Chapter 1 — The Night Before My Wedding, I Disappeared

The second day after returning home to pay my respects, I accidentally saw a video. In the video, my fiance is trying on wedding dresses with the poor female student we both sponsored. I have known Miao Xiaoxiao for ten years. The day I agreed to the proposal, she cried until her eyes turned red, held my hand and said that from now on she would definitely be filial to me like her own sister. Yet today... The girl I raised by myself wore the wedding dress I designed myself, standing and kissing my fiance in front of the mirror. I was silent for a few minutes. Then call him.

"The store manager said I already got the main wedding dress? Are you planning on giving me a surprise?"

The other end of the line paused for a moment. Then very quickly, he burst out laughing as if nothing happened.

“Um, the dress is a bit heavy so I asked my assistant to take it to dry cleaning first.”

"Just stay in the countryside for a few more days, there's no need to rush back. The surprise is still being prepared."

I smiled and replied "okay". After hanging up the phone, I calmly changed my plane ticket to a foreign country. That wedding dress... I originally didn't intend to wear it anymore.

"Ma'am, your flight to Milan has been successfully changed for you. Here is your new boarding pass."

I received the thin card from the ground staff. The tip of the finger touched the edge of the paper, so cold that it was slightly numbing. The phone in the windbreaker pocket vibrated. Three words appeared on the screen: Tong Ky Uyen. I looked at that name for a few seconds before pressing listen.

“Van Thanh, have you changed your ticket?”

Tong Ky Uyen's voice on the other end of the line was still gentle and calm as always.

"Why did you suddenly change your ticket? Didn't you fly back this afternoon?"

From his side, there was the sound of rustling papers, as if he was still handling work.

“The countryside still has some unfinished business.”

I looked at the flow of people passing by in the airport lobby, my voice was very quiet.

“That's good.”

Tong Ky Uyen smiled lightly.

“The atmosphere in the countryside is pleasant, I can consider staying a few more days as a break and relaxation.”

He paused, his voice even softer.

“Oh right, Tieu Xao said he wanted to take advantage of the coming of age ceremony at the restaurant on the island that he had booked before graduation.”

"You're not here, I just happened to help her get ready."

My finger holding the phone tightened slightly.

“Using our wedding venue?”

"That's right." His voice was full of matter-of-factness. "She's miserable, we've sponsored her for so many years, she's already half a daughter."

“I thought I would use the location where I practice the wedding to organize a beautiful ceremony for her, fulfilling her princess dream.”

"Anyway, leaving it empty is a waste. If you're so generous, you definitely won't mind, right?"

I said nothing. On the other end of the line came Mieu Hieu Xao's pampering voice, deliberately sweet to the point of being sick.

“Mr. Ky Uyen, you look so beautiful in this suit, just like my groom.”

Tong Ky Uyen quickly covered the microphone. His voice became vague, but I still heard him clearly.

"Don't talk nonsense, this outfit is for the wedding day."

He let go and continued talking to me.

“Van Thanh, are you still listening?”

"Then it's decided. You should rest well in the countryside, there's no need to rush back. I've prepared a surprise for you."

I hung up. Then turned around and walked next to the trash can in the airport, tore the old ticket in half that was used to fly back to him... Then threw it inside. Only five more hours to go Time to fly to Milan. I pulled my suitcase and walked into a noodle shop in the airport.

“Give me a bowl of beef noodles, no coriander.”

When the staff brought the noodles, the bowl was filled with green coriander. I'm not angry. Just quietly holding chopsticks, bowing my head and picking out each vegetable. Before, every time he had a meal with Tong Ky Uyen, he reminded the restaurant owner at least three times.

“My fiancee is allergic to coriander, absolutely do not add it.”

Even today, I forgot what outfit I was going to wear to the city. The phone screen lit up again. It's Miao Xiaoxiao's WeChat message. A photo. In the photo, she is wearing the main wedding dress that I spent three months designing myself, then found a French craftsman to custom-make. The crushed stones on the skirt sparkled blindingly under the lights. She leaned on Tong Ky Uyen's shoulder, facing the mirror and making a V gesture. Although his profile was a bit blurry, the smile at the corner of his lips was extremely clear. Below the photo is also accompanied by a recording.

"Miss Van Thanh, Mr. Ky Uyen said it would be a shame to leave a wedding dress in the shop gathering dust, so let me try it on first to see how it feels."

“You won't be angry with me, will you?”

I opened the recording and listened to it all. A drop of broth from the bowl of noodles splashed onto the back of my hand, slightly burning. I pulled out a tissue and wiped it clean, slowly answering two words.

"No."

The other side always displayed the words "entering..." For a long time, no more messages were sent. I exited the chat box and opened mine and Tong Ky Uyen's shared cloud storage. Inside there is a folder called “Wedding Preparation”. I clicked on it and discovered that the password had been changed half an hour ago. But I know his backup password. His date of birth plus the initials Miao Xiaoxiao. The folder opens. Inside there was no wedding script, nor guest list. There are just dozens of videos. These are all "trying on wedding dresses" vlogs by Miao Xiaoxiao. In the video, Tong Ky Uyen knelt on one knee and patiently helped her adjust the length of her skirt.

“Be careful, don't trip and fall.”

His eyes were so gentle that they looked like they were about to cry.

“Thank you Ky Uyen, you are so good to me.”

Mieu Hieu Xao bowed her head and gently kissed him on the cheek. Tong Ky Uyen did not dodge. Just helplessly smiled softly, reaching out to gently tap the tip of her nose.

“So naughty.”

It was a small gesture… Only when he proposed to me did he ever do it. I looked at the dazzling frame on the screen, and my stomach began to contract silently. I turned off the archive and placed the phone face down on the table. The bowl of noodles had cooled, a layer of pale white fat appeared on the surface. I stood up, pulled my suitcase and left. Handily pushed the entire bowl of uneaten noodles in one bite... Along with the pile of cilantro that had been picked out... to the edge of the table.