Chapter 7 — I Raised a General in the Central Highlands

46 I picked up the phone and froze right there in my seat. I could even clearly hear the sound of blood rushing in my ears, like the buzzing of bees. Everything around suddenly became distant and vague. Only that familiar voice remained, echoing through the other end of the line. Luc Tram is Jason? Jason is Luc Tram? The elevator opens. Not far from the door, there was a man standing there. The black suit is delicately tailored, the sleeve buttons reflect the cold light. Tall figure, broad shoulders... That face— It's Luc Tram. Also the tall and handsome "Jason" that my boss once mentioned. All the details that I had deliberately overlooked, at this moment seemed to be strung together into a cruel chain, squeezing me tightly. His temperament and taste are too perfect, not like a cowherd. Mandarin is too standard, without any local accent. The way he gives a sharp perspective on the promotion plan. The budget sheet is waiting for approval on your computer. Everyone in the hotel knew who he was. The receptionist called him "Mr. Luc", and even said casually: "Who doesn't know their family!" … I always thought he was just a "not simple" driver. Never thought about the possibility: you are the boss. A chilling feeling of shame spread from my feet to the top of my head. Think about how I used to use my status as a driver to evaluate and judge you. Thinking about how I used to act serious and thoughtfully analyze his career prospects for him. Thinking about the scene where I considered myself high-handed, offering to "support" him five thousand dollars a month... I—in Luc Tram's eyes—was like a clown dancing in the middle of the stage. But he— Was he just standing outside from beginning to end... watching me perform? 47 That afternoon, I ignored Luc Tram, turned around and went straight upstairs. After work, I deliberately took a different route and left the building from the other door. However, that shiny black Maybach—still quickly appeared behind me. I didn't get in the car, and he didn't leave either. Just follow along like that. Until I couldn't stand it anymore, walked over and knocked on the car window. “General Manager Luc, are you so free that you have nothing to do?” I crossed my arms, coldly sarcastically said: "Oh right, I forgot, you're the boss, you can go to work if you want, if you don't want to then don't. Living in my tiny apartment these past few days, it's really been a disadvantage for you." "Sorry." Luc Tram looked at me, his voice hoarse. “I don't dare accept your apology.” I walked two streets, he quietly drove two streets behind. Finally, I still opened the door and sat in the car. “Say whatever you want to say.” I looked out the window, not bothering to glance at him: "You big fraud." “Chi Dao, can you… sit in the front seat?” "Are not." I replied coldly: "Aren't you a—a driver? Shouldn't you sit in the back seat if you don't know the passenger?" The atmosphere in the car seemed to freeze. After a while, Luc Tram spoke again: "So... come to my house, is that okay?" "Okay." I curled my lips: "Just let me open my eyes and see what rich people's houses look like." 48 Luc Tram's house is located in the famous rich villa area in Nam Thanh - Van Dinh Son Trang. I looked at the carved gate that was slowly opening, and smiled coldly. The car stopped, he came around and opened the car door for me. I still sat still, not moving. "Actually... the house in the steppe is similar to a villa like this, but a little bigger..." Seeing that I didn't react, he said again: "Because I'm tall and used to living in an independent house. Back in America—" "America?" I got out of the car and walked into the living room, which was so large that voices could echo. He watched me sit down on the huge sofa, then went to pour a glass of water. “Yes, I was born in America.” “Luc Tram, do you know how absurd what you just said sounded?” “Yes, I know.” Luc Tram sat down opposite, and began to tell his story: "My father was born in the steppe, my mother is from Beijing. They met each other in college. After graduating, they went to the US to work, start a business... and then settled there. "I grew up in America, but every vacation I returned home... to herd cows because of my grandfather's request. When I was in high school, I studied for a year at an international school here." “So actually, I don't know where I belong. He said my roots were in the steppes, my parents said I was Chinese, but my passport said I was American.” His eyes looked at me, full of ambiguity and sincerity. As I listened, my initial anger subsided a bit. “Don't play the pitiful role with me. Those things cannot be a reason for you to deceive me.” “Yes, you are right.” He frankly admitted: "Fooling you... was my choice." Luc Tram put his elbows on his knees, looked straight at me, his eyes serious: "I've seen you before in the photo taken together in Chris's office." 49 I was dumbfounded. “I wore a white dress, standing in the middle of the crowd. Petite, but with a temperament that's up to eight feet tall." "At that time, I was moved, so I asked a few more questions, learned your name, and also knew... you had a boyfriend." “The first time I saw you in the steppe, I recognized you right away.” “But before I could even think about how to start the conversation, I—” “I'm flirting with you, right?” He smiled bitterly, looking between tears and laughter: "I'm really a bit dumbfounded, but I also want to see what trick the little fox like you who proactively comes to the door is trying to play." “So I called Chris, hinted for a while, only to find out that you had just broken up, and went there to relieve your sadness.”{Read the full story at Van Ha Tuong page} “At that time I thought, if I just walked up like that and said—hi, I'm your boss's friend, I've been wanting to get to know you for a long time—you'd definitely think I was sick.” “Besides… when you proactively approach me, I really can't refuse, so…” Hearing this straightforward sentence, my heart skipped a beat. "So, I just pushed the boat along." Luc Tram shrugged and smiled helplessly: "It sounds a bit easier to listen to." I snorted: "So that means it's all because you're too proactive?" Luc Tram looked at me. He stood up from the sofa opposite, then sat down next to it. I instinctively wanted to move away, but he stretched out his long arms and hugged me.