Chapter 14 — After Doctor Diep Disappeared

She scanned the things on the dressing table, the skin care products were bought by the Co family, the makeup was bought by the Co family, the perfume was also bought by the Co family. Don't bring anything. She rummaged in the corner of the drawer and pulled out a small cloth bag, inside was an old watch, the dial was yellowed, the second hand no longer moved. It was a gift from Diep's mother during her university entrance exam year. She told her to wear it later to calculate the surgery time for convenience. She stuffed the watch into the extra compartment of her suitcase. When I zipped it up, the suitcase was still more than half empty. She carried her suitcase downstairs and walked to the basement door. Pause for a moment, put your finger on the door handle, don't push it away immediately. The lights in the basement were sound-sensitive. The last time she was locked in that dark closet, she discovered the light switch was delayed by thirty seconds. Thirty seconds of darkness. She pushed the door open, the light came on. Step down, go inside, the dark cabinet is right in the corner of the wall. The cabinet door is currently open, the inside is empty. She could smell a slight musty smell left on the wooden planks. The scratches caused by fingernails scratching on the wooden wall are still there, white wood chips are loose, and the edges of the scratches have turned yellow. Diep Nam Sanh squatted down, reached his left hand deep inside the cabinet, and gently pressed the gap between the top board and the side wall. She pulled out a tiny camera the size of a pinhead from her pocket, black, about the size of a button, with the lens facing outward and stuck firmly on the wooden board. She tried adjusting the angle, repositioning, and confirmed that the lens covered the entire view both inside and outside the cabinet. Then she stood up, brushed the dust off her knees, and walked up the stairs. Co Han Chau, reeking of alcohol, staggered into the house, his tie was pulled askew, and the hem of his shirt hung halfway out of his pants. His face was red, it wasn't clear whether it was from the alcohol or anger. He went upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door. Diep Nam Sanh was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing an old gray T-shirt, with an open book on his lap. She looked up at him. That book is an English textbook on microsurgery, opening to the chapter on neurorehabilitation in surgery. Co Han Chau stood at the door, breathing heavily, the smell of alcohol coming from him could still be smelled from two or three meters away. He stared at Diep Nam Sanh for a few seconds, then spoke, his voice hoarse and filled with aggression.

“What is the meaning of your story tonight?”

Diep Nam Sanh said nothing. Co Han Chau took two steps forward, his hand on the door frame: "There were so many people there, I didn't say a word, I just sat there like a dead person." Diep Nam Sanh closed the book and placed it on the bedside table.

“What do you want me to do?”

"You're not jealous? You're not angry? Don't you have any feelings anymore?"

His voice rose high, his throat rolling. Diep Nam Sanh stood up, walked to the tea table, took a thermometer to measure the water temperature in the thermos. She poured a cup of hangover soup and brought it in front of Co Han Chau.

“Drink some soup, I'm drunk.”

The soup is still warm, there is honey and tapioca starch inside, and the taste is cool. Co Han Chau lowered his head and glanced at the soup, then looked at Diep Nam Sanh's face. Her expression was extremely docile, the corner of her mouth was slightly smiling, and there was no light or shadow in her eyes. Dark, nothing at all. It looks like a wax statue with meticulous makeup. Co Han Chau waved his hand and knocked over the soup. The cup flew away and hit the wall, the soup splashed onto the wall, and the ceramic cup broke into three pieces.

“Fuck you, stop playing around with me!” He roared, blue veins appearing on his neck, "If you hate me, say it! If you curse me, then curse! What are you trying to do like this!"