Chapter 3 — Where Sunset Falls

The car stopped completely, Tham Du Du did not rush to get out, but looked sideways at him: "Do you want to go upstairs and sit for a while? I just bought a tea set, last time didn't you say you wanted to taste the tea I made?" The night wind blew through the slightly open car window, bringing with it the chill of early autumn. Luc Thoi Yen did not answer, his fingers lightly tapped twice on the steering wheel. He suddenly remembered Khuong Niem's previous hospitalization. Remember the look of her standing at the door, saying "I'm tired". Remember the soft "bang" that sounded when the door closed.

“Let's leave it another day.” he said.

Tham Du Du smiled, pushed the door to get out of the car, bent down to look at him through the window: "Thi Yen, are you afraid that she will see those photos and videos and make a fuss? You keep being held by her like this, what will you do in the future?" Not knowing what he wanted, Luc Thoi Yen frowned. The idea of going home suddenly faded a bit. He nodded to Tham Du Du, then started the car. The car drove out of the apartment complex, he stopped at the intersection waiting for the red light. On the passenger seat was still the bag of Khuong Niem's medical records that he had forgotten at the hospital. He picked it up and flipped through it. Inside were a few hospital bill receipts, in the signature section was her name written by hand. The green light turns on. He threw the file bag back into the passenger seat, drove, and headed to the club he frequented. News spreads very quickly in the world. As soon as he entered the room, his close friends started teasing him.

"Wow, Mr. Luc is here? I heard you're on the hot search again today? With that genius of the Tham family?"

"Tsk tsk, at home you have a good wife but when you go out you still tease the flowers and the moon, Luc Thoi Yen, you're quite good."

"But I have to say it again," Someone came closer and lowered his voice: "Is your sister-in-law okay? Today my wife even asked me, saying if Khuong Niem made a fuss with you."

Luc Thoi Yen sat on the sofa, loosened his tie, glanced at him: "I didn't know you cared so much about my personal business?" The others looked at each other, knowing to keep their mouths shut. After three weeks of alcohol, some people still can't stand it:

"Thoi Yen, it's not like you guys talk too much, what you did today was really not very nice. Khuong Niem just got out of the hospital, you've been running around the city with Tham Du Du, whoever it is, your heart won't be comfortable."

"That's right. It's okay if she argues with you and makes a fuss. Over here, I heard people slam the door in your face. Aren't you afraid that this time, she really won't let you in the house anymore?"

Luc Thoi Yen raised his glass of wine and took a sip. Remembering Khuong Niem's actions of pushing him out of the house, decisively, without hesitation. He put down the glass, his tone was bland:

"No, she's used to making me do things before, just a little coaxing and that's it."

Pausing a moment, he added: "This time she closed the door first, so let her calm down." The others laughed.

“That's right.”

7. One week later, it was the Luc family's grandfather's birthday celebration. I originally didn't intend to go. But Grandpa Luc personally called, his tone carrying a bit of cautious probing: "Nien Niem, it's grandpa's birthday, will you come?" I stopped. Grandpa Luc treated me very well. During these three years of marriage, every holiday he took the initiative to call me home for dinner, always praising me for understanding in front of the whole family. Sometimes Luc Thoi Yen When he didn't come home, he secretly called and scolded him.

“I'm coming.” I replied: "Grandpa's birthday, I will definitely be there."

I hung up the phone and looked out the window for a long time. Having decided to divorce, the rites should still be fulfilled. That evening, I chose an elegant dress, applied light makeup, carried the box of tea I had prepared for Grandpa Luc, and headed out the door. The Luc family's main house is brightly lit, and the yard is full of cars.