Chapter 9 — The House Without Me

Just the reason why the wound appeared, he was never willing to think carefully.

“Fix the pillar first.”

I stood up.

“Today the distortion must be controlled.”

Uncle Luong saw that my face was not good and wanted to tell me to rest. I refuse. The crack in the east wall needs to be reinforced. The broken crossbeam must also be made up to the correct size. The carpenter and I were busy until late at night. Chu Tu Bach did not return. Just send one message.

"Duong Chi's mood is unstable, I'll take her to the Duong family."

"You should rest early, I'll come visit you tomorrow."

I did not answer. The third box on the handover table is marked with a check mark. *Restoring the east wall.* *Transfer of the first batch of work documents.* Before leaving, I told the construction unit to install temporary cameras outside the carpentry workshop and auxiliary room. From now on, anyone who touches a brick is required to leave a recording. * On the second day, I returned to my newlywed's house. The reading room door was wide open. Inside, there is still Duong Chi's easel. The unfinished oil painting she painted last year when she returned home was still left by the window. The maid cleaned it every day. Even the palette was not dusty at all. As for my specialized books, they are piled up in the storage room. The bottom few boxes were damp. I squatted down and took out each book. When Chu Tu Bach returned, I had just finished contacting the shipping company.

“What are you going to move?”

He took off his coat and walked next to me.

“These books.”

“Move to where?”

“If it's not convenient to leave it at the construction site, I'll send it to the studio.”

I didn't tell him, it was a studio in Hac Son. He looked at the dozen cardboard boxes on the floor.

“All of it?”

“Yes.”

“The new gallery project has just started, is it necessary to move out all the stuff at home?”

I looked up at him.

“These things were originally in the storage room.”

"I didn't pay attention before."

Chu Tu Bach's face turned slightly embarrassed. It seems that only now did he realize that my reading room was no longer mine for a long time.

“Duong Chi is only for temporary use.”

“She doesn't have a suitable drawing room at home.”

“Wait until the gallery is finished, I will ask someone to restore this place for you.”

Waiting again. Waiting for Duong Chi to have a gallery. Waiting for her career to stabilize. Wait for her to stop being sensitive. My life seems to forever have to put behind those "later" things.

“No need.”

I sealed the cardboard box last.

“From now on, I won't use this reading room anymore.”

Chu Tu Bach frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“I'm preparing to reduce projects at the Chu family's company.”

“After finishing the old house, I want to rest for a while.”

This is not a lie. Just a resting place, it wouldn't be without him. His expression softened.

“Should have rested a long time ago.”

“The company has had a lot of projects these past few years, I'm so tired.”

“Next month we'll go to the North to see the snow, I've already ordered someone to book a hotel.”

He took out his phone and showed me the schedule. The trip we had been planning for two years. Every time it was canceled because of Duong Chi or the Duong family's affairs. This time, he finally finished placing it. But yesterday, I told my assistant to cancel my plane ticket.

“Okay.”

I'm not exposing it. Chu Tu Bach smiled and rubbed his head I.

"That's good."

Transportation staff comes in to carry boxes. He stood to the side, counting the quantity for me. After all sixteen boxes of books were carried away, the storage room was half empty. Chu Tu Bach looked at that empty space and seemed to see what was wrong. But he didn't think much. For dinner, he personally made the sweet and sour fish dish that I liked. In the middle of the dining table there is also a small cake.

“Things weren't happy on my birthday.”

“Make it up to me today.”

He lit a candle and told me to make a wish.