Experience… luxury

Illustration: Phan Nhan

At 4:50 PM, Quân turned off his computer, neatly packed his personal belongings into his backpack, and leaned back in his chair, stretching to relax. Precisely at 5 PM, he left his workstation, not a second late. Passing by Bảo's desk, seeing his colleague still engrossed in his laptop and stack of papers, Quân smirked and said:

- Let's go home, kid. Working overtime all the time doesn't even get you any extra pay!

- I'm reluctant to leave work unfinished, sir. Besides, I'm trying to do some extra work to earn a little extra money for groceries.
- Bao replied.

- Yeah, that's good. As for me... I'm used to it, so I just leave as soon as work is over. Okay, bye bye...

After saying that, Quân rushed down the stairs, grabbed his motorbike, put on his helmet, and sped off. The mini-football field, full of his friends, made Quân even more excited. For the past week, his restless legs had been confined to the hospital because his father had come from the countryside for hemorrhoid surgery. Since there were few people at home, Quân had to rush to the hospital after work to take care of his father's bathing and meals. After changing into his football kit, which he'd left in the trunk of his motorbike since morning, Quân did some stretching before heading to the field. The team members were only casually acquainted; they'd call each other to join them, and once everyone was there, they'd split into teams. Everyone participated primarily for exercise, so playing for fun wasn't the main concern. At the end of the session, they'd count the players and divide the field rental fee, each person contributing between 20 and 30 thousand dong. Around 7 PM, they called each other to rest, finishing their water bottles and waiting for their sweat to dry before dispersing. Quân's phone rang incessantly; on the other end was Hà's sharp voice:

- Where are you? I haven't seen you around yet! Are you planning to feed the little one dinner and help him with his homework?

Oh no, I completely forgot! I was going to play soccer with the guys today. Now I'm going home.

- I'm speechless. I'll stop by the supermarket on my way home and buy a few more packs of milk for the kids.

Okay, okay... but what kind of milk?

- You don't even know what kind of milk the baby drinks?

- Okay, I know... I know.

Quân hung up the phone, feeling a little guilty for his thoughtlessness. His wife, though furious, remained calm and cheerful during dinner. He had often heard her confide that she didn't want them arguing in front of their child, as it would negatively impact the child's mental and emotional well-being. Quân loved his wife dearly, knowing that with their meager combined salaries, it wasn't easy for her to manage everything on her own. Each month, he only transferred a few million dong to her account, considering his responsibilities fulfilled. He rarely had to worry about family matters, weddings, funerals, or the children's education. Seeing his wife, barely forty, with thinning gray hair, rarely buying new clothes, and only using cheap cosmetics, he felt deeply sorry for her. But his job as an IT employee in a small department meant nothing more than a fixed salary and a small amount of indirect income. Sometimes, the meager living situation was disheartening, but Quân didn't know what to do. Although it was a small position, he had to compete fiercely to get the job. He was getting on in years, and what else could he do if he wasn't content with his current situation? He figured things were fine as they were, and from now on, he and his wife could work harder to make ends meet. He reassured himself like that, and after dinner, Quân put his feet up on the couch and played video games. Hà tidied up the house, helped the children with their homework, and then the two of them went to bed and chatted about all sorts of things, while Quân remained glued to his phone, muttering and complaining about his gaming friends.

It was well past midnight, and Ha, having only managed a short nap, got up to go to the bathroom. Seeing Quan still engrossed in his phone and endless gaming sessions, she sighed in exasperation:

- Are you going to bed or not? Wouldn't it be better if you used that time you'd be spending playing games to take on some website design contracts?

- There were a few places that wanted to hire me, but building those websites takes a lot of time, the pay is low, and they have a lot of demands. - Quân argued.

- Your job isn't that hectic. Working a few extra hours each day, every little bit helps, like an ant building its nest over time.

- But now they're building websites that require integrating all sorts of things, and if you're not familiar with it, it's a real headache.

- Then cut back on drinking with friends and hanging out at cafes, and focus on improving your skills and learning more about technology. Talking like you do in IT is incredibly boring…

- I'm getting old, I can't concentrate on studying anymore. Just go to sleep, I'll finish this game and then I'll go to bed, okay?

- Will your earlobe last until morning?

With that, Ha snatched the phone from her husband's hand with an angry expression. Seeing this, Quan felt intimidated and meekly went to bed. His eyes ached from staring at the phone for too long, and as he lay down, he still vaguely thought to himself, "One day I will design a famous game. Then, how rich I will be!"

***

When Quân opened his eyes, it was already bright daylight. He searched for his phone, certain he was late for work. But wait, this place felt so unfamiliar. The luxurious, soft, fragrant bed felt like it was embracing him. Startled, Quân sat up abruptly. The spacious room, with its opulent furnishings and decor, exuded an unprecedented sense of luxury and sophistication. Confused and unsure what was happening, Quân saw his wedding photo with Hà, framed in high-quality bone china, hanging prominently on the wall. Quân pinched himself hard, his skin turning pale and stinging with pain. It was real, not a dream. Everything felt so surreal, causing Quân to panic slightly. He cried out:

Is anyone there?

"Yes, sir, you're awake!" an elderly woman in a smart uniform entered, bowing her head as she spoke.

"Who... who are you?" Quân asked in surprise.

"Oh dear, the boss was so drunk yesterday entertaining business partners that he's still not sober? I'm Butler Li. Breakfast is ready; it'll be just in time for you to have some after you've freshened up, sir!"

Disbelieving his ears, Quân slapped himself again. It hurt. He rushed out of the room, relieved to hear his wife and son downstairs. Hà was adjusting their son's clothes, getting him ready for school. Looking at his son's uniform, Quân stammered:

- Your son attends Tesla International School? That school... I wouldn't even dare dream of it.

"Didn't you say that school was the best? You even insisted that I go and apply!" Ha said happily.

- You? But... is our family really that rich?

- Look at you, you're not rich but you live in a mansion and have your own company? You're acting strange today, maybe you drank too much and got sick. Anyway, you have breakfast and then go to the company. I'll take the kids to school and then go to the spa. Remember to come home early this afternoon, our son said he wants Japanese sushi, let's go out to eat!

With that, the mother and daughter happily got into the waiting red Lexus RX350 outside the gate and drove away. Quân ruffled his hair, closing and opening his eyes repeatedly, but everything remained vivid. At that moment, housekeeper Lý came to announce that breakfast was ready, and Quân, bewildered, followed her to the table.

- We have fruit salad and muesli this morning, sir!

- Muesli?

Yes, it's cereal with milk. He likes this every Monday morning.

Quân ate the strangest breakfast he'd ever had, and just as he finished, Butler Lý brought him a dark brown suit. As he put it on, he muttered to himself, "Could I be experiencing a memory blank, unable to remember how I became so rich?" But this really wasn't a dream. Oh well, he'd just enjoy it for now; he'd ask Hà later to find out.

Admiring his dignified and confident reflection in the mirror, Quân slowly climbed into the Rolls-Royce Phantom, its door opened by the waiting chauffeur. Oh, what a blissful feeling sitting in such a luxurious car! Memories and the past were no longer a concern for him. All this wealth and prestige belonged to him; everyone around him acknowledged that. Quân's company was one of the top seven software design companies in Southeast Asia, with a building spanning over a dozen floors and hundreds of employees. Wherever he went, people respectfully bowed and addressed him as Chairman. His private office had a breathtaking view; stepping inside and leaning back in his throne-like chair, gazing at his nameplate gleaming in silver, Quân unconsciously chuckled. So this is what wealth felt like: contentment, accomplishment, and an open mind, as if he were traveling to a fairyland.

Every day, Quân was accompanied by attendants. The meal menu offered a mix of Asian and European cuisine. From exotic dishes like smoked salted herring, coarsely ground oats, scrambled eggs, and cured pork, to familiar dishes elevated to a new level like beefsteak, fried rice, and mixed pho, each day was a delightful discovery . The whole family was always filled with joy and happiness. Hà diligently went to the spa to take care of her skin and figure. The clothes she wore, her handbags, and her jewelry were always perfectly coordinated, exuding an elegant and sophisticated yet incredibly gentle and feminine aura. Quân took Hà shopping for jewelry, shoes, and handbags, swiping his credit card and spending hundreds of millions of dong in an instant. He didn't hesitate to calculate, because providing for his wife and children was nothing compared to his fortune of hundreds or thousands of billions. Day after day passed, and Quân enjoyed his wealth like someone walking on clouds, blissfully happy. Every morning when he wakes up, seeing his wife and children beside him, and looking at himself in the mirror – youthful and stylish – he bursts into a hearty laugh...

...It was a drizzly Saturday morning. The late autumn chill made sleep linger in the comfort of warm blankets and soft mattresses. Quân woke up startled by a rustling sound near his ear. He was horrified to see people bustling in and out of his bedroom. They were taking down a frame and taking out Quân and his wife's wedding photo. Others were rearranging the furniture in the room. He ran to find Hà, only to find her and their son back in their old ways. Quân rushed to her, grabbed her hand, and shouted:

- Honey, what's going on? Huh... huh?

- Honey, please listen to me! Actually, this is a "rich person experience" package I've booked for you. I want you to experience wealth once in a while so you can reflect on yourself. If you don't strive and work hard, wealth won't just come to you naturally.

No sooner had Ha finished speaking than Butler Ly came up from behind, his voice cheerful:

- Your wife is right. She spent all of her meager savings from the past few years to book this 7-day experience package for you. Are you satisfied with our service, Mr. Quan?

"Oh my god... is this... is this really fake wealth?" Quân said, almost in tears.

Quân turned to look at his wife, a feeling difficult to describe. Disappointment, remorse, yet his mind felt recharged. He hugged Hà and their child, feeling both grateful and bitter. For so long, he had complained about his poverty, but he refused opportunities that came his way, unwilling to work hard to acquire wealth, only thinking about it and then letting it sit idle. Quân was conflicted; he was content, lulling himself into a false sense of security, yet still yearning for riches. On the way back to his old house—a house he'd only been able to buy thanks to his parents selling land in their hometown—Quân concretized his plans. This time, it was action; he was determined to become rich…

Source: http://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202410/trai-nghiem-giau-sang-a593073/