Chapter 15 — Cracks Under Light

I said: "I'm not confused. I just think you're easy to use." Chu's mother had nothing more to say. Father Chu closed his eyes: "Where is Nghiem Tu?" Chu's mother quickly said: "He is downstairs." I went to the window. Chu Nghien Tu stood under the yellow streetlight, still holding the apartment keys that I had returned. Father Chu said in a low voice: "Tell him to come up here." I said: "No need." Father Chu looked at me. I picked up a paper bag from the table and handed it to him: "This is a list of items I previously left at his apartment. There are also stomach contents, social calendars and preferences of some long-time customers, I have all written them down. This is the last time." Father Chu did not accept. Chu's mother quickly said: "Van Van, you still care about him." I looked at her: "This is the end, no need to worry." I put the paper bag on the shoe cabinet next to the door. "From today onwards, whether he has a stomachache, is drunk or is cheated by someone else has nothing to do with you." Chu's mother covered her mouth and cried. Finally, Father Chu took the paper bag and said in a low voice: "I understand." After they left, my father closed the door and leaned against the door with a sigh. "Van Van, can you really cut it off completely?" I said: "Yes." The phone vibrated. Co Minh Nghi sent a text message: "Let's go to the museum tomorrow. There are some things you should see." The next day, I went to the provincial museum. Co Minh Nghi took me into the storage room. On the table lay a stack of old letters. "These are the letters your grandmother wrote to my grandmother. She mentioned your mother and also mentioned you." I opened the first letter. Her grandmother's words were very neat and decisive. "Van Van has steady hands and a steady heart. If she is willing, she can go further than me. I'm afraid this child is too sentimental and will be held back by the people around her." My mother standing next to her saw that sentence, tears immediately falling to the edge of the paper. She quickly used a tissue to blot it away. Co Minh Nghi said: "In the past, teacher Lam refused the invitation to come to Bac Thanh because she wanted to take care of her family. She did not expect you to do the same." I looked at the letters, like seeing my grandmother sitting under an old lamp, each stroke of a pen opened the way for me. Uncle Phuong pushed the door open and walked in, holding a list in his hand: "Before the public exhibition, there is a position for a restoration performance. Director Co wants to invite you up." Before I could answer, a voice rang out outside the door: "She can't come up." Chu Nghien Tu stood outside, behind was Chu's father. His face was tired, his eyes were dark as if he hadn't slept all night. Co Minh Nghi's assistant stopped him: "This place does not accept unrelated people." Chu Nghien Tu looked at me: "Lam Van, you are still scolding the Chu family online. If you appear publicly, they will associate you with me even more. Don't you hate being misunderstood by others the most?" Uncle Phuong was so angry that he laughed: "Are you afraid that she will be misunderstood, or are you afraid that you will lose even more face?" Father Chu shouted: "Nghien Tu!"Chu Nghien Tu no. Back: "I'm thinking about her." I asked: "Have you ever thought about whether I want to go up or not?" He said: "Before, you didn't like appearing in front of people." "Before, I also didn't like being seen as someone who embarrassed you." A painful look flashed across his face. Co Minh Nghi looked at him: "Mr. Chu, whether Lam Van goes up or not is up to her to decide." Chu Nghien Tu lowered his voice: "Van Van, I don't want to see you continue to be scolded." I closed the old letter: "Then don't look." He was stunned. I said: "I'll go up." Uncle Phuong immediately slapped the table: "Good!" Chu Nghien Tu seemed to have exhausted all his strength: "Do you really want to clearly define the boundaries with me?" I looked at him: "It's not that you want to, but it's already been clearly defined." Father Chu walked to his side, his voice tired: "Let's go." Chu Nghien Tu did not move. I picked up the letter and put it in my file bag: "Chu Nghien Tu, you always say I've changed. Actually, I haven't changed. I

only take back the heart that once placed on you." His eyes were red, but he didn't cry. I walked past him. This time, he didn't stop me. On the day of the public restoration performance, there was a long line of people outside the museum. I originally thought I would be nervous, but when I actually sat under the light, my hands were extremely steady. The first row of seats were Co Minh Nghi, Uncle Phuong and my parents. The Chu family also came. Father Chu sat in the corner, mother Chu wore a mask and hunched her shoulders. Chu Nghien Tu stood in the last row, not coming close. In front of me was a broken blue enamel cup. It was not precious, the cracks were very small and broken. The host introduced: "The restoration expert performing today is Ms. Lam Van." There was applause. I picked up a small broom and started cleaning the cracks. Someone asked: "Miss Lam is so young, why has she never made it public before?" appeared?" Before I could speak, a familiar voice rang out from the back door: "Because she's always busy around men." Everyone looked towards the back door. Tham Nhuoc Ninh was helped by two people to go in. Her face was pale, but her eyes were extremely cruel. Ms. Luong immediately stood up: "Tham Nhuoc Ninh, how did you get in?"