Her personality was not insolent, even though she was not pleased with his presence, she still politely asked, “Did you just get off work? Have you had dinner yet?”

He shook his head but didn’t say anything, nor did he move, just stood at the kitchen door and continued to look over the dining table. The type of person like she who cares for others really can’t bear to eat alone. So she blurted out, “Do you… want to sit down… have some food?”

He looked as if he wanted her to re-confirm, “Are you afraid?”

“Of course… no.” Her voice was tiny.

“So can I get the small bowl?”

“Let me get it for you.”

This woman, like every other time, still an extremely generous person, began to help people scoop rice into small bowl and get more food. Knowing that he liked eating half dried pineapple fish, this person enthusiastically took out the pan and turned the electric stove on to start frying.

“What else are you going to do?”

“Just fry some more dried fish for you.”

“No need, the caramelized pork and soup are find.” His voice was a bit shy. He’s taking her meal and then making her busy is wrong. He does not want to be punished by God.

“It’s okay, frying is quick, please sit down.” She considered this as a small matter.

He sat there like a Saint, watching her busy of chopping the dried fish, then putting it in the pan, this lady is used to cooking so she does it very gently. Just five minutes later, he is given a plate of the fragrant fried dried pineapple fish.

Indeed, he was very hungry, the food she cooked was delicious and good taste. It's been a few years since he's enjoyed it. Today, he had surgery all day. He’s supposed to go back to his mistress's flat, then the two of them will go to some restaurant for dinner. But late this afternoon she went to her friend's birthday party, he was also tired and just wanted to sleep. And for some reason, he ran back to the house, instead of returning to his and Thanh's place.

She sat down and scooped rice for him first, then did for herself. It can be said that in any situation, this woman always cares about him first. This meal was probably the best one he’s had in the past few years. It's been a long time since he's known the taste of family meals.

He rarely stays at home because he knows the daughter will be taken care by her mother. All his time was spent in the hospital, clinic and dating Thanh. She doesn't like cooking, so the two of them mostly have dinner outside.

Lam sat opposite him, eating very slowly. He was used to eating quickly, and the food she cooked was delicious, which made him feel good. He ate three bowls of rice at once, feeling extremely satisfied.

Actually, he really agrees with someone who once said, the home-cooked food is always better than street food. Experiencing many restaurants with his mistress, he found that eating outside, no matter how delicious the chef's cooking was, eventually he lost his appetite. For him, if he had the choice to eat at home for the rest of his life, he would still happily accept it.

He remembers someone once said that if you eat out, even if the food at that restaurant is super delicious, at some point you will have to change to another restaurant. But even if you eat home-cooked meals month by month, year by year, you still don't feel the need of changing. Habits are horrible, sometimes they are deeply ingrained and rooted in your soul, difficult for you to change.

Like him now, even though he travelled to many places and came to luxury restaurants, he still feel that the meals she cooks are the best. It's just a pity that in the near future he won't be able to enjoy such the meals anymore. The two of them will become two parallel lines, just thinking about that suddenly makes him feel extremely sad.

A few days ago, his mood has been down, and he couldn’t understand what he wanted actually. While thinking that, he didn't recognize that she was asking him. She repeated the question again, still not hearing his answer. She had no choice but gently pulled his shirt, "Do you want to eat some more soup?"

He regained his composure, "Let me serve myself."

Even though he said that, she still took his small bowl and served him with the soup. Extremely thoughtful and devoted, making him touched and unconsciously saddened even more.

Waiting for him to finish his soup, she discreetly looked at the clock, afraid of being late for the class. Even though he had finished eating, he showed no signs of wanting to stand up. It seemed he liked talking more, but she didn't have time. She looked at him politely, “Aren't you going out tonight? Now I have to go for teaching.”

“Oh, do you teach every evening?”

It's better not to ask. After asking, he'll realize how insensitive he is to her. He himself felt embarrassed by that.

“Yes, I teach two shifts every evening, from Monday to Saturday.”

“Why do you teach so much? You are not healthy." There was naturally a bit of mercy in his voice.

“I'm used to it, I can handle it.”

“You're not so healthy as other people,  you should reduce teaching time. Or only teach three sessions a week. Or I think you should teach a shift only per day. Don't exceed your strength, Lam."

She didn't pay attention to what he said. If she has time, she will still teach more classes.

Not hearing her answer, he continued, “What do you need so much money for? Little Van's part is done. Now you don't have to worry much anymore. You should think about your health.”

For a fleeting second, he felt as if he didn't understand her. The two have already prepared their daughter's abroad tuition, so why is she working so hard and torturing herself for that?

Hearing his question, she just smiled, not wanting to discuss money-related matters with him further. She can't tell him that in the past two years, she's started preparing a post-divorce plan. She is paying the bank’s loan every month for the apartment under her own name. She didn’t like to rent, so she used all her savings for a thirty percent down payment for a one-bedroom apartment. The remaining seventy percent are borrowed from bank.

The flat was handed over a few months ago, but she hasn't been able to move in because of the daughter's issue. Now that Van has settled down in America, she plans to separate. He hasn't signed the divorce papers yet because he's afraid that the daughter will be shocked. Therefore, she has to wait a few more months. However, she still has to take more than five years to pay off her bank debt. Of course he did not know the existence of this flat.

Fifteen years of marriage, she returned with two empty hands. The couple’s common property is from the original apartment her parents gave, with his money to be used for the daughter's future. Previously, she did not save her teaching salary for herself, only took care of living expenses, and did not save for herself or plan for the future.

After that, he had other relationship, and he wasn't the type of person to care about small things. Actually, his nature is not superficial, he just doesn't love her anymore, so he doesn't care about the family. Occasionally, he asked her about the daughter's tuition, but she was reluctant to speak up about money-related matters, so gradually he left everything to her.

Her sister said she was stupid, devoted whole her life to her husband and his family, and finally divorced at the age of over thirty, with nothing in her hands. It’s just the memory of a sad marriage and a wounded soul without being soothed.

But that’s her, a person who does not calculate, lives gently, does not value material things, the type of woman who always suffers for herself. Even if someone is not her relative, she also doesn't want her or him to be disadvantaged, so for the person she loves deeply, she sacrifices completely.

If someone asks her if she regrets it? Surely she will answer never regret. Even if she could turn back time, she would still choose to follow the same path. It's a pity that his heart is no longer with her. He has changed, his feelings have faded. She may be sad but will not hate him, and will not regret what she has sacrificed to him and his family.

“Why don't you answer me? You should pay attention to your health. You are very weak.” Seeing that she didn't answer, he had to repeat.

It's true that she's not as strong as others, but now is not the time to be weak. She is not allowed to be weak anymore. Who else can she rely on to be weak?

“Thank you, I will manage it.”

Seeing that she seemed to be talking for the sake of it, he knew that she probably wouldn't pay attention and do as he said. This woman was slim and thin, but she never complained to him, nor did she want to rely on him. He knew there's no point in giving advice anymore.

“Get ready to go for teaching, let me clean up for you.”

“It's okay, I still have time. I will clean up.” She didn't dare let him touch the housework.

Then, as if afraid he would take her job, she quickly stood up, got the dishes and put them in the sink. If it was before, he wouldn't have lingered in the kitchen after eating. Now, not sure if his nerve is having issue, he took a rag to help her wipe the table top and clean the kitchen. If the mother-in-law saw this scene, she might jump up and scold her.

He is like God's son, his mother won't let him touch any chores. His hands are the ones of a surgeon, he can only hold a scalpel, she will not let him be bothered with anything else. He is used to being a patriarch, so he rarely helps her with housework, except when she was pregnant. That was the time when he still loved her and the two had their first child.

His love was so full at that time, he did not want her to work hard. During that period, he was truly a wonderful husband. But such the precious time lasted two years only, after many conflicts occurred, causing his feelings to gradually drift to nowhere.

After washing the dishes, she turned to see him cleaning the table top and startled her. Instinct made her want to stop him, as if afraid his mother would see and make a fuss.

“You let me do it.”

“Why are you so panic? You cook for me, I'll just help you clean the kitchen a little."

Hearing his words, she felt off balance. She really wanted to ask if he know his words scaring her? Has he had his soul swapped by someone? This is not his personality. If he had a little thought for her, the two of them would not have come to this last step.

“I'm not used to it. Let me do it.” She seemed to want to take the rag away from him.

But he persisted, finally she had to stand aside. She really didn't have much time left, so she left him and hurried to her room to prepare for teaching.

“Then please help me, I have to go for teaching.”

“Go ahead and leave it here for me.”

"Thank you!"