Chapter 234: Her World
Toan Phuong knew perfectly well the delivery guy was just being professionally polite, trying to please the customer. After all, the two of them were in casual home clothes—not exactly glamorous like the night before. Still, being complimented as a “beautiful couple” secretly gave him a warm buzz of happiness.
"You've got a sharp eye. If we ever need to buy anything else, I’ll definitely call you," he replied.
The delivery guy gratefully thanked them, said goodbye, and wheeled his motorbike out the gate.
Once he was gone, Toan Phuong went straight to the kitchen to help Kieu Ly with lunch. She had only been back in Vietnam a few days, and already Toan Phuong had spent a small fortune on her. It made her feel a little uneasy. But if she dared bring it up, she knew he’d scold her for it. So instead, she chose to just enjoy his kindness with a smile.
Still, the more thoughtful and generous he was, the more pressure she felt deep down. When the time came to officially join his family, would she know how to be a good daughter-in-law? Would she live up to his care?
The two of them worked together in the kitchen, and before long, lunch was ready. Cooking in the summer heat was nothing short of torture, but a home-cooked meal always felt cleaner, tastier, safer—and full of love. After finishing up, Kieu Ly was sweaty all over. She turned off the gas stove and tugged at the back of her shirt to stop the fabric from clinging to her skin, getting ready to take a shower.
Seeing that she’d finished cooking, Toan Phuong came over and leaned in to sniff the crook of her neck, making her pull away in embarrassment.
"I’m all sweaty from cooking. Why are you sniffing me?" she asked, flustered.
But Toan Phuong just kept on sniffing, teasing:
"It doesn’t smell bad to me. Just smells like you."
Without another word, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the bathroom. Though Kieu Ly weighed close to 50kg, he still found lifting her easier than hoisting one of those air purifiers earlier.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. At her age, being carried around by her husband like this still made her blush, but more than anything, she felt grateful. She was glad his health and energy were still so strong.
After a refreshing shower together, they came out to set the table for lunch.
At exactly 11 a.m., Kieu Ly’s parents, Kim Chi and Binh An, closed up the shop downstairs and came up for a quiet family meal. Ever since their daughter had gone abroad for school, family time had become rare. Now that she had taken a long break and come home, they were eager to cherish every moment with her—to take care of her, to make up for the years she spent away, far from the warmth of home.
But now, they realized something surprising: maybe their daughter hadn’t lacked love at all.
Since the day she got back, Kieu Ly had been glued to her husband almost 24/7. The two would leave early in the morning and return late at night, rarely even sitting down to eat with her parents.
Hoang Binh An felt a little ashamed as he watched his son-in-law take care of his daughter. He had intended to pick up some food for his daughter, but then changed his mind and served his wife instead. His generation had a poor childhood, where having enough to eat and wear was already a blessing, and the way they expressed love was different. Kieu Ly’s generation, on the other hand, grew up in abundance, so emotional life was more richly expressed. He had married a beautiful wife, but he never pampered or took care of her the way his son-in-law did with his daughter. Instead, they quietly understood each other, walked life’s path together, and raised two children into good people. Now, seeing his daughter with her own life and world, he finally realized that the one who walks with you your whole life is truly the most important person.
After lunch, Kim Chi opened the fridge under the shop counter and brought out a small birthday cake:
“Yesterday you were busy all day. Seeing you at home this morning, we bought a cake to celebrate your birthday a little late. This might be the last birthday you spend at home with us.”
It was a joyful occasion, yet Kieu Ly could hear a slight tremble in her mother’s voice. It was true — this year would be the last she lived with her parents. Next year, after graduation and the wedding, she wouldn’t be living here anymore — she’d become a daughter-in-law in someone else’s home. But that future home was already so familiar to her that she didn’t feel anxious or afraid at all.