In a work project, I unexpectedly ran into Trang, my ex-wife whom I had divorced six years ago. She had become increasingly beautiful, attractive, and was, notably, still single.

Trang and I fell in love back when we were still in school. After graduating from university, having dated for over four years and both securing jobs, we got married right away.

It seems that the decision to have a wedding was truly too hasty. Young, pleasure-seeking, immature, and unwilling to concede to each other, our married life was engulfed in arguments. Trang disagreed with being the one who constantly had to cook and clean. As for me, I still wanted to go out drinking all night with my friends every week.

Too many arguments led to a fractured relationship. Divorce was only a matter of time. We went our separate ways after barely a year of living together. Afterward, I focused on developing my career and had more free time for my friends. Trang, on the other hand, went abroad to study, putting distance between us.

Six years passed, and I became the director of a communications company. During a major advertising project, I was surprised to meet Trang again. It turned out she had returned home and was working at the partner company.

Trang was still as beautiful as before, perhaps even more attractive. The way she did her makeup and dressed truly made the men around her unable to look away. She was also very confident and professional in her work. Through a little digging, I learned that Trang, like me, was still single.

Initially, we were quite awkward and intentionally avoided interacting with each other. However, since we were both the key personnel in charge of the project, we frequently had to meet for discussions, and even go on business trips together. People from both companies, unaware of our past, constantly praised us as a good-looking couple and always tried to set us up.

“An unmarried man and a single woman, both talented and beautiful. You two look very compatible and are at the age to start a family, so be bold and go for it,” many colleagues at the office repeatedly teased us.

Hearing those words, I was initially uncomfortable, and Trang also seemed quite annoyed. We repeatedly waved our hands, insisting there was nothing between us, sometimes having to change the subject to stop people from pairing us up. Yet, at some point, I found myself secretly pleased to be complimented on how well I looked with her. Trang also gradually started to smile happily whenever people mentioned us.

While working together, I realized that quite a few other men were also paying attention to Trang. Honestly, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. Every day, I looked forward to going to work just to see Trang and work with her. I also constantly found myself gazing at her, paying attention to her every action and gesture.

I knew very well that Trang was my ex-wife. We divorced because we weren’t compatible. Nevertheless, I couldn’t stop thinking about or missing her. I had fallen in love with Trang all over again. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s the truth.

Instead of debating whether I should, instead of being afraid of people knowing and thinking I was laughable, I was determined to plan how to win Trang over. Because in just over three months, our joint project would be completed, and the opportunity to see her often, take care of her, and go on business trips together would be gone.

After six years, everyone changes, but through observation and my own experience, I knew I still understood Trang very well. I knew what habits she hadn’t changed, what things she loved…

Trang still liked eating phở in the morning at our familiar shop. She still liked sipping sidewalk coffee, watching the streets, and brainstorming new creative ideas. She still liked eating ice cream in the winter. She still liked receiving small, surprising, and meaningful gifts…

Using the excuse of working on a joint project, I did all the things she liked with my ex-wife. I was always by her side, attentive, and took care of Trang in every detail. When Trang stayed late at the office, even after I had finished my work, I quietly stayed with her, bought her delicious, hot food, and chatted and laughed with her to ease her fatigue.

Because of my presence, other men also found it difficult to notice or approach Trang. Unlike before, the more colleagues teased us, the more gently I fostered the connection. I knew Trang wasn’t opposing it either.

Six months later, the advertising project between the two companies was successfully completed. On the last day of our collaboration, I prepared a surprise party to confess my feelings to Trang once again. I knew that previously there were many conflicts, misunderstandings, and immaturity between us, which prevented us from understanding each other.

But now things were different; after going in a circle, we still found each other and still felt a ‘spark’ like the very first time. That couldn’t be a coincidence; it was destiny. Hearing my words and witnessing what I had done over the past time, Trang nodded, agreeing to give us another chance. In that moment, I was overwhelmed with happiness.

A year after that moment, we got married. However, this time our life together was much more stable, no longer marked by one-upmanship or arguing and sulking over trivial reasons.