Chapter 17 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

"Cold personality? When he was flirting with you, why wasn't he cold?" Luc's mother pouted, "When I lived at the construction site, in the middle of the cold winter, he ran to give me food. It was so cold that my hands were chapped, but I was still smiling. At that time, why didn't I see that he was cold?"

Luc Kien Quan was stunned. Indeed, that is the case. That year, he took on the job of rebuilding an abandoned building in the East of the city, staying at the construction site for three straight months. One time, it snowed heavily and the road to the construction site froze. Tong Tuyet clutched the thermos bag as she carefully entered the furnace step by step. The food she brought him was braised pork with sauerkraut, the flavor was delicious. That night, he ate very well, drank some wine, and slept extremely well. But the next day, someone at the construction site joked with him, saying he saw his wife slip and fall at the construction site gate last night, her pant legs covered in mud. He even laughed at that time, calling her stupid. After laughing, I immediately threw this matter to the back of my head. Thinking back now, that scene was like a knife stabbing into his heart. Luc's mother was still talking non-stop.

"You're in such a state right now, he's probably in the mood for something. He's wanted to leave you for a long time, he just wanted to show off your children's dignity. Now it's good, you just got sick, he has an excuse to pretend to be a good person, and outsiders still have to praise him for his kindness and courage."

"Mom." Luc Kien Quan kept his voice very low, "Mom, don't think of people like that."

“What do you think, Mom?” Luc's mother glared, "You're lying here, he said 'don't want to take care of you', have you forgotten?"

Luc Kien Quan closed his eyes. That sentence was like a knife, piercing through my chest. But on the blade of the knife, there is no blood, but the love that has been worn away over the years.

“Mom, she said she didn't want to take care of me, but she's still taking care of me.” Luc Kien Quan slowly said, "A person who doesn't want to do something, but is still doing it, is not because she likes it, but because she is still willing to shoulder responsibility. This is already the limit she can give."

Luc's mother paused, not expecting him to say that.

“I really have been brainwashed by it.”

“It's because I brainwashed myself for too long before.” Luc Kien Quan smiled bitterly, "I always felt that whatever she did was the right thing to do, I always thought that if I was busy, I was right. I always thought that men were busy outside building their careers, and women had to fend for themselves in the background. Now I realize, those 'shoulds' are all self-created."

Luc's mother's face turned red.

“So tell me, when I was young, my mother sacrificed herself for this family, was it not right?”

“Should be.” Luc Kien Quan immediately continued, "Mom, no matter how much you sacrifice for this family, I always respect you in my heart. But the suffering that you have endured, does not mean that Tong Tuyet is also forced to try it again."

Luc's mother stared at him for a long time, then finally swallowed the words she was about to say. She picked up the cup of soy milk and took a sip, choking and coughing.

“That girl, her mouth is so smart now.”

Luc Kien Quan did not argue anymore. Tong Tuyet quickly returned, bringing the nurse with her. The nurse measured his blood pressure, listened to his heartbeat, and gave him a bunch of additional post-operative notes.

"Family members must pay more attention. If the patient shows signs of chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or sweating, they must ring the bell immediately." The nurse said, “Also, try to keep your mind Stable condition, do not let the patient be agitated.”

She spoke to Tong Tuyet, but her eyes also glanced at Luc's mother. Luc's mother knew her name was being mentioned, and felt uncomfortable, so she turned away. After checking, the nurse left. Tong Tuyet packed her things and prepared to buy breakfast for Tu Ngang.

“Mom, you should eat something else too. Just munching on dumplings won't fill you up.”

“You don't need to worry about my business.” Luc's mother deliberately raised her voice.

Tong Tuyet nodded.

“Then I'll go down here.”