Chapter 5 — I took my three children and left, and he regretted it

So happy that I walked and sang an off-key song. That's the song that used to be Pho Canh Sam's phone ringtone. Only listen once. But the boy still remembers it to this day. My eye sockets suddenly felt hot. When you get to the corner of the street. Niem An suddenly stopped. Pointing toward an office building across the street.

“Mom, look!”

“That building is too tall.”

I looked in the direction the child was pointing. Then stopped. That is the Pho Thi Group building. The light is still on. The ground-level glass windows on the top floor are still as brilliant as before. In the past, I used to stand from afar and look up there many times. One time I brought a thermos lunch box. Waited across the street for two hours. Finally, Deputy Canh Sam's assistant came down to see me. Say that the Deputy General is in a meeting. I immediately gave him the lunch box and quietly left. Will Pho Canh Sam eat later or not? I do not know. Never asked either.

“Mom, what are you looking at?”

Niem An gently pulled the corner of my shirt.

"Nothing."

I withdrew my gaze.

"Go home, I'll give the children a bath and then tell the story."

Niem An holds a teddy bear in one hand. One hand held my hand. The cart's wheels roll over fallen leaves on the ground. Makes very soft rustling sounds. The first person to find me was not Pho Canh Sam. It's Shenzhen. Tham Quyen is one of the few close friends who grew up with Pho Canh Sam. He runs a coffee business. Peaceful temperament. I've met you a few times before. Always politely call her "sister-in-law". My impression of him is not bad. Six o'clock in the morning. I just got back from night shift. Then I saw a black car parked at the beginning of the alley. The car door is open. Tham Quyen is leaning against the car body smoking. See me appear. He immediately extinguished his cigarette in a handheld ashtray.

“It's true you.”

“I just happened to pass by here.”

He still uses the old way of addressing him. I instinctively took a step back. See that action. Tham Quyen smiled bitterly.

“I heard that you and Canh Sam are divorced?”

Niem An sleepily recognized him. Calling etiquette:

“Uncle Tham.”

Tham Quyen squatted down. Take out a few imported chocolates from your bag. Niem An did not dare to accept. Turn your head to look at me. I nodded. Only then did the boy accept it.

“Today Canh Sam…”

Tham Quyen stood up. The voice softened a bit.

“Wen Diqing is holding a party to welcome her cleansing.”

“I'm too lazy to go to those bustling places.”

“So I'm going to walk around here a bit.”

“I didn't expect to find you.”

“I have nothing to do with him anymore.”

I said calmly.

"I know."

Tham Quyen replied. He looked deep into the alley. Look at the wooden door with peeling paint. Look at the children's clothes drying in front of the door. Look at the pot of mint I just planted on the windowsill. The green shoots have just sprouted.

“Are you here?”

“It's very quiet.”

I opened the door and invited him in. There is no sofa in the house. There are only two bamboo chairs. Tham Quyen sat down. The two twins tossed and turned in bed. One kid kicked the other kid. But both were still sleeping soundly. He looked at the three little faces. Silence for a long time. Finally asked:

“Has Canh Sam really never visited the three children?”

“Maybe he doesn't know I'm here.”

“Why didn't you tell him?”

I poured him a glass of water. It's Niem An's cartoon cup. There is a picture of a small dinosaur printed on it.

“Say it or not speak."

“It really doesn't make any difference.”

"He has never cared about me and my mother until now."

Tham Quyen picked up the glass of water. Gently rotate twice and then put down.

“He will know sooner or later.”

I smiled.

“That's his problem.”

Me and Tham Quyen sat in silence for a while. Niem An divided the chocolate she had just received between the two children. The twins also just woke up. Three small heads gathered together to peel off candy paper. Soon, the whole bed was covered with sparkling yellow pieces of paper. Tham Quyen looked at the three children. Suddenly burst out laughing.

“The youngest boy looks a lot like him.”

Niem So raised her head. Dark eyes looked at Tham Quyen. Don't laugh. Don't avoid it either. That cold, calm look was almost identical to Pho Canh Sam's. I turned my back. Quietly fold clothes. No response. Before leaving, Tham Quyen stood at the door for a long time. He took out a bank card from his wallet. Place on shoe cabinet.

“The password is your date of birth.”

“Don't refuse.”

“This is not Canh Sam's money.”

“It's my money.”

“Consider it a meeting gift for the kids.”