Chapter 17 — The Ring Has Been Removed

“Do you have to destroy us in front of so many people?” My heart ached a little. Up to this point, you still say that I have ruined "us". "I didn't destroy anything." "I just pieced together what you said." "If it's hard to hear, it's not because you said it. It's because you actually did it." Chu Nghien Tu grabbed the ring. "I know I was wrong. So now I've made it public. From now on, there won't be anyone who doesn't know your identity anymore." He took a step forward, wanted to pull my hand. "Van Kieu, we can start over." I stepped back. "You still don't understand." "What don't you understand?" His voice carried an undisguised urgency. "I want to make it public, you've made it public. I'm worried that my family won't agree, your parents are sitting here, they have never objected. I want to go abroad, you can go with me too. What else do you want?"The banquet hall was so quiet that only the soft hum of the sound system could be heard. Everyone is looking at us. I looked at the ring in his hand. "The night of the longevity party, I took it off, because I didn't want Hua Tri Dao to see you." "Today I put it back on, because I didn't want to see you leave." "But both times, I never asked your opinion." Chu Nghien Tu was stunned. "So now I ask." He held the ring out in front of me. “Van Kieu, are you willing to give me another chance?” There was a time when I was tired of waiting for this sentence. But when I actually heard it, there was no joy in my heart, only belated tiredness. "I don't want to." His fingers tightened. “Why?” “Because you choose me now, not because you suddenly realized you love me. It's just because Hua Tri Dao rejected you, and I'm no longer waiting for you.” “No!” He quickly denied. "I admit that I have an attachment to Tri Dao, but I love you too. When you stayed with me, I never considered you a replacement. Every day I wanted to see you, wanted to live with you." "Then why deny me?" Chu Nghien Tu was speechless. I gently asked: "If she agreed with you at that time, would you stand here today to make it public?" His lips moved, but there was still no answer. I nodded. “So, there's no need.” I folded his fingers, leaving the ring in his palm. "Chu Nghien Tu, it's true that we used to date. I used to love you, it's also true. But it's all over, it's also true." After saying that, I put down the microphone. When I stepped down from the podium, no one stopped me. My mother's eyes turned red and she wanted to step forward. My father took her hand and nodded at me. Chu's mother was full of guilt. Hua Tri Dao stood on the side of the aisle, giving me his seat. When passing by her, she softly said: "Sorry." I stopped. “It's not your fault.” She looked at me. “About the night of the longevity party, you should have made it clear sooner.” “You don't need to explain for me.” I said. “Just say your own part.” Hua Tri Dao nodded. I continued to go out. Trinh Gia Thuat followed a few steps. “Need me to take you home?” I shook my head. “I want to walk alone for a while.” “Okay.” He stopped walking, unlike Chu Nghien Tu, thinking that refusal was just another form of invitation. The banquet hall door closed behind him. Outside it is snowing. I wasn't wearing a coat, the cold wind blew into my dress collar, making my shoulders shiver. But I don't want to go back and get it. The hotel car hadn't arrived yet. I followed the long stairs down.