Chapter 2 — The Ring Has Been Removed

“No.” The two words fell lightly, but they crushed my joy over the past two years into dust. The cheers around became even louder. Someone pushed Hua Tri Dao towards Chu Nghien Tu, laughing and saying that this was truly destiny. I stood in front of them, the base of my finger was squeezed by the ring until it hurt. Hua Tri Dao was teased so much that she blushed and turned to ask me: "Van Kieu, people still like to talk nonsense like that. Please explain to me, these past few years has there really been no one around Nghien Tu?" I opened my mouth. Chu Nghien Tu suddenly looked at me. That look was both a warning and a request. He was sure that I wouldn't humiliate him in front of a crowd. Just like what he said in the break room. I won't calculate. I lowered my eyes and answered softly: "I don't know about him." Chu Nghien Tu's face stiffened. This is the first time I refuse to speak up for you in front of others. * After the celebration of life started, I made an excuse to leave. At the end of the hallway there is a balcony. The winter night wind hurts my cheeks. I grabbed the railing, gasped a few times, and the suffocating feeling in my chest gradually subsided. The phone vibrates. It's Chu Nghien Tu. 【Where are you?】 【Let's talk.】 The third message was quickly sent. 【Don't run around alone, it's cold outside.】 I stared at that concern sentence for a long time. In the past, every time I read such messages, I felt like I was being loved. He remembers that I'm afraid of the cold, remembers that my stomach isn't good, remembers that I don't like crowded places. However, he can also stand in front of everyone and say that he doesn't have a girlfriend. It turns out, a person can both care about you and reject you at the same time. The balcony door was pushed open. Chu Nghien Tu walked up behind me, put the vest on my shoulder. "Why didn't you answer the message?" I took the shirt down and gave it back to him. "Hua Tri Dao just came back, aren't you with her?" He frowned slightly. "Van Kieu, don't talk sarcastically like that." I looked at his empty right hand. "Where is the ring?" His eyes avoided. "I put it away." "Why?" "You were also just now. I heard you." Chu Nghien Tu's voice was low, carrying a bit of fatigue. "Tri Dao's mother just finished surgery. This time she returned home and was already in a bad mood. I don't want to provoke her tonight." "She knew I had a girlfriend, why was she provoked?" Chu Nghien Tu was silent. The wind blew between us. People who have known each other for more than a decade suddenly become strangers. "You still like her, right?" "Van Kieu." His voice lowered a bit. “Today is my grandfather's birthday party, I don't want to argue with you here.” “I don't want to argue either.” I tried to control my voice. “I just want to know, what do we count as?” “Of course we are lovers.” He replied as if it were a matter of course. "So why did you say no just now?" "Just temporarily didn't want Tri Dao to know." "For how long?" Chu Nghien Tu rubbed his forehead. "A month." "In this one month, are we still dating?" "Of course." "So what status will you approach her?" "Lam Van Kieu, do you have to say such harsh words?" Finally, he seemed impatient. "She just returned home, there are a lot of things she's not used to. I just want to take care of her for a while, it's not as complicated as you think." I almost burst out laughing.