Chapter 5 — Leaving England For West Africa

"Co Tuyet Dao, Lam Tham asked me if you really returned home. You said you came yesterday, he didn't believe it, he insisted that you intentionally avoided him, didn't want to see him." Lam Tham's voice rang out from the other end of the phone. Luong Mong Dinh turned on the speakerphone. "Luong Mong Dinh, give the phone to Co Tuyet Dao. I know she is angry with me, but it's been so many years, let's meet and talk first. At work, we can still cooperate." The voice was tough, carrying the oppressive feeling of someone who was used to standing in a high position. Luong Mong Dinh said helplessly: "Co Tuyet Dao is really back. Yesterday she had dinner with me, bringing a bunch of souvenirs from West Africa." "Is she back yesterday?" Lam Tham half believed, half doubted, but her voice carried an unhappy tone. "Well, I'll go directly to the apartment to find her." "Don't, Co Tuyet Dao has been adjusting the time zone for the past two days, she might not be at home..." "She is." Where?" Luong Mong Dinh paused for a moment. "Co Tuyet Dao has received a job offer from Phong Due Capital. She is not returning to our company." The other end of the line was silent. There was a sound of rapid breathing, as if his throat was choked. I hung up the phone. New work started. I had to get used to the pace again at home, but the determination and tenacity forged in West Africa quickly proved valuable. I entered a new leading organization alone, gradually building my own professional territory. In the end, Lam Tham still came. He stopped me at the coffee shop under Phong Due Capital's building. The dark circles under his eyes were very obvious. "Why did you come to Phong Due?" His voice was hoarse. I looked at the clock. "Sorry, I have a meeting in ten minutes." He raised his hand to block the way. "Just because of Chau Nhiem's joke, do you completely cut off all possibilities between us?" I stopped walking, looking at him the same way we had looked at each other when discussing plans for the past seven years. Only this time, there was no longer any heat in my eyes. "That's right, my heart is narrow-minded, I can't stand such jokes." Lam Tham's lower jaw tightened. "Co Tuyet Dao, you can't be like that. You know very well that over the years, in my heart..." "I only see Chau Nhiem as a student. What happened at the bar that day was just a mistake due to alcohol and the atmosphere." "I took her to the conference and posted articles. wrote that, just to stimulate you, to make you pay attention." His voice became lower and lower, filled with sobs. "You were cruel enough. Without saying a word, you abandoned me. Why didn't you cancel the transfer application?" "Is that joke really worth resenting you for so many years?" I quietly looked at him, shaking my head. "Okay. Actually, that transfer is not worth resenting." Lam Tham was stunned, staring at me. "My father night. hospitalized and needed surgery, when I called you, do you know where I was at that time? "On the rooftop. You must be there, you're waiting for me, right?" Lam Tham quickly understood. "It's your fault. You shouldn't have turned off the phone that night, you should have answered my phone!" I was silent for a moment, slowly pushing away the arm that was blocking his way. "Lam Tham, that night my father was diagnosed with cancer. “Lam Tham, that night my father was diagnosed with cancer. Lam Tham's whole body stiffened, his pupils suddenly shrank. "I need one hundred and fifty thousand yuan. I collected one hundred and thirty thousand, still missing twenty thousand." My voice was very calm. "I called you three times but your phone was on silent mode. Chau Nhiem posted a post on his personal page. In the photo is the bracelet you gave her, the location is displayed at your apartment." Lam Tham's breathing became rapid. fast. He clenched his fist and then let it go, as if all his strength had been drained.

That day, I was really desperate. I can't accept that when I'm most miserable, you don't care about me at all." "I've been working for so many years, half of my money is spent on you. I have never complained. But that day, I really regretted it, because you didn't love me as much as I loved you." I looked at him. "You were in my house, gave an incentive award to an intern, slept peacefully and missed the phone call when I needed help the most." Lam Tham closed his eyes painfully. He slammed a hand on the wall, his palm turned red. I gently took a breath. "But everything is over. Now I live very well, better than ever before.” “We can just keep our old colleague relationship. On my behalf, thank Chau Nhiem. I got her joke and appreciated my experiences in West Africa.”