Chapter 14 — The Door Lock Changes, Marriage Also Locks

In the afternoon, Chu Canh Hanh called me.

"The store said I've temporarily paused some orders."

"Chieu Ninh, those things have already started production."

"I know."

"If we stop now, we will incur losses."

"Then clearly state each loss."

He was silent for a moment.

"In the end, how much do you want to count?"

"Until I knew how much money I spent, what I bought, and what changes someone made on my behalf."

"Are you thinking I'm taking advantage of you?"

"I never said that."

"So what do you mean by doing these things now?"

I looked at the pile of bills piled up on the table.

"In the past, I always thought that once the money is spent, just spend it, no matter what, it's for the family."

"It's only now that I realize that money is not the most difficult thing to consider."

"The most difficult thing to calculate is why I spent the money, but even whether I bought it or not, what it turned out to be, I have no right to know."

The other end of the line was strangely silent. I keep saying:

"Freeze all remaining orders."

"Who confirmed, who signed, who modified..."

"Everything must be clearly listed."

"I will cooperate."

"But don't blame everything on Trinh Vu."

I paused a bit.

"Chu Canh Hanh, on all these forms, the person signing is you."

He didn't say anything more. In the evening, I arrived at my new house. Not to meet Chu Canh Hanh. It's not for arguing. I just want to bring back the transparent plastic box in the storage room. The box was heavier than I remembered. Inside, in addition to documents, there is also a desk box I once bought, a sample book brought back from business trips, and two desk lamps still in their original boxes. I sat down on the floor of the storage room and took out each item. At the bottom of the box is a blue-covered notebook. Perhaps when Trinh Vu was packing his things, he accidentally put them there. I turned to the page that previously listed the dimensions. Work area next to the window. The table top is one meter long. On the left is a chest of drawers. On the right there is a socket. Below is also written:

"After moving in, I will put my computer here. Every time I come back from a business trip, I can sit and rest for a while."

However... That position has been completely changed. Two days later, Trinh Vu proactively made an appointment to meet me. When she texted, I had just finished a meeting at the company.

"Sister Hua, can I see you for a moment? There are some things I want to tell you directly."

I looked at the screen for a long time. Finally answered:

"Coffee shop downstairs at the new house, six o'clock."

She arrived before me. Sitting at the table next to the innermost window, there was an almost unused glass of Americano on the table. Today she dressed very simply. White shirt, jeans. There is almost no makeup on the face. As soon as she saw me, she immediately stood up. I sat down. She grabbed the edge of the paper cup and spoke a few seconds later.

"I thought about the matter with the management board and the door lock that day. After returning home, I thought about it for a long time. I knew you would feel that I had crossed the line."

"What do you think now?"

Trinh Vu was silent for a moment.

"I think it's true that there are some things that shouldn't be done by me."

"What's going on?"

She raised her head to look at me.

"The person who contacted me, signed and even... stayed at home until late."

"That's all?"

She didn't answer. The cafe doesn't have many customers. The coffee machine at the bar made a soft sound. Trinh Vu looked out the window, his voice very soft.

"At first I really thought I know."

"What do you think?"

"Mr. Canh Hanh always said that she was busy with work and didn't like these trivial repairs. He said I don't care how the cabinets are placed, and I don't want to be bothered again and again by the store or the management."

"He said I don't care, do you believe it?"

"I thought you and your husband had already discussed it."

"Have you ever asked me?"

Trinh Vu pursed his lips.

"Because... I think if Mr. Canh Hanh has already said so, then asking you would be like surpassing him."

I looked at her.

"But everything you did later was to surpass me."

Trinh Vu's face became even whiter. She wants to explain. But it seems like I don't know where to start to make things less awkward. I asked her instead.

"Why sign as the homeowner's contact?"

"That time the store was very urgent, Chu Canh Hanh was in a meeting. Right when I was at the scene, the staff asked me to leave my name, so I signed."

"You can completely sign Trinh Vu's name."

"At that time I really didn't think that much."

"Why do you automatically assume that you can fix your office?"

"It was Mr. Canh Hanh who asked for your opinion."

"Is asking for your opinion and following your advice to fix my work area the same thing?"