Chapter 26 — After Divorce, We Learn to Love Again

I must be at home. Check An An's homework. Even though she's just in kindergarten, she's already started doing simple addition and subtraction. Read bedtime stories to Lac Lac. My favorite book is The Little Prince. Every time I read the part where the Little Prince leaves the rose. I always ask:

"The little prince is so stupid."

"Why did you leave?"

I replied softly:

"Because at that time he didn't know how important that flower was."

"So what happens next?"

"He understood later."

"The flower is no longer there."

Lac Lac frowned his small eyebrows. Think for a long time. Then seriously concluded:

"Then..."

"He should have known sooner."

"That's right."

After the lawsuit. Trieu Ngoc Lan returned to city A. And never appeared again. It is said that Co Tram Chu arranged a retirement apartment for her in the suburbs. Someone takes care of daily activities. But travel is limited. Not exactly confinement. But it's almost the same. Most of the assets in her name were frozen. Two luxury villas were revoked. Luxury cars are also sold out. Only pension and a little savings left. Enough for her to live a life without deprivation. That's all. The woman used to call rain and wind in the Co family's house. Finally... Growing old again in silence. That's not the outcome I wanted. I also have no pity. Co Tram Chu's side... The Co group also began to change. The real estate market simultaneously went down. Co's core business was greatly affected. Although he soon turned to new energy and technology. But the transition takes time. Financial pressure is also getting heavier. The person who once covered the sky in the business world of City A also began to feel helpless. He never complained to me. But every time I go to Tinh city to visit my children. I could see the tired look on his face. Dark circles under the eyes are deeper. Skinnier face. The shirt collar is also one size wider. An An once asked me:

"Dad, are you unhappy?"

Finally... I also changed my calling name to... It was on my fourth birthday. That day Co Tram Chu flew to Tinh city. Bring the giant LEGO castle model set that An An likes the most. He sat on the living room floor. Been with my child for three hours. An An raised her head to look at him.

"Thank you, dad."

That night. After Co Tram Chu left. I received your message.

"She called me dad."

Just one sentence. I understand how much that statement means to you. I answered my child.

"Dad's work is having a bit of difficulty."

"But Dad will handle it."

"Do you need my help?"

"Adult stories..."

"Children don't need to worry."

"But last time Aunt Chu said..."

"In the past, every time Dad had trouble..."

"It's all mom helping dad."

I was stunned. Since when did Aunt Chu tell the children those things?

"That was before."

"What's the difference between before and now?"

"We were a family before. And now..."

"Isn't that right now?"

An An looked straight into my eyes. Eyes clear to the bottom. I couldn't utter the words "no".

"An An, go do your homework."

The child sighed softly. That young man's appearance is exactly like his father. Then obediently turned around and left. That night I couldn't sleep. Are not Must be for work. But because of a question from a four year old child.

"Isn't that right now?"

Isn't that right? I took out my phone and opened the chat with Co Tram Chu. Over the past five years, our conversation has never lasted more than three messages. Like two business partners who cooperate very well. It's not that two people used to love each other. I scrolled down to the beginning of the chat. The earliest text message was from five years ago, the night he found me in Tinh City.

"Let me know when you get to city A."

I pulled up again. Each message... are all short words of concern.

"Is An An better?"

"Has Lac Lac been vaccinated yet?"

"Is it raining heavily in Tinh City today? Pay attention to safety."

"Which district is Niem An Logistics' new warehouse in? That area's security is not very good, remember to be careful."

"I've already researched the math teacher at An An kindergarten, his background has no problems."

Silently investigated An An's background as a kindergarten teacher. Which I don't know at all. I placed the phone face down under the pillow. Close your eyes. Don't think anymore. There will also be a ship coordination meeting tomorrow. Don't think anymore. Seventh year since Niem An Logistics was established. Annual revenue officially exceeds five billion yuan. The number of ships owned and controlled by the company reached thirty-two. The transportation network covers three continents with twenty-seven seaports. The number of employees exceeds one thousand five hundred people. I stood in front of the ground-level glass window on the thirty-seventh floor of the new headquarters in Tinh City, quietly watching the container ships entering and leaving the port. There are a few ships with the words "Nien An" on their hulls. Looking down from the thirty-seventh floor, those two words are so small that they are almost impossible to see clearly. But I know. They're still there. That day was a very special day. An An and Lac Lac's seventh birthday.