Chapter 4 — Try Loving Me

The director raised his hand and interrupted: "I will leave this matter to Human Resources to check the history on the server."

"After the meeting, you and Trieu Dinh went up to my room."

I returned to my seat, my heart pounding. The phone vibrates. Luc Tu: “Are you done yet?”

“It's done.”

“How is it?”

“I won.”

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I will choose the best opportunity to strike.”

I clutched the phone tightly, suddenly feeling an unprecedented feeling - The feeling of being trusted, observed, and supported by others. You don't have to cling to others to feel safe. It's about having someone standing there, letting you know that you can stand on your own two feet, but when you turn around, he will definitely be there. That afternoon, HR called me to talk and verify the situation. Result: Trieu Dinh had all KPIs deducted that month and received a strict disciplinary warning. Ms. Truong was called up by the Director to talk privately. It was said that when she came out, her face was extremely unsightly. Tieu Lam texted me: "Miss Niem, you're so cool!"

“The whole room is talking loudly!”

I smiled and replied one word

“Yes”

. Learn from Luc Tu. When I got off work, Trieu Dinh stopped me at the elevator door.

“To Niem Niem, do you have to go to this step?”

“Which step?”

“Make you lose face in front of the entire company.”

“So when you took my results and put your name on it in front of the whole company, did you feel like I lost face?”

He opened his mouth and was speechless.

“Nem, after all, we used to—”

“The old days were the old days.”

I pressed the elevator button to go down,

"Trieu Dinh, from now on don't look for me anymore, public affairs will go through the OA system, private affairs will be exempted."

The elevator door opened, I walked in, the door closed in front of him. I looked at my reflection on the metal door and breathed a long sigh of relief. As soon as I stepped out of the company gate, I saw Luc Tu's car parked. I pulled the door open and walked in.

“Why are you always here?”

“I always need someone to pick me up.”

“I didn't tell you to come.”

“Today you deserve to celebrate.”

He started the car engine: "Where are we going to eat?"

“You choose.”

“Hotpot?”

“Approve!”

While eating hot pot, I recounted the entire incident to him, including the part where Trieu Dinh stopped me at the elevator. After listening, he dipped a piece of beef book into the bowl for me.

“He will still look for you in the future.”

“Why?”

“If this type of person is slapped in the face, they will not accept their fate and will find a way to get it back.”

“Remove what?”

“Face.”

“Or maybe I want to soften your heart.”

“I will not soften.”

He glanced at me.

"Before, I used to be soft-hearted."

The words hit my heart. In the past, Trieu Dinh only needed to say one sentence

“Nim, you are wrong”

I forgive you immediately. But that was in the old days.

"In the past, I didn't have you by my side."

As soon as this sentence came out, I was stunned. His chopsticks picking up the book stopped. I quickly bowed my head and avoided: "I mean in the past no one taught me—"

“I heard it.”

“…”

“Let's eat hot pot.”

I won't continue this topic anymore. But all that evening he was dipping meat, and it was all in my bowl. The days just passed like that. The relationship between me and Luc Tu is not that of lovers, but it seems that it is not just at the level of being seen. Every day I send dozens of messages, do you reply? Any news left? We meet 2 or 3 times a week, go out to eat, go for walks, sometimes watch movies. He never held my hand, never said vague flirtatious words, but every time I needed him, he was always there. Lam Noan Noan said: "What are you two called?"

“Above friendship, below love?”

Chu Ngon said: "That Luc Tu guy just keeps quiet, you just wait and see." I'm still waiting. But I'm not sure what I was waiting for. A month later, Bach Nhuoc He appeared again. Originating from Chu Ngon company's year-end party, the type of party where family members are allowed. Lam Noan Noan pulled me to work

“accompanying sisters”

, in fact, Chu Ngon informed Luc Tu, telling him to come too. The year-end party hall is located in a hotel banquet room, very large, very crowded. I wore a newly bought dress, let my hair down, and applied light makeup. Lam Noan Noan saw me, her eyes bright: "To Niem Niem is so beautiful today!"

“Really?”

"Indeed, if Luc Tu sees this, he will definitely regret not taking action sooner."

My heart is happy. As soon as he entered the hall, Chu Ngon led Luc Tu over. Luc Tu wore a dark gray suit, completely different from his usual black shirt, looking like an actor stepping out of a magazine cover. Seeing me, his eyes stopped for a moment.

“Today I—”

“Isn't it beautiful?”

“…”

“Yes.”

Lam Noan Noan stood next to her and chuckled. I was just about to say something when a voice from the side interrupted.

“Mr. Tu!”

Bach Nhuoc He. She wore a red evening gown, gorgeous makeup, and 10-inch stiletto heels, her whole body looked like a moving ruby. She walked straight in front of Luc Tu and naturally took his arm.

"Mr. Tu, why didn't you tell me when you came today?"

“I thought you weren't coming.”

I stared at her hand. Holding tightly onto Luc Tu's arm. Luc Tu lowered his head and glanced at her hand. Without showing any emotion, he withdrew his hand.

“Bach Nhuoc He, let go.”

She smiled, not at all embarrassed, on the contrary, she conveniently smoothed the cuff of his shirt for him.

"Mr. Tu is still as fierce as before."

Then she turned to look at me.

“Is To Niem Niem coming too?”

“It took a lot of effort to dress up today.”

Letter

“also”

m brings with it a subtle sense of grace. I smiled.

“Thanks, you too.”

“Red suits you very well, it looks very bustling.”

Lam Noan Noan, standing next to her, almost burst out laughing. Bach Nhuoc He's face changed slightly. For the dinner party, seating was arranged in advance. Chu Ngon and Lam Noan Noan sat at one table, Luc Tu was placed at another table - sharing a table with Bach Nhuoc He. I was assigned to sit next to Lam Noan Noan.

“Who arranged this place?”

I asked in a whisper.

“The event organization company is ranked based on the working relationship.”

Lam Noan Noan replied,

“Bach Nhuoc He is also Chu Ngon's former colleague, she and Luc Tu are considered to be in the same circle of relationships.”

I looked at the position 3 tables away from me, Bach Nhuoc He was smiling like a flower and talking to Luc Tu. He lowered his head to look at the phone. My phone vibrates. Luc Tu: "Where are you sitting?"

“Table number 3, next to Noan Noan.”

“Come find me later.”

“Who is that next to you?”

“It doesn't matter.”

“It must be Bach Nhuoc He.”

He did not answer. Three seconds later.

“Do you care?”

I typed a bunch of words, then deleted them and typed again 3 letters sent over.

“Tell me.”

You reply very quickly.

“Wait.”

A minute later, I saw Luc Tu stand up, hold his glass of wine, say something to the person at the table and then walk this way. Walking in front of me, he put the glass of wine on the table.

“Is there anyone sitting here?”

Lam Noan Noan immediately lifted the bag next to her: "There's room!" Chu Ngon craned his neck from the other end: "Brother, why are you—" Luc Tu sat down. Sit right next to me. Three tables away, Bach Nhuoc He's hand holding the glass of wine stopped. The whole table looked at us with very magical eyes. I lowered my head and pretended to drink water to hide the corners of my lips curling up.

“Are you really coming here?”

“Yes.”

“Don't sit over there anymore?”

“Don't sit.”

“When did Bach Nhuoc He—”

“It has nothing to do with her.”

I tilted my head to look at him. He still kept a calm expression watching the performances on stage, but sat very close, so close that I could smell the faint scent of wood on him. Halfway through the year-end party, there was an interactive game. The MC on stage asked each table to nominate a representative to play. Bach Nhuoc He stood up and walked in front of the microphone.

“I want to invite Mr. Luc Tu to come on stage and participate in this game with me. We have known each other for 8 years, our chemistry is definitely abundant.”

The whole hall cheered loudly. 8 years. I turned to look at Luc Tu.