I picked up a chopstick of green vegetables, but my head didn't even lift up. There was silence in the private room for a moment. "Tieu Du!" Mom's face darkened. "You're free at home on the weekend, so how about helping your sister a little?" "It's your weekend." I swallowed the bitter taste in my throat. "Plus you have your own work, you have to work overtime." "What's with that crappy internship of yours that requires overtime?" Ha T. Tu Hang coldly snorted. "This time Man Man accepted it as my key project." Tieu Luc company, can you make up for the damage?" I put down my chopsticks and looked at Luc Ky. He is the person in charge of this project. Luc Ky avoided my eyes, picked up the tea cup and took a sip.