Chapter 10 — There Are Positions You Can Only Hold For Yourself

Originally she was still leaning close to him. Hearing that question, her whole body suddenly stiffened. Ms. Vuong Le immediately spoke up.

“What are you planning to bring up again?”

“What does what happened three years ago have to do with today?”

I didn't pay any attention to her. His eyes still only stopped on Tran Nhien.

“Answer me.”

“Is she there?”

Tran Nhien was silent for two seconds.

“Her health was not good at that time.”

“My mother doesn't feel safe leaving her alone.”

“So I asked you to take care of her for a few days.”

I repeated softly. He frowned.

“Giang Nguyet, don't let others instigate you.”

"It's over, there's no need to bring it up today."

I opened the photo sent with a text message from an unfamiliar phone number. On the screen was a photo taken in front of an apartment door. Tran Nhien was wearing gray home clothes, carrying a bag of groceries in her hand. Manh Dinh put on his shirt, stood next to him, looked up at him with a radiant smile. The date is in the lower right corner of the photo... The same day three years ago that he told me he was so busy that he didn't have time to listen to the video call. My chest felt like it was being pressed down by a heavy rock. But this time... After the pain... What rose was no longer tears. But a cold feeling of complete alertness. I raised my phone.

“Is this what you call taking care of for a few days?”

Tran Nhien saw the photo clearly. His face immediately turned pale. By reflex, Manh Dinh rushed forward and tried to snatch the phone from my hand. I took a step back. She missed the shot and her whole body staggered and almost fell. The eyes of all the guests in the hall once again turned to us. I won't give her any more chances to act. I directly gave the phone to lawyer Tham.

“Lawyer Tham.”

“Can this photo be shown on the big screen?”

Lawyer Tham took the phone. He just glanced over, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Finally, Tran Nhien was really panicked.

“Giang Nguyet!”

“Don't go over the limit!”

I looked straight at him, saying every word clearly.

“Excessive limit…”

“Still behind.”

Just finished speaking. The surveillance camera image on the big screen was immediately transferred. Right after that... The photo taken three years ago appeared clearly before the eyes of all the guests present. The moment the photo was shown on the big screen, the entire banquet hall fell completely silent. The image is extremely clear. The light in front of the apartment door was warm yellow. Tran Nhien was wearing home clothes, her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and she was carrying two shopping bags in her hands. Manh Dinh stood next to him, wearing a men's shirt that was clearly larger than his size. She raised her head to look at him, smiling sweetly and filled with dependence. That intimacy is not like just being taken care of for a few days. It's even more unlike a normal brotherly relationship. I heard someone next to me take a sharp breath. I also heard someone talking in low voices.

“Isn't this living together?”

“Isn't it said that we are sworn sisters?”

"The girl from the Giang family is really too patient, only today did she turn her face."

Tran Nhien's face was sometimes pale, sometimes pale. Manh Dinh stood next to him, her fingers tightening her skirt so tightly that it seemed like she wanted to crumple the fabric. She doesn't cry anymore. Because this time, Tears were no longer enough to explain what was in the photo. The first person to recover was Ms. Vuong Le. She rushed in front of the big screen a few steps, her high-pitched voice trembling.

“Who let you show these random things?”

The panicked banquet hall manager immediately turned to look at lawyer Tham. Lawyer Tham just calmly looked back at him. The manager's hand stopped in mid-air, finally not daring to touch it. I looked at Tran Nhien.

"Didn't you say that she's not in good health, so you can take care of her for a few days?"

“Care enough to wear my shirt and live with me in an apartment?”

Tran Nhien's lips moved slightly.

“It's not what you think.”

This saying... It's so familiar. Every time a lie is exposed, people seem to like to use that sentence to end it. I smiled softly.

“So what is it?”

“Please explain.”

“Explain in front of my parents, in front of your parents, as well as in front of everyone who came here today to bless us.”

Tran Nhien's throat moved slightly. He looked at me. For the first time, there was no longer any imposition of orders in those eyes. Instead, there was the struggling look of someone who had been cornered.

“She had just finished surgery at that time.”

“In a foreign country, I have no acquaintances.”

“I don't feel safe leaving her alone at the hotel.”

“So I arranged for her to stay in the apartment I rented.”

“Are you there too?”

He was silent. I nodded.

“So during those three months, you told me you lived in an apartment arranged by the school.”

“He said the school program was very busy and he couldn't make video calls.”

“You said every day you're so tired that you go straight to sleep when you get home.”

“So now you tell me.”

“After all, you don't have time to answer my calls…”

“Or are you afraid I'll see her?”

Manh Dinh suddenly raised his head, his voice trembling.

“Giang Nguyet, don't force him like that.”

“That's when I begged him.”

“After the surgery, I was really scared.”

“He just loves you.”