Chapter 3 — There Are Positions You Can Only Hold For Yourself

Every step is like trampling past self-deceived illusions. The banquet hall was still extremely noisy, most people were still toasting, completely ignoring my unusual actions. The host had just finished an interactive session and was drinking water to calm his voice. When he saw me walking on stage, he was a bit surprised.

“Miss Giang, are you planning to…”

I didn't answer him, just took the heavy microphone from his hand. My fingertips touched the cold metal shell of the microphone, but my heart beat fiercely in my chest. I was nervous, scared, but most of all, I had an unprecedented determination. I turned on the microphone switch. After a slight hiss, a deafening sound immediately echoed throughout the banquet hall through the speaker system. That sudden sound caused the bustling scene to immediately quiet down. All the chatter, the clinking of glasses, and the laughter all stopped at that moment. More than a hundred pairs of eyes at the same time turned towards me standing in the middle of the stage. Including Tran Nhien, Ms. Vuong Le and Manh Dinh. Their faces all carried varying degrees of surprise, stupor and confusion. Tran Nhien's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, perhaps he thought I intended to make him lose face in front of everyone, leaving him with no way back. He only guessed half correctly. I really wanted to make him lose face. But not out of anger, but to end this wild comedy. In the dead silence, I faced everyone's eyes and slowly raised the microphone. I smiled slightly, trying to make my voice sound calm and steady. My voice is not loud, but thanks to the amplified sound system, every word is clearly transmitted to everyone's ears.

“Sorry for disturbing everyone's meal.”

“Taking this opportunity, I want to declare something.”

I stopped for a moment, my eyes glanced at Tran Nhien's pale face under the stage.

"Today's wedding, I'm not engaged anymore."

The moment my words ended, the atmosphere in the banquet hall seemed to be tightened by someone. Dozens of tables were still bustling, but now they were all frozen in place. Someone is holding chopsticks in mid-air. Someone had just raised a glass of wine, the liquid inside was still gently shaking along the rim of the glass. The host stood next to me, the professional smile on his face completely gone. He wanted to reach out and take the microphone back, but in this situation he didn't dare touch me. The first person to react offstage was Tran Nhien. He immediately stood up, the chair leg scraping on the ground making a shrill sound.

“Giang Nguyet, are you crazy?”

His voice wasn't loud, but he was clearly holding back his anger. I held the microphone and watched him step by step towards the stage. The gentleness on his face had completely disappeared, leaving only the unsightly look of being insulted in front of everyone. This is what he really looks like. Not a thoughtful, mature fiance in front of guests. Nor is he the kind brother who always gently comforts Manh Dinh. But someone who is used to forcing me to give in.

“I'm very alert.”

I spoke through the microphone.

“I just suddenly thought Okay, there's no need for this engagement party to continue."

There were immediately low voices below.

“What happened?”

“Isn't it still peaceful just now?”

"Girls say annulment in this case, it's not a small thing."

Ms. Vuong Le also stood up, her face even more ugly than Tran Nhien's. She did not walk towards me, but first put her hand on Manh Dinh's shoulder. Manh Dinh looked at me with red eyes, looking like he was scared by me.

“Sister-in-law, don't be like that.”

Her voice wasn't loud, but loud enough for nearby tables to hear clearly.

“Is it because I sat in the wrong seat that you are unhappy?”

“I'll stand up now, I really don't have any other intentions.”

After saying that, she tried to stand up, but her body staggered slightly. Tran Nhien instinctively turned around to help her. At that moment, the eyes of many guests changed. There are people who sympathize with Manh Dinh. Someone frowned at me. It's as if I'm the bad guy who's comparing and calculating because of a seat. I laughed.

“You don't need to get up.”

Manh Dinh was stunned. I looked at her and spoke slowly.

“You sit very firmly.”

"From the moment you walked in the door until now, you put your arm around my fiance, accepted the welcome of my future mother-in-law, sat in my position, served him food, and were protected by him."

“It doesn't look like you're sitting in the wrong place.”

“You clearly seem to have returned to your rightful place.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the crowd that was still leaning towards her suddenly became silent for a moment. Manh Dinh's face turned a little white. Tran Nhien finally came under the stage, raised his head and looked at me, his eyes filled with warnings.

“Giang Nguyet, come down here.”

“If anything happens, let's go home and talk.”

“There are so many elders here today, do you have to make such a fuss?”

I lowered my head to look at him. Obviously he was standing under the stage, and I was standing on the stage. But all these years ago, the person who had to look up at him was always me. Looking at him determines our itinerary. Looking at him decides what I should endure. Looking at him decides who is important, who must understand. Today I suddenly don't want to raise my head anymore.

“What do you say when you come back?”

I asked back.

“When I was standing next to you just now, did you ever give me a chance to speak up?”

Tran Nhien's lower jaw tightened.

“It's just a seat.”

I nodded.

“For me, it's just a seat.”

“But today is my engagement party.”

“I'm the future bride, yet I'm being put aside.”

“Your mother said I don't understand.”

“You said I was stubborn.”

“My good sister just cried, you all gathered around her.”

“If I don't even have the qualifications to sit next to you, then why should I still marry you?”

Ms. Vuong Le finally couldn't bear it anymore. She stepped on her high heels, walked quickly to the front of the stage, raised her hand and pointed at me.

“Giang Nguyet, you have to speak in moderation.”

“Our Tran family has given you enough dignity, don't be unreasonable.”

“A girl broke off her engagement in front of everyone, who do you think is the one who lost face?”

I looked at her.

“The one who lost face is not me.”

“I don't leave other people's daughters alone at my own engagement party.”

“Neither do I let a girl who is not related by blood sit in the place of the future bride.”

Ms. Vuong Le was so angry that her chest was heaving.

“Your tongue is really powerful.”

"Before you even step foot in the door, you dare to argue with your elders. If you're really married, what kind of system will you have?"

I gently tightened my grip on the microphone.

“So I don't go in anymore.”