Chapter 9 — Wedding Day Without Bride

“Pho Thinh Lan, on the wedding day, I will give you the answer.”

* Three days before the wedding, Pho Thinh Lan locked Khuong Van at home. The password outside the door has been changed, and there are more guards at the window. Khuong Van stood in front of the mysterious gate, Pho Thinh Lan helped her adjust her scarf:

"You're not in a good mood these past few days, don't run around. Before the wedding, I'll be with you."

Khuong Van asked: "Stay with me, or watch over me?" Pho Thinh Lan avoided her question:

“Wait until the wedding is over, everything will get better.”

“Including me having to go to the hospital?”

His hand movements stopped:

“The doctor will ensure your safety.”

Khuong Van said: "My safety has never been in your consideration." Pho Thinh Lan tried to be patient:

“Do you have to think I'm that bad?”

Khuong Van looked closely at his face right in front of his eyes:

“Three years ago, the first day I woke up, you collapsed on the edge of the hospital bed and said, if I couldn't see anymore, you would make my eyes.”

Pho Thinh Lan's throat choked, but there was no guilt that she was used to.

"I won't go back on my word. I will raise you, take care of you, give you warm clothes and food for the rest of your life."

Khuong Van gently asked: "Like raising an obedient cat?" Pho Thinh Lan was silent. The doorbell rang. Hua Tri Ha brought a makeup artist in.

"Thin Lan, you have to try your wedding makeup first. Miss Khuong's eyes are inconvenient, I'll look at it for her."

Deputy Thinh Lan frowned:

“Who let you come?”

Hua Tri Ha bowed her head in self-pity:

"It's what I said. I'm afraid Miss Khuong will be rude at the wedding."

The makeup artist opens the tool box:

"Miss Khuong, please sit here."

Khuong Van did not move. Hua Tri Ha walked up to her, leaned close to her ear and whispered: "That day you took off your sunglasses, I almost thought you could see. It's a pity, Tinh Lan said your medical records are still there, he personally looked through them." Khuong Van turned around and sat down. The makeup brush swept across her face. Hua Tri Ha picked up a lipstick:

"This color is too bright, it doesn't suit her. Change the color a little lighter. She's a blind person, people will laugh at her if she wears too much makeup."

The makeup artist hesitated. Pho Thinh Lan looked at Khuong Van:

“Van Van, what color do you like?”

Hua Tri Ha smiled:

“Can she see?”

Khuong Van spoke up: "Number 3." The makeup artist froze. In the box there are seven lipsticks arranged from left to right, number 3 is pure red. Hua Tri Ha stared at her:

“How does Miss Khuong know what color number 3 is?”

Khuong Van raised her hand to touch the table:

"The makeup artist said earlier when I was getting the makeup supplies."

The makeup artist nodded frantically:

“I think I said something.”

Hua Tri Ha's eyes darkened. She picked up a brooch and deliberately let it go. The brooch fell to the carpet and rolled to Khuong Van's feet.

“Hey, Miss Khuong, can you help me pick it up?”

As Deputy Thinh Lan was about to bend down, Hua Tri Ha stopped him:

“Just let her try it herself, she can't always rely on you on her wedding day.”

Khuong Van dropped her hands and fumbled on the carpet. The brooch lay right next to her right leg, its silver edge sparkling with light. Hua Tri Ha stared into her eyes. Khuong Van's hand moved one inch, two inches, and touched her leg table. Hua Tri Ha burst out laughing:

“Over there.”

Khuong Van followed the direction she pointed to, his finger pressed on the sharp tip of the brooch, beads of blood spurted out. Pho Thinh Lan immediately grabbed her hand:

“Don't pick it up anymore.”

Hua Tri Ha quickly said: "Sorry, I didn't mean it." Khuong Van withdrew her hand and used a tissue to press on the wound:

“It's okay.”

Hua Tri Ha lowered his head to look at her, his voice so soft that only the two of them could hear: