Chapter 4 — The Day You Abandoned My Mother and My Child in the Middle of the Airport

He angrily pulled off his tie and kicked off his leather shoes. Barefoot walked into the living room. The tea table was covered with a thin layer of dust. The pillows on the sofa are placed neatly. It's not like someone was just sitting there. He was stunned. Now I remember. Tham Niem took her daughter to Sanya. Incorrect. He took out his phone and opened the chat history. The last message was nine days ago. Tham Niem message:

“We're home.”

He is soaking in the hot spring with To Man. Just one glance. Then scroll through. Not even a single reply bothers me.

“Still not back yet?”

He muttered. I just think this time Tham Niem was angry for a little longer. She had been angry a few times before. Went back to my mother's house to stay for two or three days. I just need you to call and say a few words. She will return. It's been nine days. Set a record. He poured a glass of water. Sit down on the sofa and smoke. Suddenly remembered something. Immediately call Tham Niem.

“The subscriber you just called is currently switched off.”

He frowned. Call again. Still turned off.

“What a nerve.”

He threw the phone aside. Then go upstairs to shower and go to bed. The next morning. Ly Minh Trach was awakened by the alarm bell. Head hurts like a hammer. He cleaned himself up and went downstairs. Aunt Vuong has prepared breakfast. He sat down at the dining table. While drinking porridge, he asked:

“Is your wife home yet?”

Aunt Vuong's eyes wavered slightly. She bowed her head and wiped the table.

“Yes… not yet, sir.”

“Can you make a phone call?”

“I… I haven't called yet, sir.”

Ly Minh Trach looked at her. Always felt like there was something unusual about Aunt Vuong today. But can't say clearly what it is. Finished breakfast. The driver was waiting outside the door. He picked up his briefcase and went to work. Morning meetings continuously. It's time for lunch. He opened the phone. Try calling Tham Niem again. Still turned off. Think for a moment. He called Tham Niem's mother's number.

“The phone number you have dialed does not exist.”

Doesn't exist? He stopped. Call again. Still a non-existent number. Tham Niem's mother has used this number for more than ten years. How could it suddenly become non-existent? He put down his chopsticks. Open contacts. Find the number of Lam Vy, Tham Niem's college friend. Then call over.

"Hello? General Manager Ly?"

Obviously Lam Vy didn't expect him to call.

“Lam Vy, has Tham Niem contacted you recently?”

"Tham Niem? No. We haven't contacted you for a long time. What's going on?"

"Nothing."

He hung up. An indescribable feeling of insecurity rose from the soles of my feet. Like a snake. Slowly squeezing his heart. He sent a few more WeChat messages to Tham Niem. They all sank like stones thrown into the sea. Afternoon meeting. He completely lost focus. Finish early and return home. Aunt Vuong is preparing dinner in the kitchen. I see you're home early. She was clearly startled.

“Aunt Vuong, come here.”

Aunt Vuong wiped her hands as she walked over. Don't dare look into his eyes.

“Did she say anything to you before the lady left?”

"Yes... I didn't say anything. Just told me to take good care of the house, said that you and I would go to Hainan to play for a few days and then come back."

“What day did she leave?”

"Day eleven, sir. That's the day you took us to the airport."

Ly Minh Trach mentally calculated. Today is the twentieth. It's been nine days. Suddenly he remembered the message:

“We're home.”

He always thought that the word "home" meant a villa in Thuong Sea.

What if “the place she said” is not this house?

“Did she ever come back here?”

Aunt Vuong's expression became even more unnatural.

"Yes... yes. On the afternoon of the nineteenth, the lady came back once, took a few things and left."

“Get what?”

"Yes... a suitcase... with some papers or something. I didn't look closely."

Ly Minh Trach immediately stood up. Stroll upstairs. Push open the master bedroom door. The room is still neat and tidy. Tham Niem's clothes are still hanging in the closet. The cosmetics on the dressing table were also untouched. He pulled the bedside drawer. Rummage around once. Marriage certificate... Disappeared. Tham Niem's passport... is no longer there. University diploma. Academic degree. All gone. He suddenly pulled hard on the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. The savings book that Tham Niem always kept there... Also disappeared. Ly Minh Trach stood frozen in place. My mind was buzzing like there were tens of thousands of bees flying around. He took out his phone. Open Tham Niem's WeChat. The profile photo is a photo taken on Niem Niem's first birthday. Mother and daughter smiled so brightly that their eyes widened. He opened the chat box. Swipe back to view message history. The past three months. The conversation between him and Tham Niem… No more than fifty messages. Most of them were him texting:

“I'm not coming home tonight.”

What about the messages she sent? He often reads it and then leaves it there. Or a few hours later, reply with exactly one word: Last message. It's still the same four words from nine days ago.

“We're home.”

He stared at those four words for a long time. Suddenly it felt like... Every word was laughing at him. He went downstairs. Aunt Vuong still stood in place.

“Aunt Vuong.”

“Tell me the truth, auntie.”

“Before the lady left, did she say where she was going?”