Chapter 11 — From now on, mountains and rivers do not match each other

I lay in his arms, smelling the smell of rainwater mixed with the light smell of cigarettes - he had quit smoking a long time ago, it seemed like he was breaking the rule again tonight. After a while, he let me go, but still held my hand.

"Vu Vi, I know I have no right to ask for anything. But can you... give me a chance to pursue you from the beginning?"

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his serious eyebrows.

"I don't need you to immediately accept me, I don't even need you to forgive me. I just want to be by your side, using my own way to be good to you."

I was silent for a long time. It took so long that half of the candle burned out.

“Luc Tram Chu,” I said softly, “I am no longer the Khuong Vu Vi of the past.”

“I know.”

“I can never change back to that gentle, obedient appearance again.”

“What I want is you now.” He squeezed my hand, "A Khuong Vu Vi has vitality, has principles, knows how to get angry, and also knows how to laugh."

Outside the window a flash of lightning flashed, illuminating his eyes. There is no calculation, no consideration, only a shred of sincerity.

“If,” I heard my voice say, “If you let me down again…”

“It won't.” He immediately said, “I swear on my life.”

The rain gradually subsided. I pulled my hand back: "I have to sleep, please go home." A flash of disappointment flashed through his eyes, but he still nodded: "Okay. Tomorrow... can I come again?"

“It's up to you.”

His eyes lit up again, just like a child receiving candy. As he walked out the yard door, he turned around: "Vu Vi, good night."

“Sleep well.”

Closing the door, I leaned my back against the wooden door, my heart pounding. Five years of marriage, two years apart. We have gone in such a big circle, can we still return to the starting point? I do not know. But maybe, we can give it a try.

—

Luc Tram Chu started officially "chasing" me. In a ridiculously clumsy way. Every morning he brings breakfast, not food ordered from a 5-star hotel, but porridge he cooks himself - even though it often leaks at the bottom of the pot. Every week, flowers are given, not roses or lilies, but pots of herbal plants, with detailed growing instructions. He even signed up for a basic Oriental medicine class, went to class every Wednesday night on time, and took notes more carefully than anyone else. Lam Nguyet was the earliest to "surrender".

“Sister, Uncle Luc taught me how to fold paper cranes today!”

“Sister, Uncle Luc took me to the amusement park, he's afraid of heights but still went on the roller coaster with me!”

Lam Da is still wary, but his attitude has softened. One time he secretly asked me: "Sister Vu Vi, do you really want to reconcile with him?"

“I haven't finished thinking yet.” I replied honestly, “But he is trying to change, you can see.”

"So do you like him? The current version."

I was slightly startled. Do you like it? Watching him clumsily cook porridge will make you want to laugh, listening to him seriously hum the acupuncture point song will make you feel moved, discovering that he secretly donated a new batch of equipment to Nhan Hoa Duong without leaving a name... will make you feel touched.

“Maybe there is.” I said, “But liking and being together are two different things.”

“As long as you're happy,” the teenager said seriously, “I and Nguyet Nguyet both support you.”

In the fall, Luc Tram Chu made a request.

“Vu Vi, we child… wants to see you.”

My hands trembled, the small scale almost fell down. Tinh Vu and Tinh Nguyet, two children I once considered my own flesh and blood but never raised them myself."

“Do they… still miss me?”

“Remember.” He took out his phone and showed me the photo.

The 11-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy are both tall and have similar features to me, but their temperament is similar to that of the Luc family.