Chapter 29 — After Doctor Diep Disappeared

His hands were bleeding, his knees were shaking, his shirt collar was pulled askew by his own hands. He stared at her back.

“Nam Sanh.”

His voice cracked. Diep Nam Sanh stopped walking. She turned around.

"It's me... I'm not dead... I..."

Diep Nam Sanh used his left hand to pull out a business card from his vest pocket and put it in front of him. The business card was matte black, with only a name and a series of numbers on it.

“The late general.”

Her voice was extremely calm.

“I'm the buyer's representative, Jane.”

“Please keep the usual social distance. If you have any problems, please contact a lawyer.”

Co Han Chau looked at that business card, tears welling up from the corners of his eyes. He doesn't accept business cards. He reached out to hold her right hand. Diep Nam Sanh sidestepped half a step to the left. His hand grabbed the air.

“Protect.”

Diep Nam Sanh turned his head to look at the person in charge of security backstage.

“This gentleman has lost control of his emotions, please handle it.”

Four security officers wearing black uniforms rushed forward. Two people clamped Co Han Chau's arms, two people pressed his shoulders. Co Han Chau struggled frantically, but his skinny body was now not even half as strong as a security guard. He was pinned down on the stage floor.

“Nam Sanh!”

“Nam Sanh, look at me!”

“Please take a look at me!”

His voice echoed throughout the hall. Hundreds of people in the stands were silent. Diep Nam Sanh did not look back. Co Han Chau was dragged out by the armpits by two guards, pushed all the way to the steps in front of the main hall door before letting go. He stood alone on the steps, hunched over, panting, his hands resting on his knees.

—

Chapter 17 Diep Nam Sanh's car was parked on a small road behind the cemetery in the suburbs. She pushed the car door open and opened a black umbrella. The cemetery is located on a gentle slope, short, gray tombstones grow row by row in the middle of the grass. She wore a black coat and leather gloves, walking on the wet slate road. The sound of high heels tapping on the slate surface was blurred by the rainwater, resounding with muffled sounds. Seventh row, third grave. Diep's mother's tombstone is made of gray granite, not large, with a few words engraved on it. Tomb of Diep Tu Lan. Year of birth year of death. On the stone pedestal in front of the tombstone was a bouquet of withered flowers. I don't know who came to replace it last time. Diep Nam Sanh lifted the old bouquet and placed the new bouquet of white chrysanthemums on it. The white petals are covered with rainwater foam. She stood in front of the tombstone, the umbrella covering the top of her head, strands of rain blown by the wind hit her evening gown, seeping out a patch of dark water. She said nothing. Standing for a long time. There were footsteps heard from behind. Very lightly, very quickly, stepping on the wet grass made a squishing sound. Diep Nam Sanh did not look back. The footsteps stopped in front of Diep's mother's gravestone. Is a boy. Co Tu Mac. The boy was wearing a dark blue windbreaker, his pants were half wet, and his sneakers were covered in mud. Do not cover the umbrella. Soaked hair stuck to his forehead, raindrops trickled down his cheeks. The boy made a "thud" sound and knelt down in front of the tombstone.

“Grandma, I'm sorry.”

“I'm sorry.”

"It's Tu Mac that's not good, Tu Mac shouldn't leave her mother alone."

“Tu Mac knows error.”

The boy sniffled, his voice carrying choked sobs in his throat.

“Grandma, can you give me back my mother?”

“I beg you.”

The boy slammed his head again, this time too hard, the wound on his forehead rubbed against the muddy ground, blood and mud mixed together. Then the boy stood up and turned around. A woman wearing a black dress was standing two meters away from the boy, covering a black umbrella. Wear sunglasses. The boy's eyes widened.