Chapter 2 — Where Sunset Falls

I placed the phone face down on the bed. Of course I've never heard of it. Married for three years, I have heard it countless times. Luc Thoi Yen attended the event, a reporter asked about his marital status, he just laughed it off. At the company's year-end party, the wine glasses staff called "Sister-in-law", he coldly corrected: "Just call me Ms. Khuong." It's not that I don't know, I'm just pretending not to know. 4. I clutched the phone, my knuckles turning white. The WeChat message alarm rings continuously. Third aunt sent a voice message, unable to hide her excitement in her voice: "Nien Niem, have you seen the news? What's with that girl from the Tham family? You have to pay attention, you're a man, hold on tight." The second aunt followed immediately: "Hey, I said from the beginning that this marriage is not suitable, what about the Tham family's family background, how about our family. Niem Niem, don't be too sad, the marriage depends on the family." Their cousin sent a "pitiful" emoji, along with the words: *Think a little bit sister, at worst you'll get a divorce, after all you're not very old, you can still find someone else.* Their sister-in-law was even more straightforward: "Nim Niem, didn't I tell you, after being married for three years, why can't you even keep a man's heart? You look at Tham Du Du and people, just after divorce, you already lured someone away, you have to learn too." Every message, every message, it's all voice messages. I didn't click to listen to any news, just looking at the text was enough to hear their unconcealed gloating. Only Lam Vi sent a message with a stiff tone: "Don't pay attention to those gossips. I sent the agreement, please review the terms I listed carefully?" I typed a reply: *Okay.* After pressing send, I placed the phone face down on the bed. It's been three years. In the past three years, I have heard countless times the sentence "Just call me Ms. Khuong", heard countless times the sentence "Your husband and Ms. Tham are in the news again", heard too many people on the outside being concerned but on the inside laughing. I thought I had already gotten used to it. But now, looking at those messages constantly popping out, I still feel tired. Not grief. But just tired. Furthermore, I'm about to divorce Luc Thoi Yen. Thinking like that, I still stared at Luc Thoi Yen's gentle expression in the video, until the corners of my eyes stung. 5. An hour later, I received a WeChat message. Tu Tham Du Du. It's a photo. In front of Luc Thoi Yen's apartment, her high heels were lying on the ground, and he was bending down to put her shoes back on for her. His hand grabbed her ankle, his movements gentle as if afraid of hurting her. The accompanying message had only one sentence: *The first time he put on shoes for me, he said he was afraid I would get cold. Have you ever received this treatment?* I stared at that photo for a long time. Then turn off the screen, open contacts, and call your mother.

"Nien Niem? Why are you calling mom at this hour?"

“Mom,” I paused, “I'm about to get a divorce.”

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

“What's going on? Is he bullying you?”

Let me summarize the incident. After telling the story, I realized my voice was much calmer than I imagined. My mother was silent for a while. When she spoke, her voice was a bit hoarse: "Daughter, go home. I'll make some soup for you to drink."

“Yes.”

Hang up the phone, me squat on the ground and close your eyes for a moment. Don't cry. Just feel tired. I stood up, went to the bathroom to wash my face, looked at my reflection in the mirror, and suddenly remembered my childhood. My father once taught me that if you fall, you have to get up yourself, but don't fall in vain, remember clearly where the hole is. I think, I remember it well. Maybe it's still not possible to let go completely yet. But I know, it won't take much longer. 6. Luc Thoi Yen took Tham Du Du back to the apartment complex.