Chapter 9 — I'm Busy All My Life, And You're Lonely

The sunlight was very strong, shining through the glass, creating bright spots on the floor.

“Last year when I had surgery,” Tong Tuyet suddenly spoke up, “It was also such a beautiful day.”

Luc Kien Quan's chest twitched.

"The doctor said we had to have a general anesthetic. The risk report needed to be signed by a family member. My sister signed it. When she held the pen, her hand kept shaking."

Tong Tuyet spoke very softly, as if talking to herself.

“Before being pushed to the door of the operating room, I told her that if I couldn't get out, I asked her to take care of Tu Ngang for me.”

She stopped for a moment.

"Actually, at that time, I was about to call you. I picked up the phone a few times, then put it down again. I thought, what's the use of calling you? You're on vacation off the island, busy posting photos to your circle of friends. Will you fly back right away? No."

Luc Kien Quan's fingers tightened on the bed sheet.

"The surgery lasted four hours. When I got out, the anesthetic still hadn't worn off. I was still in a daze. I only heard my sister standing there crying, saying 'It's okay, it's okay'. I opened my eyes and the first person I saw was her."

Tong Tuyet turned around and looked towards Luc Kien Quan.

“Luc Kien Quan, do you know what was in my mind at that time?”

Luc Kien Quan shook his head.

“I was thinking, if I really died, would you regret not coming back?”

Her voice was steady, but each word seemed to pierce Luc Kien Quan's heart.

"After that, I gradually recovered, was discharged from the hospital, you came back, carrying a pile of dried seafood, told me the scenery of Xiamen was very beautiful, asked me how the surgery was, you said it went very smoothly, and after that I never mentioned it again."

Tong Tuyet walked closer to the bed and picked up her bag.

"I'm saying these things today, not to blame you. It's over, it's meaningless to pursue it. I just want to let you know, Luc Kien Quan, people's hearts are made of flesh and blood, but flesh and blood will grow cold. Once cold to the bone, it will never be warm again."

She glanced at the clock.

"I have to go back to school. I still have class this afternoon. I'll have surgery tomorrow. I'll come."

Walking out the door, she paused.

"That's right, there's something I forgot to mention. Tu Ngang came back this time, not just to visit you."

Luc Kien Quan raised his head.

“What else?”

Tong Tuyet did not turn back.

"The boy is about to get married, the girl is in the province, the family's conditions are quite good, the wedding will be held in the province, at that time it's up to you whether you want to go or not."

The door closes. Luc Kien Quan sat on the bed, feeling like his whole body was drained. The son is about to get married. Yet he didn't know anything. Tong Tuyet knows, but just now mentioned it. No, she didn't forget. She did it on purpose. Luc Tinh chose right before his surgery to tell him, so he could understand that this house no longer needed him. Luc's mother brought water back and saw that Luc Kien Quan's face was not okay.

"What's wrong, is Tong Tuyet making you angry again?"

Luc Kien Quan shook his head.

“Mom, Tu Ngang is getting married soon.”

Luc's mother was stunned.

"What? When did you decide? Why haven't you heard anything?"

“Tong Tuyet just said.”

"What right does he have to hide it from me?" Luc's mother panicked, "I am his grandmother, my grandson is getting married, and I have to passively listen to it from my daughter-in-law. In his eyes, is there still an adult like me?"

Luc Kien Quan closed his eyes. He just felt sad all over sleep brutally. So sleepy that I didn't want to say anything more, didn't want to explain, and didn't want to think any more. At night, Luc Kien Quan lay on the hospital bed, unable to sleep. He took out his phone and reopened the posts on his friends circle when he went to Xiamen last year. Blue sea, smooth white sand, rows of coconut trees. He wore a floral shirt, sunglasses, and smiled cheerfully. Colleagues freely commented, saying he knows how to enjoy life.