Chapter 32: Tagging Along

Chapter 32: Tagging Along

The boarding house had six rooms. Quang Huy lived alone in the first room. The second room was occupied by two first-year students from the University of Transport, Nghĩa and Đức. The third room belonged to two Foreign Trade University female students, Hồng and Mai. The fourth was the room of Trà and Ly. The fifth room belonged to Ms. Bích Ngọc, a student at the Diplomatic Academy, who studied with Trà but was quite reserved and rarely socialized with others. She wasn't home today. The last room was shared by a couple who were already working and living together, and they only had casual contact with the others. So, Huong Tra only ran over to invite Hồng and Mai to join them.

It was obvious Mai already had a boyfriend. On Valentine's Day, they were all cozy together in the boarding house, yet today Mai didn't join the outing. Huong Tra found it strange but didn't ask further.

Students at Foreign Trade University had a common trait: they liked to dress up and keep up with fashion—in other words, they were trendier than most other schools. Hồng and Mai were no exception. Knowing how to dress up made them stand out. Hồng was slender and tall, with a somewhat sharp figure. She had the cold, model-like face that made people think she was unapproachable as long as she didn't speak. Mai was shorter and fuller-bodied—some might say a bit plump—with the most notable feature being her large bust that made her shirts look like they might burst at any moment. But still, Kieu Ly was considered the most beautiful girl in the boarding house, with a well-proportioned figure, a little more or less plump but perfect enough that people jokingly called her the neighborhood's beauty queen.

Quang Huy and the four girls went out to the lake for drinks. The girls happily followed him, occasionally teasing him. Even though everyone in the boarding house knew Quang Huy's interest was in Kieu Ly, today they were just tagging along for the free food and fun.

"With such a gallant guy like Huy, any girl lucky enough to get him should feel blessed."

"Does Huy not have a girlfriend or is he just picking any one of us four?"

Sometimes when a stranger came to flirt with one of the four girls, the others would tag along too. Tagging along meant no responsibility, no promises, and always a good time.

On the way back, Huong Tra said to Kieu Ly:

"I think Huy is a good catch. Why don't you give him a chance?"

Kieu Ly, sitting at the desk studying, replied without looking up:

"I just got cheated on. Still scared. And I don't want to marry someone far away."

Huong Tra sighed:

"Distance doesn't matter. Character does. You got cheated on by someone nearby and you still like being close?"

Seeing Kieu Ly silent, she continued:

"Huy already bragged to me. His family in Da Nang is also wealthy. He just wants to start his career in Hanoi. If you get into Da Nang later, you'll live in a beautiful coastal city and be a rich family's daughter-in-law."

Kieu Ly, annoyed, shot back:

"Oh please. If you like him so much, you go ahead and take him. If you want to eat, just pick and feed others."

Seeing Kieu Ly upset, Huong Tra stopped talking.