Chapter 232: No IOUs
Truth be told, she was nervous. In her own assessment, she had an 80% chance of losing this bet. The other 20% hinged on whether Minh Nhat was so drunk he’d sleep through the night. When she had reunited with Toan Phuong, her mind had gone completely blank—she hadn’t been able to think, only to throw herself into his arms. In a hotel room with just the two of them, maybe Huong Tra wouldn’t be able to resist either.
She didn’t have to wait long. Huong Tra replied almost instantly:
"Goddamn it, Ly. I ended up sleeping with Minh Nhat. I don’t even understand myself anymore. He’s passed out now. I... I don’t know if what I did was right or wrong. This isn't good for either of us."
Kieu Ly sighed. What she had feared had come to pass. In the end, Huong Tra’s sense of reason had only been decorative. It couldn’t change the outcome. With no other option, Kieu Ly tried to console her:
"Forget about tomorrow for now. How do you feel today?"
"I don’t want to leave."
"Then don’t overthink it. Just chalk it up to treating yourself for once. Sleep well, okay?"
Kieu Ly set her phone down on the table and timidly glanced at Toan Phuong. From the look on her face, Toan Phuong could immediately tell he’d won the bet. A smug grin crept across his face—but he turned away to hide it, not daring to gloat openly in front of her. He then messaged HR, informing them that he and Huong Tra would be working offsite tomorrow. After that, he texted Huong Tra to let her know she didn’t need to go to the bank and that they’d meet in the afternoon.
It was late, and though Kieu Ly had lost the bet, she had no idea how they’d manage five rounds with so little time left in the night. She tiptoed over to her husband and tried to renegotiate:
"I lost, I know. But five rounds is a bit much... We still have to work tomorrow. Can I owe you a few?"
Toan Phuong had been holding himself back for a while, and his hunger was only growing. If anything, he thought five rounds was too few. He reached out to stroke Kieu Ly’s soft, cool skin, then leaned in to kiss her ear and the curve of her neck, whispering:
"No IOUs. I already told HR I’m taking the morning off. Five rounds—no less. You don’t get to sleep until we’re done."
With that, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her gently onto the bed, straddling her as he began to indulge in his lavish birthday feast.
By the end of that long, passionate night, both the one in the hotel and the one at home were equally exhausted.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, softened by the pale green curtains. Even the faintest ray was enough to signal that another blazing summer day had begun.
As usual, Kieu Ly woke up first. She shifted slightly, intending to get out of bed, but realized Toan Phuong’s arm was still tightly wrapped around her. Her body still ached and felt unusually weak, like it didn’t quite belong to her. Sleep-deprived and sore, she silently cursed him in her head:
“Little devil.”
But even as she grumbled inwardly, she gazed at the person beside her with eyes full of tenderness. She didn’t want to wake him, so she lay there quietly, watching him sleep.
Kieu Ly loved watching Toan Phuong in the morning. Each time, she felt a warm softness bloom in her chest—a peacefulness so complete it made her heart brim with joy. Mornings with him were precious, sweet moments that seemed to nourish every corner of her soul. She didn’t want to leave the bed.
When she was alone, her favorite time of day had always been the evening—when she could unwind, reflect, and enjoy her own inner world. But when she was with him, it was mornings she cherished the most. Watching him sleep peacefully brought her a serenity she never found anywhere else.
Before long, Toan Phuong stirred. He opened his eyes, smiled, and asked:
"Still tired?"
Kieu Ly didn’t shy away from his gaze. She looked back at him with gentle affection.
"Why bother asking? You knew I was tired, but you still wouldn’t let me sleep last night."
"Sleep a little more. Cut me some slack—I’m still young and always hungry for you."