Chapter 19 — Return to Eighteen

"He promised to find a lawyer for me, Lac Tu Hanh, this person, likes softness and not hardness." On the other end of the line, something was said, and Uc Nhue Dao laughed lightly. "Of course I don't like him, but my parents are in jail, so I have to find someone to raise him." "Moreover, the most important thing, he is Au Nhue Ninh's belongings, from childhood to adulthood, is there anything I can't take from him that I can't take away?" Lac Tu Hanh stood. I froze at the door, as if a basin of cold water had been thrown from head to toe. His hand was still holding the doorknob tightly, his joints turning white every inch. Uc Nhue Dao raised her head and saw him. Her smile stiffened on her face, the phone slipped from her hand and fell onto the blanket. "You... Mr. Tu Hanh..." Lac Tu Hanh did not step in, nor did he speak. He just stood there quietly, looking at the girl he had always protected since childhood, feeling strange and scary. "So," His voice was hoarse as if it was no longer his, "You pretended to jump from the building?" Uc Nhue Dao's face turned pale for a moment, then tears welled up again: "Brother Tu Hanh, listen to my explanation, I was just joking with my friends earlier..." "Joking?" Lac Tu Hanh interrupted, "Do you find it funny?" Uc Nhue Dao's tears flowed down her cheeks, her lips trembled, she couldn't say a word. Lac Tu Hanh walked in, picked up his wallet, turned around and walked straight out. "Mr. Tu Hanh!" Uc Nhue Dao rushed out of bed, hugged him tightly from behind, crying loudly, "I didn't mean it!" Lac Tu Hanh stood still, eyes closed. He removed Uc Nhue Dao's hand and walked out of the hospital room without looking back. At the same time, in a rented house in the slums, I was sitting at the table, with lunch in front of me. The phone vibrated, a text message came from the police station, announcing that the case was progressing very smoothly and that those involved were being prosecuted. Dung Diec Lam sat opposite, quickly picked up a piece of rice, hummed and asked: "Who is that?" "Someone from the police station." I raised my glass of water and took a sip. The sunlight outside shone beautifully, shining through the window, illuminating the entire small rented room. Grandma stood in the kitchen mumbling an old song, the sound of the spoon and shovel clanging against the iron pan. Dung Diec Lam looked at my face, the morning light falling on my eyelashes, sparkling like broken pieces of gold. "Uc Nhue Ninh," He suddenly spoke up, "Since we're in Beijing, can I invite you to take a walk around Vi Danh Lake?" I turned my head to look at him, a smile on my lips: "Okay." Right after I finished speaking, the police station called again. The police officer in charge of the case informed me to come and add my testimony. During interrogation, Uc Kien Quoc declared that Uc Nhue Dao was also involved in these two cases. At two o'clock in the afternoon, we were at the police station. In the interrogation room, the police showed me every single thing in Uc Kien Quoc's statement. The paper is black and white, each word is clear. "Did you know about these things before?" The police asked. I nodded, signed the statement and fingerprint record. When I walked out of the interrogation room, at the end of the hallway a white shadow loomed. Uc Nhue Dao was escorted in by two female police officers, her face pale. The moment she saw me, tears immediately fell. "Sister..." Her voice was soft as if she was pleading. I didn't stop walking, just walked straight out. Behind me, Uc Nhue Dao's sobbing scream rang out: "Sister! I really didn't hurt you!" The door closes behind you, completely soundproofing all sounds. Dung Diec Lam gave me a bottle of water: "Are you okay?" I unscrewed the cap and took a sip: "It's okay. Let's go, I don't want to leave too early." We walked along the road. In July, Giang Thanh was as hot as a furnace, the leaves of the sycamore trees were charred and curled to the edges. Dung Diec Lam walked to my left, blocking the sun

me. “Where do you want to go?” He asked. “Just walking around like that.” We passed by Tan Hoa bookstore, People's Square, through one street after another. I didn't walk fast, Dung Diec Lam also slowed down his steps next to me. We always keep a distance of about a fist between us, neither far nor near. Suddenly went to the southern neighborhood of the city. The corner coffee shop appeared in sight, the place where I used to work part-time. The lights in the restaurant radiate warm yellow light, a few customers are sitting inside. "Come in and sit for a while?" Dung Diec Lam asked. I nodded. Pushing the door open, the wind chimes made a jingling sound. The store manager was standing behind the bar wiping glasses. When he looked up and saw me, his eyes lit up: "Nhue Ninh! You're back!" I smiled and replied: "I just came to visit, I'm not working." "It's okay to sit and play!" The store manager quickly greeted, "What do you want to drink? I'm hungry today." "A glass of iced Latte, a little sugar." I turned to look at Dung Diec Lam, "What about you?" "Like him." We chose a table close to the window. The store manager himself brought out two cups of coffee and also gave away a piece of cheese cake. Sunlight shines through the glass onto the table, illuminating the white porcelain cup. Dung Diec Lam sat opposite, scooped up a piece of cheesecake with a spoon, frowned slightly: "So sweet."