Chapter 6 — From now on, mountains and rivers do not match each other

Luc Tram Chu stared at me, his eyes complicated. There's scrutiny, there's confusion, maybe even a little... anger?

“Are you just examining people like that?” He looked around, “In a place like this?”

“What about a place like this?” Master Tan walked out of the inner room, holding an ancient book, "Here we have cured many patients who were returned from big hospitals. If Mr. Luc is an eyesore, the door is over there."

Luc Tram Chu's upbringing prevented him from reacting on the spot. But he didn't go, but sat down in the waiting area. That whole afternoon, he just sat there, watching me check the pulse, prescribe, and dispense medicine for the patient. Until the last patient leaves. I locked the medicine cabinet and turned to look at him: "Is there anything else, Mr. Luc?"

“You have changed.” he said.

“Everyone will change.”

“Become…” He paused, “More like a living person.”

I laughed: "Wasn't I a living person before?"

“Before, you were like a porcelain doll,” he stood up, walked a few steps closer, “Beautiful, but lifeless.”

“That's because in the Luc family, even if you want to breathe, you have to wait for permission.”

Luc Tram Chu's face darkened: "Vu Vi, about the past..."

“The story of the past has ended.” I wiped my hands clean, "You and I don't owe anyone anything, let's go our separate ways."

“What if I say,” his voice dropped, “I regret it?”

I was stunned. For two years, more than seven hundred days and nights, I have imagined this scenario countless times - he came to me and said he was sorry. But when this moment actually came, my heart felt as calm as a puddle of stagnant water.

“Luc Tram Chu,” I looked at him seriously, “What you regret is not losing me, but losing an obedient decoration.”

His pupils twitched slightly.

"You are used to controlling everything, including marriage. I don't make noise, don't mess around, don't fight or fight, meet all your requirements for a wife — except not loving you." I smiled, "But now this decoration has a mind of its own, has left my display case. I'm not familiar with it, so I want to find it again."

“It's not like that…”

“Whether that's true or not doesn't matter anymore.” I picked up my bag, "I have to close the door, please come home."

When he walked to the door, he suddenly said: "The children miss you very much." My steps stopped. My left chest felt like it was stabbed with a needle.

“Tinh Vu and Tinh Nguyet,” his voice was a bit hoarse, “Every year they ask when mom will return.”

I gripped the doorknob tightly, my nails digging deep into my palms.

“Tell them,” I turned my back to him, “I'm doing well, and I hope you guys are doing well too. But I can't come back anymore.”

When I pulled down the rolling door, I saw him standing in the twilight, his back elongated. Lonely, but it no longer makes me feel sad.

—

After that day, Luc Tram Chu did not come to Nhan Hoa Duong anymore. But I can feel that there is always someone silently watching me. Not maliciously, but more like some kind of… surveillance. Lam Da also discovered it.

"At the end of the alley there is another black car, for three days in a row." At dinner, he said, "Do you need me to go check it out?"

“No need,” I gave him a piece of ribs, “Eat your rice.”

On the weekend, I took Lam Nguyet to the bookstore Newly opened in the East of the city. The girl lingered engrossed in the children's book section, while I went to the medical section. While flipping through an acupuncture book, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind:

“Does Dr. Khuong also do research on ancient acupuncture?”

I turned back, it was Luc Tram Chu. Today he dresses more comfortably, white shirt with rolled up sleeves, less sharp looking like a businessman.

“Mr. Luc,” I closed the book, “What a coincidence.”