Chapter 10 — Try Loving Me

The car parked on the side of the road, I got in but he hadn't started the engine yet.

“What's wrong?”

I asked.

“There's something I want to tell you.”

“What makes your face so serious?”

“My dad wants to see you.”

The bag in my hand almost fell down.

“Luc Dinh Chu?”

“Yes.”

“Why suddenly—”

“Unnatural.”

“He's been asking for half a year now, and I still don't agree.”

“Why don't you agree?”

“Because I don't want you to be pressured.”

“So why are you talking now?”

He turned to look at me.

“Because now you won't have any pressure anymore.”

I thought for a moment and realized he was right. Two years ago, when Bach Nhuoc He said

“His family will not accept you.”

, indeed I was confused. But now — I have my own company, my own income, my own reputation in the industry. I don't need anyone to

“accept”

. I went to see Luc Dinh Chu, not to

“browse”

, but to tell him — the son he chose is not bad.

“Okay, let's meet.”

I said.

“Saturday noon, he booked the restaurant.”

“How classy?”

“What should I wear?”

“You can wear normal clothes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Don't you need to dress a little more formal?”

“To Niem Niem.”

He started the car,

“Your current appearance is the best appearance.”

“No need to change.”

Saturday noon, at a private restaurant. Luc Dinh Chu is younger than I imagined, has gray hair but a very proud spirit, wears a dark blue polo shirt, has a very similar temperament to Luc Tu - both calm and steady, not angry and arrogant, but not oppressing others.

“You are To Niem Niem, right?”

He stood up smiling,

“Sit down, child.”

“Hello, uncle.”

“Don't stress, just eat your meal.”

While eating, he asked me a few questions, out of character

“What do your parents do?”

,

“Do you have a house yet?”

, which is —

“I heard you opened your own consulting company?”

“How is business?”

"That's okay, this year's goal is to double revenue."

“New consumer segment?”

“Yes, brand strategy and user growth.”

“Nowadays, this industry is very competitive, how do you differentiate yourself?”

I sat and talked about the industry with him for 15 minutes, the more I talked, the smoother I became, then I discovered - this is basically not the case.

“introduction to parents”

, this is a trade negotiation. Luc Tu sat next to him the whole time without saying anything, just bowed his head and picked up the food. Finally, Luc Dinh Chu put down his chopsticks, looked at his son, then looked back at me.

“Tieu To, there is something I want to tell you.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“This kid had an argument with his uncle when he was 18 years old, claiming he didn't want to take money from him and went out to work on his own.”

"At that time, I thought he was just being impulsive and childish, at most half a year he would run away again."

He laughed.

“As a result, not only did it not return, but it also did better than expected.”

"From then on, I no longer managed it."

“Including who you love, who you marry, when you get married, I have no involvement.”

“But today I want to say something —”

He looked straight at me,

“His eyes for seeing people are good.”

I smiled.

“Thank you, uncle.”

“Don't thank me, thank yourself.”

He raised his tea cup,

“You can make Luc Tu take the initiative to introduce you, you're the first one fairy.”

“That's enough to prove everything.”

Finally, Luc Tu opened his mouth: "Dad, it's okay."

“Okay, you young men, just keep talking.”

Luc Dinh Chu stood up,

"I have something to do first, I've already paid for the food, so you guys can enjoy it slowly."

After he left, the VIP room fell silent for a moment. I turned to look at Luc Tu.

“He's quite psychotic.”

“Yes.”

“Bach Nhuoc He said my family doesn't accept you, is she cheating on you?”

“She herself wasn't accepted so she assumed everyone else wasn't either.”

I laughed.

“Luc Tu.”

“Yes.”

“My dad told me you were the first person I brought home.”

“Yes.”

“So will he be the last?”

He looked at me, without hesitation.

“Yes.”

Just one word. But enough is enough. Right on the day of our 3rd anniversary, there was no candlelight dinner, no fresh flowers or balloons, no earth-shattering ceremony. We eat hot pot at home. That's right, right in that penthouse, two people gathered around the love pot, with beef, pork belly, and shrimp balls on the table. After eating half of it, he put down his chopsticks, took out a small box from his pocket and placed it on the table. Just push through calmly. I glanced.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

I opened it. It's a ring. It's not a super huge diamond - it's a very thin platinum ring, with a very small stone on top, just enough to sparkle and reflect a little light. Minimalist. In moderation. Very Luc Tu.

“To Niem Niem.”

“Yes.”

“Marry me.”

It's still a narrative sentence. I looked up at him, the steam rising from the hot pot made his face blurry for a moment.

“You proposed like this?”

“Eating hot pot while proposing?”

“I don't like to show off rituals.”

“How do you know?”

“You never mentioned how you wanted to propose.”

“That proves you don't care about appearances.”

You're right. What I pay attention to has never been form.

“Will you come pick me up from work later?”

“Yes.”

“If I text you, will you still respond to each message individually?”

“Will answer.”

“I keep sticking to you, do you mind?”

“Don't mind.”

“Forever?”

“Forever.”

I took the ring out of the box and put it on my ring finger myself.

“It fits perfectly.”

I said.

“I measured it.”

“When measured?”

“When I sleep.”

I laughed out loud. Then continue to dip the beef book. He also continued to dip the meat. Outside the window was a night river scene, a pot of hot pot was boiling, and there was a cold metal ring on his finger. But my heart is extremely warm. 3 years ago, I was someone who had to rely on clinging to others to feel my existence. Now I'm sitting on the sofa I bought myself, eating hot pot with someone who really understands me. I no longer need to glean a sense of security from others. Because I myself am my own sense of security. As for him, he is a flower embroidered on brocade. A very beautiful flower. Do you even know how to cook porridge? The phone vibrated, it was a text message from Lam Noan Noan.

“Recite!”

“Is there anything surprising about your anniversary today?!”

I took a photo of the hand wearing the ring and sent it over. 3 seconds later she called. I turned on external speaker.

“MEMORIAL!”

“YOU ARE ENGAGED!”

“Not yet—”

“COME OUT HERE AND SEE!”

“IT'S AN ENGAGEMENT!!”

The other end of the line was in chaos. Luc Tu sat opposite, still leisurely dipping a piece of beef.

“Chu Ngon sends his congratulations.”

He glanced at his phone.

“What else did he say?”

“Tell me, from now on, the frequency of me clinging to his wife can be reduced to once a week.”

“Impossible.”

“I also find it impossible.”

I smiled brightly at him. He put down his chopsticks and looked at me.

“To Niem Niem.”

“Yes?”

“You look prettier when you smile than 3 years ago.”

“Because 3 years ago I was sitting at a convenience store wearing a funeral face.”

“What about now?”

“Now I'm sitting in my house, facing my fiance, there's still half a plate of un-dipped shrimp rolls in the pot.”

“Then put it in.”

“Let go.”

He reached out and pushed the plate of shrimp rolls into the pot. I watched him do this and suddenly felt - the days passed as they should. There's no need to be fierce and passionate every day. Just two people, a hot pot, a river outside the window, and a ring on each hand. So that's more than enough. The wedding took place in spring. Not big, about 50 guests, held in a small garden. Lam Noan Noan was the maid of honor, Chu Ngon was the best man. My parents flew in from the countryside, and the first thing my mother said when she saw Luc Tu was: "More handsome than in the photo." My father shook his hand and shook it: "Tieu Luc, your daughter talks a lot, it's bothering you." Luc Tu replied: "I don't mind." My mother stood next to her and wiped her tears: "I thought she wouldn't find someone in this life, she clung to little Noan every day—"

“Mom!”

The whole hall burst into laughter. Weddings don't have long speeches. Luc Tu stood in front of me, holding a piece of paper — he was actually preparing a speech.

“I'll keep it short.”

He opened the paper. The whole hall was silent.

“The first time we met, you asked me if I was afraid that I would get attached to you.”

“I said try it.”

“Tried for 3 years.”

“The conclusion is—”

He folded the paper and stuffed it back into his pocket.

“Not enough.”

“Let's try for a few more decades.”

My eyes are red. Below, Lam Noan Noan cried even louder than me. Chu Ngon, standing next to him, quickly gave a tissue to his wife. When he gave the ring, his fingers trembled slightly. I grabbed his hand.

“Stressed?”

“A little.”

“Luc Tu also knows how to be stressed.”

“Write it down, it's very rare.”

“It's written.”

The pastor asked that classic question. When he spoke

“I agree”

, the voice is extremely steady. When I spoke, my voice trembled slightly. But extremely steadfast. Life after marriage does not change. You're busy with your investment fund, I'm busy with my company. He still replies to every message. I still send dozens of messages every day. The frequency has decreased from 31 messages to about 15 messages - not because people are less involved, but because I'm too busy and don't have time. In the third year of establishment, the company achieved revenue exceeding the 50 million mark. Staff expanded to 30 people. At an industry summit, I received an award

“Promising Young Entrepreneur of the Year”

. When he stepped onto the podium to receive the award, Luc Tu was sitting in the stands. He was still wearing his usual black shirt, sitting in the last row. No clapping. But still looking at me. I leaned close to the microphone and gave an award acceptance speech.

“Thank you my team.”

“Thank you to my partners and customers.”

“And there was one more person — he taught me a lesson.”

I turned my eyes to the last row of seats.

“When you need to stretch, just stretch.”

“When you need to shoulder the burden, you must shoulder it yourself.”

“But when you turn around, having someone there is enough.”

The applause below was resounding. He stood up from the last row of seats and walked out. Getting off the platform, I quickly ran after him. He was waiting for me in the hallway.

“Why did you leave?”

“Crowded.”

“Didn't you see me receive the award?”

“See it.”

“After watching, will you leave?”

"Once you've finished talking, I'm done."

I stood in the hallway looking at him, suddenly took a step forward, hugged him. He paused for a second, his arms tightening around me.

“To Niem Niem.”

“Yes.”

“You were amazing today.”

“Me too.”

He let me go and took the car keys.

“Let's go home.”

“What are you doing going home?”

“Cook porridge.”

I smiled and walked with him into the elevator. The hallway lights behind him gradually faded one by one. And the road ahead is bright. He walks beside me, not fast, not slow. I glanced at him. He also glanced at me. Don't say a word. But it seems to have said it all. Complete.