Chapter 25 — The Day You Abandoned My Mother and My Child in the Middle of the Airport

She just said.

“Dad goes to work somewhere far away.”

Recite Remembrance. Maybe later. When growing up. You will know the truth. But at least. Tham Niem doesn't want you to know.

“Because dad is busy with work.”

She replied softly.

“Dad is back now.”

“So later.”

“Do you still come to visit me?”

Niem Niem thought for a moment.

“Dad, will you go to Paris with me?”

Tham Niem paused. Then smile.

“Why?”

“Dad also has his job.”

Niem Niem bowed her head. Continue watching the animation. Tham Niem leaned back in the chair. Gently close your eyes. She remembered her appearance yesterday. When Ly Minh Trach squatted down to talk to Niem Niem. His hair has turned a lot gray. Only forty-three years old. But the sideburns. Has turned white. He is thinner. Wrinkles on the face are deeper. The puffiness under the eyes is also very obvious. Looks ten years older than his real age. Not good at all. She could see it. What does it have to do with you? She closed her eyes. The image appeared again. Ly Minh Trach sat in front of Niem Niem. Hands holding paper stars tightly. Crying until my whole body trembled. Raise a cup of cold coffee. Drink it all in one gulp. The airport loudspeaker rang out. Announcing a flight begins boarding. Tham Niem looked at the clock. Her flight. One more hour until takeoff. She reopened the laptop. Continue editing the design. Right at that moment. The VIP waiting room door was pushed open. A man entered. He wore a wrinkled gray jacket. At his feet are faded leather shoes. In his hand he carried an old briefcase. Hair is messy. The beard is also not shaved. The whole person exuded fatigue. And struggling. He went to the reception desk. Show your boarding pass. The employee looked over. The expression is a bit strange.

“Sir.”

“This is a VIP lounge for international guests.”

“And your boarding pass…”

“I know.”

The man spoke up. Hoarse voice.

“I came to find someone.”

“Who are you looking for?”

“Tham Niem.”

The employee was stunned. Look at him from top to bottom. She is not too confident. Such a disheveled man. Get to know Tham Niem again. But professionalism. Make her not ask more. Just say politely.

“Please wait a moment.”

“I will ask for you.”

The man stood at the door. Don't sit down. He raised his head. His eyes scanned the waiting room. Stop at the window seat. Tham Niem is sitting there. Facing the computer screen. Slightly frowned. Tilt her face. Still very beautiful. Elegant jaw line. High nose bridge. Long eyelashes. Sunlight penetrates through the ground-level glass window. Cover her face. A layer of pale yellow light. Looks very good. She lives better than ever. Ly Minh Trach stood at the door. Quietly looked at her. I don't know if I should step forward or not. You shouldn't have come. He still comes. There's one thing. He must tell her himself. The receptionist walked over.

“Sir.”

“Miss Tham invited me over.”

Ly Minh Trach nodded. Take a deep breath. Then step forward. Tham Niem raised his head. The expression on her face. No wavering.

“General Manager Ly.”

“What business do you have?”

Ly Minh Trach stood in front of her. The hand tightened the handle of the briefcase. Finger joints turn white.

“To give you something back.”

He took out an envelope from his briefcase. Place on the table. Tham Niem glanced over. But not open.

“Profit sharing of the Northern Old Quarter project.”

Ly Minh Trach replied.

"Attend The case has been completed.”

“Net profit.”

“Thirty-two million yuan.”

“According to the contract.”

“I'm entitled to three percent.”

“I don't accept.”

Tham Niem raised her head to look at him.

“It originally belonged to me.”

Ly Minh Trach's voice trembled slightly.

“The Northern Old Quarter project was successful.”

“It is thanks to the resources of Nianze Design.”

“Thanks to Zhao Yuanshan's connections.”

“Thanks to your plan.”

“Just do what you should do.”

“I don't deserve this money.”

Tham Niem was silent for a few seconds. Then push the envelope back.

“Contract signed.”

“Whose turn is it?”

“It belongs to that person.”

“You take it.”

“I don't accept.”

“Ly Minh Trach…”

“Tham Niem.”

He interrupted her. The voice suddenly became very soft.

“I came today.”

“Not just to pay.”

Tham Niem looked at him. Don't speak up. Ly Minh Trach took out an item from his pocket. Place on the table. A paper star. Already wrinkled. The corners of the paper are also frayed. The words were written in pencil on it. Still legible.

“Remembering the wish.”

“Dad, come back to me quickly.”

Tham Niem's eyes wavered slightly. Fingers. Shrink slightly.

“This star.”

“I carried it with me for a year.”

Ly Minh Trach said slowly.

“I want to give up.”

“I touched it again.”

"I know."

“I'm not worthy of being Niem Niem's father.”

“Not even worthy of being your husband.”

“I want you two to know.”

“I always try.”

The waiting room is extremely quiet. Niem Niem wears headphones. Carefully watch cartoons. Completely ignored this side.

“Tham Niem.”

Ly Minh Trach's voice finally trembled.

“I know.”

“No matter what I say.”

“It was useless.”

“Give me one year.”

“To meet Niem Niem.”

“Give me a chance.”

“Participate in the Northern Old Quarter project.”

“Give me a chance too.”

"Prove."

“That myself.”

“There's still some value left.”

“Thank you.”

The corners of his eyes were red. He didn't let his tears fall.

“I still want to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I found a job.”

He smiled softly. The smile was both bitter. Just relieved again.

“A small company.”

“Specializing in renovating old neighborhoods.”

“Boss said.”

“The person I used to be.”

“It really doesn't matter.”

“I have experience releasing.”

“Also understand the value of old houses.”

“Ready to receive me.”

Tham Niem looked at him. Say nothing.

“Salary is not high.”

“Enough to keep me alive.”

He continued.

“Every month.”

“I will save money for Niem Niem.”

“Wait until you grow up.”

“That amount of money.”

“Enough for me to go to college.”

“I don't expect it.”

“She accepted me.”

“I just hope.”

“You won't hate me.”

“She doesn't hate you.”

Tham Niem also spoke up. The voice is very light.

“She doesn't know you.”

That saying. Like a blade. Stabbed straight into Ly Minh Trach's heart. Not familiar. Compared to hatred. Even more cruel.

“I know.”

Ly Minh Trach replied softly.

“I won't disappear.”

“I will always be there.”

“She doesn't need me.”

He picked up the paper star. Placed next to Niem Niem's stuffed bunny.

“Leave it to Niem Niem.”

“Tell me.”

“Daddy's wish.”

“It has come true.”

He turned around. Prepare to leave.

“Ly Minh Trach.”

His steps stopped. But don't turn back. Tham Niem's voice rang out from behind. Calm as water.

“Money for the Northern Old Quarter project.”

“If you don't accept.”

“I will donate.”

“It's my money.”

“That's the money you earn.”

Ly Minh's back Trach stiffened slightly.

“Seventy percent of the project's households were cleared.”

“It was because you convinced yourself.”

“A plan to retain old houses.”

“It was you who suggested it.”

“Running procedures with the Planning Department.”

“It's also you.”

“That amount of money.”

“It's what you deserve.”

Ly Minh Trach slowly turned around. Look at Tham Niem. Look at you too. The two people's eyes met. No more hate. No more love. No more regrets. There is only one understanding left.

“Ly Minh Trach.”

“I said it before.”

“It's not just reinforced cement.”

“It's a home.”

"I got it."

Tham Niem's eyes moved slightly.

“Old houses in the northern area.”

“I kept it.”

“Not because the project needs it.”

“Inside those houses.”

“Someone is alive.”

“They need a home.”

He looked into her eyes.

"Like."

“You and Niem Niem.”

“I also needed a home.”

“I can't give it to you and your mother.”

"I can."

“Don't let others lose their home.”

In the waiting room. The loudspeaker rang again.

“Passengers take the flight to Paris.”

“Please prepare to board the plane.”

Niem Niem took off her headphones. Raise your head.

“Is it time to go?”

Tham Niem stood up. Close the laptop. Clean up documents. She looked at Ly Minh Trach.

“Ly Minh Trach.”

“You leave the paper star.”

Ly Minh Trach nodded. Place the paper star on the table. Tham Niem picked it up. Look quietly for a few seconds. Then put it in your bag.

“Nem Niem.”

Niem Niem jumped down from the chair. Hug the stuffed bunny. Hold mom's hand. When passing by Ly Minh Trach. The child suddenly stopped. Raised her small face to look at him.

“Are you coming to see us off?”

Ly Minh Trach slowly squatted down. Look into your daughter's eyes. He smiled.

“I came to see you and your mother off.”

“Thank you, uncle.”

Niem Niem waved his hand.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Niem Niem held Tham Niem's hand. Go towards the boarding gate. Tham Niem did not turn back. Ly Minh Trach stood still in place. Looking at the backs of mother and child. Tham Niem wore a khaki trench coat. Niem Niem wears a light blue dress. Under the sunlight. Pull into two long shadows. The mother and daughter walked into the boarding tube. Then finally. Disappeared after the turn. Ly Minh Trach stood in the middle of the large waiting room. Sunlight covered his body. He bowed his head. Look at my hands. Those hands. Has signed countless contracts. Have shaken hands with countless people. Has beaten down countless opponents in the marketplace. Empty. Can't grasp anything anymore. I don't regret it. Today you come. Not to hold back. Just wanted to tell Tham Niem myself. Let me meet Niem Niem. Didn't let her hate me. When I was at my worst. Still give me a chance. Just once. He turned around. Leave the VIP lounge. The hallway is very long. The sound of his leather shoes rang out. Through a turning point. He suddenly stopped walking. On the wall in the corner of the hallway. Hang a large poster. It is the latest project of Nianze Design. Project to renovate the old northern quarter. On the poster. Old houses are retained. Harmoniously standing next to modern buildings. Like a mosaic. In the middle of the past. And the future. At the bottom of the poster. There is a small text.

"Some things, if destroyed, are lost forever. But there are also things that can be rebuilt after being destroyed."

— Tham Niem

Ly Minh Trach stood in front poster. Look for a long time. I remember. Ten years ago. First afternoon meeting Tham Niem. She stands in front of an architectural model. Sunlight shines on your face. Eyes bright like stars. She pointed to the model. Smile and say.

“This is the kindergarten I designed.”

“Look at this window.”

“The light is beautiful.”

“The children study here.”

“We get sunshine every day.”

I just thought. This girl. He wants to marry her. I'm married. Your own hand. Destroy them all. He turned around. Keep walking. Exit the airport lobby. Bright sunlight. He squinted his eyes. Take a deep breath. The phone vibrates. He bowed his head. It's a message from the bank. Your account 3827 has just received 320,000 yuan. Remittance account extension 0412. Three hundred and twenty thousand yuan. Profit sharing money for the Northern Old Quarter project. Attached is a message.

"Take it. Don't donate anymore. It's what you deserve."

— Tham Niem

Ly Minh Trach tightened his grip on the phone. Standing in front of the airport gate. Sunlight covered his body. I don't cry. The corners of the eyes are redder. He put the phone in his pocket. Turn around. Go towards the bus stop. I don't have a car anymore. You can only take the bus back. He did not feel embarrassed. I also understand. There are things. More important than the car. More important than home. Go to the bus station. He took out his wallet. Pull out a wrinkled photo. That is a photo of Niem Niem when he was one year old. Mother and daughter smiled with their eyes wide open. He carefully put the photo back. To stay close to people. The bus arrives. He walked up. Choose a seat next to the window. A plane flies across the sky. Leaving a long trail of white clouds. That's the flight. Ly Minh Trach raised his head. Quietly watching. Until the plane completely disappeared behind the clouds. He bowed his head. Close your eyes. Very quiet. Only the soft sound of the engine remained. Sunlight passes through the glass window. Falling on his face. He remembered the sentence Niem Niem had just said.

“Are you coming to see us off?”

Ly Minh Trach smiled slightly. There will be a day. Call him again.