Chapter 1 — The Lamp No Longer Shines Because of You

Chu Tu has a rule: absolutely do not keep guests overnight in the house. Married for six years, even my parents have never broken the rules. Last year, my mother fell and broke her leg and went to the city for a check-up. She wanted to stay one night so she could go to the hospital the next morning. He coldly pulled me into the bedroom.
"Your mother snores. I have an important meeting tomorrow, do you want me to lose the project?"
That night, I booked a room for my mother in the hotel downstairs, and I hid under the blanket and cried until morning. After that time, my mother never came again. She said she didn't want to cause me any more trouble, but I understood, in fact she just didn't want to make me feel uncomfortable. Until today, I ended my business trip early and returned home. As soon as I entered the door, I smelled the delicious aroma of food. Chu Tu tied his apron and was standing in the kitchen stirring food. Outside the living room, his childhood friend, Hua Nhuoc Duong, was sitting on the sofa watching TV with her mother. Mother Hua smiled and greeted me.
"I've been here for nearly three months, and every day Tieu Tu cooks for me. He's even more filial than a biological son."
On Hua Nhuoc Duong's body was the same style of pajamas as Chu Tu. The sleeves are rolled up to the forearms, looking as natural as being at home.
"Sister-in-law, why did you suddenly come back? The house hasn't even been cleaned yet."
I didn't answer, just took off my wedding ring, put it on the shoe cabinet, then turned and went downstairs. My mother once said she wouldn't come again next time. She said it could be done. Me too. ······ The hotel downstairs is still there. Half of the lights on the sign were broken, flickering in the rain. I pulled my suitcase and walked in. The girl at the front desk asked me how many nights I wanted to stay.
“One night.”
She gave me the room card. The room number is only two numbers away from my mother's room last year. I pushed the door and walked in. The bed sheets were washed until they were stiff, the windows could not be closed, and the sound of traffic outside continuously filled the room. Last year, my mother also lived on this floor. Her leg was in a cast. She was afraid I would worry, so she kept saying on the phone:
“The room is very good, has hot water, close to the hospital.”
The next day, when I came to pick her up, there was half a glass of cold water on the nightstand. She sat by the bed, her eyes filled with blood, but her first question was asked:
“Did Tieu Tu's meeting go well?”
At that time, I also explained on behalf of Chu Tu. I said your project is very important. I said he was used to not keeping guests in the house. I said that once you break the rules, it will be very difficult to refuse others in the future. The phone vibrated, pulling me out of the past. Chu Tu sent a message. 【Who did you show your face to when you just came back? My aunt specifically told me to stay and drink soup, but I didn't understand anything.】 I sat on the edge of the bed, watching the screen light up and then go dark. Three minutes later, he called.
“Gian Ninh, where are you?”
"Hotel."
On the other end of the line, the sound of a shovel hitting a plate was heard. His voice turned cold.
"Are you really going to stay at a hotel? The house is right upstairs, who are you showing off to?"
I looked at the mold on the headboard.
“Didn't you say you don't keep guests overnight in the house?”
He was silent for a second.
"Nhuoc Duong and aunt are not the same. Their house is recently being repaired, aunt's health is not good, so she only temporarily stays for a few days."
“Staying for three months is called temporary?”
“Gian Ninh, you must Do you retort every word like that?”
He lowered his voice.
“It's okay, I can't sleep deeply. I can stay out tonight. Don't come back in the middle of the night and make noise, affecting your aunt's sleep."
I suddenly burst out laughing.
“Don't you have another important meeting tomorrow?”
“I asked for annual leave. For the past two days, my aunt's blood pressure has been unstable, so I have to stay home to take care of her."
He said it as if it were a matter of course. Outside, a car suddenly braked, emitting a deafening sound. My heart also trembled along with that sound. Last year, my mother broke her leg, and he was afraid that her snoring would affect the meeting. This year, Hua's mother's blood pressure was unstable, so he took a leave of absence and washed his hands in the kitchen to cook soup. It turns out that rules are not unbreakable. It's just that my mother and I are not worthy of you breaking the rules.
“Are you listening?”
His voice gradually became impatient.
“Tomorrow after work, it's convenient to buy some seafood. Nhuoc Duong likes to eat crabs. The pot in the house is old, I bought a new one."
I was silent for a few seconds.
“Zhu Tu.”
He replied once, thinking that I had given in.
“There is something on the shoe cabinet, have you seen it?”
“What?”
"Nothing."
I don't see it. The ring is right on the shoe cabinet. Just when he changed his shoes, he bowed his head a little to be able to see. But he never bowed his head to see what I had left behind. Hanging up the phone, I sent a letter to the company's human resources department, confirming the transfer to the southern branch. The other person quickly replied: 【Please be present to accept the job within three days.】 I looked at that text for a long time, then texted my mother. 【Mom, I will come back to pick you up in a few days. We moved to another city.】 She answered ten minutes later. 【Ninh Ninh, did you quarrel with Tieu Tu? Mom won't come to my house, she really won't come anymore. Don't cause trouble because of your mother.】 Looking at those words, I buried my face in my palms, my shoulders couldn't help but tremble. The sound of the TV in the next room was very loud, someone was laughing. A long time later, I dried my tears and answered her. 【Not for mom, but for myself.】 The next morning, I went straight to the company. Chu Tu sent me a long shopping list. 【Crab, beef, low-fat milk, bag of medicine for foot bath for aunt. Buy another pair of women's slippers, Nhuoc Duong's pair are stained with oil.】 I switched the conversation with him to do not disturb mode. The meeting lasted until noon, when my partner Quy Ham called me.
“Do you really want to transfer shares of Hoa Phong restaurant? That's the restaurant you and Chu Tu built together after getting married."
I flipped the document over and put the tip of the pen down at the signing position. Hoa Phong Restaurant is not large, hidden at the beginning of the old street. On the wall there is an entire array of roses that I planted myself. That year, Chu Tu held my hand, standing in the store that had not yet been renovated, his eyes filled with laughter.
“If we quarrel in the future, we will come here to eat. After eating dessert, no matter how big the problem will be, it will be over.”
That year, he still cooked noodles for me every time I came home late from overtime, and still picked up the fried egg in his bowl to give it to me. He also labeled the outside of the jar of pickles my mother sent, seriously stating the date. From the beginning, he was not the person he is now. That's why I tried to endure until today.
“Sure definitely. Do it as quickly as possible.”
Quy Ham sighed.
“So this afternoon you go to the restaurant to sign the final agreement.”
I closed the file.
“Okay.”
The phone screen lit up again. Chu Tu noticed that I didn't answer. 【Jian Ninh, don't be too harsh. My aunt is at home waiting for dinner.】 I turned off the screen and picked up the car keys. As soon as I reached the elevator door, the restaurant manager called. He said that Hoa Phong suddenly had a lot of guests coming to hold a gathering. My steps stopped. That restaurant only accepts customers who reserve tables in advance, but today there is absolutely no schedule to cover the entire restaurant. Inside Hoa Phong restaurant was filled with laughter. Through the glass door, I saw more than ten middle-aged women sitting around a long table. On the table was spread a hand-embroidered towel I brought back from Suzhou, and melon seed shells were piled in small piles. Hua Nhuoc Duong stood behind the bar, opening my bottle of wine. That is a souvenir my father left behind, which has been kept for more than ten years. On the day I got married, my mother gave it to me. Her movements were not skillful, the cork was broken in half, and the wine splashed onto the white counter. Some people applauded.
“Nhuoc Duong, this place is really stylish. Your husband is really generous to you.”
Hua Nhuoc Duong's cheeks turned slightly red.
“Auntie, don't talk nonsense. Mr. Chu Tu will be angry when he hears it."
The whole table laughed teasingly.
“It's a matter of sooner or later. The two of us are childhood friends, but after all, we are better than acquaintances later on."
I pushed the door and walked in. The wind chimes rang and everyone turned their heads. Seeing me, Hua Nhuoc Duong was stunned and quickly hid the wine bottle behind his back.
“Sister-in-law, why are you here? I saw that the restaurant was empty so I brought my mother and aunts to sit for a while."
"Mr. Chu Tu said I wouldn't mind."
I looked at the wall behind her. That place originally hung a photo of me and Chu Tu together. Now, it has been replaced with a photo of Hua Nhuoc Duong taken in front of the flower wall. In the photo, she is wearing a white dress, holding the cat I have raised for three years in her arms.
“Where is the cat?”
Hua Nhuoc Duong's smile faded a bit.
“My mother is allergic to cat hair, so Mr. Chu Tu took it to the pet store to adopt it. Don't worry, he has already paid the fee for a year."
One year. When I'm not at home, you can't even accommodate my cat. The door was pushed open again. Chu Tu walked in carrying a cake. As soon as he saw me, the first thing he did was frown.
“Why did you come here?”
He put the cake on the table and Hua's mother immediately called.
“Tieu Tu, come here quickly. The aunts all praised me for my bravery."
Chu Tu didn't answer, he pulled my wrist and went out. I pulled my hand away. He lowered his voice and said:
“Don't cause trouble here. Today is my aunt's birthday, Nhuoc Duong only borrowed this place for half a day."
“If I borrow a place, do I need to open my wine?”
“It's just a bottle of wine, I'll give you ten bottles.”
I looked at him and suddenly felt extremely tired.
“Chu Tu, do you still remember what this restaurant is like?”
He was a bit stunned. The second year after getting married, I had a miscarriage. During that time, I had trouble sleeping every night. He took me to see this old store. He said in the future we would grow flowers together, cook together, and warm up life together. On the opening day, he personally moved the first pot of roses to the window. My hands are full of mud, brother Still smiling and then rubbed me with the tip of his nose.
“Gian Ninh, we will get better and better in the future.”
It's getting better and better. So good that he gave this place to another woman to use to flourish.
“Don't always bring up old stories.”
I caress your mind.
"Mother Nhuoc Duong has just been discharged from the hospital, what's wrong with letting the adults have a little fun? Don't cause trouble anymore. Now go inside and say a few gentle words, don't make aunt lose face."
I couldn't help but laugh.
“Last year my mother broke her leg, why don't you think about making her a little happier?”
“It's not the same thing.”
“Where is different?”
He couldn't answer. Hua Nhuoc Duong walked out from inside, holding a tissue in her hand, her eyes red.
"Sister-in-law, don't blame Chu Tu, I don't understand."
"I thought you didn't come here often, so I wanted to borrow a place to celebrate your mother's birthday. How about I tell everyone to leave now?"
Having finished speaking, she turned her head to look inside. The women inside were quiet, all listening. Chu Tu immediately blocked in front of her.
“No one forced me to go.”
After speaking, he turned to me, his voice cold and hard.
"Jian Ninh, that's enough. You always use your mother's story to pressure me, does that mean anything? After that, didn't I transfer money to you to book a hotel?"