The CEO's Little Wife

Chapter 7: After the Rain

The surgery concluded at three in the morning and was a complete success. Her mother was transferred to a special recovery ward, and only then did Binh Minh truly feel the heavy burden lift from her chest. Late last night, right after she hung up the phone, Thi had rushed over, and even her older brother was present.

Though she was furious with her impulsive, gambling brother, looking at his remorseful, haggard appearance and his anxious eyes, her heart softened once again.

All three of them stayed awake through the night until morning. The doctor announced that her mother was recovering very well and was expected to be moved to a regular room by three in the afternoon. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Thi hurried home first to prepare for afternoon classes.

In the hospital hallway, Binh Minh and her brother sat closely side by side. A lingering silence hung in the air until her brother couldn't stand it any longer and took the initiative to speak:

— Minh... I'm sorry! When I got your call last night, I was shaking all over with fear until I finally calmed down a bit... It was my fault. I shouldn't have dumped all the money into stocks without preparing for emergencies... Can you forgive me?

Binh Minh closed her eyes, a single tear quietly rolling down her cheek. She was angry with him, of course. Because if she had had that savings money, she wouldn't have been driven to the point of selling her own freedom and dignity to become someone else's shadow mistress.

Yet, time could not be turned back. Now that her mother was safe, she couldn't simply cut ties with the blood brother she had grown up with for over a decade. Opening her eyes to look at him, Binh Minh let out a soft sigh:

— Since you know you were wrong, start working properly from now on. Make sure to earn enough to pay the rent to Aunt Ha, too, or she'll threaten to chase us out to live under the overpass again.

— Hmph, I'll just rent a place somewhere else. She's just bullying us by throwing her weight around!

— Oh, is that so? Are you planning to tell your sister to go cozy up to a rich tycoon to support you again?

— Alright, alright, I really know I was wrong! From now on, your older brother—Nguyen Cong Thanh—will carry everything on his shoulders!

Seeing him thump his chest and make such a resolute declaration, Binh Minh couldn't help but laugh. In this fleeting moment, all distance and heartache seemed to melt away beneath the warm afternoon sunlight. She murmured inwardly: "Dad, our family is finally whole again. I promise I won't let your lifelong dedication go to waste; I will definitely reclaim the company!"

Three days later, Binh Minh was in remarkably high spirits. Her mother was recovering exceptionally well, and her brother hadn't disappointed her, having managed to find a part-time job. Outside of his working hours, he stayed stationed at the hospital to take care of their mother so Binh Minh could focus on her studies.

For the past few days, she hadn't gone to work at the club because she needed to catch up on missed coursework. During a break between classes, she sat in a corner of the school courtyard, nibbling on a loaf of bread while flipping through her textbooks page by page. Suddenly, a hand gently tapped her shoulder :

— Binh Minh! Eating bread again? I bought some pizza, let's share!

Turning around, it turned out to be Senior Hoang, a well-known campus hotboy. Handsome, brilliant at his studies, and none other than the principal's son, he was pursued by countless female students. Ever since Binh Minh enrolled, Hoang had given her special attention. Up until now, his attentiveness and pursuit had never once wavered, even after her family fell into ruin.

She smiled politely and refused:

— Oh, how awkward, Binh Minh! I didn't know you were here too, otherwise I would have bought an extra cup. Why don't you just drink mine for now?

— Thanks, Han, but I've already eaten bread and drunk water until I'm stuffed, I don't want any.

Hoang frowned and pushed the drink in his hand toward her:

— Just take this one and drink it, soda will help your digestion.

Bao Han's expression instantly shifted, revealing a clear flash of jealousy. She quickly improvised to save face:

— Oh, Hoang! I forgot, the principal is calling you to his office right away!

Hoang responded with a "Yeah," turned to instruct Binh Minh: "I'll head off first. If there are any exercises you don't understand, just come find me!" and walked away, still leaving the cup of drink on the bench for Binh Minh.

Waiting until Hoang was far out of sight, Bao Han turned back to stare at Binh Minh with a dark, hostile gaze:

— Binh Minh, you turned down the drink I bought because you looked down on it, and you were just waiting to drink Senior Hoang's instead, right?

— I didn't mean that at all... It's just that...

— Just what? Clearly, you planned this all along...

— Planned what, for goodness' sake? Of course it was a bad drink! You brought her something you'd already sipped on and tried to hand it to someone else, how kind of you!

A sharp, shrill voice cut Bao Han off. Thi strode over, crossing her arms as she stood protectively in front of Binh Minh, leaving Bao Han too furious for words before she stomped off in a huff.

Thi turned around and grumbled:

— Minh! You're usually so tough-spined? Why do you keep letting these nasty types walk all over you?

— Oh, let it be, Thi! We used to be close friends anyway. Han likes Senior Hoang, so I'll just step aside a bit.

— You liked him before she did! When she first entered school, she wasn't living in the lap of luxury like she is now. You helped her with all sorts of things, and now that she's found rich relatives, she turns around and puts on airs to pick fights. She's only good at bullying others, what's so great about that? In my eyes, a campus belle like her isn't even half as pretty as my beloved Minh! 🥰

With that, Thi nuzzled her head against Binh Minh's shoulder in a spoiled manner. Binh Minh could only chuckle good-naturedly at her best friend's childish antics.

— I love you so much! Come eat out with me tonight, beauty?

Binh Minh paused slightly, her gaze dimming a fraction:

— Tonight... probably won't work. I have to go back to work at the bar.