Chapter 233: A Compliment
 
Kieu Ly couldn’t help but smile, a soft blush rising to her cheeks. She knew better than anyone that Toan Phuong was probably more exhausted than she was. Despite his demanding job at the bank, he had still managed to fly back and forth just to see her, taking her all over London and the rest of the UK. On top of that, he had been preparing for his performance.
Thinking about all that made her heart ache a little. She asked softly:
"You’ve been so busy lately… How did you even find time to practice? Honestly, I thought you were a professional."
"When you were still asleep in the mornings, I’d get up early and squeeze in some practice. Instead of going to the gym like I usually do, I practiced dancing. Kept me in shape and gave me a chance to surprise you."
"Once I move back and start working with you, let me take some of the load off your shoulders. You’ll have more time for your creative stuff. Don’t carry it all alone. It breaks my heart."
"How many times do I have to tell you— I married you to take care of you, not for you to take care of me."
"And what if I want to take care of you? Doesn’t that make you happy?"
"Of course it does. But it still stings a little. I’m a man—not a boy. Trust me."
 
Kieu Ly stayed quiet, choosing not to argue further. She snuggled closer, curling into Toan Phuong’s chest and wrapping her arms around him. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift back to sleep for a bit longer.
It wasn’t until Toan Phuong’s phone rang that the two of them finally got out of bed. Reaching over to the nightstand, he answered:
"Hello?"
"Hi, I’ve arrived with the machine. Is it the house with the small convenience store out front?"
"That’s right. Wait for me, I’ll be right down."
Kieu Ly got up, got dressed, and headed to the bathroom to wash up. While brushing her teeth, she asked:
"You have someone coming over?"
"No, just the delivery guy for the air purifiers. I scheduled it for 10 a.m., and he’s here exactly on time. Impressive."
With that, Toan Phuong joined her in the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.
Kieu Ly was a little surprised but didn’t press for more. After quickly freshening up, she followed him downstairs.
Outside, the delivery guy had arrived on a motorbike weighed down by three large air purifiers. The poor bike looked like it was begging for mercy under the load. The guy himself was scrawny, like a walking twig, with a company badge hanging around his neck. Passersby couldn’t understand how someone that thin could carry so much cargo without the front wheel lifting off the ground.
When he reached the front yard, he stopped and gave the couple a surprised look—but quickly refocused on his task. Wiping sweat from his brow, he asked:
"Where would you like me to bring these, sir?"
"Let me show you," Toan Phuong said, picking one up and leading the way.
The delivery guy followed, carrying another purifier into Kieu Ly’s parents’ bedroom. After setting it down, he briefly explained how it worked:
"See how the light turns red? That means the air quality is really poor. Once it turns green, the air will be fully filtered. At night, this will help you sleep much more soundly."
"Got it. Thanks a lot."
Kieu Ly handed the delivery guy a glass of cold water. Times were tough, and competition was fierce. Sales reps were doubling as delivery workers, bringing machines straight to customers’ homes and even handling installation. Since her family ran a small shop, she was used to wholesalers dropping by to check inventory and sweet-talk them into restocking. Selling three purifiers to one household in a single visit? That was definitely a lucky day for this guy.
After watching for a bit and understanding how to operate the machine, Kieu Ly left the room and went to start cooking. Meanwhile, Toan Phuong and the delivery guy hauled the other two purifiers upstairs, installing one in Kieu Ly’s room and one in Manh Hung’s.
Once everything was done, Toan Phuong transferred the payment and even added a generous tip. As the delivery guy prepared to leave, he beamed and said:
"Weren’t you the couple from the concert last night? I saw you online—you looked amazing together. But now, seeing you in real life… you look even more perfect together."