Chapter 20 — I Return From The Deep

Trieu An Binh brought his sister's ashes back to his hometown and re-buried her. I didn't go that day because my health didn't allow it. But he took a photo and sent it to me. New tombstone, white marble. On it was engraved: "Grave of Professor of Biology of Linhai University - Trieu Dung". There is no longer the shadow of “academic fraud”. Clean. I saved the photo to my phone. Set as wallpaper. There are also new developments in Tong Uyen Nghi. The police officially prosecuted. Charges of slander and harm and of falsifying evidence. She is still in the hospital recovering, temporarily released on bail. But criminal prosecution is impossible to escape. Lawyer Chau said, based on the severity, a sentence of 3 to 5 years is a no-brainer. Three to five years. Almost as long as I spent in prison. Don't know what to say. Surely fate also has its own sense of humor. During that time, Giang Tu Hanh stopped coming to see me. But I know he's always around. Because there's something secretly going on. The room rent I owed at the motel for a few days has been paid in full. I asked Luc Tham for the rent, he said he didn't pay it. At the hospital, someone anonymously transferred a large sum of money to my treatment account. The number far exceeds the cost of my current regimen. Luc Tham asked to look up the origin. This is the corporate account of Giang Thi Group. I don't return it. Didn't even say thank you. This is not forgiveness. This is——never mind. I didn't speak clearly. Probably some kind of compromise. I don't forgive him. But I don't have the strength to hate him anymore. Just like that. Tenth week of treatment. Second re-examination. The tumor continued to shrink, a total of 32%. The treating physician's attitude changed from "cautiously optimistic" to "may consider surgical evaluation." He arranged a surgical consultation for me. If surgery determines it can be removed——then there is a chance. A real opportunity. It's not a 30% bet against death. But by cutting it off, there is a chance to survive. Stepping out of the clinic, I stood in the hospital hallway. Outside the window is the harsh winter sun, very pale, but very warm. I raised my hand to touch my chest. That thing is still there. But it is shrinking. It is losing. I'm winning. That evening. Luc Tham comes again. Still bring food. But today there's something extra. A bouquet of flowers. White daisies, simply wrapped in cement paper. When he pushed the bouquet of flowers into my hand, the tips of his ears were slightly red.

“Congratulations.”

“Congratulations on what?”

“Alive.”

I hugged the bouquet of flowers. Look at me. His eyes fell somewhere else——the curtains, the floor, the foot of the coffee table——definitely not looking at me. I laugh. The kind of smile that comes from the bottom of my heart, the corners of my mouth can't be held back. First time since going to prison.

“Luc Tham.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for letting me live.”

Finally he looked over. The two people's eyes collided. No one dodged first. He took another step. Lift your hand. Fingertips lightly touched my cheek. Very light. As if afraid of breaking something.

“No more saying thank you,” he said. The voice was deep and hoarse, like a whisper.

I said nothing. The sound of my heart beating was so loud that the whole building could hear it. At that moment, his phone rang. He stopped. Pick up the phone. His face fell within three seconds.

“What?”

“When any?"

“Where are you?”

Hang up the phone. He looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed.

“What's wrong?”

“Tong Uyen Nghi,” he said, “She escaped from the hospital. While on bail, this afternoon he voluntarily left the hospital room under supervision. Lost.”

I stood up. “Where can she go? Isn't her leg broken——”

“Partially recovered. I heard you can walk with crutches. But the important thing is not where she goes.”

He looked at me.