Chapter 22 — Mistakes Cannot Be Compensated

The father in the photo is not yet 60 years old, smiling with slightly narrowed eyes.

“You say it.”

Luc Hoai Xuyen didn't open his mouth right away. The wind blew through the cemetery, two pine trees made rustling sounds.

“The day your father got sick, I had just finished reporting my research topic at the conference.”

“In the afternoon, the results of the Young Expert voting will be announced.”

My movement of cleaning the tombstone stopped.

“Go ahead.”

"The first time Hospital No. 2 contacted him, I assessed the risk of his surgery as too high. If I let my team take over, once an incident occurs on the operating table, all responsibility will fall on me."

“So I recommend transferring to the hospital.”

“The Provincial People's Hospital has a more mature team.”

“The driving distance is 6 hours.”

“At that time I judged he could survive.”

I stood up.

“What happens after that?”

Luc Hoai Xuyen's eyes turned red.

"When the second call came in, Dr. Trieu told me to give instructions from afar. By that time, I had already gone to the auditorium door."

“Why don't you accept?”

“I'm scared.”

These two words are very small. But I heard it clearly.

“Afraid of what?”

“I'm afraid he will die under your surgical plan.”

Luc Hoai Xuyen looked at the photo on the tombstone.

"That's my father. If you accept the operation and still can't save him, I will hate you for the rest of my life."

“So I let someone else shoulder the risk.”

“I thought if he moved to the provincial level, he would still have a chance.”

“And you also keep your voting title.”

He did not object. That afternoon, he received the title of “Provincial-level Outstanding Young Medical Expert”. After my father passed away, he locked the certificate in his study room and never mentioned a word in front of me. Before, I thought he was just concerned about my mood.

“When something happened to Wen Shuya's mother, why weren't you afraid anymore?”

"At that time, she had acute cardiac tamponade and couldn't wait for another doctor. If you didn't come back, she would definitely die."

“What about my dad?”

Luc Hoai Xuyen closed his eyes.

“I thought there was still time.”

“Doctor Trieu said, the artery could burst at any time.”

“I know.”

I looked at him.

“During the 7-hour drive there, did you ever think that Wen Shuya's mother would die before you arrived?”

“I thought.”

“But I still came back.”

Luc Hoai Xuyen's breathing became rapid.

"Gia Hoa, I admit that I have devoted too much attention to her mother's affairs. After Thu Nha's father passed away, every time I see her, I remember how you looked in the past."

“So you want to save her mother.”

“I don't want to see the same outcome again.”

“You use her and her child to compensate for yourself.”

He took a step forward.

“I know it's too late to say anything now.”

“Then stop talking.”

“I just want you to know, I never thought your father wasn't important.”

I picked up the bag of chestnuts in front of the tombstone. My father used to have weak teeth, and every time he ate chestnuts, he asked me to peel them for him. On the last night in the hospital, he even said that when the surgery was over, he would eat a whole bag.

“Luc Hoai Xuyen, when you stopped at the hall door, you already knew who was more important.”

“Your future, your reputation, whether you are resented by me or not, all come before my father.”

“Then Wen Shuya begged him, he was willing to take the risk.”

Luc Hoai Xuyen's tears flowed fall. I've known him for so many years, this is the first time I've seen him cry. He put his hands on his face, his shoulders shaking.

"If only you had come home that day, it would have been nice."

I bowed my head, peeled a chestnut, and placed it in front of the tombstone.

“But you didn't come back.”

“Every day I think, if at that time I…”

“Don't make the choice for my father.”

He dropped his hand, his eyes red.

“What else can you do?”

“Get away from me.”

“Gia Hoa.”

“Today is the anniversary of his death.”

I looked at the bouquet of flowers at his feet.