Chapter 15 — 50 Years of Wrongfulness

The doctor wearing a white blouse stood next to the bed flipping through the medical record. Seeing that he was awake, he told him in English to quickly contact his family, then gave him the diagnosis report. Co Lam lowered her head and looked for a long time, her eyes stopping at the final conclusion: End-stage stomach cancer, expected life time of three months. He folded the diagnosis sheet twice, placed it next to his pillow, tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, the corners of his lips pulled out a faint, miserable smile. Only three months left. He slowly closed his eyes. It turns out that even God is forcing him to let go. On her mother's birthday, Tham Thanh Tu came home early. She bought cake. When she entered, her mother was placing bowls and chopsticks on the table. When she saw her, she glanced behind her first and then smiled. "Only you?" "If not, who else?" Tham Thanh Tu put the cake on the table, took off his coat. Mom brought out a plate of braised fish, wiped her hands with her apron, leaned back and said in a low voice: "Last time I went for a follow-up visit, I met your landlord. It was Professor Tong. He stood downstairs waiting for me for more than half an hour. Mom talked to him a few words, the boy was handsome, spoke politely." "I see he means a lot to you." Tham Thanh Tu's hand opening the cake box paused. "Mother Don't guess at random. People are just kind, they're polite to everyone." Mom took off her apron and hung it on the back of the chair, snorting softly: "Your mother has lived more than half her life, what kind of person can't see it? He's polite to others, but the way he looks at you is not the same as when he looks at others." "Anyway, I invited him over today. I really value him." Before Tham Thanh Tu could say anything, the doorbell rang. Tong Can Nien stood outside the door, wearing a thin light beige sweater, carrying a box of tea and two bottles of red wine in his hand. After entering the house, he greeted Tham Thanh Tu's parents, giving them gifts very thoughtfully. Mom smiled and took it, inviting him to sit. He was arranged to sit next to Tham Thanh Tu. At the dining table, he opened two bottles of white wine, and Tong Can Nien drank a few glasses. He drank happily and patted his shoulder: "The guy is not bad, educated, stable, come visit often in the future." Tong Can Nien smiled and replied. After meals, relatives played mahjong in the living room, dishes and chopsticks piled up in the sink. Tham Thanh Tu carried two cups of tea to the door to get some fresh air, Tong Can Nien followed. "Have you thought about it carefully? Do you really want to move?" Tong Can Nien asked her. Tham Thanh Tu used both hands to hold the cup, his fingertips were so hot that they were slightly red. She thought for a moment and nodded: "I can't continue to bother you. What my mother said that day made sense. If you have a girlfriend in the future, if you know that you lived in the same house with me before, people will pay attention." Tong Can Nien did not answer. He lowered his head to look at the tea stem floating in the cup, silent for a long time. "So if... I mean, will you agree to be my girlfriend?" Tham Thanh Tu was stunned. Tong Can Nien placed the tea cup on the railing of the steps and turned to face her. "The first time we met, I felt like you were very special. After meeting you, I saw that you had a good personality and were very talented. Gradually, I fell in love with you." Tham Thanh Tu tucked a strand of hair hanging on his cheek behind his ear, was silent for a moment, then said: "During our meeting, I also felt that you were a very good person." She stopped. “But I still need a little more time.” Tong Can Nien nodded: "Yes, I understand, I can wait for you." Less than three seconds after the words were finished, someone in the house suddenly shouted: "It's on fire!" Smoke suddenly billowed out of the kitchen window. Tham Thanh Tu immediately turned around, his parents were still in the living room. Before rushing in, she squeezed Tong Can Nien's wrist: "I'll take your parents out first." Tong Can Nien turned his head to look at her: "Okay, be careful." Tham Thanh Tu walked around the dining table and ran towards the kitchen, but thick smoke had filled the entire walkway, the stone panels on the ceiling were peeling off piece by piece.

Sparks and ash kept falling. She was so choked that she couldn't open her eyes, and her retreat was half blocked by falling burning objects. A figure rushed in from the smoke, raising his arm to push her out. Tham Thanh Tu was pushed and staggered two or three steps. When she turned around, a larger stone slab hit the exact spot where she had just stood. It's Co Lam! He was hit. "Go..." He raised his eyes to look at her, shouting with all his strength. Tong Can Nien rushed in from behind, using his wet coat to cover Tham Thanh Tu's head and shoulders. "Quickly get out, it's too dangerous!" She was pulled through thick smoke and flames, watching with her own eyes as Co Lam was swallowed by the sea of fire. When firefighters set up their hoses, the fire burned through the kitchen roof. Tham Thanh Tu squatted behind the ambulance, his hands full of ash, bewilderedly watching firefighters carry a person out from inside. Co Lam was placed flat on the stretcher, eyes closed, arms hanging over the edge of the stretcher. Forty minutes after the emergency room lights went out, the doctor came out shaking his head. "We tried our best. The patient still has his last breath, he wants to see Ms. Tham once." When Tham Thanh Tu walked in, Co Lam only had her last breath left. He lay on the white sheet, his face pale, his eyes slightly open. Seeing her walk in, his pupils moved slightly. He raised his hand, his fingertips trembling, wanting to reach towards her face. "In your next life, don't see me again."