Chapter 7 — Tears in the Frost

One week after the launching ceremony of Hằng Phát Investment Fund, Thư Nhã noticed that Bách Việt's schedule began to appear with new appointments, with unusually brief and vague notes: "Meet with partner - private", not accompanied by any preparatory documents as usual, without requiring her to attend or compile data. For someone like Bách Việt who is always absolutely transparent in her work, this is a change that she cannot help but notice.

You don't have to speculate for too long. On the third day of that week, when she brought documents into his private office, she accidentally heard the last part of the call through the speakerphone of the landline phone before Bách Việt could turn off the phone.

"...you just think about it more, I'm not in a hurry. Hằng Phát can wait, but this cooperation opportunity is really good for both sides, Mr. Viet." Tống Khả Di's voice rang out clearly, sweet but full of calculation, before the call ended.

Bách Việt looked up and saw Thư Nhã standing at the door. His face changed color for a very short moment before returning to his familiar calm look. "What's the matter?"

"Meeting documents this afternoon," she replied, trying to keep her voice calm, placed the file on the table and turned to leave.

"Thư Nhã," he called back, making her stop. "The call just now was just a normal business exchange. You don't need to think about anything."

She turned around, looked straight into his eyes, an indescribable feeling of bitterness arose in her heart. "I don't think anything. It's your business, I have no right to interfere."

That sentence, though spoken in the calmest tone possible, carried a more bitter weight than any reproach. Because that's true - according to the terms of the marriage contract, she has no right or qualification to be jealous or inquire about any of Bách Việt's other relationships, even though in her heart, that feeling is tormenting more intensely than ever.

*

That afternoon, Đinh Bội Quyên stopped by Thư Nhã's office, bringing two lunch boxes as usual whenever they were both free at the same time.

"Have you heard anything about Hằng Phát?" Bội Quyên asked, her voice somewhat worried as she sat down opposite Thư Nhã.

"Just heard it, what's wrong?" Thư Nhã asked again, trying to act normal even though her heart was already tense.

"My shareholder relations department has just received a few exploratory calls from small shareholders, asking about the possibility of reselling Việt Thịnh shares." Bội Quyên lowered her voice, even though there were only two people in the room. "I researched and found out that Hằng Phát previously, when he was still operating abroad, was involved in some quite scandalous acquisitions - secretly buying shares through many shell companies, then suddenly declaring control, pushing the old leadership out of the company in just a few months."

Thư Nhã put down her chopsticks, her heart beat faster, the disparate pieces in her head began to automatically rearrange according to her professional instincts that had been ingrained in her blood over many years of working with numbers and complex contracts. "Do you think Hằng Phát is targeting Việt Thịnh?"

"I'm not sure, but my professional intuition tells me to be careful." Bội Quyên frowned. "Besides, I heard that the founder of Hằng Phát, Ms. Tống Khả Di, used to know boss Viet before. Do you know anything about this? After all, you work as a personal secretary for the longest-serving boss."

Thư Nhã shook her head, trying to keep her expression calm. "I don't know the boss's private affairs. But if Hằng Phát really intends to take over, the board of directors will certainly have a plan to deal with it."

"I hope so too." Bội Quyên sighed, then looked at Thư Nhã with concerned eyes. "By the way, you're still very pale. Is there anything really going on with you? I feel like there's something strange about you lately, not just about work."

Thư Nhã bent down and pretended to focus on the lunch box in front of her to avoid having to look directly into her friend's judgmental eyes. She knew Bội Quyên was a delicate person, always sensitive to the slightest changes in the people around her, and she was afraid that if she continued this conversation for a while longer, all the secrets she was trying to hide would accidentally be revealed before she could mentally prepare to face it.

Thư Nhã forced a smile, avoiding her friend's probing eyes. "It's just been stressful lately, it's nothing."

Bội Quyên did not ask further, but her eyes still showed undisguised concern as she watched her friend leave the office after lunch.

*

In the evening, the situation became even more serious when Bách Việt came home nearly two hours later than usual, without warning, something that had never happened during the three years of living together. When he returned to the apartment, Thư Nhã was waiting in the living room, the dinner tray had long since cooled.

"Sorry, there's a meeting going on," he said, taking off his jacket, avoiding her eyes.

"Meeting with Hằng Phát?" Thư Nhã asked directly, unable to hold back anymore. She knew she had no right to ask, but the anxiety and hurt that had accumulated over the past week was beyond the point of endurance.

Bách Việt stopped and looked at her for a long moment, his eyes complex and unpredictable. "That's right. Ms. Khả Di wants to discuss the possibility of investment cooperation in the East project. I need to consider carefully before making a decision, because it is an important project of the group."

"So have you decided yet?" She continued asking, her voice trembling slightly and she couldn't control it.

"Not yet," he replied, then remained silent for a moment before adding, his voice somewhat tired. "Thư Nhã, I know this makes you uncomfortable, but this is purely a business matter. You don't need to worry too much."

That sentence, although intended to reassure, made Thư Nhã feel even more pushed away from his world. She realized that, even though she had shared a bed, a home, and the biggest secret of her life for three years, she was still just a person standing on the sidelines whenever Bách Việt faced issues he considered "important" in his own way.

She looked down at her hands, her fingers used to type thousands of pages of contracts, arranged minute-by-minute schedules for an entire corporation, yet were completely powerless over the simplest thing: getting the man she loved to trust her to share with her what was really going on in his heart. Perhaps, she thought, no matter how strict a contract was, it cannot bind the heart, and it cannot force a person to open their heart if they were not ready.

"I know," she replied, trying to keep her voice calm, turned around and moved the cold tray of rice into the kitchen, hiding the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

*

That night, after Bách Việt fell asleep, Thư Nhã quietly sat up, opened the drawer, took out the resignation letter she had prepared in advance, and reread each line under the dim light of the small night lamp. She added one last sentence, clearly stating the effective date — exactly one month after the East project was completed, enough time to hand over the work thoroughly, without leaving any loopholes that could affect the group's operations.

She looked at Bách Việt who was sleeping next to him. His face in his rare sleep revealed a peaceful look, different from the constant tension of the day. She gently touched a strand of hair hanging on his forehead, then pulled it back immediately, afraid of waking him up.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice so low that only she could hear. "But I can't stay and watch you gradually leave me, day by day, because of another woman. I'd rather leave while I still have some dignity in my heart, than stay and wait for the day you officially say goodbye."

She put the application back in the drawer, locked it carefully, then lay down with her back to Bách Việt, eyes wide open looking into the darkness until sleepiness finally came, bringing with it flickering dreams of a future she wasn't sure would be as peaceful as she hoped.

In that flickering dream, she saw herself carrying a small child walking in the middle of an unfamiliar street, with no one she knew around, while from afar, Bách Việt stood next to another female figure, with his back turned to her, not realizing she was standing there. She suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, sweat beaded on her forehead. It took a long time to calm down and realize that it was just a nightmare, although the insecurity it left behind remained in her heart until the next morning.

Little did she know, her silent plan to leave was about to be completely disrupted, not by her own decision, but by her own body, right where she least expected it.