Chapter 12 — The Ring Has Been Removed

"Did they trick you into coming here?" I nodded. "Lying to you too?" "Something like that." He sat back across from me, not showing any enthusiasm at all: "Then let's eat first. After eating, everyone goes their separate ways, considering the task completed." I couldn't help but look at him. Trinh Gia Thuat smiled: "Are you going to Florence next week?" "How do you know?" "Aunt Lam just said on the phone just now." He poured me a glass of warm water. “Congratulations.” This is the first person in recent days who heard the news that I left without asking Chu Nghien Tu what to do. I grabbed the glass of water. “Thank you.” “But it's best to clarify this first.” He spoke frankly. "I really have sympathy for you, and am willing to learn more." "But right now you probably don't want to start a new relationship." I didn't expect him to say it so directly. "Sorry." "No need to apologize. Love is not a matter of queuing, the person who comes first may not necessarily have a seat. The family arrangement doesn't mean you have to cooperate." Trinh Gia Thuat bowed his head to look at the menu. "After eating today, I will tell the adults that it's up to me. I never thought about this." I was stunned. “Why do you say it's because of me?” “Because they won't come after me and ask me why I don't like you. But they will keep asking me why I don't try.” He flipped the menu. “Save any trouble or trouble at all.” His tone was very calm, he didn't mean to seem thoughtful, nor did he expect me to be moved by it. At that moment, I understood that true respect turned out to be so simple. There's no need for me to understand. There's no need for me to sacrifice. I don't even need to be grateful. After eating, I stepped outside and it was already dark. Trinh Gia Thuat received a phone call from the hospital and had to return quickly. We stood in front of the restaurant to say goodbye. A black sedan parked on the side of the road. The car window slowly lowered. Chu Nghien Tu sat in the back row. On his right middle finger he wears that silver ring. His eyes fell on the car door that Trinh Gia Thuat had just opened for me, his expression dark and scary. "Lin Van Kieu." He called me through the half-glass window. “Come here.” I stood still without moving. Trinh Gia Thuat followed the call. “An acquaintance?” “A friend you've known since childhood.” I replied. Chu Nghien Tu's expression became even more unsightly. He pushed the car door and got out. "Are we just friends?" "What if not?" "Your mother arranged for you to go on a blind date, and eating a meal is considered a successful blind date?" Chu Nghien Tu stopped in front of me. He still wears a dark suit when working, with fatigue clearly visible between his eyebrows. But the ring on the right hand is especially dazzling. As if afraid I wouldn't see. "Get in the car." "I can go home myself." "I'll take you home." "No need." He lowered his voice: "Van Kieu, don't make trouble in front of outsiders." *Outsiders.* We've been together for two years, but he's never admitted that I'm his girlfriend in front of others. Now, he uses the word "outsider" in front of Trinh Gia Thuat to draw a boundary between himself and himself. Trinh Gia Thuat did not intervene, just stood aside and looked at me. Chu Nghien Tu reached out to take my bag. I took a step back to avoid it. "I'm not causing trouble." "Then come back to me and talk." "We have nothing to talk about." Chu Nghien Tu finally lost patience.