Chapter 13 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

As for a father like you, it seems like you've missed out on too much.

“Dad, how is the surgery going?” Luc Tu Ngang asked.

“Very smooth, the doctor said the surgery was very successful.”

“Then you can rest assured.” Luc Tu Ngang breathed a sigh of relief, "Dad, you have to rest a lot, don't worry about the company anymore. If you can let go, let go."

Luc Kien Quan nodded. The father and son immediately fell into silence. The hospital room was so quiet that it was a bit awkward. Co Tinh placed the fruit basket on the cabinet and said softly: "Uncle, rest assured that you will recover and get well soon."

“Thank you.” Luc Kien Quan replied.

Tong Tuyet brought back water and saw this scene, but didn't say much. She put down the thermos and said to Luc Tu Ngang: "It's good that you're here. These are things to pay attention to after surgery, please take a look." She gave that notebook to Luc Tu Ngang. Luc Tu Ngang took it and turned a few pages.

“Mom, you write down the details.”

“Yes, I'm afraid I don't remember everything.” Tong Tuyet said, "These days you will be on duty here. If anything happens, press the bell to call the nurse."

"Yes." Luc Tu Ngang nodded, "Mom, go home and rest, I'm here."

Tong Tuyet looked at Luc Kien Quan.

"Then I'll go home first. Come back tomorrow morning."

She picked up her bag and walked out the door.

“Tong Tuyet.” Luc Kien Quan suddenly called her back.

Tong Tuyet turned around.

“Be careful on the road.”

Tong Tuyet nodded, turned and walked out. Luc Tu Ngang looked at his mother's leaving back, his eyes a bit complicated.

“Dad,” he said, “Are you and mom… okay?”

Luc Kien Quan was stunned.

“Why do you suddenly ask this?”

"Nothing." Luc Tu Ngang looked away, "It's just that I think mom seems to have lost a lot of weight."

“She's still the same.” Luc Kien Quan said.

“Not always.” Luc Tu Ngang objected, "When I was a child, my mother was not like this."

Luc Kien Quan was silent. He understood what his son wanted to say. The old Song Tuyet knew how to laugh, joke, get angry, and also know how to argue with him. The current Song Tuyet only remains calm, so quiet that there is not a single wave.

“Tu Ngang,” Luc Kien Quan asked, “Do you… blame your father?”

Luc Tu Ngang did not answer. Co Tinh pulled his sleeve.

“Tu Ngang…”

“Dad,” Luc Tu Ngang raised his head, “There are some things I wanted to say for a long time, but I never had the chance.”

Luc Kien Quan's heart tightened.

“You say it.”

“The year I took the university entrance exam, do you remember?” Luc Tu Ngang said, "A month before the exam, I was so stressed, I couldn't sleep. Mom stayed up with me every night until midnight. Then I had a fever, mom took me to the hospital at midnight, and gave me intravenous fluids until three in the morning. I called dad, he said he was attending guests, and couldn't get out of it."

Luc Kien Quan remembers. That's true. That day he was out drinking with his partner. My son called, his voice filled with sobs. He said, Dad, I'm upset. He said, Dad, can you come home? He said, Dad, Mom can't stand it alone anymore. What did you say then? He said, Dad over here can't stop, just listen to what Mom says. Then hung up.

"Later I passed the university entrance exam," Luc Tu Ngang continued, "The day I received the admission notice, my mother cooked a whole table of food, waiting for my father to come home and eat with me. Dad came home at ten o'clock at night, smelling of alcohol, and as soon as he lay down on the sofa, he fell asleep."

Luc Kien Quan recalled. That day he had just signed a project and was so happy that he drank too much. When you return, son and his wife was still sitting at the table, the food was cold. He originally intended to say sorry, but the smell of alcohol rose and he fell asleep. The next day when I woke up, my son had already gone to school.

"For four years of college," Luc Tu Ngang continued, "Dad never showed up at parent meetings or graduation ceremonies. Mom went every time, took the train, took the bus, all alone. I asked mom, why didn't dad come? Mom said, dad was busy."

Luc Tu Ngang's voice was a bit hoarse.