Chapter 10 — The House Without Me

Candlelight fell on his face. Gentle, attentive. Exactly like the look I once loved. I closed my eyes. My birthday wish for the past three years has always been to be with him for a long time. This time, I just hope the 17th passes a little faster. After blowing out the candles, he pushed a gift box in front of me. Inside is an emerald necklace. Dark green like green moss after rain in the old house.

“Do you like it?”

“Like.”

“Try it on.”

I don't refuse. Chu Tu Bach personally put it on for me, bent down and kissed my temple.

“Yin Yin.”

“Don't say those words in front of Duong Chi in the future.”

“She always feels guilty about our marriage.”

My smile faded.

“What did you say?”

“I said, even my husband is thinking of ways to help her.”

“Isn't that true?”

His hand stopped on the chain lock.

"I helped her because of the relationship between the two families, and also because of the old relationship."

“But you are my wife.”

“These two things are not in conflict.”

No conflict. It turned out that in his eyes, being my husband and giving priority to protecting Duong Chi over and over again were not in conflict.

“I understand.”

I took off the necklace and put it back in the box.

“Why don't you wear it?”

“So precious.”

“Put it in the safe.”

He looked at me for a moment. Finally closed the box again.

“It's up to you.”

That night, he quickly fell asleep. I lay on my side, opening my eyes and looking at the ceiling. At one o'clock in the morning, the phone screen lit up. It's an email sent by Wei Thua Le. He is an architect who has cooperated with the Chu company for a long time. There was only one sentence in the email.

“Boss Chu asked me to evaluate the replacement plan for the carpentry workshop east of the old house. Please provide full structural drawings.”

I looked for a long time. After that, I sent all the incident reports that day, the construction ban order and the original drawings to him. He quickly replied.

“Received.”

“See you at the scene tomorrow afternoon.”

Chu Tu Bach slept very soundly. He didn't even know, I saw the meeting schedule on his computer. Three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The meeting re-evaluated the plan to renovate the old house. The participants include Duong Chi, Wei Thua Le, the exhibition company and the construction party. The only one without me - the person in charge of the project. I turned off the phone. * The next day, I arrived at my old house on time. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Wei Thua Le pushed open the door and entered the yard. He was wearing a black shirt, holding the drawing I sent him. Seeing me, Chu Tu Bach was stunned.

“Why did you come here?”

I looked at the meeting list on the table.

“My project, can't you come?”

Duong Chi's facial expression is unnatural.

“Sister, we just want to discuss a backup plan first.”

"I was afraid you weren't feeling well so I didn't inform you."

I don't care about her. Wei Chengli went to the cracked east wall and inspected it for half an hour. After returning, he spread the drawing on the table.

“The carpentry workshop cannot be destroyed.”

Duong Chi's smile stiffened. Chu Tu Bach asked: "Isn't it okay to reinforce it?"

“No way.”

“This area and the main house are a complete load-bearing system.”

“Forcibly changing to a glass room, not only will there be drainage problems, but the wind load will also change.”

He said exactly what I said. Duong Chi whispered: “But the old carpentry workshop It's so dark.” Wei Chengli looked at her.

“The gallery may change locations.”

“Once the house collapses, it cannot be supported by aesthetics.”

Duong Chi's face turned pale. Chu Tu Bach was silent for a moment.

“Then keep the carpentry workshop.”

Finally he made a decision. Not because I said it. But because Wei Cheng Le said it. I thought I wouldn't care anymore. But my chest still felt like it was lightly stabbed by something. The meeting ended, Chu Tu Bach stopped me.