Chapter 12 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

“Are you planning on waiting for me to be discharged from the hospital to ask for a divorce from me?”

Tong Tuyet's apple peeling hand paused a bit. Immediately after that, continue peeling.

“Why do you think that way?”

“Because I don't feel it's necessary to maintain it anymore.” Luc Kien Quan said, "My son is about to get married, my responsibilities have been fulfilled, I can withdraw, right?"

Tong Tuyet did not respond. She placed each piece of peeled apple into the bowl, moving slowly.

“Luc Kien Quan, we've been married for twenty-three years, and we've shared bedrooms for eighteen years.” She spoke, her voice very light, "For eighteen years, you slept in the master bedroom, I slept in the office. You ate the meals I cooked, wore the clothes you washed, used the furniture in the house that I cleaned. But we are not like husband and wife, but more like people living in the same house."

She raised her eyes to look at Luc Kien Quan.

"That's not true, the people living together at least talk to each other and greet each other. We don't even have that."

Luc Kien Quan originally intended to refute, "Why not", but the words reached the corner of his mouth and he swallowed them. Because you understand clearly, Tong Tuyet did not unjustly accuse you. Over the years, they really didn't look like a married couple. He left early and came home late, she prepared and graded the papers. He went out to eat and drink, she fought alone in an empty house. He's busy with a project, she's busy with school. Two parallel lines, occasionally intersecting, are just to eat a meal, for the sake of the daughter, for the trivial matters in the family that cannot be avoided.

"The other year I had surgery," Tong Tuyet continued, "You weren't there. At that time I was thinking, if I really died on the operating table, would you regret it? Then I felt, maybe I wouldn't. At most, I was sad for a while, then it went back to normal. It was like I was no longer there, nothing changed in my life."

“Tong Tuyet, you…”

“Don't explain.” Tong Tuyet interrupted, "I don't want to hear any more explanations. After all these years, I've heard enough."

She pushed the bowl towards him.

“Eat some apples.”

Luc Kien Quan looked at the bowl of apples and suddenly no longer had any appetite. At seven o'clock in the evening, Luc Tu Ngang arrived. You don't go alone. Next to him there is a girl, who is Co Tinh in the photo. The girl is not tall, has short hair, clear eyes, and is carrying a basket of fruits and nutritious food in her hand. Luc Tu Ngang walked to the bed and called out. Luc Kien Quan evaluated his son. After two years of not seeing each other, my son became a little thinner and more mature. White shirt combined with black pants, the whole person exudes the look of a mature man.

“Hello, uncle.” Co Tinh followed along, her voice clear.

“Hello baby, hello baby.” Luc Kien Quan nodded and wanted to get up, but was pushed down by Luc Tu Ngang.

“Dad, don't move, just lie down and rest.”

Luc Tu Ngang pulled out a chair and sat down, Co Tinh stood next to him. Tong Tuyet stood up.

“You two, let's talk, I'll go get some water.”

She carried a thermos of water and went out. Luc's mother held Co Tinh's hand and assessed him from head to toe.

"This is Tieu Tinh, right? Really pretty. Tu Ngang has good eyes."

Co Tinh was a little confused and smiled.

“Hello, grandma.”

“Hello baby, hello baby.” Luc's mother smiled and couldn't close her mouth, "When will the wedding be? Have you chosen a date yet?"

“Yes, finally, on National Day.” Luc Tu Ngang said, “Organized in Hangzhou, Tieu's house Love over there will take care of it.”

“Hangzhou…” Luc's mother glanced at Luc Kien Quan, “It's so far away, it's not convenient for our family to get around.”

“Mom, when that time comes, I will arrange a car to pick me up.” Luc Tu Ngang said, "Dad, recuperate and get healthy, you can go."

Luc Kien Quan did not speak. He looked at his son, a strange feeling arose in his heart. The child who once rolled around in his arms is now fully grown. I'm about to get married, I'm about to start a family.