Chapter 17 — The Bride Strikes Back: Exposing the Liar

Chu Duyet was stunned, his eyes panicked as if he couldn't believe what I just said.

“Du Du, are you crazy? You don't even know who he is, so why are you looking for him?”

"I know."

I pointed at the phone screen, where the scar still lay like a call.

“I will find him, and make him tell the truth about three years ago.”

"To Thanh thought she won, she was wrong, she gave the key to me."

The decision came very quickly, giving me almost no chance to hesitate. I can't sit and wait to be cornered, I have to go one step ahead and take back my life myself. Chu Duyet ended up helping me book the earliest flight the next morning, even though her eyes were red with worry.

“I'll go with you.”

She spoke pleadingly, but I shook my head immediately.

“No, this is too dangerous, I can't drag you in.”

"To Thanh is like a crazy person now, I don't know what else she can do."

“You stay, help me calm my parents down, and monitor her movements, we'll keep in touch.”

Chu Duyet didn't say more, just nodded, but his eyes still couldn't hide his uneasiness. The next morning, I boarded the plane and looked at the sea of clouds rolling outside the window with a heavy heart. Three years ago, I came to this place with a heart full of hope, and now, I return to find back the stolen memories. The plane landed, the familiar highland air rushed in, both strange and uncomfortably familiar. I took the car straight into the city, following my fading memories to find the old motel. It's still there, and the Tibetan owner still recognized me as soon as I walked in.

“Girl, it's you, isn't it? You were here three years ago and got sick and had to leave early.”

I nodded, without beating around the bush, took out my phone and showed him the photo.

“Do you recognize the man in this photo?”

He just glanced over and smiled, as if the question was too simple.

“Recognize it, why not, he is Trat Tay.”

As soon as that name fell, my heart beat so hard that it almost hurt.

“So… do you know where he is, can I find him?”

The boss's smile slowly retracted, his eyes looking at me became deeper, carrying a bit of scrutiny that was hard to put into words.

“Girl, why are you looking for him?”

"He is my life-saving benefactor. Three years ago I got sick, he was the one who took me to the hospital."

“I want to meet face to face and say thank you.”

The boss was silent for a moment, as if considering something before sighing.

"Trat Tay... he's not here anymore, he left a long time ago."

“He is a very different person, does not like to socialize, and lives closed off from the world.”

“A few years ago, he sold all his shares in the boarding house and moved alone to a farther place.”

My heart sank, as if I had just lost an important clue.

“Where is the further place…?”

“Mount Kailash, he went on a pilgrimage, saying it was to pray for past regrets.”

Pray for regret... so what did he go through in the end? A series of unanswered questions arose in my heart.

“Can you tell me what kind of person he is?”

The boss sighed, his eyes lowered as if recalling an old story.

“He is a good person, but also a person with a heavy fate.”

“Before, he was a famous tour guide In this area, he is also a very good hunter."

“Then something happened, from then on he no longer led the group, nor did he go into the mountains anymore.”

"People have completely changed, but no one knows what specifically happened, he never said anything."

I felt like I had just touched the edge of a very heavy secret, so deep that it was not easy to dig up.

“Is that bar where we used to go now?”

“And, right around the corner ahead.”

“Thank you.”

I left the inn with a clear direction in mind. Kailash, Trat Tay, no matter how far I am, I must find you. Night falls, the streets of Tibet light up, the light shines like an old dream returning. I walked into the old bar, the music was still loud, the lights were still dazzling like memories that had never left. Fragments of broken memories flicker in my head, both near and far like water bubbles. I walked up to the bar, ordered a glass of wine, trying to stay awake in the chaotic crowd. The bartender is a young Tibetan man, with bright eyes but a bit cautious. I took out my phone and showed him the photo.

“Excuse me, do you recognize this person?”

He just glanced, his eyes immediately changed, then quickly looked around. The short answer made my heart clench.

“So do you know where he is?”

He shook his head, his voice low.

“I don't know, and I advise you to stop looking.”