Chapter 26 — Mistakes Cannot Be Compensated

"In private affairs, everyone wants to cooperate."

“How is the risk divided?”

“Half for each person.”

“What about disagreements?”

“Listen to me first.”

I laughed.

“This isn't fair.”

“So rock, paper, scissors.”

I raised my hand.

“Pain, rock, scissors.”

You bring the bag, I'll pull it. Hua Van Chau looked at my hand and nodded in acceptance.

“Article 1, listen to me.”

The second year after we got married, our daughter was born. When I gave birth, I had uterine atony. Hua Van Chau stood guard outside the delivery room. When he signed the papers, his hand shook so much that he couldn't write his name completely. Later I asked him if he was scared at that time. He said he was afraid.

"But if the doctor asks the question of dog blood on TV shows whether it's for adults or for children, I've already prepared an answer."

I laughed until my wound hurt.

“The doctor didn't ask.”

"That's why I practiced in vain."

When my daughter was 3 years old, I was invited to attend a cardiovascular rehabilitation medicine forum. The conference hall arranged a general discussion on cardiovascular surgery and post-operative rehabilitation. I don't preview the guest list. Entering the hall, I realized Luc Hoai Xuyen was also coming. Five years have passed, and he looks much calmer than before. On the name tag in front of the chest, there is no title of Chairman, it only says: Cardiovascular Surgery Doctor, District People's Hospital. The host introduced a few complicated emergency surgeries he had performed at the grassroots level, then asked:

“Doctor Luc, since practicing medicine, what is the most risky surgery you have ever performed?”

The nursing expert sitting next to him smiled and recalled Wen Shu Nha's mother's aortic dissection surgery.

“I heard that you were out of town at that time and drove 7 hours at night to get to the hospital.”

The hall echoed with applause. Luc Hoai Xuyen did not smile.

“That surgery was not technically the most difficult.”

The host asked: "But at that time you violated the usual rules to run back, and at the same time took a huge risk. What made you make that decision?" Luc Hoai Xuyen raised his head. His eyes crossed half the hall, falling right on me. The little girl sat next to me, bowing her head and peeling candy. Hearing the sound of applause, she also clapped her tiny hands along with her. Luc Hoai Xuyen looked at the ring on my ring finger, then looked at the child. His face slowly turned white. That moment, the scene from 5 years ago finally coincided with this moment. The host did not notice his anomaly.

“Doctor Luc?”

Luc Hoai Xuyen withdrew his eyes.

“That year I thought I was making up for a regret.”

“Later I learned that there are mistakes that cannot be made up for by saving someone else.”

The hall was silent for a few seconds. The host did not ask further questions and changed the topic to the next guest. After the forum ended, I took my daughter out. Luc Hoai Xuyen chased him to the hallway.

“Gia Hoa.”

The girl raised her face to look at him. I whispered: "Call Dr. Luc." The girl obediently said: "Hello, Doctor Luc." Luc Hoai Xuyen's eyes blinked red.

“What's her name?”

“Hua Tinh Ngon.”

He looked at my ring.

“I'm married.”

“Um.”

“How long? Already?"

“Almost 4 years.”

He opened his mouth, and after a moment said: "Congratulations."

“Thank you.”

The girl pulled my hand.

“Mom, dad said he was waiting for us in the parking lot.”

“My mother and I will come over immediately.”

I took her forward. Luc Hoai Xuyen followed two steps.

“Gia Hoa, do you still hate me?”

I stopped walking. At the end of the hallway, someone pushed an equipment cart past, the wheels grinding on the tiles made soft sounds.

“No more hatred.”

A faint light flashed in his eyes.

“So we can…”