Chapter 6 — My Fiance Sneaks Down to the Countryside to Have an Affair

6

After I returned to Beijing, Luc Truong Thanh stopped coming to bother me. The next time the working group went to the countryside to check, I also actively avoided going to avoid scandal. Not long after that, a colleague returned from a survey trip and brought me some news. Truong Thu Phuong has died. Over the years, she still carries many minor illnesses. But the medical station in the village is too lacking, the equipment is outdated, the doctor does not have much experience, and can only prescribe painkillers to help. This time, while working in the fields, she suddenly fainted in the middle of the field. Luc Truong Thanh and several healthy men in the village quickly drove a cart to take her to the hospital in the district. But it was too late. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer, with no cure. Luc Truong Thanh thought it over, felt it wasn't worth the money for treatment, and was afraid it would affect the money he had for his son to get married, so he decided to take her home. Truong Thu Phuong's condition deteriorated very quickly. After just a few days, she was so emaciated that she was no longer recognizable. From a plump woman, in the end there was only a skinny skeleton left, lying barely alive in a damp, dark dirt house, suffering endless torment. Colleagues shook their heads and lamented:

"That husband was so cruel. He was determined not to spend a penny to treat her, not even buying painkillers. She was in so much pain that she banged her head against the wall repeatedly, her screams were so pitiful that it was scary—"

The colleague sighed:

“Well, death is considered a liberation, no more suffering.”

Listening to my colleague's description, I suddenly frowned, my eyes filled with a bit of sympathy and regret. In my mind, images of times when Truong Thu Phuong and I had a fierce confrontation appeared in my mind. But now that she is no more, the old resentments have turned into smoke. All that remains is the feeling of sadness for the fate of an ill-fated woman. Truong Thu Phuong has done many wrong things to me, but in the end, she is just a woman. The biggest mistake in her life was simply falling in love with a selfish and heartless person like Luc Truong Thanh. I just didn't expect that Luc Truong Thanh could be so cruel. No matter what, Truong Thu Phuong has followed him for many years, giving birth to his children. Yet he could coldly stand by and watch her struggle in pain, not bothering to help, deliberately letting her suffer to death. That day at the village gate, Truong Thu Phuong slandered me with a serious illness, and ended up bringing karma on herself. Retribution comes late, but is never wrong. Even though hearing this story made me a little unhappy, I just listened and left it there, not worrying too much. After all, her fate is her own choice.

7

In the early years of the millennium, when I passed by the gate of the apartment complex, I accidentally looked up and saw a figure that was both familiar and haggard. Luc Truong Thanh wore a security guard uniform, his hair was sparse and messy. He stood on the side of the road commanding vehicles, his figure was thin, his back was slightly hunched, and he completely lost any of the vigor of his youthful years. I paused for a moment, offering in my heart creating an indescribable feeling of complexity. Unexpectedly, in the heart of the vast capital, I would meet him again. Luc Truong Thanh also saw me. In just a moment, he seemed to be turned to stone, his legs stiffened, his eyes filled with panic, avoiding and not daring to look directly at me. He frantically rubbed the hem of his shirt, looking so confused and ashamed that it seemed like he just wanted to find a hole to crawl into. After a few seconds of hesitation, he took a deep breath, mustered all his courage, and took stiff steps toward me.

"Vu Ha, long time no see. I've always wanted to find you, but I didn't expect to see you here."

"Truong Thu Phuong passed away from cancer a few years ago. Now I'm still alone... I'm finally in the city, we can—"

Before the sentence could finish, it was interrupted by a calm but dignified voice.

“You still haven't given up yet?”

Tran Gia Hang. He stood right next to me, his sharp eyes staring at Luc Truong Thanh, carrying an overwhelming aura, making the other person immediately speechless. Tran Gia Hang strongly pulled me close to him, his eyes full of possession, looking at Luc Truong Thanh with a sarcastic expression:

"I say, do you think I'm dead? Without a mirror, you should look at yourself. How dare you have inappropriate thoughts about someone else's wife?"

Luc Truong Thanh did not expect that someone who was always elegant like Tran Gia Hang could bluntly insult him like that. He instinctively shrank back, a forced smile frozen on his face. Regaining his composure, he tried to force a distorted smile, his voice dry:

"Vu Ha... wait until I receive my salary. When I'm on leave, I'll invite you out to eat. Let's review old stories together..."

Do I and him have any old stories worth reminiscing about? But this place is crowded, I don't want to argue with him anymore. I just nodded faintly, then pulled Tran Gia Hang away. After walking a long distance, Tran Gia Hang was still frustrated and let out an annoyed noise.

"He asked you out on a date, why didn't you just refuse? Do you also want to get back with him?"

He suddenly stopped, turned to look at me, his eyes filled with warmth and menace:

"Tham Vu Ha! I am your person, you have to be responsible for me to the end! If you dare to "leave me in the middle of the road", then I will... I will...!"

I laughed, intentionally teasing:

“What will you do?”

Tran Gia Hang gritted his teeth:

“I will cry for you!”

I looked at Tran Gia Hang funny, raised my hand to lift his face, deliberately teasing him:

“What are you going to do? Take me to die with you?”

I smiled gently, my eyes were sincere:

"Okay, you are my lifelong love. I really appreciate everything I have. We must be together until we grow old, no one is allowed to leave anyone else."

"You're still waiting until you're old, I'll help you comb your hair, and then brush your false teeth!"

My confession made Tran Gia Hang extremely satisfied, his eyes lit up with joy. He immediately pulled me home, in a radiant mood like a child who has just been comforted. But in the days that followed, every time I happened to meet Luc Truong Thanh, I always saw his eyes full of nostalgia. He looked at me with deep eyes, as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare open his mouth. However, the protection rules are very strict, As for me, I always maintain an indifferent attitude, just rushing past without paying attention. He tried to find a chance to approach me, but never succeeded. After a while, I went away on business. When I returned, when I passed the security post where Luc Truong Thanh once stood guard, I suddenly realized that he had disappeared. Feeling a bit strange, I sent the housekeeper to inquire about the news. The maid returned with a regretful face and sighed:

"That security guard named Luc, his son took him to the city to work as a security guard with him. One worked the day shift, the other worked the night shift. But then, the son refused to do business properly, and learned to gamble, eventually losing all his money, accumulating debt, and running away."

"The creditor came to his door, forcing Mr. Luc to pay the debt on his child's behalf. He was so blind, he did something crazy - followed a resident and then secretly broke into their house to rob him. As a result, he was arrested on the spot by the police!"

I was stunned and stood still for a long time. The image of Luc Truong Thanh from the past appeared in his mind—a weak, weak person who never dared to make any decisions his whole life. How could he have imagined that one day, he would go to the extent of breaking the law and recklessly plundering like that? I sighed softly, with only emotions left in my heart. I asked someone to inquire and found out the date of Luc Truong Thanh's trial. At the courthouse, I saw a man with gray hair, haggard, and haggard. On the trial podium, he shed tears, his voice shaking and pleading:

"Judge, please give me another chance! I was temporarily possessed by the devil, now I really know my mistake!"

It's still the same childish way of thinking - thinking that no matter what mistake you make, as long as you regret it, you can go back to the beginning, starting from scratch. After that day, I never heard any more news about him. Standing in front of the court gate, I took a deep breath, the corner of my mouth slightly raised, with a relieved smile as if I had just relieved myself of a burden. Thinking back to my past life, I wasted my whole life in a loveless marriage, and when I closed my eyes, there was only despair left. But when I came back to life, the wheel of fate turned thanks to knowledge, and I firmly grasped the opportunity that fate gave me. This time, I have a career, a family, and love—all things I never dreamed of in my previous life. I looked up toward the parking lot. The man who loved me deeply was sitting in the car, working and patiently waiting for me, without a single complaint. I smiled slightly. I believe that our future will always be as brilliant and beautiful.