Chapter 1 — Trong Was Born At Eighteen Years Old: This Time I Didn't Marry Truc Ma

Reborn at Eighteen Years Old: This Time I Won't Marry Truc Ma After rebirth, the first thing I did was delete the university in the province from my application. Then, I re-entered the school code of Nam Dinh Academy of Fine Arts. Even taking the fastest high-speed train takes 10 hours. Enough so that my future life and Chau Nghien Xuyen's will never intersect again. When you click submit, the system displays the final confirmation. 【After locking the wish, it will not be possible to edit or confirm it?】 I did not hesitate and immediately clicked confirm. On the screen appear 4 small blue letters. Submitted successfully. I stared at those words for a long time. It wasn't until my eyes burned that I bowed my head and laughed. In my previous life, it was also in this dark internet cafe that I deleted Nam Dinh Academy of Fine Arts. Because Chau Nghien Xuyen said, he registered for the Academy of Architecture in the province. He said the elders of both families hoped we would stay in our hometown. He said the South was too far, I definitely wouldn't get used to it alone. He said that after graduating from college, we would open a design studio together. I believed. Because of him, I gave up the school I wanted to go to the most. Later, I went to college with him, started a business with him, edited plans for him, stayed up at night drawing manuscripts, and took care of my parents for him. Of the works that helped him win the award, half were created by me. But on the podium, my name was never there. At the age of 39, thanks to his old neighborhood renovation project, he won a major award in the industry. During the live broadcast of the awards ceremony, he and Duong An stood shoulder to shoulder on stage. The host asked about the inspiration for the song. Chau Nghien Xuyen looked at Duong An and smiled gently.

“She is always the person who understands me best.”

All character illustrations, color systems and narrative scripts in that plan were made by me. Duong An only edited the last two introductory sentences. But no one mentioned my name. That day, I was alone in the back room of the studio to catch up on the next plan. My head hurts like someone is holding a hammer and pounding it straight inside. I put my hands on the table and called Chau Nghien Xuyen three times. The first call, he hung up. The second time, no one listened. Third call, turn off the phone directly. When I fell down, the computer screen was still stuck on the design without the author's name. Opening my eyes again, I was back when I was 18 years old. Return exactly 1 hour before the application submission deadline. This time, I won't stay again. The phone vibrated once. Chau Nghien Xuyen sent a message. 【Duong An's graduation work was returned by the teacher. I stayed to help her fix it for a while. Tonight we'll try the dishes for the engagement party. Please explain to me.】 I looked at that line and couldn't help but laugh. Still the same. As long as Duong An frowns slightly, he can leave everything behind and run to her. As long as I remained standing still, he would feel like he could leave everything behind and continue talking. Tonight in my previous life, I made up an excuse for him of a stomach ache. Not only was Aunt Chau not angry, she also told me to pack a portion of cinnamon fish with sweet and sour sauce that he likes to eat. I carried my lunch box to school to find him. But outside the old drawing room, I saw him I stood behind Duong An, held her hand, and taught her to lower her pen. The two of them stood very close. When Duong An turned his head, her lips brushed against his chin. I stood outside the door, a bowl of soup in my hand filled with dirt. After Chau Nghien Xuyen left, he just frowned and said:

“She's been under a lot of pressure lately, don't think too much.”

I don't make a fuss. He squatted down and tidied up the broken soup box little by little. Now that I think back, I understood it so much that it was funny. I conveniently answered. 【Got it.】 Then exit the chat box. The engagement party that the two families had planned was only 10 days away. 10 days later, Chau Nghien Xuyen will wear the suit Aunt Chau prepared for him, standing in front of all his relatives and friends waiting for me. And I will sit on the bus going south. When I walked out of the internet cafe, it was already dark. The smoke from the roadside grill was blown everywhere by the wind. I took a deep breath. The body of an 18 year old is so healthy and light. No more migraines from staying up late. No more tenosynovitis caused by holding a pen for too long. There is also no longer a trace of the wedding ring on the ring finger, no matter how hard you try, you cannot erase it. When I got home, both parents were present. On the dining table are prepared sample dishes brought by the hotel. As soon as Auntie Chau and Tham Man Nhu saw me, they smiled and waved.

"Van Kieu, come here."

"Where's little Nghien Xuyen? Why don't you come back with me?"

Everyone's eyes turned to me at once. I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"He's staying to help Duong An fix the painting. He won't be back tonight."

Tham Man Nhu's face immediately darkened.

"Is it Duong An again?"

"Why doesn't that girl know any moderation?"

"Knowing that you two are about to get engaged, you hang around Nghien Xuyen every day."

She said as she took out her phone to call Chau Nghien Xuyen. My father waved his hand again.

"It's normal for a group of kids to prepare for a graduation exhibition together."

"Let's discuss politics first today."

He took a red menu from the side.

"The hotel has been booked."

"10 days from now is a beautiful day."

"At that time, our admission results were almost ready. On the occasion of inviting relatives from both sides, we held an engagement ceremony first."

In my previous life, when I heard this sentence, my palms were so tense that they were sweaty. I used to secretly fantasize about flowers at the engagement ceremony. Imagine Chau Nghien Xuyen wearing a ring for me. Imagine that after graduating from college, we will build a home together. Now when I listen to it again... I just find it ridiculous. They are busy preparing for my engagement ceremony. But the groom... Even the tasting session didn't bother to show up. Tham Man Nhu opened the velvet box placed on the table. Inside is a small diamond ring.

"This style is my choice."

"The skin on Van Kieu's hands is so white, it will definitely be beautiful when worn."

She pulled my hand over and put the ring on her ring finger. The ring is too tight. Stiffness in finger joints, squeezing until sharp pain. However, Tham Man Nhu smiled extremely satisfied.

"It's a perfect fit."

I lowered my head to look at my red fingers.