Chapter 17 — Trong Was Born At Eighteen Years Old: This Time I Didn't Marry Truc Ma

Ms. Trinh Thanh Lam placed the ring box on the table. The lid of the box opens. The tight, painful ring lay quietly inside. Overlaid on it were four sheets of paper. The first sheet... Is the marriage annulment notice. The second sheet... Is the early admission confirmation of Nam Dinh Academy of Fine Arts. The third sheet... is my train ticket information. The last sheet... Is the registration confirmation for the New Student Creative Award with the work 《Towards the South》. Registration time... That was the night I revised my wish. Duong An's work has not yet been sent for review. I also haven't discovered that Chau Nghien Xuyen gave her my original file. Chau Nghien Xuyen holds the confirmation paper. Looked for a long time.

"No way..."

"At that time..."

"Why does she want to go?"

No one answered him. Like him. Everyone thought... I left to force him to make a choice. The first person to understand... was Tham Man Nhu. She turned pale. Slowly sit down on the chair.

"The baby..."

"It was decided before the dispute over the work happened."

"It's not because of Duong An."

Chau Nghien Xuyen suddenly raised his head.

"She's just angry."

"Why did she want to go then?"

Ms. Trinh Thanh Lam looked at him.

"Because she wants to go to Nam Dinh."

"Because she doesn't want to get engaged to you."

"Those two reasons..."

"Still not enough?"

Chau Nghien Xuyen tightened his grip on the papers.

"Obviously she used to..."

"She used to like you before."

Ms. Trinh interrupted him.

"So before..."

"She's willing to stay."

"And now..."

"I don't want anymore."

The entire hall sank into a terrifyingly quiet atmosphere. All over the walls are pictures of me and Chau Nghien Xuyen. In every photo... I'm standing next to him. Maybe up until now... He never thought there would be a day... I walked out of those photos. Suddenly Chau Nghien Xuyen turned and rushed out. Tham Man Nhu quickly chased after a few steps.

"Nghien Xuyen."

"Where are you going?"

"The train has been running for more than 3 hours!"

But he didn't seem to hear. Hastily rode the motorbike straight to the station. Constantly asking the staff about my train. What he received was just an answer. The train... Has left the province a long time ago. He called me again. I answered the phone. The only sound on the other end of the line was the sound of rapid breathing.

"Lam Van Kieu."

"Where are you?"

"Aboard."

"Get off at the next station."

"I'll come pick you up."

"No need."

"The engagement can be canceled."

Finally... He said it. Unfortunately... It's too late.

"I will also not contact Duong An anymore."

"I'll go back."

"Let's talk again from the beginning."

Outside the window is an unfamiliar field stretching out. Sunlight shines on the glass. I saw my reflection there. Eighteen years old. No more wedding ring. There was also no longer the forever indelible tiredness of his previous life.

"Chau Nghien Xuyen."

"I'm leaving..."

"It's not for you to cut her off."

"So what do you want?"

"I don't want anything."

"Lin Van Kieu!"

That was the first time... He completely lost control.

"I can't just go like that."

"Why not?"

"We've known each other for 18 years."

"So..."

"I can't just because of a few small things..."

"But deny it's all about you."

Some small things. Even now... He still doesn't understand.

"You do not deny you."

"I just..."

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life with you."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time. It took so long that I thought he had hung up. A long time later... He asked in a hoarse voice:

"Are you still coming back?"

"My parents are still there."

"There's also my teacher."

His breathing seemed to lighten up a bit.

"So what about us..."

"But I came back..."

"Not to marry you."

I hung up. Then switch his number to Do Not Disturb. The train continued to rush south. 6 p.m. I arrived at Nam Dinh. The air here is much more humid than home. Outside the train station... There are rows of green trees as far as the eye can see. I don't know their names. But I know... From today. My life... Finally truly begins. A senior asked by Ms. Trinh Thanh Lam came to pick me up. She helped me pull the suitcase, smiled and asked:

"First time coming to the South?"

"Are you afraid you won't get used to it?"

I suddenly remembered what Chau Nghien Xuyen once said. He said... I won't be able to stay in the South for long on my own. I raised my head and looked towards the horizon. The orange-red sunset light still lingers at the end of the road.

"You'll get used to it."

Three months later. Nam Dinh Academy of Fine Arts organizes an Exhibition of New Student Works. 《Towards the South》 is hung in the innermost exhibition space.