Chapter 23 — The House Without Me

“When I missed my wedding anniversary, I gave a little extra.”

“The old house, the apricot tree, your name, your childhood.”

"Chu Tu Bach, every time I feel like I'm just asking you to give up a step."

“But in the end, I am no longer in this marriage.”

His face was pale.

“The person I love is you.”

“You and Duong Chi have nothing to do with each other.”

“I know.”

That is the most tragic part. He didn't even betray this marriage. Just never respected me.

"I didn't hurt you because I love her."

“I just feel, you will never leave.”

“I want Duong Chi to depend on me, and I also want you to understand me.”

“One person is responsible for remembering your regrets, one person is responsible for cleaning up your life.”

“Chu Tu Bach, what you want is not two women.”

"But everyone is not allowed to leave you."

His lips moved. But speechless. The ticket gate began to rush. I turned around. Chu Tu Bach held my hand again. This time, the force was very light.

“Yin Yin.”

“I will fix it.”

“Give me one more chance.”

I bowed my head and looked at his hand. Three years ago, he held my hand and walked down the aisle. At that time, Duong Chi did not appear. Everyone said, Chu Tu Bach was finally able to let go of the past. I also thought that he chose me. I didn't understand until today. He never made a choice. He just assumed that everyone would stand still and wait for him. I removed his fingers one by one.

“It's too late.”

After speaking, I entered the ticket gate. Chu Tu Bach stood outside the crowd. No more chasing. As the stream of people kept moving, I looked at him one last time. In his hand, he still clutched the divorce agreement. It's like holding on to an answer sheet that arrived too late. * When we arrived at Hac Son, it was already dark. People from the project team are waiting for me at the station. Wei Thua Le has forwarded all documents here in advance. The person in charge walked over to greet him, smiled and held out his hand.

“Miss Duong.”

“Welcome to join the Hac Son restoration project.”

There is no "Tang family genius". There is no “Mrs. Chu”. There is only “Miss Duong”. I grabbed his hand.

“In the future, I hope to be taken care of more.”

The next day, the project launch conference officially took place. I stood in front of a dilapidated old library that was about to collapse, introducing the restoration plan to the team. Uncle Luong squatted in the hallway and looked at the wooden pillars. A while later, he called out to me.

"Miss Duong, this beam can still be saved!"

I burst out laughing.

“Then save.”

A few days later, Wei Thua Le sent me some videos from construction surveillance cameras that had not been dismantled. The camera mounted down the hallway in the side room recorded the sound very clearly. Only now did I know that after I left, Chu Tu Bach returned to his old house. At that time, the opening ceremony ended abruptly. Duong Chi sat in the middle of the main hall. Her long white dress was wrinkled. Seeing him, she stood up.

“Have you found her yet?”

“Found it.”

“Is she coming back again?”

Chu Tu Bach did not answer. He entered the side room. The place was completely empty. The bedside table does not have an old radio. There are no clothes in the closet. There was not a single book on the table. Even the dimensional measuring line high on the wall, has also been polished smooth. Only a white patch of darker color remains around it. He reached out and touched it. Couldn't feel anything. Duong Chi stood outside the door and said softly: "Tu Bach, I'm sorry."

“If it wasn't for me wanting a gallery, she wouldn't have gone.”

Chu Tu Bach closed his eyes.

“Don't you always want me to choose you?”

Duong Chi stopped. He turned his head to look at her.

“She's gone now.”

“The gallery is also mine.”